Sept-Oct 2008

GUATEMALA TRIP 2008

It was wonderful to return to Guatemala and witness the blessings of the Lord upon Ron and Pat’s ministry to the 7000 plus children who are in the feeding program and upon the Churches they oversee. Whenthe queen of Sheba visited Solomon, she was overwhelmed by what she saw, she said to Solomon: “….Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!” I felt somewhat the same way when I saw the contentment,unity and the excellence of the ministry and work of the men and women who labor under Ron’s supervision. A group from British Columbia, Canada who came to visit were amazed when they saw the ministry; at the end of their ten day travel visiting the feeding programs and the homes of their adopted children could not wait to get home and tell the people about Liv-ing Waters International.

You would be pleased with Ben Veazey and his crews who have built six new feeding program buildings and a new medical facility in Antigua plus rebuilding older feeding program buildings. Ben and his architect, Chuck were there planning and making changes in building plans. We made the trip together with Ron up the rugged, rough mountain road to Zacualpa to be with Dr. Pablo and minister for Goyo. I don’t have the space in this chat to tell you everything I would love to tell, but a highlight of the trip was the Sunday service at where Ron and I spoke and helped ordain a co-pastor into Church Foundational Network. Pray for Ron and Pat who fly often to Guatemala, Albania and Egypt to minister to their workers, to more children and to widows. Their load is heavy but they carry it with joy. I am pleased that they have adopted me as their spiritual father.

From Richmond Times-Dispatch,
Monday, July 7, 2008

Dear Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June
30th I celebrate my Independence Day, and on July 4, I celebrate America’s. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.

On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba, and a few months later, I was in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

I’ve thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950’s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said, ‘Praise the Lord.’ And when the young leader said, ‘I will be for change and I’ll bring you change,’ everyone yelled, ‘Viva Fidel!’ ‘But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner’s guns went silent, the people’s guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him.

By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over, more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I’m back to the beginning of my story.

‘Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised change without asking, “What change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America? ...Would we?" Manuel Alvarez, Jr.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-07-0033.html

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Those of you who live in California, Arizona, or Florida, be sure to vote on the marriage amendment in November. PLEASE VOTE: MARRIAGE = ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN

~CHILDREN’S QUOTES~

A 4-year-old boy was asked to return thanks before a big dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation. He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.

Then he paused, and everyone waited—and waited. After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, “If I thank God for the broccoli, won’t he know that I’m lying?”