Dear
Friends in Christ, |
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"Thy
lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies. Thy
righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Thy judgments are like a great deep." Psalm
36:5-6a |
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As
many of you know, once again we had trouble
getting our load of lumber across into Mexico.
Pastor Santos, Debbi and Kenny spent hours
running from one office to another trying
to get all the right papers but to no avail.
Praise the Lord we are able to buy US lumber
in Mexico. It is a great deal more expensive,
but our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on
a thousand hills! Thankfully the lumber was
piled at the jobsites awaiting the arrival
of the team. |
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We
had the privilege of hosting a team from
Boone, North Carolina, this month. The group
was made up of families and individuals from
the Boone United Methodist Church, led by
alumni, Rodney and Jana Duke. We were blessed
to have the Duke family return for the third
time and meet their enthusiastic friends. |
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The
group pulled into Hotel Casis in Allende,
Mexico, Monday night around midnight. It
was their final destination, after a twenty-hour
day of travel. Tuesday morning we put them
to work, testing their endurance level on
about five hours of sleep. |
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It
was incredible to watch the houses go up
right on schedule. After the sound of drills,
routers, chop saws and lots of hammers pounding
that first morning, the walls were raised.
It is extremely rewarding to be a part of
a unified work crew who all have the same
goal of pleasing the Master, no matter how
great or small the task. |
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The
weather was great! The first day was overcast,
which made the temperature lower. The rest
of the week was sunshine, but it still wasn’t
too hot. |
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Two
o’clock Friday afternoon was the dedication
of these new homes. It is always the highlight
for everyone who has poured their labor so
willingly and lovingly into the work. The
two families receiving the homes were so
visibly touched. With tears they expressed
their gratefulness for the gift. Jose and
Isela, who lived in a bedroom in their parents’ home,
said they had always hoped and dreamed of
having a home of their own, but knew they
would never be able to afford it. |
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Saturday,
half of the team stayed at our house in Nava
and packaged food bags and children’s
gift bags. It took all morning to get everything
organized and in its place. Then just after
lunch they caravanned through five different
colonias with Pastor Santos, giving away
food to sixty needy families. |
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The
second half of the group was at the Juan
3:16 church, performing a medical clinic.
We were blessed to have two doctors in the
group! Dr. Dan Krontz, an opthomologist,
and Dr. Bill Horn, a pediatrician. Saturday
morning the church was packed with people
waiting to be seen. About halfway through
the day, they had to announce that they would
not have time to see everyone. The doctors
and their crew of assistants worked hard
all day trying to see as many people as possible.
They only stopped five minutes to eat lunch
at their work stations. |
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In
the past, our family has helped with medical
clinics in Haiti, but this was the first
medical clinic that OSM has done in Mexico.
It was exciting to us that the Lord opened
a new window of need, that we didn’t
realize existed in such a great capacity.
We look forward to taking opportunities in
the future to hold clinics again. |
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The
Sweet Note |
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Isaiah
55:12 says, “For ye shall go out with
joy and be led forth with peace….” |
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| Interestingly
enough, our family is experiencing this verse
as we move to Mexico. |
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To
their ultimate surprise, Abe and Joanna were
given a ‘going away’ party by
some of their friends. How exciting to watch
as the friends gathered around them, prayed,
and sent them to Mexico with joy. Our hearts
were warmed; our spirits soared, our faith
was renewed. |
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By the time
you receive this newsletter, we will be sleeping
in our pink house in Nava, Mexico. For that
we are grateful. Thank you all for making this
possible through prayers and offerings. |
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With joy
and peace, |
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The Sweets |
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Haiti |
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Our July
trip is being postponed until December or January.
We are keeping in contact with Lussade by phone,
and continue to send the finances for the two
schools each month. |
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Lussade has
recently made a few follow up trips into the
mountains where our group hiked last November.
He says that the five young men who received
Christ are going to church just up the mountain,
and are excited about their new faith. ~ Praise
the Lord!!! |
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We are beginning
to prepare and make plans for another purity
seminar the first of August. It is always such
a sweet time of bonding between the girls as
they are taught different principles of being
focused on the Lord and serving Him with a
whole heart. These seminars cost $4,000 for
the entire week of hosting about 12 girls.
This includes food, lodging, projects, and
a van rental. Please pray with us that the
funds needed for this project will come in. |
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“I
will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Thy wonders.” Psalm
9:1 |
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Thank you
for your continued prayers and support! |
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Because
of Christ, |
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The
Kennedy Family |
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