Spring Highlights:
We traveled as a family to visit friends in Tehachapi, Bakersfield, Fresno & Mexicali. I (Scott) spoke at a Transformation Conference; visited churches in Fresno, Roseville & Memphis.
We (EOC staff) hosted 21 Teams from 5 Canadian provinces & 4 US states (495 people) and built 30 houses (thanks go to our special guest staff during the Easter weeks: Mitch Caton, Bruce Wessels, Josh Weibe, Darrel & Rhonda Hewko).
It has been a wonderful time of being with people of many nations who share a love for Jesus, their neighbor (who often is from a neighboring country), and being together in community.
This continues to be a year of focus: Why are we here? Who are we here for? What are we doing? We keep coming back to the principle of people not programs. We are here to Mobilize, Reach & Equip people. We minister to Children, Families, Pastors, Communities & Teams. We utilize various programs to be with one another, but we are here for people!
When it gets tough, when the road is long, we are able to persevere for the person. We are keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, trying to walk the message we speak. But I will tell you its not easy.
We have had two of our precious national staff leave over the past few months, due to the fact that they need a better source of income for their families. That's hard. Even though we are able to offer our national staff a decent wage (by Mexico standard), its not enough. Our national staff earn around $3.75 an hour. You might be shocked by that, but realize that 10,000,000 people in Mexico live on less that $2.00 a day & the national minimum wage is just $6.00 per DAY. Not per hour, PER DAY.
So you can imagine that while there is a slowdown in the US economy, and we may have to make difficult choices as American's & Canadian's, there are people being affected whose lives were in a fragile state before this crisis started. How many of us need to chose between which of our kids goes without eating today? With our cancellations due to the Economy & media hype about violence, we have 35 families in our program waiting to receive houses, but likely won't this year. Yes, countless more also need houses, but these are the families who were already selected, but as teams have cancelled, we have had to inform them that the situation has changed.
Imagine the position of the local pastor we are "Equipping". After he has selected a family to receive a house, and we have approved them and filmed the interview. Now we, along with the pastor have to return with the news of change.
Can you imagine this? This is where we are this year. Please keep us in your prayers.
I can tell you I need your prayers. I can say that it is not easy living by faith. Not knowing if people like you will continue to support us & our work. Its not easy to focus my attention on the people who need it most; my family, my staff & the forgotten people of Mexico, when I am not sure how we will have enough to keep going.
Please pray that we, that I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.
May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. Consider him who endured such opposition, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12
