Geppeto's Workshop in Mexico...Building Dreams

Here's a link to the many pictures I've taken of work and play. Enjoy!

Lydia's picutres.

In the dry dessert-like conditions of the city of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua (bordering with El Paso, Texas) a small group of young adults, five Amor Ministry pastors, three El Paso team members and me held our annual outreach in one of the communities. Along with two wonderful volunteers from Lone Tree High Adventure Camps we played, sang, prayed, preached, and loved on the people of the community of Granjas de Desierto.

The great story about this particular community was the connection one of our Amor pastors did with this community. This community is a newly established colonia which many families from all over Mexico come to buy land and build a simple home. Work is becoming scarce and building materials are very expensive. Many families build precarious homes of scrape wood or with anything that they can find. This family made up of a father, mother and five children worked hard to give their children food, clothing and schooling, but the house was inadequate. What a blessing to get the news that they qualified for a home!

Pastor Felipe from Amor Ministries mentioned that he has been evangelizing in this community for some time now and was excited to have the outreach in this community.

So after connecting with an awesome group who built this family their house they also went a step further and sponsored the community outreach. Plus, as an added bonus we held the outreach right on the land of the family the group had just built for!

We had games for the kids to play and win prizes. Music to fill the air with Praise. A message of hope from an Amor pastor and plenty of Bibles to give to the people. After we all shared a simple lunch. Everyone was filled both physically and spiritually. It was a wonderful celebration of hope!

If you are interested in finding out how you can help proclaim God's goodness please come to our website at www.amor.org . Also, we are in need of school supplies and Spanish Bibles... You can also donate toward those supplies just follow the links to the gift page. Thank you!

The following are pictures taken at the outreach. Enjoy!

I've always loved art and photography. Capturing fleeting moments to remember them for many years to come. My dream is to some day have someone look at my photos and say... "I want these photos to be in my resturant!" That's one of my dreams... Take a look at some of the following photos and let me know what you think.

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I haven't written on my blog for some time now and I'm starting to miss it. It's been hectic these last few months... Still the season of busyness is winding down and I know that I will have more time to write. In the meantime I covet your prayers.

Thanks!

As a fundraiser to sustain my work at Amor Ministries I've created some greeting cards from some photographs that I have taken.

As I see the beauty of the rose I think of my relationship with God.

As the rose opens it's delicate petals to bring forth the beauty inside so does my relationship with God.

Take a look and let me know what you think. Thank you!

www.amor.org

Recently I went to a worship conference at Calvary Chapel San Diego where a group of musicians named Shachah played. Now what stood out for me about the group wasn't their talent (which by the way they had plenty!) But it was their name?...

Shachah means "to bow down" in Hebrew. At this point in my life that is just how I felt.

I mean lately I've been realizing that trust is not just a feeling, but an action. When you trust someone you actually physically need to rest that what they said they will do they will do!

Just like a flower who just sways in the breeze enjoying the sunshine and trusting that the earth will provide for it's very need. I too needed to come to a place to just enjoy my every day living.

Look up Shachah and enjoy the testimony of God's love and grace!

At the end of September two co-workers and I visited our Ministry Planning Board in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Amor Ministries build homes there for the needy twice a year. This little town is starting to get noticed because of the booming resort hotels. Due to the fact that Puerto Peñasco is not heavily populated these resorts had to bring in personnel from southern Mexico. Many families left their hometowns with only the clothe on their backs. It's a miracle that with what little pay they receive that they can buy a piece of land. Yet not enought to buy materials to build a house.

I stood there in awe at how little that these families had. Where do these little ones sleep?

Some families that we will build for in November have a physical illness or disability that prevents them to be able to work.

One elderly woman lived with her disabled son who sold candies in the street. I walked in their little shelter and the little bed just seem to be almost out in the harsh elements.

Amor Ministries will be building 56 homes for families!

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p>Check out our website at www.amor.org</p>

Thanks!

I travel to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico at least once a month to meet with the pastors representing Amor Ministries there. They are a great bunch of men and one woman that serve at their churches plus continually work with the families we build for. In May of this year we had an outreach in a community near one of the pastor's church. Pastor Felipe gave a strong message of love and acceptance. We even had some "clowning" around. The kids were all decked out in their best clothes too cute for words. Enjoy the pictures!

I met these little boys at a photo shoot in Tijuana where I was a photographer's interpreter. They walked up to me and asked me what we were doing. I explained to them that we were taking pictures of families and their homes. I then asked them if they wanted their picture taken. They agreed and smiled the biggest smiles I have ever seen in my life. I had some donations with me so I gave them some food and a warm blanket. They blessed me with their smile and I was able to bless them with a gift. God showed me that it's always good to be prepared to give. You just never know when the need will arise. These two boys left with happy hearts and I left with a beautiful reminder of why I do what I do.

Part of my work as Mexico Ministry Coordinator is to organize our "Back to School" program. I am so excited that this year we were able to give out 420 backpacks this year!

Children are now ready to head back to school this August! Thank you to all our supporters and friends of Amor Ministries

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p>www.casadeamor.com</p>