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