Give Thanks for the Lord’s Many Blessings & Remember Those in Need
Dawn and I (Dave) wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a great time of year to stop and give thanks for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us. Dawn and I give thanks for you, for our family, for all of our friends and for our latina familia.
As I take time to give thanks I can’t help, but think of those who lack, and do not enough. I think especially of our familia on the Big Island. The reports coming out from the Island are heartbreaking.
One of my missionary friends, Russell who has made more than 300 trips to the Big Island told me that he thought that they are going through their worst economic crisis in their history. News reports that I have read say that it’s the worst economic crisis in 30 years. Dawn and I are continuing to send aid, but the pastors and those in their congregation struggle to find food to buy. They are going without electricity for long periods each day, which causes their food to spoil.
I would like to share a testimony that one of our friends, Yolanda wrote us in the last couple of weeks. This will help give you an idea of what our familia is suffering through, and move you to pray for them. I translated it from Spanish, and the English is a little rough, but I hope it will serve to give you a better picture of what she and our familia are experiencing.
Yolanda’s Testimony
Our familia on the Big Island
Pastor God bless you. You don’t know how much good the reflection that you sent me about casting our burdens on the Lord has done for my walk with Christ. Now I would like to share with you what is going on with my family and me.
When I was recently converted, I used to carry a lot of burdens. When I prayed for people it was as if they were putting a very heavy sack on my back. I spent a lot of time feeling the weight of it until God took that feeling away from me. At that time I told my pastor that I did not know how to give my burdens to God, and he gave me some good advice.
In recent times I have tried to encourage others to rest in the Lord to give their burdens to him.
Here in Cuba we are experiencing a lot of pressure in terms of food, the high prices that everything costs and the scarcity. People are very burdened because instead of seeing improvement in the country, it is quite the opposite. My husband, Rene is one of those who does not spend a day that he is not agitated and burdened. I pray a lot for him.
Typical transportation on the Big Island – a horse drawn carriage
He gets up every day at dawn and goes six kilometers in a horse carriage to work. There are moments when he arrives at work that he can’t even get anything done, because there is no electricity then when he returns home he is so frustrated. He says to me, “you tell me to rest in the Lord, but when you tell me that there is no rice for lunch and that our baby does not have even a snack to eat, how do expect me to respond when you tell me to rest in God.”
Today in the afternoon we were without power. I was sitting in the doorway with my baby. I was talking to God asking him to help my husband to rest in him, because he is working so hard to try to make sure that our family does not need, and that we have at least the basics. At times, I feel that as a family we have been neglected.
Rene arrives very late from the place where he works. Then after a day on the job he goes to the land where his mother lives to plant tomatoes and work some more. He does this so that we have food and to be able to make puree when the tomato is ready to be picked.
He comes home very late and that’s the way it is every day. I just try to pray for him and leave everything in God’s hands, because as his wife God has put me with him and I must support him. I know that Rene works hard. Please help me to pray for him.
Thank you for the good testimony that you shared with me about casting our burdens on the Lord. I sent it to every possible person I could think of, because of what you know that we are going through.
Today at dawn I have asked God to help me not only believe these truths in my mind, but in my heart as well. This way by giving God my burdens he will take care of them and carry them and thus help me. May the Lord help me every day to depend on him
It is as Pablo says, “I have known how to live in abundance and in scarcity.” I only hope that God continues helping my life to always believe in him and to deposit my burdens on him, because I totally depend on his love and mercy. When the enemy wants to make me see all THE needs, and all that am I going through. I don’t want to lose my focus, because I confess to you that there are times when I lose strength, but God helps me and encourages me. Thank you for being one of those people who help my walk in Christ for good.
I send you a big hug Pastor from the depths of my heart for all your family.
Extend Your Hands to Help Those in Need!
That laughter on the lips or the cackles set off by anything at all have disappeared from Cuban streets. (14ymedio)
Cubans tend to try to see the bright side and they like to laugh, but much of their optimistic spirit has disappeared, because of all the difficulties that they are having to live through. It’s sad to see how challenging every day living has become.
Dawn and I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider making a gift today to help our familia. Make a gift this Thanksgiving to help a family, like Yolanda’s. You can give by clicking on the link below.
I just got off the phone with one of the pastors from the Big Island. He told me that it’s getting more difficult by the day. Their electricity is being cut off anywhere from 5 to 10 hours a day. That makes it hard to cook, and it’s very hot and humid there so they are going without air conditioning or even fans during all those hours.
Pastor Justin giving a bag a beans to one of the families in need
We are sending aid to a number of pastors and their families. Yet it seems like so little compared to the overwhelming need. It’s hard to imagine, but the conditions continue to worsen.
It saddens me to hear our friends, our familia share all that they are living through. I continue to pray, and hope that we can do even more than we are doing to help.
Pastor Justin told me that thousands of people are leaving the Big Island. Pastors are leaving their churches either for a higher paying job or to immigrate to other countries that offer more hope. Many churches are left without pastors, because of this.
Pray for Our Beautiful Familia
God is at work and the church is growing despite all the difficulties
Another one of my pastor friends, Rolando told me that he is traveling 650 miles on bus this week to visit and strengthen the churches that he is working with. I can assure that the buses and roads there are nothing like they are here. I’m concerned for the health of these pastors who are working such long hours. They are not able to eat a healthy diet, and when they get sick there are few medicines available to help them.
The people stand in long lines to get their food and other basic needs
The average salary on the Big Island is 25 USD per month, and the salaries have not increased even though beans, rice, chicken, cooking oil, soap and other basic needs have skyrocketed. To buy anything, they have to stand in long lines throughout the day (5 to 8 hours). To buy a liter of oil costs 10% of a monthly salary. The country is bankrupt, all that is very sad.
You can Help!
Some of the people and families that we are helping
Since the COVID-19 hit in March 2020, we’ve been able to help more than 2,000 people in 9 different cities, because of the generous gifts of many friends like you. Although we cannot help all 11 million people on the Big Island we can help some. It is a nation with tremendous needs. Where your feet cannot go, your prayers can go! Your offerings of love can go! You can extend your hands to bless these men, women and families who are waiting for a miracle every day.
We are sending funds every month to help the pastors and families on the Big Island. We would like to raise at least $18,000 this year to cover these needs.
Help us help the church and our familia! Will you join us? Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to help us bring aid to these beautiful people.
Thank you for your prayers and for your support for this work on the Big Island!
Today I’d like to share the testimony of one of the leaders that we work with on the Big Island. This will give you an up close view of what our familia is living through, and help you to understand why they still need our help.
Maria’s Testimony
The island I am from is surrounded by sea. The place where both Christians and unbelievers raise their eyes to heaven hoping that the God of heaven will work a miracle in favor of a people who feel imprisoned by the sea that surrounds them. They cannot escape, but many still prefer to jump into the sea in a small boat with the hopes of finding freedom. They would rather die trying than to live in a place with so much repression, persecution, hunger, and lack of medicine.
Someone has said, that the tears of a hungry child weigh more than the whole world.
The Precious Seed of the Gospel to those Without Hope
The Gospel is going forth through faithful Ministers who love Jesus
Yet what can I say about those who cannot flee. Those who choose to stay because of their commitment to God. There are Pastors, workers, leaders, missionaries, and church planters who even in the midst of these difficult situations, walk and cry, carrying the precious seed of the gospel to those without God and without hope. They realize that the only true hope for this island is to hear the good news of salvation.
They are encouraging and discipling those who are surrendering their lives to Christ. They cry with those who cry, sharing the little bread they have with the hungry, although this often means going to bed without eating just so that another family or a small child does not go to bed on an empty stomach.
Bend Your Knees to Pray
Prayer in Camaguey. Our familia is committed to pray!
Today I call on you friends, people committed to pray, to bend their knees for my people on the Big Island. Pray for every man and woman who, despite going through persecution, opposition, hunger, nakedness, do not stop to bring the Word of hope and Salvation to a people who have had their dreams stolen and their desire to live wains.
I call on all of you generous people in Christ to extend your hands to bless these men, women and families who are waiting for a miracle every day.
My daughter, Zoe recently turned 9 years old. She has suffered from a fever for a number of days. She’s endured a very dangerous flu. It has lasted a long time not only because of the lack of medicines, but also because of the little medicine that one can find on this island it has to be bought in dollars. Dollars are expensive, because that is not our national currency. This makes it expensive and more difficult to obtain what is needed not only for Zoe but by most of the children.
Extend Your Hands to Bless Families in Need!
Some of the families that we are helping on the Big Island
It is true that we will not be able to help the more than 11 million people on the Big Island. It is true that it is a nation with tremendous needs that are difficult to meet, but where your feet cannot reach, your prayers can reach! Your offerings of love can reach!
God is working in on the Big Island. You can be part of a team in the hands of God, and that way we can to do it TOGETHER. Pray with us and extend your hands to help our familia. Make a Donation Today.
Dave and Dawn thankful for the Lord’s Good Work and Many Blessings!
It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of January. It seems like just a few days ago the new year was starting!
I just realized that this month marks 11 years since I began this website/blog. That’s amazing!
I’m in the process of giving my website an upgrade, which has made it harder to post anything lately. In the near future, this site will look different. I believe you will enjoy the changes. Over the last few days if you’ve tried to access this site you may have received a message saying that it was a private site, and I apologize for that. There also may be a few other bugs as we work on the upgrade. Thanks for your patience.
In Awe of God’s Goodness and the Growth of the Church
Pastor Esteban and Cinthya Martinez leading the new church in Rosarito, Mexico
Today I’d like to share a video that highlights some of the ways the Lord blessed us in 2021. Last year wasn’t an easy year for many of us. We hoped for better, but the year presented a number of challenges. Despite these challenges the church grew on the Border, the Baja and Beyond!
Dawn and I are in awe of how the Lord is growing the church on the Big Island. The church is growing by so much in some areas, that it is hard to believe what is happening. We are so impressed by the faithfulness of our God, and the commitment and dedication of our familia. In my next post I would like share about how more than 12,000 people came to Christ this last 2021.
The church didn’t grow at the same pace in Mexico, but it is growing. In this video I share more about the church that we built and helped plant in Rosarito Mexico, as well what God is doing on the Big Island.
Video Highlights of Ministry from 2021
Extend Your Hands to Help
Dawn and I appreciate you and the pivotal role you play through your prayers and financial gifts. You are helping extend the loving arms of the Father to bring the living water, the spring of eternal life to the Border, the Baja and Beyond!
We’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider joining us this year in prayer and through a financial gift to support church planting in Mexico and on the Big Island.
Your gift will help us to accomplish the God given vision to impact, Tijuana, Colima, Mexicali, Oaxaca, the Big Island and Beyond for generations to come. Our familia on the Big Island is still dealing with staggering needs. Sadly, the crisis is ongoing and it has only gotten worse as time has gone on. Not only is there a lack of food and basic goods, but the prices are skyrocketing and they are having to stand in long lines for hours at a time to get the little food that is available. We are thankful that we can be an instrument to bless others, and we’d love for you to join us in this effort.
One of the pastors with the children from his church on the Big Island
I just sent a gift, an offering of love to our familia on the Big Island. The messages I received after I sent these gifts were so uplifting. I wish you could see all the wonderful and encouraging messages I receive. I’d like to give you a glimpse through this post.
One of the pastors told me that the funds came just at the right time, and that the people in the church were jumping for joy. The Lord is providing for them. Hallelujah! As you extend your hands in love we are able together to help so many wonderful friends, who are living in desperate times.
I asked the pastors that we’ve been supporting to send me an update, and I learned that now we’ve helped more than 750 people since March of this year. Thank the Lord! The majority of these people have received aid on a monthly basis, because their needs are ongoing. The situation hasn’t improved. The coronavirus has further crippled their already broken economy.
The Horse and Buggy
The new horse and carriage that you gave towards and prayed for was used for the children at a VBS outreach this summer.
You might remember that in May I wrote about Rolando’s horse and buggy being stolen. I asked for prayer and for help to cover the cost of replacing the loss. The horse and carriage are essential for Rolando’s livelihood. He also uses the transportation to help the church as they minister to families and children in the community.
The good news is through your generosity the Lord provided. Rolando purchased another horse and carriage. The church was able to use it recently for their VBS. The pastor of the church where Rolando ministers sent me pictures (like the one above), and they all celebrated God’s grace and his goodness to provide.
Video Highlight of God’s Good Work
I made a short 3 minute video highlighting what Jesus is doing on the Big Island. I’d like to share it with you here.
We give thanks for the Lord’s wonderful work on the Big Island!
Extend Your Hands to Give
One of the families that we’ve help on the Big Island
Please join us in prayer as we just learned that hurricane Laura is effecting the eastern part of the Big Island, so we appreciate your prayers for the Lord’s supernatural protection for the country and the families who live in those areas. There’s already so many difficulties that the people are trying to overcome, because of the COVID-19 crisis. We can be assured that the Lord hears and answers our prayers.
Dawn and I are grateful for how the Lord has used your prayers and your generosity to help the families on the Big Island. Their needs are very real, and heartbreaking, but the Lord has used you to bring relief. The scarcity of food and basic needs is an ongoing reality. Please give to help feed a family today. Your gifts bring more joy and smiles than you can imagine!
Rolando in the striped shirt taking families home from church
This last week was quite a week. We received an urgent message on Friday from our friends Pastor Mario and Yany that someone had stolen the only. horse and buggy of one of the leaders in their church, Rolando. I’ve benefited from rides on Rolando’s carriage when I’ve been in Cuba. The last time I was there, Rolando took us to meet our taxi in the city, so I could go to the airport in Havana. When I offered to give him some money to pay for his help, he didn’t want to take it. He told me that he liked to help out those from the church. I said to him, “I would like to bless you and your family,” so he finally accepted my offer.
Rolando is a wonderful and faithful servant of God. He always helps the church with rides. It’s hard for the elderly and families to walk to church.
Also, he depends on the horse and carriage for his livelihood, so it’s a huge loss for him. I asked some pastor friends of mine if they would be willing to pitch in to help Rolando replace his horse and carriage. All of them said, “yes.” Mario and Yany told me that it costs $800 to buy another horse and buggy. Would you pitch in as well and give a gift by clicking here or the button below?
Families Give Thanks for the Friends Who have Helped Them
Families giving thanks for the help that they’ve received
Dawn and I are thankful for the generosity of those of you that have given so far. Together we’ve helped over 230 people and more than 65 families. We put together some videos of the families that have received help. It’s gratifying to know that they have food to eat, and that they don’t have to go to bed hungry. You can also read more about the families that we helped in our post: Friends Helping Hands: Our Familia Cubana.
Extend Your Hands to Help
Photo of $30 basic grocery basket taken from the news website: 14ymedio.com
It’s amazing to see how even a small gift can make a huge difference! The average monthly salary in Cuba is $25 – $50. Just to give you a small example of how hard it is for them to live, their basic grocery basket (photo above) of mayonnaise, chicken, soap, detergent, and some tomato sauce cost them more than $30. This is supposed to be a special deal for those health workers who have to care for the sick during the COVID-19 crisis. This represents more than half of what a health care worker earns in a month.
You can extend your hands to help these precious families!
Shoes or Food, which would you Choose?
One of the young boys, Angel* from one of the families that we helped said that even though he doesn’t have shoes, and he has to go barefoot – he is still thankful that he has food to eat, and that he doesn’t have to go hungry. Here’s a short 30-second video of Angel (holding the sign in the photo below) with his family.
Friends Helping Hands: Yolanda and her son Angel give thanks
You can get a glimpse through these videos, and through the collage of photos the difference that we are able to make through your gifts. There is still a need to give and extend your hands to help our Cuban familia. Click on the button below to donate, and to make a difference in the life of a family!
Thank You for Your Prayers & Gifts
Continue to pray for these needs, for protection for the people, and their leaders. In addition to the mounting stresses due to COVID – 19, our pastors have recently been experiencing serious persecution. Please also join us in prayer for their safety.
On Wednesday my son, Jonathan and I felt awkward and uncomfortable for the gospel. God used our time at El Bordo on the border to move us to compassion through the people we met there. We were also in awe of how God’s grace penetrates through the witness of our friends Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria along with the San Diego/Baja YWAM (Youth With a Mission) team.
Leo and Gloria go to El Bordo with a number of young people from YWAM every Tuesday. They share the love of Christ through song, testimony and the Word of God. The compassion and mercy of the Lord also shine in this dark place as they bring a warm meal for more than one hundred homeless people who live right on the border.
El Bordo: A Place for the Homeless
Entering the homeless park, El Bordo in Tijuana
El Bordo is a park that sits right at the border crossing. You can see the crossing where the cars drive into Mexico from the park. Many homeless and deported immigrants live there. Most of the residents, who sleep in tents in the city park are men, but there are some women.
It was such a huge blessing that my son, Jon could accompany me. You might remember that two weeks ago he had eye surgery! He is still recovery, but God is bringing healing.
Compassion for the Hurting
feeding the homeless
I find myself feeling uncomfortable when I’m among so many hurting people. There are so many in need of hope. They also have very basic human needs like for food and clothing.
God uses these uncomfortable moments to break us, and touch our heart.
The need is just crushing!
The Gospel in El Bordo
It encouraged my heart to see Leo and Gloria, some people from their church and all the young people from YWAM out there praying for and ministering to the people. They are willing to take a risk, and to get dirty for the gospel.
One of the guys that went with us, Jaime began a conversation with a couple of people at the park. He called me over and asked me if I could help him. Together we began to share the life-giving message of the gospel with a man and a woman.
The man, Fernando didn’t seem as interested. He told me he had bad cholesterol and that he couldn’t think clearly.
The woman, Agustina said she was seeking to grow in faith. She has a friend who is a believer that she’s gone to church with. We sought to encourage her in her faith in Christ.
The others that went with us also had opportunities to share with the people and pray for them.
Rehab on the Border
pastor Leo leading us in prayer
Many of the people at El Bordo are caught in addictions. God has used Leo’s background, as the Lord saved him from drug abused, so that he can reach these people. Leo and Gloria have started a rehab center. They take those that desire to get off of drugs, and they work with them so that they can get back on their feet.
They are in the process of building a rehab center right behind their home to house those interested in rehab. These hurting men and women are hearing the good news!
The light of the gospel shines forth in this dark place. It’s worth feeling uncomfortable and even awkward at times as we roll up our sleeves to share the love of Christ.
Hear Our Prayers!
O Lord, that your grace will break loose at El Bordo, and that many of the lost that live there will find their way back home. They will find their way to you.
Thank you Lord, that in you there is hope for the outcast.
Dave with Vicente taking it to the streets each week
Each week we are walking the streets of City Heights to connect with people, and promote our ESL class. Presence and prayer are so important to our work. As people get to know us they feel better about us.
As we are present in the community those we talk to grow to be more comfortable with us. As we pray in the streets we claim the land for Jesus!
We are on a journey with Jesus. Our desire is to follow Christ who grew to have compassion on the people as he lived among them.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
—Matthew 9:35,36 (ESV)
O, that Christ would radically change us, and affect our heart so that we have compassion for those we meet!
The Lord does minister to us as we reach out to others. Our little group grows in camaraderie each week. The Lord gives us more confidence and boldness as we see him open doors. That’s why it is thrilling to take Jesus to the streets!
God has blessed our efforts as we’ve had three new students come to our ESL class in the last two weeks. Thanks so much for holding us up in prayer. The Lord hears the prayers of his people!
This last week Vicente and I ventured into a part of the community where there are many Vietnamese. We left flyers in restaurants and grocery stores. Most people seem pleased to find out we are offering free ESL classes.
Continue to stand with us in prayer that the Lord will guide us and continue to open more doors!
Beyond Borders 