Ecclesiates 11:4-6 If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done. God's ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tint baby being formed in a mother's womb. Be sure to stay busy and plant a vierty of crops, for you never know which will grow --- perhaps they all will. (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Wheaton, IL. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1996) Rick Mysse, Church and Leader Reproducing Director with Re:Gen sent me this. Thanks Rick

PUSD Offical Indicates Agreement is Moving Forward for Space by Karesh/Abbey Lane. George Hunter, facilities director for Pomona Unified School District has indicated that a lease is in the City Attorney's office waiting to be drawn up for a building adjacent to Karesh/Abbey Lane. The rent and utilities will be mitigated in exchange for the value of the tutoring and homework help we will be providing. He still hopes for us to be able to get in March 1 although, as he said, he doesn't have any influence over the City Attorney's schedule. George is also the City Councilmember for District 4. Continue to pray with us that we really will be able to use the space.

Prayer Meeting to Start in Angela/Chanslor: Next Tuesday night we're going to be starting a prayer meeting at the minnistry center in Angeles/Chanslor, 7:00 PM. Robert Quesada who lives upstairs is going to be leading. Councilman Rodriguez and his wife will be joining us. It's nice to have this beginning move towards La Capilla del Barrio de la Angela/Chanslor, the Church at Angela/Chanslor. Pray with us as we move ahead.

I met a gangbanger at Angela-Chanslor this afternoon. He's a nice young man, reserved, respectful. He came to my afternoon computer class for kids. There were three young men in their early to mid teens and two girls in fifth or sixth grade. We worked with MS WORD writing just a short note. This young man wrote, "I ven (been)livin en Pomona 14 years. I ven gagvaging (gang-banging) 1 years. I kiket (kick it) with Pomona Sur Olive." My heart really went out to him. He wanted to get it right and worked so hard at it. Every time he saw a green or red underline he wanted to fix it. With a little help he got it. I thought to myself, "What else does this kid have?" At 15 or 16 still struggling with sight words, it's no wonder he's in a gang. Pray with me for this young man and others. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing this kid into my life. Help me to continue to pray for him, to love on him, and to hold out hope.

New Computer Class Brings New Connections: This morning I had three women start a computer class at the Angela-Chanslor Community Outreach Center. They were so fun to watch. One lady was back this afternoon practicing what she learned. "A little every day," she said. She said she, "Never touched a computer... except to dust it." One of the ladies wrote in English. She's been in the country 20 years but is still struggling with the language. She said she wishes she was better, but it's so hard. The ladies learned how to work the mouse and how to open a new document and save it. I had them write a short note to a friend. They really seemed to enjoy it. Wht a neat way the Lord has opened up to meet new friends and begin to build relationships that can be bridges for sharing the Gospel.

Student Scores Big Gain on Benchmarks: One of the young ladies I tutor at Marshall Middle School was named Student of the Week this week. Gabriella Jimenez is a neat young lady. Mrs. Lane, her teacher writes, "Gabriella has a wonderful sense of humor. Her effort in improving her math skills is absolutely terrific. She comes early in the mornings to study and stays after school to better her academics. It was no surprise when her Benchmark score went up over 40 points. Simply awesome. I am so proud to have her as my student." I'm so proud of her too.

Surprise Visit from Old Friend, Denomination’s Director of Mission Services: Bruce Menning, Director of Mission Services for the Reformed Church in America, and Jhonny Alicea-Báez, Supervisor of RCA Mission Programs in Latin America, Western U.S., Alaska, and Canada stopped at our house unexpectedly Monday. Bruce is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had flown into Ontario for a week of meetings in Southern California. He and Jhonny took Gladys and me out to lunch and we talked about Points of Light. I’ve applied to the RCA to be appointed as an Urban Missionary to plant new works in low and very-low income “at-risk” areas in the city. The Classis of (Southern) California has already identified us as “Urban Missionaries.” The process denominationally will take some time as we talk about outcomes, support, encouragement, and accountability. Because POL’s stated goal is “to establish fellowships of believers (called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the very presence of Christ and to follow Christ in mission in their neighborhood) Bruce wants to meet together with the RCA Church Multiplication staff person to make sure we are doing this collaboratively. Pray with us as we dialogue with RCA staff on how to best proceed. Pray with us and for us for patience with the process, clarity in our thoughts and conversations, and openness on all our parts to the leading of the Holy Spirit.