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Dear loved ones,
Minnie and I were talking recently about this major overhaul and expansion of our ministry center. I asked her how she is feeling. We are now a full year into the revamp. “I feel like I’m pregnant,” she said. That response certainly is an attention getter! I asked her to explain. She spoke of the pain of this process, but that very soon, we will see the fruit! We’re almost there…
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into this world. – John 16:21
We broke ground last January, right after an annual pastors’ retreat had just finished. They were back again, to begin 2026! One of the leaders said it was the 10th year in a row with us. I had arrived late and went to greet them and let them know it was so nice to see them again. As I walked into the sanctuary, the pastors greeted me with a warm round of applause. They had no way of knowing that I was passing through some anguish. The press and strain of the construction process had broken me down, and I felt anything but strong. This pregnancy is lasting a lot longer than 9 months! Their prayers and hugs of encouragement helped a lot, and we looked forward together, already separating the dates for January 2027. We cast the vision moving forward, and we see the potential to double and triple the amount of men impacted by this precious time together…
Our last event of 2025 was a precious time for the kids from the local Children’s Home Alpha and Omega that we wrote about earli-er this year. Pastor Al and Sandy brought down a group of 20 or so, and they did a fantastic job of loving on the kids the last week of the year.
They held a 15th Birthday XV celebration for 3 boys and had special services, challenging and encouraging the kids to follow Christ. And they played. And played. And played. It was the night games, running around in the dark in a construction zone, that spiked my stress level! (That and the broken water pipe to bring in the new year.) But I survived, and most importantly, they thrived. And it gives me joy to think of theirs.
They deserve it.
We were also able to host one more camp in December in the midst of the construction zone. This area church from Monterrey has done many events at our facility; their efforts to advance the Kingdom are extraordinary. We are glad to help and give them this venue outside the big city!
And so we had a good finish to 2025 and are off and running in this New Year!
And speaking of the construction zone… IN… CAME….. (insert drumroll here) THE CRANE!!! What a sight to see the crane pluck up the 2,000-pound beams that will support our new sanctuary. The beams are all in position and welded together, and painted now as we push forward.
Next step: the trusses! Check these out!
Minnie is pictured standing by these babies. They stand about 5’ tall x 60’ long. They also weigh just over 2,000 pounds. They will go over the outside multi-use area, supporting the roof. The crane is scheduled to set them about the time you are reading this!
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
“Hello, Daniel??” “Want to come to Monterrey and weld?”
Daniel was in Nicaragua at the time I called him. We had never met or spoken before. That’s about how the conversation went. (Side note: Those who know me best know I’m not much for small talk!) Daniel truly is a Godsend. And I just roped him for another 3 weeks into Feb-ruary! He fabricated the trusses, and we have much more for him to help with, plus we have a very capable local welding crew helping us advance. They’re doing great! One thing ,though, we really need more steel. If we can keep moving for just a little while more, that outside roof will be on,and this baby will be born!
And we will begin to see all that God has planned for her.
We need about $14,000 of beams and sheet metal, etc., to complete this whole new roof system (Approximately 5,000 square feet). The workers are in place. This roof can be done by the next newsletter if we get the provision. Please pray with us for this funding to come.
It had been 4 years since our friends Randy and Mary had visited our ministry center. Boy, did they return with gusto!
They were willing to attack our outside walls. 800 feet of wall later… all of our exterior walls were painted (ministry side and street side). They had a hand from a young lady staying with us (Gwen is not pictured). The 3-person paint crew put on a great display! Thank you.
February 9th-21st, East Lincoln Alliance Church out of Amery, WI, is coming down again! We’ll have about 30 workers on site during these 2 weeks, along with other volunteers. Many of the men pictured on the front page will come to join the work. We are planning a couple of big work and worship days while they are here. Don’t know just how many will be coming, but we are planning to pour all of the flooring under the new outside multi-use area, along with the new sanctuary entrance. And…we are prepping to pour the sanctuary roof as well. The sheeting over the steel structure for the sanctuary should be placed this week.
Birthing this baby is costly in more ways than I can express in a short letter. And honestly, monies are a concern right now. I see the great potential of the manpower God is sending, but it takes a lot to effectively utilize a crew this big. Although costly, we believe this baby is on her way very soon!
She’s almost here. And we can’t wait to see her!
Thank you to all of you, our supporters, who share with us and partner with us. We join in the pain and the joy together. It was such a blessing to hear from so many of you this past month. God bless you in 2026. Let’s use it wisely. Truly, the best is yet to come.
Alpha and Omega (Children’s Home near Salinas Victoria)
Pastor Al and Sandy Gaines are pictured here with the 3 boys for the XV Celebration. They included our grandson Rodrigo (middle) in the wonderful evening together. He’s grown up visiting those kids with Grandma Minnie. So there’s quite a strong connection.
We (namely, Minnie) are very involved in the search for the new directors in this Home; we may have them! Pastor Juan’s brother and his wife, Lorena, are taking steps toward this end. This would be quite a development for us and all involved. Please pray for these kids and this Home.
Miracle of Life in Cuernavaca
Two more. 13 now. These 2 little ones were brought by their grandparents. They didn’t want to bring them, but they are physi-cally incapable of caring for them anymore.
Betty said, “I didn’t want more, and they are so little. But looking at them, how can I say no?”
We were able to spend Christmas in Cuernavaca. The 3 sisters were together, and the 3 Amigos (Juan, Chayo, and me). The last year has been very difficult for them, and so I really felt a burden to get down to see them. Pastor Chayo teared up the second he saw me. It was a surprise for them. Worth the trip.
I joked with him, wondering whether his tears were joyful or maybe grief upon seeing the unexpected visit! We left them after Christmas, and then they went on mission to our work in Guerrero (SW Mexico). Then it was back to receive the children after their Christmas break. Betty sent me this picture of Pastor Chayo, taken while they were on mission to the SW during Christmas break, with the children.
There couldn’t be a picture that better reflects this man (click here to see the full newsletter with all of the photos, including this one.)
I’m so glad that through you, we are able to help support Miracle of Life and all the work that Pastor Chayo and Betty are accomplishing for the glory, by the grace and power of God.
God bless you.