Fall 2008 Newsletter: Velarde

High and Mighty allMen's Retreat Whales

Our Bunkhouse

One of the waterfalls on the gorge

Whew, I know, it's about time that we have added a new post to our blog, we thank you guys who follow our family and ministry through this medium. It has been an interesting and challenging time that we haven't had the Internet, and the saga continues. It will be another 2 weeks before we are back "online". Though our Internet usage has come to a stand still, ministry hasn't, we continue full speed with a mid week study and other prayer meetings.

Also this past weekend I was allotted the opportunity to go and speak at the High and Mighty Men's Retreat in Whales. It was an amazing time out with 11 other guys in the mountains in central Whales. The scenery was breathtaking as we walked and swam and jumped off waterfalls on a river gorge, then ended it with a hike up one of Whales highest peaks.

WE also spent much time worshiping and studying the Bible, looking unto men like David and Daniel, to glean from their lives of what it means to be a "man of God" in the 21s century. There was much time of prayer and waiting on the Lord to bring breakthrough in many different areas of many different lives. We all left spiritually refreshed and physically worn out after the physical activities.

All in all we all had a wonderful time seeking the Lord together, please continue to pray for Devon, the Lord is doing a great work here in the midst of rampant secularism, be encouraged.

Charis 1st Birthday

Happy Birthday Charis! On the 10th Charis turned the big 1, we are so blessed by her and she has been so much fun. We are so blessed that the Lord has entrusted us with Charis, to raise her and lead her to Jesus.

She also is getting her top front teeth in, please pray for her that she would grow to love and serve Jesus.

Our New House

The house from the front

Sandra in her kitchen getting things "sorted"

Getting ready to eat some cake

Phil and Jim having some tea after moving furniture

Whew! We have finally made it into the new house, well new for us. We are so blessed to finally have a place to call our own, once again. It has been an arduous task but we are getting settled. The Lord has been good to us in bringing us into this place. There has been a lot done and there is still much to do in getting unpacked. We have been assembling furniture and picking things from different places here in Exeter and North Devon.

Mike and Sofia, friends from Sweden arrived the night we moved in and have been a tremendous blessing in the settling process. They are moving to London where Mike will go to school to be an audio engineer. Sandra has been busy setting up her kitchen, I have been setting up the kids rooms and office area.

Please! Pray for us here in Exeter, the Lord is doing a great work in us. He is aligning things for us as we walk according to His ways. We still have very limited internet access, we have to walk to the library in town, our phone line is not yet activated, I am still searching for the best deal to obtain an internet provider. We will be back online soon, thank for all your prayers and support.

No internet Service

Sorry everybody, we are currently moving into Exeter and don't have internet access right now, hopefully we will have something in the next week or two, please pray for us as we settle into our new home, thanks.

D.L. Moody

D. L. Moody

I have recently been reading a bio in Dwight Lymon Moody. It has thus far been a great read, very inspiring and I can see why the Lord has me reading this book right now, timing is always key. I have been greatly challenged as I am sure that you will be too.

In a conversation with another man, this other man named Varley remarked, "Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him." Moody responded, "Well by the Holy Spirit in me I'll be that man."

The Lord has been challenging me personally in areas of complete surrender, am I? are we? at a place that we can honestly say that we are His, every aspect of our lives, belonging to Him. Spurgeon once said, "If you desire Jesus to be a perpetual guest in your heart, then you must give Him the key to every cupboard and closet." If we as believers would live like "believers" we could in our own spheres of influence see the world changed for Jesus, for eternity. 

Surrender all that you are today, and live for Jesus tomorrow. It's our reasonable service.

CCWOOLACOMBE BRING AND SHARE

Last week there we some people who left to move to Australia, to South Africa and to York, UK.

So we had an awesome time of fellowship...they  call it "BRING AND SHARE"  instead of 

Potluck....It is a blessing to be part of the family of Christ where we can all hang out and our favorite part is eating.

Pictures of the kids

All suited for bed

Starbucks in Exeter mobbing a fruit smoothie

Wednesday Night Kids Club in Exeter

Charis showing off a mouthful of teeth, well at least two on the bottom

Silas sitting on the family bed

Due to recent requests of a blog update with pictures of the kids, here it is, aren't they the most adorable and lovable kids you have ever seen? Sandra and I make a lot of jokes about us having friends only because of our children.

They are doing good in adjusting to their new life in England, they are excited about out opportunity to serve the Lord in England. Please pray for them as they continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

EXETER HIGH STREET

Last Saturday our family went to Exeter to spend the day praying and checking out the town.
Here are some pictures we took of High Street (DOWNTOWN AREA)

AWESOME SURPRISE!

Today we received a package with goodies in it....we were totally blessed to open and find our favorite snacks from Japan.
We love you guys CCIWAKUNI....(Now Sandra will have to fight with the kids over the snacks!)

Meet Simon of Chivenor!

Simon of Chivenor is a great brother who loves the Lord. Simon will be making the move with us to Exeter in Sept. He has been living in and out of North Devon for a few years and is originally from Plymouth. He has been serving at Calvary Chapel Woolacombe working with the young guys and skateboarders and is a very gifted teacher.

Simon will be a tremendous blessing to have with us in Exeter, please pray for Simon, we want Simon to be able to find a good job in Exeter. We know that the Lord has wonderful plans for Simon and desires to do great things with him, we are stoked on his decision to be a part. I look forward to serving with Simon and watching the Lord work.

Wednesday Night in Exeter

Greetings!

A quick update on last night as many of you know we began with our new believer's study in Exeter. We really had a great time, although the evening that the Lord had in store for us was a bit different than what we had anticipated. As far as the new believer's, no one showed up because of different circumstances, but, the Lord allowed us to have a wonderful time of worship and prayer as we planted the flag in Exeter.

The Lord brought a word of encouragement to all of us through the time of prayer, the Lord was confirming in our hearts that now is the right time, and that school is the right place. We arrived with the expectation that the Lord would show us and give us clear direction with the church plant in Exeter. We recognize that this is all about Jesus and we want to do all things according to His will.

In short, we all left there having heard from the Lord, encouraged and we were able to in a sense, plant the flag there. Please pray as we will continue to meet on Wednesday nights, pray that the Lord would do all that He desires to do, also pray for our study as we will start with a survey through the Bible. Also, pray for provisions for the church still needs several things necessary to start a church.

We thank all of you for the prayers you make on behalf of our family.

New Believer's Study in Exeter

Hey Friends, just wanted to quickly throw out a prayer request for the new believer's study that Simon Cotter and I will be going to do in Exeter tonight. We are excited at what the Lord is doing there in Exeter and looking forward to the church plant there next month.

Tonight we will be meeting at Emmanuel Christian School, it will also be where the church will be meeting until the Lord moves us. We have been in contact with several of the people in Exeter about tonight. Please pray for the following...

- These new believer's would grow in their understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it's our desire that they would fall in love with Jesus.

- Simon and I as we will conducting the study and leading in worship.

Thanks

Pechonis Family

Meet the Pechonis Family, we have tremendously blessed by them as we continue to live with them as we await the move into our house in Exeter.
Phil, Megan, Max, Zack, Katie and Alex, they've been living here, in Woolacombe for about 8 years. Please keep them in your prayers as they are seeking direction from the Lord in regards to their next move as they follow the Lord.

PRAYER REQUEST

Greetings everyone!

Meet the WOOD FAMILY......Eric, Mandy, Eden and Elijah.....
We've been blessed to meet them here in England during Creation Fest, they've been part of the band "Take No Glory" that was serving here. They will be heading back to America next week and please lift them up in your prayers during this time as they seek for guidance and leading for their family on what the LORD has for them next. And also continue to pray for the rest of the band "Take No Glory" for direction.

More pictures from Bristol, UK

It's interesting to me to read and at times visit sites that are attributed to great men and women of the faith. In many of my personal readings, I often wonder if the lives these man and women lived are real, perhaps through the course of time legend has run its course in regards to the stories, then I am reminded that the faith of men and women of the past is something that run much deeper than a simple oral proclamation. The faith of the saints of old ran deep, so deep that it affected every aspect of their lives, the way they lived and thought. Andrew Bonar once said, "Christians today have been inoculated with a mild form of Christianity that they are now immune to the real thing". Can God do these things today? Do we believe that He can? I am referring to the story posted on the blog preceding this current post. If we believe that God is not only able, but also willing to do these things again, then why do we live as if He can't? I am also reminded of the question that Jesus raises in Luke 18:8 "...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" In regards to your life, what will the Son of Man find?

Visit to the George Muller Musuem

Today we took a little road trip to Bristol. We primarily went to IKEA to pick up a few things for the house, but also made a stop at the George Muller Museum while we were there. Sandra and I both have read the biography about George Muller and were totally stoked to visit the museum. below I have posted a bit about who George Muller is, in case you didn't know, be blessed.

It is ironic that these massive buildings that dominate the ridge at Ashley Down were known for generations as the Muller Homes. Their founder, German immigrant George Muller, was insistent on the title 'The New Orphan House' as he did not want his name to be prominent, for he considered himself merely an instrument in the venture. In fact, in his youth he must have seemed an unlikely candidate for such benevolent activities, due to his dissolute lifestyle.

After a great change of heart he became a minister and in 1832 was appointed joint pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Great George Street. That same year he started an orphanage at no 6 Wilson Street, St Pauls, near to where Elizabeth Blackwell once lived. The Blackwell house, though dilapidated, still stands but the Muller house was pulled down several years ago.

Over time George Muller rented several other houses in Wilson Street, to accommodate the increasing number of orphans he took into care. As the work expanded he realised that these rented houses were far from ideal for many reasons. One of these was the fact that the residents of the street raised objections to the noise made by the children playing outside. Purpose built premises were the answer.

Muller operated his orphanages on the 'faith' system - having faith that money would be provided to him for their upkeep. In faith he embarked on the search for suitable land and found it in Ashley Down. The money for the construction as well as the other costs came from donations.

In 1845 he entered into a contract for the purchase of the 7 acres of ground at £120 per acre for the accommodation, feeding, clothing and education of 300 destitute and orphan children. On June 18th 1849 the orphans transferred to the new building. By 1886 he had received £700,000 through prayer and had over 2,000 children in his care.

The buildings are made of grey Pennant stone dressed with freestone. They may present a grim exterior to the world, but one of the features is the high ceilings and the number of windows - 300 in Number 1 House.

Although the day started at 6am for the orphans, this was normal for working-class children of Victorian times. The standard of education was high, with boys staying at school until 14 years old and always being provided with a job to go to when they left the home. Girls stayed until they were 17 years old and went into domestic service, nursing and teaching.

George Muller died a poor man in 1898, with few possessions. At his funeral over 100 carriages followed the hearse and thousands of people lined the route to Arnos Vale Cemetery. His work was carried on but by the 1950s the large communal dwellings were being phased out in favour of smaller family units in ordinary houses. In 1958 the children and organisation headquarters had moved from Ashley Down and the buildings became Bristol College of Science and Technology (more recently changed to City of Bristol College, Brunel Campus).

A museum showing items from Muller's work, including information on the children, is at Muller House, 7 Cotham Park, Bristol, BS6 6DA. The museum is open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Visitors are welcome but prior notification is appreciated.