From Fabi and Mabe Tamayo the base at Casa Blanca
Choose Joy! Even in these hard times. Even when you cannot see the outcome of the present circumstances. Even when you miss the family God has allowed you to pour into and mentor for years. We miss our World Race teams! Since 2011, we have hosted over 1,200 of ‘our kids’ as they served the people of our city. We have handled logistics, planning, and partnerships with local ministries and suddenly, it is very quiet here. Yet, the needs of the people have not disappeared, in fact they have increased. We are trusting God in the midst of this time of challenge.
Choose Joy! We did. This phrase is so important to us that we named our daughter Alegria which means JOY! Yes … that’s right, we have a daughter! After having made peace and being content that Racers would be the only children we would ever have, God surprised us with JOY! What a blessing she is to us! The silver lining of this season is that we have had more time to spend with her.
In these uncertain times, making a joy-choice is more important than ever. It is our 9th year in ministry, and probably the most challenging one yet, however, God was not surprised … he sent Joy! We want to live a life which invites our daughter and others to live for God and His people. We want to let God create an atmosphere of the peace of heaven on earth. We want to continue to live as His family, so that all those we work with can absorb Him and His aroma here at Casa Blanca. Choose Joy!
From Scott Esposito and REAP Granada
Believe and you will be saved … you and your household.
“I was an angry and aggressive young man. I lived to fight. As you can imagine, my family took much of the brunt of my anger. But then I came to know Jesus, over 3 years ago, and Scott baptized me into a new life. ” Jose Angel tells us.
His transformation was one of the most dramatic we have ever seen. He has become a great father, showing compassion to his children. Then he married, and last year, we baptized his wife as well as his brother.
Now, God has used his testimony and transformation yet again. His dad, the drunk town, came to know Jesus! We just baptized him, as well as Jose’s mom and sister in law! “The Holy Spirit not only transformed me, but used my changed life to draw the rest of my family. What a great example of the promises of God at work!” Jose exclaims.
From Miguel Santiago in the Dominican Republic
Prayer warriors are God’s blessings to us. Many times they are the quiet ones, in the background, seeking God for those around them. We have no idea that much of what happens in our ministry is due to their faithful prayers.
When we first arrived in San Juan in 2005, we met an elderly woman named Dulce Maria. She was the first person to accept Christ through the First Year Missionary Program (a precursor to the World Race). Since that time, she has become like a mother to me and a part of our family.
“They check on me every week to ensure I have food and enough gas to cook it. It is a blessing to me!” shares Dulce Maria.
Besides being a mother figure to us, she is also a powerful prayer warrior who can see in the spirit.
But she tells of the lack of vision in her eyes, “My physical sight has been hindered by a blood clot behind my left eye. In his mercy, the Lord allowed Miguel and the ministry to get me the surgery I needed so I can see again. Despite being shut in during the pandemic and my heart condition, I still pray for everyone. What a blessing it was to finally meet Miguel’s 6 month old son face to face and actually SEE him with my eyes! “
Dulce Maria prayed over him, and blessed him. She is the fruit of the ministry and the ministry is the fruit of her prayers!
From Andrew Chambers and the missional community in Asheville NC
“I felt so bad about myself. I hated who I’d become. I numbed the pain with drugs and alcohol, but I knew I needed a change,” says Matt.
God breaks every chain! In the missional community in Asheville, our program is geared towards young adults seeking understanding in their faith … but Matt had none.
“I was a hard case, until God the Father tapped me on the shoulder one Tuesday night during worship. As only the Father can do, he clearly and directly said,” Matt, I love you. ” I was confused and broke down in tears and I called my dad. “
Like Eli in the Bible who recognized what was happening, Matt’s father told him, “It is Jesus talking to you. Listen to him. ”
Two weeks later, in a freezing cold river at the foot of a mountain, we baptized Matt. Then he turned around and baptized others! What a glorious day!
“Now, I am learning how to ‘take off the old man and put on the new.’ I am growing in trust and learning to hear God’s voice for myself. “
Matt is consistently seeking accountability to break the chains of addiction. He is a new creature; chains broken set free to fly!
From Amber Gallaway at the Thailand Base
Do you have scars? I beg you, do not hide them; scars are evidence of healing. This month, God allowed me to walk with others in their brokenness, because of my scars. Let me explain. I teach at a school here in Thailand and during lunch one day God created an opportunity for me to share my testimony with another teacher.
She asked me, “Will you tell me about your scars?”
This question about the scars all over my body opened the door wide to share about the abuse I faced as a child, as well as the hope and healing I found in Jesus. This teacher looked me in the eye as I shared and hung on my every word.
When I finished my story, she told me, “My 7 year-old daughter has been assaulted. She is also a Christian. Would you take her to your Christian church. Could she share her story with you? She needs someone to talk to who understands. “
Imagine my surprise! I was humbled by the trust she placed in me. I took her daughter to church and at lunch we sat and shared our ‘scars’ with one another. She is the only Christian in her family and her prayers for help were heard. Now, I am building a relationship with this family and I took a birthday cake over for her 8th birthday last week … all because of my scars.
From Mikayla Bedward at Adventures South Asia
Nothing is impossible with God! Here in South Asia we are seeing evidence of this fact. For 2 months, I have walked to see Venkatamma. She is a 52-year-old woman who has been paralyzed for over a year. Imagine, lying in your bed for an entire year! Unable to move, to care for yourself or your family. What a frustrating situation! Venkdatamma needed encouragement. She needed hope. She needed to know she was not forgotten or abandoned. Her face was downcast. Her heart was as broken as her legs. She had even stopped eating. She needed God to meet her in her time of suffering.
Every time I sat beside her bed I encouraged her to hold onto her hope. We prayed for Jesus to heal her. Our church took up the mantle of prayer for her as well.
Venkdatamma said, “Last month, I stood. Then, I moved my feet forward while leaning on a cane. It was a miracle!”
Her smile said it all. Her mood lifted and she began to eat again. She looked up. The change in her countenance was stunning. Now she is an ambassador for Jesus.
“Everywhere I WALK I shares my story about God’s love for me and how he healed my body, but also my heart. I want to be a living testimony of his healing and lead many others to the Healer!”
