Dear friends,
You cannot imagine how difficult it has been to get in touch with you today. I have tried so many ways and this is the only way I´ve been able to get through. God did amazing things in Cuba during our seven days of missionary work. We have seen His majesty so clearly that it has transformed our lives completely. As most of you know, we had planned to do Vacation Bible School and Youth Encounters. Well...the Lord had other plans. Our first sign of things to come was when we arrived at Jose Marti Airport in Havana and immediately secured the transportation we needed to get to the hotel. My cousin and his girlfriend were waiting for us as well as Nicole´s family. It had been a long trip and we were exhausted but very excited. We checked in the hotel and decided to walk around Old Havana. Some of the missionaries took tracts and distributed them among the people walking around. Several people accepted Christ right there and then. It was unbelievable!
I will give you more detailed information later. Right now I am at an internet cafe in the center of town with my cousin and my niece. I heard there´s a cyclone in the south, but I´m not worried. We´ve already been through a hurricane. The team went back yesterday among tears of joy and overflowing with the Spirit. If you happen to see any of the team members ask them about the trip, but be sure you have plenty of time when you ask, because there is a lot to tell.
I love you and miss you tons!
Lou
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Hello!
This is the only opportunity I have had to get online. We are currently in Havana. We left Sancti Spiritus this morning at two and arrived at my cousins house at five this morning. We are awaiting the arrival of the mini vans my cousin secured to take the team to the airport.
The week has been INCREDIBLE. God has revealed Himself in so many ways that some of the people who experienced it felt overwhelmed. Our bus driver got saved, as well as the horse and buggy driver and the cleaning lady at the hotel. It´s been awesome! The Boyce Chicks will tell you all about it tomorrow. Nobody in the team wants to leave. I find it unbelievable considering the fact that we went a whole day without water in our hotel. No showers, no brushing teeth, it was gnarly, but God never tested us beyond our limit. I was shocked that not one person complained.
Please keep me in prayer. I am going to be alone and need all the help I can get.
I love you and miss you all!
Lou
P.S. Please let my hubby know that I miss him tremendously.
This is the only opportunity I have had to get online. We are currently in Havana. We left Sancti Spiritus this morning at two and arrived at my cousins house at five this morning. We are awaiting the arrival of the mini vans my cousin secured to take the team to the airport.
The week has been INCREDIBLE. God has revealed Himself in so many ways that some of the people who experienced it felt overwhelmed. Our bus driver got saved, as well as the horse and buggy driver and the cleaning lady at the hotel. It´s been awesome! The Boyce Chicks will tell you all about it tomorrow. Nobody in the team wants to leave. I find it unbelievable considering the fact that we went a whole day without water in our hotel. No showers, no brushing teeth, it was gnarly, but God never tested us beyond our limit. I was shocked that not one person complained.
Please keep me in prayer. I am going to be alone and need all the help I can get.
I love you and miss you all!
Lou
P.S. Please let my hubby know that I miss him tremendously.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Jet Lag
We have arrived safe and sound my battery is low and the hotel does not have
110v like we thought so no one has a 220v adapter. I will make it short.
Hurricane still coming should hit Havana tomorow morning. We are praying for
a miracle. Hopefully we will be able to go to Sancti Spiritus tomorrow as
planned. If not the next day. The city is beautiful yet impoverished will
update website as soon as I can recacharge my battery. Spread the word we
are all ok. Keep up the prayers Thanks to all of you!!!
Cuba Mission 2008
110v like we thought so no one has a 220v adapter. I will make it short.
Hurricane still coming should hit Havana tomorow morning. We are praying for
a miracle. Hopefully we will be able to go to Sancti Spiritus tomorrow as
planned. If not the next day. The city is beautiful yet impoverished will
update website as soon as I can recacharge my battery. Spread the word we
are all ok. Keep up the prayers Thanks to all of you!!!
Cuba Mission 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Day 2!!
After a fun hard day of traveling, unpacking, eating, witnessing and everything else, we have made it to day 2!! Fortunately, thanks to God's glory the hurricane missed us and is now heading to the Florida Keys. Therefore we are debating whether we are going to head out to Sancti Spiritus today or not! Either way, we will continue our mission across Cuba Testifying God's great love to this nation.
In everything we have done we have seen our Saviours Hand. He has been there in every step we have taken and we glorify and bless him for this.
We will keep updating the blog anytime we can and we will continue on our journey! Keep praying for us and blessing God's trip. We miss every one of you
In his Love
Charlie
In everything we have done we have seen our Saviours Hand. He has been there in every step we have taken and we glorify and bless him for this.
We will keep updating the blog anytime we can and we will continue on our journey! Keep praying for us and blessing God's trip. We miss every one of you
In his Love
Charlie
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Miracles Continue
To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen!
Today as Debbie, Audrey and I were driving to the bank to get the Cashiers Cheques for our trip, Debbie said something that has stayed with me all day. I was sharing a miracle that happened this week (I'll tell you about it in a minute) and she said..."Lou, if we don't get on the plane tomorrow, we'll still have enough testimonies to glorify God forever". My friends, Debbie is right. God's hand has been upon this mission since it was only a far off vision.
Now, I will share with you how amazing our God is. He has not only chosen the most amazing team of missionaries, He has provided the funds, He has equipped us to do the work, He has increased our faith and He has been guiding us all throughout. Just this week He has shown that He not only cares about the big stuff. He also cares about the little stuff. You see, a couple of years ago He entrusted me to take a group of girls to the Jewels Conference in Rancho Cucamonga. It was an awesome event. The speaker spoke directly to the hearts of all of us in attendance. After her powerful teaching, the speaker asked us to get into small groups to pray. I noticed one of the girls, Hannah Piohia, was weeping. I went to her and asked her what was wrong; between sobs she shared the her friend had given her a bracelet and later committed suicide. Hannah had lost the bracelet and she was upset because she had lost the one thing she could remember her friend by. I immediately felt the Lord telling me to give Hannah the cross I was wearing. It was a very simple, but unique gold cross that had been given to me by my sister-in-law as a birthday present. I took off my cross and hung it on Hannah's neck. I told her that she should always remember how much God loved her, and that the cross was a symbol of His love. I saw Hannah wearing it proudly. A few months ago Hannah's house was robbed. She sadly told me her cross had been stolen. I comforted her by reminding her that God had protected her and her family and that material things could always be replaced.
Last Tuesday, Linda Brownlee shared with me that she was at home wondering what she could give us to take to Cuba. She said she went to her jewelry box and found five Sacagewea dollars which she decided to give to us. When she handed me the plastic bag with the dollars in it I was shocked to see, that in addition to the dollars, there was a distinctive and unique gold cross in the bag. Friends, it was exactly like the cross that had been stolen from Hannah several months ago. Linda doesn't recall where the cross came from. She said that she saw it and decided to give it to us. Hannah is one of the missionaries going to Cuba. I am going to put it in a gift box for her and I am going to write..."With me all things are possible. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Love, Jesus" I am sure that this gift from God is going to bless Hannah the way it's bless all of us who witnessed this incredible miracle.
We will be departing for Cuba tomorrow at midnight. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!
Today as Debbie, Audrey and I were driving to the bank to get the Cashiers Cheques for our trip, Debbie said something that has stayed with me all day. I was sharing a miracle that happened this week (I'll tell you about it in a minute) and she said..."Lou, if we don't get on the plane tomorrow, we'll still have enough testimonies to glorify God forever". My friends, Debbie is right. God's hand has been upon this mission since it was only a far off vision.
Now, I will share with you how amazing our God is. He has not only chosen the most amazing team of missionaries, He has provided the funds, He has equipped us to do the work, He has increased our faith and He has been guiding us all throughout. Just this week He has shown that He not only cares about the big stuff. He also cares about the little stuff. You see, a couple of years ago He entrusted me to take a group of girls to the Jewels Conference in Rancho Cucamonga. It was an awesome event. The speaker spoke directly to the hearts of all of us in attendance. After her powerful teaching, the speaker asked us to get into small groups to pray. I noticed one of the girls, Hannah Piohia, was weeping. I went to her and asked her what was wrong; between sobs she shared the her friend had given her a bracelet and later committed suicide. Hannah had lost the bracelet and she was upset because she had lost the one thing she could remember her friend by. I immediately felt the Lord telling me to give Hannah the cross I was wearing. It was a very simple, but unique gold cross that had been given to me by my sister-in-law as a birthday present. I took off my cross and hung it on Hannah's neck. I told her that she should always remember how much God loved her, and that the cross was a symbol of His love. I saw Hannah wearing it proudly. A few months ago Hannah's house was robbed. She sadly told me her cross had been stolen. I comforted her by reminding her that God had protected her and her family and that material things could always be replaced.
Last Tuesday, Linda Brownlee shared with me that she was at home wondering what she could give us to take to Cuba. She said she went to her jewelry box and found five Sacagewea dollars which she decided to give to us. When she handed me the plastic bag with the dollars in it I was shocked to see, that in addition to the dollars, there was a distinctive and unique gold cross in the bag. Friends, it was exactly like the cross that had been stolen from Hannah several months ago. Linda doesn't recall where the cross came from. She said that she saw it and decided to give it to us. Hannah is one of the missionaries going to Cuba. I am going to put it in a gift box for her and I am going to write..."With me all things are possible. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Love, Jesus" I am sure that this gift from God is going to bless Hannah the way it's bless all of us who witnessed this incredible miracle.
We will be departing for Cuba tomorrow at midnight. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Home Stretch
Blessings friends,
Our departure is on the horizon and the whole team is bursting with anticipation. On Thursday I went to the agency (Caribe Travel) and paid for our trip. Everything is in order and we cannot wait to see what God has prepared in advance for us to do. My sister came down Thursday to help me prepare the luggage. You see, a trip to the homeland is a whole production. We wrote lists, shopped, sorted clothes, and organized everything. Leidy stayed with me until everything was done. Praise God everything I'm taking is packaged and ready to go, all I need now is the suitcase.
God continues to bless us. Just this week we were witnesses to a miracle. You see, although the team has raised enough funds for us to go; several of the team members have been unsuccessful in raising their portion. I would like to share this testimony with you. Last week one of the team members asked me to write a fundraising letter for her. I did, we made copies and she picked them up. Before leaving my office she suggested we pray over the letters. We did. We asked the Lord for fruit from the letters and His will to be done. Last Wednesday I received a call from the team member. She shared with me that she had sought the Lord with all of her heart. She asked Him to confirm if His will was for her to go on this mission. She confessed to God that she was short on funds and wanted Him to know that if He didn't want her to go she would happily pray and support us from the sidelines. She said she went to work that morning and passed out the letters. She handed one to her boss; several minutes later he came back with a sealed envelope in it was a check for $1,000.00. God answered her with a resounding YES!
Praise be to you Father, for your hand upon us and this, your mission. May we do your work well. Continue to equip, guide, protect and provide for us. Help us finish the race victoriously so that your mighty name may be glorified. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Our departure is on the horizon and the whole team is bursting with anticipation. On Thursday I went to the agency (Caribe Travel) and paid for our trip. Everything is in order and we cannot wait to see what God has prepared in advance for us to do. My sister came down Thursday to help me prepare the luggage. You see, a trip to the homeland is a whole production. We wrote lists, shopped, sorted clothes, and organized everything. Leidy stayed with me until everything was done. Praise God everything I'm taking is packaged and ready to go, all I need now is the suitcase.
God continues to bless us. Just this week we were witnesses to a miracle. You see, although the team has raised enough funds for us to go; several of the team members have been unsuccessful in raising their portion. I would like to share this testimony with you. Last week one of the team members asked me to write a fundraising letter for her. I did, we made copies and she picked them up. Before leaving my office she suggested we pray over the letters. We did. We asked the Lord for fruit from the letters and His will to be done. Last Wednesday I received a call from the team member. She shared with me that she had sought the Lord with all of her heart. She asked Him to confirm if His will was for her to go on this mission. She confessed to God that she was short on funds and wanted Him to know that if He didn't want her to go she would happily pray and support us from the sidelines. She said she went to work that morning and passed out the letters. She handed one to her boss; several minutes later he came back with a sealed envelope in it was a check for $1,000.00. God answered her with a resounding YES!
Praise be to you Father, for your hand upon us and this, your mission. May we do your work well. Continue to equip, guide, protect and provide for us. Help us finish the race victoriously so that your mighty name may be glorified. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
We're Almost There!
Dear family and friends,
Our departure is only a couple of weeks away. We are confident we will have the funds to cover the work we will be doing in Cuba thanks to your generosity. We are amazed to see how many people are willing to help us meet our goals. Unfortunately, there are some of us who have not yet raised the funds necessary. I am appealing to you once again. Please prayerfully consider donating to this wonderful cause. You may send your tax deductible donations to Light & Light Christian Fellowship~Downey at 9245 Florence Avenue, Downey, CA 90240. Please write on the memo column of your check "Cuba Mission 2008". May God bless you tenfold.
Our departure is only a couple of weeks away. We are confident we will have the funds to cover the work we will be doing in Cuba thanks to your generosity. We are amazed to see how many people are willing to help us meet our goals. Unfortunately, there are some of us who have not yet raised the funds necessary. I am appealing to you once again. Please prayerfully consider donating to this wonderful cause. You may send your tax deductible donations to Light & Light Christian Fellowship~Downey at 9245 Florence Avenue, Downey, CA 90240. Please write on the memo column of your check "Cuba Mission 2008". May God bless you tenfold.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
