Vida Nueva Ministries

11 May 2010

April Update for Mexico and the Mason’s

Posted by Chad under: Chad's .

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you are all doing well.  Things have been crazy for us over the last several months.  I am going to start giving you the update from the Home in Mexico. 

To begin with, the Children’s home is doing very well in our absence.  Karina, Lourdes, Benjamin, Juanito, and Jacob have done a great job running things at the home.  Over the last few months there have been some significant changes in the number of kids.  As you may or may not remember that at the end of every year some of the kids lose their passion for attending school.  Is this familiar in your kids?  The problem that faces Vida Nueva ever Spring is when the kids do not want to keep going to school and they live in our houses voluntarily, they can leave. 

Most often the kid’s parents/family also miss them causing us to lose many kids every year after the January return date.  This is also because all of the school fees are done being paid, and the kids have their school uniform.  So we started last Aug with 26 kids and youth, and right now have 12 living during the week at the home and 2 in college in Saltillo.  This year we have lost some students who have lived in the home for multiple years, and it was very difficult.  I have to remind myself that our ministry is on the belief that our job is to plant the seeds and it is the Holy Spirit’s job to bring fruit. 

Speaking of fruit, there are two events that are super encouraging.  One is two weekends ago the Church that Vida Nueva attends on Sunday Nights in Parras did an outreach to the Ranch San Francisco.  This is the small town where most of our children’s families live.  The church hosted a great time of fun for kids from the whole ranch and our kids did some of the ministry.  Below are some photos of our kids dressed up as clowns.  Pastor Jose said it was a great time and helps them build report in the community where they soon hope to launch a church.  The 2nd great event is coming up.  Jenrri Rios Don Juan, our 17 year old who has lived at Vida Nueva since he was an infant is about to graduate from HS in June.  This is a wonderful event.  Jenrri is one of the children who really does not have any family of his own.  He was abandoned by his mother, has never known his father, and has been raised in the home his whole life.  Alise, Makaila, and I are planning to attend the graduation to support Jenrri in the middle of June.  If anyone would like to plan to join us on a week long trip to Vida Nueva, just email me for the details. 

Betin la vaquero		Vida Nueva girls – Luz, Glenda, Reina, and Mirta in the back.

Jenrri will have one more class to attend this fall to complete his field of study and plans to attend a YWAM DTS in Costa Rica in April of 2011.  Please be praying for him.  What a huge step of faith and heart for him.  Pray that we can come up with all of the funds for his school, his travel, and his preparation needs as this school approaches.  Many of you know Jacob Hathaway.  He is an American that has lived at the home in Parras for most of the last 18 months.  He has been serving by driving, working, helping out with homework, and generally adding a set of eyes on the kids.  He is returning to WA this coming weekend to be with his family while his younger sister, Amanda, undergoes an open heart surgery on May 20th.  Please be in prayer for Amanda, Jacob, and their family as this surgery gets closer. 

Ok now for Alise and I.  In April I was able to make a short trip to Seattle and met with many of you so this will not be news to all of you.  After our trip in March to Mexico with Makaila, we believe that God is calling us to return to the States for a period of time to focus on our family, and be closer to our families.  We really felt a need to have Makaila grow up around our relatives and living in Mexico (and WA for that matter) would make that nearly impossible.  It was a difficult decision for us because we love the kids and ministry of Vida Nueva so very much.  We were able to talk this over with our staff in Mexico when we were there in March and they are completely supportive our of decision.  We will maintain a role and expect to do everything in our power to continue to lead teams, raise fund, and communicate for the Vida Nueva Children’s Home.  As far as all of our plans and initiatives for the 2nd Home and other improvements we have talked about, they are still needs, and therefore still plans.  We hope to continue working towards growing the ministry of Vida Nueva.

So for the last 5-6 weeks I have been looking for Pastor work in the Beaumont/Houston areas.  I have 13+ resumes out and am finding out how hard it is to get a job when no one knows you.  There are some great jobs available, but so far I have not had any call backs or interviews.  Please be praying for me to find a good job that will allow me the ability to maintain a role with Vida Nueva and continue to pursue a life in Ministry.  We have spoken to most of our supporters (we raised funds separate from the Vida Nueva funds) and asked them to consider supporting us through June.  Thankfully most have agreed to do that and possibly longer if needed.  Please keep us in your prayers about our future job. I have posted some recent pictures of the baby below.  Thank you for reading and God Bless! –Chad, Alise, & Makaila

Mommy and Makaila		So stinkin cute
My Birthday – she like daddy playing guitar		seriously cool

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