Dear
Friends in Christ, |
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We
were blessed by the opportunity to host a
team and return to Mexico as a family this
month. Although it was not as big and as
labor intensive as a building team it was
exciting for us to once again be doing what
we love and know best. |
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Wednesday,
December 14th we packed up and headed for
the Mexico border with a highly energetic
group from our church here in Fredericksburg,
TX. The team leaders were Tim Bolton & Cody
Carnett. Cody is full of enthusiasm and has
a love for the Lord that overflows to everyone
he's around. Tim has an incredible testimony
of how years ago the Lord gave him a heart
for evangelism. Since then he, his wife Carol
and children Mac and Augusta have traveled
all over the world taking teams on short
term evangelism trips. Tim was also the one
who organized the team to Haiti that our
daughter Sara went on in August. Also on
the team were friends, Siobhon (pronounced
Shavon), Cody & Cole Criddle, A.J. Pucek,
Joel Wean, Alex Hurtado & Tim Bolton's
son Mac. Micah, Holly & Heidi Wakefield
also came to help with some of the translating
and Bible School. |
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Once
in Mexico we delivered food packages to 70
needy families. We also delivered and installed
14 heaters. Work seems to be harder to come
by for the Mexican families through the winter
months, so the food packages are especially
helpful during this time of year. Giving
the gift of heat to a family is an extreme
luxury most families never expect to have. |
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The
team's main goal however was to evangelize,
and evangelize they did. Every home they
stopped at with a food package or heater
the family would hear about Christ and what
He did for them. Each team member participated
in enthusiastically sharing Christ, His love
and what he had done in their lives. Many
hearts were truly turned to Christ for the
first time and countless lives were touched
by His love for them through this group. |
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During
the week some of the men went with Pastor
Santos to a prison in the border town, Piedras
Negras. This was a new and interesting experience
for all of them. The prisons in Mexico are
quite different from those here. The depression
of the place is almost overwhelming as you
enter. Only days before our visit the son
of a family we built for had been killed
in a fight there. The men look very depressed
and lifeless, most of them covered in tattoo
markings identifying themselves with different
gangs. Several men had tears tattooed on
their cheeks, our group inquired if this
meant they were part of the same gang. The
pastor at the prison said it did and they
tattooed a tear for each person they had
killed. The facilities were very primitive.
Many prisoners were suffering from illnesses
due to the cold. Their rooms are not well
heated and blankets are not provided. Tim
shared the love of Christ with the prisoners
during their chapel time. The group left
very sobered by the experience. |
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We
had two nights of Bible School with the children
in the John 3:16 Church. It's been so long
since we've held a Bible School that we almost
forgot how much energy the children have!
It was a blessing to be there with them once
again! |
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What
a challenging year this was for us. This
assuredly has been the most difficult year
of our lives. The first half of our year
was spent fighting for Shelby's life and
comfort. Our hearts were torn apart as we
bid our 'first-born' daughter, Shelby Kay,
goodbye. After pouring everything we had
physically, emotionally and spiritually into
a long and painful fight against leiomyo-sarcoma
cancer Shelby left her exhausted body here
on earth and went to be with her Heavenly
Father in her eternal home and resting place.
Although she has left us in body, her legacy
will always burn strongly in our hearts and
in the many hearts she touched during her
short life here on earth. We look forward
to being with Shelby again one day soon! |
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A
more joyous event that took place this year
was the birth of our first grandchild, Heidi
Summer Wakefield. This was an encouragement
to Shelby near the end of her life. We were
grateful that they met and Heidi was able
to get hugs, snuggles and pictures with her
Aunt Shelby. Heidi was born March 9th and
has been a healing ray of sunshine for all
of us. |
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Our
son Micah started taking flight classes this
year. Micah has a heart for the Lord and
would like to use aviation in ministry one
day. Sara and Kenny have been in and out
of Mexico all year. Sara enjoys teaching
and helping the ladies with sewing projects.
She took several trips to Mexico working
in the Dorcas house, providing work for a
few ladies through a sewing business, learning
more Spanish and helping Pastor Santos and
Hermana Fini in different areas. Kenny goes
to Mexico helping Pastor Santos run his ranches
and working on his Spanish as well. He loves
any type of agriculture project and is always
willing to help. |
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Sara
was also able to join a team from our church,
to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Being
pretty fluent in Spanish and knowing a little
Creole as well she was able to help with
the translating in the Dominican and Haiti.
The team lodged in the Dominican Republic
and traveled into Haiti each day. In Haiti
they spent the day evangelizing in the market
areas and holding Bible Schools, singing
and playing with the children of a local
orphanage. Sara enjoyed the visit and hopes
to return sometime in 2006. |
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After
the hurricane in Louisiana we took several
trips there as a family helping to clear
debris from yards and delivering supplies
as funds were donated. Some of our children
with the help of Dana and Abraham Sweet helped
a few families replace their roofs. |
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The
Lord also allowed us to work with the Sweet
family this year. We were grateful for their
help to O.S.M. during the time when we needed
to focus more on Shelby. Although the Sweets
are no longer a part of O.S.M. their ministry
is continuing. The Sweets have started a
ministry called WIDE Ministries, Inc. If
you would like to keep up with the Sweets
we've included their contact information
below. |
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Word In Deed
Evangelism,
WIDE Ministries, Inc.,
2400 Veterans
Blvd Ste. 16C #456,
Del Rio, TX 78840,
(619)
664-4386,
dlsweet@prodigy.net.mx,
www.wideministries.net |
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Looking back
over 2005 reminds us that even though this
was a very difficult year, we have been loved,
served and honored in ways beyond our expectations.
Losing a parent or a spouse, however difficult,
we expect will have to happen one day. But
to lose our daughter Shelby was a shock we
still find very hard to believe. We are so
grateful to the Father that we have had each
of you standing behind us as we have walked
through the valley of the shadow of death.
We often take time to think about the outpouring
of love to our family, and it is truly mind-boggling.
Thank you so much for your patience with us
as we grieve her loss and look to our Father
to show us His direction for O.S.M. in 2006. |
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And
He has said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for
you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most
gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about
my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may
dwell in me. II Corinthians 12:9 |
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Because
of Christ, |
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The
Kennedy Family |
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