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