Hello from St. Croix!
We hope you had a Blessed Easter
Spring has arrived on the island and along with it are beautiful flowers, trees and mangos ripening outside our front door. The heat and humidity have also arrived!
We have some really exciting news! Just a few days after our last newsletter we put our house back on the market in Tennessee. Thursday it was advertised online, it was shown Sunday afternoon and within 30 minutes there was a contract signed. The for sale sign had not even been placed in the front yard! The closing was on March 29th. We had to reduce the price dramatically but we are now debt free! Thanks so much for your prayers. It is a huge burden lifted from our shoulders. God has been faithful in His perfect timing!
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Exciting Things Happening!
We have been on the island for six months and we have found our home. On Easter Sunday we were voted in as new members of The Way of The Cross Baptist Church. What a great day for us! We hope we can be a blessing to our church family here on the island. Our desire is to serve the Lord here with the gifts and talents He has given us.
You will notice that Pastor Beltane Harrigan and Billy are holding plans for a 30 by 60 ft addition to the church. This is a much needed renovation project and one that will provide additional space for offices and a baptistry. You will also notice the big smiles on their faces. Pastor Harrigan has been waiting for three years for the Lord's timing and Billy loves to build. We praise God for His bringing us together.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Children's Church & Children's Ministries
Another exciting area of growth is in the area of children's ministries. The church has AWANA and youth programs but have been seeking to provide the children a worship service to meet their needs. The church is in the preliminary stages of planning this ministry. We have also met a couple from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). They have been working hard to start a Bible Club in the Kennedy Projects, one of the most dangerous housing projects on the island. Children are growing up in a neighborhood with gang activity, drugs and shootings.
"Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord; lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street." Lamentations 2:19
Hurricane Preparation
Hurricane season is just around the corner. Billy has been finishing up some shutters for our apartment here at Youth With A Mission. The previous window protection was a heavy piece of plywood bolted in place just hours before the storm arrived. Preparation time has really been cut down and is much less back breaking.
Carpenty and Maintenance Projects Completed
Billy finished up some projects at Southgate Baptist Church and the Lighthouse Mission. He installed some lighting in the gazebo and repaired several ceilings in the Sunday School classrooms. At the Lighthouse Mission there were some major projects done in the kitchen. Old cabinetry and the exhaust hood were removed so that a new hood could be installed to meet fire code requirements. The outside vent had to be removed from the top and side of the building. Eddie Martinez and Larry Titsworth help with this project.
Not every day off is a beach day! Billy is replacing the starter.
Nurse Notes
Cecilia continues to work part time as the school nurse at Free Will Baptist Christian School. School nurses in Chattanooga have "adopted" the school and are providing some medical and teaching supplies.
Cecilia was able to do a dental educational program for all students in K-3 to grade 4. Free toothbrushes made her a big hit!
On April 4th a single mom walked into her office at school. After two hours of talking and listening Cecilia was able to share the Gospel with her and she accepted the Lord as her Saviour. This young woman has a difficult road ahead of her and she would benefit from your prayers.
This time of the year more children have been ill or injured so that opens doors of opportunity to pray, teach, and build relationships with students and parents. One child who injured her finger is from a Muslim family. Others are from single family homes or homes with some very difficult situations. Although it is a Christian school, it is still a msision field. The students have Bible classes every day except Wednesday when there is Chapel. Several students in the past few weeks have stepped forward to make decisions for the Lord. Others leave the church mocking the guest speaker. They especially need to have their hearts softened towards the Lord.
Travel Plans
We are going back to the states from June 2 to the middle or end of July. This will be a time of meeting with churches and individuals, visiting family, and gathering supplies for our return to the work on St. Croix.
Praises and Prayer Requests
Praises
House sold
God's protective hand
Salvation of a single mom
New doors of ministry open
Prayer Requests
Safe and productive trip
Ship supplies and car back to the island
Quality family time
Church building project
Children's Church and children's ministries
Thans so much for your prayers and financial contributions for the ministry in St. Croix
Billy & Cecilia
Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
YES Ministry
P.O. Box 700697
St. Cloud, FL 34770
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