It's been a while

yes it's been a while since I have posted. Many ups and downs in life, I tried to get several people involved who have also been to the beautiful country of Honduras so they could share their experiences. The blog will prob start taking some turns, focus may steer away from the Orphanage and just unto life, Life in Christ. But first, lets look at what has been going on in La Cieba. The Living Water Children's Ranch is progressing nicely.

There is now a garden going in. The goal is for this garden to eventually produce crops that will help feed the children of the orphanage, and even possibly have extra to sell back to the community. Not only will it serve the practical purpose of nourishment, but it will also be used to teach the children about agriculture and the relationship between God, man, and nature.

Building is continuing on the second residence, and the kitchen.


The Kitchen/Dining room is almost complete


The cottages are designed to take 5-6 children and house parents. This will provide the children a family atmosphere.

Charlie and Abby Smith from Grace Point Church in San Antonio are preparing to move to the orphanage next spring and help with getting the Living Water Children's home off the ground.

This is a view of the mountains behind the Orphanage. It's amazing how beautiful it is there. It was a gift from God that these little ones will live in such a wonderful place. In a country that is very poor, they will have people feeding them, and loving them and teaching them about the Love Of God, in the midst of His wonderful creation. I still cannot wait to go back and see the Property full of little smiling faces...SOON I hope!

The next trip is near...

Planning has begun, and meetings for the 2009 Honduras trip have started. I really wish I could go this year, but it's just not going to happen. Maybe next year! I hope to have details for you soon, and maybe I can get someone who will be going to come and be a part of the blog. I cannot wait to hear about the trip! I'm also waiting on the pictures of the buildings. Please continue to pray for the Orphanage, and for this years team of missionaries who will be travelling to Honduras. Pray for a safe and successful trip.

Its almost finished

I was in good ole wally world recently and was shocked when I walked up on Ms. Teresa Devlin, Our missionary in Honduras. It was so nice and unexpected to see her since I didn't know she was in town. We had a great conversation, she told me everything was going well in Honduras. She pulled out her camera and started showing me some pictures of the first dorm...I was so excited they are almost complete. The only thing it is waiting on are the doors and windows. I cannot even say how exciting it was. I hope to have the photo's soon so I can post them here. I cannot believe it's only 3 months away to the 2009 Honduras mission trip, I really hope I will be able to make it this year! I also hope Sarah will be able to go as well. It will have to be in Gods will since he will have to provide the means for us to go!
It's all about what He wants! Check back, I hope to have those pictures SOON!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The month before Christmas

'Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas ... No one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday."
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X-BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken and Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Durbin, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Reed, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say ...
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

The Christmas Story

The story of the Birth of Christ Jesus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Christmas Story
"About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's hometown, for the census. As a descendant of David he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the hostel.

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him."

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!" (Luke 2:1-20).

It was a simple scene that first Christmas – a rough room, a young couple and nothing but a feeding trough to put the child in. It was probably quite cold and with family far away there was little help. Not exactly the Hallmark moment we like to show in Christmas pageants. And yet this rustic scene marked the greatest event in the history of mankind.

God's Son became human and came to earth to save us. God had promised to send a Messiah, one who would save His people. He could have easily burst on the scene as a full grown man, a seven foot warrior with fiery eyes and arms of steel. This was what many people were looking for, but it wasn't how God did it. He arrived in the arms of a young girl. He was, as another of our authors put it, "a very small package, wrapped in rags, given from the heart of God. The perfect gift."

God gave His only Son to die in our place so that we, in all our brokenness, could know forgiveness. He came so that we could know what love feels like, real love – love that never leaves, love that never disappoints, love that is never betrayed. He sent His Son into a corrupted world to bring us hope.

How are you doing this Christmas?
Are you having a hard time finding hope in the world? Are you having a hard time finding peace? It doesn't have to be that way. You can have peace and find hope and know forgiveness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Bring peace to my world this Christmas. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life.

Tis the season...

Black Friday took a grim turn when a Wal~Mart employee in New York died after bargain hunters broke down the doors to the store.

The 34-year-old male employee was pronounced dead one hour after shoppers broke down the doors to the shopping center in Valley Stream, N.Y., and knocked him down at around 5 a.m. Friday, police said.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," Jimmy Overby, the man's 43-year-old co-worker told the New York Daily News. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too ... I literally had to fight people off my back."

That was a report in today's news...I loved Christmas as a child, I also loved Christmas as a parent of young Children, But I am starting to not like the season as much these days. It is not the CHRISTmas season anymore, its the winter holidays (as the world like to call it now). It's the time of spending more money then you have, it's a time of greed and selfishness. Sometimes to me that's what it feels like it has become.

As CHRIST followers lets all be very aware of what the season is, it is a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Lets remember to Praise him throughout this next month...Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and pray you all have much to be thank full for.
I know I have greatly blessed and I am so thank full for my Family, and friends.