 This week, we are honored to spotlight the dedicated missionaries we support who are making a profound impact outside of the United States. Their tireless work and commitment to their missions embody the values we cherish and support.  August 30, 2024 Dear Friends, We pray you are well and enjoying the last days of Summer. The past three months have been crazy busy -- in the best of ways. I tried to keep our newsletter as short as possible, yet it is a little long. I hope you will enjoy catching up with us.  The Children at the Home. Two newborns have come to live at the Home, a little boy two months old and a little girl one month old. We are currently evaluating the little boy, Mateo, for neurological issues. We fear he lacked oxygen at birth. Please pray for our Tias in Casa Fe as they adjust to a home filled with eight boys under 8 years, plus the babies and teens.  The School at the Children’s Home. We are celebrating the arrival of a new kindergarten teacher this semester. Even though we only have four children in kindergarten and another four in pre-kinder, guiding these children can prove to be quite a challenge! We would like to ask you to please pray for our new teacher and her students as she becomes more familiar with the children and the overall ministry at the Children’s Home. We have several students who are classified as special education in elementary school. It has been a tremendous blessing to see each of them make tremendous progress this year. They are not working at grade level yet, but we have great hope for their futures. During July semester break the children were able to enjoy several field trips: a day of horseback riding, a visit to a farm, hiking and a day at the swimming pool.  Mission Teams at the Children’s Home. We are building exterior walls surrounding the property at the Home. Not to keep the children in, but to keep uninvited guests out. Mission teams have spent many weeks this Summer moving rock, laying blocks, and pouring concrete. There are a few more teams coming this year to help with this project. Please pray we can complete the upper wall this year. The lower wall will be an ongoing project for years to come. We had planned to begin working on our third home, a duplex for 12 additional children, however the walls are taking much longer to build than anticipated.  New sanctuaries in Limon, Guapiles and El Tigre. The work at these three churches is moving ahead. We have been blessed to receive four teams at each location this year. These teams worked diligently pouring concrete, tying rebar, sifting sand and digging ditches for these new sanctuaries. The church in Limon is a new church plant, the churches in Guapiles and El Tigre have been under construction for several years. During their visits, the mission team members minister alongside the local congregations through outreach events to the children in the community. We give great thanks to each group for all of their labor over the past three months. Their presence has been a powerful witness and testimony throughout the region!  The Methodist School. The first week of August, we celebrated Spiritual Emphasis Week at the Methodist school with a band and group of friends from the Woodlands (TX) Methodist Church. Members of the band spent their mornings sharing songs and testimony with the student body! (PreK – 11th grade) At the conclusion of each gathering, students and teachers had the opportunity to come forward for a time of personal sharing and prayer. Though we have witnessed the Lord’s hand move so many times before during this unique week, we were still amazed at the response of students who came forward, yearning for a deeper walk with the Lord. By week’s end, dozens of students had made decisions to follow Christ, and others testified to the impact the week had made in their lives. An additional highlight was an evening directed towards recent graduates of the Methodist High School as we shared together around the theme: “Faith after highschool.” What transpired was a beautiful time of mutual sharing between team members and Ticos (Costa Ricans) about the challenges/opportunity’s college life brought to their faith. We give thanks for this new outreach and look forward to it becoming yet another piece of the overall ministry at the Methodist School.  The Wesley Clinic At the end of July, we received a wonderful medical team from Dallas who worked alongside our Costa Rican physicians and dentists at the Wesley Clinic in Puerto Viejo. During this short two day “Health Fair” two hundred patients were assisted and received much needed medical attention. Thanks to several generous financial gifts, we were able to begin using our first EKG machine and do so in a more comfortable setting as several consult rooms now enjoy air conditioning! We praise God for all who participated in this outreach and seek your prayers for a similar health fair during the first week of September. Our Family. Ray and I recently made a quick trip to Texas to help Emma move from Waco to College Station (in the100+ degree heat). I lost count of the number of trips we made between cities, but we no longer need the GPS to find the way! Sarah is in her last year of her master’s program at Baylor and Emma is beginning her master’s program at Texas A&M. We are so grateful that both girls were able to spend time at home in Costa Rica with us this summer. The only downside is that it is difficult to have an empty house once again. Dear Friends, Thank you for your faithful support of us and the Costa Rican Methodist church. We have experienced difficult days recently, but your prayers and financial gifts have seen us through them. Thank you for making it possible for us to minister with the lovely people of Costa Rica. We are most grateful. In Christ’s love, Ray and Lidia _________________________________ I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil. 1:3-5  FMWM-Asia makes disciples by crossing cultures to share Jesus, pursuing servant partnerships to reinforce national leadership, and implementing systems to cultivate flourishing Free Methodist Churches.   Gene just led the Leadership in the Local Church module with our friends in this creative access country (PN). The training was on Zoom, 7 hours each day. Gene had to encourage participants to take breaks, as they were so eager to learn. These beautiful and precious brothers and sisters love Jesus and have a heart for those yet to hear the Gospel. Despite the opposition, they have a burden and are committed to reaching people for Christ.  In July, we were joined by our friend, Stephanie Gradey, from Detroit, Michigan. This was Stephanie's first visit to Japan in 38 years when she first came on a short-term mission as an English teacher for two years in the Osaka area! She braved the summer heat of Japan. We enjoyed meals and worshipping together during her visit. Japan has remained in her heart and prayers even after all these years.  Gene just wrapped up two weeks of training in Thailand, Wesleyan History and Theology. Thailand is the smallest country we train in, with 15 leaders and yet they continue to grow leaps and bounds. Year to date, they have led 401 people to Christ and baptized 83. They have planted three new churches! For our friends there, training isn't about gaining more knowledge but taking that knowledge and applying it to their lives, their families, their churches, and to reaching others for Jesus. Hi Friends, The summer is drawing to a close as we shift to school and work routines. Here is our update for August: https://youtu.be/9BUXQE_Bb5k Thank you for partnering with us these past five years. With all our love in Christ, Gene & Minori Praises: 1. Praise God for the past five years guided by his love, grace, and joy. The Lord provided abundantly, enabling us to train fruitful and faithful leaders throughout South East Asia. 2. Praise God for all of you, our partners who faithfully pray and support our work in Japan and S.E. Asia. Prayers: 1. Please pray for the over 62 leaders in PN who finished the Leadership in the Local Church module in August. It was Gene’s first time training with leaders in this country. Pray that they are enabled to carry out the call God has placed on them to share the Gospel in unique ways and settings. 2. Please pray for God’s wisdom, strength, and direction as we serve in Southeast and Japan. Pray especially, that we can invest even more into young Japanese men and women for the Gospel’s sake. The more you grow, the more productive & useful you'll be for the Lord. 2 Pet. 1:8       Our Back to School Bash will be Saturday, August 3 at Light on the Hill! If you have gently used clothes that your child has outgrown, we would love for you to consider sharing them.  Hill Country Emmaus Gathering is Monday, June 3 at Light on the Hill at 6pm.  I saw this flower growing out of the asphalt parking lot at Light on the Hill. My mind instantly thought of the saying, “Bloom where you are planted!” I also remembered scripture where Jesus reminds us that He will provide everything we need. We are not to worry but stay focused on the present and live every moment to the fullest!  "You are on the path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. Here and now comprise the coordinates of your daily life. Most people let their moments slip through their fingers, half-lived. They avoid the present by worrying about the future or longing for a better time or place. They forget that they are creatures who are subject to the limitations of time and space. They forget their Creator, who walks with them only in the present. Every moment is alive with My glorious Presence, to those whose hearts are intimately connected with Mine. As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry. Thus, you are freed to let My Spirit direct your steps, enabling you to walk along the path of Peace." …from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young From Jane Davis… I am praying for you this morning… Sometimes we can only see inches in front of our vision… And in the distant horizon, everything’s a blur…foggy…hazy. Oh! How we wish we could see it all! Wish we had the answers! Wish things would be easier…wish we didn’t have to trudge through trials. Wish. Wish. Wish. Wishing doesn’t make it so. But TRUSTING in Jesus, Who sees the Big Picture, calms our souls… We don’t have to know our future, because He does. We don’t have to wring our hands with anxiety, because He’s got us. He sees, He hears, and He knows what’s best. Trust Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” Proverbs 3:5 (The Message)  Emmaus Gathering at Light on the Hill dining hall on Monday, May 6. Meal at 6pm and worship at 7pm
What does the Bible say about a fresh start? God doesn't remember our past, he gives us a fresh start. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! How do I ask God for a fresh start? Replace the old and broken ways of my heart and restore me with your grace and strength. Fill me with new blessings, joy and peace. Help renew my heart so that I can be ready for a new beginning. In Jesus' name, Amen. When God gives you a fresh start? The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that God promises a fresh start to anyone. Through Jesus Christ, we can have forgiveness, freedom, and a future filled with hope and purpose. He loves you more than you know and has an incredible plan for your life!  What a tremendous privilege to serve our neighbors alongside our neighbors! We are blessed to live in a community filled with such wonderful servant hearts! Other Requests & Giving Opportunities 
As long as I can remember, I have always made my bed each morning. It was requested by my mother when I was a child and a teenager. As I got older, it just became a habit. A few years ago, I read a book called, Make Your Bed, a New York Times Bestseller by Admiral William H. McRaven based on a commencement speech that he gave at The University of Texas. In his book, Admiral McRaven says that “if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” I really admired his philosophy, “If you can’t do the small things, you will never be able to do the big things.” Recently I had someone share with me that the reason they make their bed every day is because it is such a gift to have a warm bed to come home to each night. They went on to say that they make their bed in the morning so they can “unwrap the present” that having a bed is to them every night.” It’s all in the perspective. My attitude has changed from something that was simply a habit, to a feeling of accomplishment to have performed my first task of the day, to gratefulness for a home and bed to return to at the end of each day. I am so thankful that God has put people in my path to help me see things with new eyes. The book, Dynamite Prayer, on day 4, talks about having “new eyes.” I pray that I will continue to “view everything and everyone with potential for God’s transformation” ----- including myself.
Mark your calendar--Our next Emmaus gathering is Monday, February 5th Come prepared to have dinner, commune with everyone, worship God and be filled with the Holy Spirit. @Light On the Hill - Nutrition Center
Join us on November 4th for a day of fun starting with our Trail Fun Run at 9AM and our Harvest Fest from 10AM to 2PM. Explore more below in our informational flyers.   Help Fill Thanksgiving Baskets for our Neighbors and Plan Ahead for the Men's Walk to Emmaus at Light on the Hill! Thank you. Dear Friends, Our local Emmaus Community will be hosting a Men's Walk to Emmaus this weekend, October 19-22, 2023 at Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley. This special weekend is designed to help Christian disciples grow in knowledge and experience of God's grace and love. If you are in the Emmaus Community we encourage you to support the Walk throughout the weekend with your prayers and when appropriate, your presence. For all of us, we encourage you to hold these folks in your prayers throughout this experience. Pilgrims for Men's Walk #67 Gary Roberts Carl Schupp Jerry Lewis Michael Francis Ron Krobot Greg Sandford Steven Butcher John Mallory Corbin Thompson Craig Lenard Scott Stumbo Marc Weekley Robert Gohlke Robert Smith Glenn Coggins Charles Joseph Brice Freedle Lee Martin Randy Williams Boyd Robinson Ben Iverson Parker Patillo Keith Loeffler Jack Wells H. Richard Bowersox Ben Montoya Mark Huber Sidney Roberts
Mobile Mustard Seed Shares Food Out In Our Community! KFUMC and Light on the Hill, among others, were recognized for Back-to-school Efforts in our community with the Kerrville Kindness Award by city council!  Harvest Festival this Fall! 
From our friend, Jane Davis…
I am praying for you this morning… Thanks to our daughter, daughter-in-law and grandkids, I’ve learned to love puzzles. Life is often like a puzzle…right?! You have a box of hundreds of colorful pieces. You pour them out…flip them over…and oh my! You don’t know how or where to start. You sort. You look at the finished picture on the box and think, “how in the world will I put all of this together?” YOU won’t. But GOD WILL. We all have choices to make…decisions to be made… But sometimes the parts of our lives seem so jumbled, broken, confusing and disjointed that we can’t focus on the the big picture…the completed project…the direction we should go. This is where God steps in. If we let Him. We all need to ask the Master Planner, our Creator to put the pieces into place. Little-by-little the colors will get sorted. The edges will start fitting together. Your answer will more and more visible. God’s got this! Trust Him. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21
Thanks to all that joined us in our March MEGA Food drive, and always thank you to the San Antonio Food Bank.
 I am praying for you this morning…
Awhile back I was given my Dad’s old baseball glove. As I study it, I first notice how worn it is…lots of baseballs went “thud” in that glove. And then as I look again, I notice that there are only 4 fingers on this glove! Huh? Daddy had 5 fingers. Why 4 on this weathered old mitt? Do you ever feel like something is missing in your life? Is it strength? Confidence? Courage? Endurance? Assurance? Love? Hope? Peace? Joy? Back to the aged, 4-finger glove… Possibly, since our “baby finger” is the weakest part of our hand, having 2 fingers together gives added strength and support to grip the ball. Hmmmm. This is like one person helping another…walking the journey with them. Like God walking with us, giving us strength and support for our upward climbs. Like helping us grip the hard balls in life when they go “thud”. “Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go.” Joshua 1:9 -Beth Palmer |
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Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley is a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 83-3263624).
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