Praises & Prayers

First, we want you to know how eternally grateful we are for your continued support and prayers!  We are learning in ways we never expected to depend on God in ways we never knew we needed: to praise, seek and at times cry out in desperation for His sustaining grace.  Knowing we have people who faithfully walk this journey with us, is an invaluable gift, one we could never fully appreciate like we do living as foreigners in another country.  To fight the battles that lie before us each day, our power increases tenfold with angel armies by our side due to your continued prayers. 2 Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.  "Oh no, my lord!  What shall we do?" the servant asked.  "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered.  "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see."  Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Those who are for us are more than those who are against us!  Oh Lord, open our eyes that we might see…we have nothing to fear!  As I look out my window with the view of the mountains surrounding the city, I thank God for the word picture He has given me…above those mountains are angel armies of God, filled with horses and chariots who surround us!  Through that, God has been ministering to me through Chris Tomlin's song "Whom Shall I Fear". Praises & Prayers We've had some exciting yet challenging experiences as of late.  Please join us as we give praise and ask for prayer over these more recent events. We've all suffered some stomach issues here, but this last week, I was hit with a terrible intestinal infection and had to be hospitalized for it.  Please pray for our overall health and protection from these at times dangerous diseases.  Thanking God for the wonderful care I received from both doctors and nurses (even with the language barrier :)  Remembering the God of angel armies is always by our side! Please pray for Skyler as she tore the tendon in her finger as well as fractured the bone when practicing volleyball during after school sports. Presidential elections took place a month ago and they a winner was not determined based on the outcome percentage.  Re-elections were last weekend and tension here is high between the two parties.  One party is claiming fraud and demanding a recount.  They declared FMLN left-wing party the winner at the end of this week.  Please pray for the future of this country and the safety of its people. Please lift our teammate Sara up in prayer.  She was not feeling well for weeks and was undergoing several tests to determine what was wrong.  The doctors have said she has a brain tumor that appears to be benign but they are saying she needs more testing.  At age 27 this is quite a shock and she is asking for prayer for her parents as they deal with this news and also her recent enrollment in the national health plan will go into effect very quickly. We mourn the loss of a 23 year old young man who attended CDA (our local Alliance Church).  The initial report through friends is that he was shot by the gangs.  Pastor Carlos needs your prayers right now as he feels a great burden for the youth and this is very difficult for him and the congregation, some of whom were very close to him. (second in from the right) Raeleigh has really been enjoying playing basketball at school this year.  Please pray for her coach, pictured here, whose been diagnosed with colon cancer and gone through several surgeries now.  The results were not favorable and he will not be returning this year. Before his surgery, Raeleigh made him a card in spanish and gave him a Wordless Book bracelet and pamphlet from DiscoveryLand explaining the Gospel.  We were able to say little in person due to the language barrier but praying God uses it whether to open his eyes to truth or comfort him in his time of need not knowing where his heart is with the Lord. We just celebrated "El Dia de la Mujer" (the day of the woman) in El Salvador at our Spanish School by listening to the past and present hardships of the women here and how they continue to fight for fair rights.  Our increased language learning is crucial for this ministry and has brought about the need to raise additional funds.  Please pray that God would supply abundantly for what we need (additional $6,000 over the next year and half). James new role over the next month at Metemorfosis.  This is a shoe factory that ministers to prisoners from work release programs as well as ex-prisonrs to train them a skill while giving them an opportunity to hear the truth of God and His Word through prayer/devotional time. We've had our first few short-term mission teams from the states this past month: A team building a fire pit for a Children's Home called Casa de mi Padre (My Father's House) A team listening as the National President gives prayer needs of the local and national church. A team from Sojourn Alliance doing evangelism in a neighborhood in Santa Ana. Celebrating with those who gave their lives to Christ! Another team doing construction on site. The International School, where the kids attend, received their certification that allows them to continue to be an International School(teach some classes in English and operate August through June).  The government made it difficult and some changes has to be made, but we are grateful this was completed! Our flag football team, rubbing shoulders with deportees each week, almost made it to the playoffs but more importantly has started developing relationships with other deportee players on the teams. Pray for this weekend as our staff has invited the playoff teams to a cookout at the local church followed by attending our church service at our church plant called Hungry.  A few have already started coming and we pray this event will open up doors and reach more of the unchurched. Gospel Alliance Church hearing the heart behind Vinculo de Amor (Love Link) where malnourished babies are nursed back to health. How one women makes a living growing and selling her own plants. Artist using his talent for good on the streets. We cannot thank our friends and family enough back home as well as Gospel Alliance Church (currently here) who so graciously surprises us with goodies from the States!  We thank God each time we remember you! Skyler and her friend from school, Maryfer.  Please pray God would continue to develop the relationship and give Skyler the right opportunity to share the Gospel as the Spirit leads. Raeleigh holding a baby pit bull.  Where else would she be?