Staying Put in Your Commitment- by Angelo Cabrera

Staying Put in Your Commitment

Let me ask you a question: Are you only committed or only involved? There was once a kamikaze pilot who flew 52 missions. He was involved in each one, but he was not committed. Here is an important principle in life: the level of commitments defines the quality of your life. Hebrews 11:35 describe the faithful as “not accepting their release.” Simply amazing, they had the opportunity for the easy way out, but they stayed put in their commitment. In spite of the circumstance, in spite of pain, in spite of fear they stayed the course. We often quit so easy, we given in so easy, we turn back so easy, we just . . . stop. Why? So often our level of commitment is tied to our level of comfort.

When it gets uncomfortable we just quit. We drop out, we cry, we whine, we feud, we fight, and ultimately we fail. Here is the truth, the work of God has not always been easy and it’s not always comfortable. It is reassuring to know, God’s will never lead us where His grace cannot keep us. It doesn’t stop there either, God said it would be eternally rewarding. The word for today is, “Stay put! Stay Committed! Stay the Course!” Come out of early Christian retirement and reenlist, recommit, and refocus. You were made to make a difference. Eternity will reveal that, so often we quit before we can see our fruit.

Someone once said:

“My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me; I cannot choose the colors. He worketh steadily. Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper and I the under side. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver, in the patter He has planned”

Kingdom Hero-by Angelo Cabrera

Kingdom Hero

God has a hall of fame, filled with God’s champions, found in Hebrews chapter 11. When you read Hebrews 11, immediately you are capture in three ways: 1) Great motivation, “if they could, I can” 2) God is watching us, for there are included people with names and no names, the Lord is aware of each of us 3) Higher priorities, to keep us focus on God’s priorities.

These men and women of faith were sold out to the Lord. They shifted from self-sufficiency to God sufficiency. Paul the apostle said it this way, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” We must do the same daily, that is, surrender to the agenda of Christ.

If we were honest we might sing some well known hymns like this:

I Surrender Some
There Shall be Sprinkles of Blessings
Fill My Spoon, Lord
Ho, How I Like Jesus
He’s Quit a Bit to Me
I Love to Talk About Telling the Story
Take My Life and Let Me Be
It is My Secret What God Can Do
There is Scattered Cloudiness in My Soul Today
Onward, Christian Reserves
Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
Just As I Pretend to Be
When the Saints Go Sneaking In

There are quite humorous but there is an element of truth contained in each of them. “Please tell me in a word,” said a Christian woman to a minister, “what your idea of consecration is?” Holding out a blank sheet of paper the pastor replied, “It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, and to let God fill it in as He will.”

It took forty years for Moses to realize he was nothing. He came to a place where there some dry and ugly sticks. He took off his shoes, and you say why? God was in the bush. God is saying: I don’t need a pretty bush, educated bush, or even an eloquent bush. Any old bush will, as long as am in the bush. My sufficiency does not come through who I was, quite the opposite, it comes through who lives in me.

Breaking Barriers-by Angelo Cabrera

Breaking Barriers

We are living in a day when, ordinary people empowered by God, are making a difference together. The local church is the future. The church of the new millennium has a mission to evangelize the planet. Would we be the generation that says, “Let’s get it done.” God never met a person whom he didn’t love. We have been fiddle ling around while the world goes to hell.

God is still looking for worshipers. This is a core to the purpose of missions. That God would be worshipped among all the peoples.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands” Rev. 7:9 NASB

God is launching all kinds of churches for all kinds of people. God loves variety. Imagine, there are over 60,000 kinds of beetles. God is calling each one of us to think and pray globally. It’s time to do church with no limits. Every church is called into mission and mission is needed among all peoples. Every church is a sending church. The Great Commandment and Great Commission was given to every believer in every church in every country of the world (Acts 1:8).

Our prayer should be for more influence. Why, to speak up for those who have no influence. We need to be more like Jesus. We need to do more like Jesus.

A Pathway to Fruitfulness-by Angelo Cabrera

A Pathway to Fruitfulness

A Brief look at what goes on during the week:

Building the Foundation

• There is a prayer team that goes to the local park to pray for at least three hours. Intercession, spiritual warfare, and enlisting other to pray is emphasized.
• Communicating the vision to pastors, pastors-in-training, leaders, and church people (Prov. 29:18; Ps. 78:6-7).
• Assessing the local needs and preparing for the best practices. Including house-to-house invitation, street evangelism, showing the JESUS film, and altar call invitations (Isaiah 6:8).
• Targeting for the unchurched communities nearby (Matthew 24:14; Romans 15:20; 1 Cor. 3:8).

Teaching Local Believers

• Communicating spiritual heath and balance (Matthew 4:23).
• Training in evangelism that leads to church planting.
• Training lay leaders so they can lead (Zech. 10:2; Prov. 11:14).
• Move to match volunteers with other resources.

Equip Emerging Trainers

• Find volunteer leaders (Mark 3:14; John 15:8).
• Train those planting churches to equip others in this strategy through pastor’s school (2 Tim. 2:2).
• Help start new groups among the unchurched (Romans 15:20; 1 Thess. 1:6-8).
• Train lay leaders so they can lead small groups (Jer. 3:15; Acts 2:42).

Overseeing the work among the churches at:

• Musooku
• Aburi
• Teshi
• Dome
• Tema

Soon to launch new churches in:
Shai Hills, Far in the Western Region, and Cape Coast.

Health Update on Feliza

I sent an e-mail out to my family to ask for their prayers and inform them that I had recently become very dehydrated...I know, me of all people, the one always telling others to drink enough water!

Well...it happened to me. I hadn't gotten sick since I'd been here but this week was affected by dehydration. The Harmattan has begun here in Ghana (The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March (winter). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmattan)that plus drinking more hot caffeinated tea and coffee than usual added to it and just not drinking enough to fight the dry air here.

I began to faint at a very crowded, hot, marketplace a couple hours away from home. I was with Angelo and the kids and I thought it could have been my blood sugar, I was able to drink enough juice to walk the distance to the jeep and go home. My blood pressure was very low and I was extremely weak and tired. I went to a local nearby clinic yesterday and recieved 1 1/2 litres of normal saline fluid intravaneously and felt somewhat better; they also took some blood tests as well. I am much better today although feeling tired still. Also drinking a lot of water.

Little by little catching up with my strength. All this right before Christmas...not fun. But God is good and He provided the right doctors and help where I needed it!

We miss you all and of course are missing being at home with family and friends for Christmas. Tommorrow at church we will have a packed Sunday with a second communion service and the baby naming ceremony of the daughter of our driver Isaac. His daughter was named after me, it was a true honor! Her full name is Feliza Ajeebia Osai, almost 2 months old now!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas fills our hearts with LOVE because God first loved us. JOY because the Saviour is our honored guest. PEACE because our hearts belong to Him. May you know the warmth of His presence in your home as you celebrate this special time of year. God bless your Christmas. " . . . We set our hearts at rest in His presence" (1 John 3:19).

In Africa we are starting tonight 4 days that are going to be glorious. Tonight we will show the movie "The Nativity" on the high mountains of Ghana. Tomorrow we will have communion and a explosive Sunday church service. Monday, that is Christmas Eve, we will show the movie "The Nativity" at the capital. Tuesday, Christmas morning we will have a church service with a full meal for all who wish to come. No snow here but plenty of Jesus.

From Africa,
Angelo, Feliza, Annie, Marisol

FAQ's about living here.

Questions you may have about our everyday life in Ghana:

Q1. "Do you live in a hut?"
A. No, sorry to disappoint you, we live in a house! True, it is not built the same as many of the homes on the East coast or in Virginia, but it is a normal looking house. It's made of cinder blocks and concrete walls with plaster ceilings and tile floors throughout. It has a terracotta roof. All the homes around here have a wall built around them with a iron security gate. Some even have electric fencing on top of the walls and gates or razor wiring, ours does not. Only very few homes have paved roads in front, ours is an orange dirt road.

Q2. "Do you avoid eating the fruits and veggies there?"
A. No. We eat pretty much everything. I realize now that people that live in developed countries like in the U.S.A. have a lot of natural fears and misgivings about living in more underdeveloped areas like where we live. We do not use bleach to wash our fruits and veggies, we do like the locals and like my own mother taught me who is from Mexico; you use salt. Good old table salt. You too can do the same thing at home. We put some salt in a basin with clean water and soak our tomatoes for example. Then we rinse and pat dry and voila! Ready to eat.

Q3. "What do you eat?"
A. We cook most of our meals, in fact we cook more over here than we did back at home. There is no such thing as American fast food here. There is "take away" but you still have to show up and wait and wait and wait before you can take it home. The beef here is a lot tougher and requires more cooking time if you want it to be tender. I made a pot roast yesterday for the first times since we've been here and it took about 5+ hours! We make a lot of American meals like french toast, pancakes, omelets, french fries, soups, stews, etc. but we also eat local Ghanaian food. Our housekeeper makes local food in our home to feed the people who come on Thursdays for training and sometimes we eat what she prepares. Last Thursday we ate peanut soup with rice balls. I personally prefer her not to cook any local dishes with fish, the fish Oder and the palm nut oil is very strong and it sticks to the walls. So we work together, between myself, Suleima, and her (Ama) to come up with an agreed upon menu. We miss eating things like celery which is an imported item and can cost up to $12. We also miss fresh milk, the milk that is sold here is powdered and long life shelf milk. If you get fresh milk from a herdsman it is not pasteurized, however, today we found some fresh pasteurized milk in the new Shoprite grocery store and Suleima and I bought one bottle to try it out.

Q.4. "What is there to do for fun?"
A. Not much. Ghana is up and coming, it is developing fast but it is still a 3rd world country. Although we leave near the beach, the beaches are dirty, and full of people trying hard to make a living selling to everyone who steps foot on the beach. Their are cleaner more private beaches about an hour or more away. There are no cinemas here as you know them. Shopping here is no where near what you know it to be, although a new "mall" has opened up with a handful of stores. Very very expensive even the shoe store which sells mostly "used" shoes! We are home most of the time. On Saturdays we try and explore Ghana the best we can. Right now many organizations and Embassies are hosting festivals and Christmas bazaars as fundraisers. So we have enjoyed attending those when we can. Angelo brought back some board games like Monopoly and the game of Life which have played several times and we truly enjoy.

Q5. "How's the weather?"
A. It's sunny most every single day which I absolutely love! Lots and lots of palm and coconut trees and fruit trees everywhere. It's also hot but bearable. When it rains it pours, when it's hot it's hot. If the A/C is working you are very happy! Many many times you are eating or cooking or watching a DVD and the power goes out! No warning...it's out...and you never know for how long. We are so used to it now we don't even flinch, unless we are watching a movie of course. We wait a few minutes before even getting up to look for candles or flashlights. We do not start the generator right away, we just wait first and then judge because we also don't want to spoil all our foods in the fridge and freezer.

Q6. "What about the water?"
A. Several things. First we filter our tap water with a special Swiss made filtering system we purchased before we moved here. We use that water for cooking and drinking. We also boil a couple litres of that, let it cool and store it in water bottles in the freezer. We try to never leave the house without either a frozen bottle which quickly melts or a regular bottled water. You can dehydrate fast here. We are supposed to get city water which empties into our underground cistern, much like the cisterns they had in Biblical times. Our cistern has tiled walls, like bathroom tiles on it. You can peek down into the cistern to check the water level by lifting one of the two heavy concrete lids. When water does not come in we have to buy it like we did last week. What you pay for water in a month we pay for 2 weeks.

Q.7. "Do you take cold showers?"
A. Yes. They are not ice cold and are sometimes refreshing. Only 2 of our bathrooms have hot water. The hot water pressure is horrible to say the least! Ever seen the movie "ELF"? Remember when Will Ferrel who plays the Elf takes a shower and he's trying to get wet? Well...that's how we take showers here!!! It might sound adventurous or cool to some of you, it's not. It gets old real quick. to conserve water, which we all have to do. You never let the water run (like the old "Barney" kids show used to sing..."you never let the water run...oh!") You wet your skin, turn off water, soap and lather up and rinse, and you are done..just like that!

This would be a post I'd like to add more to, feel free to send in your questions.

Driving in Ghana

What is it really like living here in Accra, Ghana? Well, everyday when I'm out and about I say to myself, "I'm really here...I'm in Ghana!" My eyes try to take it all in, so as not to forget anything.

At first I said to my sisters back home I'd never drive here at least not for awhile. The driving is so scary here...that only lasted a very short while as we got our Ghanaian driver's licensce almost immediately after moving here! Now, I enjoy my drives around the area where we live. It still is scary many times but I had an excellent driving instructor growing up...my father! I started learning to drive when I was a pint-sized kid. My dad would be pop me on his lap and he'd help me to drive into the driveway. We were all taught at a very young age to drive confidently like a "New Yorker". My dad LOVES to drive and so do I. Especially now that we have the jeep it's even more adventurous bouncing around the hard dirt roads with pot-holes the size of Texas! They are more like deep craters. But after awhile the "bouncing" around gets OLD fast. You get tired of your head getting knocked into the door or your hips getting jabbed by the seatbelt connectors.

Driving here is like actually being IN a video game like "Frogger", do you remember that one, from the 80's? My favorite driving moments have been when I've picked up my daughters from school and we are on one of the dirt road paths to our home and a whole herd of cattle are sharing the way with us...right in front of the jeep! We see the herdsman often as he brings his cattle through the neighborhood several times a week selling fresh milk.

You break ALL the driving rules here, ALL OF THEM! Your main goal is to not hit anyone or any other cars and to not BE hit. So if you can accomplish that, you've done well! Your second goal is to keep only a few inches of space between you and the car in front of you so that the other cars don't bully their way in! I drove like that a couple of weekends ago with Suleima and a couple other ladies on our way to a missionary women's retreat about 1 1/2 hours away from here. THAT was crazy! Over here...you must be aggressive, it's just the way it is, you snooze you loose. We have seen two victims lying in the middle of the road, dead, from fast driving cars on chaotic motorways. It's a sobering and trajic truth here. Driving on the motorway at night is something you try to avoid at all costs. You stay in a hotel if you have to but don't drive at night, too many pedestrians, either minimal or no lighting and fast undisciplined drivers.

Sometimes it looks like the car coming toward you is going to hit you head on and then suddenly swerves..."what to do?" No worries...because you know they are just swerving around a mass of potholes and they aren't going to hit you. BUT, you can not day dream and drive, no way. You can not relax completely when driving, absolutely not, that's when you can find yourself in trouble. So, driving here keeps me on my toes for sure.

One thing's for sure, I hope I have the chance to drive my own dad around the area! So if any police officers in VA are reading this like Wayne...I hope I can remember all the rules when I get back to the states! :) Ha, just kidding...

Moving forward

The week before last 18 attended the leadership training session in our home. With Pastor Angelo out, the training was still in full force! Our topics of the day were planning for an event and they answered a personal survey on their 'strengths and weaknesses'...It was a full day of praise, worship, and lots of questions! We had a great discussion on the topic of how even we as leaders and pastors have weaknesses and how we have to address our own needs as well and ask God to search our hearts and renew our minds daily. Although I was tired before the class started, my spirits were lifted during our praise and prayer time and before I knew it it was nearing 2:30pm. (our training is from 10:00a.m.- 2:00pm on Thursdays) What a lively and lovely time we had stretching our minds and fellowshiping with one another!

Last Sunday as Suleima and Annie and Marisol worked with the children's ministry teaching about Noah's Ark; I preached on "The Power of Forgiveness". We had a full service with 77 people in attendance and although the enemy tried to bring distraction in several ways, in the end the altar was packed! The majority of the church came to release those that needed to be forgiven and some came because they needed to be forgiven...we were also graced with 11 visitors, one of whom had recently come to Christ; formerly a Muslim, praise God!

Yesterday found me not feeling well and I decided to show the "Jesus of Nazareth" film. They were just glued to the "Tellie" as they refer to the TV here. They were so moved by what they saw; clapping at the miracles of Jesus and weeping when King Herod ordered the male babies to be slaughtered! Such appreciation! We also made an exciting announcement that as a part of the Thursday training we were going to teach reading and writing in English...there are many here that although speak English do not read it or write it very well or at all. This is another area of ministry that we will be endeavoring in while here in Accra. We had 11 sign up for the classes and they were very eager to begin thinking it would start that same day!

I praise God for giving me the direction and strength while Pastor Angelo has been away to continue these past 3 weeks without him here, we have been apart for about 10 days but not 3 weeks. All is going very well and the mission continues as strong as ever! I have been very happy in knowing that he was able to spend time with his father, mother and brothers and extended family members and friends both in California and at NLOI Church back home in Virginia!

Thank you all for your emails, support and prayers! Don't forget to ask God: "Who can I be a blessing to today? Who will you lead down my path to show them the Jesus Path?"

Our recent adventures!

I know, I know...it's been a long time since we've posted anything...I guess you can say we've been "busy" :) our internet connection isn't the best either but no complaining...just happy to even have internet, praise God! Where do I begin? I suppose I can begin with this morning and go backwards, how 'bout that? Well...

Pastor Angelo and our driver Isaac left the house at 6:00am to head out to the Tema Port to continue working on getting our jeep out! It has been in port for about 1 1/2 weeks or so, but, these things take a looong time. So anyway, that meant I had to find other means of getting the girls to school this morning. They usually leave b/w 7:30-7:40am for school with Angelo and Isaac. Sooooo, because we had no car we did what everyone else does around here...you guessed it...walk! We set out on foot on our orange packed down, pot hole ridden, dirt road, (and I decided to wear white capris today :) hoping to hail a taxi not too far from the house, but, no taxi, we ended up walking up to the main road junction where everyone else waits for tro-tros and taxis. Tro-tros are vans that for a very cheap fee take you where you want to go, jam packed of course. I started getting worried because I couldn't spot a taxi! Finally...one came by, I negotiate the fee first though, which was like $1.50 for the three of us to go to their school. That's about average. I may have been able to get it for less but being pressed for time didn't feel like bargaining at that hour. While the girls and I were walking one of the girls says, "I left something at home!" at this point I was like Oh well, for sure there was nothing we could do now. This experience 'll whip your kid into shape for sure. Plus, the other thing I did not mention was that at that early hour it was already H-O-T! What an adventure for us, but this everyday all day life for many Ghanaians. No cars, always on foot and using tro-tros, waiting in lines, could take your hours to get you where you need to go.

Suleima and I were invited out today and so we too have to set out on foot to hail another taxi...whew...it's hot! Pray for our air conditioners...they aren't working and we have few fans, we're pretty used to it by now but sometimes it's just hot and you feel like staying in a cold shower. I welcome them now, we did have nice cooler weather but all that is gone for sure. The dry season is rolling in!

Yesterday for church we visited , one of our NLGO branches located in Teshie, near the coast. It was very nice to worship with them. As I gave a greeting to them I shared greetings from home in America to them and talked about no matter where we are it is so good to know that allthough we are different in color, we bleed the same red blood, and we worship the same God! They all cheered and were very happy. As a special treat and presentation to us their youth dance team preformed! It was sooo good and beautiful, tears just came to my eyes as I thought about the many short terms missions trips we have taken with our own youth from NLOI Richmond. I thought about how many moments Angelo and I had wondering when our turn would come to go overseas for a longer time. Now...here we are! I thought about all of our youth back at home doing the same thing, Tiffany, Will, Chris, Mike, Nathanial, Courtney, and others that I miss. And guess what? What do you think the temperature was yesterday? I don't know either but it was H-O-T! We met in a neatly painted coral pink, wooden structure with an alter and windows that prop open and swing out, much like you'd see along many coastal areas around the world. Half the windows were closed so the air wasn't circulating well. We were all hot and sweaty but the presence of God was still there...It was a long one hour drive from our home...but the joy of the Lord was all over everyone! There was dancing and singing and dancing and dancing and singing, and did I mention...dancing and singing?

Well...This blog will have to be continued...Suleima and I must get a head start to catch a taxi! I promise to finish soon! Love you all.

God is good. by Feliza

We have now officially been here a month! God has proven over and over again to be faithful. About 1 1/2 weeks ago I was outside my house praying and asking God to "bring the right person" here as a housekeeper. In Ghanaian life it is common to have a daily housekeeper and cook, among other staff, to help keep the home running. As far as the cooking goes we are fine in that department, I enjoy cooking and baking and so does Suleima. Well, the very next morning about 7:30 a.m. our driver came to me and said there is a woman here who has come about the housekeeping job, can she come in? I took a quick gasp because she was a complete surprise to me, and I still had my pjs on from getting the girls ready for school. So I told Isaac to please have her wait. As I peeked through my bedroom window I could see she was patiently waiting outside the gate, sitting on the curb. I threw something on and invited her in right away, immediately her face told me so much about her spirit but of course I continued to move on with the interview. I was delighted to find out that not only had she had experience as a housekeeper for foreigners but her previous employers were a family working for the French Embassy! After some Q&A's I decided to hire her to begin work the very next morning! I tell you all this to give praise to God because I shouldn't have been surprised...He always comes through sometimes sooner than expected! One day I'm praying for a housekeeper the next morning the Lord delivers her to my doorstep! How many times does God come through for us and we don't even see it? Or we make excuses and don't accept what God is giving us!

Her name is Vida but we call her "Ama". She always has a smile in her eyes and face just like our driver Isaac. Isaac is another blessing. God provided us with a car and a driver before we even moved here! Isaac has a sweet spirit and so do his two beautiful sons, Joseph and Daniel, and his lovely wife Margaret. Angelo and I decided to pay them a house visit after church. Isaac wanted his sons to meet his boss, as he put it. His children were so excited to meet us! Afterwards, when driving home, he expressed how this was the happiest day for him. He said his wife and boys were sooo happy, he loves us very much. His wife is expecting their 3rd child and they are hoping for a girl. He also said that if she has a girl they will name her after me, "Feliza". Thank goodness I had my sunglasses on, I was so moved and tears just welled up in my eyes. I offered a quiet thank you to him as he was driving. That afternoon we continued a joyful and happy ride home! God indeed has been good to us, and there is more news and more experiences to come...more praises to offer our God.

You know you're a Missionary Kid When...(by Marisol)

1. Your school is located on No. 1 Jungle Street (It's true!)

2. You have instant "pets" in your home...geckos, fuzzy creatures, huge spiders...

3. Your choices of TV channels are either fuzzy channel 1 or fuzzy channel 2...soccer and news! (if you're lucky you might catch fuzzy channel 3.)

4. Getting "something special" means when your mom buys you a TWIX candy bar from the local grocery store...Maxmart!

5. You get excited about owning your own fan!

6. You're exited about hot water.

7. The closest thing to modernization is the internet cafe.

8. Your mom hangs up laundry in your room to dry when it's raining outside!

9. It's a miracle if you ONLY loose power in your school 6 times a day!

10. Your lucky if your air condition works.

11. The joke "Why did the chicken cross the road..." is a reality.

12. When you have goats and chickens in your Sunday School room!

13. When an exciting conversation takes place over having popcorn as a snack at school!

14. Family night means sitting around the laptop to watch a DVD movie around a laptop.

15. When your friends get excited about buying a nightstand for their bedroom!

16. When your parents yell at you for mishandling a precious flashlight!

17/ When getting a good deal means haggeling for hours to get something for just a few dollars.

Lack of Water-Angelo Cabrera

Today I was reminded how important is the work of the Holy Spirit. Please let me illustrate. Ever since we arrived into Accra there has been a water shortage in the community where I live. Water is crucial for drinking cooking, and washing. Everyday, more and more, you see pickups with huge water tanks with water, ready for sale. These tanks of water pump water into home with a cistern or water reservoir. If you cannot afford to bring a water tank in, then you bring the water in any container you can. Children and teens are seen on the dirt roads, carrying buckets of water on top of their heads. This is a daily routine that cannot be halted.

In the scriptures water often portrays Holy Spirit, in its importance and continual need. We are “like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalms 1:3) and is the Lord himself who “leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:3). We need the streams of God in our lives. It is the “Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Romans 8:26). The Lord God longs for us to “be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:11).

Coming back to the water shortage in Accra. I have not mentioned up to this point why there is a lack of water. The other day driving by the road, I discovered the reason; new water pipes were being put in. Disconnection meant prevention of water flow. How true it is for our lives. When we disconnect from the flow of the Holy Spirit, we eventually dry up. The Superabundance is promised to each one of us, when Jesus says, “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). These are the days being fulfilled, “ I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Joel 2:28). Today, “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:19). Today, if you long more for God, ask of him, “your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

By Angelo Cabrera

Today was a great day at church. Between last Sunday and today we doubled in size. I challenged the people. The challenge was bring someone with you. We will purchase the chairs but bring a person to fill it. This week we went out and purchased a meeting tent (about the size used in carports), plastic chairs for adults, small chairs for children, a banner, ordered a wooden pulpit to be made, and tables adult and children size. The set up is just exciting to see. A place of worship for adults and for the first time a place for children for children’s ministry. Since we don’t have a church structure, we meet outside on a patio, beside an unfinished house. We meet early in the morning at 9:00 a.m. in order to catch the nice breeze.

Five people came to the saving power of Jesus Christ. We were blessed to have many visitors among us. They loved the church service. I preached on being “Called Out,” “Formed Out,” and “Sent Out.” This is based on Mark 1:15-17. I communicated the vision of the church. The vision was primarily to be a soul winning church and helping people grow and be grounded in the word of God. Today, for this week, I cast out another new challenge. If we bought another tent, to place more chairs, will they fill it up. There was a resounding yes.

Jesus fed the multitudes. Today I mentioned we were going to have meals after church next week. They were shocked by the announcement. None of the Ghanaian churches, according to those present, ever had offered meals after church. I told them to come with a belly ready to be filled, invite someone else, and there will be plenty for all. We want to be known as a giving and gracious church in the community. Coming next weekend, I believe strongly we will double once again. There is a strong push to break attendance barriers. This is an end time harvest. The souls of men are at stake.

It was simply awesome to see children’s church go from 5 children to 20 children in one week. Feliza, Annie, Marisol and Suleima directed the children’s church service. The children were glued to everything they saw and heard. They loved the puppets! What an unforgettable impression was made in those young hearts! I wouldn’t be surprise to see 40 children in the next children’s church service. We are going to be training children’s church workers in the next few weeks. We are looking also in starting a youth group. Also, we want to start Sunday school for all ages as a base for discipleship and leadership training.

The work is just beginning. There is much to be done. Prayers up to heaven must not cease. Stand with us, believing God for the unsual to take place.

Unknown Author (From Angelo)

When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
Where He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed.
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How he ruthlessly perfects
Whom he royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him.
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And wit every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out—
God knows what He’s about.

New Life Global Outreach Training-by Angelo

I feel like Joshua today on the edge of the promise land. When you know you are on the verge of something bigger than yourself. Today I had the honor to meet with the pastors and pastors-in-training of all the New Life Global Outreach churches. It was a preliminary meeting. I showed them a map of Ghana and shared with them that each region must be won for the gospel. Proverbs points out, “ . . . the tent of the upright will flourish” (Proverbs 14:11).

Surrounded by men and women flamed with fire. Half of them are in their twenties. Each ready to be molded, resourced, and tuned up to be a world changer. Each Thursday we will meet for Pastoral and Leadership Training. We will cover vision, integrity, ministry skills, fundamentals of the faith, and the list goes on. Today I was bombarded with Bible questions, from passages of the bible to doctrinal issues in the Christian faith. It was a delight to disclose scriptures and impart instruction from the God’s holy word. If we are going to cultivate fruitful pastors we must spend time with them.

I shared with each listening ear that we must obey the Great Commission. It is not only to reach Ghana, but committing to do more, moving on to West Africa. The Great Commission cannot become the great omission. All was well received with hearts on fire.

Feliza shared as well, setting our attitudes in one accord in regards to having a prideful spirit. As a matter of fact, when she finished speaking everyone clapped. I shared with the pastors, in good humor, now they know why she is the better half. People gravitate to Feliza, she has a way with Ghanaians, where people become butter. Feliza and Suleima prepared and served lunch. It was Puerto-rican food. The pastors liked it very much. They ate it all! The pastors were sharing how good they can cook. Men take pride in their cooking here. It is serious business. When I shared I didn’t know how to cook, well . . . let’s just say it got very quiet. Oh well, so the man of God is not perfect. Then Feliza shared how her father and brother are good cooks, the room became happy again, and the meal continued on.

Today in reading the scriptures I came across the words of Jesus. The master made a call, and he said, “Come, and follow me . . . and I will make you fishers of men.” Slow down for a minute and read Jesus’ words slowly.

First, “Come” - It starts with an invitation. Our Master and Savior makes this divine invitation. God always calls first because he is the initiator. If he is the initiator then we can be sure he will see to it till the end.

Second, “Follow me” – It leads to a person. Jesus is the focus. Everything we do should always keep Christ as the center. “Follow” is a call to discipleship. “Follow” is a call to be his student, his apprentice, in his steps. The thing about following is that you don’t always where you are going. “Follow” calls for faith. Every step taken trusting his call.

Third, “I will make you” – Discipleship leads to transformation. “I will make you,” such promising words. He will “make” you. This is a promise. The God who calls us – changes us.

2nd letter from Pastor Angelo

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease among the people” Matthew 4:23

What powerful words conveying the heart of Jesus, that is “among the people.” Where you find Jesus is either alone with the Heavenly Father or “among the people.” This is the whole scope of ministry. We serve the Lord and we serve people. This is very basic to our daily living. Jesus taught and preached. The focus was the kingdom. The manifestation was healing.

Jesus went “throughout Galilee.” The gospel does not stay put for very long. It compels to move “throughout.” Why? It must be spread “among the people.” God loves people and he wants everyone to know it and experience it. This is the Lord’s will in the US and in Ghana, even so to the uttermost part of the world.

God is looking for carriers and couriers for the advancement of the kingdom. Every morning children and young people walk the dirt roads around our neighborhood. Most of them are carrying something on their heads or under their arms. They are selling all kinds of items or providing a service from household, snacks, shoe-shine, gardening, and even men’s clothing. Many of them have a distinct call sound. Some sing a tune, ring a bell, use a drumstick to pound a sound, and others call out. They are all different but with a purpose in mind. Sound like believers? We all possess different callings, gifting, and ministries but with the same purpose: Lifting up the name of Jesus and building the kingdom. What a privilege to carry God’s special package of love to the lost and the hurting. God calls each one of us to live a life of influence.

Soon our Jeep will be arriving in Ghana, expected in about two weeks, which will give us the right type of vehicle to go to the small hidden villages of Ghana. “Jesus went throughout Galilee” and we will go in God’s power “throughout Ghana.” Ghanaians are a very observant people. They notice the smallest details. This is beneficial for the gospel because they consider and weigh everything spoken.

Including working with people, one must prepare to meet the need. Jesus healed “every disease.” Jesus saw people’s hurt. Jesus targeted people’s hurt. Jesus identified with people’s suffering. People need the Lord. Each of us have a divine assignment and we must align ourselves into a position of service to the people.

A letter from Pastor Angelo

By Angelo

Ghana...what a place to experience in all its fullness. Over here, no two days are alike. You always have to prepare in your schedule for the unexpected. The rhythm of life is like no other. How people think, even in the small stuff of life, is unique in its own way.

Things that we take for granted in the United States becomes a major endeavor to seize it. For the most part you have to go to different locations. One item in one location and then you travel through heavy traffic to get the other. Our pace has been non-stop in order to get ourselves nested properly at our new home. We all have lost weight as a result of it. I count it as a positive effect! In short, your day can go, as the Bible says, in a “vapor.” There is just never an end to all you want to get done.

Water is another issue here. Our water comes to a cistern like reservoir, then you have to pump it to a water tower, and be very frugal with it. Just a couple of days ago I had to purchase water. A water truck came to our home and filled the reservoir. Everyday we pray for water to come in from the city to fill the reservoir. So far none from the city has come in. Electricity is another major issue. In the future I’ll share more.

Do not let the stereotype image of Africa fool you for one second. It’s not cheap. Everything is expensive (except for fruit and vegetables). Today, for example I went out to buy one green outdoor trashcan with wheels. When they told me the price, a whopping $125.00, I went into a state of shock. Just remember, everything has to be imported from abroad. This adds significantly to the cost of daily living.

The other little thing to remember here in Ghana, when shopping, is a basic rule of thumb: here today, gone tomorrow. Re-stocking is not a promise. If you have the type of personality where you like things done right away, then Ghana is not your place.

Wondering about driving? Well, let's just say I have a driver. My most important allie. Safety on the roads is a foreign word. Just last week a missionary and three Ghanaian pastors were killed instantly in a car accident. The missionary left a wife and seven children. It took place at night outside the capital. We leave the house prayed up every morning.

The people in Ghana are for the most part a serene people. There can be a group of people in the same room or office waiting to be seen and there is a deafening silence in the room. In my experience so far, Americans are more casual and informal in their approach with others. Ghanaians have a protocol and even have special introductions when visiting or hosting family or friends.

Today I ordered bunk beds to be built, which should be ready in two weeks, for the US mission teams that will be coming in the future. We are going to begin to prepare a room in our home to be able to host small teams. The idea is to pave the way, so everything can be set up, and the missions teams don’t have to pay expensive middle of the road hotels (average $100.00 a night). It can quickly add up.

Friday was a wonderful day. We went to a place known as “Shai Hills.” It has a beautiful landscape surrounded by rocky mountains. A visit was made to a small village. This particular village, takes you quickly back in time, where time has stood still. Mud brick hut houses, outdoor kitchens, foot trails and of course your goats and chickens roaming freely. This is where a new work is about to begin. An old fashioned prayer camp, where people come with their needs from surrounding villages, will plant the seed for a future local church.

The regional chief and local chiefs welcomed us with open arms. We met in a very formal meeting about the future prospect for planting a new church. This is an ancestral land where the property has been handed down from endless generations. What is so amazing is their willingness to sell us prime land to build a church. They had never sold land to anyone! We are the first. Please make this a matter of prayer for all of us, as we labor, God will give the increase.

There is even the possibility of working the land to grow fruits and vegetables. This task can reap profitable wages for the unemployed. What a great testimony it would be for the local church.

Pastors in Ghana face many great challenges and personal needs. There were times where when the apostle Paul was “with” and “without” basic needs met. We are starting to develop strategies to circumvent some of these areas. Please pray for great wisdom as we soon will start pastor’s training school. Everything God has put into our spirit we will pour it lavishly as the Lord enables us to do so. It's amazing, get to do this! Wow. It is an honor to train God’s servants for the glorious church.

Through the generous giving of many of you, we were able to purchase a portable sound system, to be used for church services and outreach. When we made the announcement to the church, everyone jumped to their feet and clapped hilariously, and we could only be humbled by what we saw. We also have a LCD projector, which will be used to show movies that carries a gospel message. This is going to be a powerful tool to reach many people with good news about Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s just amazing we get to do this!

Often God speaks in unexpected ways. As we arrived in Ghana, a few days later we had the opportunity to listen to evangelist Reinhard Bhonke. The event was commemorating the 1906 Azusa Street Revival. As he began to speak, the word of the Lord poured into our hearts with great joy. His opening words were, fulfilling the Great Commission in our generation. There we sat and felt the Lord saying, “I brought you for this purpose, now win the souls of mankind.” Wow, simply amazing, we get to do this!

People are beyond ripe for the gospel. Today I prayed for a young man on the streets. I felt a strong urge to pray for him. So I asked him, “Can I pray for you.” The answer was a resounding yes! When I begun to pray, the young man was profoundly touched, as the sweet presence of God was hovering with loving care. What a day to serve God. Are you serving God? What would he have you do today? May God empower you.

On our way!

We are finally packed and although it's 1:55 a.m., my brother, being the good survivalist brother that he is, is giving me a lesson on how to use a compass and how to make a home made one! He's laughing right now as I read this to him...but, I did by a compass for our jeep there, they are really great. Now he's rolling off ideas about finding your way...to the north or south ...hee hee!

God is good and we are about set to go! We will be flying out of Richmond to JFK and then pass the second star on the right and straight on to Accra, Ghana!

I hope to give you lots of updates after we are there, my brother is making me laugh too much right now and it's hard to keep typing so until my next update....

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

We are back home in Virginia from a very short trip to Ghana. We left on July 18 and arrived home on the 26th. We had the delightful privilege of staying with the Korum family and were also able to meet with other area missionaries living there in Accra.

We had some delays getting off to JFK from the Richmond airport on July 18th. Due to stormy weather in NY Delta had delayed and cancelled many flights. We were flying "standby" and after deciding to ride it out at the airport and wait, we actually made it! Our flight finally set off for JFK several hours later and thankfully were able to catch our afternoon flight from NY to Accra with no further complications, praise God!

While in Accra we knew we had a short time to try and get a few things done before our official move. Most people do not have that kind of luxury to be able to fly in on preliminary trips to select their housing and such. God provided for us each time and continues to be faithful to our requests. We were able to sign the lease for our house, find the large appliances like fridge, stove, etc. select a driver for our vehichle and God even provided a buying opportunity from another fellow missionary who is also from VA who was selling a car. After purchasing the vehicle Larry and Angelo decided to try and register the car. Normally this task can take hours to get done with the long lines but as God would have it there were no lines that afternoon and they were able to register the vehicle, buy car insurance and pray for the men working in that office..all in about 1/2 hour's time!

Yesterday we sent a Jeep off from MD on a freight that will arrive in September. The Jeep also has a testimony of it's own! Angelo and a couple of the men from the New Life for Youth Men's Ranch went to a car auction here in Richmond to see about a possible vehicle to ship. A 2000 Jeep Cherokee was up for bid and at the end of the bidding another gentleman won the bid at $3,300...well the bid was closed but then the auctioneer came back up and said the car was worth way more, at least $5,000...so he turned to Angelo and asked would you bid $3,400 for the Jeep..of course Angelo said YES and that was that! The bid was locked in for good at $3,400! God is good.

We have about 7 more days here in the U.S. and every minute is being used up running around and finishing off tasks, tying up loose ends. God continues to open doors for us; we see the favor of God every which way we turn. These last couple of months have been filled with lots of busy work and we thank everyone including our family and close friends for the love, prayers, and support you have shown.

More to come...

Getting rid of the "excess"

Wow, we have 5 1/2 weeks left until Moving Day to Ghana! This morning we were blessed to be at two different churches, Commonwealth Chapel, with Pastor Rob Rhoden, and End Time Harvest with Pastors Felix and Eunice Mercado. We had an awesome time worshipping the Lord with them and our family including Suleima. God continues to open doors as we continue to hold His hand and keep forward towards the vision He has placed in our hearts. We want to thank each congregation and their pastors for their prayers and financial support!

Praise God, He sent us a family to rent our house! We are so excited because this was still an outstanding need that was not met, until the end of last week! And so now we continue to pack, with the help of family and friends...right now we have no furniture downstairs, no sofas, no TV, no coffee table. Our church had another great yard sale this past Saturday to raise support and much of our things were sold. We still have much to sift through in our house, as we continue to down size. Upstairs we were rid of our youngest daughter's bed and her dresser (she still has the mattress) plus my dresser, and our eldest' daughter's desk.

Our kids have been great, helping out, getting rid of the "excess" in their lives as well. I think every family in America should do this often, whether you are moving or not! You realize how much "stuff" you end up accumulating over the years. Granted, some things are sentimental, but most of it is just extra. Just one typical American household probably has enough stuff to take care of 5-10 other families in a third world country! In America we don't know what to do with ourselves sometimes that we end up just self indulging, buying things that feed our self image...our ego...to make us happy for just a short moment.

These are things that I think we all know, I for one am guilty of it...that's the way we are brought up...it's the way we live, it's a big part of our life here in the U.S. It's a part of why people flock to our borders, to live a better life. As Christians we just need to be careful that we keep it; our "God Bless America" lifestyle in check...in perspective. Making sure we give back and that we become good stewards of our time and our money. God help us. Like I said before, I am guilty of these things...God's been revealing so much to me lately, but I know, as far as myself is concerned, I have to make sure His Words don't fall on deaf ears...my own.

Angelo and I are also preparing to leave on July 18 for 1 week to Accra,Ghana. We will be signing papers for our rental house, God willing and hopefully purchasing a vehicle and some supplies. God has provided a wonderful missionary couple that currently live in Accra, originally from Minnesota I believe. We met them through the Internet when we were searching for a school for our girls to attend. Jeff and Laurie have been in Accra for 12 years now and have blessed us with their insight and wisdom and we thank God for connecting us. They have opened their home to us in July and we look forward to meeting them. There are still some things that we'd like to take with us when we move and I will post a list later on for anyone who reads this and would like to personally be a part of this great adventure!

Ugh! AHHH!...Have a headache tonight...a baaaad one too. (I thought I'd be real here.) We've got sooo much to do, the time is slipping away. 8 1/2 weeks left. The problem is our calendar is sooo full, we still need a renter for our house. So if you read this within enough time please keep that in prayer.

We were in Fredericksburg VA at the NLOI Church out there, it was awesome, everyone was just so loving and welcoming, it's definately a NEW LIFE trait! Pastor David and Wanda Hirsch and their entire family were so very hospitable. We brought our whole family with us including Angelo's parents,our friends Suleima and Karla and our daughters. We had a great time. Thank you NLOI Fredericksburg for being so wonderful, God bless you guys.

I will have to stop typing for now, don't feel good at all. Continue to keep us in your prayers...

Why "Diving In" ?

I labeled our blog "Diving In" because a couple of years ago this song "Dive" by Stephen Curtis Chapman began to speak volumes to me. When God pressed our hearts with "going to" Africa this song became more and more special to my heart. The lyrics are so powerful and each time I hear it, the Lord points out a new revelation or insight into "going" to Ghana...

Steven Curtis Chapman \ Dive

Rom. 11:33-36; Eph. 3:16-19

The long awaited rains
Have fallen hard upon the thirst ground
And carved their way to where
The wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains
I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah
My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That’s telling me it’s time
to take the leap of faith
So here I go

I’m diving in, I’m going deep in over
my head, I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow,
in over my head, I want to go
The river’s deep, the river’s wide,
the river’s water is alive
So sink or swim, I’m diving in

There is a supernatural power
In this might river’s flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for, yeah
But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So if you’ll take my hand
We’ll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on let’s go

Reflections

Sunday, Mother's Day, May 13, 2007. One of my goals right now is to cut back even more from some of the things I'm involved in because as a mother and wife I really need to focus more on our personal home and family life before leaving in August. I'm trying to tie up any loose ends at the church office as I cross of my "to do lists". I say "lists" because I am always jotting lists down here, there, and everywhere...in the office...on my desk...in the car and by my bed! Okay...I admit I just had a Dr. Suess moment! (I love Dr. Suess!)So yes, I have my notes everywhere and reach for them each day to check and double check myself. I'm also in the midst of taking on-line courses to get my BSN. My bachelor's in nursing. It's a lot and so I am sticking to priority stuff right now, the major upcoming church activities like the women's retreat, our kids' school stuff, and my own house, which is lacking some much needed attention...

I was brought up to go with the punches and live spontaneously and sometimes fly by the seat of my pants, when necessary, which has helped me in ministry and has become a great asset in my life, however, it is also a love/hate relationship with me. I have also learned the value of preparation and timing and appreciate the wisdom that comes with that. Sometimes I am not afforded the luxury of such things as timing and preparation and then I find myself swinging into full gear knowing that August 8th is sneaking around the corner ready to pounce! Sometimes I want others to realize that too...that I have so much to do and I don't desire to spend my summer running around loosing my breath meanwhile not being able to enjoy the activities and people that mean the most to me, family and friends.

I've been feeling out of breath lately although remaining at peace and trying to maintain some sort of balance. I am grateful for the people in my life, you know who you are, who give encouragement and a listening ear, who are the cheerleaders, who recognize that this is much bigger than us...than themselves, and what and who this is all about...being obedient and staying steadfast to the Lord's request...I/we thank you.

I find that each day that passes so far is like a drum roll playing softly and quietly, no one else can hear it really...just me...us...but nevertheless it plays on in the distance as a reminder of what is coming ahead! And each week that goes by it plays just a little bit louder and a little bit stronger, it is not an anxious sound nor does it hurry me up but it remains strong and steadfast, not stopping, not hesitating but continuous and smooth like a waving ribbon with no end. Much like the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that nudges your heart, pointing you in the right direction, speaking words of encouragement and wisdom. I'm glad I can hear that drum roll it helps to steady me to keep me going, it tells me you're goin' in the right direction and that you're almost there!

Sacrifice

Sorry I have not posted any new information since March but I can surely tell you what we've been doing since then! The month of April has been pretty full..especially since we are still handling our regular duties here at the church plus trying to plan for our future in Ghana. After Palm Sunday and Easter Weekend passed, we took our girls for a much needed vacation week for spring break. Of course we hit the ground running when we came back and got into the preparations for the Missions Yard Sale and Silent Auction which was last weekend, May 5th.

The last weekend in April we spent in New York City with Pastors Fernando and Elvia Cabrera, Fernando is Angelo's twin brother and the church is located in the Bronx. We were their to also raise support for the work in Ghana and while there had a great time visiting with the family and all the awesome people at NLOI Bronx! God continues to provide for us and the ministry and we are truly grateful.

The yard sale and silent auction was very successful this past weekend! We had such great helpers that whole week with setting up everything and working during the yard sale and clean up...Thank you, thank you to all of you who helped out! We couldn't have done it with our church family behind us. Then on Sunday we were with Pastor Zac and Lisa Shipman at the NLOI Tri-Cities in Ettrick, VA and had such a delightful time catching up with old friends and having lunch together there at the church.

Sunday, May 20th, we'll be visiting at NLOI Concord, NC with Pastor Stanley. We have never visited with him and we're really looking forward to it. So May is also busy trying to get our house rented and tomorrow we go for our youngest daughter's passport. I think the house rental is the biggest thing right now that would bring that huge sigh of relief...we continue to downsize and are emptying our house more and more, just when you think you've gotten rid of a ton of stuff...you turn around and see you've barely made a dent! At least it feels that way. I know in time it will happen. But meanwhile, the clock ticks and we have 13 1/2 weeks left 'till the big move. Yes, we purchased our tickets a couple of weeks ago. We leave on Wednesday, August the 8th. My fingers get tingles just typing it out! So until then, we'll continue to press forward, pray, downsize, raise support, pray some more, try to rent the house, keep everyone updated, raise more support, and pray some more!

This year has been a year of many new discoveries as we press on to answer this particular call that God has spoken to us. Sacrifice has been a big part of this whole venture, in ways most would never think of. Sacrifice regarding "Missions" isn't always what you think, like "sacrificing comfort" or "sacrificing with a language barrier" or "sacrificing by living in a foreign land" (although these things we will surely face once there) but sometimes sacrifice starts 'before' one even moves out into a foreign mission field (whether it's domestic or international). I believe it's different for everyone. But God knows all about you, about His plans and future for you, including how He feels you should be best prepared for the job...the mission and the purpose He has for you.

"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and LEAN NOT on YOUR OWN understanding, in ALL thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall give you the desires of your heart!" The Lord has reminded me of this passage many times and I/we continue to put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

New Life GO!

Angelo and my dad just got back from visiting and ministering in Ghana this past Tuesday and they both came back just brimming with excitement at all the possibilities and dreams of what God can do there in Ghana!

While there they were able to meet the small but mighty congregations of the three churches that have now come under our spiritual leadership since last year. Pastor Sebastian Kakari heads these churches up and is so very excited about what God is doing there.

They came accross a property for rent which we are looking into as a possible home for us to live in with our team. The property also has enough land to build a church and house visiting mission groups. Please pray that God will reveal the exact location to us and continue to work on the hearts of the property owners if this is to be His Will!

The registration of our ministry name with Ghana was also a purpose fulfilled during this particular trip. I am pleased to announce that our ministry name will now be called,
"New Life Global Outreach" or in short: "New Life GO" ! What a fantastic name, it says it all, and now we are officially registered in the country of Ghana! Praise God. God has opened doors as we have held his hand and he continues to show us the way and bring provision for his plans "just in time"!

He Is Faithful!

I would like to share an e-mail I received from Angelo today. As you know he is in Ghana right now with my father and I finally received a 2nd e-mail from him. I was very delighted when I read this news:

"Today we were able to get a name approved for New Life Ghana. We are going to work onthe paper work. The name for New Life Outreach International in Ghana is now called...
NEW LIFE GLOBAL OUTREACH. Awesome! Your dad has been excellent! He has an awesome vision now for Ghana. He is behind us 100%. There is so much that we still have to do. Yesterday your dad preached at the church (Pastor Sam's) and he did great. We are going to have an awesome year in Ghana. We are looking for rental properties. Tell everyone the good news!"

When I read that my heart leaped for joy as I also shared the news in person with our office staff here. Smiles were miles wide as everyone rejoiced with me. My mother, Carmen, was in tears as I shared the news over the phone. God is good.

It wasn't long after I received the e-mail that I was set to forward it to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in New York (Pastor Fernando and Elvia) when my cell phone range and at first impression thought it was my husband Angelo calling me from Ghana...then I realized no, it was his identical twin, Fernando, calling from NYC to find out if I had heard any word from Angelo yet! So I began sharing the e-mail and Fernando said something to the effect of:

"When God entangles you in a vision...that's it...you're in!"

We just want to be in God's will wherever that takes us! And so we continue to prepare with Angelo over there and me here little by little. Thank you Lord for answered prayer and always, always coming through. You are faithful...

March Madness

Talk about March Madness! This March 2007 has been very full and quite exciting...From February 28-March 9th Angelo and I were in Israel leading a group from a church! It was our first official New Life Outreach Intl. group tour there and we had a wonderful time visiting the Holy Land and learning more about our rich Judeo-Christian History. (I will post more on this later...)

Now Angelo and my father, Pastor Victor Torres, have left for Ghana West Africa! They took off yesterday and arrived around 3:15 a.m. EST which in Accra, Ghana is 7:15 a.m. There's a 4 hour difference of time which isn't too bad actually, figuring California has a 3 hour difference. They will be there in Ghana for 7 days, enough to give my dad a quick little tour around the city and outskirts and meet the pastors we are now supporting.

I did pack up three 50 lb suitcases of our personal household belongings to begin moving our things over little by little. I sent things like light blankets, hand cranked lanterns and lamps,, Corelle dishes, sheets sets, towels, kitchen items, books, and American favorites like organic peanut butter and jelly, hot cocoa, mac-n-cheese ( I couldn't help it :) I will be preparing to have yard sale soon and put things aside for us to take, mainly books, we all read a lot and our books are important to us more than the other possessions we have. I have also created a wishlist of a few appliances I do want to get ahead of time and take. I went to www.samstores.com to make my selection of 220 appliances like a hand mixer for the kitchen and an iron etc. Yes, I know I can get this stuff there, but it beats bargaining for prices and getting used items I am not sure of even work. This way I can just take a few of these things and be done with it and focus on the more important things when we move there.

I look forward to hearing from Angelo sometime soon. So far the plan is to still move in September of this year Lord willing...I meet with the principal of our girls' school today to discuss their future education and homeschooling choices etc. I am familiar with homeschooling and have had many friends who do so. I homeschooled our first-born for K5 and will visit the annual homeschool convention for Virginia this June! (Help me Lord!!!) Annie is going into 8th and Marisol into 6th grade. The girls are excited and are worried they won't be able to carry along with all their books, Annie has about 4 boxes full of books alone! Marisol doesn't have as many because she shares with Annie and she has some small toys she wants to take.

I think March Madness will continue to blow through 'till September when we embark on this new journey God has for us! Until next time, pray for:

-Continued wisdom and words from God to my father Victor.
-wisdom and grace under pressure for Angelo and I (it's not easy)
-That our home will easily be rented out here in the U.S.
-That God will provide the right home and property for us and our family (which includes our dear extended family member and friend, Suleima, in Ghana.

Our Website

After running into a couple of old friends today, I was encouraged to "please make the pictures bigger" on our website! It is finally done, as promised to Robin and Bob :)

All night I've been playing around with the site and have finally figured out how to get it done so that you all can actually enjoy and "see" the pictures more clearly! I tell you what, it is definately time consuming but fun at the same time. It's about...oh...1:44 a.m. on Monday morning but I feel relief that the website is more functional and user friendly, the time spent is all worth it!

Here is the website address: www.nloiafrica.homestead.com

In everything give Him thanks...

Finally, a post to read on our blogspot! I have been wanting to add my thoughts for some time now but I didn't really know where to begin. I have been keeping a journal since God spoke to our hearts last year about moving to Africa and maybe as time goes on I will share some of those early entries here. For now I will write about the present. For us this year is flying by too fast! It is already mid-February and we are to depart from the U.S. in September. There is sooo much to get done way before we move that sometimes it is overwhelming if I think about all of it at the same time. These are a few things on the top of my list:

• Get the necessary vaccinations for Suleima and our two daughters
• Apply for one of our daughter's passport, our oldest already has hers
• Apply for our daughters' and Suleima's visas to Ghana, Angelo and I already have ours
• Continue to downsize our belongings, sending things to the New Life Thrift Store
• Continue prepping our home for rent, we began this process last year
• Make a list of "musts" to take with us
• Speak with our daughters' school principal about their education, I'll be homeschooling!

Of course there are many more items that need to be added but this gives you an idea of what we are working on right now. Our girls were caught up Monday on their regularly scheduled childhood immunizations, Annie got 3 shots, and Marisol got 4 shots yesterday from their Doctor. They were so brave, no crying (::[ ]::) My poor girls, their tender arms are so sore, and those were just the normal yearly shots that they needed to get! But, not too worry, they are feeling better today, still a bit sore though! I still have to schedule an overseas appointment at the passport health office for them and for Suleima. They give missionaries a discount there! Every bit helps I think the Yellow Fever shot alone costs $80-90! So you can imagine that plus a handful of other vaccinations can add up fast.

It's really happening...we're moving and I speak for all of us when I say thank you to everyone of you who have stood by us and prayed for us and with us! God is faithful and He truly is seeing us through this time of transition and I know He will see the NLOI church family through this as well. Until the next posting...

"In everything give Him Thanks..." [Feliza]