" 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us' " (Matthew 1:23).

Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of--He is a being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate--God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord's birth was an advent--the appearance of God in human form.

This time of the year is very special to us because we get to spend time with members of our family which we don't see much the rest of the year. Ministry wise though, it isn't the best time, people are so busy doing their own thing, partying and things like that, they don't have time for God, which is so sad to see.

How fast we humans forget. We are seeing how the people in Alamos have already forgotten about the hurricane that took so many lives, left so many without homes, and have gone back to their old practices. I was talking to somebody the other day saying how I liked Alamos more when it was without electricity and people were working together cleaning their homes and sorting out things that could be salvaged. We live in a dark world that rejects the Light.

Some of you have asked about my brother Miguel Angel. Well, he showed up yesterday. He has been married to a woman from the mountains for a few years now, whom he was planning to divorce, (that would have been his second time), before the hurricane hit Alamos, but now is back with her. This lady was a widow when my brother met her and she has a grown son. She is not saved and was really doubting my brother's decision to follow Christ.

Miguel Angel was telling how most people have left 'Cieneguita' (the community where they live, pictured below) because they fear for their lives. We are wondering why he stays there, except that Norma (that's the wife), has her 90 something year old mother (picture below) that says she won't move from there at any cost. She has lived there her whole life and that is where she wants to die. Fortunately this lady accepted Christ not very long ago and has had such a change of heart, not in wanting to move from there though, but to live for Christ.

Miguel Angel says he is not afraid to continue to live in this deserted place. I told him that is understandable since he now has eternal life, if he dies, he now knows he will go be with Christ and that gives him lots of peace. He continues to have a hunger to share the Gospel with the ones staying, as they seek him out in their despair. He wants to take back Bibles, NewTestaments, and pocket New Testaments to give away. He is sharing the Gospel with the people the Lord sends his way. It is great to see Him and encourage him to continue putting His trust in the One that never fails and will never leave Him. What an awesome, all powerful God we serve!

Esmeralda & Dulce came to visit us in church on Sunday. They used to live with us. It was so special to see them, especially sweet little Dulce. It was so hard for us when they left. They now live with their mother in Puerto Peñasco. We had a special Christmas service there in Osobampo. Lots of people came and we were blessed to have the Towgoods with us, (my sister Delia & her family from California). We also had two brothers in Christ that came to visit us from Life Christian Fellowship in Orange County, California. Brian & pastor Helyn were such a blessing for us to have over the weekend. Brian wants to bring a group from his church in March. They got to help transport the food for our event in church from 'Las Minitas.'

Lolis (Faith) is now 17 years old! I was telling her I was not even used to saying she was 16 yet, and now I have to say she is 17! What is wrong with this world? How come children grow so quickly, it isn't fair!

The adoption with Marilú & Lolis are finished, but we still need to go to Monterrey to get Marilú's birth certificate. Lord willing we will do it when we get back from the Missions Conference in January. Also with Lolis birth certificate something needs to be corrected. It will take at least 8 months to be done, and until then we cannot start the process for a passport for her. We are also starting the adoption process with Josie. It will take close to a year just to be done with the stripping of the rights for her. Oh, well at least we are starting. Hopefully it is possible to do it. Some times the judge in Navojoa won't allow adoptions to be done if she feels, or thinks that for any reason it isn't the best for the child in her opinion. We will pray...

We praise God for his faithfulness to us. We are so blessed in so many ways. We continue to lift many of you up by name to the Lord daily. It is such a privilege to pray for so many of you, knowing too so many of you pray for us always. THANK YOU!!!

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR RANCHO MARANATHA ALAMOS, MX.
Pray for the communities we work with. It is such a great honor to be able to share the Gospel with them and to see how the Lord opens their understanding for His truth and how they are also sharing with others. Like John the apostle says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3Jn 1:4). When I hear the ladies in the Bible studies I do with them tell me how they are sharing with others, I think of this Scripture because I feel such joy to see them practicing and living His truth.
Pray for the people getting ready to come out to help, groups, individuals, etc. We want to be a blessing for whoever the Lord sends here. We continue to be amazed at God's grace and provision to us as He always sustains us in every way!
Pray for my husband as he will be sharing in CC Alamos in their yearly New Year's event, that God anoints his speech, for the name of the Lord to be lifted up as a banner for all to see, for people to have ears to hear and soft hearts where the Word of God can penetrate.
Pray for Jerry & Jo that will be driving from Kansas to come and take care of the girls and things on the ranch while we are away in California. Pray also for Roshon & Carla that will be helping out with the girls and things around the ranch.
Please continue to pray for my brother Miguel Angel, for a greater knowledge of who God is in his life, for a more intimate relationship with Him, for protection and boldness to preach the Gospel to all those that need Jesus so much.
Please pray for our dear sister Dalia's family (she is from Mocúzari), her brother accused of murdering a man almost two years ago, was finally caught by the police and put in jail. He had been running from there all this time. His name is Eleazar. Dalia is the only believer in this lost, lost wicked family. We are so blessed to see her faithfulness to the Lord and her unwavering walk with Him that chose her for the kingdom, as she often says that of herself.
Please pray for Chuy in Mocúzari as she is teaching a Bible study for the women there and has been so blessed doing it. The Lord is blessing her as she continues to be faithful to Him.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35)
May the Lord bless each one of you. We love you all and wish you God's best during this season when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Daniel & Ana

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Act 4:12)

We are reading the book of Acts in Mocúzari with the ladies. Daniel is also teaching this book in Mezquital on Tuesdays. I was so blessed today being with my sisters in Christ in Mocúzari. I marvel at the faithfulness of our Lord! Dalia, one of the ladies, was sharing with us how the Lord is teaching her through trials and tribulations. We rejoiced and shared tears with her this morning, overwhelmed by the love she has for the Lord, and her boldness in sharing the Gospel.

We read in this chapter 4 of Acts, how the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, marveled when they saw the boldness of these uneducated and untrained men, speaking of Peter and John. Scripture says that they realized that they had been with Jesus.
I want people to look at us and be able to say, 'hey, those are believers, they are not afraid to speak of their faith, they bless when they are being cursed, they don't speak evil of the authorities, but instead pray for them and bless them... They have been with Jesus.'

I was sharing the verse above from Act 4:12 with a JW the other day, this really young and pleasant girl that wanted to share with me her beliefs. Also with another young lady that believes her traditions will save her. I told them both there was only One that could save and that was Jesus Christ.

In 'Las Minitas,' Chuy, the lady that used to live with us, started a Bible study with the ladies, she also does it on Wednesdays. She is amazed at how the Lord has blessed her life while she shares together with the ladies there. A few weeks back we had the privilege to pray with/for this man that accepted Christ there, his name is Andrés, he is an older man. We knelt on the ground together and asked the Lord to enter into his heart, He did! This man had tried to commit suicide twice without success, of course. He would hear voices that were driving him crazy, we now rejoice with our brother who is so eager to hear the Word! He anxiously waits for prayer meetings on Tuesdays there in 'Las Minitas,' for the Friday night study we do, and for Sundays, he cannot get enough of the Word!

Our nephew Rogelio is going to Osobampo on Wednesdays to encourage the men that are getting together there to pray and have a time of fellowship. Mother and Carla are going with Rogelio to visit and encourage the ladies in the community.

In Cieneguita, the mountains of Chihuahua where my brother Miguel Angel is, the battle continues. We are daily praying for my brother to be bold in sharing the gospel with those needy people there. Daniel shared with this man in his early twenties, that drinks straight alcohol, they call him Tavo, his dad is also an alcoholic. We are also praying for this 15 year old Dan also had the opportunity to share the gospel with, they call him Quico. Dan really liked this boy, his dad has him working the fields, harvesting marijuana right now. We have a few other people we are daily lifting up by name. The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
I was thinking of the great need there for someone to encourage the people and work amongst them on a regular basis. It would be hard and lonely for someone to be there full time. Although the mountains are breath taking beautiful, the places are somber, isolated and evil. I guess we could say the same thing about so many different places in this dark and sad world.

Here with the girls, we just started learning about Colombia, a nation with the reputation of being one of the most violent in the world. Colombia, we learned, supplies 75% of the world's cocaine. Missionaries there live under great stress and the constant threat of kidnapping and murder. Yet the Gospel is changing lives. We learned about this maximum security prison in Medellín (one of Colombia's major cities with a population of close to four million people, one of the least evangelized do to its hardness to the gospel. This great city is also known as the nation's crime and narcotics capital), often referred to as 'hell on earth' where the murder rate often topped one per day, through prayer and the bold witness of some anointed believers has seen a remarkable turning of the most hardened criminals giving their lives to Christ. Even a Bible Institute has formed in this prison now, training inmates for ministry once they are released.
We are praying for the leader of this nation, Alvaro Uribe Vélez, serving for the second time as the president of Colombia. I like doing this with our girls here, because I want them to realize how important it is for us to intercede for the leaders of our nation, as well as other nations in the world. The world is in crisis, we as Christians, more than ever, need to be on our knees.

The twins continue to grow and mature, the Lord is faithful!

Obed with great-grandpa, and with grandpa. Yes, he is already learning how to drive. This boy too continues to grow and fill our hearts with tenderness toward him and our faithful and loving Father.
Levi showing his tooth!

Being grandparents is great! We love it!

PRAYER REQUEST FOR RANCHO MARANATHA, ALAMOS, MX.Please continue to pray for Rochelle & Brian's lives, for them to be a blessing to others where they are, for them to grow closer to the Lord, for strength, wisdom and patience as they take care of the precious gifts the Lord has given them. For the twins to continue to grow and be strong. We praise the Lord for their lives!Pray for Cindy and her children, they left for California this morning. They arrived at the ranch two weeks ago, but Cindy feels very responsible for her aging parents back in California and she needed to go see them. Pray for guidance in her life and for the Lord to accomplish His perfect will in her life as well as in her children's.Pray for Daniel & Roshon as they will make a quick trip to Tucson this coming Monday, for the Lord to protect them and give them travel mercies, and for them to be able to accomplish the things they need to do.Please continue to pray for wisdom and direction for us here on the ranch, for the changes taking place, for the new people the Lord is sending to work with us. For Him to open doors for those He would want working here. We are so thankful for His faithfulness and for the way He provides for all of our needs. We daily thank God for each of you that lovingly supports this ministry with your prayers and finances. We are forever grateful and indebted to you all.Please pray for Rogelio as he is deciding to stay and work here with us. He is a great person to have around. Pray for direction in his life as he seems to be making some really hard decisions.Continue to pray for my brother Miguel Angel as he continues to be in the mountains, for strength, courage and faithfulness to our Lord, for him to grow in knowledge and love for his saviour Jesus Christ. For more people there to come to the Lord through his witness.Please pray for the people that will be traveling to the ranch for Christmas, mostly family, for travel mercies and for the Lord to provide for all their needs, for us to be a blessing to all that come to our ranch.Pray for Paul & Ruth as they are badly missed here, we thank God for the time they were able to serve together with us and pray for the Lord to keep using them where they are right now. He is!Pray for us as we get ready to attend missions conference in Murrieta Hot Springs next month. For Jerry & Jo as they will be traveling from Kansas to come and take care of the girls and the ranch while we are away. We thank God for these faithful servants and for the great blessing they are to us. Please pray for Frank and Susan Sanders as we are so looking forward to having them here with beside us serving in the ministry. Pray that God's perfect will would be done in their lives as well as ours. Pray for Paul & Pam Cooper from S. Carolina as they get ready to come and serve full time with us the beginning of February. For the Lord to open doors for them as He sees fit.Pray for Brian & Audra from TN as they will come to 'spy' the land to see if maybe this would be the place where the Lord will call them to serve. God's will be done!
"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38)
Our love to each one of you,
Daniel & Ana

Back from Chihuahua

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mat 10:28)
Across Mexico, the carnage is impossible to hide, with severed heads and decapitated bodies turning up, sometimes nearly a dozen at a time. There have been more than 3,700 killings related to drugs and organized crime this year, up from about 2,700 last year, the Mexican attorney general’s office said early last week, with Chihuahua the most violent state and the killings continuing in the days since.
In the Mexican state of Chihuahua, which shares a border with New Mexico, there have been over 200 killings since the beginning of 2008, an increase of about 100 percent over the previous year. This violence, which is mostly perpetrated by international drug trafficking organizations, impacts the well-being and safety of communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.Mexican drug cartels, Hezbollah (Party of God) and other Islamic terrorist groups are joining forces in Mexico. Hezbollah is synonymous with terror, suicide bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. No wonder the criminal organizations in Mexico seem to have adopted many Middle Eastern terrorist tactics with kidnappings and beheadings happening throughout Mexico.

Saturday, August 16: just before six o'clock in the evening, three luxury SUVs bearing a dozen gunmen pull up outside a warehouse, where teens and young adults are having a dance-party at Creel, an enclave in the Chihuahua mountains. They are apparently looking for two people to finish off, but they do not know what they look like. They open random fire at close range, taking additional lives. Among the victims is a one-year-old boy who dies in spite of his father's heroic attempt to shield him with his body. The mystery is that there is no sign of the police or the army in Creel before or after the massacre.
That day the government did not exist for families at Creel. Their fundamental human right to life, which gives rise to the social contract the state is founded upon, was not fulfilled. A grave violation of human rights was committed by omission, given the ineffectiveness at all levels of government. In total desperation and impotence, Creel locals now warn that justice will be taken into other hands. Lynching is sought as a substitute for the inefficiency, the cowardliness, and the complicity of the authorities.
Well, these above are just a few news headlines you can read in the newspapers any day. My husband got back from the mountains early this morning, around 2AM. We are so glad to have him back. Thank you so much for your prayers on his behalf. Dad stayed back for a bit longer, we don't know when my brother will return, but it warms my heart to see him in this picture below, and when Daniel tells me how he is boldly sharing Christ with everyone.

Daniel was telling 'Cieneguita,' the place where he was, reminds him of a town from an old western movie where there is no law and the people just live in fear. He was telling me that is really the case there. People are very afraid all the time, they don't sleep well at night fearing for their lives. Armed men sometimes show up in the wee hours of the night, drag people out and shoot them. Yet the men there continue to grow drugs and have their children helping. You really don't know if drug traffickers are showing up, or the law, since the drug dealers can show up dress as the military.
When the elections were going on for this last administration, the people were told to vote for this current mayor and they would have 'no law.' Who would want this, I ask? Well, the people growing drugs didn't want to be bothered...now they are reaping the consequences and they are not pretty. May the Lord have mercy on these people!

My 80 year old dad, (picture above), usually goes to these communities in the mountains of Chihuahua two, or three times a year, and shares the Gospel there, usually just women listen though. My husband had a neat time sharing every afternoon while there. He encouraged the women to reach out in their community, pray for their husbands and make an effort to bring them to the Lord. He also advised them on how to share and read the Bible more effectively. He also had the opportunity to share with some of the men and really encouraged my brother to reach out to them. The second evening saw around 60 people gathered with a lot of men listening to the message.
We are so thankful the Lord allowed Daniel to go there at this time. It was a neat time of fellowship with my brother, and also a good time to instruct him in how to better use his time and how to conduct himself now the he has given his life to the Lord. Right after he baptized my brother, he felt the Lord would have him go back with him since his intent was to share the gospel with this community that he has lived in for many years now.
Listening to the "Proclaimer" reading her the Word of God It. Thanks Jerry for hooking us up with this great tool!

This old lady is a living testimony of what the Lord can do. She recently came to Christ and even her face looks different!
We don't know what roll we will play in reaching these parts of Mexico with the Gospel, but we want to be sensitive to the Lord's guiding. The roads there are not very accessible or safe, and it takes a long time to go short distances, but people are dying every day and going to hell.
In a way, I would have loved to be there with my husband, I, like Paul, don't like to miss a thing the Lord is doing...
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35)
Thank you so much for being part of this ministry with us!
Daniel & Ana

Jesse and Levi's Birthday

  

"For You formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are your thoughts to me, o God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:13-17)

  

A year ago today, the miraculous birth of Jesse & Levi took place! They came to this world weighing only 1.5 and 1.8 lbs respectively! The odds were definitely against them, but God had other plans!

 

Today we rejoice and continue to be filled with wonder, we stand at awe of His greatness and mercy!

 

These precious boys are a living testimony of God's power and they fill our lives with happiness!

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSE & LEVI!!!

  

Thank you so much for your prayers and  the amazing love you have shown Brian, Rochelle and their boys. We praise God for each one of you.

Love,

Ana

 

 

Praise & prayer request

"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!" (Psalm 72:18)
                

My oldest brother, Miguel Angel, got baptized today!
"Not another minute!" That's what Miguel Angel said when he got to the ranch this afternoon. He had set his heart on going to where he just left because of all the killings, to share Jesus, but he didn't want to go without being baptized. He didn't think that he would make it till dark but when he got here with good daylight left he didn't want to waste another minute. We had prayed for him so much, we had interceded and begged the Lord to touch his life and change him. Well, He did, and we are rejoicing. My parents and two of his three sons witnessed this event today. Many of us were crying tears of pure joy as we witnessed the miracle of a new life in Christ take place.



The Lord had really been speaking to my brother very clearly since Emir, (his youngest son), got shot in the stomach back in June and almost died. But that was not enough for him, he needed more...well hurricane 'Norbert,' which hit Alamos over a month ago (October 11th) was another thing God used to get to him. My brother was telling me this afternoon how he totally surrendered himself to the Lord then when three of his four children, his ex-wife, all five of his grandchildren, plus his two daughters in law were being taken by the water. He thought for sure, without a doubt, that was the end of all of them, there was no way to escape. He told me how his son Rogelio kept praying and kept telling them Jesus had the power to save them. He realized then, how he had been running from Jesus, and how much he needed Him. Oh, the mercy of our Lord!

Well, he is now ready to go and tell of the wonders the Lord has done in his life. He knew a lot about Christ growing up in a Christian home, but he has never lived what he has always known to be true, but now he is ready, he says. Well, I was totally rejoicing with him and marveling at what God does, listening to him talk about building a church there in the mountains of Chihuahua where he has lived most of his life, this place where people are killing each other almost every day, and where the rest of them are afraid to go out of their homes at night fearing for their lives... He told me he now has a hunger and a desire to tell those people of the saving power of God. He said, "I want them to see me and realize the great power the Lord has to save lives."

I got back to my house and started sharing with my husband of this passion I was seeing in my brother, and how he wants to go start a church in the mountains. "Well," Dan told me, "if he wants to start a church, I need to go with him and help him." Well, that changed things for me a bit, I love my brother dearly, and was thinking for sure I'll be praying for him when he leaves on Monday, but now my husband is going? This really hit home...Therefor I found my self in the great need to write this letter and beg you to be in prayer for my husband, my brother and my father as they go to the mountains to proclaim the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please pray for protection over them, for God's powerful hand to go before them, for them to lift the name of our Lord high, as a banner for all to see. Pray for open hearts where the Word of God can penetrate and make lasting changes.

I thank God for His amazing mercy, truly the things that with men are impossible, are totally possible with Him (Matthew 19:26). I see my brother and still don't believe it, all these years we had been imploring the Lord for his salvation, it totally seemed impossible to me that he would ever give his life to Him...

Thank you so much for your prayers on behalf of my loved ones.

Ana

November 20

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).   The work of salvation means that in our real life things are dramatically changed. We no longer look at things in the same way. Our desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract us. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in our lives is genuine is --has God changed the things that really matter to me? If we still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in our real life and thoughts. And when a crisis comes, we are the most amazed people on earth at the wonderful difference there is in us. There is no possibility of imagining that we did it. It is this complete and amazing change that is the very evidence that we are saved.   Daniel was sharing with the group from Montana, (will talk more of them later), how it was for him when he first gave his life to Christ, what an amazing and complete change took place in his life. He no longer lived for himself, he didn't care if his boss at work changed his wages, schedule to the benefit of the company, or whatever, he was in love with the Lord, and nothing else mattered. The Lord had taken his wretched life and had given him this new wonderful one. People even thought that his happiness and contentment was due to his extreme ingestion of drugs he had done in the past, they couldn't understand his joy and peace...He tells us that the first night as a new creation, he was afraid to go to sleep, he feared he would wake up the next morning and be the same wretched person he was before. Oh, the wonderful life He gives us! It has been now 33 years since that day, and he can still wake up in the morning and have this wonderful feeling, the Lord has not left him not even for a second. We adore Him for His faithfulness!   I have been sharing with the girls about the benefits of a closer relationship with the Father through prayer. Our faith increases, we have a place to get rid of our burdens, prayer teaches us the Lord is always near to us, it drives away our fears, and prayer changes our lives!   The Psalmist says,  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3)   To be like this tree planted by the rivers though, we must follow a few steps, I was telling them. We must not follow the advice of evil people, we must not hang out with sinners and we must not cultivate relationships with mockers.     Warren & Jennifer,  have been bringing groups to México on missions trips for 22 years! They first came to our place in 2001. Since then, Warren has come about 27 times. Yes, he has done quite a bit of driving...The Lord has blessed us immensely through him and through the wonderful people he has brought with him over the years. They each have added, enriched and contribute to this ministry in a special way.   He brought six new people this time. We were very blessed by each one of them. They did work in Alamos with pastor Javier, they worked in San Antonio (a village where Dan does a Bible study on Wednesdays). Warren felt like he had gone almost to the end of the world, he told me. It takes Dan two hours to get to this place. Really, this is the farthest community we minister to. Although, as the crow flies,  this place is pretty close to the ranch.   Colie & his daughter Candice, also from Montana, are here at this time, together with Warren and his group, they did a lot of work around the ranch. The Lord is so good to us!   I could go on and on, mentioning names of people that have been, and still are a vital part of this ministry. How the Lord has used each church, each individual, and through them has, and continues to, shower us with His blessings. 'Thank you, each and everyone, we are so very thankful you are part of what God is doing here. We pray for many of you by name each day, thanking God for sending you to us somehow, (and even for those that have never been here.) Many of you we haven't even met...' I was thinking today how awesome our Lord is, because even those that have met us and have worked  with us over the years, those that know so well our shortcomings and our lack of skills in so many ways, still love us and support us in so many different ways. In us this Scripture is totally fulfilled:   "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1Corinthinans 1:27).   Talking to one of the ladies in the group, she was asking about the ministry here. I was reminded of a time a while back. I was complaining to my husband saying how we would do well just having one focus in our ministry, I was thinking we had enough just ministering to the communities, instead of also having a children's home and a radio station, and so forth. He asked me, 'Was I seeking to have all these things, was I striving to make them happen, or did they just happened to fall in our lap?' I had to agree with him on the latter. Truly every new community we start going to, or whatever new thing we start, it is something that happens without us striving to make it happen, we don't even think about some of the things the Lord has us do.   I have thought on more than one occasion that the Lord is biased, so many times it seems to me that He makes me be wrong just to make Daniel be right. Anyway, I am just writing this letter here, minding my own business and an e-mail comes, it is the lawyer in charge of the legal stuff in DIF Sonora in Hermosillo (capital of our state). She is wanting to send to more girls, they are 11 years old each, she tells me.   Well, again, this is His ministry, we work for Him, we ask Him every day to guide our lives, to help us do the works He has prepared before hand for us to do.   We celebrated Aaliyah's third birthday last week.         What can I say? She is a princess. All right, to us she is. Please pray for this sweet girl, for God to mold her character and for her to grow up loving the Lord with all her heart.                             Levi               Jesse reading   Continue to pray for Levi, we continue to ask the Lord to heal this precious boy completely if that would be His perfect will. He has been a bit sick lately. Jesse has a cold a this time too. Continue to lift Brian & Rochelle up in your prayers as they face such challenges every day. Oh, the Lord is so faithful and we know His hand is over their lives, but our strength so many times fails us, we need to continue to rely on Him for all our needs.    Obed has two teeth, and he figures it is never to early to start taking care of them, so he brushes...I talked to Rochelle today, she told me Jesse also started brushing his two teeth, and Levi his one also...will send pictures of them later.   Thank you so much for your prayers, your support and your love,   Daniel & Ana

November 18

  

 

 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven"  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 

God by His providence governs the world, and has determined particular things and operations to particular times. In those times such things may be done with propriety and success; but if we neglect the appointed season, we sin against this providence and become authors of our own distress.

 

God has given to man that portion of duration called Time; the space in which all the operations of nature, of animals, and intellectual beings, are carried on; but while nature is steady in its course, and animals faithful to their instincts, man devotes it to a great variety of purposes; but very frequently to that for which God never made time, space, or opportunity.

 

It is worth a remark, that in all this list there are but two things which may be said to be done generally by the disposal of God, and in which men can have but little influence: the time of birth, and the time of death. But all the others are left to the option of man, though God continues to overrule them by His providence.

 

 

It was with great sadness and reluctancy that we said goodbye for now to our dear friends, and co-workers with us for 12 years, Paul & Ruth, this morning. We have had the privilege to work together, pray together, laugh together, cry together (a least I have with Ruth), eat together, love together, and just have sweet fellowship together. They will forever be missed here, they truly leave a huge void in our lives, but it seems like their season with us has ended.

 

  

We pray the Lord continues to use them where they are going (Arizona for now), and that perhaps, somehow, we can continue to be involved together doing this great task of proclaiming the Good News. We definitely look forward to spending eternity together with them. 'Paul, Ruth, thank you for sharing your lives with us all these wonderful years, you have touched our lives with your kindness, commitment and love, you have taught us a lot through your example, we'll love you forever.'

 

You know, Thanksgiving is not a holiday we celebrate in Mexico, but we started celebrating it when Paul & Ruth started working with us. Roshon was saying the other day, we cannot celebrate thanksgiving without them being here... That made me think of our friends' the Hawkins' son, one time when his parents were away on a trip, his younger brother wanted to play, but Paquito looked at his brother with his big, sad eyes and told him, 'how can we play, papa is not here.' Anyway, we sort of feel that way...

 

The Slushers also left yesterday after being with us here for two years. They have been a blessing to have and we will totally miss them. Their season here has also ended; a new one begins for them...'Audra, thank you for teaching the girls piano and English, and for your willingness to help always, we will miss you so much.' 

     

It all started back in September with Joel & Stephanie. They were with us for three years, then their season with us ended too. We are so thankful for all the people that have come and worked with us over the years, we owe each one of them a great deal, we will never be able to repay any of them, not that their are seeking that, they, as us, want to be repay with things that don't corrupt.  Through each one the Lord has taught us immensely. Our lives will never be the same because our roads crossed. 'Thanks, Joel & Steph, may the Lord continue to use your lives for His honor & glory.'

 

  

 

Even Juan & Chuy, the couple from 'Las Minitas' that had been with us for quite a few years, left yesterday and went back to their village. Please keep them in your prayers. Their marriage has been suffering. Chuy really loves the Lord and wants to follow after Him. She feels very strongly at this time the call to really stand by her husband and help him. May the Lord use her to bring him, and many others to the Lord's feet. I was very pleased to hear she would really like to start a Bible study with the ladies in her community. I encouraged her to start as soon as possible, and also warned her of how the devil would try to discourage her and hinder her from doing that. We talked on Sunday, the very next morning she was already having huge stumbling blocks against her. Pray for her and her two children.

 

Well, you might start thinking, 'what in the world is wrong with the Jones' that everyone is leaving them?' Good questions...Seriously, we are at peace, we know the Lord is in control of all things, we serve Him, and He wants to get rid of us too, He can.

 

We are excited about the new season that also seems to be beginning with us here at the ranch. The Lord seems to be moving things a different way, sort of. I mean, we exist to bring Him honor, to have fellowship with Him, and from that the other things flow. Our focus continues to be the same, Him and Him alone, but we are open to new things He might want us to start, new ways to bring others to His kingdom, because ultimately, that is what we most desire. So, in the meantime, we continue to covet your prayers for the ministry here. 

 

We are forever so thankful to the so many people the Lord has sent to work together with us. We await in anticipation the new ones He is bringing. To Him be all honor and glory forever and ever.

 

We love you all so much,

 

Daniel & Ana