Final House Project

New Project

Last week, we started our last major house project for this year. You may remember from last year, we have a room with 3 archways to outside. Each has burglar bars and have been boarded up for several years for storage. The boards that were used, to close up the room, had been rotting, so last year, we added new boards as a temporary fix. So now, we have taken the boards off and built bricks around the bars to thigh height. Metal window frames were made for the rest of the opening, and glass is being put in for windows. Window sills are also being made directly underneath the windows. We will paint the inside of the room once everything gets sealed. This will be our office, where I (Andrew) will do all of my administrative work for JM2Z, as well as Yolanda will do work when she needs to at home or host meetings with whoever it may be. It will also serve as a counseling room when needed.

Fitting the window frame in its place

Plastering over the bricks below the windows

All 3 windows outside the office

A Testimony

We have been blessed to work with great people in doing our house projects. One such person is our welder who made the window frames. As you can see, he is missing his left leg, below the knee. After he finished his job, I struck up some small talk and asked him how long he had been working at this steel company. He said since 2007, since he lost his leg. He went on to share his story. He got a ride with some other people in the back of a pickup truck, as many do here. It was night, they were driving 50 mph, and there was a parked car ahead. The driver of the pickup fell asleep and rammed into the parked car. Our welder's left foot was trapped between the overturned truck and the pavement. He used his cell phone to call the police, fire department, and ambulance, and each of them responded either that they didn't have a vehicle or gas to get to where he was. He ended up laying there for 4 hours waiting for help. Eventually, he was taken to the hospital and doctors didn't want to claim him as their

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"God kept me alive for some reason."

patient. He waited several days in a hospital bed before he received any treatment. It was so bad that maggots were gathering on his foot, and the infection started to move up his leg, thus amputating just below the knee. His words reflecting on his thoughts at the time, "I did not want to become a beggar. I still had my hands and my mind. I wanted to still work. God kept me alive for some reason." You need to realize that there are beggars on nearly every single corner, some with limbs missing, some in wheelchairs, some blind, and some children. This is a likely outcome for someone with a physical disability, either they beg or have their children do it. Especially in a country with an 86% unemployment rate, this man had a great attitude throughout a horrible situation. It sounded like his faith hadn't been shaken, but strengthened. He is extremely mobile, and has little difficulty getting around. Other than the huge callouses on his hands from the crutches, he seems to be doing well. This is just an example of one of the people we have been working with.

Security Update

In our last blog, we mentioned some options we were thinking about for added security. We have had one quote from a private security company for setup and monthly rates. We are awaiting a quote from a second company. We will compare prices and services, and make a decision once we have all the information. There is already a security system installed in the house, but it may need updating, as it was put in 12+ years ago. Please continue to pray for our safety. We were told when we arrived that it's not a question about IF we will be broken into, but WHEN. Then after the break in, the response from many has been, "there will be a next time... in fact there will be many more (attempted) break-ins, guaranteed." Although we feel secure in our home with all the necessary burglar bars, extra gated-doors, deadbolts, locks, and security wall, we know that ultimately it is God who is our protector. However, we know full well that having His protection does not mean we will be kept from all harm, after all we do live in a sinful world.

We would also like to thank so many of you who emailed us, Facebooked us or contacted us through this site in order to encourage us after the break-in.

As always we covet your prayers in all areas of ministry, life, marriage, and health.