CalderonJourney

I am thankful for God’s faithfulness! I am thankful for a loving wife who not only supports me but loves God so much. I say this because 11 years ago Vanessa agreed to marry me, not in her hometown or close to HER family, but in Mexico where she saw that maybe one day we’d be working on mission with the Hispanic culture. Imagine giving up a dream wedding to be married in a foreign country. She is amazing!

Now I see God’s plan coming all together. San Antonio is surrounded by people who know and appreciate the Hispanic culture. For me it was home, for Vanessa it became home right away!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithfulness endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!” Ps 107:1-2

I give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness! I know He is doing a work in me. He is growing a deeper passion for His own heart and His people. This is a wonderful season for us to join and  journey with Gateway Church, as they journey in growing deeper and learning to become unselfish friends. The next 2 years are full of hope, growth and favor!  This journey will equip us to truly love the Lord and be unselfish friends.  Check out: H300

I never imagine of being in such a great place, with a great church, with great leaders and with great friends. All of which we need in order to be on mission. Thank you for all your love and support through this journey!

Prayer:
1. For Vanessa’s health as Iritis is not giving up on her right eye.
2. Being declined for insurance coverage through regular insurance companies, pray that Samaritan Ministries will accept us in these next couple of weeks.
3. Pray that our house in NC will be sold in the next couple of months.

Support:
Thank you so much for your faithful financial and spiritual support. For the next few months we’ll be doing a little catching up as our regular income during Residency was low. Though everything we NEED God has provided through you. Thank you for your faithfulness!

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

Sometimes it’s hard to hold on to faith, especially in the “waiting”. I must say that we are so thankful for God’s amazing provision but most importantly His presence in our lives. There are definitely times in life when one can sit and reflect. If we were to reflect more often we’d see the miracles that God does not just around us but in us even in the “waiting”.

During this year of Residency I know He’s been molding us and giving us opportunities to grow personally, professionally and as a family. We are thankful for Community for their support and investment in us and HIs Mission. As we approach the end of our Residency we realize how blessed we are by opportunities like these. Opportunities to learn and make new friends/family. We are especially thankful for the Arellano Family, for their love and trust as friends.

We commit all our actions to Him! We commit our next steps to Him!

As many of you know we are heading to San Antonio! 1 out of the 3 cities we had been praying for. Gateway Fellowship Church invited us to join their church planting network and we are stoked about it. We have committed a minimum of 2 years to serve as Worship Executive Pastor, allowing us to prepare ground for planting in 2015. John Van Pay, Lead Pastor at Gateway, is in love with Christ, his family and His church, which creates a solid partnership. As we look back we are thankful that God guided us through the “waiting”, making us feel full confident that with Him we will succeed.

Thank you for your continuous prayers as we journey through. Here is little timeline of what’s going on in the next few days.

Today – December 29: packing up the house
Dec. 30 – Jan. 4: Loading up Truck
Jan. 4-6: Driving to our new home in San Antonio
Jan. 6: Arrive at our new home
Jan. 7-20: unload, settle in
Jan. 22: Lead worship/serve the Church

“God wants us to succeed – but at his work, not ours.”  This statement I read from The Multiplying Church – Bob Roberts Jr. has caused me to pause and think. Challenged me to hear and think so big that I can’t wrap my dreams around it. THEN, they’ll know that God has everything to do with this.

Lately I’ve felt tired, confused, empty, weak. I feel scared. I am feeling the intensity / responsibility of working side by side with GOD. He is intense, he works with passion, he does what he needs to get things done. It feels a bit intimidating to me. It is hard to fathom his call for our family to do this. When really all it is, it’s an honor, it’s what we were made for.

I do ask for serious prayer for our lives. As family, as individuals, as our role in this mission. We want to do his work.

Last week I said  to Vanessa “I want to be part of changing what church looks like for Hispanic people in the United States.” Of course it’s not about “looks” – style, music, etc. It’s more about how there is a large pool of people who are far from God who need to be reached so they too can live alive in Christ. One by one changing lives, families, communities, cultures. I see more people who will be identified as Christ followers versus just hispanic or non-hispanic. It’s a beautiful dream.

When you are part of something big, you feel the pressure. I am feeling it. Pray, pray, pray for us!!!!!

I hope and pray too that God gives you vision, heart and passion to do His work. How is He pressing your heart? What is that one dream you had to let go, but keeps coming back? Will you join where God is moving?

So much to say, so little space to share! I can not believe it’s June. Kids are out of school, people planning vacations. Hope you have are able to plan time away with your family and maybe stop by our way, we’d love to see you here – just to show off a little of what God is doing here.

Just this morning I was able to lead East Aurora, a bilingual campus in worship. Bilingual being something I am learning as I experience this in two languages simultaneously. My brain spins twice as fast, yet the experience in worship is amazing. People of different tongues and languages singing and lifting their hand together worshiping an all powerful God – amazing.

Highlight of the Month:  Being assessed as teacher/speaker presenting a bilingual message. It was quite the experience teaching a 25 minute sermon in 20 minutes in 2 languages. Apparently I swing too much and need to memorize the first and last page of the message. Though it was challenging, it was exciting. Overall, great feedback and advice for areas to develop. It was good stuff.  I look forward to teaching at East Aurora on June 26. Can’t wait.

Family: We celebrated Adi’s first birthday. She is amazing! She is so smart, she knew exactly what to do with her birthday and clap away during this joyous day. We thank God for her life and the amazing gifts God has given to us through our children. It is amazing how much they teach us. When we are the big ones, they are the ones that teach us the deep, meaningful lessons of life.

Please drop us a note let us know how you are doing! For people that do keep in touch, you guys make our day when you call us or send us an email. Love you all.

Prayer Request:
1. Location, location, location
2. To spiritually mature in our devotion to God as individuals and as family.
3. For friendships here to continue growing
4. For open doors through serving opportunities that we do around our community.