We have until the end on the year to find a new location for our Tuesday nights and unfortunately we were not permitted to begin our Saturday night studies that would have begun tonight. Armando and Lisa have been driving around the city this week seeking a new location; one that not only would allow for mid-week services, but one where we would be able to begin Sunday mornings right away.

While the new senario is not ideal, we are praying God’s guidance and blessing through it. Mary people who attend Tuesday nights would love for us to have a Sunday service; a church they can call home. Please be praying that God will go before us and make the crooked paths straight. We have a few churches that would like to help with rent in the event that we find a new place and we are hoping that our members will tithe to cover the remainder.

Please be praying also for encouragement for Armando as this change of plans was really a let down for him; our outreach had gone so well and established us as a real presence in the community. We are looking for a place that is very close to where we already meet. Also, as a praise, Armando did find part-time work and we are praying for more hours. He’s already had the opportunity to branch out and be used in many ways at work and we are praying that they bring him more hours. I also may be able to get a part-time job as a tutor and will be looking into that this week.

Thank you for all your prayers.

~amanda

We had so many helpers show up early this morning to get the event started. We had volunteers from 5 church in all (3 local churches) who helped cook, paint kids faces, make balloon animals, teach VBS and hand out 250 backpacks. A local fire department sent out a huge hook and ladder and allowed the kids to sit inside and ask questions.

There were so many blessings throughout the day, but two things really stood out to me personally – ok, three things:

1. people came for the backpacks and STAYED for the whole event. There were people who came first thing for backpacks, but sat down and made themselves comfortable while their kids went to VBS, ate hot dogs and got their faces painted. It truly felt like a community event.

2. The sense of community among the participating churches. This is sadly uncommon, but it was so amazing to see all the volunteers wanting to support our ministy @ Kingsfield SanB – even local churches. CC Murrieta sent so many volunteers who spend the day cooking, cleaning, teaching, helping – amazing. San Bernardino Community Church sent their youth group dance troop, Stomp to perform. They were so excited to serve God.

3. We have been meeting in an existing church’s building for the last few months and while they have been helpful, they have also been very skeptical of our intentions. I think all that dissolved as we were a united front for the Gospel. They had their church members present to serve in such a seamless way that is was impossible to tell who attended which church. At the end of the day, they asked us if we’d be willing to join them to help host their Harvest Night event. We were so blessed by the change of heart. There was one of their church members in particular who was VERY resistant to our presence at their church. I saw him later and he was beaming and shared with me how blessed he was by the event and truly believe that our heart is to do God’s work.

We stand in awe of the ways God works and I’m humbled by how often I forget to thank Him for what He’s already done.

The church address is 937 26th St.  San Bernardino (don’t know the zip). Set up is 8am and it starts @ 10.  If you can’t come, please be praying to the neighborhood will be blessed and see God’s love.  So there are plenty of other requests, but I’ll let God direct you as you pray for the day.

On  personal note, Mondo got a part-time job today. While it’s on an on-call basis, we’re praying either for another part-time position or that they’ll end up calling often. This has been our biggest trial so far. We can say without a doubt that God has called us here, yet it has been a daily struggle to trust Him for provision. Mondo has searched high and low for work, but like every other person out there, work is scarce.

Church service was so sweet tonight and the fellowship just gets better.  I love seeing everyone get in groups after the service to open up and share their struggles. I love how God uses our transparencies and failures to encourage one another. He redeems even our muck!

I’ve been so stretched teaching the kids; something I’ve never pictured myself doing. We’ve been learning the 10 commandments and it’s been so wonderful seeing them remember then from week-to-week. My four year old insists on learning the commandments like the bigger kids do. So randomly he would come up to me during the week, regardless of where we were, and blurt out “Hey Mom! Don’t commit adultery.” A little embarrassing, but at least he’s remembering them.

The ministry continues and we are so excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.  We will be meeting this Sunday for a BBQ at our house with those that want to be involved in a new weekend study we are looking to begin. God has brought us so many people who was to serve and grow.

Tomorrow Armando and Lisa are heading out to purchase school supplies for the outreach as we look forward to our Sept. 12th event.

I’ll try to be more diligent to keep you all apprised of our fellowship’s news. Thank you all again for your prayers and support.

~amanda

Our initial desire was to start a church and reach out to this hurting city. We’ve been meeting for about three months and God has brought us an amazing group of people. Not just people from the community, but those who also have a heart for the community. Our fellowship with them has been sweet as we get to know each other better, grow closer to the Lord and reach out to the neighborhood.

On September 12th we will be having our first backpack outreach. Mimicking the work of other ministries around the country, our desire was to raise funds to purchase packs filled with school supplies and provide food/Christ-centered entertainment for those who attend. God has provided above and beyond what we ever expected. We have been blessed with spiritual and financial support from many churches, including: CC Murrieta, Kingsfield Laguna, CC Fallbrook and CC Carlsbad.

Yesterday Armando shared at CCMurrieta about the outreach and also his need for a job. As a result, the church believers generously gave of their funds and offered their assistance on the day of the outreach. Also, a number of job offers have surfaced (Mondo is actually on the phone with someone right now).  While I hope you are blessed reading about His provision – for us it speaks confirmation to years and years of longing and prayers for this city. Yesterday’s events are a reminder to us of His promises to provide and a humble example of His unexplainable desire to use us.