Reflecting on 2009

I'm sure like most of you we find ourselves saying, "Where did the time go this year? It seems like we just recently returned from our stint in Honduras but it's already been 6 months. As we approach 2010 we like to reflect on what the Lord did and what He might want to do in this new year.

Our family was still in Honduras at this time last year. God did some amazing things while we were there during the year. Golden and I feel that the greatest work God wanted to accomplish was in our own hearts. It was a time of stretching, challenges of a different culture, trials and missing home. But it was also a time of bonding with our family, laughter, trusting God and reaching out to others in Jesus' name.

When we returned in June, it hit home with us that everywhere is a mission field. It could be across the ocean or across the street. People need the Lord! Our passion has remained the same to encourage the saints and challenge unbelievers to trust in Christ.

One thing we also realized is that our family is always our first ministry. We really missed homeschooling our children during the time away in Honduras. We started homeschooling the kids again in September of this year. A good amount of our day is focused on schooling Avalon, Micah and Zachary and chasing our curious 2-year-old Jayden around the house. Sometimes it's very, very tiring but we want to invest as much time as possible with them during these precious years.

In October we were invited to lead worship at a pastors' conference in Cape Town, South Africa. What a blessing that was! We were touched by the stories of what God is doing in the hearts of the people there. We really sensed a true love and unity of the saints in that country. We made some new friends there and we would love to return again.

In addition to our mission trips, we also continue to minister in worship at different local churches in our area. Between raising 4 children, homeschooling and ministering together in the worship ministry, the days are pretty crazy, but we feel truly blessed.

There are always unknowns that come with a new year, but one thing we can know for sure is that God loves us and He is in control. We look forward to how He may lead and guide our family and ministry in 2010.

Thankyou so much for all your continual love, prayers and support!

Many Blessings...Michael & Golden & Family

Images From The South African Missions/Pastors Conference

I could wax eloquent in writing about everything that happened at the Calvary Chapel South African Pastors and Missions Conference, but I believe pictures will tell a better story.

We opened up each session with prayer.

We lead worship in preparation for the teaching of the Word.

Michael engaging in fellowship. Much of our ministry takes place around the dinner table where we can encourage and pray for people.

"Your the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles."

The missionaries and pastors brought their families.

Morning devotions is the best way to start the day.

Golden leads worship during one of the women's Bible Studies.

Our Lord God desires our worship no matter what your age.

The children at the conference had their own Bible Studies and times of fellowship together.

Here's the team that came from the U.S. to teach and be a part of the conference. From left to right: Pastor Bill Stonebraker, Calvary Chapel Honolulu, HI, Worship Leaders, Michael and Golden, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, CA, Pastor Rich Chaffin, Calvary Chapel Laguna Creek, CA, Pastor Jim Gallagher, Calvary Chapel Vero Beach, FL, Lisa MacMillian, Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and not in the picture, Mike Harris, Calvary Chapel Beachside, Huntington Beach, CA.

This gal taught us some worship songs in a few of the native African languages.

Yes, those are penguins you see. The continent just south of us in Antarctica.

The scenery in South Africa is breathtaking.

Lunch!

These baboons run wild all over the cape. They look cute in this picture but according to the locals they're a real nuisance.

Activity on the Capetown waterfront.

We had our picture taken from Tabletop Mountain overlooking Capetown.

Michael and Pastor Phil Pechonis from Calvary Chapel Woolacombe,UK. He heads up Creation Fest in the UK. He invited us to play there next year.

Since I was missing my own kids, I loved on everyone elses.

On The Horizon

We have some new members in our music minsitry. Avalon, Micah and Zachary sing with every once in a while. In these pictures we're singing at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. That's my Dad playing bass on the right.

We've started homeschooling on September 1st. Everday I sit down to teach, I am grateful for the opportunity to teach my kids.

We enjoyed leading worship for Calvary Costa Mesa's Married Couples retreat. It was a blessing to connect with long time friends and make new ones. It took place at the Calvary Conference Center in Twin Peaks which is where Michael and I met eachother and fell in love while we were attending Calvary Chapel Bible College.

We feel strongly that God would have us to continue together in the worship minsitry. We were challenged at the retreat to stay the course that God has set before us. We were challenged to continue studying the Bible together and praying together.

We've been married almost 15 years now and have a stronger marriage than when we started, not because of anything we have done in and of ourselves, but because we have made a commitment daily to come before the Lord together and ask Him to make us more like Himself and to strengthen our marriage like only He can do. We, like all couples, have our squabbles and disagreements, but we are both humbled again when we come before our Holy God. Doing this daily makes it so we keep short accounts with eachother. There is nothing like surrender to God to knit a marriage together.

We will be going to South Africa to lead worship at a Calvary Chapel missions and pastors conference in Capetown October 12-17. Please be praying that God will do a mighty work there through us.

Like all overseas mission trips we are responsible for our own expenses. We would be honored and blessed if you might consider donating a one-time gift for our trip. http://www.togetherministries.com/inside/sponsorship.htm

If you would like to stay in touch with us on a daily basis please join on FaceBook. We would love to stay in touch with you. http://www.facebook.com/michaelandgolden

May God richly bless you like only He can do!

In His Grip,
Michael, Golden, Avalon, Micah, Zachary and Jayden

Saying Good Bye

Well school at Lago Yajoa Bilingual School in Honduras has finished for the year. Saying good bye to all our precious students was one of the hardest things we have ever done. We didn't realize how attached we had become to them.



One of the last projects we all did together was our school science fair. Here's a video of what we did in the second grade. We made musical instruments out of all disposible materials.

Before saying good bye, Michael had an opportunity to challenge his students to start a relationship with God. All year he taught Bible to the 1st through the 4th grade. Every one of his students indicated that they wanted to know Christ personally. Then pastors Chris Rivera and Loc Scott from Calvary Chapel Peña Blanca came in and taught the students the importance of nurturing their relationships with Christ. It was so cool to see God work in their little lives.

We returned to the United States just before all the politcal unrest started in Honduras. God spared our family from having to go through that.

So, what are we doing now? We are continuing on with our music ministry just as we had before we went to Honduras, but now with a few additions. Our children are starting to join us on stage on certain occasions. It's such a blessing to see all our offspring (well almost all, Jayden is only 2 so he's still watching and learning) following in Mommy and Daddy's footsteps.

We've been blessed to be staying at my Grandmother's house in Orange County, CA since we've returned. We also feel blessed to be back at our home church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, our old stomping ground. These are pictures of our family singing together there.

Being on the mission field in a 3rd world country has really strengthened our relationship with God and drawn our family close together.

We like most everyone else in the U.S. have been affected by our failing economy. One of the most important things that God has shown us is that he will NEVER leave us or forsake us. God didn't promise us a strong economy and the American Dream. He promised he would never leave us or forsake us. He also said that we would go through trials and tribulation.

But the Bible tells us in James chapter 1

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.


We will be continuing to share the love of Christ through outreaches, worship ministry and Bible teaching. Our experience in Honduras has broadened our vision for ministry and we are excited to implement what we've learned into our music ministry.

As we continue our music ministry, we would be grateful for your continual prayer and partnership in our ministry. We will continue to keep you posted through our website/blogs. The Lord is definitely doing a work all over the world in these last days and we count it a privilege to serve Him wherever he opens the door.

For more information on how you can partner with us in ministry through sponsorship please visit http://togetherministries.com/inside/sponsorship.htm

May God richly bless you as we serve Him together!

Michael & Golden, Avalon, Micah, Zachary and Jayden

Frogs

Here's our family singing at the Día de la Familia (Day of the Family) holiday at the school.

We had a 7.1 earthquake here in Honduras. By California standards this wasn't a big one, but here in Honduras nothing is built to withstand earthquakes. As you can see the damage was quite extensive. The Ministry of Education cancelled school in Honduras for 2 days.

My brother, Donathan, brought a mission team to Honduras. This team was unique in that it was comprised of parents and children. These kids from Calvary Chapel Vero Beach had a wonderful repore with the Honduran kids.

Here's Daddy Michael hanging out with Jayden during school.

Kids from Lago Yojoa school do their craft at the brother's VBS.

Lago Yojoa kids show off their puppets during the VBS time. They studied Noah's Ark.

Calvary Chapel Vero Beach kids lead the Lago Yoja School children in worship.

Donathan teaches the kids the story of Noah's Ark.

Singing for the older kids at the ophanage.

Here I am hanging out with the toddlers and preschoolers at the orphanage. We sang for them then Donathan told them the story of Noah's Ark and I translated into Spanish.

This little orphan fell in love with my brother. He hung on him for most of the time that we sang.

My brother Donathan and I share some music in the playground of the Pan American Orphanage. How do you like my rythm instrument. It's called the 5 gallon water bottle djembe.

We shared music and helped serve food to a few hundred children at Sister Maria's Soup Kitchen.

We just had our school science fair. My 2nd grade class did such a wonderful job presenting their projects. We made musical instruments made of disposible materials and then we experimented on what affect the sound and pitches of each instrument.

This is the video that was part of my 2nd graders science project. We had a lot of fun working on this.

This blog is titled FROGS so I should tell you why. My brother, PASTOR Donathan, took my kids and and the 6 kids on his mission team to go catch frogs one night. They filled the bucket with frogs. Then Dono and kids took the frogs over to Megan's and Heather's house (2 other teachers from our school), dumped the frogs in their house and then left. He thought they should experience what the Egyptians went through during the Frog Plague. Now how's that for a practical joke.

School is coming to an end. Next week we will be doing final exams.

May God richly bless you,
Michael, Golden, Avalon, Micah, Zachary and Jayden