First, I would like to thank all of you for another year of serving the Lord Jesus together!
There is nothing more important to the Kingdom of God than a VOLUNTEER!! Stop and imagine for a minute if none were willing to go, no one willing to sacrafice their precious time. What would happen to God's Church? What would happen to God's love working in and through his people? What would happen to those in need?
Bless the Lord that you GO!! Bless the Lord that you volunteer! That you are willing to offer yourself.....BLESS THE LORD!!!! Judges 5:2
Toward the end of last year I was going through the drive-thru at a local fast food restaurant when I saw a young lady that I recognized. I remembered having seen her for the first time earlier in the year as she was living in an old make shift tent down by the lake. The area around the tent was covered in insects and trash. And the people she was associated with were doing drugs as was she. I saw her again shortly after that, still living in the tent but this time she was pregnant. It was the look of hopelessness on her face that stuck with me.
But today I thank God as does She! Last year she gave her heart to Jesus and entered into a rehabilitation facility. Now she's employeed and working toward career advancement as a manager at that local restaurant. But the greater achievement beyond that is her effort to become a Mother again. Jesus is soooo powerful and soooo cool!!!
I don't think there is anything more precious to God Almighty then kids. Poor kids, rich kids, happy kids, sad kids, lonely kids, deparate kids, good kids, bad kids, mad kids and even the brats. At Peppertree we have them all! However, after our ministry work in 2007 at the Peppertree Homework House I have a new appreciation for all the Youth Pastors of America. Kids are our future and if there is anything worth our investment its our kids. The Peppertree Homework House is continuing to grow. We're there Monday thru Thursday at 4:30pm and we need volunteer's. Come invest in the future!
In 2007 we build 5 houses in Mexico. 5 houses for 5 families who didn't have one when the year started! 3 of these families came out of the migrant village that we visit and bring supplies to regularly. The first house we built in 2007 was built in memory of my Mother, Esperanza Villa. This house was the 7th house we had build since the ministry began but it was the first house to go to a family who moved out of the migrant village.
In addition, we also propagated the Mexico House building ministry to another church, Gracepoint Nazarene Church in Wildomar. This church really had a family spirit about them, working together and really enjoying the ministry God had called them too. It was exciting to be a part of His work.
Mexico Ministry continues this year with welcoming Lamb's Fellowship Murrieta to the Mexico House Building ministry. They'll be funding a house, building it and making the trek to Mexico to deliver it to a new family.
Again, THANK YOU all for such a wonderful year of ministry. May the Lord God richly bless you in 2008!
John
