God Blessed El Salvador (and us), With an Early Christmas Gift!

Mmmmmm......As I sit here and sip at a fresh cup of Starbucks House Blend coffee, I can't help but think about how our God is so awesome, and blesses us so much!

We may be living in a 3rd world country, but we are movin' up in the world, now that we have our very own Starbucks!! And it is a really nice one......Two floors with an outdoor patio on the 2nd floor. Many of the missionaries here feel that God has blessed us with an early Christmas gift. We may not have the money to frequent it often, but it's sure nice to be able treat ourselves once in a while.

Tim and I don't usually buy each other birthday, anniversary or Christmas gifts anymore, but what we will do on special occasions, is buy something "for the house" that we both would like. Gift #1 this year, was an inexpensive coffee grinder. Gift #2, a pound of Starbucks House Blend.

I know, I know.....we shouldn't open Christmas gifts until Christmas Day.....but for a really good cup of coffee......Well, my fellow coffee drinkers would surely understand. Got to go get a refill.

Thank you Lord for remembering us in El Salvador, You meet even our smallest needs!!

: )

Busy November!

It's been a VERY busy month, to say the least. Hence, not much time to blog, so I'm going to play, "catch up"!

We started November doing a corporate fast with our church, which we broke when our medical team from Seattle, WA arrived. Spent a week with the medical team, holding clinics in Mira Flores, the camp, the tent, and in Las Delicias. We treated many people medically and our counselors ministered to each spiritually, bringing many new lives into the kingdom.

One of the team nurses, our dear friend Mary, stayed an extra 5 days, after the team returned to Seattle, and we were able to spend some quality time with her and show her a round El Salvador. She worked with us in the clinic 2 days, as well, and spent the last night at our house so I could make her a good breakfast before taking her back to the airport. We all had a wonderful time and Mary has been such a blessing to our family, as well as King's Castle Ministries.

We also started overseeing the children's feeding program, in Nueva Esperanza this month. We have been delivering food and helping to serve lunch on Mondays and Fridays. Lunch is also served on Wednesdays, but we work with Dr. Boris every Tuesday and Wednesday in the clinic at the camp. Our goal is to get this program back in full swing, as it once was, and feed as many children as we possibly can. Our donations in the Compassion Ministry have been suffering, due to the economic situation in the US, and we are praying for new donors, and sending out emails to try to find supporters. If you interested in helping us financially, please let me know. King's Castle currently has 4 feeding programs with a 5th getting underway. Each program feeds approximately 40 to 50 children, 2 to 3 days a week, and the cost to run the program is $250 to $300 per month, at each location. The targeted age group is up through 9 years of age, and for many of these children it is the only hot meal they receive. Please keep this ministry in prayer, as we truly need a financial miracle.

Last week, many of the missionary ladies filled Christmas baskets with homemade baked goods for The National Executive Committee of The Assemblies of God families. We enjoyed an evening with the pastors and their wives, at the home of fellow missionaries, Kevin and Stephanie Stewart.

We also enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at Don and Terri Triplett's house, with traditional turkey and dressing with ALL the fixins'. We each brought our own favorite food and/or dessert. A good time was had by all!

Today we joined in 12 hours of fasting and prayer with all of the Assemblies of God churches in El Salvador, crying out for this nation to repent and seek the face of God. There were hundreds, no, maybe thousands of people present today, in the 90 degree temperatures, all joined in prayer, and in agreement for this one cause. Please join us in praying for this country, as we are believing for a great revival!

During all of these activities, as if they haven't kept me busy enough.......both Aaron and Emily have been extremely busy all month, as well. Both spent a week in the prayer fortress, with their youth groups (different weeks). Both have been out ministering in the streets and in churches throughout El Salvador, each coming home for 1 day....Long enough for me to wash ALL of their clothes and repack their suitcases to send them back out! Emily has been ministering in San Miguel all week, and is now headed to Merliot. And Aaron was in Nigaragua all week ministering and is traveling to Costa Rica today, to minister there.

Whew!! Three more days of November left.....Can't wait to see what December holds! Blessed to be serving as missionaries in El Salvador!!

God Answers Prayer!!

Just 8 day ago one of our Guardians of the Vision, 10 year old Christian was run over by a pickup truck when it's driver lost control and ran inside of a church building where Christian was visiting for a celebration of children. He died at the scene along with the young teacher.

Earlier that same day, Christian attended services at the tent for his Guardian of the Vision class. During that class they were discussing the importance of being prepared spiritually to die and having your heart right with God. Christian announced that he was prepared to go but was concerned for his family, none of which had a relationship with God.

After the accident happened, Christians leaders and many of his friends went to pay their respects to Christian's family. They waited in line to pray with them and share words of encouragement. Christian's mom and siblings were angry at God for taking Christian and couldn't understand why God would take a young boy who's desire was to be a pastor.

Prayers were being lifted up by people in several different countries for this family.

Christian's friends were asked to do a program for the family, that included many of the songs and dances that Christian once did, including a favorite that his mom said he use to sing all the time. Christian would have been pleased to know that his friends were ministering to and loving on his family. They even invited the family to come to church to see where Christian learned about Jesus and had made the decision to live for Him.

This Sunday morning Christian's mom and siblings came to church and spent most of the morning being ministered to in the children's tent where Christian loved to worship and learn about Jesus (pictured above). Each one made the decision to follow Jesus and can now find comfort in knowing that someday they will be with Christian again in Heaven!

God Is Faithful and He Hears Our Prayers!!

From Friday evening on October 15th until last night, we stayed at the camp for our week in the Prayer Fortress. We fasted periodically throughout the week and spent 2 1/2 hours every 12 hours up on the 3rd level of the Prayer Fortress interceding for the specific needs of many people, as well as for the nations. We also had personal devotions every morning and group devotions 3 different times throughout the day and evening.

This was our 4th week in the Prayer Fortress, and the whole family agrees that it was the best, so far. We had an awesome week and many of our prayers have already been answered. We continue to receive emails with good reports, from those who sent us prayer requests! God is so faithful!!

It will take us another week to recuperate and get back to our normal routines, as the prayer weeks are very challenging and really take a lot out of you.....I guess we would consider it a submission of the flesh to the Spirit, and so worth it! God Is Good!

While up on the 3rd level of the Prayer Fortress we were also able to enjoy the beautiful view. I'm posting a few pictures to share with you. Enjoy!



Many Blessings!
Tim, Pam, Aaron and Emily

Medical Team From Panama City, FL

This morning we said our goodbyes to our dear friends form Panama City, Florida, who spent the last week working along side of us, in 4 different medical clinics. We not only ministered to the physical needs of the people, but more importantly, their spiritual needs. We treated approximately 568 people, with 118 decisions for Christ! What an awesome week for all of us!

Tim worked in several areas of the clinics this time, moving around to wherever his help was needed....triage, pharmacy, seating people, and even playing soccer with some of the children.

I worked in the pharmacy, as I normally do, filling the prescriptions, giving injections, and also helped in training Tammy, a new missionary nurse that has joined our team in the Compassion Ministry.

Aaron helped in counseling one day, for the first time, which was quite a stretch for him, but it went well. He worked along side of Oscar, one of our Master's Commission students. He also learned to make animals and swords out of balloons and passed them out to the kids.

Emily helped tremendously in the pharmacy explaining to the people what there medicines were for and how to take them. She also gave her first injection of vitamin B12 to Dr. Boris, with his encouragement! He has been an amazing mentor to all of us, but has been especially good at teaching Emily so many things in the clinical setting, while at the same time, encouraging her to follow her dreams of becoming a nurse.

We are all so blessed as a family, to be able to minister here in El Salvador in this capacity. Thank you to those of you who help to make this possible. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and we will keep you in ours, as well.

Blessings!

Tim, Pam, Aaron and Emily

Today is Independence Day here in El Salvador, where most of the businesses are closed and the people can celebrate with their friends and family. For us, it's a day for our kids to catch up on their school work. Tim and I have chosen to homeschool, because we have found it to be more compliant with full time ministry. Although schoolwork seems to be a challenge at times, we count it a blessing that it is generally due to the kids being so actively involved in their own ministries, that causes them to fall behind in their schoolwork!! Their ministry has actually been an education in itself.

I'm reminded of some of the questions that Tim and I were asked when we first told our family and friends that we felt we were called to the mission field. Questions like: "Are you taking your kids?" and, "What if God hasn't called your kids to the mission field?"........We had to explain that God called us as a family and it would be "as a family" we would go!

I have to admit, although I believed that with all of my heart, I never imagined that God would use Aaron and Emily to the extent He is using them. It has been so amazing to stand back and watch the Lord work through them. Not always an easy task, as parents, to release your children to minister in foreign countries, most often times without us. But, we have learned to put them into God's hands and believe that He will watch over them. Tremendous spiritual growth, in each of our children's lives, has been the result of allowing God to use our kids to minister to others.

We pray that this is an encouragement to any parent that is hesitant in allowing their children to go on a mission trip to a foreign country, or to be involved in ministry in the streets of your own community.....God wants to use our youth to reach out to the next generation. Allow Him to use them, it will change their lives, and bless you, as well!

Thank you to all, who support us in prayer and finances. Please continue to pray, as our family brings the compassion of Jesus to the streets in El Salvador and other countries in Central America.

Please keep Aaron in your prayers, as he prepares to minister in the streets of Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica, in November. He will be gone for a whole month with The Warriors (his youth group).

And please pray for Emily, as she will be spending most of November away at camp, taking necessary classes that will allow her to advance in her level of ministry.

Love and Blessings!

Tim, Pam, Aaron and Emily

Emily's Mission Trip to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Greetings Family and Friends!

As many of you know, Emily returned home recently from her week long mission trip, to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. She joined 11 others from King's Castle Ministries on their journey, ministering to the Miskito people that live on the coast of Nicaragua. They drove 11 hours, crossing two borders and then had to fly in a small plane before finally reaching Puerto Cabezas.

She experienced many new things and made new friends, as well. She ate sea turtle for the first time, prepared for them by the Miskito people, and she loved it. She also ate "rondon", which is a seafood type of soup, made with a coconut milk base, that she wasn't too fond of.

The team ministered with song, dance and dramas, as well as sharing the Word of God. They were also involved in an all night vigilia, and were able to minister to and pray for many people.

One miracle that they witnessed, was when a 13 year old Guardian of the Vision, Neydi, received a serious concussion after the center mast from their big tent fell, due to the heavy rains, and hit her in the head. She convulsed immediately after and started vomiting. They rushed her to the nearest hospital, but the hospital had no modern equipment, not even an x-ray machine! She continued to vomit and experienced numbness in both legs. Prayer chains started all over, in several different countries. Neydi was flown to Managua to a bigger and better hospital to be evaluated by a neurosurgeon, who thought Neydi needed brain surgery to remove a huge hematoma that had collected. Another neurosurgeon thought that they should wait a day or two to see if the blood started to absorb. They waited a few days and repeated a CAT scan and released Neydi from the hospital without any surgery! I believe that even the doctors felt that God had touched Neydi! Yea God!

As the team headed back to El Salvador, the van that they had rented, got a flat tire. They stopped to change the tire and put the spare on. After traveling a little further, the spare tire had a blow out! It was now Saturday night and getting dark out. It "just so happened" that they stopped in front of a pastor's home about 10 minutes from the border to El Salvador. The pastor came out to help, and it "just so happen" that he had a friend that owned a tire company, and he was able to help them buy a new tire. This could have ended up in finding a place to stay for the night and hoping to find a tire shop opened on Sunday....BUT GOD made a way! Thank you to those who helped us pray for the team while they were away....God really does hear our prayers!

The team made it home safely at about 3 A.M., and even made it to church the next morning!
God Is Good!!

A Day/Night With The Warriors

Tim and I decided to spend a day with the Warriors as they ministered in the streets of El Salvador, with dance, dramas and puppetry. We arrived at the church they had been staying in bright and early in the morning. They were served an awesome breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh rolls. When they finished, they cleaned up the dishes and crammed into the micro bus, ready to hit the streets! We find it very amusing that no matter how many kids there are in the group, they WILL ALWAYS fit into the vehicle available!!

First stop was an apartment complex. Some of the Warriors went out into the neighborhood to invite kids to come to the program, while others stayed back to set up the sound system. Within minutes, kids were coming from all over, onto the basketball court where we had set up for the programs. For icebreakers, a game of basketball started on one side of the court, and soccer on the other side, with a mixture of Warriors and visitors in each game.

Then it was time for the programs to begin. Dances to Christian music, dramas and even a puppet show, drawing the attention of both children and adults. Next, one of the Warriors shared from the Word of God offering hope and salvation, and asked if anyone would like prayer. At this point, all of the Warriors went out into the audience and prayed with those who wanted prayer, and passed out informative brochures and cookies. Then it was on to lunch being prepared by 3 wonderful church ladies, in the home of one who graciously welcomed us.

Rice and tortillas were served to the Warriors, and the adults were treated to deliciously prepared chicken, as well! What a treat! We were all humbled by their hospitality and generosity.

Next stop, the streets of San Tomas, which looked to be a very, very poor area. After the Warriors went out and invited families to the program, a game of soccer started, as an icebreaker. Then they played some games with all of the kids who would participate. Many kids came to play on their own, but others needed a little nudge of encouragement to join in on the fun! After the games, the dances and dramas, and then sharing the Word of God, and prayer for all who would allow it.

Then onto the orphanage with the same order of program. What a treat to watch the faces of the children light up while the Warriors played games with them and loved on them. I'm pretty sure God was smiling, too!

We left the orphanage to do one last program in front of a pastor's house, at dark, in the street! We set up chairs from the pastor's house, right in the middle of the street, and watched the spectators come to see what was going on, as the kids did their dances and dramas. The picture I posted is at this program, where Aaron and the other Warriors are dancing. Again, they ended the program praying for everyone who would let them.

We headed home at this point, as the Warriors headed back to the church to spend the night, to get up early the next morning, and start all over!!

Now we know why Aaron sleeps for 24 hours after returning from a week of programs with the Warriors!!!