DAMIAN'S OVER THE HILL BIRTHDAY BASH

This past weekend we were able to celebrate Damian's 30th Over the Hill Birthday Bash...it all started when his sister Yvette and family came down from Denver to surprise him for his birthday. Then we had a surprise "OVER THE HILL" dinner for him Friday night. The Orpilla's and Snell's were able to join us in the celebration of this joyous event in Damian's life, we also wanted to remember how we have celebrated birthday parties in Okinawa by playing "Guesstures with everyone. The Orpilla's keep wanting to play Scattergories, but we banned them from playing that game because they often make their own rules, like Glenn with Settlers. Then Saturday we all went to Family Fun Center where Damian could experienced youth once again...... then that evening we were off to Red Lobster for another dinner party for him....We just wanted to thank everyone who came, you were a blessing to Damian's birthday celeberation.

Oprah and New Age

Just wanted to share this video and we can all hear it from ourselves what Oprah is giving to her audience.

Everything has it's time

It is definitely Spring time here in Albuquerque, the snow has melted and we can no longer feel the sting of cold weather. The past few days have brought blooming flowers and beautiful trees with beautiful leaves.

As you all know that Albuquerque geographically is situated in a desert, and you can see by the pictures above that even in the midst of the desert, GOD is able to bring beautiful flowers and green trees.

We also know that it is a Biblical truth that we will also enter the desert place, times characterized by dryness and difficulty. But, those who are believers in Jesus Christ have the hope that God can also bring forth beautiful buds and green leaves in our lives when we don't loose hope in traversing the desert. The desert can also be a great place of purging, refining and cleansing. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"

The wonderful thing is that no matter how big the desert is, it will end, many times the margins of the desert are marked with oceans or lush green mountains. Lets be encouraged in the character of our LORD, that HE Jesus, is with us in every season and every journey of our lives. He is not only able, but desiring to bring something beautiful in every journey of our lives, even in the midst of the driest deserts.

Misty Blu's visit to Albuquerque

Our family was also blessed by a good friend, Misty who now resides in California. Please continue to keep Misty in prayer as she continue to seek the LORD for His guidance and leading in her life, and also for the Lord to open the door for her to do something with missions in CCBC Murrietta as she serves there in the Conference Center.

Just hangin' around

Here are some pictures of the kids just hanging around and being kids.....

GUESS WHO CAME AND VISITED OUR FAMILY?

Your right! It is Jessica Valadez our dear friend from Okinawa who now residing in California awaiting for the LORD's order for the next chapter He has for her. Please pray for her as she seeks the LORD for leading and guidance on what the LORD has for her. We truly enjoyed our time hanging out with her.

RANDOM PICTURES OF THE KIDS

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward"
Psalm 127:3

Easter 2008

We were blessed to celebrate Easter this year with friends, at the Orpilla's house. As you can see the children had an awesome time Egg Hunting.

Calvary Chapel Iwakuni's New Building

This is Mike the pastor in Iwakuni and the new meeting place for the saints in Iwakuni, it looks like a great place to gather and worship the Lord. Next to the blue van is Mike's wheels. Nice bike Mike! The basket on the front is for his Bible and sermon notes.

We look forward to all that the Lord is going to do in Iwakuni, keep ridin' hard for Jesus Mike!

When You Woke That Thursday Morning

When You woke that Thursday morning,
Savior, teacher, faithful friend,
Thoughts of self and safety scorning,
Knowing how the day would end;
Lamb of God, foretold for ages,
Now at last the hour had come
When but One could pay sin's wages;
You assumed their dreadful sum.

Never so alone and lonely,
Longing with tormented heart
To be with Your dear and only
For a quiet hour apart;
Sinless Lamb and fallen creature,
One last paschal meal to eat,
One last lesson as their teacher,
Washing Your disciples feet.

What was there that You could give them
That would never be outspent,
What great gift that would outlive them,
What last will and Testament?
"Show me and the world you love Me,
Know me as the Lamb of God:
Do this in remembrance of Me,
Eat this body, drink this blood."

One in faith, in love united,
All one body, You the head,
When we meet, by You invited,
You are with us as You said.
One with You and one another
In a unity sublime,
See in us Your sister, brother,
One in ev'ry place and time.

One day all the Church will capture
That bright vision glorious,
And Your saints will know the rapture
That Your heart desired for us,
When the longed for peace and union
Of the Greatest and the least
Meet in joyous, blest communion
In Your never-ending feast.

(Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919)

Spring 08 Newsletter

First Trip To Exeter

I just wanted to drop in with some photos of Exeter City Center. We spent a few hours there yesterday and had a great time. It is quite a remarkable city with much history. It has been an amazing trip thus far and the hand of the Lord has been upon us the whole way. He truly has gone before us to prepare the way.

It started with a 12 hour flight from LAX TO Heathrow. We were fortunate enough to have had aisle seats, but the gentlemen sitting next to was very broad and required about a quarter of my seat along with his to accommodate himself. Once we landed in Heathrow we stood in the customs line for about an hour. We then jumped into a rental car and drove about 2 hours to Bristol to catch a plane to Venice, we stayed there for the night. We then caught a plane back to Bristol and drove 2 hours, arriving in Wollacombe at about 1:30 AM. Sunday we fellow shipped in Woolacombe which is a beach resort town.

Today we are going to pick up Jason in Exeter, please pray that we can locate him, more updates to come.

TRIP TO ITALY

Hi everyone here are some pictures of Damian and Pastor Alvins quick trip to Italy, and meet the Cambras family they just moved in our house to head up the Bible College there in Montebulluna. Please continue to pray for Damian, Pastor Alvin and Pastor Jason who still have to travel in Europe this week. Also, remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Italy and for the LORD to open up doors to get visa for other missionaries desiring to reach the Italian people for Christ.

Family Pictures at the Velarde house...

Damian and his minnie me!


Sandra and Hannah being silly as usual...


Sandra and all her offspring...yikes!

Sandra's got a new dew?????????

Yea! That's right, Sandra cut off all her hair. She felt a little wild and crazy the other day and went to the salon. It really looks great on her. It took a day or so to adjust.

Micah is desperately in need of a hair cut, it's getting a bit wild and crazy too. WE had a surprise visit the other night from our brother Dennis, he was in town visiting his mom and stopped by to visit us, it was great to see him, maybe next time my sister will come with him to see us.

Happy First Birthday Gracie!

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Last week we celebrated Gracie Orpilla's first birthday. We had a great time eating at a Chinese Buffet. She also had a good time stuffing her face with cake, cookie bars and chinese food, what a combination. Oh yea, she topped it all off with a shot of espresso from Starbucks, that's my girl, buffets and espresso.

Ravi Zacharias on the legendary missionary David Livingstone

SWEETLY BROKEN

Just wanted to share this amazing video that serves as reminder of what Paul told the Corinthian church, "... that they were no longer their own, that they had been bought with a price" so a reminder for all of us, that we are no longer our own, we too, have been bought with a price.

Playing in the snow

The other day the kids woke up and saw the snow that had fallen during their short nap, they we so excited and like any kid, just had to go and play in it.

CHARIS PRISCILLA 5 MONTHS

Hi everyone here is a new picture of Charis, she has grown so much over the past 5 months and we can hardly believe that she is almost 6 months old. She is such a blessing and reminder of the great love that the Father has for each of us as His children.

Happy Birthday Vanessa!

Last weekend we went out and celebrated Vanessa's birthday with the Jeff Snell and his family. We won't ask how old she is, if she ages anything like Sandra she is probably still 18. We had a great time at Buca Di Beppo's, fine Immigrant Italian dining. We were very blessed to be there to celebrate Vanessa's Birthday.