Thursday, December 1, Lima, Peru

 Feliz Navidad from Lima, Peru, Seems an apropriate greeting now that it is Dec.1st
After an amazing first day here in Lima, it was with great anticipation we continued our journey here.
And I must say, it was a day that brought special joy to my heart!
We departed in the am for a 75 mile bus ride to Jicamarca. I was told by our interpreter, Antonio, that this part of the county is considered The Highlands, and I believe once you see the photos upon our return you will understand why. The mountains surrounded us on all sides as we traveled and I marveled at God´s handiwork in this amazing country. As we arrived at the top, or at least it seems all the way to the top, of a very large mountain, I heard a sound that brought tears to my eyes and extreme joy to my heart. It was the sound of childrens voices! We had the extreme honor of working with missionaries Katty and Juvenal Bejar and the school they provide for the children in this highland area. We enjoyed teaching  children ages 3 to 12 proper dental hygeine and gave them a new toothbrush with donations that Betsy had graciously brought with her from her local dentist in Orange, Texas.
Approx 100 children were loaded into our 20 passenger bus. Yes, you read that right! It was a sight to behold. Beautiful smiling faces pressed up against the windows! Then they were brought to the dirt floor church named Cristo Viene where we served alongside Katty Bejar and other church volunteers as we served these children a hot meal. The meat they received was a special treat. But just when we thought the day could not get any better, we spent time with parents who have the same questions, concerns and worries about raising children that we do. Seems that some things are just universal...parents wanting the best for their children and sounds of children´s laughter. And even more important is the universal love that people accross the world share for the love of Jesus Christ. Please keep praying for us as we continue to watch the God of Coppell be the God of Lima, and the same God of the world.
  

First Day in Lima - Wednesday

Hola!
Amy, Donna, Teresa, Betsy, Janis and I just finished our first day in Lima!  What an adventure it was!  We toured the Common Hope facilities that Janis and Lou have set up here in Peru.  We can't believe all that they do in such a little space. It really reminds us of Cornerstone!!! I took my first ride in a motor taxi and it was a blast!  I asked how much it would cost to let me drive and he wouldn't budge. The trip is not over yet!!!   The highlight of the day was attending a service at Patricia and Javier's Ibanez's house.  They are 2 missionaries that VRBC supports here in Peru.  Patricia cooked us dinner and we had a fabulous time talking around the table.  We then participated in their church's Wednesday night service.  At the end of the service, a women told Patricia that God had led her to give me something.  As it turns out, that little something was a diamond engagement ring!  I'm now engaged to Peru!  After picking my jaw back off the ground, I thanked her profusely.  Our team decided to give the ring to Patricia and Javier to use as seed money for the building that their church is praying for.  Buzz, wouldn't that have been nice during our building phase?!!!!  They certainly do things differently here!  Short of hairdryers not working (yes, some of us are just that vain!) we are loving the Peruvian experience!  The Peruvian people are delightful and so hospitable to us!  Their passion for God and the gospel are an inspiration to all of us!  We are now heading to Katy and Juvenal Bejar's ministry to work with the children there.  We can't wait to see what God has in store for us today!  We thank you for your prayers and are so thankful to be part of a church that is mission minded!
Adios for today!
Kathy

Pray for 2 VRBC mission teams

This week, commit to pray for two mission teams going out from VRBC:

VRBC Christmas Store leaders Donna Blankenship, Teresa Brundige, Kathy Lonborg, Janis Townsend and Amy Wilkins, along with Amy's mom Betsy Dwight, leave Tuesday for a week in Peru to help with the Christmas Store in Lima. On Wednesday they will visit VRBC-sponsored missionaries Javier and Patricia Ibanez, who pastor a church plant in more affluent area of Lima, where evangelical Christianity is rare. On Thursday, the group will visit VRBC-sponsored missionaries Juvenal and Katty Bejar in a destitute area of Lima, where they will teach dental hygiene to school children, feed lunch to children from the community, and work with children and parents at the Bejars' church. Friday through Sunday will be spent helping our sister church El Buen Pastor, where they will serve 300 children and their families through the Christmas Store. Just like at VRBC, we will wrap gifts, serve as GPS, distribute stockings, and assist in whatever way we can. On Monday we will visit the children we sponsor through Compassion International, and then we fly home in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

A men's trip leaves Wednesday for Guatemala City to minister to orphans with Buckner. Pray for trip participants Kevin Ashby, Jeff Jones, John Lookabaugh, Steve Massey Jim Mustain, Jason Spoor and Bill Steadman. On Thursday they will do Bible study and sports camp at Hogar Solidario with the boys in the San Gabriel home. On Saturday they will do discipleship activities and relationiship building with boys in both of Buckner's transitional homes, and then on Sunday they return home.

Please pray for both of these teams, not only for safe travel but also that they would be filled with the Spirit, that God would work both in and through them, that they would be blessed with relationships and would be able to serve and extend God's kingdom through their mission work in Peru and Guatemala.

Pray for VRBC-supported missionary Charlotte Wootton

Please pray for Charlotte Wootton, a former VRBC member and VRBC-supported e3 missionary, upon the death of her mother. Here is what Charlotte said in her email update Friday:

Mother went home to be with her Lord this morning at 8:55 am. She went peacefully and I was able to be with her and hold her hand as she died. My prayers have been answered; I prayed for me to be able to be with her and for her to leave this earth quickly and peacefully. What a joy she was in my life and our whole family’s life! Always the encourager with a positive slant to everything, you could never catch her in a bad mood. She set the standards very high for the rest of us and for that I am grateful. She loved Jesus Christ with her heart, soul, and mind and knew she would be with Him when she left this earth. That is the hugest blessing of all!


We will have a graveside service for her in Warner, Oklahoma, on May 27 beside my father. Below is the obituary that will be in the paper.

Callie Dooley

January 21, 1911 – May 6, 2011

Callie Ruby Leatherwood Dooley of Nacogdoches, Texas, at the age of 100 years, went to be with her Lord on May 6, 2011 at Stallings Court Nursing Home. Callie was born on January 21, 1911, in Stilwell, Oklahoma, the youngest of six children. Her father died when she was eleven months old and her mother continued the work of the family farm providing all the family’s needs. After graduating from Stilwell High School in 1929, she moved to Tulsa and lived at the YWCA and worked at J. C. Penney. While attending the singles class at First Baptist Church, Tulsa; she met her husband, James Dooley, and they were married November 18, 1934. In the early years of her marriage, she was a support to her husband as he had various jobs which required moving often.

Her husband was called to the pastoral ministry in 1946 and she assisted in his ministry until he died in 1977. She had a ministry in her own right as an encourager, teacher, counselor, and friend. She was known for her great sense of humor and always had a smile for everyone. She had the gift of making people laugh and feel good about themselves. When she was asked to what she attributed her long life, she replied, “Attitude!”

She is survived by her son, Paul and wife, Katy, of Athens, Texas and her daughter, Charlotte Wootton, of Nacogdoches, Texas. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Lance Dooley of Irving, Texas, Bryce Dooley and his wife and children, Stephanie, Logan and Zachary of New Braunfels, Texas, and Juree Ballow and husband and son, Billy and Wade, of College Station, Texas. She was the heart of our family and we were blessed to have her in our lives. The positive and powerful impact she had on her family is eternal and she leaves a legacy of strong faith, courage, and perseverance. We are left with a lifetime of wonderful memories.

She will be buried beside her husband at a graveside service in Warner, Oklahoma, on May 27. Condolences can be offered at www lairdfh.net.

Thank you for your prayers this week; God provided angels for both Mother and me this week in the form of the hospice staff and the staff at the nursing home as well as dear friends and family.

For His Glory,
Charlotte Wootton/Team Leader
Cell: 214-803-0463
Email: charlotte.wootton@e3partners.org

Pray for Moises Vega, VRBC-sponsored e3 missionary in Panama

From their latest email update:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jer 29:11-12



Blessings:


Before we update you on Moises health situation we would like for you to know that we deeply appreciate your prayers and partnership with our family and ministry in Panama.

Since a year ago Moises has being having this issue with his left side nose and sinuses, which we thought it was a severe infection, according to doctors. As you may know he went on surgery on April 20th, at first we thought that we had good news that was just a sinus infection. But last Friday we got a call from the pathologist confirming that in addition to the infection Moises has a lymphoma. The surgeon said he was able to remove 90% because he did not wanted to go any further close the nerves by brain and eye.



Now we are waiting for additional pathologist report to come back in order to determine what kind of lymphoma is. We will be traveling to Panama city on Friday or Saturday, to start the plan for proper chemotherapy treatment.



The surgery was done at a private hospital but for the treatment we need to get a Social Security referral.



We will be sending an update as soon as we get further information on what kind of lymphoma it is. The pathologist should determine the following things:

          1. what kind of lymphoma it is.

          2. if this lymphoma is primary or from somewhere else.

          3. the treatment

          4. and how advanced it is.



Thanks for praying for this.



Also pls keep in prayer for provision for ministry already planned for May, June, July and August.



Love you dearly and thanks.



In His love,
Motalsy


Mail:
Moisés Vega/ Talsidia de Vega Pty 986
P.O.Box 25207
Miami, Fl 33102-5207

e3 Partners / MGPanama
Tel / Fax: (507) 774-5247
Cell Moises: (507) 6645-3426
Cell Talsy: (507) 6618-9870
E-mail: mvega7@mgpanama.com

Webpage: http://web.mac.com/talsidiavega/iWeb/MGPanama/Welcome.html


“Anxious for nothing,
Praying for everything,
Thankful for anything,
Peace of God”


Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7

Pray for the Stickney family

Tom Stickney, VRBC's former Minister to Students, serves as the Director of African Christian Outreach, a college discipleship ministry begun by his parents in Nakuru, Kenya. Tom, his wife Kerry, and their kids Sydney and Nathan-Raegan are living in Nairobi as VRBC-supported missionaries. Read more about their ministry and family at tomandkerryinkenya.blogspot.com.

Last week Tom had to return to the US due to some recent health issues. He spent the past week in Baylor hospital and is now recuperating at his mother's home. They now believe that Tom contracted a virus or disease about six weeks ago, and the combined stress of life and the illness has caused many of his other symptoms. Doctors have ruled out heart issues and are waiting on results from tests for infectious diseases. Tom's symptoms have improved for the most part. He is still dealing with nausea and swelling in his joints. Tom is unable to receive visitors due to the need for rest and recuperation, but he and his family greatly appreciate your prayers.

Please pray for:

• rest and recuperation for Tom
• the nausea and swelling to cease
• wisdom for the doctors as they seek to determine the cause of his illness
• Kerry and the kids as they remain in Kenya and are separated from Tom
• the ministry of African Christian Outreach
• a safe and healthy return to Kenya

Coppell Mission Team- Code Violations

A major outreach of our church to the Coppell community is the assistance we give to people who have been given code violations. Many ABF's have participated in helping Coppell citizens get their homes in order, and blessed their lives immensely.

Here are some pictures of a recent project that was taken on by the Sims/Struffolino class.

As you can see, our members are not afraid to get their hands dirty and put in some hard work!

Karen Weatherly, Code Violation Officer for the city of Coppell, expressed her gratitude to our Coppell Mission Team chair Brenda Lund by saying, "Thank you Brenda. I did go by to see the progress a few weeks ago and had an opportunity to speak to Ms. Jonas who was quite proud of the work. "

Please pray for future code violation projects to go smoothly and successfully. Pray for the citizens in Coppell who live in these conditions, and that somehow through the hard work of our VRBC members, not only would their property be fixed, but their hearts as well.