The house was suppose to close on the 31st, but since it had not we still moved in faith. God provided us a house that was partially furnished for about 6 months. This was at a price we could afford, but was much nicer than we were expecting at that price. So, we got moved in and then the house closed! Now, after owning for almost 16 years, this was a strange feeling. We were now homeless in a way, but I think God wants me to realize how dependent on Him we really are. As I type this I am looking out over the Rogue Valley from above, out a 3rd story window with views of pines and the Table Rocks. Definitely much better than views of tagged fences in the areas we thought we were going to be renting.

Once we got moved, Jeremy called us and said he was coming back to Medford.  This was a surprise since the last thing he ever wanted to do was return to Medford, but in this case He felt God wanted him to return to get a job and pay bills he left hanging. Please pray that he finds a job quickly. Now Jeremy has been here for a couple of weeks and has been ministering to his uncle who is only 1 year older than him and some friends.

Between getting the engraver set up and car problems, it seems I can’t get anything caught up. Much to do with the business and the planning for the big move to the Dominican Republic. Island Light Ministries seems to be were God has directed us to serve. This new ministry was started by Jim and Debra Tunnicliff with a few visions of feeding the poor, ministering to the youth (locals and foreign) and working with a planned neighborhood of housing for the poor.

Lots to do, but I know God is the one directing and our faith just grows as we follow Him.

We have the house in escrow and it is expected to close on the 31st. This is great news, however, this is our busy month for business and we had already planned a trip to visit our son in Mexico. Not much time to pack, sort or even think.  So, we are asking for your prayers on the following:

1. Peace and patience in our home
2. A house to rent
3. Someone to help with the business while we are gone
4. Wisdom with selling the business or getting a partner
5. God to get all the Glory
6. Rest for my wife who will probably be taking on way too much (supermom)
7. Clear vision for our Dominican Republic mission

Thank you to all those who have prayed for the house to sell, it is pending and things can change, we just know that God can pull it all the way through if this is His will for us.

Woo hoo!

I can’t recall all of the dream, but I remember leaving a kingdom. I don’t remember being an escape, just I left. I didn’t want to be there anymore and found a new kingdom where the people were free. It seemed like it was easy to walk over too, but that is all that was easy. I then found myself having to watch out, because the old kingdom sent someone after me, it turns out they would do anything, kill anyone, to get me back in their kingdom.

This got very bloody fast, so intense it woke me up. This one that came back cut the skin and muscle off of an arm of a friend of mine (no one I know for real, but a friend in the dream.) This was done to show how serious and to what extreme this person would go to in order to get me back. Then immediately following that he killed another friend. All I remember was there was so much bloodshed and terror, yet I wasn’t really scared, but I knew I had to keep moving and flee from his blade. Then I awoke. I hate it when I want to go back to sleep, but my heart was pumping enough blood and I had enough adrenaline to run a few miles.

So the next few minutes while I was awake I realized the significance of the dream and how the enemy of our soul wants to destroy us. He may try to destroy everyone you love, such as in the case of Job. He wants to render you useless to God at very least or kill you at best. It may be easy to make the initial switch from his kingdom to the kingdom of God, but that is were the easy stops.  Life as a born again Christian is like that of the military. You are to prepare for battle, be always watchful, expect the enemy to attack and never let down your guard. This is a spiritual battle, one not seen by many.  Quite commonly we are tricked into fighting in the flesh, attacking that which is not the enemy.  The enemy is real, wants to kill you, and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal. Our King, however, is way more powerful, loves you and knows the end of the story.

By the way, our King wins.

Island Light Ministries

They plan to return there and continue implementing the vision they have. You can read more about Island Light Ministries at their website www.islandlightministries.org

Please lift them up in prayer as they will need God’s protection, guidance and finances to accomplish their goals. If you are your church body is looking for short term missions to be involved with contact Island Light Ministries to set up a date and plan, they will be glad to host small groups who desire to see what God is doing in other parts of the world.

We visited Jon and Shannon Haslett last year when we took a trip to Sosua, Dominican Republic. We met them through the Tunnicliffes. They run a program in the Dominican Republic that is an extension or continuation of what they have been doing in Venezuela for years.

Read about their history here: http://www.ninosdelaluz.org/know_history.html

 We contacted Jon resently about working with them for a year (or more) depending on the Lord’s leading.

 Please pray for that ministry and that God uses the Hasletts and others involved to reach these children.

We had a great 2 weeks with a group of 19. I believe it was 13 teens from 13 to 19 years old. What a great group of kids and young adults, they all behaved maturely, worked hard and had fun despite some long days.

We had opportunities almost every evening to minister throughout the city, from rough areas on the streets to a church service out in a park. We were blessed to be a part of the ministry that the staff at JUCUM (YWAM) has there. This is one awesome group of people who love the Lord and serve Him with all their strength.

Street ministry in the D.R.

He did it. He provided all the funding. Some of it came on the day we were to turn it all in – and it was quite a bit. Thank you to all of those who helped financial and through prayers.

Just a few days left before we leave. So many things to take care of and we are quite excited about the trip. We did get one thing done (mostly…) we sprayed the house this last weekend.

Just to let you know, heavy boom lifts on hard tires can get stuck to easily off of pavement. So, I rented a boom to get to the peaks and dormer windows on our house. I drove it onto the front lawn, leaving a 1/2″ indention everywhere I drove it. Then I tried to drive it back onto the driveway, but it would just spin the tires. Tried with plywood and 2X4’s as instructed by the rental company, but no go.

I then turned and went the other direction and figured I would try to drive around and into the backyard to access 2 of the dormer windows as planned. I got over some bark area and was going onto the sidewalk. The lift is wider than the sidewalk and as 2 wheels went over the side where more bark is, they sank. It so happens that under that area the clay ground was still really wet and clay leaves no traction. Well, we tried to help it out with a pickup and cable but that didn’t work. $95 and 5 minutes with a tow truck, it was back onto pavement.

So, the lift didn’t quite get used as planned and I still have the facia of one dormer window to get to probably by a 30′ to 40′ ladder. But the house is sprayed and looks really good.

Pictures to come shortly….. maybe.

Thank you to everyone who donated or supported our efforts!

Now with less than two weeks remaining before we leave, we are preparing for our trip by packing items and getting things ready and planned for the kids who will be staying with grandparents.  As any mother reading this would know, this is a hard thing for Jessica, to leave all her kids for 2 weeks, but the Lord is good and they will have fun.

Please pray for those going, finances for the trip, and for God to use us throughout the trip to reach people, to bless His children and to give Him glory.

The Lord will be stretching all of us before and during the trip and the adversary will want us to be in discord, discouraged and overall defeated. We pray that we will fight the battle in the Spirit and not each other :~)

Currently we are raising funds for this trip, so if you are so inclined to help donations can be made to Helping Hands International here in Medford, Oregon. This trip, like many will be a combination of working on the facility there, ministering on the streets (or towns) and possibly doing something for a needy family.  The plans are never set in stone, since we have to go on faith. That is one of the cool things about the trips, we get to see God do miracles.

This Saturday, May 3rd is the jogathon, if you want to pledge per lap or just a flat amount. Jessica plans on running about 24 laps, I…. well, she will probably be lapping me since I haven’t ran any distance for quite some time.

Please pray for us and the others going on this trip. There will be a few from Cascade High School going, but none of our kids will go with us this time. The kids will enjoy a couple of weeks being spoiled by grandparents.