BAJA BLESSINGS

YOSHIMI MARCH/APRIL 2010 UPDATE

FROM CHILDREN’S BREAKFAST MINISTRY…..TO MEN’S VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER…..TO HOME MINISTRY

One of the most exciting IDT developments began months ago when IDT began helping a men’s Halfway House serve breakfast to children in the Triqui Village every Saturday. As word spread of the 100-200 hungry children being fed both physically (breakfast) and spiritually (Bible study), local business’s also got involved financially helping purchase the food. As the weeks turned into months and the numbers grew, moms and dads began coming also. They, too, desired spiritual feeding as well as physical, so more Bible studies began forming. One of our missionary men (a professional carpenter) began teaching these men how to make simple furniture. One man, Angel, cried the first time he made a little table. A life ruined by drugs for so many years had turned into giving of himself through feeding children, sharing his testimony at Bible studies and now creating something beautiful with his hands. As the weeks wore on these men came up with the idea of going house to house asking the people what furniture needs they had (some had only cardboard for beds and buckets for chairs). This has become such a wonderful ministry tool as they build for the families, make friendships and pray and share the Lord with these humble people. The groups that come to do house builds have also begun hiring these men to build all of the furniture for the house builds. We see such great opportunities in the furthering of God’s Kingdom with this tool. Just as these broken lives were healed by God’s mercy, they now walk the streets with hands and hearts outstretched sharing His mercy. “He who is forgiven much, loves much”.

MERCY…In studying the life of David, the Lord brought to light a virtue in David’s life that was not evident in the life of his predecessor King Saul. That was the virtue of mercy. Over and over David showed mercy. He was merciful to Saul twice, to Nabal, to Absalom, to Mephibosheth, to Shimei and many others. Our Lord said mercy would be shown to those who show mercy and when David fell the Lord was merciful to him. We learn from David’s life that mercy is like insurance. We make small payments of mercy so that when we get ourselves into trouble we might reap big dividends. We’re covered. Every day God gives us opportunities to pay into our insurance policy by acts of mercy. I’m not referring to acts of kindness. God does call us to this also, but acts of mercy, or forgiveness, extending undeserved, unsolicited acts of mercy. Whether at home, on the road or at work, God watches to see if we’re paying our ‘insurance premium’.

At our house we have a swallow that has recently built a nest under the eave over our front door. The only problem with that is whenever it enters his nest, he has a bowel movement on the front of our house. Kath wanted me to knock down the nest but I told her I’m leaving it and that I would clean up after it. I daily want to be reminded of my need to extend mercy to others, knowing soon I’ll stand before our Lord and give an account. May God have mercy on us all.

Steve and Kathy Yoshimi

IDT Baja

The Voice

December, 2009 1st Edition

Christmas Blessings

Over the past three years I.D.T. has put on their annual Christmas Carnival for the local Schools in Zarahembla and we were able to bless children from three communities as well. This is a great time in that our missionary Children can reach out to others. The kids entered and received a shoebox and a bag of candy that contained free tickets to play games and win prizes. There was the ever popular cake walk, arm wrestling, ring toss, ball toss and fishing for prizes. They ate, drank and were merry, free coffee and punch was provided. Every box went out with the word of God inside. Many of Zarahembla were blessed that would normally not step onto our Grounds. We would like to thank Church of the lighted cross in Southern California for stepping out and blessing the less fortunate.

Love in a shoebox

Love in a shoebox was a great success, and the name of Jesus was preached without words. We would like to thank all of the churches who participated this year, and to those who were unable to we can’t wait to work with you next year.. We received over 2600 boxes filled with goodies. I wish you all could have been here to see the faces of the children who received them. Several of the Missionaries held special outreaches in their ministries and Churches, preaching the gospel and blessing the children. Piñatas were seen flying and candy falling. We are so blessed to be able to be the feet that deliver these gifts from those who have been the hands that put them together. They were distributed, not only through our missionaries here at IDT but also the pastor's we have relationship with throughout the year. Thank you so much to those who have helped support this effort and pray for us here. We would ask that this wouldn’t only start in October, but that we would all pray now for the boxes for next year.

From all of us at IDT we would like to wish you a Blessed new year in Jesus. May the Lord bless you richly this year. Julie Tate, Shoebox coordinator, 2009

December, 2009 1st Edition

Meet the Missionaries

Meet the Harding Family; they are Rich, Judy, and Grace. They hail from the great state of Idaho. We are

very happy to have this family serving with us. Judy is involved in many things but it is evident that this sister has a strong gifting in the helps ministry, If there is a need you’ll find Judy there. She is ministering in campos and helping feed close to 90 children as a way to evangelize, she is also teaching the piano. Their daughter Grace is in High school, studying and is frequently found helping mom help others. Rich Harding is involved with a Men’s halfway house. He has built an incredible shop to teach the men to build furniture and as a trade they have to donate two days a week, building furniture to be given away just like the houses. Rich says this will be just one more way to say The Harding’s are a great addition to the IDT family and we are blessed to have them here with us.

The Pastors Pen

I was reading in Revelation 21 this morning, "Now I saw a NEW Heaven and a NEW earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, NEW Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband" In verse 5, John continues "Then He who sat on the Throne said "Behold, I make all things NEW" What drew my attention was the word NEW. In the Greek as well as the Hebrew language, the word NEW denotes not only new or recent in time, but newness in QUALITY OR FRESHNESS. This freshness is the work of one Person, Jesus Christ. Because of His cleansing blood we are now NEW CREATIONS. (2nd Cor. 5:17) God gives us a NEW sunrise every morning to remind us He is a God of NEW beginnings who makes all things NEW, FRESH AND CLEAN. Every morning His mercies are NEW. (Lam 3:22,23) We begin every day with a clean slate. As I start this NEW year I rejoice that it is He who makes all things NEW not me. Over and over, mistake after mistake, I return to the God of NEW beginnings and He receives me into His loving arms. We are above all people truly blessed.

Pastor Steve Yoshimi

If you would like to partner with us in one of the ministries you have seen, in prayer, physically or financially contact Stan Schultz mission_

opportunities@idtmissions.org