CHANGE IN DIRECTION

Doug and I want to share the reasons behind our decision to take an exploratory trip to Myanmar in January 2015. We still love and will be serving here in the Baja in the future, but know that God has opened a door to be involved with friends in another ministry dear to our hearts. We have had a dream of going to Myanmar someday and our faithful God has let that dream become a reality.

Doug and I with CHE group in the Philipines

This story begins with our trip in 2010 to participate in an internship training in the Philippines with a ministry called CHE (Community Health Evangelism). The mission of CHE was in alignment with what the Holy Spirit had been speaking in our hearts regarding missions. Little did we know we would make friends with people from all over the world who had those same desires.

Four of those friends were involved in a ministry in Myanmar ( Burma) a country we knew little about other than the movie “The King and I.” Joana (Director of ACM) who God called to begin this ministry ( her story can be found on their website http://www.asianchildrensmission.org/ ), Joel, Josiah, and Mary (she and her husband have a new ministry in Yangon). Their love for Jesus was overwhelming and inspiring.

Left to Right: The ACM Staff (Josiah Joana, Joel),
 Josiah (Coordinator for Ministry to Orphans) wife Phoebe and 3 sons, 
Joel (Community Development Coordinator) wife Nangram and 3 sons,  
Joana (Director of ACM)

"The care, protection and education of vulnerable children in Myanmar (Burma) is the primary mission of Asian Children’s Mission. Our work is an outgrowth of the command of Jesus given in Mark 10:14: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." ~Asian Children's Mission

Here is a little info from the Asian Children's Mission website: 

We practice holistic Christian ministry where we do not make a false distinction between the spiritual and physical needs of children. Our work with children is specifically expressed in educational initiatives, orphan care and community development. The first and most enduring ministry of Asian Children’s Mission is the care of orphans. Reliable statistics are hard to come by, but there are thousands of highly vulnerable children in the country.

Without intervention, these vulnerable children face many dangers. They may be forced into armed conflict, carrying weapons and other supplies. Child labor is common in the country. Some are sold to human traffickers. Some simply die of disease or malnutrition.

Christian community development is based on the Scriptural foundation that the abundant Christian life includes the physical as well as the spiritual — that it is, in fact, God’s will for people to NOT live in continuous want and ignorance.

The holistic ministry of Christian community development weaves together the physical and spiritual, giving both individuals and communities the knowledge and skills to grow in both these areas. Our first community development projects were our “safe water” programs. Safe water means less suffering and death from water borne diseases.

Myanmar Community Development Center

Our latest project is the development of the Myanmar Community Development Center. This will be a teaching center located near Yangon. Part of the grounds will be devoted to sustainable, small scale agriculture. Farmers will be invited to learn animal husbandry and integrated farming. Courses on practical nursing will be offered, focusing on wellness and disease prevention, training health educators to go back into their home communities, armed with knowledge that can save lives, especially of the weak and most vulnerable.

We expect the Myanmar Community Development Center to be a place of rich fellowship and good food. It will be a safe place to learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, with spiritual applications made alongside the physical lessons. It will be the place of new beginnings, as trained indigenous workers return to their communities to teach as they have been taught.   

Our plan as of right now is to fly to Myanmar in mid Jan. on a 10 week exploratory trip and then if all are in agreement  that this is God's plan for us we will return in a few months for one year with funds raised and arrangements in place on the homefront. Linda will be developing a curriculum for a Practical Nursing Program and Doug will be helping in the implementing of that and sharing his skills in business, proposals,etc.

We are so thankful for the emotional support our kids and grandchildren are showing and that of our friends.  Please pray for wisdom, protection and that we will have the financial support we need. 

If you feel God is leading you to help us either with monthly support or a one time donation  checks can be written to:

CapStone Foundation and mailed to Doug Pettit, 223 Town Center Pkwy #730, Spring Hill, Tn 37174. 

If you have any questions please email us at dougpettit45@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Doug and Linda

EARLY TO RISE

Two graduates Rosa & Irma (left front) with teachers & Sandra (right front). These girls are the first of Learning Center graduates to go to public High School.  They are excelling and Irma was voted class president !  The challenges are being overcome...beautiful young ladies and smart and all three speak english fluently.  Directors Mary & Dirk Koss (standing) are just amazing and spent yrs preparing them for this big move up.

Rosa got a new ride in order to ride to High School !

Learning Center party for 3 graduates going to public High School for first time !

Annual Pool Party for all kids in the Learning Center !

Lunch time !!!

Three of the teenagers staying cool !!!

One of teenagers was brave enough to go swimming !

Baby with her baby....lives in the Cuna where Linda works !

Linda with her babies...about 12 !!!

The men !!! 

Visiting with Irma who drove her scooter down to friends house to see us. 

Irma posing !

Pizza night with friends Dirk & Mary Koss.  They developed and run the Learning Center an amazing program for the physically & mentally challenged.  It is for daycare only.  Dirk runs a wheelchair ministry enabling many to be mobile, adapting wheelchairs and tricycles/bicyles to the dirt roads in Baja.

Great pizza !!!

Linda preaching/sharing @ our daily morning service (sala)....told some of our story !

Ranch Cristo, a beautiful program for men with substance abuse problems, a very successful program. Doug has got to know many of them as they come once a week to work in the Nut house where he works.

Praying for the men @ Rancho Cristo !!

Rancho Cristo buffet we went to last week !

Mexico Independence Day Party at Mission.

Young lady who grew up @ the Mission helps take care of these 3 young kids 24/7.  Amazing !!!

Cuna kids dressed for Independence Day Party !

Indpendence Day beard !!!

Best I could do !!

The kids really tug on your heart...so sweet and innocent but  ...they get much love and attention in Cuna, but need a fulltime mom & dad...sad !!!

Judy who I work for in the Nut House and two of the Bible Institute students who help us !!So as you can see we have been busy serving! The incredible heat and humidity this past month from the hurricanes certainly took a toll on everyone's energy. The last few days have been much cooler and we are all getting a refreshing from the Lord. Try to visit and chat with old friends and new ones we have met this trip. We are known for wanting to hear peoples stories...how they came to be here and their spiritual journey. We have dear friends who will forever remain in our hearts. This town of Vincente Guerrero is a ripe harvest and there are many different ministries reaching out to the lost and hurting. Each one has a purpose in God's plan and we love sitting down with each one and hearing how miracles are happening and needs being met.  In our next blog we will share about the new adventure ahead of us on our journey and how it came about. Blessings to all and thank you again for your prayers and financial support we are so grateful.

A DAY AT THE AND A LITTLE FREE TIME

We were able to help with the Dump Ministry of friends Paulino & Christiana. Drove with Paulino to feed and give water to several who live @ two different dumps.  They are allowed to salvage for items to sale. Paulino is firm but loving in encouraging them to choose Jesus and get help for their addictions.

Feeding rice, beans & tortillas

A dump house.

Another dump house

Rice

Doug's job site says it all :)

Quality Control Department checking for any bad or misplaced nuts.

Sorting

How the Macadamia Nuts Come In For Processing

Separating those nuts needing re-cracked, whole & halves/pieces.

Short term visitors help in this process.

How they come in from the orchard for hulling

Globos shopping for a deal.  Most locals shop in these open air markets. Linda likes to hunt.

More :)

And more !

Cuna (Nursery kids 2 and under are so adorable, this little guy touched my heart! These kids live at the orphanage and are precious to love on.

Same little guy entertaining himself.

Linda's job site and desk with the nine little ones...she is enjoying them.

 Stay tuned for more later on as the adventure continues...we are keeping REAL
busy....Doug is also driving to pickup kids 3 days a week for the two day programs, makes for a very long day getting up a little after 5 AM. Linda is working from 11:00 AM -7:00 PM !!!! We enjoy the weekends, catching up with friends, visiting other ministries, eating local foods and of course browsing the Globos for treasure:) We are so excited to be here among the people we love so much. We are thankful for those of you who have given us financial support and even more so for praying. We will be sharing some stories of all God is doing in the Baja in the coming weeks.