Prayer, The Promised Land & Celebration!

Dear Friends,

Greetings once again.  Wow, Christmas - in December everyone always asks you, “are you ready for Christmas yet?”  Most years our answer would be a resounding yes!  However, this year one major event has set us back.

On October 15th Patty’s mom Esperanza had a stroke and our world became very complicated. In Colombia there is no social safety net and  the hospitals do not have the resources to fully care for a patient.  Someone from the family needed to be at Esperanza’s side 24 hours a day to take care of her needs and be vigilant of a relapse. Our apartment, three blocks from the hospital, became the centre of operations for the entire family.

A planned out of town seminar had to be cancelled, projects suspended or downsized and I became a full time house husband while Patty and her 4 sisters dedicated themselves to caring for their mother and trying to plan for the future.

Still, in the midst of the storm, we have seen God’s hand.  Esperanza was at home alone when she had the stroke.  She had just finished a phone call when it occurred and it was only five minutes later that two of her daughters came home and got her to the hospital fast.  She lost total or partial use of her left side and was not able to walk or even move herself in the bed.  Now, a month and a half later, she is walking with a walker and has taken her first steps without any help.

Please pray for her and us, as we continue to deal with the fall out, our frazzled nerves, emotions etc.

Despite the crisis we are still working on 2 projects this Christmas.  One is a project to purchase a farm for 200 orphans in Medellin, Colombia.  The other is Celebrate Christmas.  Because of circumstances we have had to scale back the latter, but we are still praying for 2000 gifts for needy kids this year.

The Promised Land

YWAM Medellin cares for 40 children in rented houses.  Far too often they have had to move from place to place as owners have needed to sell their properties; taking away the security that a child so desperately needs.

We want to establish a permanent home for them.  A farm where they can grow, heal and learn about God’s creation in their daily lives.

If you could help provide them a permanent home

at little or no cost to you personally,

WOULD YOU DO IT?  

We have the strategy, we just need a little of your time this Christmas season.

For our kids and the children still waiting on the streets, the idea of living on a farm is a dream, it is a vision, it is the Promised Land.  Please visit The Promised Land Project:

www.thepromisedlandproject.com

Donations can also be made through the web site.

Celebrate  Christmas 2009

Last year we were able to provide Christmas gifts for some 500 children in evangelistic programs, both in Bogota and the jungle city of Quibdo, Colombia.

Many children were amazed that Jesus loved them so much that people sent them gifts from half a world away.

This year our goal is to reach 2000 children with a physical expression of God’s love 

For $15 (the price of a small, locally purchased gift) you can help bring happiness and the Good News to a child this Christmas season.

Would you consider ``Celebrate Christmas`` in your year end planning? 

Donations can be made in the same way as you would with our personal support.  Just send us an e-mail to let us know that your gift is for

Celebrate  Christmas

I also just finished a trip to “that” Carribean Island once again.  We will be sending out a report soon by e-mail.

Over the next few months we have several events planned:  A School of Missions in two Colombian cities, a Communications Seminar in the Dominican Republic and we will be continuing to fund raise for the Promised Land Project until we reach the goal.

Let us sign off with a sincere Christmas wish, that you would find joy in the season, hope in our Saviour and courage to share Him with a needy and dying world.

Love in Christ, 

 Darren, Patty , James & Darien

As full time volunteers we receive no salary. If you wish to be a part our work with YWAM and the worldwide Christian community that we are called to serve, please consider supporting us with your prayers and donations.

www.inheritthemirth.com