May God be Glorified

The last Friday of every month Ana does a biblestudy in a Hihiri. Here are some pics for everyone.

Unfortunately I missed out since I wasn't feeling well. But obviously the show went on without me ;)

The fish project is going quite well!! Last week we harvested a bunch of fry out of the big pool and transferred them to a tank at the house. This is wonderful because it means that our fish are reproducing :) We also separated a fish that we suspected to be carrying eggs. Tilapia carry the eggs in their mouth. So, when they don't eat you know that something is up. It was quite fun trying to get our mommy fish out of the big pool. Rogelio and I had to get in. Yes, we got in a 10x17 swimming pool with around 400 fish. I'm just thankful that the water wasn't clear so I wasn't aware of how surrounded I really was. We then stretched a net across the width of the pool and slowly walked from one end to the other. Trapping all the fish (or atleast alot of the fish) on the other side of the net. After 5 or 6 tries we got our momma fish. I think I only got slapped by jumping fish a couple dozen times..... And thankfully I didn't slip so I never went completely under, hahahahahahahaha. Don't ya'll wish I had a video of it :) Plus the other day we moved a bunch of fingerlings into a bigger tank. So right now we have tilapia of all shapes and sizes. Eggs, Fry, fingerlings, and full grown!!!

This past week we've been blessed by tropical storm, Georgette. Lots of clouds, rain, and winds. We can't get enough of the rain. Unfortunately because of the rain many of the bible studies had to be canceled. When it rains the roads become unpassable. That happens often when your 'roads' are actually dry river beds, hahahaha. Thankfully last night we were able to go to Las Minitas after missing three weekly studies there. The only car that can make it there this time of the year is the truck and until yesterday it was without a spare. Hence, no trips to Las Minitas.

On Thursday the angels in heaven were rejoicing, another soul was added to the Lamb's book of life. Domingo Ivan gave his life to the Lord while hitchhiking with us. He's a young man, probably in his early 20's, from Mocuzari. Please pray that he would follow through with his decision. Ana's nephew Rogelio was the one that witnessed to Domingo on our way to Mocuzari. The Lord has really gifted Rogelio. He has an amazing way of showing and presenting the gospel. Plus, Rogelio never turns down an opportunity to share. He is such a blessing. I am convicted so often by his fervor.

Abuelo (Grandpa) Vico is back from the mountains. He arrived last night with his son Miguel Angel. I can't wait to go and hear all the stories that he has to tell from this trip. The Lord always uses him mightily when he goes to the mountains to preach.

Please pray for Pastor Dan, he's been a bit under the weather lately.

I want to leave ya'll with a scripture verse. Proverbs 25:28 says:

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls".

Tough verse right? You're probably thinking, "Geez Chelsea, why not something encouraging or something to lighten our load a bit?". But I want you to look at it from this point of view..... The body of Christ, the church, our family and friends are that city. We are the walls. We are the Christians, the ones with the truth. If our guard is not up the city is in danger. The purpose of the walls of a city is to protect it from attackers, robbers, diseases. The gate was always watched and guarded in bibletimes. The guards ready and waiting for trouble. When we lack self-control, when are not living so as to receive the fruits of the Spirit, the walls are down. We are endangering everyone. The Lord convicted me this morning. My city right now is Rancho Maranatha. When I lack discretion, discipline, self-control, or love it affects my city. It affects this ministry. Being part of the body means that we are never alone. Sin is never lonely....
I must, you must, we must walk in the Spirit my friends! It may seem tough because it means dying to the flesh, right? But all good things cost something. Our walk with God, our commitment to Him has a price. That price is sacrificing our flesh. Denying our desires and our predisposition to sin Remember that we are ambassadors for Christ. We are that city set on a hill. We are salt and light. Spread your light today. My prayer today is that the Lord would give me the strength and self-control to bring my flesh into submission.

May God be glorified!

Some Prayer Requests

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to throw some prayer requests out to all you prayer warriors!!!!

(1) Eliot. Eliot, 17, is Marilu's younger brother. He had been staying on the ranch but had to leave due to circumstances. He's now somewhere temporarily in Obregon, I don't know exactly where right now. The social services said that they would have a hard time placing him because he doesn't have a very clean 'record' in the children's system. Please, please pray that the Lord would touch this young man's heart. That he would have a desire to change, a desire to succeed, a desire to live a holy life. He doesn't have very many more chances. Soon he will be 18. When he turns 18 he'll be on his own, completely. Eliot lived with my family for over 2 years when we ran the boys' home here at Ranch Maranatha. He is close to my family's heart.

(2) Cars........ We are having serious issues with our transportation right now. Our entire ministry here revolves around cars, around going places, around moving people. Several of the villages that we minister to have vehicles that we have given them to be able to come to church. Mocuzari has a school bus. Osobompo a Ford 15 passenger that is decades older than me. Tesia has a bus as well. Only problem is, none of them are working right now!!!!!!! We have a 15 passenger van for Jusibompo and Navojoa but it is not big enough. It is horrible to have people that want to come to church but dont' have any way to arrive. 3 of our cars here on the ranch are in the shop right now as well. So please pray for wheels!!!!!!! We know that the Lord will provide and that his timing is perfect but please pray!

(3) Pastor Fidel. Please continue to pray for him and his family. Fidel along with his wife, Trini, his daughters Dahlila and Abigail, and his son are such troopers. They've been fighting their way through his sickness. The doctors say that he is on the mend but he still is not feeling well. He hasn't been able to work for months now. More than anything please pray for peace and joy in their house. They have been such a light and example to their village through this whole process. They are not fretting but putting the whole situation in the Lord's hands.

(4) Abuelo Vico. Abuelo (grandpa) is Ana's father. He left yesterday for the mountains and will be gone for around 15 days. He goes to help Ana's brother, Miguel Angel with his ministry. Abuelo is quite te evangelist and loves to share Jesus with everyone. The area tat he is going to is very dangerous. The drug trafficers rule and reign in every aspect of the lives of those who live there.

(5) Please continue to pray for all the villages that we minister to. Here's the list again;

Osbompo (where Pastor Fidel lives)

Mocuzari

Las Minitas

Jusibompo

San Antonio

Huazahuari

Tesia

Navojoa

Please pray that there would be growth and maturity in the congregation. Also that there would be untiy.

(6) The picture on the right at the top of this update is of the men that minister in the prison every monday. From front to back; Tonito, "Plata" (which means silver, not sure what his real name is :)), Pastor Dan, Julian, and Lupe. They get together every monday and go to minister inside the prison. Dan is thankful that he is able to go in every monday and come back out 2 hours later. For months last year he did not have that option. How great our Lord is to make beauty from ashes. Speaking of that, Tonito. Tonito is the first man in the picture. He was in prison as well for quite a while. He was definately on the road to destruction. But he gave his life to the Lord and now is quite the servant. Tonito is a ray of sunshine, always trusting and praising the Lord. We would like to to be able to give him some new teeth. I know you can't see them in the pic above, sorry. So, if the Lord moves your heart to pray for Tonito pray as well that the Lord would provide him some new 'pearly whites'.

Well that should be enough to keep ya'll busy for now. It's a splendid day here, overcast, quite the treat for us. I just finished two loaves of banana bread and have an apple pie in the oven.....

Baking when it's 90 degrees inside isn't the brightest idea but I had to do it sometime.

I have a poem that I would like to share. It brought me to tears yesterday, it's written on my wall now ;)

He giveth more grace, when the bordens grow greater.

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction, He addeth His mercies,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundaries known unto men;

FOr out of His infinte riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed 'ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit. His grace has no measure.

his power no boundaries known unto man;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

baptisms,biblestudies,blessed be the name of the Lord

Gaudencia, pictured above with Ana, was baptized this past Sunday. She gave her life to the Lord decades ago but is just now getting baptized! The angels in heaven were rejoicing!
The girls below; Clarissa, Maria, and Melissa watching the baptisms.

These next pics are from our ladies biblestudy in Osobompo today. Pastor Dan made the wood dove in the picture. The biblestudy this morning was such a blessing. We're going through the book, "love and respect" with Carla. It's a biblical look at marriage and how love is required from the man and respect from the woman. This book puts most of the responsibility on the female's shoulders though. It's a wonderful and convicting book. I know that I don't need this info quite yet but I'm stowing it away for later. The concept of respecting their husbands completely is quite hard for these women because many of them are unequally yoked. Many of them go home to drunks or men who don't work often. Yet they are being obedient and following what the Lord requires of them as christian women.

As you can see our lighting here in MX is as high tech as it gets.

And this would be Lolita with Carmina's beautiful little boy!

And this would be little old me writing on my walls, such a bad girl. Actually I'm covering my walls with scripture. It's in chalk so it'll wash off.... This way I can wash and erase whenever i want to change verses. I would highly reccomend to ya'll putting scripture EVERYWHERE. It's wonderful to have His word in front of you everywhere you turn.

Faith, you can't see it

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redeption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance". Romans 8

Carla shared these verses in devotions this morning, they really hit home for me.

"But hope that is seen is not hope"....... How often to we say, "Lord, if I could just see?!?!!" How often I ask Him to let me see the plans He has for me. I ask to see my future. Or sometimes I ask just to see tomorrow. Sometimes I simply want to nkow the end of the conversation I'm having. Funny isn't it. We always want to know, we want to see. Sometimes I remind myself of Curious George, knocking down every stand in the grocery store just to see behind a counter..... hahahahahahaha..... Or the saying, "Curiosity killed the cat". I think that saying is so true. The Lord doesn't let us see because we're cats. The curiousity will kill us. How so? I don't think we could handle the future if we saw it. I don't think we'd be able to face tomorrow if we knew. Why? Because the Lord has us on a path. We learn as we go. He prepares us for the steps ahead. All that He requires is that we put one foot in front of the other. Like a good soldier. Obey and ask no questions. I wish I was more like that. I wish I would just let my curiousity go. I wish I could just be at peace with not know. We need to be at peace with anticipating. We need to just take His hand and put one foot in front of the other. After all, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. One bite after another til it's gone.

Here's a pic of my sunday night class in Osobompo. We have a great time! You can tell it was hot though, we're all shiny with sweat!

To name a few of the kids; Ximena, Abigail, Valeria, Alexis, Briseida, Lupita, Jesus, Fernanda, Juan, and several others.

Things are great here! Today I went and bought another months worth of despensas. It's so much

fun walking through the store and throwing 10 ro 20 of everything in th carts. Thanks to Lola for helping me :)

Marilu is officially a Schubert now. The wedding was Monday night. The was beautiful and the groom beaming. What more can one ask for. They are now heading for Montana. Please pray for the Lord's hand on their marriage and that Marilu wouldn't freeze to death, LOL !

Last tuesday at the Ladies's study in Osobompo we had a new lady come. Her name is Laura. It was a blessing to have her. Best part is, she accepted the Lord!!!!!!!!! So, if you can remember please pray for Laura!

Ok, time to go make dinner. We're having tostadas with every topping imagineable. Yep, I'm suffering on the mission field, hahahahahaha. Love ya'll!!!!