Medical Bill Miracle... Part II

Peyton, Peyton, Peyton! I'm sure most of you have heard about our 4 year olds trip to the ER last month resulting in a $1,500 bill that completely deflated our savings for Jason's second semester schooling. And I'm sure you've heard as well, how in less than 48 hours God placed it on a very special (and anonymous) persons heart to contact Jason's school and pay in full for that next semester tuition... He is never slow to provide for our needs! Praise God...

But the story did not stop there. Several day's ago we received a second bill, this time not from the hospital, but the doctor who treated Peyton that day (apparently doctors bills are separate from the ER bills). It was for $818.00! With the life we live on the mission field... there is only one option when a trial comes up... to PRAY. And so we believed in God to take care of this bill, only wondering how He would choose to do it! It was three day's later that He answered. Another envelope arrived in the mail on Wed., in it was a refund from the ER Hospital for $865.97 and an explanation stating, "While reviewing your account we have concluded that a refund should be issued to you." There is no other true explanation that GOD. I can not believe that it is normal to be over charged and then refunded the exact amount of money that you are in need of in the exact moment that you are in need. In short, we prayed for $818 and God gave us $865.97... always more than we ask for!

Kidz Club Feed the Children Event!

The Kids Playing Tug-a-war...boy's against girls

Charlette and Areile fighting over my lap....I love this crazy pic!Ready for the boxes???Riley's helping... Cristina passes them along...

This Thanksgiving we had so much to be thankful for. Working with the LifeHouse gang and Feed the Children we were given a chance to help pass out 75 boxes of non-perishable food items and much more to the three Kids Club sites that we get to help minister to weekly. The night started off with cookies and kool-aid for all and then just before the boxes were passed out the drama team performed a skit on the Love of God followed by an invitation to become a follower of Christ. I was given the opportunity to pray with two women (in Spanish) and then lead two of our regular Kids Club children in the prayer of salvation. Little voices praying to such an Almighty Father!

Applause and smiles broke out as the boxes of much needed goodies were taken to the homes of the families that attended the event. To be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves has been the best gift we could ever have received from our God this holiday season. So many lives are being changed and touched and all because of Love... Love that God has shared with us and Love that He has taught us to share with others! When I think back at how far these families and children have come from when we first met them one year ago, I can only praise God for all He has provided! We have seen over 20 children come into the kingdom of God and several families follow... LifeHouse has given us such an opportunity to be apart of God's work!

His name is Mike...

God is so indescribable sometimes... I wish I had the words in this moment to praise Him worthily.

There are many men and women here in the valley that are without a home... but there is this one man in particular, that has been pulling at our hearts. His sign is a bit different than all the others, it reads "Why lie, I need beer". I first heard about him from some "Christians" here in town, this group was specific that they "would not help a man like that", like what? I'm still not sure... I could take a guess as to what they mean though. "Christians" like this scare me a little, I wonder if they knew the "real" me, if they would say the same thing... I don't hold a sign that says anything about beer... but I have definitely done worse in my life time and am no where near perfect now. Anyway, that is for another blog...

For weeks when we have seen this homeless man I thought my heart would fall out of my chest... literally. We see him on Sunday's after church and usually on our way to eat with mom... we drive by him slowly, wait at the light for it to change to green, and then every time I completely loose my appetite. Every time God pushes so hard on my heart for this man... I didn't understand why until today!

Today, after being inspired by a story we heard a while ago from another homeless man, who had a stranger stop by with a bucket of chicken and sit down and eat it WITH him... we decided to obey God and buy 5 hot dog meals at Sams instead of four, and Jason went out there and brought the man some food and sat down and talked with him... It turns out this homeless man was born in Waco, TX, he graduated from University High in Waco in 1966, and served in the Vietnam War in 1969.... His name is Mike and he likes any and everything on his hot dog! On most Sunday's he tries to find a place where he can catch a Dallas game, he also grew up liking the Arizona Cardinals, and the Houston Texans. His face lite up, quite literally when Jason walked up to him carrying a plate of food and he said several times, "God bless you, God bless you". He smiled, revealing the last 3 teeth he had and talked as if his life of hardships was in the same ball park as our own small problems. The boy's and I stayed back in the van and prayed for his spirit and soul.

To you all of this might just sound wonderful, but to me... it is just amazing. You see, MY dad was born in Waco, Tx too, he graduated from the same University High in Waco in 1968 just two years after this man meaning they went to school together, and then my dad too, went off to serve our country in the Vietnam war in 1969. And just like Mike my father came back a more broken man than when he left... and in the end, he lost everything too. I spent my dad's entire life misunderstanding him and too afraid to talk to him... and now I often feel shame for how I acted towards my father... knowing that I knew the life changing truth of God's love and forgiveness and grace, and yet I could not forgive him for his brokenness until after he was gone. Today was a sort of "second chance" for me. God gave me a chance today, a chance to love someone who has probably hurt his wife and children, to show God's grace to someone other than myself... and a chance to be His precious feet and His Holy hands.

So much made sense to me today... Praise God. Praise God. Praise God, will you please~

Amanda Butcher

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18 ~From the pulpit this AM in McAllen!

Mexico Photos

Here are some photos of Mexico, through Jason's eyes!

A Trip to Mexico... home!

Jason has this theory and I think he is on to something... he thinks that the reason our hearts feel less than alive here on the states side is because God doesn't want us to get too comfortable during our stay on the Texas border! He has a different home in mind for us... and yesterday only proved that theory in my heart. We took a trip across the border and into Reynosa, and though this border town is NOT my hearts desire... we instantly felt at home! Like when your on a long trip back from far away (and lets face it anywhere outside of TX is far away) and you see your city limit sign coming up in the distance and even though your still miles away from pulling into your drive way... you know your home. That's the way we feel every time we leave the States, we might be miles from our drive way to be in the future... but we are back where we belong, and we can breath!

I've told you the story of Hector, the man who was a drug addict and who found Jesus while serving time in prison. Hector reminds me of that story in the bible, when the man digging around in a field happens upon a great treasure... so he covers it back up, sells everything he owns and buys the land the treasure was on! Nothing was more important to him than that treasure, well in the same way nothing is more important to Hector than the treasure he has found in Jesus, and he gave everything up to follow Him... he wants NOTHING more. He runs a shelter nowfor the homeless in Reynosa, where he and his wife and two children choose to live as well. He has no money and no food to speak of but shares his very little with whoever comes to his door. Literally every night he feeds hundreds with a watered down version of what ever is in his pantry... it's a miracle every day that these people eat, really! But though they literally have nothing, they have more than I've ever seen. We worshiped the Lord together Saturday night in a building that someone donated and built for them... stuffed full of people we sat on pews that too, tell of another miraculous story... here are the photos! I wish you could have been there with me, on the front row... watching the Spirit of the Lord burst out and Jason on the drums again! It was the perfect night, praise the Lord... I could say it a million times, Praise to my awesome, amazing, life changing, grace offering, perfect, beautiful Lord! He is so good.

The Church building donated!

The Kitchen...
I'm not lying, it had to be expanded with the amount of people coming in... and they cook everything over a live fire... no electricity, of course!

Worship Time
Now you have to remember that worship here is ALIVE!
They invite all the children to the front
(I know God loves this) and then we all go at it dancing and singing!
That is Hector with the microphone singing his heart out! He has a lot to be thankful for!


And Below is a quick treat,
For one night only... Jason back on the drums!
Like I said, Home!

She did it!

Well she finally did it! My mother graduated with honors from the MCC LVN nursing program at the age of... she'd kill me if I told you! After all these years she is finally doing what she has always wanted and we are so happy for her!

The Family at the Graduation Ceremony

Mom and Grandpa

Grandpa said after the graduation, "I wouldn't have missed it."

Spanish, Spanish and more Spanish...

So tonight at Kidz Club we had over 30 kids come which as usual meant we had lots of kids that don't speak English! That was fun, but what was unique about tonight was that we had about 6 or 7 moms come out and join the fun... NONE of which could speak a word of English! Yikes, but I survived... I even translated the testimony shared at tonights event to some of the women! Not very well, but hey I translated and prayed with them... in SPANISH!!!! I am amazed at God and His grace, truly amazed. When I think of all He has blessed us with... it truly overwhelms me!

Oh, and I kept saying "pescados" instead of "pecados"... "fish" instead of "sins"... aparently Jesus did not come to earth and die for our "fish", who would have known?!?! Maybe I should have attended Bible College after all!!! KingsWay would be so proud of their honor roll student!!!

Love you guys,

Amanda

Kidz Club goes Swimming!

Areili was one of our toughest cases here at Kidz Club... She is a beautiful, smart and very active five year old with the mouth of a sailor to say the least!!! She comes from a sad home and sad circumstances and has learned at a young age that pain is very much a part of life.

Sometimes, we wonder if what we are doing at Kidz Club every week is making a difference. But this Sunday night at the swimming pool, God proved once again... that He does use our small sacrifices to change lives.

Cristina, our kids club leader, had decided earlier this summer that we should take the children whose behavior had improved over the summer months to the public pool. I was a little nervous about this... it would take a whole page to explain why, but trust me this plan made me nervous!!! Luckly she followed through and last night we took over 15 children from the EVA apartment complex in our vans to the pool! Over 15 of our kids proved themselves to be trustworthy and 'improved', that alone say's a lot about the power of God. But Areili's story say's even more. For the last several weeks I have witnessed a child, who was bitter at the entire world, who loved nor trusted no one... open up and almost bloom in front of my eyes. I've wondered if one day a week can make a difference in these children's lives... and seen the difference it has made in this one life alone. Last night this little five year old ran with open arms to meet the group, followed us around the entire evening... didn't say a single offensive remark to anyone and most importantly of all, she realized that she was loved... and in return, this beautiful little girl... LOVED back! And that, my friends... makes it worth it all!

~ Areili ~

My Mom Moved to McAllen!

Well probably not many of our readers know this, because my mom NEVER tells anyone anything!!!! But this August 17th Diana Claverie (my mommy!) graduates from the nursing program in Waco as an LVN and will be taking the Spanish courses at Kingsway here in McAllen with Jason in hopes that God will better be able to use her in Short Term Medical Mission Trips... and in Waco too as she works at the Family Practice Health Center next Spring! We are so proud of her and sooooooooooo excited to have her here with us on the border for the next several months!!! So, when your in church over the next few weeks and your thinking... "what in the world happened to Diana." ...Well, she's with me!!!

Introducing Community Fellowship Church of the Nazarene

Here is a quote from Pastor Roger Huff:

"I am very excited about the future of our church! We have changed our name to Community Fellowship Church of the Nazarene, underwriting the ministry of a missionary couple, looking at starting a home church, reaching into our local community in new ways, partnered with Mission Waco and Care Net Pregnancy Crisis Center, we have Bill Dallas("Lessons From San Quentin") coming in Sept and MORE!"

Check out the new website and ALL that God is doing in Waco!

http://www.cfnazwaco.com/

I am very excited myself. It has been one year since we have returned to the states for our studies in missions and from the beginning I believed that God had spoken to me that He was in the work to do a great thing in Waco, TX. He lead me to study the book of Nehemiah and feel Nehemiah's own discouragement when he heard reports from home that 'the walls of Jerusalem (his home) are broken down" it says he "sat down and wept". Thank goodness he did not stop there, he then "mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 2 vs. 4)

And did God answer his prayers? Well, read the story! God used Nehemiah to inspire me and to teach me that Prayer is a top priority. The end of this month will end one year of focusing, praying and fasting regularly for God's will in our home town. I'm ready for answered prayers, can you tell!!!!

If you have any prayer needs, please let us know! Or let someone in your church or family know, someone who BELIEVES in what they say... that prayer makes all the difference.

Kidz Klub at EVApartments

Here are some fun photos of our time at Kidz Klub! Jason and I have been working with a home church called Life House on Sunday nights in their out reach programs. Every Sunday night we get a chance to go out with this amazing group of about 10 college students and hold "church" services in the middle of three different apartment complexes. It is the best part of our week. Our boy's are even getting envolved now and Chandler has become a friend to many of these kids... these are rough children, but over the past 6months we have seen amazing changes. Some of our toughest cases are breaking right in front of us. God is truly answering our prayers, he is pulling the kids in and showing us that His love IS ENOUGH! Pray with us as we minister in these 3 complexes each week, pray for the kids, pray for the homes they return to when church is over! God is good, and we look forward to seeing entire families join the Kingdom of God!

Miss Cristina teaching a lesson on love!

Playing a relay game afterwards.

Go Alejandra Go!

Amanda and Isabel

Before and After...

The Church here in McAllen went from this...

To this...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Kings Way Missions School Graduation, 2009

Primeramente, quiero decir gracias a mis directores y mis maestros. Gracias por darse de Uds. mismos a nosotros, sus estudiantes. Gracias por su tiempo, su trabajo duro y por dar de sus experiencias y sabiduría. Su ministerio aquí a Kings Way va a ser un comienzo, no solo por este clase de 2009, pero también por todos los que vengan a las puertas de esta escuela y por medio de sus vidas. Quiero decirles de mi corazón gracias a Uds. por todo lo que nos han dado.

I must also say that for the privilege of having been given the opportunity to even have begun this journey of speaking Spanish, I give all the glory and honor to my God. With out His presence, and constant grace this truly would never have been possible.

From a distance one might assume that my studies and schooling came to me without great effort or with little cost… I can assure you that was not the case. I think that my fellow graduates would agree with me that we have spent more time in our studies over these past 10 months than in all of our previous school years combined, and that a sacrifice of our time, energy, families, friends and even our ministries were placed before God on the alter as we devoted these months to learning Missions and Language at Kings Way.

I have truly learned a foundation in Spanish, a dream of being able to speak to those in the countries we feel the Lord is leading us too is coming true. But even more than that I have learned patience, endurance, perseverance… and God’s purpose for my life, “I have been blessed to bless others.” I have made life time friends and for-ever contacts in the world of missions abroad. Before us now lies an open door into all Spanish speaking parts of this world.

I believe those who have walked this path before me would push us forward from here, they would tell us… “This is just the beginning“. “Keep going.” A quote from our Perspectives Book say’s, “I can not stay in the same place. I can not stay the same.” I pray that becomes our goal, our motto… Let us leave here different than when we came and leave the next place God leads us different from now. We can not stay in the same place spiritually, we can not stay the same! I can't wait until it's time to get moving! Jason has all the pressure on his shoulders now to get moving in this language and graduate... We are ready to get going!

Waco group comes to town...

This past month we had a group of over 500 Baylor students come down to the McAllen border for a week of missions on the TEXAS side!!! And we needed it, while McAllen is officially a part of the USA... it is one of the least evangelized cities in all of AMERICA... with only 2% bible following Christians living here. We are in the middle of a mission field as we study the Spanish Language.

The group of 500 broke into groups of 50 and scattered themselves out covering most of the area going out into the parks, apartments, and colonials. Several hundred adults, teen and children were saved! We had the opportunity to be apart of several of the outreaches, one of which was at the EVA Apartments where we we have been holding childrens church services every Sunday evening. We saw 8 teens, 10 children and one whole family come to the Lord for the first time just in our little area of ministry!!! It was an incredible outreach and the beginning of a whole new type of Church... what we have learned is that if we can't get people to come to us... we will go to them and if that means church services inside the apartments of these new believers... or on the grass in the middle of their complexes... that is where we will be ministering!!!

Easter Egg Hunt and Space Traveling?!?!?

Well on our way to our neighbors house for a small family Easter Egg Hunt we decided to stop by the Children's Museum to see a special guest visiting the McAllen area... an astronaut!!

So our Easter was full of Easter Eggs and Astronauts...

Thought you'd enjoy the pictures of our family Day!

The Family This is Jason...not the astronaut!!!

This is a cultural tradition down here...

to crack confetti eggs on each other!!!