McCoy Update

Dear friends, family and partners in ministry,

                  The McCoy family extends greetings to all of you from Rancho Casitas, Baja California, Mexico. Three years ago, September 1, 2005, we moved to Mexico to follow a shared dream and vision to help start and develop Rancho Casitas. Two months later, November 2005, the McCoy, VanNes and Lopez families partnered together with Hands of Mercy to acquire the land for the camp. A year later, our family moved out to the “ranch” and set up the yurt that we call home.

                  Looking back, we can see God’s hand of blessing all along the way. Thank you for joining us through your prayers, encouraging visits, and financial support. In 2008 alone, HOM will have facilitated the building of approximately 100 homes for needy families and is booking groups for 2009. We hope each of you can take a weekend to come down and see the ministry, progress, and changes at the camp.

                  Our oldest child, Shirlee (18), has moved into the dorms at Biola University and has started her freshman year. She spent the summer working at Camp Lee Mar, a camp for developmentally disabled children and teens. She is looking at Biola’s Art program and is interested in teaching art to the developmentally disabled. Shelby (17), now in her senior year of high school studies, is interested in Biola’s Communication Disorders program for next year. Shelby worked 9 weeks during the summer at Campus by the Sea, a Christian camp on Catalina Island. Cade (14) has started his first year of high school studies. He enjoys building lofthomes and helps lead work teams. Colton (13) also goes out on the builds and likes living at the ranch. Both boys love animals, the outdoors and always seem to have some new kind of “pet”. The latest additions were two large tarantula spiders. The boys helped build our new chicken coop and care for the 14 chickens we have.  Shaina (4) keeps us entertained with all her silly antics.  All the kids like riding Sierra the horse and watching her colt, Beau, grow up. Sue has started another year of home school instruction and has really grown to love our home. She likes to spend any free time in her flower garden and practices her gift of hospitality hosting groups at the ranch.

                  Danny VanNes and I (Brian) are building a coffee roasting house and have imported a small coffee roaster into Mexico. We have started a coffee roasting corporation (Café Rancho Casitas) and hope to start roasting before the end of the year. Last month, our family failed to meet our support goals and had to take a reduction in our previous support level. The small coffee roasting business may help offset any future deficits and serve as an additional means of support. Another goal will be to make connections with coffee growers in Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Many of the lofthome recipients have moved to Ensenada from Oaxaca and have strong ties to that area.

                  We also have a new guest lofthouse near our yurt.  Please make plans to stay there when you visit. Everyone comments on how beautiful and peaceful the location is under the old oak trees. We would love to share a cup of coffee with you on our deck and find out what God is doing in this chapter of your life.

God bless you and Happy Holidays,

                                             Brian, Sue, Shirlee, Shelby, Cade, Colton and Shaina