Prayer request

Hello Everybody!
I have a prayer request.
Tomorrow, I will be joining two families from our church, The Parkmans and the Bales, and heading to Royal Family Kids Camp. RFKC is a camp for children that are in the 'system'. I believe the majority are from foster care homes. RFKC is a national organization with local chapters. The Parkmans have been involved for several years and the last two years our church has sponsored kids to attend the camp. There should be 32 kids attending the camp. All under the age of 12. The mission is to share Christ's love with these kids.
Please pray for:
(1) The salvation of these children
(2) Unity of the staff
(3) Guidance for the counselors
(4) Big angels to cover the whole camp and everyone involved.
The kids will be with us starting on Thursday around 11am til mid afternoon on the following Monday. The days will start at 7:30 and lights out is at 10. Long days :)
There are two times during the day that we ask specifically for prayer. 10:30-11:45 is bible story time. Pray for receptive ears.
Then bedtime. From 9-10 pm. I'm told that this is a time that the enemy really takes advantage of to stir-up unrest and cause problems with the kids.
I'm extremely excited about this experience. I'm looking forward to meeting every single one of these children and being given the opportunity to love on them. The mission is simple but accomplishing it is a bit tricky. We want these kids to meet Jesus Christ. However we do not have complete freedom in what we can say or do with them.
So, I'm excited. I'm getting ready for a week of little sleep, lots of games, sunburn I'm sure, and probably giving my heart away again and again.
God bless ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Testing, testing

testing, testing, 1 ,2 3..... testing testing....


Provando, provando, 1, 2, 3, provando.......

creatures

The creatures are out!!! They're coming out of hiding, both big and small. Some more pleasant than others. The ones that we had in Sunday School last night were the cute fuzzy kind that you just want to hug!!!! On the left is my class, the right is Josie's class. The Sunday night study is held in Osobampo. The children are from Osobampo, Jusibampo, Mocuzari, and Las Minitas. Several of the children in my class come all on their own. Their parents do not attend our church. Last night as I was walking through the village rounding up kids I found a little girl, Roxanna, who used to come all the time. Roxanna is Ruth's cousin. When I asked her why she hadn't been coming she told me that her parents didn't allow her to come anymore. Supposedly because they leave on Sunday nights for Navojoa so it's not convenient.... Whether those are their motives or not it still made me sad. I hope and pray that the Lord will continue to touch this little girl even though she is no longer with us.

The not so fuzzy and cute creatures are out as well!!!!! Within an hour of eachother we removed a big black King snake and a juicy centipede from the girls' dorms... Fun, fun, fun. The centipede, which was found in the shower, had quite an affect on the ladies... For some reason after finding him none of them wanted to take a shower!

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the comsmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". Ephesians 6:12

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth". Col 3:2

I have come to realize that when a problem, issue, or crisis, overwhelms me it is because I am not being 'heavenly' minded. Everything that we fight on this earth is spiritual. The fight against our flesh is spiritual. My fustrations and anxieties are heavenly battles. They cannot be fought the same way as earthly battles.

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak". Matt 26

When will I stop applying earthly methods to heavenly problems? When will I realized that my struggles and my trials are supernatural. I do not need earthly wisdom or common sense in my walk with the Lord. I simply must trust in His word. I must be in communion with Him.
Heaven's currency is completely diferent from earth's. What is of value here is rubbish there . What is of value there we ,here, consider foolishness.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is strong than men. For consider your calling, brothers, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God". 1 Cor 1

I know that we've all read the above passage before, probably many times. But have you ever really summed it all up.... What is God saying here? Our way, our wisdom, our methods, our psycology, our strength, our intilect is USELESS. I repeat USELESS....... God will not work where He is not wanted. If you've got it, "all under control", He is not going to take control of the situation. The point is not for us to make it through. The point is not for us to conquer. The point is for Jehova to be glorified. Comprende???? :)

I sure don't. I'm having a hard time getting this point through my thick skull.

So, let's put on our heavenly glasses :)

Using God's wisdom let's think about His purpose for every situation. Let's not use the earthly scale to judge or evaluate, let's use God's scale. Jesus needed 5 loaves and 2 fish not 1 million dollars. Jesus needed water to make wine, not a vinyard. Jesus needed faith to make the blind see and the dear hear, nothing more. Jesus needed to pillow to rest his head or home to call his own, He simply needed His Father. Are our requirements for our life the same as God's? Are our expectations the same? Our goals?

When we look at the line in front of us at Walmart do we see people in our way or do we see lost souls?
Put on your Jesus glasses.

Hot

Yes, it's hot. Today is the 3rd day in a row that it's been over 100 degrees. Hot,hot, hot. The whole world just seems to smolder and melt. It leaves you wanting to do nothing but nap in front of a fan. The smallest tasks like hanging laundry make you feel like you've just climbed a mountain. Ok, so maybe I'm exagerating a bit, but just a bit :) :(

Last Sunday two people gave their lives to the Lord. Some of you may remember me writing about a lady ,Gaudencia, that was saved and baptized after +20 years of hearing the gospel...... Well it is Gaudencia's son, David, and his wife that gave their lives to the Lord. We are so very, very excited for them. One of their daughters was recently seriously injured. She somehow was cut but a mirror and almost severed her arm. She is now in need of several surgeries and physical therapy. It does appear though that if she has the surgeries and the therapy she will be able to use her arm again.

Edith, our Swiss friend, that I stayed with for two weeks post-surgery is doing well. She decided on the hormone treatment to treat her cancer. Today Ana took her to the doctor for a check up. He said that everything seems fine for now. When Jo and Jerry leave I will be going in their place to Alamos to have biblestudy with Carol and Edith. Please pray that the Lord would bless our time together and use it to grow all three of us. Carol and Edith are always inviting others of the American community in Alamos to the study but for now it's just us.

On Thursday I went with Dan and Rogelio to start tiling the new bathroom at Eva's house. This is the bathroom that the group from MN built. It went well. Three people in a bathroom for an extended period of time can be quite comical :) :) :)
I'm not a tile master yet but maybe with a bit more practice, LOL. I know that Sister Eva must be excited. As far as I know this is the first time she's ever had a bathroom with actual plumbing.

My dear friend and adopted Big Sis, Tandrian Riddering, will be here in the 22nd. I'm super excited about her visit!!!!! She'll be tagging along with daily life and going to all of the villages with us :)

May God bless you all abundantly. Thankyou once again for your prayers and your support of this ministry.

Chelsea Rae

cositas (Stuff)

Little Ruth spent this last weekend with us. I'm helping her with her reading :)

Hi all!!!!!

Salutations from Rancho Maranatha!

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossble, but with God all things are possible". Matthew 19:26

Living this life for Christ in our our strength is impossible..... It's only in the knowledge and acceptance of His mercy, grace, and love that we can become truly like Christ.

"You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body".

1 Cor 6:19b-20

Only in Christ, dwelling in Him, abiding in Him, are we able to glorify Him truly. What truly glorifies Christ in not our actions. It's not just in our acts of service. It's not just in our aiding the widows, loving the orphans, or feeding the poor. Glorifying the Lord is not simply self-denial or rigorous discipline. Glorifying God is not just doing great and daring things in His name that will be made into a book some day. Glorifying God is desiring to know Him. Glorifying God is expressing your desire to be closer to Him. Glorifying God is seeking His face with all of your body, soul, and mind. Glorifying God is falling madly in love with Him, the Creator of the universe. Glorifying God is making "Jesus Loves Me" your lovesong. Glorifying God is recognizing is grace and love. Glorifying God is allowing that grace and love to penetrate your heart and your mind. It's allowing that grace and love to change you. Glorifying God is allowing that peace that passes all understanding to penetrate every fiber of your being. Glorifying God is to live and rest in Him.

Josie shared her testimony at the Ladies' day this Good Friday. It was such a blessing to have such a young life setting such a Godly example. Dulce did the same in sharing her testimony. Both of these teen girls truly desire to serve God. They both have seen miracles worked in their lives.

Sunrise service on Cerro Prieto was breathtaking as always. How humbling it is to stand there victorious because Christ died for us. If that isn't proof of God's love, what is?

Pedro worshipping as we watched the sunrise. A wonderful young man who has come to the Lord in his youth. Pedro works in a factory. He was telling me last week that He struggles with the worldly enviroment he works in. He desires to take Jesus to his co-workers. Pray that the Lord would open doors for this young man and that he would be encouraged in his walk.

The Rancho Maranatha girls. From left to right; Josie, Carolina, Maria, Monce, Dulce,and Danny. Oh ya, the really dark native on the far right is me :) These are the girls that I bunk with and spend quite a lot of time with. Please pray for them all. Especially Carolina who has just returned to us after living with relatives. We so desire to see fruit in her life and to have her seek Jesus wholeheartedly. Maria pretty much lives with us on the weekends. She's a very smart young lady that we hope to encourage in the things of the Lord.

Anybody want a ride???? I think they could fit a couple more on there.!!!!!!

Family 2

Hi Everyone :) Well as most of you know my mother, brother, sister, and Larry were just here for a visit. It was a wonderful time. They left yesterday for the states. I would lie if I said it wasn't hard to watch them go. The time was so special and so much fun. I was very much the proud daughter and sister showing off my family to everyone. They all worked hard while they were here. Especially Larry! Below is a picture of Gabe and Larry organizing our construction shed. It was well overdue. They went as far as to organize all of up diferent screws and nails. What a blessing!!!!! Gabe had a sunburn from sitting in the sun organizing all day :) The group from Montana was also here last week. They built an outhouse for Dona Lupita in Navojoa and a bathroom for Don Ernesto in Alamos. Both of these elderly people were in dire need of these facilities. Thankyou so much Montana for doing this. You guys rock! This next weekend the group from Life Christian Fellowship church in CA will be arriving. They are going to help finish the bathroom that the group from Minnesota started. Talk about bathrooms galore, we've got them everywhere!!!! THat's a good thing though. There is a serious shortage of them around here! As a reminder 2 Fridays from now, the 22, is the Ladies Day. The theme for this year is Galatians 5:22, the fruits of the Spirit. Please keep the preparation of this event in your prayers. Also pray for hearts of all the woman who will attend, that they will be open and moldable. Of course that the Lord would use the speakers as well. That it would be His voice and His message that would be spoken and heard. We hope this year to have many ladies that are unsaved attend. We pray that it will be the day of salvation for many! While Sonora was here she helped get the favors ready for the ladies' day. The ladies from the Montana group helped as well. Everyone has done lots of glueing and cutting. This is my Sunday morning class. Do you like our classroom ? Ana, Lola, and I took Mom, Gabe, Sonora, and Larry to La Aduana while they were here. La Aduana is an old mining town. We also took them to Alamos and the mirador :) This past Communion Sunday two ladie gave their lives to the Lord. Maria Juana and Chita are now our sisters in Christ!!!!!!!!! Maria Juana's husband is in jail. Dan met him durning his stay though. But he is now the in-jail pastor. I cannot imagine how happy he must be to know that his wife is now walking with the Lord. Chita's son, Chemalito, has been saved for some years as well. We rejoice with him in his mother's new life! The meeting with DIF Echohoa about bringing girls to the Ranch wel went. It seems that soon we will have atleast 2 girls coming to stay with us. So yes, recently things have been quite crazy. Lots of peope coming and going, lots of plans being made. I'm restful though because I know that my God is on the throne! Nothing can change that :) Remember He's coming soon! God Bless <><

Family

Well everyone, my family is here! Well. most of my family anyway. My mother, Gabe, Sonora, and Larry are here visiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm one blessed girl. So, so ,so glad to have them here. Last night in Las Minitas my sister made balloon animals for the kids. Next to her is a pic of the two Gabriels. They were little tikes of 5 years old running around playing in the dirt not to long ago. Now they're both close to 6 ft tall. Scary :)

L

Larry has been amazing! He's been keeping Gabe company. Teaching Gabe how to paint (my room :) and challenging him in the basketball court as well. I hear rumor that Larry's going to be cooking for us tomorrow :):):)

Gabe has been painting in between his air guitar solos!!!!! The last pic here in the right is of the group from Minnesota that was here several weeks ago. They were a huge blessing! Thank you guys!!!!!!

God bless ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!