ALL THINGS

Anybody who has been through a deep valley and rested on the promises of God has likely been to Romans 8:28.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

That verse is so powerful you can find comfort in the reference alone. Been through a hard time?—Romans 8:28. Anyone who's experienced God's goodness in the midst of pain would understand that question and answer.

Why? Because the verse begins with confidence: "And we know." We don't merely think, we don't wonder, we know.

The word know communicates experiential knowledge—the kind that comes from life. You didn't go to church or to college to have this explained to you. You didn't Google the answer. You know only because you've been through it. Over time you've come to know something that only those who love God can know.

Only God's children—those who have turned from their sin and embraced Christ by faith, those who are increasingly learning how to love God more and more—understand the great promise of this verse. Only those who have tested the promises of God and proven once again His faithful love can know this.

I woke up in the middle of the night this week. While there have been times when fears have descended like a cold cloud in those dark hours, this time I lay in bed and talked with the Lord. I told Him how much I loved Him. I have found that the more you go through in life, the more you love the Lord. Can you identify? You test His promises and find Him to be so good and faithful. He knows what He is doing. He is worthy of every moment of trust.

Have life's difficulties caught you off guard? Do you wonder today if God is good? If He wasn't going to use that hard thing for your good, it wouldn't have happened. If He allowed it to happen, He's going to use it for good. That's not to say He wanted it; He's not the cause of evil, but He is the solution.

I have come to realize over time that the ultimate good of Romans 8:28 is not "my little blueprint for my life"; the ultimate good is God's plans for the universe and my place in it. I'm committed to God's purposes. I want to be a part of His will fulfilled and the advancement of His kingdom.

I believe God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him, for the good of those who are called according to His purpose.

Action steps:

• Do you have Romans 8:28-29 memorized? If not, commit it to memory this week.
• Hold in your hand the issue that is so difficult in your life right now. Offer it to God with a prayer of faith:

~ Dr. James MacDonald

For more from James MacDonald on "igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of the truth," visit Walkintheword.com.

On Saturday morning, January 31st nine carpenters loaded the planes and headed to Lima, Peru. This group of men committed a week towards the construction of the day care center in Manchay and also the new orphanage that MSF is building in Pachacamac. Most of this year's team have made this same trip with MSF and look forward to returning each year.

Arriving in Lima, Peru at 11:30 pm we traveled about 50 minutes to the apartment that we would be living in the next week. Sunday morning we went to church followed by lunch and a visit to both job sites. The new orphanage in Pachacamac will have six new homes built by MSF. Each home will house eight children and a set of parents. Currently four of the houses are underway with the last two to follow. A couple of the men spent the week at this site installing ceramic floors throughout the home. The rest of the men spent the week in Manchay at the Cuna Daycare center which started four years ago. MSF has worked on this site for the last four years. This year we took an empty space that will be used for administration offices and performed the following work: ceramic tile floor, metal stud walls with drywall and taping, installation of five interior doors and three exterior doors, framed walls for cubical and built custom desks in each one. Once again time was short and our unfinished work was stretched to the last hour, but we were able to complete everything we set out to do!

The highlight of the week was when 95 kids performed a little program for us. They made cards for each one of the men and presented them along with a big hugs and smiles! On the front of the card was Matthew 25:40, "And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." One of the men in the group said that moment alone made it all worth being there. These kids have so little, but the Cuna Daycare Center provides hot meals, love and the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Special thanks to Mutual Sales who donated power tools and supplies and Just Rite Acoustics, Inc. for underwriting the entire trip.

Please read below the stories from Tyler Foss construction coordinator for both the orphanage and daycare center and Don DeFiore one of the men that represented MSF.

View photos of Pachacamac, Peru Orphanage >

View photos from Daycare Center Peru Trip 2009 >

Kids Alive Peru, and Kids Alive sites around the world use service teams from North America to further the work being done in their countries. They do this by using the ministry money brought down by the teams to buy building materials for their use. Also, they rely on each work team to report on the work being completed.  I have been working with service teams for two years now in Peru and we host an average of twelve teams per year. Out of all the teams I have worked with over the past two years one team in particular stands out for various reasons. That team is from The Mitchell Swaback Foundation. This team stands out because of the quality of work that they do, the quantity of work they accomplish in a short period of time and also for their commitment to the ministry which is evident in their desire to start at least an hour earlier each day than any other team.

This year's team from the foundation was here for five working days and they accomplished more than most teams can get done in two weeks. Among the things they completed were: laying tile in one of our new houses in Pachacamac, completely tiling and grouting our new office in Manchay, studding, dry walling, taping and sanding the offices and custom making and installing desks in those offices. For some teams it is a real effort to think of work for them to do to keep them busy, for The Mitchell Swaback Foundation team it was a real effort to keep enough materials on hand to keep up with the work being done.

Kids Alive Peru would like to thank Bob Swaback and all the team members who came down this year and continue to come down year after year to help us further our mission of reaching at risk children for Jesus Christ.

Sincerely Yours,
Tyler Foss
Construction Kids Alive International Peru

My trip to Lima '09

I can't get over the change I have been fortunate enough to witness first hand. Not only on the site of the Day Care Center in Manchay, but this general plot of land in Peru. The first time I saw the site all there was to look at was a lot of dirt and rock, and a couple of brick shells. As I left the site on this past Friday, there were almost 90 children waving goodbye, smiling and practicing their English. A far different picture than years ago.

These children now have a safe place to stay, learn and play while their parents work.  A place with food, running water, and a working toilet! These are luxury items to most people who live in this area.  During the week I had a chance to work on the orphanage in Pachacamac. Another amazing project that is well under way. I have grown as a person being part of a team from THE MITCHELL SWABACK FOUNDATION who is devoted to making a difference.  It has been a pleasure and a life changing experience and I thank you!

Don DeFiore

Thursday 3/18/2004

Since the NCAA Tourney has started I have no life. Work, watch, listen or look online to see who is winning.

Today God taught me to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God through our own efforts. We must receive it as a gift or do without. The greatest spiritual blessing we receive is when we come to the knowledge that we are destitute. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus making us truly alive.

Mitch spent the last few months of his life not only living his life for the Lord but putting his thoughts in his journal everyday. How do we want to live our lives? Why don't we all try something radical today for the Lord!

> Visit Mitch's Story on our website