Making an Impact

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to partner with other SAM missionaries in a neighborhood health clinic.  Our teammates, Frank and Luz, facilitate the OANSA (AWANA) ministry in a poorer neighborhood of Santa Marta.  Through this ministry, they do community outreaches to help the meet the physical needs of the people as well as the spiritual needs.  Jon and I had both helped with this type of activity before, but this was the first time the youth took responsibility with some of the activities. Jon and I had taught our group of students how to share the gospel with braclets and 5 colored beads. This is an activity that Child Evangelism Fellowship uses in their backyard Bible club program.  For several of our students, this was the first time that they had shared their faith. What a powerful thing for these kids to learn and gain confidence in while they are young!  Jon and I were greatly encouraged by the students in our group as we saw them interact and share their Saturday afternoon with young kids they didn't know. There were several kids who made professions of faith and we pray that this will be the beginning of a life-long walk with our Lord Jesus. 

In addition to the evangelism bracelets, we also played games with the kids, sang songs, offered medical consultations and free medications, and cut people's hair. There were numerous volunteers from our church and it was exciting to see everyone working together to show the love of Christ.

Again thank you to all of you that are supporting us financially and with your prayers.  You are apart of the gospel being proclaimed in Santa Marta, Colombia.  We are so thankful for each and every one of you.

Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for those who received Christ as their Savior this past weekend. Pray that they would return and hear more about who God is and His plan for them.
2. Pray for our youth lunches that take place on Tuesday afternoons. We have been having youth from Jon's classes in the school over for lunch. This has been an encouraging time to get to know the kids better, practice English, and pray for them. Pray that it would be a beneficial time for them as we learn more about how to minister to their needs.
3. Pray for our upcoming youth retreat at the end of June. Our theme will be "Your Identity in Christ." Pray that the students' hearts will be prepared and that they would be able to
4.  The cesarian is on the 4th of May.  That time is quickly approaching and we are anxiously awaiting the coming of our little boy.  Please pray for a quick recovery for Amanda and smooth transition for our little American/Colombian boy.

 Amanda helping to get us ready.  Kids listen to pregnant women :)

The bracelets were quite a challenge to put together.  But we got them together 

 One of our youth, Angie, sharing the gospel using the wordless bracelet

 Even Parker is helping put the bracelets together.  He is a really good helper.

 We had a dentist come to help teach the kids how to take care of their teeth

 Some more of our youth teaching some fun songs about God

 Im sitting next to one of the youth of our church... I'm making her explain the gospel to me.  She did a great job.

 Sam was helping with the lice hair washing.  He's a good little helper too.

 One of the Doctors from our Church taking care of a young guy

One of the newer members of our church taking the opportunity to share Jesus with a young mom 

Wonderful godly woman of our church who is also a nurse helping wash hair 

Putting the beads on the bracelet...harder than it looks 

Hair cuts for the prevention of lice 

The psychologist from our school came to offer counseling as well

Things to Come

Well, we are coming into the home stretch as we await our 3rd child.  We think we might have even found a name for the little guy...but we'll reveal that one in a few weeks.  Our doctor has told us that we can have the caesarian as early as May 4th, so that time is fast approaching and I (Jon) am trying to fathom the idea of actually having 3 children.  I'm pretty sure Amanda is ready any time the baby is ready because as the time draws closer it's becoming increasingly more difficult to sleep and rest.  Amanda has also been battling constant dizziness almost every time she lays down and gets up for the past few weeks.  This has been a little discouraging to Amanda.  We went to to doctor to get some blood work done to try and discover why the problems persists.  She had some high blood sugar and high cholesterol, so we are adjusting our diets to accomodate this.  But thankfully, Amanda is such a tough girl that she is battling through this and still is able to take care of all of us.  She is such a blessing...She does this without complaint... I am so thankful for the godly woman that God has blessed me with.  We'd be lost without her.

God has been so gracious to us as He has allowed us to continue working in the school and church here in Santa Marta.  My times in the classroom have been such an encouragement to me and I receive such a blessing from them.  This time has been good for me to start to connect with some of the kids from the school and we really desire to have an impact for Jesus there.  I am working with the 9th and 10th grade students and I'm really thankful for the Colombian teacher that I'm working with Francisco, he has also been such a blessing to me because we are really starting to develop what I hope will be a great friendship.

It's interesting to think that we've been in Colombia for over a year now and we still feel like we are adjusting in some ways.  Thankfully, God continues to be graceful to our family.  He encouraged me 2 weeks ago when I had the opportunity to share the gospel in one of my english classes, and help to comfort one of the young guys at our school.  Because I am such a great sinner, it is good to be able to communicate God's never ending love and forgiveness with others.  I pray that I never forget how costly my life is, because when I do, I have the tendency for my heart to wander away from the one who loves me dearly.

The first Saturday in April we are taking our youth to another part of the city to help with a ministry called OANSA.  This is the Spanish version of AWANA and it's the ministry our teammates are involved in.  The team will be helping to lead a Health Mission to help the community and we are going with our youth to help minister to the children during this time.  We hope to be able to demonstrate the love of Jesus while we are there.  We are going to be teaching the kids of the neighborhood songs about Jesus as well as doing "wordless" bracelets with them as we teach them about the love of Jesus.

We want to express our heartfelt thankfulness for all those who continue to support us financially and in prayer.  We know that God has uniquely placed us here in Colombia for His purposes and His glory, and we desire that through our ministry here to Colombia, God will be glorified.

Prayer Requests:

1.  Please pray for Amanda.  As the time gets closer for the arrival of our little man, living becomes increasingly more uncomfortable for her.  Please pray for her and our family as our family will be going through another new experience here in Colombia.

2. The Esperanza church with whom we minister, is really struggling financially.  Please pray for God's provision for this church as it is a key church in this city.

3.  Please pray for our us as we continue to develop and learn how to minister here.  Pray that we are not only culturally sensitive, but we are sensitive to the fact that we are working alongside of other fallible children of God who need mercy and grace just as we do.

4.  We are still in the process of considering what God wants to do in us and through us here.  Pray that God will give us His eyes to see clearly His perfect will for our lives and ministry.


Below are some of the amazing kids that I have the privilege of being with during the week.  I pray that God will allow me to develop some lasting relationships with these kids.  I can't tell you how much joy I get from being in these classes.  I hope you can see how beautiful are God's creations in Colombia.

All these pictures are from the 9th grade class that I am helping with