Journal

Here's my most recent entry...

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002

Merry Christmas! The other day I was remembering how we used to make Christmas cookies with Mom when us kids were little. So I found a cookbook here Sunday afternoon and mixed up a batch of good-old-fashioned sugar cookies. My two "adopted" little mexican sisters here helped me. We had a blast, from cutting out the cookies to frosting them with colored frosting! I remembered all the special times I�d had as a little boy doing just that. Could it be that making cookies is not just about making something sweet to eat?

(As an added bonus to having a good time, the cookies actually turned out! We substituted for what we didn�t have and I made a wild guess on how to adjust the recipe for the high altitude here, and POOF! they actually turned out!)

Monday came along and amidst eating Christmas cookies....I gave music classes. I still am teaching music. Now, there are 3 or 4 brothers from other churches that I�m helping besides the ones here. I have about 8 students right now.

Yesterday, Tuesday, I went to visit and pray for my dear elderly friends in Cortijo Viejo. I think sometimes I end up more blessed than they do when I go! I arrived and Jesus and Esperanza were finishing lunch and they invited me to eat. (Esperanza usually always offers me something. It�s something very important in the culture here.) You really haven�t tasted good food until you�ve eaten at Esperanza�s house! It might just be beans and tortillas, but the flavor is incredible!

Then we went (brother Jesus and Esperanza with me) and prayed for the brothers. Don Ambrosio was expressing how he gets doubts about salvation and going to heaven. So I was able to explain simply the promises in the Word of God, reading to him out of Romans how Paul says that we were reconciled to God through Jesus and that, believing in Jesus, we are saved. If we believe in Jesus, we have the promise of salvation. So we prayed with him and his wife, encouraging him to cast out those thoughts of doubt and receive the promises of God. He was comforted and they both felt the peace and assurance of God. Praise the LORD!

These times are very special for me. I have grown close to my dear brothers out in that village.

Today was a work day. Alejando and I spent and hour and a half moving a mound of sand from on the ground beside the church up to the second floor. Then I went to weed-wacking and cleaning up the street from all the trash that somehow ends up here. And at the moment, I�m going to head to the church to get ready because service starts in a half and hour. Have a very blessed and special day! oh, and yes, we ate all the Christmas cookies....!

Monday, Dec. 9, 8:30 a.m.

Blessings! November came and went in a blur of activity, so much so that I didn't know it was Thanksgiving Day until the day after! (nope, no turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce...) But it was a very blessed month, nonetheless.

First of all, we had the quince�era en Lombard�a the 8th and 9th. It was a big celebration for a girl there who turned 15. About 150 showed up, many of who were unsaved and heard the Gospel message. The celebration was Friday night, the 8th. We stayed over to return the next day as it's about 3 hours away.

The 9th was my birthday, and I didn't think they knew about it. But in the morning, they all (about 50 dear brothers and friends of mine) sang happy birthday to me and prayed and prophecied over me. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the LORD spoke to me through them. I felt God's love and confirmation that I was right in His plan. Thought there was no birthday cake or presents, it will be a birthday I will not soon forget! To feel the love and support of my brothers in the LORD here ministered to me in such a powerful way.

The next Saturday, the 16th, we had another quince�era. This time in Zacapu. Azalia and Claudia celebrated their quince�eras together. Once again I remind you, if you don't know what a "quince�era" is, it's a major event in the life of a girl. It's the celebration of her 15th birthday, when she leaves childhood to become a young lady. The ceremony is beautiful, like a wedding, with processions, dances, praise and worship, etc. The celebration was beautiful....and we finally got everything back to the church by 1:00 A.M.! (the next morning, Sunday morning, we had one of those lovely scrambles trying to get the whole sound system back to normal, setting up the instrumentc, mics, etc.!!)

The next Friday, the 22 of November, I went to help another church in Lombard�a with their worship team. It was a very fruitful trip. I was mainly pouring myself into a young man who is like the worship leader their. It was a full day as I had to back the same night.

Then the next Monday morning, the 25th, we headed to Oaxaca on a missions trip. Now to tell you all that happened on the trip briefly, would be hard to do. But we did the mini-conference, as was planned. It was a 2-day conference with praise and worship, teaching and instruction all day long. I was amazed at how the brothers that came could sit through 1 1/2 hour workshops with enthusiasm! Their hunger for God impresses me every time I go. I taught 2 worshops on praise and worship and helped with the praise and worship. (they ended up teaching me! The style of music they play is like costal "cumbia" flavored, so they showed me how to play it! Between the 3 people I had teaching me at the same time, I think I got it!) God touched many lives. In the evenings we had services open for anyone and the ministry time afterwards was anointed. We thank and praise our God for His work and what He did this trip.

I got back Saturday night, in time to get ready for church Sunday. Pastor Chacho stayed in Oaxaca until Wednesday, helping various pastors down there.

Then this last Friday and Saturday, the 6th and 7th of December, we had a youth rally with not only our three churches, but also many of the churches here in Zacapu. God ministered to the youth during worship Friday night in a powerful way. As God began to touch my heart, I fell to my knees and could hardly keep playing keyboard. It was powerful. We were about all in tears as God ministered to personal needs and poured out His love.

That pretty much brings me up to today. Though it's been a lot of activity, I've seen God's Hand and blessing throughout it all. Thank you so much for holding me up in your prayers and for your support. What a blessing to have dear friends like you with me. Though I may be the only "white boy" here, I don't feel alone in the least. I know it's your prayers that make a difference.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 11:00 a.m.

For probably a year I've had a great desire to go help our daughter churches with their worship teams. I just didn't have "green lights" to go ahead with it. But now God is opening the doors! Last Friday I went to Pueblo Viejo to one of our churches. It's a small church and the worship team is just getting started. They have 2 guitarists, a keyboardist and 3 singers. They are mostly youth, and VERY eager to learn.

It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive, and I had to back the same evening for a prayer vigil, so I didn't have much time. But let me tell you, we used every minute to the utmost. We practiced for three and a half hours without even taking a break! (Carina, the girl learning keyboard, had sore arms, fingers....up to her shoulders from practicing so hard! But she was so excited to learn.) We litterally practiced 'til we dropped! I taught basic music theory and how to make different chords, etc. Then we practiced several songs. I was impressed with how fast they learned what I was teaching.

I'm praying that God continues raising them up. They have very tender hearts for the LORD and a great desire to worship Him. I felt the presence of God even as they were practicing the songs. LORD-willing, I'll be able to go every few weeks to continue helping them. Please pray that God uses me to help raise them up as a worship team.

Yesterday, I went to Cortijo Viejo to visit the elderly people there. They are always so very greatful to receive me. Do�a Mari told me, "Oh, I just wish you could be here every day." Visiting the elderly is such a special ministry. And I really enjoy it. All you have to do is love them and give them the hope of Jesus. The simple message of love is biligual. We read some Psalms, sing a few songs that they know, share a basic Bible passage and pray for them. I say "we" because I don't go alone. Hermana Esperanza and often her husband goes with me. She is elderly and has a heart for these , her neighbors. So she actually leads the Bible study and songs. But we do it as a team.

Monday, Oct. 28, 9:00 p.m.

I�m pretty wound up at the moment. I just had a class with Betuel, teaching him more keyboard. He is so enthusiastic about learning keyboard that it�s contagious. I�m learning new and more effective ways to teach as well. That�s what really thrills me. I was trying to teach a concept to Betuel that he just couldn�t get. The truth is, I didn�t know how to explain it well in Spanish, but after he figured out what I was saying, he explained it back to me very simply in Spanish. Now when it comes to teaching someone else, it�ll be easy. :)

This Friday, I�m heading to Pueblo Viejo, some 3 and half hours away. One of our churches is over there and I�m going to help them with their worship team! This has been like one of my dreams; to be able to help build worship teams in other churches. And now I see God starting to do it. I hope to be able to go every 2 weeks or so, giving them things to practice, etc. I�m excited about this new open door. They are overjoyed that I go help them because they�ve been waiting in that church for probably a year for me. And finally now it�s like God is opening doors.

Yesterday, Betuel played keyboard during the worship service with us. He played alongside me on the keyboard that I brought down. That keyboard has been a blessing! And Mireya (she�s learning bass) played a few songs on bass during the service. She�s getting it, too! One of the greatest things is that God has brought someone to run sound. Alexandro, one of the youth in church, is learning and he ran sound Sunday morning. I�ve been praying for these 2 things for some time: someone to take over keyboard and someone to run sound. It is happening. God is raising up a team!

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 12:00 p.m.

This time I did get shook up. On Monday I was coming home on my bike, going too fast as I usually go. I had my printer under one arm and a briefcase and bag of stuff in the same hand. All of a sudden, a little boy, probably about 7 years old, darted in front of me. He came from behind a parked truck. The instant I saw him, I was on him. I had no time even to think. Somehow I dropped the bike, landing on me feet running. I thought for sure I`d hurt this little fellow. My guts wrenched within me. But he was fine. Shook up, as I was, but fine. The bike apparently threw him to one side and so didn`t cause any lasting injuries. And somehow I didn`t even drop the printer and all the stuff I was carrying. I don`t have a clue how it happened that I didn`t go flying off the bike. I think an angel must have taken me off my seat and set me on the ground. When I hit ground, my feet were running to keep me from falling as the speed I was going was really fast. So praise the LORD, He covered both me and the boy! (And I have learned my lesson about going fast on a bike.) Let me tell you that God takes care of us!

Monday, Oct. 7, 10:00 p.m.

I�m thrilled to see more people learn music. Today, I taught drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard classes. Betuel is a brother in church that is really excited about learning keyboard. He knows the basics, so I was teaching more foundational music theory tonight and he was eating it up! I�m planning on him becoming apart of the worship team very soon. I brought a little keyboard back with me this time that I came back from TN. And Thursday for worship practice I want to set it up so Betuel can start getting the feel for playing with the team and yet not be put on the spot. It�ll be like working into it.

I�d like to continue learning Spanish, but had kind of run out of resources. Yesterday when Luis was here, he told be about the grammer book he�s using in school. This morning I bought the same textbook in town, which teaches all the nitty-gritty of Spanish. I�m pretty excited to dig into it and LORD-willing improve my Spanish! Although I feel comfortable speaking and all now, I�d like to get better at translating and also have a better foundation to be able to teach Spanish if the need arises.

Well, I�m going to hit the sack, so to speak! Tonight I guess that�ll be in the church because the steps that go up to the roof don�t have a door to lock. Someone could easily get into the church. You see we are in the process of building the second story. We need to get a door in place so the church is secure. So you could say that I�m on night guard duty!

Sunday Oct. 6, 10:00 p.m.

Luis, my keyboard player and best friend that went away to school, dropped in for church today! It was so good to see him again. He is studying in Morelia, about an hour and a half from here, but was able to come today and we had such a good time together! What a surprise to look up from playing keyboard in the middle of praise and worship to see Luis there! He�s having to make strong decisions for what he believes as the school is like any other secular school, but he�s doing good.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 10:15 p.m.

To stay in practice with the machete,...I cut the grass in our small front yard today. Well, actually, instead of a lawn it was a jungle since the lawn hadn�t been cut since I before I went up to TN!

I love to see how God cares for us. He knows just what we like and need. Tonight we had worship practice and one of the singers, Veronica gave me a tupperware dish when she came in. I asked her what it was and soon found out it was "Chile Rellenos" (cheese-stuffed peppers)! I think God must have know that chile rellenos are my favorite! So not only did practice go really good, but I also had a delicious supper. I believe firmly what it says in Matthew 6:31-34 about not worrying about what to eat or drink because God knows that you need all these things. (He even knows our likes and dislikes and I think He enjoys treating us at times!) The bottom line to passage in Matthew 6 is this: Go after God and He will take care of the rest.

Please keep us in prayer as Monday morning Pastor Chacho is driving up to the border to get some legal papers taken care of. This time he is going by himself, so pray for his safety and also for us down here. Pastor Chacho hopes to be back in a week or the 14th at the latest. Thanks!

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 10:40 p.m.

Tonight we witnessed the Hand of God at work. The churches here in Zacapu have not been very much in unity, though working together was the goal. A few pastors got together every so often, but only a couple ever showed up. They take turns meeting in different churches and this time it happened to be our turn to host the meeting. Guess what... about 35 pastors and church leaders came! That in itself is God�s Hand at work. We had a very special time in the presence of God were many were in tears as God touched their hearts. You see, as pastors, they rarely get the chance to simply receive in a service. It�s always giving and ministering to others, but tonight it was time for them to be ministered to. It was a very special time. I see God at work, uniting the churches here in Zacapu and that is powerful!

Tuesday, October 1, 3:00 p.m. 2002

Hi! No, I didn't fall of the earth for the past month. I was up in TN helping with a hispanic conference in Cookeville. And I just didn't get my webpage updated at all. Could that be due to being busy while I was up there? dunno.

I had a very blessed time up there though. I had the opportunity to get to know so many dear brothers and visited many churches, ministering in praise and worship. I thank my Father for bringing so many special people across my path.

The conference was incredible. It was a time of spiritual refreshing and God began uniting pastors and churches and we are beginning to see the fruit of the event now! The hispanic churches in Cookeville are now uniting and the pastors are getting together weekly to pray together. I understand they had a praise and worship night all together since the conference, too! So God is uniting churches and that is so beautiful to see. If you want to find out more about the hispanic conference, check out the "Manos Hispanas" homepage at www.manoshispanas.com and click on the link for the "Breath of Heaven" conference.

I'm so very happy to be back in Zacapu. It's time to dig into the work here. ....speaking of that, in an hour I'll be helping lay brick, the practical side of ministry!... I'm thrilled to see God raising up more music ministers here. Since I got back here Saturday night, 3 people have come up to me asking when they can start classes to learn to play. So it looks like God is putting the desire into hearts of the people as I've been praying. Please keep praying with me that God will raise up worship leaders as well.

So this week, I'm trying to get my feet on the ground again and get organized to teach and continue working in praise and worship. Well, check back soon as I hope to keep updating my journal more frequently now that I'm back in the saddle.

Monday, September 2, 2:30 p.m.

I'm at home in TN now! Last week I made it up here by plane. Everything went great, Praise the LORD. The bug ran good all the way up to the border, and then I caught a plane from there up to TN. So what am I doing up here this trip?

Miguel and Paula Carpizo, some dear friends of mine, invited me to come up to help them organize a hispanic conference in Cookeville, TN. They are a very sweet Mexican couple living here in the Cookeville area who are operating a ministry to reach the hispanic comunity. The 12,13, and 14th of September we are having the conference with Marco Barrientos and so we are busy organizing for it... you know, all the little details, etc. It's going to be great!

Yesterday, I went with Miguel to two churches where he shared the vision God had put in his heart for the hispanic comunity. The pastor asked me to play a song or two, and we felt the presence of God in a powerful way. It was a very special time. We sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart" in English and then in Spanish and the sweet presence of God came as we sang "Holy, holy holy" in Spanish as worship to our God and Father. Then in the afternoon we went to a Hispanic church in Nashville and had a wonderful time with them. God is opening doors all over up here to be able to minister and bless both the hispanic and american comunities. I thank the LORD for His Hand that I see at work.

Tuesday, August 20

My pastor and his family arrived Sunday evening. I can't believe how fast these 2 weeks went. The LORD covered us in a incredible way. It was a time of growing and stretching, but God stayed with us.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. What a blessing it is for me to know you are with me in prayer.

This next Sunday after church I'm heading up to TN. Please cover me in your prayers. I'm taking the bug up to the border and then catching a plane to TN.

Today I went to Cortijo Viejo to visit the brothers there. I'm getting my bug fixed up from a few little bugs, so had to take the bus. That's always more exciting because if the last bus that leave the village at 5:30 p.m. goes by and you don't notice....well, you stay there for the night. Gratefully, I was able to visit everyone and pray with them before we heard the bus. Then I went running and barely caught it! We read Psalms 23, prayed together and sang some choruses, and had a very sweet time together with and elderly couple.

This week I'm preparing everything that needs to be ready before I head up to TN. I'm training in a soundman for the church, Hector. He's one of the youth that God totally transformed, and he has a heart to serve in any way he can. So tomorrow morning, I'm going to teach him how to record the messages and run the sound so he can cover that area in the church. And the rest of the week I'll be getting ready for the trip and very happily supporting my pastor now that he is back! It sure is good to have Pastor Chacho here again! Though God's grace is imense to cover us, we are very happy to have our pastor with us!

Have a blessed evening. Our God is a consuming Fire, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End! He is a God of Power and Might.

Sunday, August 11, 7:15 P.M.

Praise the LORD, we serve a faithful God! Well, as you know, my pastor, Chacho, is up at the border, but God is still with us down here! I marvel at what God does. Really. This morning was incredible. Every other time when Chacho had to leave or miss a Sunday, the people wouldn't come, there would be some, but many stayed home. It's like they felt if Pastor Chacho wasn't there, God stayed in bed.

But I see the church is growing in maturity. This morning the church was packed! People came to seek God, not man. We are excited to see that God is doing a work!

I have felt God's covering and presence these past few days in a powerful way. It's like He is doing it, and I have to just be faithful to hear and obey His voice. This morning, the praise and worship was awesome. His presence came and touched us in a very special way as only the Heavenly Father can. I am not like really great at being able to flow in the Spirit as to sing new songs off the cuff, etc. but this morning the LORD led us in new songs of the Spirit. It was incredible.

We worked together as a team ministering. God is raising up more ministers, servants with a willing, submissive heart. So I appointed others to pray for the offering, give the announcements, etc. That way it isn't such a load and each one becomes more involved serving the LORD.

God's grace covered me in the sermon. I felt about like a fish in the water, it was like God gave me the words. I thank the LORD and give Him all the glory. Sometimes when I get nervious, my Spanish (like English!) cuts out, but God gave me words and kept me on the goal of the message: "Live passionately for Jesus".....No, I won't preach to you, but the idea is that to live a life sold out to Jesus, you need have intimate comunion with Him everyday.....that was the point of the sermon. I believe God touched many hearts. Many people came forward to get prayed for and to make a decision to live more "entregado" sold out to Him. I can only stand back and marvel at what God does. If you would have told me 2 years ago where I'd be and what God would be doing with this earthen vessel, I'd have thought you was nuts, but Praise God, He is doing a work not only in the church down here, but also in my heart.

Be blessed and encouraged, God is faithful, loving and true. Thank you so much for your prayers during this time that my Pastor is not here. I can feel your prayers. Thank you so much. You are a part of what God is doing here in Zacapu, Michoac�n.

Monday, August 5, 1:00 P.M.

My pastor and his family left yesterday for the border. (That means I'm getting an opportunity to grow and stretch in new areas!) Please keep me in your prayers, that God will cover the church and fill me with His grace and anointing during the next 2 weeks. Thank you so much.

Today, a family invited Luis and I over for lunch. (Luis is staying with me these 2 weeks. He is the young man on the worship team. But he also helps so much in all aspects of the ministry.) What a blessing the people are here! It's really special for me, a single guy, to be invited over to eat. It's the difference between eating a bowl of cold cereal to eating a smorgesboard of the finest mexican food!

God is taking us to a new level in worship. I guess He is teaching us how to prophecy with the instruments. It's really beautiful to see Him teach the team this. What I mean by prophecy with the instruments, is that we are learning how to flow and follow the Spirit more in worship as He leades us even in new songs, etc. I see that God is bringing us to a new level of worship and intimacy with Him. Yesterday, in the service, the presence of God was so beautiful as His Spirit came and ministered His people.

As a worship team we are studying more about knowing the secret place of God. Did you know that God has a secret place? The Bible says in Mathew 6:6 and 6:17-18 that we need to find God in His secret place.

And Jeremiah 23:18 talks about being able to HEAR and SEE things when you are in His secret place! It's a supernatural place. A place where we want to be. But what is the secret place of God and what do we find there?

1. First, there's revelation in the secret place. (Deut 29:29) God reveals visions and lets you see and hear things that you have never seen before.
2. You find wisdom in the secret place. (Ps. 25:14)
3. And you find protection. The enemy cannot find you when you are in the secret place!

Well, maybe you didn't ask for the outline of the study, but maybe you did. And just maybe you'd like to hear the rest of it, "The requirements to get into God's secret place". Either way, I'm afraid that you'll have to wait. Sorry. I'll try to have it in my journal here by next Monday.

Tuesday, July 30, 10:30 A.M.

Hi! Here's a quote I just read last night. I think you'll like it!

You can measure a leader by the problems he tackles.
He always looks for one his own size.
-- John C. Maxwell

That's pretty good, isn't it? I like what David Livingston said once. You see, a mission organization wanted to send some helpers to him in Africa, so they asked Livingston, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you." David Livingston replied, "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come even if there is no road at all." Boy, I love that! Oh, God, give us a heart to serve you and push on, no matter what the obstacles are.

Monday, July 29, 10:30 P.M.

This evening we had music classes. It turns out Celene won't be able to keep on with keyboard classes because of other commitments. So I'm back to praying for God to raise up another keyboard player. But God WILL bring someone. You can be sure of it!

The rest of the guys are doing great! Nancy is teaching Claudia the drums and tonight Claudia got her first drum rhythm down! Nancy is doing a great job teaching, and that really encourages me because I see how the vision of having a reproducing worship team is coming about! Mireya is getting the hang of the bass real fast. It's incredible. Thank You, Jesus!

Saturday, July 20, 2002

Say, God is really good. We have been praying as a worship team that God would put into the hearts of people here to serve in the music ministry. You Nancy and Luis are probably going to school this fall, and they are key members of the team. So we have been praying that God would raise up others to take their place.

Just this week, Claudia told me she wanted to learn drums. Mireya came up to me and asked when we could start classes so she could learn bass. And Antonio (my bass player) wants to learn guitar. Then today I called Celene (one of the singers) and she is ready to continue with keyboard classes. "But," she said, "I want you to teach me how to play under the anointing and to bring people into worship, not just to play". Wow! If that doesn't motivate you! So, God is raising up more people to serve on the worship team.

This week we will be digging into music classes! In the next few weeks, I hope to get them started little by little in the Sunday services, so that when I go up to TN in 5 weeks, they will be ready to take over. May God do the work! I'm pretty excited about this. Please pray that God raises them up to be true worshipers and that they are ready before I go up to TN the 25th of August.

Thursday, July 11 Morning

I'm about 40 minutes from home (Zacapu) on the finaly stretch by bus. I'm so happy to be back in the state of Michoac�n! We are in the rainy season now, so everything is lush and green. I'm surrounded my towering, volcanic-type mountains and the cool mountain air is so refreshing. What a privilege it is to live this day and serve the LORD here in Michoac�n!

Wednesday, July 10 5:45 P.M.

I'm at the bus station in Reynosa, waiting for my bus down to Zacapu. I just got through customs. I pushed the button that you have to push, and the light flashed red, "Revision!", so they searched me. First I had to explain why I had my toolbox and then they checked my suitcase. Finally, they opened up a box of 6 new Spanish study Bibles that a brother gave me to give to mexican pastors. These Bibles are going to be a huge blessing. The conversation with the customs officials went somthing like this...

"Why are you taking so many Bibles? How much do they cost?"

"I don't think they cost much," I responded, "They were given to me as a present actually, so I don't know how much they cost." (They ask the cost so they can trap you and fine you if you bring too much. Legally you can bring $300 of articles in, but either way, I wasn't going to mess with numbers.)

"So how come you're taking so many?"

"Well, there's just 6 Bibles and, in reality, I'll give them as presents,.... one to my pastor, one to the youth pastor, one to the childrens' pastor, and these 2 to pastors in Oaxaca..."

The official was holding one that I forgot to count(oops!), so he questioned, "And this one?"

"It's for another pastor, Francisco," I said.

Very determinedly he said, "No, this one is staying with us."

Without hardly thinking, I asked, "Are you going to read it? Do you promise you'll read it?"

I guess he didn't feel to good about that. Handing me the Bible, he motioned to go on! PTL! I thanked him, said, "God bless you!" and was off! I marvel at how God is always faithful to bring me through and take care of HIS stuff! Thank You, Jesus. Well, my bus should be here any moment. Adi�s.

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 6:20 A.M.

I'm on the plane back to MX, waiting for take-off! What a blessed trip this has been. Just last night God blessed me with a Tacamini guitar! It's incredible how God works! Thank you, Jesus. Well, I'm off to Mexico!