SALT

When I was growing up and going out with friends, it always ended up happening at some point. One of us would loosen the salt shaker lid, so when you needed to add a little more sodium to your fries, an entire reservoir of salt would empty onto your plate. Jesus said to the gathered crowds at the mountainside, "you are the salt of earth. Salt." Now, as it was when Jesus spoke this,   salt is what makes our food appealing and appetizing. Even while typing, 'salt and vinegar chips,' my mouth begins to salivate. For the past four years the majority of youth that I have ministered to have been non-Christian. Early on I remember telling the the parable of the Prodigal Son, and it was everyone's first time hearing it. I was dumbfounded. From that point on I felt the need to take shakers in both hands and start pouring out the salt. From this frontal Gospel approach, unintentionally, I tend to incite anger and argumentation,  or boredom and uninvolvement. There is such a thing as too much salt!
I recently told my youth here at the CMA that we are canceling youth group and starting discussion group. I am realizing that for every one word of truth I speak, I must first listen to ten words. The first question for our first night of discussion group was, "Would you allow Miley Cyrus to be a role model for your 12-year old daugh

Prayer Requests:

• Many of our staff are sick and Jamie has a bad cold,  please pray for healing. 
• Ask God to bring more workers for the harvest.
• Pray that God will continue to provide financial resources for our family.
• For Jamie's pregnancy.

Gracia y Paz

• Support us Financially

• Find out more about Crosswinds

The Good Hard

 Recently a friend and I were walking and talking and the term "good hard" came up. Ya know, the things we face in life that are super hard in the moment, but looking back we can see the good that came out of it? We had been discussing recent struggles and even shared a few embarrassing low moments we had experienced. The low moments in and of themselves were not what was embarrassing, it was describing them out loud to a friend that brought the blood rushing to our cheeks! I am grateful to have friends that I can do this with. 

Our little adventurer is now walking!

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

All of us face trials, whether we believe in God or not. I am thankful that in following God, our trials produce maturity and growth and character. None of it is wasted! Even if the trial is brought on by our own weakness or sinfulness. Thank you, Lord! 

We are growing. God has planted us in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, for this season of life and he sure is using this place to make us more like Him. There is something about being out here away from the "comforts of home" that bring all of your weaknesses a little closer to the surface. Anyway, we are thankful for it  (most days). 

Baby Girl due Feb. 14th

I'm learning more and more that nothing good comes out of a proud heart, but many blessings follow humility. So for our prayer partners out there, can we humbly ask you to pray us through this stretch of extra good hard stuff? Pray for our family and our marriage. Pray for our ministry here at CMA. Pray for my pregnancy and finding the right doctors and every step between now and us meeting our little [girl] sometime in February. Pray for our community here. And whatever else comes to mind. 

With humble, thankful hearts! 

Matthew, Jamie, Gabe, and Baby Girl