A Blessing and a Prayer Request

I have been sick for last week but now am feeling back to 100%. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me. Everything is going well with my wife and I. I want to give you an update about a blessing that Julie and I received and also a prayer request.

The Blessing:

Two months ago, I sent out a letter to everyone on our mailing list. In the letter, I asked if anyone had a truck they would like to sell for $1500 or less that could take a beating. When I joined staff, one of the requirements for me was to buy a truck. We only had $1500 we could afford and we were and are determined not to create any debt. So we prayed over the letters and asked God to provide for us the right truck that could take the kind of abuse it would need to take from building in Mexico. Two days letter, I received an email from Jim Ritter who lives close to Denver, Colorado. I had built with him and his son and daughter in July when they came down with their church's youth trip. They are from Evergreen Lutheran Church.

The email was very unexpected because it was so fast in coming. Jim wrote in the email that he had a truck that him and his wife would like to give to us for free. My heart melted. I read the email right away to Julie and we both took time to thank God for what He had done is our lives. God's provision has been unshaken to us our entire marriage and ministry. To see God using His people to provide for us is a unique experience. Scripture says that anything we have is from Heaven who has willed us to have it. But being in ministry, not receiving a predetermined salary, but receiving from God what He provides through donations is difficult but beautiful. Our faith in God is grown and elevated in these amazing circumstances of supernatural provision. For those of you who pray for Julie and I on a regular basis in regards to ministry and finances, I wanted to share this with you so you can be encouraged and know that God is hearing you.

Special thanks to Jim and his family who are faithful to God and to his calling in their lives. When I flew up their to pick up the truck, their hospitality and love was encouraging. I hope that our friendship and partnership continues in the years to come.

Prayer Request:

This Monday, the 22nd of February, I am been building with Tony Skarlatos(above picture). Tony is a new staff member with Casas Por Cristo who was hired in December. Tony works in the marketing department and has a gift for media design. One of the coolest things about our ministry is that all the staff, not matter what our office responsibility is, all lead the construction of houses in Mexico. I am training Tony this coming week while we lead Lamar Christian Church in building a house for a Mexican family in Juarez, MX. We are build our three room house design which Tony has never built before. I would love it if you prayed for me as I try to teach and help Tony in this process. Also, pray for Tony. Learning how to lead and build these houses can be very intimidating and just flat out scary. Pray that Tony will learn quickly and will retain everything we go over. Pray for the church group that they will be patient with us as I take time to train Tony.

You can also spend time praying for the family we are building for. We are building for Raul and Angelica and their children Edgar, Saul, Leslie, and Daniel. Pray that God, right now, would be working on their hearts and preparing them for the week ahead. Also pray for the Pastor who is ministering to them now and will be ministering to them during and after the build. Love you all.

Until the Whole World Hears,

Justin