This Are Shaping Up

Last week as I wrote our newsletter I had tears of sadness dripping on my keyboard. Today I must say I have had tears of joy. Yes I know I am a man but hey it takes a real man to cry. As we said goodbye to our cats last week it was tough but God took no time to bless our socks off.

We got a call on Valentines night that rocked our world. On Tuesday of last week our paperwork was filed with The Central Authority. This is the new adoption office in Guatemala. We were told our paperwork would be there for 30 – 45 days. Well on Thursday they called and told us it was finished and on its way to what we hope is the final destination. So in 2 days our paperwork got through. If you know anything about Guatemala, that is a miracle!!! Isn’t it amazing how Awesome God is. It has been a tough and long 4 years but we are not giving up. Those are our sons and God will make away for us all to be together.

The blessings did not stop there. This week we have had a couple of individuals give $2,000 toward our move. We also have a third that wants to help with our computers. The amazing thing about this, is these folks were not on our original list of friends and family. God has opened up so many doors for us and we are so thankful and excited. Below I have a list of target items that I would like to ask you to pray about. These are things that we need to make the move.

Our time for the past week or so with Mike Clark has been great. Our family has really had a great time getting to know him and Dottie. They are such good people and truly sold out for the Lord. If you would like to hear them this Sunday At Mount Harmony Baptist. He service starts at 10:15AM. I don’t want to pull you away from your own church but his stories are worth the drive.

Finally I want to take a moment and just tell you how excited I am about those that are jumping on board. We have seen a few people this week that have made commitments to help us each month. My prayer is that your return on your investment will be 10 fold. As I came back from Guatemala in December God shared with me in His word that there is a great Harvest in Guatemala and we are called there to help bring the harvest in. Anytime something like this happens, satan tries to stick his nose in it. Please pray for protection for our family as we continue to follow God to Guatemala. Listed below are also our 5 prayer needs for the week. Please send us any prayer needs that you have so we can add them to our list.

His Servant,
Mike

Prayer List Needs List
1. Carla’s - Dad Carl Gann 1. Container - $1900 still needed.
2. Genesis – Little Girl at Casa that needs kidney 2. Kitchen Cabinets - $1900.00
3. Casa – The Flu is around even in Guatemala 3. Inflatable Slide - $1500.00
4. House to Sale 4. Bathroom cabinets and doors $800.00
5. Find a vehicle 5. Paint and supplies $400.00

Getting There

I am sorry it has been a little over a week since our last update. Our entire family has been down for the count with this flu junk going around. Even though we have been sick things are still moving along.

Last week we sent out 150 letters trying to finalize our support. We are still needing 40 families at $30.00 to meet our family goal. Thank you to all who have gotten on board with us so far. We also have 5 churches on board now and are needing 10 more to meet our church goal. If your church would be interested in partnering with our ministry please email me with the information and I will contact your pastor. Our goal is to not only have churches sponsor us but for us help the church educate its members about missions. With the technology we have now we can offer a lot to churches. We would love to have your church on board.

As we move forward we are starting to see doors close behind us. I feel that is an important step for us because if those doors do not close it is so easy to try to go back through rather than focus on the task. I think for the kids this is the toughest part. Pray for Zach, for months he has been so worried about what he would do with his cat Dudley. Well today our neighbors came over and shared with s that they found him in their garage dead. Zach was crushed and it has been a tough day for him. Also Katie has something going on and some doors closing with some relationships that are really hard for her. God knows what he is doing so we have to let Him be in control. It is tough but also neat to see God working in all of our lives. For Carla and I it was a good weekend. Mike Clark is here for a few weeks speaking at a few churches. We went to Pratt’s Chapel last night, that is Carla’s families church. It almost seemed as everyone has already started saying good bye. That was tough but reassuring for Carla. Carla’s dad even talked about maybe going to Guatemala. That would be Amazing!!!! For me well we set a date for my final day at Love89 and I have to say that was not easy. April 11th will be my final day on the morning show. So it seems we are all starting to really give up things we love.

For those that do not know Mike Clark he is the Founder of Casa. He is here the entire month of February speaking. Below is his speaking schedule. Speaking engagements are also picking up for us. If you would like for us to come to your church and share about our ministry just contact me or Carla and we can set it up.

Feb. 13th Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Niota, TN
Feb. 17th Buffat Heights Baptist Knoxville, TN Morning Service
Feb. 17th First Baptist Bluegrass Knoxville, TN Evening Service
Feb. 20th Arlington Baptist Youth Knoxville, TN Youth Service
Feb. 24th Mt. Harmony Baptist Knoxville, TN Morning Service

Prayer Needs

1. Carla’s Dad Carl
2. Hose to Sale – Open house this weekend from 2-5
3. Support to be confirmed
4. Genesis – Little girl needing Kidney Transplant
5. Family as changes take place

God's at Work

This week has been awesome. December Radio has got to be the greatest guys in Christian music right now. Now this would be easy for me to sya because they did such an awesome job for us with the concert but that is not reason I have drawn this conclusion. After spending a lot of time with these guys in Guatemala and at my house I have learned a lot about them.

I learned that they are true followers of Christ. They live their lives to serve him. I want to share just for a moment the break down of the group. Brian is the quiet one but very deep in his thoughts. Boon the drummer is the hugger of the group. You can not get around them that he does not give you a hug. Josh is the lead singer and is very vocal about his faith. Josh Lovelace the keyboard player is a genuine guy that smiles all the time. Eric is the hardest to figure out. He is the prankster of the bunch but he would give you the shirt off his back if you ask him for it. This team of guys has made an impact on our family that will not be forgotten. I encourage you to check out our blog pictures of their trip to Guatemala. It was a great trip.

For all of the new folks this week thanks for joing our blog/email newsletter. This is where I give weekly updates and sometimes just whine about things. I would love your comments so feel free to post them. Any encouragement would be great.

Guatemala is moving up fast. We plan to move at the end of May and we still have a lot of work to do. The concert raised over $5,000.00 toward our van but the total cost for a new one is around $18,000. We can get a used one for $12,000.00 or so. So please pray that God would continue to help us get this money raised. We also have to raise $4,000.00 for a container to ship all of our things to our new house. Then we have to have about $3,000.00 to finish our house. Finally we are also trying toraise our monthly support. The best we have it figured right now we need to raise around $3,000.00 per month. We are trying to get in front of as many churches and people as we can right now so if your church would like for us to come and share we would love the opprotunity. We are trying to get 50 families to commit $30.00 per month and 15 churches to commit to $100.00 per month. So pass the word.

I also want to thank all of those who came on Monday night. As a family we were ovewhelmed by the support and love that everyone showed. I was so blessed, when I came off the stage I went to the back of the church and just sat on a pew and cried. I am so thankful to have so many friends that we know are supporting and praying for us. This is not a one family ministry, this is a ministry that has many owners and stock holders. Thank you again for everything. Oh and just so you knwo First Baptist Seymour is awesome!!!!!!

Finally I want to ask that you email this to as many people as you can and encourage them to join our network. THe more we have praying the more we can do. Our God is awesome and we desire to have as many people praying to Him as possible.

Prayer Needs

1. Carla's Dad - Carl Gann Stage 4 Lung Cancer
2. Van - We need to raise at least $7,000 more for a van
3. Container - We need $4000.00 to ship our things and supplies for Casa and Hogar
4. Monthly sponsers
5. Our house to sale
6. Most important Genisis a little girl at Casa that is going to have a kidney transplant.

2 Websites to check out.

http://www.clubhouseguatemala.com/

http://www.casaontherock.com/

Getting Techy

Is techy even a word. I am not sure but I am using it. If you look to the left we have added a new feature to the blog. Well really 3 or 4. We now have a slide show which we will change every week. We have also added a subscription link. If you enter your email address in the little box and follow 3 easy steps you will be added to our email list. We are excited about this because our goal with the blog is to keep you up to date with everything. So on that note lets get going.

We are so excited. On January 28th December Radio is going to do a concert at First Baptist Seymour to help us buy a van in Guatemala. We are also in full swing with our fundraising efforts to build our monthly support. We are still in need of 30 families to jump on board with us. We are also excited because Mike and Dottie Clark the founders of Casa will be in Knox ville for almost the entire month of February. They will be traveling to many churches in our area sharing about Casa. We are hoping that this will help people jump on board with us in this awesome ministry.

Please pray for us in a few areas.

1. Carla's Dad - We go for a new scan next week to find out if the latest Chemo has worked.
2. Pray for our support. It has been slow but we know it will pick-up with us setting our moving date.
3. Pray for the move. We are trying to line up a container which would be awesome. It is going to cost around $4000 so pray that God would allow that money to show up. The container right now has a ton of supplies for Casa on it and has been sitting for almost a year. So it would be awesome if we could get that moving.
4. Pray for upcoming teams in March and June. We have a lot going on right now with both teams. Pray specifically for cheap airfare.

Thanks for the support and Prayers!!!

His Servant,
Mike

A New Year

Yes, I know it has been a couple of weeks and I am sorry but our life is a little crazy right now. I just got back from Guatemala and I am so sick. I have a really bad head cold and just feel like blah. But hey I thought what a perfect time to share. (hahahaha) We had a awesome trip last week working on the house. We got almost all of the walls sheet rocked, all of the electrical ran, and most of the plumbing done. You have to go to our website and check out the pictures. www.clubhouseguatemala.com I have a very special thank you to Gary Dalby, James Westbrook, and D.A. for giving their holiday week to go down and build our house. It is going to be an awesome house, and now it is Carla's turn to get busy. She went to Lows last night and got about 50 tile, paint, and kitchen cabinet books to pick out what she wants.
With all of the preparation I hope that people are starting to believe that yes we are moving. It seems that our sponsorship has stalled a bit because people have been unsure of things. So please pray that that will pick up. We know God is in control but it would be nice to really see our support pick up. Also pray for us as we work on finishing the house.

Well that is all for now. I think I am going to fix me some OJ and go to bed. 5AM is really early!!

Christmas Time and Stuff

Well I know it has been a few days since I wrote but it has been crazy. We are now officially in the candle business. We have been slammed with people buying candles ( Praise the Lord!!) and now setting up at the mall. I must say that after setting up at the mall for a few days I have a all new understanding of people. When I think of Christmas, I think of happiness and family getting together. After going to the mall I see a dark and lonely world that is searching for happiness in all the wrong places. To my right I have 2 girls for Israel that have never heard of the New Testament. On my left I have some dude from India selling bongs and other drug tools to teenagers. Behind me I have a clothing store owned by an Egyptian that hates our, President, our Country, and the mall. Not sure why he is here? HAHA

As I think ahead to our move I realize that Jesus is needed everywhere. I think so much about the opportunity that God has placed before us in Guatemala but then I think about how many chances I have had and blown it because I just did not care, or did not listen. Please pray for me as I witness to these folks and try my best to be a light in a very dark and depressing world.

Mike

Seeing God's Call Reaffirmed

I must start this post off by first stating "what an amazing God we serve!!!!" As we started our day on Thursday I had already had a great trip and could go home feeling like good things had happened. We started our day at the Zoo and I must say the Guatemala Zoo is awesome. I saw monkeys climb, scream and even swing from ropes. One of the things that really caught my attention was a Mom and Daddy monkey setting there baby out for the first time to teach it how to climb. The thing that caught my attention was the parents did not start at the bottom with the little guy. The climbed to the top and made him start climbing on his own. It was so cool. Then I got to watch as the guys from December Radio met their sponsored child for the first time. It was awesome, they brought the entire family and they all spent the day at the zoo.

Ok enough about the zoo it is time to share the real stuff that God has been doing on this trip with me. As we have gone through the week I have been collecting business cards and making contacts with folks here in Guatemala. Tonight we went to the church El Shadai. DR had to do a meeting with some local Youth Pastors. Well when we started there were about 40 guys and girls there. As I sit there I started to cry. I realized for the first time what God is really doing. My family is really moving to Guatemala. We are selling everything and moving and I have really struggled with this knowing it is what God wants. I love my home, my job and everything and every body in East Tennessee. My jobs are simple, we do block parties to reach the lost, I work at the most awesome radio station in the United States, and I love doing the Youth Leaders network and training churches. Now I am sure you are much faster than me and have figured it out. God has blown open doors for me to do all of the same things in Guatemala that I am and have been doing in Knoxville for years. I could never have dreamed of a script like this for my life. For weeks I have been excited, but depressed about the move. But tonight God opened my eyes to truly see His hand at work. I am so blown away I can't sleep. Take a look at the comparisons below and see how God is working. I even had the concert promoter talk to me tonight about working with him here in Guatemala to bring artist in.

Knoxville Guatemala
Youth Pastor Network Youth Pastor Network
Love89 Radio Shock Radio 103.5
Youth Pastor Casa Alleluya
Clubhouse Ministries Block Parties Clubhouse Guatemala - Village Outreach Parties
Concerts and Promotions Concerts

Again God is so awesome. With everything our family is going through right now I have been looking for God. Wow just like December Radio song says He is right there waiting. My world has been rock; I am messed up and ready to serve God in Guatemala. I finally have a true focus, a road map to help guide me and an awesome family that loves God and is willing to follow Him where he leads. Sorry to keep rambling but I am pumped!!!!

Check my Pictures on the Website Friday night I will have a ton from the trip so far.

Excited for tomorrow,

Mike