Once again I ride out another spring storm in San Diego. I had secretly hoped that the weather report was wrong and I would enjoy a few more days of flip-flops and shorts. However, the rain pounds down on the One Life bus as i write this tonight from a campground next to the Mexican border.

…It’s all good and reminds me of home…rain on the roof, stillness of the night, and something familiar. Sad as it seems, I have missed the rain.

This past month has seen so many amazing things:

1) Tonight, two single moms are sleeping in a new home…with concrete under their feet, a warm bed, and a full stomach. Their children have separate beds. For the first time in their lives these families have hope and a hand-up.

2) As multiple groups travelled south this March, many lives have been forever changed. I personally heard the testimonies of widened world views and an appreciation for the lost. Many speak into how that will change back home.

3) Work started on the Prayer room and offices of Los Olivos. With the land now paid off, it was quite emotional to witness the start of what, Lord Willing, will become the first of many projects to support the indigenous churches. May these first foundations pave the way for many years of prayer, healing, and change. Like both families that received a home this week, “I have no words.” May the Lord be glorified and many come to know Him.

Two scriptures that stood out this month were:

Psalm 27:13-14 

“I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.”

…This was the prayer of Maria Cruz as she waited 21 years

Ephesians 3: 14-21

^“14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

…This was a word to the church at Santa Fe at their opening service after many years of drought. With new beginnings, may the Lord prosper and bless their heart as they lean on Christ to reach the community surrounding the church.

Continue to keep One Life in your prayers as the need is great and workers are few. Please pray for those who serve and facilitate relief for those who have less.

Thank-you to the Lord and all those who have given. The surrounding churches, local Pastors, prayer partners, foreign teams, OL staff, Selle family, and the board of One Life as they are His hands and feet...it goes without words.

In January, my Pastor spoke on Matthew chapter 6...and it was a good reminder.

Probably my OCD, but I worry about a lot of things even though the Lord is moving in this ministry. It often revolves around people and missed opportunities in service. It ranges from the care of those who serve with OL to how we discern who is blessed with a new home or a hand up? Without the guiding hand of Jesus this would be a mess. I really wrestle with this…

1) A mother of four is widowed by a farm accident and has limited means. She lives in a cardboard house.
2) A faithful mom who prayerfully raised several children, after her husband left 21 years ago needs shelter at the end of her life.

How do you pick…PTL, both families will be looked after this month. Still many others will have to wait. With a long list, my heart breaks for those who suffer a little while longer.

2012 is an interesting year on many levels. With projected increase at the OL base, we are anxious to build infrastructure as usage continues to push our resources. With increased demand to support outside ministry the work seems, often, unattainable. On Monday, we hope break ground for what is the start of our building program. Funds continue to be the vise towards further planning, and ongoing ministry is dependant on it. With a School, Orphanage, and Worship center to compliment the community, we have a long way to go.

Continue to pray for those serving this March:

1) Pastor Gorgonio and Pastor Gonzales; who we will be working with in Mexico this March.
2) The families: Maria Patricia Amaya Cruz & Maria Isabel Gomez Ramirez who will be given a “hand up.”
3) The teams from Gary Cropley, MEI Abbotsford, and Chilliwack Baptist
4) The staff at One Life
5) Funds to complete the first phase of our prayer room & offices.

Thank-you for your prayers! We have so much to be thankful for as the Lord continues to provide for our needs. Many are being reached through the local church and your support extends their reach.

Dios te Bendiga

Praise the Lord!! Los Olivos is paid for!

It has been a difficult few weeks as I have tried to keep it quiet but, the Lord has provided funds to make a lot of prayer come to fruition…we are debt free! We can now move forward with our plan to support the local community through education and social support on the Los Olivos site, as we embrace indigenous ministry.

…Close to a hundred thousand dollars was retired in the last month…thank-you!

With plans to build everything from an evangelical school, foster parent orphanage, trades building, and a neutral multi-purpose facility…OL is one step further to providing a “hand up” to local ministry as they serve.

Gracias a Dios
  

It has been a really short trip but, God continues to reveal to us how amazing He is. This time with Dwayne and Randy has been quite revealing. At every turn new opportunities present themselves and we are given further insight into God’s leading.

The day started with lots of discussion around breakfast and a short trip south. Over lunch: Dwayne, Isiais and I discussed a cross cultural mission’s trip with Pastor Basilio for the fall…possibly around Easter. In-between we had the opportunity to put tangible thought towards preparing Los Olivos for the next step in our building program (pieces are coming together, praise the Lord). The evening brought another answer to prayer that goes back to the beginning of Los Olivos. With a connection to 33 different ministries around us I am having a hard time keeping up and so does OL’s plans to be a resource for them and the community.

However, there is a feeling between us that we are on to the next stage of what God wants to accomplish down here and we are excited to be servants in that. Once again we are running rather than walking. Praise God for all those who pray for this and contribute to this work tangibly through actions and financial support.

Lots more to unpackage in further blogs…

During our time here we listened to many stories about abuse, tragedy, and need. Please pray for God to multiply the work the local church is doing through indigenous Pastors. Most Pastors work through the day to earn a living so they can minister by night. These average men and women sacrifice everything to make sure no one is lost or neglected. I have learnt much from their character and am blessed to call many of them friends.

Dwayne, Randy, and I arrived safely last night and spent today around Los Olivos connecting with Isaias’ family.

Things are going well down here. Los Olivos looks amazing and Isaias continues to amaze us with all the new landscaping and rock work. It was great to see their family again and connect over a few laughs. Jafet has a new dog and Isaias grand-daughter was on site. It was really cute as she spoke to us in Triki and Spanish…following us around Los Olivos…very cute…barely understood a word she said.

Isaias presented some needs from a few Pastors I had never met before and look forward to spending time with. With a growing indigenous church around us, the Lord is moving! Today, I was reminded again how the Lord prepared the way. We are here at the right time and in the right place. May the Lord use us to our full potential. The need is great here and we heard several times today the reality of life without Jesus and the consequences of poor life choices.

Isaias has asked us to pray for his church as they have been presented with some very hard things.

Tomorrow, with some banking and grounds-keeping behind us, we are connecting with Pastor Basilio for Lunch…after that, some time in Guerrero and continued connections with area Pastors; back to San Diego on Wednesday.

I never have enough time here. Like Dwayne shared yesterday, “this is all too familiar and it feels like home.” We have all gained friendships around Los Olivos and roots that are eternal.

Dios te bendiga
  

It was such a pleasure to spend Saturday night with friends and family. So many came together to make this night possible:

1) Our Musician (Sam)
2) The Caterers (Dianne)
3) Chilliwack Alliance (Theresa & staff)
4) And all those who gave of their time (Linda Mann, Deanna’s family, and others)

This ministry would not be possible without:

1) My wife & children
2) The Board of One Life
3) OL Staff – Brenda Ferrier, Deanna McDonald, Lauren Hills, and Matt Vanderkwaak
4) The ongoing support from Teams and their help

Without everyone’s help, there would be several families still living in desperate need, local churches deprived of encouragement, and communities without a hand up.

Hearing from Pastor Basilio and others on Saturday night, the need is obvious….the world needs Jesus! Never in history has our condition been more obvious.

Again, here is the Need:

It is estimated that the population of the world reached one billion for the first time in 1805. 122 years later our world population reached two billion in 1927, but it took only 33 years to rise by another billion people….reaching three billion in 1960. On October 31 the United Nations projects the world population will reach seven billion on October 2011.

That means: The fulfilling of Matthew 28:19-20 is more important than ever! The Word reads:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”

More souls are at risk than at any other time in history. At no other time in human existence do we need to be more intentional and focused.

Everything that came forward Saturday night will be directed towards this work. Thank-you for your support and obedience; it will be multiplied many times.

Rob Wall

Please join us on October 22nd as we reflect on the past year and look forward to 2012. 

Chilliwack Alliance Church
8700 Young Rd, Chilliwack, BC
V2P 4P4
7:00 PM

It has been an amazing year and the night will be filled with testimonies, video, and updates on the current condition around this work. Lord willing Pastor Basilio will be joining us with his wife Yolanda and we will hear about the condition of those we serve.

Once again the night is without obligation.
  

Can’t believe so much time has passed since my last blog! Been really busy with work, ministry, & life stuff. Since I last wrote, God has been doing amazing things with this work and in the hearts of people we support.

Pastor Isaias and family continue the ministry at Los Olivos with continued persistence and effort towards uniting the churches of the San Quintin Valley. Once again, this September, Isaias hosted the Pastor Ministerial and encouraged us with his words;

Translated to English:

“Today was a great blessing, God came were there were few in a special way to this group of pastors. Many of the pastors prayed for rain in the valley, also for the coming weddings. Pastor Ruben also prayed for rain and Pastor Israel for marriages. Pastor Basilio prayed for unity amongst the churches.”

A work has begun in the San Quintin Valley and the Lord is working through Pastor Isaias and his family to unite a valley of churches that serve the same God! Being a neutral place, Los Olivos poses no threat and provides an opportunity for Pastoral families to come together without challenge. We have no agenda but, to serve the surrounding church.

October 22 marks our 2nd annual “Dessert & Support Night.” Lord willing, we will again present new updates and testimonies from those in the field. This year, we hope to have Pastor Basilio and his wife Yolanda speak into the condition of the people around the San Quintin Valley. Evites have been sent out but, you can also find us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Life-One-Chance/148799638503492

Continue to pray for Matt Vanderkwaak as he bikes across Canada for awareness to the work in Mexico and for safety as he is riding into winter. You can read his blog @ http://Matthewbikes.tumblr.com/

I am continually humbled by the work of the OL staff and board of One Life. It is a lost cause when one equates earthly gain. They do this for Jesus not wanting gain or recognition. It ripples through the lives of many and goes unseen.

Spent some time in the Word tonight around Missions; given...Matthew 16:24-26 means so much more. We serve because Luke 24:13-33 speaks of the linage from Moses through all the prophets for salvation; Ephesians 3:2-6 explains it was God’s plan all along for the whole world to be saved; and John 20:19-22 states that He not only commanded us to go but, He “breathed on us” to give us the help we needed through the Holy Spirit….and that really messes me up.

We serve an amazing God! I love Psalm 69:13 because the Lord is all about seasons yet, in the midst of transition and challenge he brings clarity.

So many contribute to this ministry and we thank-you for the prayers and continued support; the Lord is moving quicker than we can respond to. In our board meeting today, a member said, “we started this ministry running.” We never had the chance to walk up to the start line…This speaks so much to the work the Lord is doing every-day in Mexico. Every-day, the game changes and everyday we need your help and prayer support as we move forward. 2 Chronicles 16:9a stuff.

The Lord is uniting His “Bride” around the world and I can’t wait! For His return!!

One Life One Chance