deep waters

When you start to do missions you have an idea of how it should be.  However, not that often do you think about the negative side of missions and when I say negative I mean how other missionaries do things, and the way they do things not matching with what God has called us to.  Please don’t get me wrong I fail as well; however, I believe there is a difference between failing purposely, using grace as an excuse, and truly making a mistake.  But that is just one tiny part of doing missions, another is you better trust the Lord because bad things will come and will shake you, but you have to stay strong in the Lord.  Another part is what you give up as a missionary and what you gain as a missionary and if you put it on a balance the weight will lean towards your loses.   No that does not make you a martyr it makes you an obedient child.   As a missionary I HAVE TO depend on God otherwise I will sink. I need to trust in the Lord, but many times I fail.  I constantly have to remember that my God is bigger than the sea and in those times that I going under the waves I know God will pull me back up because my God is a God that doesn’t fail.  The problem has never been God it always has been us. We are the ones that don’t believe, we are the ones that let our hand go, we are the ones that betray, kill, destroy, and corrupt, NOT God. The easy thing is to blame someone that we don’t see because it is easy. It is easy to say, “why, why oh mighty God”.   Missions are always about sacrifice just as Christ has called us to.

 These few weeks people have asked me what you are planning to do now that your wife is not with you.  Are you staying or are you leaving?? I want to take the easier road and be able to answer, “I will leave you guys and return to America because my wife needs me and my baby”.  However, I answer in another way even though my flesh opposes it.  So I tell them a story about a dad and his son for the sake of the story we are going to use gringo names ;).  Steve (father) Jake (son) and Robert (sons friend) are  three characters! So, one day Jake tells his father Steve, "father I want to take Robert on a trip with us and I want to you to invite him to go with us to the sea so that we can have fun and relax and enjoy the sun and water.   The forecast is saying that today is going to be a wonderful day. " Steve said, "Sure why not" and gave Robert a call. Robert said, "sure why not I have nothing better to do today."  Once in the boat Robert said," I will enjoy this trip if you, Jake, stop talking to me about God, not today man I am tired and I want to have fun."  Jake said,"ok I will do as you wish my friend lets have fun." one more thing Robert added," remember I cannot swim."   Steve was on the other side of the boat so he didn’t hear anything that was said, so they sailed off.

 In the middle of the ocean things turned really bad and the waves were so strong, too strong for the little boat and Steve was afraid and shaking, but he knew that he had to take the two kids to the shore and they were his priority not the boat.  Every wave that hit them was like a whiplash while Steve was trying to maneuver the boat he was keeping an eye on his son and he saw confusion, fear, pain and tears running over his pale cheeks.  The next second he saw Robert pale as a ghost with no hope and at that moment he knew that he needed to do something drastic otherwise he may loose them both.  While he was thinking a huge wave took the boat and for a second the two kids, Jake and Robert, disappeared under that monster wave that could swallow even a battle ship.  

Steve saw at his far right was his son trying to swim close to the boat and at his left was Robert drowning.  He knew his son, he was an amazing kid always talking about Christ and he knew that he was saved, at the same moment he did not know Robert so he made a decision and screamed with everything he had.   With tears and a broken heart he said," Jake my son my beautiful son you have made me proud may my God hold you in his glory."  Turning towards Robert and saved him without turning back.  

So, my answer is yes I will come back as God came back for me because this is my call to love and served.  

Please pray for us, my wife and I will be far away from each other for 6 months. 

Pray for strength, pray for hope, pray for mercy, pray for joy!

Pray for our mission to always be for the ONE! 

Pray for each of our hearts to be centered on Him that we may be made ONE through Christ not through proximity.

“You call me out upon the waters the great unknown where my feet may fail and there I find you in the mystery in oceans deep my faith will stand.

And I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves when ocean rise my soul will rest in your embrace for I am yours and you are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters your sovereign hand will be my guide where my feet may fail and fear surround me you’ve never failed and you won’t start now.” Ocean (where feet may fail) Hillsong United.

(this song has always brought us both to tears and it is our prayer now that we rest in his embrace and that our faith will stand)

A thousand to go!

A year has passed and guess what? WE MADE IT! This crossroad was our first hard decision we had because the odds were against us. However, by the grace of God we made it! We have been rejected, we have been made fun of, we’ve been told we wouldn’t make it, that we are just dreamers, but thanks to God and people like you we have finished a year.  Not an easy year, a year with disappointment, a year of wondering, a year with confusion, and a year with doubts, but in every situation that we lacked strength, God strengthened us and sent someone like you to aid us.  The aid came in many different ways and each one was so important and valuable to us.

 If you asked me what I have learned?  This is what I have learned: church, family, and acquaintances will fail you and many times betray you especially in the moments you need them, but when your heart is in the right place God is always going to give you an answer which can be yes, no, and wait. The other thing that I have learned is that I do not have to depend on man but depend on God because He is the one that gives and the one that takes and His love towards us has no limits. A major thing that I have been learning is humility so that God can use me . Also, I learned that to do ministry especially overseas you need people with the same heart as you, but not that they just believe in you and in your ideas, but believe on the same God that you worship. So to those who have believed in us I want to say thank you!

Now what I still need to learn is to understand people better, their ways, their thoughts, their way of living, so I may do a better job. To learn to be quite and be still while God is talking. In knowing that his will is the right move always and being content in that. I still need to learn to put down my pride everyday so that the Lord may use me as He used Moses because of His humility. To be a better steward of the time that He has given me on this earth and the gifts I have acquired by His mercy for His glory.

As I struggle and I as I sin I still want to serve the Lord, and I desire so much to see others come with their weaknesses and difficulties to join the body, not a body that is perfect, not a body without blemishes, but come to love our God and love our neighbors!

We cannot emphasize enough what importance the true body of Christ has been to us this year and we so want other to see the blessings, love, encouragement of being and taking part in this body! We are so expectant and hopeful to have the body grow and strengthen and together to seek the face of our Savior, to fall more in love with Him, to be more in awe of Him, and to embody Him more every day! That together we may bring Him more glory.

In life as ministry one is always going to have loses and the road may be painful not just spiritually but physically as well, so I encourage you to keep fighting the good fight and seek God first and then seek others so that you may grow up in spiritual strength and when the devil comes you will resist him.

Blessings brothers and sisters may my God guide you in your difficulties and trails and always remember that you are not a number you are family!

Thank you again to the body of Christ we are so blessed by you!

Email us at oneforguate@gmail.com 

See more pictures on our ONE for Guate fb page

Through the pain.

In these difficult times not just for us but for you as well I want to tell you all how much God loves you.  The difficulty that the country is passing through now not just with the elections, but the fires in TN and many other things have no limits. There is so many people in need not just here in Guatemala, but close to you, so if you can do something for someone that needs it PLEASE do something. Don’t wait until it is to late don’t wait for a thought of doubt to invade your feelings, if you have the chance to pray for someone in the middle of the street do it.  Don’t deny Christ to others because your lack of confidence it is time to be BOLD it is time not just to act like Christians, but to be like Christ.  This month has been a month of sorrow, loss, and tears, but in every situation Gods brings glory to His name.

Three weeks ago we lost a 13 year old boy as always for respect to the family he will not be named.  He was killed on a Monday night a drunk bus driver didn’t see him and killed him and he had actually came to our church that Sunday. He was in the kids Sunday school class laughing, singing, and playing and we are thankful to have this memory of him. The heartbreak is unimaginable, the loss incomprehensible, and the pain unspeakable. However, as the body of Christ we take part in this heartbreak, loss, and pain. As if the head hurt the hand would hold it, and this is what we the church must do as well.  As we drive by the place he was killed every day it is a time of remembering not only how he passed away, but also who he was, his smile, his laughter, and his face.  It reminds me to think of the cross this way, always remember how He passed away, but also remembering everyday who He was. Thankfully with Christ who He was does not end there but HE is, and HE will continue to be!

We miss him, we still cry for him, but we must rejoice for his death was gain!!!

Some days are harder than others to have heavenly perspective in those days we MUST draw near to HIM, we must seek HIS eyes and heart, for ours will certainly fail us. I ask that today in your pains, in your disappointments, in all the places you secretly think the Lord has failed you…stop and seek His face and ask Him to show you His perspective, that He may give you the eyes to see His glory.

                This month has also had times of excitement as we have had the first baptisms and baby dedications of the church.  We had four people baptized and got to have celebratory lunch after the service. We have been encouraged in the church by seeing that those who come, however small the number, truly want more. We have been asking for this, and are so glad to see people that want more of our Lord and to see people following in obedience like baptism. We are hopeful and prayerful for more and ask that you come alongside us in the prayer for our church and for yours.

We had the privilege of having a team from South Carolina come visit and love on our kids at our feeding center in San Mateo this month. We had a special meal of homemade pizzas and punche(which is literally the best drink in the world). We were also blessed to install a stove for a family with this team and are so thankful for each of their hearts to leave there families and homes and come give and love on others that they do not know.

Through Manna worldwide teams we were also able to bless so many.  7 families were blessed with bunk beds some of which were sleeping on the floor. The family of the boy that was killed was blessed with a food basket. Also, a Manna team donated 100 chairs to our church. 

As for Thanksgiving well that doesn’t really exist here, however, we had the privilege of celebrating it twice! We were invited by a manna team to have a thanksgiving meal with them and the kids of their children’s home. It was such a special night for us to take part of thanksgiving, conversation, skits, reconnecting, and so much more. We also got to spend Thanksgiving day with a couple and their family that have come to be very special to us. We had great food, conversation, and games and felt so at home. We are so thankful to have people that feel like family here and to be able to celebrate together. We are blessed!

We are thankful to also let you know that in God’s perfect plan He has given us another child that will be coming in April. As well as He takes away, He also gives.

This month has been full to say the least! Full of giving, full of eating, full of firsts,  full of heartbreak, full of life!

I have been preaching the book of act and in chapter 12 talks about the execution of James by Herod and he was the first apostle to be killed and the next one was to be peter but in his circumstances he prayed and the church as well.  He didn’t cry, he didn’t say why, why God, no he was sleeping actually an Angel had to wake him up.  In our trials we have the option to blame God and ask him why me, and be angry, be sad, and in denial or we have the option to trust and wait for the Lord. We as humans have to understand that sometimes God answers in three different ways YES, NO, and WAIT and accept his answer because He is absolute.

How blessed we are!!!!

Hello guys may my God bless you all in this almost end of the year.  By now almost every kid in Guatemala is out of school because the vacations (summer break) has already started.  Talking about vacations we close the feeding center in San Mateo and we will reopen the beginning of the next year.  The people that help us in San Mateo need a break and so do we.  However, during this Holy season we will open once or twice to make something special for the kids.  Please keep us in your prayers as we need more supporters to jump in, and if you want to know more about how to help us please contact me so I can let you know the best way to do so.  On the other hand, the feeding center in San Lucas and the church are still running all year long, and we are so thankful to God with the opportunity of this new ministry.  In this area as well we need so much help the communities are really poor, but thanks to God and brothers and sisters like you all we keep going.  

The feeding center is San Lucas (manna ministry) feeds between 100 and 150 kids every day and we are thankful to be a part of them.  I have had the chance to meet some of the parents and life is really interesting.  I have met moms that have 15 kids, others that had 8, and some that just keep going.  There are not many dads that we get to meet most of them are women but they keep going against the odds.  I wish I could tell you stories about these strong women, but I have respect for their privacy. However, I will tell you how blessed you and I are to be able to not think what we are going to eat the next morning or if we have enough space for our kids to sleep or enough blankets to keep them warm during the winter.   I want you to take a few minutes and think again how blessed you are and if you are complaining about your slow internet or your favorite TV show please stop and rethink again. Count those daily blessings!

Our church is still small, but as I said to the flock of the Lord I don’t need 1000 people if none will follow the Lord or do as He said. I will be much happier if I have one or two willing to die for his name.  We as believers need to find perfection, but while we work on it we need consistency meaning be Christians Sunday through Sunday not just Sunday. I have been preaching the book of Acts and we are in chapter 9 about Paul’s conversion and what really gets me is in verses 15 and 16 were God said “I will show him how much he needs to suffer for my name” my fellow brothers and sisters be thankful that others already suffered for the thing you should have in your hands every single day (your bible). 

I want to leave you with a small thought that the Lord put on my heart this month and hope it touches your's as it has mine. 

In the feeding center in San Lucas there is a special needs boy, his communication and walking skills are impaired, but the Lord said to me Morgan look at him again…so I did. As I saw him more clearly this time I started tearing up and had to walk away because of how over whelming it was. I had seen him before and thought poor thing how difficult his life is… how far he has to walk and how hard it must be for him…it really broke my heart. But this time I saw something different I saw the biggest smile that literally never leaves his face, the brightest eyes, a laugh so contagious, so much HOPE, so much JOY, so much BEAUTY, so much LOVE for others. So what did I see this time…what do I see now….I see JESUS!!! NO not poor him….. poor me, poor us, poor everyone else that we don’t live so fully in the characteristics of Jesus. I looked around and thought no other person here do I see Jesus so clearly in. How special he truly is that others may look and see our Father. So it has left me thinking am I exuding Him today. Can others just look, stare, watch and see my Father? Am I truly so much His daughter that I am taking on His identity? May you look around you and see more of HIM stare on HIS beauty and may it bring you to tears. Also, may you be seen clearly as HIS son and daughter.

The Waiting is Worth it!

September was a month of waiting and patience as you guys know we have accepted a job as a pastor in san Lucas el Manzanillos like 15 to 20 minutes from where we live.  There have been  two phases of our waiting: one, the building its not done yet, but all the first floor is done there is where we have the feeding center that belongs to Manna ministry, also in the same level is where we are going to live that part is not done yet.  The second phase of waiting is the church many people are catholic, others had a church and others just don’t want to know about Christ or don’t care about it.  I understand that this is a long long long process also I know this will take time people have to trust you first and then change will occur. It is funny because I know all of this in theory, however when it comes to practice it becomes hard.  I am learning every day and now I am happy because I have see consistency in the people that I served.  Last Saturday a family received Christ they were brought up as Catholics, but know we are so excited that they have receive Christ in their hearts.  We have struggled with the lie that numbers matter in the church so we have really been praying for the church to have quality and not quantity.  When this husband and wife said they wanted to accept Christ we were over joyed to have another brother and sister and to know this brother and sister are in the church and want more and want to grow, learn, change….Thank you Lord for a little glimpse of your quality.

I would love to preach to you and tell you what I have been telling to my congregation, but as I tell them it will be pointless if you do not act on the Word. I started our church with the book of Acts. It is important to know the beginning of the church and how different the church has become from that example.  I have learned that the Word of God has changed not by Him but by man. It is simple love your God with everything that you have and everything that you are and love your neighbor. Give to those in need and be humble. Always accept the word of God as truth and never take or add to the word of God. So, every time I preach I try to make it simple so they can understand me and clear as the Word of God is. If you the reader are a believer you need to understand that Christianity is a matter of consistence and perseverance so that you may reach the goal that is Christ. As an athlete if you want to be the best of the best you will need to work hard and harder every single day because you know what you want and you know what you need to do to reach that goal, you will sweat, you will cry, and many times be disappointed with yourself, but you will never forget your goal if you truly want to be a champion.  My fellow brother and sister in Christ you know what you need to do, don’t stop, keep going, my God is at your side.

Please keep praying for consistency in our church, in us, and in the body.

Look at ONE for guate facebook page for pictures from this month. 

blessing!

          There is so much to say, but not enough words to express my gratitude towards God and towards you. The month of July was so crazy so many things and so much work to come. In July  we traveled to USA to visited friends and family, and it was amazing to see you guys and to be loved by all of you.  Also, it was a month of transitions; I have accepted a position as a pastor here in Guatemala.  You may wonder what about your ministry? Is this going to affect ONE for Guate? Are you going to stop working with kids?  Well the answer is NO.  Almost nothing will change ONE for Guate feeding center still running and we are happy with what God is doing in San Mateo. We have partnered with MANNA worldwide ministry and they have been amazing people to work with.  Basically our work has expanded, and I know you may have questions so please feel free to ask anything you want. If you reading this you know our hearts and our mission and by now hopefully you can trust in us that we will answer you truthfully.  I guess now I am a pastor and now I need your support more than ever. The devil will try to destroy me and to destroy God’s ministry so please pray for my family pray for the people in Guatemala and pray for the ministry.

         In addition, in the month of July we got so much support from all of you and not just emotionally we received a ton of materials to work with our kids in San Mateo. I would like to say thank you and name you all but the list would be endless.  Also, we received many shoes and many kids were blessed by you all!  We had all kinds of offerings from you all so I want to say thank you agian.  When we left the US airport they made us leave two suitcases, and sadly we left shoes and books for the kids. On top of that they made us pay $100.00 per 20 extra lbs. and we took 40 lbs extra just to be able to bring a few more shoes and books. We didn’t have any other options unfortunately and we seem to always run into issues in the airport,t but it was just a speed bump that we luckily got to move past.  Despite all the issues many kids were bless by you all. 

      

    

The month of August was a month of waiting and learning as we are making the new transitions into our new work.  Again we are still working in ONE for Guate, but this new ministry requires my full attention now. We are meeting with families and we are visiting them and trying to know them better every day. Also,  we are preparing for the new church which will be AMAZING!  Funny fact I have no idea what to do this is my first work as a full time pastor; however, I trust in the Lord and not on my own understanding.  He will prepare me.  By the way for those that does not know my degree is in preaching and church leadership just putting that out there.

    

I know I ask so much from you, but I need you I cannot do this alone you have no idea what your prayers, your moral support, your offerings, your e-mails, your calls, your designs etc. do for us and for our people. So keep them coming!

We love you all!

p.s you can like our ONE for Guate fb page ....we post a lot more pictures there!

The BAD, the UGLY, and the GOOD!

WARNING: Sorry this blog is looooooong we haven’t written in almost two months.

Many of you guys know the story of how we arrived to Guatemala and how God provided every single step to come here.  Also, how we got in contact with the guy that wanted to give us a free place to start the feeding center. However, this guy and his family are not Christian, Catholic or any other religion and at the time when we started the feeding center  “I” thought  that this was not a problem.  We believe that God changes hearts and we wanted to try to plant a seed in his heart. 

THE BAD: After a month of running the feeding center friction started and he started to question us by going against everything we said and also starting to try to change the rules and ways that we were running the feeding program.  Therefore, miscommunication happened and assumptions started. For example, he believed we were getting a monthly salary for running the feeding center (which is not true we live by individual donations), and he assumed other ministries have this so we must as well.  He also believed that we needed to run our ministry the same way other ministries did.  By saying this by no means are we saying that we did everything right my lack of communication made him believe other things, my lack of leadership gave him a chance to step over me, and my lack of wisdom made we believe I could run a ministry with someone that had a different belief system than me. We had told him from the beginning that he could make the rules for his home but when it came to ministry these decisions we would make. However, more and more this seemed to no longer be something he was willing to do and eventually he told us, “ We will do things here in my way, that is the only option you have.’’  At this point he took the position of authority and not of a servant for the kids, and when he told me all of this believe it or not I kept my mouth shut which is something God has been teaching me lately. Afterwards I went and asked for advice because when it comes to doing the work of God we cannot do this alone and we need as much wisdom as we can get and a lot of humbleness too.  So, I asked for wisdom from two pastors here is Guatemala, a pastor from Canada, and another pastor from America.  All of them told me the same thing keep working because the vision has not changed maybe the battle has and maybe the circumstances have but the vision has not nor the mission. One of them told me do not burn bridges, and he is right we did not come to burn bridges but to build them.  So I kept working with him. However, all this time I had an itch in my heart and I really wanted to confront him not in a mean way or to make him less than me, but to make things clear with him. As I said before I had my fault in all of this.  I want you to know that he is not and was not part of our ministry he just was lending us his house. So the first week of May he told me he needed a door, a window, and a roof for his house where we had the feeding center, and I told him that before we spent more money that I needed to talk to him. I started by saying thank you for all the help that he had given us because without his house we could not have had the feeding center at that time.  I then apologized for every misunderstanding that I caused and every offence that I made. Then I told him that in his house he can be the boss and the ruler because that is his domain, but when it comes to the ministry of God my wife and I are going to be the ones that decide the best that we can and if he did not agree I would find another place, but I did not want to go to that extreme because I like him even though we have our differences. I said all of this as kindly as I possibly could. I chose my tone and my words carefully. None of this works when a man has his mind set on something nothing can change it. His reaction was, “give me fifteen days and you will take some kids and I will take some”. However, nothing of that is what I had said to him. His answer shocked, but did not surprise me.  So, I told him you did not listen to a word of what I said I am not going to go pick kids I’m not here for that to me that is just mean and this is not a competition.  Now, the drop that filled the cup was when I responded by saying “let’s please go pray and ask for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge” and he told me, “I do not need any wisdom, understanding, or knowledge I have all of this and I do not need to pray, I will think and see what I come up with, God left all of that to us on the earth. “ At this moment I stopped talking because my heart was hurt, I am a prideful man and I thought: Is that how I look? Is that how I sound? Is that how my wife sees me? Is this what I am portraying to the world and the people that I am around?(wow pride is an ugly thing)  So I just said thank you again and I left because I realized I cannot do ministry with a man that does not fear the Lord.

A few months ago I met a pastor in San Mateo, the same town we are working in, and he told me whenever you need our church it is open to you anytime, and if you want to start something here you are welcome to for free; however, at the time we had already started using Byron’s home so we humble declined the need to use the church.  After I had the conversation with Byron I returned to the pastor and told him of the difficulties we were having and he said the offer was still available to use the church for the feeding center or whatever we may need.

To make this story short (LOL), the next feeding day Byron (the man’s house we were using)  basically kicked us out and gave the kids an option to stay with him or go with us. Sadly, all of the kids picked him and at this time we already had 40 kids.

Now THE UGLY: When the kids chose to stay with him I felt that what I had done for two months was worthless, a waste of time, and a waste of resources. I love them, I was teaching them the bible, respectful prayers, and thankfulness, and this made it seem meaningless.  I had a question for so long, why did they not choose me, “but I am the good guy’’?  Well no one is good, just one is good, and that is our Father in heaven.  Then we moved to the church, Asamblea de Dios, (Assembly of God) and the thought of why they did not come with us was still chasing me, I asked myself what I did wrong, maybe my intentions were wrong, or my approach was wrong, or I am too hard to work with. That first day at the church just nine kids showed up and that was because the wife of the pastor went to homes and basically begged for people to send their kids.  I had an awful attitude feeling sorry for myself, I was not happy, but I wasn’t mad either. I was continually whining in my head. You may wonder why I am telling you all of this and it is because as I always say, you as a reader and/or supporter need to know what we are doing and how we are doing the ministry of God, every ministry has problems and battles and you deserve to know it. Not just to fulfill your curiosity but to show you accountability and hopefully to teach you the imperfection of the human being and how much more we have left to learn.  Now I have stopped my whinning and I have come to find out the rumors/lies about us and reason the moms chose to send their kids to him and not to us; however we know there is nothing we can do about these lies but to keep keeping on and to do all we do to glorify Him.

Finally THE GOOD: Now we have a bigger place, the pastor and his family has welcomed us with open arms, the pastor has built us a storage and kitchen area in the church, we started with 9 kids two weeks ago and now have 30 kids, the pastor’s wife helps us to cook each time and is always waiting at the doors to get started preparing the meal, this women is a warrior and faithful servant of the Lord, we are now working with Christians and that makes the work easier, and there is so much more peace at this feeding center. Now, the kids from the other feeding center come to give us hugs and say hi every time they see us. This just demonstrates to me that maybe I really did do something good, that at the time I did not see. Even a few moms from the old feeding center have told me that they will send their children to us.  Every day at the new feeding center the kids smile a little more, laugh a little freer, and let down some walls.

In the midst of our trials I had the opportunity to go and preach for 600 youth and young adults. My theme was, THE VISION.  I am not going to preach to you or write my whole sermon here, but I think that many believers have misunderstood or do not know the vision of the Christian.  So I want to leave you with these four thoughts:      1. You have to love your God with all you being and you neighbor  as well(Matthew 22:37-39). 2. If you love God you will fear God, and that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). 3. Therefore, you will seek His kingdom and all the rest will be added (Matthew 6: 23).  4.  If you know all of this you will go and understand the purpose of God and the reason of you being in this world, and you will understand your VISION (Matthew 10:16).  In conclusion, love your God so you can fear your God, and you will seek Him; therefore,  you will understand His will. If you are wondering what is the VISION of the Christian it is not your family, it is not your church, it is not even your ministry, IT IS CHRIST/GOD/HOLY SPIRIT, your eyes fixed on HIM.  

I have also had the great pleasure of speaking at Casa Aleluya, children’s home, for over 300 kids. With them I spoke about not sitting still, that just because you are young it does not mean you can’t stand up and be a leader (1 Timothy 4:11-16). I used Timothy because he was a young man sent by the apostle Paul and it is such a great example of leadership and how a young man or women can be an example to those even in the church: 1. In Word, 2. Conduct, 3. Love, 4. Faith, 5. Purity. If you are younger (not just in age but in Christianity as well) and you are reading this remember God can use you as well as any man in the Bible and you can be an example to others. Do not be afraid because the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is your God as well.  That same God that used all of these great men is the same God now that can use you as well. God I not asking for you to be rich or powerful or old, nor is he asking for gold, silver, or jewels. He is asking for you fellow brother.  You that is willing to give your life for Him. The Lord is asking for your best, your everything, not for your preparation.

I have been able lead a bible study in the church here in Santa Lucia where the theme was about worshiping.  I love to worship God, I love to lift my hand, to shout, cry, dance, to bend my knees in front of God because God asks for our best. I do it in front of people because when I am in the presence of the Lord I do not care if they see my or not. I taught this group about the freedom that we should feel in the presence of the Lord. My example was King David and how he was after the heart of God. One more time I encourage you to find the freedom that you are missing. I encourage you to give your whole self when you are in the presence of the Lord. When you are broken, cry before Him. When you are filled with His joy, shout, clap, dance of His goodness. When you are humbled, fall before him.  Let your heart be seen in worship. This is not about you being a Baptist, Presbyterian, or Charismatic this is about you and the Lord. Not about your religion, belief system, and for sure not your church, it is about you and God and your offering towards Him.  My brother be courageous and brave in the presence of the Lord.

Last one… that I remember. I was invited to preach for 40 women. I talked to them about women and leadership(not the head but a leader) not just in their house, but also in the church.  I used the apostle Paul and all the many women that he mentioned in his letters. You may defer from me about a women and the role that she may take, but I believe if a man is not leading, why not a women?  A man is unable to complain if he is not doing what he is called to do. As I have learned, do not complain for something that you allow in your life. Also, I used Genesis 2:18 when God in His immense wisdom gave us women not to be the cleaning lady, not to be the dishwasher, but to be our helper, to be our supporter, to be our equal as God created us in same image and the man as the head.  However, a woman can be a helper or can be a curse based on what she may choose to be (Proverbs 12:4). The decision depends on each one of you.  

My fellow brothers in Christ, may my God bless you all and give you a thousand times what you have given to us. Remember you are not a number you are a friend.

P.S. We have so much to tell you, bad and good, but I don’t want to bore you. However, please feel free to email us at oneforguate@gamil.com 

Your brother and sister in Christ,

P.J and Morgan….and Kala!