The church is the people not the building.

 Does your church have a childrens pastor? Does your church have a nursery? Does your church have walls and windows? Does your church have nice paint on the walls? Dont take it for granted!!!!Some people around the world do not have this blessing!!!!!!!!!!!My dear friends Arturo and Lilia in Imursis Mexico take care of 25 of orphans plus feed 40-80 other children in their neighborhood daily...they teach them the word of GOD everyday...even if the building is not in the best shape....they love these kids with all their hearts...its is their life mission to speak into their lives and bring them to their heavenly FATHER....

This is a picture of the ministry in Greco. I was told that they feed 40 kids a day from this building. There is not electricity. There is not doors. There is no windows. There are holes in the wall. There is no paint on the walls.

I hope as a church we can build this and make it more aesthetic.....but also I see the heart is there....it would be nice for the kids and missionaries here to have to windows and paint....but to me when I look at this picture....I see a Godly woman teaching children the love of Christ.....I dont see need I see life. I see the fulfillment of Matthew 28. 

I love that my family has the privelege to go to this ministry monthly and I pray for the opportunities that God gives us to serve them.

I also need to check myself and be reminded....that I am blessed. When We struggle financially here in the states it is different than in other parts of the world...there is still opportunity

Lord help me to be a good steward of what you give us as a family and help me to have the opportunity to serve in missions with my family.
Please open doors. 

Amen. 

Faith with feet and what we teach our kids

I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:11

Christopher did amazing at his Bible quizzing today. I love to see him shine. He impresses me so much. 

Lord I am now praying that the words he has memorized will develop feet.....help him to let his faith develop action and character. 

He has a great heart. He struggles with obedience, maturity and impulsivity.
Please do not let this keep him from the GOAL...that destiny you have for him.

Im excited for the life God has for him.

Have you ever look at your child and been disappointed? 

With honesty and humility, I have had this experience today, yesterday, the day before that....but before you stop reading and call me a horrible mom...let me finish my statment......

When a way of disappointment hits me....it is not a true reflection of my feelings towards my child but a honest look at me.....and an understanding that I have taught him/her something off the mark.....

My child is mirroring something that I do....

Looking within, the disappointment is directed at me.

It hurts my heart when I pass onto my child the ugliness of my character.

I hate to see him/her displaying the things that I least like about myself.....

I hurt inside when I see my kids unable to deal with their emotions correctly...

Its hurts me I see my kids making poor decisions....

I want my kid to open the door for the older lady trying to come in out o
f the rain, I want my child to stop when I say no, I want my child to act his age and set a good example for his sister....I want my child to say I love you and not use his words to hurt others feelings.....I want m child to be considerate...I want my child to have respect for God and his church....

I want my child to have a good LIFE....not like the life I had....I want his/her faith to be his strength....
I want him/her to find peace in his heart....I want Joy to be surrounding him...
I want him to have lots of friends....i want people to be attracted to him because he says or does something that makes them them think of how they can be a better person.....

I hate when I display selfishness to my children, I display anger, I display impatience, I display frustration, I display unforgiveness, and I display not caring......

When I do it is bound to come back to me.....they do what they see not

I dont want to teach my kids bad things.........

Lord help me to be honest and true to the faith and calling you have given me.

Help me to be a good mother who displays the characteristics that I want to see in my children.

Let them not learn my bad habits and hang ups......

This is my prayer. Good night!

God is so good!

We have been investing more time as a family to work in Mexico on a more regular basis. We now go x1 a month with New Life and some good friends Stefanie and David. WE are looking to assist them in funding their ministry more by providing them with supplies to make SOCK MONKIES. We calculated that we can invest 3 dollars for every 12 dollars they will make.

We were working for GAP MINISTRIES for 3 months again serving as houseparents. But we quickly realized we were not fit for the task. It initially seemed blessed and we were going in the right direction but then we seemed way off course. We were missing ministries that we were very involved in and the kids just didnt respond to us. We ask to leave our position. It was humbling to learn you are not GIFTED in everything but only that which God has gifted you in and given you strength for.

Now we are focusing on the kids more. They suffered greatly during our time and we praying for their healing.
Christopher has struggled in a few areas. He was having a hard time relating to friend and even being mean. When we were in Mexico a man prophesied over him and stated that he will be a missionary to Latin America. We felt the HOLY SPIRIT and both were in tears. Christopher asked for prayer because he feels like he is changing in a way he doesnt want to...I know God has a mark on his life and satan is threatened by what this little guy with BIG faith will be doing.

We learned from GAP that we have to take parenting seriously. We see the effects of kids without good parents.

SO our ministry right now is our kids.

Christopher and I have been doing some great devotions as a family. Lexi is learning to pray.

Christopher was struggling like I said in his heart and at school. Our devotions over the past few days have been great. They have been perfectly written to meet his need or concern for that day.
He says to me, that was really TODAYS devotion? I reply...why are you surprised...God loves you and he is looking out for you. Even in your sturggles know that GOd will be there to help you. He cares.
Christopher is amazed. I hope he continues to feel close to God and blesed/loved.
I want my  kids to have a personal relationship with God

Until later, a tiredbutblessed mom

wisdom from my son

We were having a hard afternoon. 9 kids running around with one specifically being violent abusive in language and action and I was reaching the end of myself...

I walked into the room and saw Christopher. I dont know if he was hiding out or what....because thats how it has been some days...people having to run away to protect their ears, eyes, and hearts.  It has depressed me, made me scared for my kids, and made me question our purpose and ask what have I put my family in......

I probably shouldnt have asked but I did.......

Christopher...what makes you be able to stand this......

What makes you strong? Are you okay? It was a flow of questions from a hurting mama's heart....

mostly I was asking him if he was OKAY......was I putting him in an unsafe environment...was he falling apart...like I felt like I was.....

He response was BEAUTIFUL....

From GOD!!!!!

We were called to do this....these kids wouldnt have any one else...the babies would not be in a safe home and  JOHNNY (not his name) would have no where to go!!!!!!!!!

Thank you

You are a beautiful person with a great mission heart!

So all in all I think my son is OKAY  and God has a great plan for us!!!!!!

New Adventures and Missions

God has laid it on our heart to work wit quickly because Gap ministries again. We moved forward with the decision very quickly because we really felt God was driving the whole process. Honestly I had a great nurse job, and so did Jason. We had liberty to do whatever we wanted. We are so connected to both of our churches and have mission opportunity after mission opportunity.....but we really feel, even though we will still be able to do these other things....but our hearts are for GAP and these wonderful kids.

SO today we start respite with a house of 11 and then next week another respite. We will then be moving over to our specialty house. We need to bath everything is prayer....the whole process. God please guide each step.  We dont want this to be our ministry....we want this to be God's work through our humble hands.

I am most excited to be working side by side with Jason again. I really miss him. We work really well together. We know each other well. I am excited to help these kids in whatever way we can and open our family to those in need. I want my kid to understand that.

The things that we need to do as a family to stay strong is to :

1. Jason and I need to read the word daily together.
2. Jason and I need to pray together daily
3. Jason and I need to talk daily about how things are going
4. We need to have one on one time with kids each day.
5. We need to read the word with kids and pray with them for their protection and for your heart.

For great things to come.........................

Submitting to the LORD

We had Gap training today. We will be completing a few respites, then we will be opening our new home. We are so excited to see this unfolding. We are praying for God guidance and direction. It is so necessary for what we are about to embark on together as a family. Our children are so precious to us and we are so excited to see God open our home and hearts to welcome other children.
This will challenge us....we will have to submit daily to God....be selfless...be flexible....be patient and always kind to one another.....I know I need and can grow in some of those areas.
We met two of the children who will be with us potentially and it was so nice....had that feeling...yep...this is what you were wanting us to do..
More to come....Krissy

It is an HONOR to Serve you...

There has been some amazing things happening in my life and the life of my family.....for a while now.....

And I am just in awe......I cant put words to it....I cant capture it in a photo....its just a deep feeling.....no not feeling...itsa deep centering....a deep acknowledgment that I am SO BLESSED.....to have the family that I have and to live the life I am living.

Jason Michael Alan....the cute tall blond haired boy I met 13 years ago.....I dont know how we hit it off....I wasnt looking....he had a girlfriend.....who he was still very attached too...mainly because thats his personality....he doesnt give up on anyone...hes that loyal...loving and sees beyond a million flaws(now I am talking about me, not her...hehe)

Well....its been God the whole way.....I know this for sure...because when I take the reigns...I screw up....but all the God things in my life.....they shout....BLESSED.....

My son....perfect....his heart is gold...he loves God....he seeks truth.....loves mercy for others.....and wants to be a missionary wherever he goes....oh and he loves so unconditionally...like his daddy...both of them

And then I have my angel......who came at a time in my life.....that could not have been more perfect....she changed my life.....our lives....made us an even stronger family....and filled our house with even more love.......wow

And its all God.......someone said to jason and I the other day.....wow you guys have done a lot over the years.....have you found where you fit yet???I understand where the person is coming from....I couldnt imagine living in one place doing one thing forever.....im too adventurous......but I know I am so deeply rooted....in love.....

I am always HOME!!!!!!!Jason and my kids.....my relationship with God.......I am so loved....
Its an HONOR to be a child of God......
Its an HONOR to be the wife of Jason
ITs an Honor to be the mom of Christopher
Its an Honor to be the mom of Alexis.

Jason and I are coming upon 10 years of marriage....Im blessed......This wonderful man...has loved me with his whole heart........he serves me and the kids everyday..
He is such a man of GOD....I have never met anyone so loyal and so pure.

Thank you God for everyday I get to spend with my kids and my husband......
Its truly an honor to serve with them serving you and pursuing a life of faith and missions....

Carrie

Who did Jesus spent most of his time with while he was here on earth? He was God incarnate......and yet he never ascended on a throne or live in a castle and wear a royal robe. What was his purpose on earth? What did consider important doing with his time? With Whom did he spend the majority of his time?
I just open my Bible to the first Gospel...after Jesus was born and enter into his ministry and chose his disciples...who are the people that he spent his days with and why??

The Sick and Diseased
Those Suffering From Great Pain
Those who were Epileptics
Those who had Demons
Those who were Paralyzed
The Crowds
Those who were Insulted by Society
Those who were Hurt by Others


Those with Skin Disease
Those who were Bedridden
Those who were Demon Possessed
 Those who were Sick
Again Those who were Demon Possessed
Again Those who were paralyzed
A Tax Collector
A Dead Girl and Her Family
A Sick Woman
Two Blind Men
Again Those whoe were Demon Possessed
UNbelievers
The Sick
Demon Possessed
A Man with a Crippled Hand
Those with Evil Spirits
5000 Hungry People
A Non Jewish Woman
The Lame
The Blind
The Sick
Those who Couldnt Speak
The Crippled
Another Hungry 4000
A Sick Boy
Children
Another Two Blind Men (this was from Matt 4-about 21)

This is not an exhaustive list....these are just some of the people during Jesus ministry and life that he spent time with.....most of his time with....
What is unique about these individuals.....most of them were the OUTCASTS of SOCIETY!

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17


As a family we've started to walk alongside a woman named Carrie.  Our paths had crossed many times over the past 4-5 months. But it was not until Easter that we intentionally connected with her.
We saw her every Sunday on the "island" at the intersection of Thornydale and Cortaro Farms road.....selling papers in her neon orange vest. 
On Easter we decided that we really like the opportunity to bless her and see if we might be able to get to know her a bit. 
She loved the Easter basket Christopher made for her and her doggy MAMA. She loved the color purple which happened to be the color of her basket. She loved the little doggie treats for MAMA and the BIBLE.....We stood there on the "island", which is the little median between the road, and we met our new friend .
She shared a bit of her very hard life...which started with her being on the street by the time she was 13 years old......followed by various addictions, loss of her possessions, loss of family, more addictions, some jail time, some prision time, some invovlement in drugs, ect ect....
As she spoke, she often reflected on Jesus....saying she did know HIM and felt HIM profoundly at certain times in her life and FELT COMPLETELY ABANDONED at other times....BY EVERYONE..
She does have faith.....she has made bad choices and let habits control times in her life....but she does keep her heart open to God....she still has HOPE...MOST DAYS.

As we talk many people pass by.....she says casually....while waving and saying HAPPY EASTER to passerbys....."THEY ACT LIKE I HAVE A DISEASE" I know they see me but they dont return my waves....I guess people dont understand.

She tells us about how she lives in a tent....yeah I had some food from the food bank but the rats got to it......

She points to a little dirt road behind the convenient store and there we see a blue tarp and a little one person tent.....'YAY I live with another couple..because I feel better not being alone....even though they are very abusive to each other and do drugs...its better than being alone...it provides me a little protection....
We prayed with her and had a little CHURCH as she stated.....I told her we would see her next week and wed continue to pray for her as a family......she said that one organization was going to be helping her get INDOORS....

The next Sunday we brought her two outfits....Purple shirts and some jeans. I saw her on Monday walking with her new clothes on and it made my heart happy.

This Sunday we stopped at the intersection before turning onto the street to get to church......say hi and give her a few dollars for a paper.....

On the way home from church....heading to a BUFFET lunch...we stop to see if she might want to join us...we forgot that she has MAMA so she says she will stay....we promise her that we will be back in a bit with hot food and some clothes...
She shows me her shoes and the sole is about 3/4 detached.

So we go to the BUFFET...which I have to be honest...I didnt enjoy as much as a normally would thinking about my friend out in the sun.....

We went to a second hand store and Target and found some great  PURPLE attire...including a cool Jansport BACKPACK....and Purple shoelaces. 

She told us that if she wasn't at the island...she would be behind the circle K. OK.
So we drive around and dont see her....at the island or the CIRCLE K or behind the Circle K....maybe she is somewhere else....then Jason drives around the other side where the dumpter is....let me check and see if she is there....and she is there sitting on a milk crate with her dog. It is the most shaded area.  

 We sit together....and talk....Shes having a very hard day....I see the depression on her face....as she opens up she tells me how in the past month she has lost 4 "friends," all who are homeless as she is.

One fellow paper "hogger" fell of the edge of the island and got hit by a car...another friend died of natural causes....and more recently(which was on the news the other night) a woman friend....found dead with foul play indicated. 

She speaks slowly and pointedly....we didnt see eye to eye...but we are all human right? Sadness is all over her face.....I see it.....I feel it...she is holding back tears...

We talk about  other things......she tells Christopher to take good care of his teeth....and then goes on to tell us  how she lost her bottom dentures in a fire last year.....(Last year, the tent camp she lived in with a lot of other homeless people had a big fire and a whole homeless community lost everything) 

She then tells us about the last person that she most recently lost....someone very special....she said it was any other day....her mom called her on her phone...she has a cell phone that sometimes she can put minutes on if she makes enough on Sundays....Her mom tells her to sit down...she is sitting in her tent with her dog....when she hears that her ex-wife has died. Most likely drug overdose. 

She says.."I tell my mom to wait..I walk outside my tent....I look at my tent...I see the street a few cactus...my dog...I see the gound...okay yes its still under me.....the gound that is.....my mom is speaking in my ear...are you okay Carrie...Im not getting off the phone until I know you are okay.......Im starting to grasp living in a world where the love of my life is no longer in it......it was that hardest day"

We talk a lot more into great detail about life.....I try to speak to her broken heart....
She does acknowledge God and I encourage her that God loves her and has a plan for her.....sometimes hard things happen.....it can push us.....into something else....
I really feel the HOLY SPIRIT...........speaking to her...Im sorry I dont remember the exact words but she has recieved them well and I see her face turning now....

She evens says" WOW.....you know when you feel the HOLY SPIRIT...its undeniable "

While we are talking Christopher is close by in the desert building something with rocks......Carrie tells us that it looks like a memorial...and she is so happy...she says...."the innocence of a child...." and dedicates those rocks to her fallen friends and loved ones.

We talk more and Jason and Christopher play with MAMA...she hasnt had this much attention in a while....she gets a little over excited and claws Jason's leg....

Lexi wakes up from her nap in the stroller and that is our key to leave....it is really hot outside....probably 90....the shade is nice...

I give her my phone number and we decide to fill up her card so she can call us and the agencies she needs to get food and services...ect...

We pray together and hop into the car and head home............

We were supposed to go on a hike this afternoon but that was so much better of a way to spend our SUNDAY together as a family. 

I love to see Christopher's heart growing...his compassion...his comfort in helping people and being with people that are not like himself.....we protect him....shield him for the full reality of this woman's life and habits.....but we will continue to treat her with love and respect and adopt her into our family.....

We pray for her turn around....we believe in the MIRACLES that God can do.....redemption and ressurection....amen..
Until next time

The Molanders 

Easter Friends

"There's no better day to show love than on Easter Sunday." This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship........

Christopher and I were moved to make an easter basket for a woman we pass by on the way to church every Sunday.

We went early to find her but she want there......we were worried she wouldnt be there today....but when we returned to her site after church.....we were so happy to see her and her little dog.


We casually walked up to her and introduced ourselves as she complemented what she thought was Christopher's easter basket.....but we quickly shared with her that it was for her and her dog.

And then we met Carry and her dog Mama...

She was grateful and very quickly friendly with us. She referred to God often and his blessings. She was smiling from ear to ear. She was so excited that basket was purple her favorite color.
She shared with us her story....and as she stated later...we had CHURCH for the next hour in the middle of the street next to her doggie and a stack of newspapers......

We shared testimonies, verses, and prayed for one another......

It was so hot....we were all sweating and thankful for the cool breeze that swept across with the wave of green light and all the cars passing by every few minutes.

Christopher prayed a quick sincere prayer for our new friend in between her selling papers the to car passerbys. "God thank you for Carry and Mama."

She asked us to pray for her kids that she hasn't seen in many years.

Its hard to say goodbye to someone you love more than yourself....but knowing you cant care for them...and its better for their life that you not be in it.... WOW! That was her perception. But I dont understand this because I think that is exactly the reason for the decision my mother choice to give me up for adoption.

She had a hard life...you could see it all over her face....She had been abused, expolitied, been in prison, homeless for almost 40 years......

She told us we were welcome to come visit her home.....as she described how to get there....see to the side of that gas station there is a little dirt path and it winds around back there before you get to the residential gated community......and theres a little tent there...thats me!

She sells papers about 5 days a week for an organization trying to serve the homeless with honest employment....called the paper hoggers.


She told of times in her life she clearly remembered walking towards God and deliberately walking away from God. Today she thanked God for answering her prayers. She raised her hand toward heaven and said Gods smiling on me today......it was a sweet day.

Until next week Carry......we will bring you that umbrella and hopefully find you a good belt and a nice outfit....God bless you dear.

Praying this verse over Christopher as he prays to God...

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 
 
I pray you will SEE God in a CONVINCING applicable way in your life that you be confident in the God you love and see his FACE....feels his arm on your shoulder....and feel his heart filling your heart with love and all great things....for your whole life...
I love you Christopher...love Mommy
1 peter 1 :8 and 9ESV

GRACE

I am so much enjoying watching Alexis grow. She is started to babble and say some words. She says a whole stream of sounds and know perfectly what she is trying to express with exclamations points on both ends. Her gorgeous smile is beautiful and makes me happy.
I cant wait to teach her more and more everyday about everything. She is just such a beautiful creation of God.
Christopher and what he says is my weekly sermon.....I adore the personal application God to his daily life.
Let me share a quick story:

So the other night we were planning a family fun night and a lot of times when we are going to do something fun, we as parents ask Christopher to do something like a chore before the fun starts. I cant remember that day what exactly we ask Christopher to do...but as happens a lot with a very energetic distractable minded (I think he secretly a genius and solving the world problems and coming up with the cure for cancer..because he gets lost in his thoughts sometimes)..anyway(I know I would fail English for this run on sentence)....whatever it was it didnt get done.
I as a parent as trying to do better about follow through.....oh wait I remember the fun thing we were going to do was going to let him stay up WAY past his bed time....I had talked to him about it....and then dad had talked to him about at seperate times....I PROMISE THIS STORY will have a point...anyways...I was disappointed he didnt do what he was supposed to but I have to stick to my word as a parent or maybe he wont learn that when I ask him to do something he is expected to do it.....and take responsibility...
So when we got home, and he didnt do what was asked.....I told him I was very sad...because him and I had had some very sincere words regarding this situation....and that I was sorry but I could not let him stay up and have fun....
The only thing I told him was that he would have to talk to dad about letting his stay up...
I told him....if dad lets you stay up...do you know what that is called......he said no...I said Your DAD will be extending grace to you...do you know the word grace? He said yes. Youve heard that word in your bible memory verses right??I said GRACE is getting something we  get when we dont deserve it....so if dad lets you stay up....you know you dont deserve it because part of our agreement was that you do what youre asked to do...so you can be rewarded with a late bed time and fun night....he agreed.
So he got ready for bed and then asked dad (because his dad said he needed a minute to decide before making a decision)
Jason, his dad, said.....Christopher so should I be nice to you and let you stay up....he said its not being nice...its being graceful, he said to his dad....(he got the lesson I was trying to teach him)
By the way, his dad did extend grace and he was able to stay up and have fun...

Then later the next week, I was having him help me memorize a verse...because he is so good at it and I am not....
The verse had the word....grace in it....talking about Jesus dying on the cross for us and being raised again.....he said something pertaining to Jesus died for us even though we didnt deserve it or earn it....which is grace...like dad the other night....again lessoned learned.
I appreciate that Christopher applies the Word of God to his life and really understand the priniciples of Christianity...like GRACE....
Grace is unmerited unearned FAVOR with God.......it is a great lesson to learn....We get something...eternal life.....which we could never earn...or be good enough to get to on our own...christopher understands this to some degree since he learned it and saw it happen in his own life with his daddy....jason let him stay up when we didnt earn that privelege...but because jason loves him...and wanted him to have a good time...he blessed him with that reward.....
I hope that Christopher continues to learn more about HIS God everyday and that he become more and more ALIVE To him....God has amazing plans for him....I see him as  missionary, pastor, inventor, scientist.....mathematician....great dad and husband....doing all these things for Gods glory.....Amen

More later.....

DONUT HOLES ( in the gospel) at BEDTIME.

My deepest prayer in life is that I might equip my children to have a deep faith. I want them to develop a faith in God where they believe God can do anything in their lives....I want them to have a faith that believes with CHRIST I can change the world. I want them to have a faith that has HANDS AND FEET.....

How can I teach them this? I can read them all the powerful stories of the heroes in the Bible in Old Testament. I can  teach them about the first century Christians that went into the world to spread the GOOD NEWS....but what else....

I think we believe when we see with our own eyes the EFFECTS........of something.....

Also I want my kids to have a deep love for God and HIS people. I want them to have a heart that breaks for the things that break God's heart.

I want my children to not be selfish...to consider the needs of others around them....from  lunch table, to their neighborhood to the jungles of Africa.....

I always try to expose my kids to REALITY.....not too harshly....but I let Christopher know that there is great suffering going on around the world.....there are people without food water shelter.....and most devastatingly there are people without love hope and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ......

I always tell Christopher that he is going to do greater things for God then I will ever.....I tell him that God has given me a great gift.......a son.....to teach about Gods love.....

I tell him that God has given him a great gift too....a heart to help others.....

So in our devotion time together...we are added something else to our normal routine....which is JESUS CALLING FOR KIDS and the ACTION BIBLE....and we are going to go through THE HOLE IN THE GOSPEL.....

This is a six week quest...to understand personally poverty and its effects on so many around the world.

Ive already gone through this individually but now as I see Christopher wanting to learn more about his world and how he help others.....how he can BRING CHRIST TO OTHERS IN A REAL WAY.....I am presenting this to him....he jumped at the idea.
SO tomorrow I will go 12 hours with no water.....we decided it was not wise to have christopher do that...he is going to have dinner with nothing to drink....

And we are going to ask ourselves the question all day long...how can we be a part of the solution....how can we use what we learn to share the gospel....help others...love people....

Iam thankful to God that Christopher Adrian is our son.....God continue to mold him....
He thought of an idea already in our processing.....he want to make filters and send them to AFRICA...and then teach the people how to use so they can train others....great idea....

More later..... SO pray for us as we ponder and live this day....12 hours, no water....7 am to 7 pm....

http://sixweekquest.com/day2