Oct 14

BRIDGES OF GRACE MINISTRIES, Arlene Reitz

BRIDGES OF GRACE MINISTRIES

Arlene J. Reitz, Founder and Administrator, Guatemala arlenereitz7@gmail.com

2020 The Path of Promises, Many fulfilled, Others up-and-coming!

Greetings from Guatemala!

Out of the abundance of my heart, I give glory and honor to my Lord Jesus for His strengthening grace. In the midst of unusual circumstances and unprecedented uncertainties, I am able to decree without a doubt and with utmost sincerity that it is well with my soul—God’s mercies are new every morning and His love never fails.

Psalm 18:30 What a God you are! Your path for me has been perfect! All your promises have proven true. What a secure shelter for all those who turn to hide themselves in you! You are the wrap-around God giving grace to me.

This year has been challenging for all of us. There is a shaking and a shifting still going on around the World but we can as Christians stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Though there have been many changes and many more are coming, we have the comforting revelation that’s God’s Word will always remain our faithful compass, steady and true.

Thank you Lord that Your word is the lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Psalm 109:105

You will keep us in perfect peace when our minds and hearts are stayed on You because we trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

This is a crucial time! That is clear! A web of uncertainty because of the unknown has been thrown over the minds of many. Confusion and chaos are the results of lack of trust.

Questions abound. Who has the answers? Who can I trust? Where do I go from here? The Word of the Lord tells us that we are to seek Him first and not to worry.

Matthew 6:33-34, The Passion Translation “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

“You are moving from one season to the next-don’t back up-keep moving on, you will be crossing over to the other side of this.”That’s what the Lord spoke to me in the Spring when Guatemala experienced a total lock-down from the Pandemic, and I became house bound. Moving on didn’t seem like much of an option. So I had questions.You probably have had them too—such as What? When? How?

Did the Lord answer me?

Yes and no! Depends on your perspective of things and knowing from experience that He doesn’t tell us everything and when He does it’s on His Time Clock, not ours. Only God knows the times and timing of things. He is the Creator of time.

It is written in the book of Acts that when the disciples questioned Jesus, He answered,“The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority.”

Many things in the natural have either been put on hold, changed or cancelled completely. We have had to trust Him, believe His Word and make His Promises personal. Praising Him in the midst of the Pandemic has been the strengthening force that has kept me focusing on the future. Not looking back and wishing for things that were not to be, but instead pressing on with hope that only comes from having Jesus living in my heart. He is the Anchor to my soul-my sustaining grace. I have been sheltering in place, positioned under the shadow of His Wings-and doing what the Word of God says to do.Waiting-Trusting-Believing in Him!

“Those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength.They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.”Isaiah 40:31 TPT

And so by our calendar we have moved from one season to the next-Summer is gone and Autumn has arrived-—my favorite time of the year to be Stateside and yet, here I am in Guatemala, still waiting. It’s been two years since I’ve been home in Pennsylvania. Am I sad, not really, because I trust Him to work it all out according to His Word.

Romans 8:28 TPT “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”

God is always working, even when we can’t see Him. Things are beginning to open up in Guatemala. We can move about a little more freely. The Airport opened up September 18th. A good missionary friend returned that day on American Airlines -one of the first planes permitted into the country. They still have some restrictions, but I have good news.

My daughter, Donna’s flight was cancelled in May and we were disappointed but now she is able to come in November and that’s when I actually need her help the most.

Decreeing by faith more freedom to minister!

Here are the dates:

Donna’s Missionary Trip November 22-Dec 7th. We will do our Christmas Food Distribution in Fountain of Grace Church, Xecam, Cantel on November 29th. We are doing bags of groceries this year instead of baskets, cutting out the cost of the baskets to buy larger quantities of food.

Our Ladies Tea will be December 2nd. We will be blessing the women and children at the Tea with Gift bags of Goodies. It is a special blessing that my daughter is coming to help with all the Christmas Activities.

I appreciate prayers for her safe trip, finances to cover all expenses for the Christmas activities, especially the food distribution, women and children’s ministry.

BRIDGES OF GRACE-CHRISTMAS IN GUATEMALA

BOG NAVIDAD/ OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP!

BRIDGES OF GRACE-CHRISTMAS IN GUATEMALA

BOG NAVIDAD/ OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP!

1. BOG/BAGS OF GROCERIES (50) $25.00 EACH BAG

2. WOMEN’S CHILDRENS MINISTRY (60 KIDS)

3. DONNA’S MISSION TRIP NOV 22-DEC 7

PLUS SPECIAL OFFERING OPPORTUNITY FOR FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH CONSTRUCTION -ADDITION NEEDED FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER

“Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity![Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything[e]—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him.”2 Co 9:7-8 TPT

Please send monthly support as usual to:

Bridges of Grace Ministries

C/O Donna Yonish,

134 South Washington Avenue,

Greensburg, PA 15601

Special offerings to same above address:

Designate your offering on check line

BOG for Bags of Groceries

WATW for the Women and Children

FOG for Church Construction

Donna for Mission Trip

Thank you for taking time to read this and for praying, participating and partnering with Bridges of Grace Ministry as we serve the Lord together in His Mission Field here in Guatemala.

More news of changes and blessings coming soon as we press on as the Lord leads…don’t forget to pray and vote…mine is on the way!

Choose wisely. Freedom for our Faith,

Christianity & Life is on the line!

Oct 06

Team Seasoned Heart-October Newsletter

TSH October 2020 Newsletter

Wycliffe loan business

Greetings from my home stateside. I passed through many southern states and loved the seafood, key lime pie, bourbon pecan pie to list a few. Hilton Head was so refreshing-running hot water, a pool, the ocean, and a washer. Thelma our dear host has been to Kenya three times with me. We stayed in homes of bishop, admin., and a radical intercessor. We were with royalty. My dear faithful friend, Val was my driver and sweet companion. I am favored.

Thank you for those who caught the vision of setting our students up in business to transfer wealth. There is a donate button for student endeavors. Wycliffe continues to prosper in business and beyond generous in his giving.  Erick reports daily intake for the cybercafe. Schools are to open this month and that will boost his business. Lotin, my Kiswahili teacher, is ready to launch his farm business.  His bio, proposal, and budget available on request. I sent a seed for him to begin with. Our two new students whose education was interrupted by Covid are building a kitchen garden in the compound and a waist high table for laundry days. Save the backs of people!! Dan reports they are doing so well.

I continue to share the vision for our work in Kenya. I know when I return, we are widening our training and travel to lift and release leaders at governmental and nation changing levels. Even now we are battling for their lives and the lives of the nations. Fear not! God is on our side and giving us strategies in the midst.

Working on raising up a team for our conference in November. Also pray for others to catch vision and come up next to us. Eventually I want to bring students here to minister. I love the passion and faith of these youth.

Please check out our website www.tshkenya.org or email us teamshministry@gmail.com. Pray.

We have updates weekly. Contact to be part  Grace Plaster grace.lanae@gmail.com.  You can donate on website or see what our projects are.

Mailing address TSH PO Box 481 Harleysville, PA 19438.

Also registered for Amazon Smile                         

Oct 05

Chris and Larena Johnston-Missionaries to Galway, Ireland

Greetings from Galway loved ones!

THE BATTLES WE FACE

What a nerve-racking month this has been for us. Shortly after publicly announcing our plans to step out in faith and pursue a church plant in Galway City, we got hit with the worst attack possible. Anora came down with a disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), caused by a harmful strand of the E. coli bacteria.

What happens with HUS is that the toxins from E. coli begin to destroy blood platelets (cells involved in clotting), reduces the red blood cell count (anemia), and leads to kidney failure due to damage to the very small blood vessels of the kidneys.

When she first began to have diarrhea and vomiting, we didn’t realize it was as serious as it actually was,. We thought maybe she had food poisoning at first. Then, we thought maybe it was a bug that came and went because she got better for a few days. But, on the evening of the 10th (Larena’s Birthday), Anora started to become lethargic. Now, at first we thought maybe she was weak due to not being able to keep much food and liquid down the day before, but when the next morning came around and there was no improvement, something told me this was serious.

We ended up taking her into the Emergency Room on the 11th. Due to Covid regulations, only one of us could stay with Anora, so Larena stayed in the ER with her for hours. It was the worst wait ever. I got an update text here and there, but when they said they were admitting her to the hospital, I was able to come in with things they would need overnight.

It was late, they let me in after some negotiation, and let me tell you – the sinking feeling I got when I approached and saw poor little Anora lying there with tubes attached – and I heard the words “kidney failure…” I had a moment of complete shock and disbelief. Could this be it? Is this all the time we’re given with her? You can imagine the emotional turmoil. That night I went home alone, grabbed the shepherds staff I had used to search for Eowyn when she was gone for 5 days, put on some worship music, and got on my knees to cry out to God.

I had a song in mind, Michael W. Smith’s version of “Surrounded.” I decided to put on the Kari Jobe version instead, and I began to pour my heart out, weeping uncontrollably, and worshipping God through it all. A surprising significance about the Kari Jobe version was that it transitioned into a bridge: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide, let me hide, let me hide myself in thee, this is how I fight my battles… It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by you. This is how I fight my battles.” That first line there – Rock of Ages, cleft for me… It took me back to the last battle we faced, when Eowyn went missing.

God had used that near tragedy to speak a few things to our hearts regarding our identity, our mission, and His heart for Galway. Eowyn was found in what was similar to a cleft in a giant rock, so it kept impressing on my heart to read Exodus 33. This verse talks about the cleft of the rock, being in God’s presence, and God sending Moses to the promised land with a promise to be with him through it.

I took it as a promise to us in this season we find ourselves in. God wants us to see the parallel. Moses asks God “who will go with me?” God’s reply to him is the same as His reply to me, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Nothing else matters, except that God’s presence is with us in this step of faith we’re taking to plant a church in Galway.

Season of Battles, not Barbecues

It was prophesied years ago that a tidal wave was coming and we would enter a season of “battles not barbecues.” We are in this season now. I thank God that His presence is with us through these battles, because I have no idea how anyone could face seeing their 3 year old daughter suffer without knowing the comfort of our loving God. Anora received a blood transfusion after that first night. Thankfully it went well, and she began to respond. Little by little she began to recover. Each day that went by was an improvement. The blood in her urine was decreasing each day. Her hemoglobin numbers began to stabilize at a good level. Her kidney functions began to normalize.

Thank God she was beginning to get her energy back and return to her normal self. Finally, after 6 days of alternating nights in the Hospital, Larena and I were able to bring Anora home!

They instructed us to watch her, test her urine, bring her in once a week for blood tests, etc. I’m happy to report that just yesterday we got results on her most recent bloodwork. She’s back to normal! Praise God!

We’re praying that there’s no side effects from this. Thankfully we caught it early enough, Anora is generally healthy, and also Larena (having been led by the Holy Spirit) originally asked the doctors if it could be a parasite or something like that. They told her later that had she not said that, they would’ve been testing Anora for a while and might not have figured out what was wrong for some time.

Well, God is good. He gave us a peace. He saw us through a difficult time. Now we’re looking forward to the birth of our son.

FAREWELL SERVICE

We had our farewell service at GCF. We’re moving forward on church plant planning. I’m so excited to have been asked to help with some of the production for Lighthouse Church’s Sunday service broadcast.

Can I just say a deep heartfelt thank you, to all of you who prayed, sent messages, packages, financial support etc. We are so grateful for you all.

God bless! Your love and support help us feel connected like you’ll never know. ~ Chris (L & A)

Prayer Requests

We would be honored if you would pray with us concerning:

Please pray for Anora to continue to improve and that there is no long term damage due to this horrific disease.

Please pray for the next steps in the church planning project. We will need to raise funds for the shadowing process, and it is substantial.

Please pray God will work on the hearts of others to help us as we step into this venture.

Please pray as we near the end of Larena’s pregnancy, for her delivery to go smoothly and a quick recovery.

Also praying COVID restrictions will be lifted a bit, so I can visit my son once he is born and still in hospital. Please pray this might be possible.

Support Information

If you would like to team up & contribute to this important mission, please make checks out to:

Hope Ireland Missions

229 W. Exchange St.

Crete, IL 60417

(Chris & Larena Johnston on the memo line)

For ONLINE giving:

Simply go to:www.hopeirelandmissions.com & click on “partner.”

Sep 28

Pray for the Nation – a word from Bishop Coulter

CLICK TO PLAY
https://youtu.be/E1agm4pz_b4

Sep 28

Special Need–Mission to the Children

“Changing our world one Life at a Time”

SCHOOL MIRACLES

September has been a very busy month for us. Thanks to your prayers. God opened up the doors and Josh starts school next week. It was a miracle we God Josh in. Thank you Lord. 

WATER

As of yesterday we finally got the ranch’s water lines reconnected. I have been having a lot of problems with headaches and was unable to work in sunlight and praise God my neighbors came over and patched my waterline.  They would not even allow me to pay. Thank you Lord for good neighbors.

TROUBLING INCIDENT

I also was able to help a pastor friend close down his church as they could not continue to pay rent. They will reopen in the future when the Covid crisis passes. I helped take a truck load of trash to the dump for them and I was shocked by the smell and by what I saw.  It was the worst thing I have ever smelt in my life.

It rained and we had to walk in mud to unload the truck and I could hardly breathe the smell of rotten food and dead animals was intense.

On Top of all that I saw poor people digging through the trash trying to find anything of value. There were two pretty young girls digging in the trash. I smiled at them and they smiled back. Their faces were the only clean thing I could see. It broke my heart to see people suffering that much. They were young but the hard life they had lived caused them to look much older than they were.

Please pray for the many poor people in our world who suffer. 

FLOODING

We have had a lot of rain               lately, and the retaining wall to the drainage ditch behind the orphanages broke and the baby’s home flooded and everything outside was covered with mud. Josh worked all day with the clean up team. It was really hot and the mud soured.

Thankfully no one was hurt, but with the lack of donations due to Covid it will be hard for them to complete repairs.

MISSIONARY FRIEND IN NEED

Lastly, we have a missionary friend who has his funding reduced and he has been unable to pay rent for several months, and he is trying to raise $2,000 to build a one room shed so his family will have a place to stay. 

Please help him.

If you want to help designate it for Daniel and text me and let me know what you sent so I can get it to him as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for your Prayers and support.

Please send your checks to Mission to the Children

PO BX 211322

Bedford, TX 76095

or

paypal.me/missiontothechildren

Sep 28

Corrected Links: TMCI 2020 Conference Sessions

NIGHT 1 Session 1- Bishop Marvin Tennant

NIGHT 2 – Sr. Bishop Robert Coulter

NIGHT 3 – Danny Steyne, Mountain of Worship

THURSDAY
Session 2 TMCI Founder Judy Covington
MISSIONS MOMENTS
Rev. Hannah Hunter: Kenya
Bishop Jim Reyes: Mexico
Session 3 Bishop Johnny Riley Workshop
MISSION MOMENT
Bishop Moses Nueman: Africa
Session 4 Bishop Cherie Burger
Session 5 Prophet Hayst Harrold
Session 6 Bishop Jerry Bowers
Session 7 – NIGHT 2 above
Session 8 Rev. Carol Rinehart Workshop
Session 9 Rev. Matt Grossman Workshop
Session 10 Bishop Mitch Martinez
Session 11 Bishop Marvin Tennant Workshop
Session 12 Breakout Prayer Rooms (no video)
Session 13 NIGHT 3 above

YouTube player

Sep 28

Exciting News from Daniel Szymanski

Dear Bishop Bob,

This is Daniel Szymanski, I have some exciting news that I would like to share with you.

ACCEPTED In WYAM!

I have been accepted by Youth With A Mission to participate in a Discipleship Training School. On January the eleventh I’ll be heading to the YWAM base in Denver Colorado to start my DTS. The school will consist of three months of missionary training, and two months on an international missions trip.  

LAUNCHING OUT!

As you know I was born and raised on the mission field. I believe it’s time for me to explore the option of being a full time missionary myself. I feel like my going to YWAM will give me the opportunity to further my training as a full time missionary, explore different cultures, and go on a foreign mission trip. This will truly be a special time for me to pursue God and deepen my relationship with Him. I am eager for this opportunity to step out in Faith and serve our God.  

LEARNING TO TRUST

One of the things I learned growing up on the mission field is how God is always faithful to provide for our needs. The Bible says that there are those who are sent to the mission field and those who send the missionaries to the mission field with financial support. I have come to appreciate the way God puts missionaries and ministry partners together. This is my time to journey out on the missionary field apart from my parents. I understand this is a time in my own life where I have to trust God to partner me with others who will send me and financially sponsor my missions work.  

YWAM TUITION

The tuition I need to raise for YWAM is $7,800. I am asking if you will prayerfully consider being part of a group who will pray for me and donate to my tuition. Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated. I don’t have a bank account so I am using my dads. He will make sure I receive your donation.

For a Pay Pal Deposit please use: rickymaricruz@aim.com

Bank Deposit: Make checks payable to Rick Szymanski. Enter 388860 in the Memo box. Mail to:
Central Willamette Credit Union
PO Box D
Albany, OR 97321

Thank You very much.

Daniel Szymanski

Sep 23

TMCI Consecrated Jerry Bowers and Gabriele Gilpin as Bishops September 15

We wish to welcome Bishop Jerry Bowers and Bishop Gabriele Gilpin to TMCI leadership. They were consecrated on September 15, 2020.

Due to technical difficulties, the Consecration Service will not be aired.

Sep 18

An Important Update and Request from the Szymanski Family

Dear Friends,

Water Woes
I know this ministry report is a little over due. We have been very busy working on different ministry projects. My latest ministry project came out of my complaining about our water supply for our home. Our tap water is not drinkable so we have to pay for the large bottles of water to be delivered to our home. Those water bottles need to be cleaned and brought into the house. They are very heavy and need to be lifted onto the water dispenser.

We just fixed several small water leaks in our home. We now have 2 major water leaks that need to be fixed. One repair requires tearing up our master bathrooms concrete and tiled floor. The other repair requires tearing up our newly installed tiled bath tub in Daniels bath room. Our house water supply is gravity feed so we have little water pressure. To get water pressure we have to run a water pump and it is very noisy. Each night I have to turn off the breaker and turn it on again each morning. That wouldn’t be such a big deal if the breaker wasn’t behind the refrigerator.

Water for Ugandan Orphanages
I have become annoyed with our water issues. Then last month I was talking with a pastor friend of mine. We have a mutual friend by the name of Patrick. Patrick is a 72 year old native pastor from Uganda. Patrick has started and runs 2 orphanages in Uganda. Patrick was talking about how the children have to walk 2 and a half miles to the river to bathe and collect drinking water. The children have to carry that water 2 and a half miles back to the orphanages, they have to do this daily. As i visualized the needs of the orphans my water issues seamed to be less important to me. I decided to partner with my pastor friend to fund the digging of 2 wells, one at each orphanage.. The first well is being dug now. The cost to dig a well is $2,500. $5,000 will provide the orphanages and the villages with all the water they need.

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Giving a cup of water is a blessing. How about giving a well that keeps the cups full all the time. Yes that is the right thing to do!

Widows in Santa Cruz
As a family we have decided to provide all the widows in Santa Cruz with food for the next 4 months. Santa Cruz is one of our mission villages we minister to. There are about 40 widows in Santa Cruz. We also gave each widow a pair of eye glasses to help them see better. God’s Heart is for the widows and orphans. It has always been our heart to love and care for the widows and orphans as well. Giving to them is giving to Father God. Loving them is loving Father God.

Matthew 25:40-45 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Wow Jesus truly cuts to the heart. He does it because we need to stop thinking about ourselves and help others in need. When we help others we truly are helping ourselves. I encourage everyone to give of yourself today whether it be giving your time or your finances give to someone in true need. If you don’t know any one in need then join with us in our ministry to widows and orphans. We have had many people and groups join us in Mexico as we ministered together to the poor. I can say every one who ministers with us has had a life changing experience.

If you would like to financially help widows and orphans we can help you with that. 100 % of money designated for widows and orphans goes directly to them. Your donations are tax deductible when given to our nonprofit.

GIVING
Please make your checks payable to Give Hope Foundation

Memo box should read Account #4326516819

Send checks to Desert Schools CU ATTN:

Remittance  Processing

P.O. Box 2942

Phoenix, AZ 85062

Donations can also be sent by Pay Pal to rickymaricruz@aim.com

We have a new phone number if you would like to call and talk a while. 541- 497-1230

Serving the King,

Rick, Maricruz, and Daniel Szymanski

Sep 15

Hannah Hunter, missionary to Kenya, in Augusta Sunday

9 AM this Sunday: LIFE Ministries, Savannah Rapids in the Oak Room: 3300 Evans to Locks Rd, Martinez, GA 30907 
Hannah Hunter, missionary to Kenya will be sharing and ministering this Sunday, September 20th. 
Come and hear what amazing things God is doing and experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit as Hannah shares testimonies, preaches and minsters.

9 AM this Sunday: LIFE Ministries, Savannah Rapids in the Oak Room: 3300 Evans to Locks Rd, Martinez, GA 30907 
The ministry she leads is Team Seasoned Heart, based in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. The ministry provides financial support to the mission, as well as training teams to carry out missions in cooperation with Restoration Village Project, a Christian ministry to Kilgoris, Kenya. Team Seasoned Heart’s Kenyan mission trips include training youth leaders, ministering to widows, orphans and prisoners, and providing medical care.

We are privileged to carry HIS heart to East Africa from a base in Kilgoris, Kenya. We invite you to, above all else, pray in agreement with the Holy Spirit for HIS purposes for this region and the people. While we see God as our Source, there is the principle of the Sower and the one sent to the Harvest field and the blessing to both.