Make a Smilebox photobook

Prayer Requests Continued Sept. 08

Please pray for the following:
-the search for a full-time pastor for Ojos de Agua

Our partners need your prayers too:
-Sharing the gospel isn’t easy in some parts of Chalatenango. Please pray for protection for our missionary friends in the southern part of Chalatenango from the Church of God congregation. They have experienced many forms of opposition. http://www.comifad.info/

-Pray for God’s will in Tulare First Baptist Church’s construction project. http://www.tularefbc.org/

-Pray for the purchase a church building for the Iglesia de Dios congregation in Tarzana, CA.

-Pray for the Lord’s provision of a new pastor for the Union Church of San Salvador. http://internationalcongregations.net/nic_openings.html

Thank you for your faithful prayer support!

Make a Smilebox photobook

June - August 2008 Update

Construction Update
There has been little advancement, but ditches have been dug for the foundation. While digging, the workers ran into a water problem. The rain water that has been absorbed from the surrounding properties accumulates above and underground. We are working with an engineer to solve this problem. Thanks to some very generous donations, we were able to buy a lot of basic building materials, trying to take advantage of prices as the price of steel keeps rising. We will wait for the rainy season to calm down and look to lay foundations in October or November.

(the photo shows the 2 m deep trenches filled with water)

Faith In Action: Tulare First Baptist Missionaries bless the Ojos de Agua Community
Members from Cindy’s home church joined us for a week of service work from July 14-24th.
Activities included:
-re-roofing a part of the home of Gilberto and Leonor Villegas
-welding protection bars and building new doors for new believer: Juventina
-two days of soccer clinics and tournament on third day
-soccer ball donations to participants and to local schools
-participation in church services
-Bible School lessons -children’s clothes donations
-home visits
The team also brought with them a large donation for our church construction work.
We are grateful to TFBC for coming for a missionary experience and for their continued support for our ministry.

(click on photos to see larger image)

Baby Dedication
Sunday, July 20 Lucas was officially presented to God in front of the congregation of Ojos de Agua, and missionaries from TFBC. Pastor Isaí Galdamez, Salvadorian from Woodville, CA, presented Lucas and prayed for the Blanco family.

Trip to California: a mix of emotions
After the mission team left El Salvador, Cindy and Lucas’ much awaited trip to the United States had come. Cindy’s parents had been anxiously waiting to meet their first grandchild. Carmen Elias traveled with Cindy to make the trip easier helping her care for the baby. Upon arrival to the Jones house, Lucas was put into his Grandpa Del’s arms and the two stared at each other and smiled. Two weeks later when Cindy was supposed to return to El Salvador, her father passed away. We are thankful that Del is no longer in pain, but we miss him terribly. Two major blessings resulted: Lucas got to meet his entire extended family, and Camilo was able to travel to the U.S. to be with the family. Camilo received an emergency visa from the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador to travel for 3 weeks. We are thankful to Congressman Devin Nunes and his assistant, John Gong, for making this happen. We are hoping that this opens the door for Camilo to be able to travel with the family at Christmas time.

(photo taken at McKinley Grove of Giant Sequoias in the Sierra Nevada Mtns.)

Prayer Requests:
-The enemy is attacking members of our church; please pray that the people may stay strong in their faith in Christ

-Pray that we may be guided by the Lord on how to handle current problems with the church property

-Pray for our health and protection