Rancho Maranatha? Yep, it’s official. The name has been legally changed and so has this newsletter to reflect that. Where have we been since our last printed newsletter in December of 2000? Well, we’ve been right here. So much has been going on that it would take several issues to just get you up to date on the basics, but I will try to explain some of the major developments of the last year. If you haven’t been getting our email updates, my sincerest apologies. You are all so important to us and the ministry here and we want you to always know what’s going on . If you aren’t getting our updates and you would like to, please drop us an email at the address at the end of this newsletter. So, hang on and we will go for a little tour!
Casa
Hogar Rancho Maranatha
This has been the source of some of our biggest heartbreaks and some of our best fruit. As with all things the fruit will only be counted on the other side of heaven, but for right now it’s looking pretty good. There have been a lot of parents of the children that want to get their children back that have been directed to get counseling for their problems. Up until now the DIF organization is actually sending them to a new Bible study that we have in the open air in Navojoa. So, if they want to see their children, they come to the Bible study! It’s been great and we have had several commitments to the Lord through this means. The children are a lot of work but they are more than worth it. We are blessed at present to have over 22 children on the ranch. Please pray that we would continue to have grace with the DIF and that they would continue to send the parents to the studies with us.
Radio Maranatha
!The radio station continues to reach an ever growing audience. Two of our newest disk jockeys are Alejandra and Malena, 12 and 14 years old but great announcers. This station has gone really great and now the same people that went to so much work to put it on the air are working on an additional 1000 watt FM station that would be a simulcast. We are continuing to pray for a permit. There still isn’t any opportunity in sight of a formal permission but as long as we are allowed to transmit the way we are, we will be content. Please pray that Christian radio would be permitted to be broadcast throughout Mexico and that our station would continue to be a light in our little dark corner. The bigger vision is that if we can get legal, it will be a door for many others to take advantage of. So, please don’t stop praying for this!
Rancho Maranatha! Recording Studio
Maranatha is an Aramaic word meaning “Our Lord, Come!” So if you see it often in this newsletter and other places, well, you will have a good idea of what we are thinking about and looking forward to!
One of the many blessings of late has been the opportunity to record, free of charge, aspiring musicians that couldn’t otherwise do so. We have been able to help produce several albums this way and are currently working on three that will be a particular blessing. (Hey they were all a blessing it’s just that they aren’t all my style of music, these are!) One of my favorites is Marcela who I have been trying to convince to record for the last 12 years. When she finally decided to do it, the only problem was she didn’t have any original music. I told her to write some, she said she had never done that before. Well, she cranked out 8 excellent songs and she is still going strong! So, be watching for this one at your personal missionaries bookstore. (no we don’t have one, I’m just kidding!) We are hoping to have this one out before next summer so please keep it in prayer. This is a great way to witness to people and one of the things that I am hoping for is that these young people could really start winning souls with their music.
MARANATHA!
Tim, our drummer and youth leader from
Lake Elsinore CC with “Mache” in the studio working on her upcoming release “Contigo”
Under Construction!
If the Lord tarries, we should have a new home for the Jones family which has grown to over 16! At the current time we are busting at the seams and so the construction has begun. Paul and Beth Stearns with their three children will be taking over the old place as they have inherited the boys in the children’s home now. I had hoped that my building entire homes was over but I decided to do one more. The home is going to also house the
recording studio and radio station. It should be quite a blessing. There has also been an addition made to our present home to house the children that we have with us. Now you see why I don’t write enough!
Rancho Tres Pablos?
Well, that’s Ana’s suggestion for our next name change. The Lord has blessed us and continues to do so with Pauls and I’m not just speaking metaphorically! Paul and Ruth Wallestad are back and now we have Paul and Beth Stearns on the team together with their 3 children Chelsy, Gabe & the newest addition to the team, Sonora Esperanza! Now we are waiting for Paul and Maura Cathey with their daughter Marisa and the newest addition to be announced VERY soon! It is such a blessing to have these guys all on the team and if we do ever change the name again… We also now have Jake Padilla who has been a great blessing to us working with the boys and now we are waiting for Corey, the Mechanic brother, to come down and join the team as well! We asked the Lord for help and He has sent it. What a wonderful God we serve that cares of our needs and loves us so. The Lord is building the house! Psalm 127
Baptism Time Again!
We had two different baptisms this summer where we baptized 21 believers. One of the huge blessings was Josie who at 7 years old was advised that she might want to wait to be baptized. Josie is one of our most changed children and has been with us since February of 2001. While I was out in the water baptizing, little Josie came out with tears in her eyes saying that she was ready to be baptized! Well now she is. Yolanda is a widow of about 10 years and is the lady that used to come to the studies in Jusibampo with her now deceased husband. She was worrying that perhaps she couldn’t be baptized because about once a month she misses a study! I don’t know who tells them this stuff but now 15 years after hearing the gospel, she is finally baptized as well. She should have talked to Josie sooner!
The Team
One of the things that I have always longed for in ministry is to have a team of believers working towards a common goal with no holding back. I am so blessed to introduce to you all part of that team. Besides all of you back in the states that are a part of the team, we have herewith us now Paul, Beth, Chelsea, Gabriel and Sonora Stearns, Paul and Ruth Wallestad, Jake who helps out with the boys, Corey who the Lord sent to take care of the vehicles and also help with the boys, Jorge & Roshon Cazares, Rochelle & Joshua Jones of course my wife and then the people out in the ranches. There is Fidel and Trini’s family, Miguel Oximea and his family, Chema, Reina & Chuy, Mateo & Irma & Gloria, Rogelio, Nelo, Luis, Veronica, Gris and so many others that are working together to save souls in this area. This soul saving stuff is a full time job and everywhere we go we are always trying to do a good job of representing Christ to all we encounter. We are always grateful to the groups who come down and help us out with representing Him as well. In short, I asked the Lord for a team and He is most certainly building one. It’s such an awesome privilege to be a part of anything that the Lord is doing and so I never grow weary of thanking Him for letting me be a part of His work. I also want to thank all of you who take part in this ministry. It’s such a blessing to know that you all are standing with us and making it possible for us to continue to not only hold ground but to break into new areas all of the time. If I would have been told five years ago that we would have almost 20 Bible studies a week going on today, I would have believed it but only because I know how the Lord works! He is AWESOME! If you are frustrated with your Christian walk and don’t feel like you are gaining ground, just ask the Lord and He will open up more opportunities than you can imagine. He is waiting to use you and me and prayers of this sort never get old to Him! Know too that to whom much has been given, much is required and also that you can’t go into enemy territory without stepping on enemy toes, but that’s what we want to do! So, keep seeking the Lord and keep making yourselves available to be used by Him and please keep praying for the team here as well!
Go! Ministries
Good news and bad news. Calvary Missions is no more. After some rough waters we have finally landed back with the core group from Calvary Missions who have regrouped as Go! Ministries. We missed them so much while they were regrouping and are blessed to be back at home with them. This is a group that loves missions and is committed to seeing that 100% of your funds that are sent go directly to the missionaries. It is a labor of love that is being done out of pocket and the tab is being picked up by Calvary Chapel Norco. What a blessing to see how these people are working behind the frontlines to fulfill the “great commission which is to GO!! So, that’s part of the reason why there wasn’t a newsletter since last year. Again I’m sorry for any of you who don’t have email and have been wondering what’s going on with us. The Lord is on the throne! So if you are interested in supporting the ministry here, you can direct all donations to
Go! Ministries P.O. Box 651 Norco, CA. 92860
Thanks for your support and may the Lord bless you as you continue to seek Him first!
Email address: Daniel & Ana P.O. Box 651 Norco, CA 92860 cell phone# at Rancho Maranatha: 011-52-642-428-4214 Website address: www.calvarychapel.com/jusibampo or www.ranchomaranatha.com