Johnson Update

The Johnson Family Journal

Saludos de Baja (Greetings from Baja),

Wow! It’s hard to believe that we’ve lived in Baja for a year already! This March marks our 4th year with the ministry, and this month marks our 2nd month of living at Rancho Casitas.
We moved to our new home at Rancho Casitas on October 7th. The home we’ve been blessed with is absolutely beautiful and we are so grateful to so many for their efforts. Thank you! The true beauty lies within the memories of all those who gave sacrificially of their time, talents, prayers, and finances during the building process. Our main room serves as our kitchen, dining room, living room, and homeschool room. Streams of golden sunlight permeate the room throughout the day which allows us to live without power from the generator until the late afternoon. Our refrigerator and stove both run on propane. We have to travel the 9 mile dirt road to do any shopping, (it’s a one hour journey one way) we try to keep that to once a week (stocking up is of necessity). There is no actual address, but we do have GPS coordinates. All in all, it’s an incredible place to live and raise a family – we are truly blessed!
The boys love living at the Ranch! There is so much freedom for them to roam around and get dirty. They have developed a love for golf (no, I did not pray for that) and play most days right off the dirt. I recently overheard Steve threatening to take away their golf clubs as a form of discipline. They straightened right up! Micah is 10 and is in the 5th grade and Josiah is 8 and in the 3rd grade.
Over the past year, my faith has been stretched as I’ve grappled with the reality of living in a foreign country (I’m sure other members of our family would agree). What if this wasn’t where God was calling us? (We have been so blessed I could almost laugh at that thought). Should we really have left good friends, a good church, and a wonderful support group? What if our support runs low? (It has) What if one of us gets really sick? (We’ve had our share of sicknesses). Will our children ever have friends? (They do). Will I? (I do). For 10 months of this time, we’d all been shuffling back and forth to the “Ranch”, living in our 12 x 12 loft house on the weekends when groups were at camp. In addition, we were living out of boxes and in the midst of construction.
To be honest; the road hasn’t always been easy. But, as we have sought the Lord’s strength and guidance we’ve come to an even greater awareness that we have to rest in and stay dependent upon Him. In turn, He has lovingly blessed us with more joy and contentment than we’ve ever known in our lives. We just need to be faithful and go where He calls us, living one day at a time and trust in Him regardless of what comes. We’re best to keep our focus on Him alone and not the “what if’s.” God has supplied 100 families in this area with loft houses this year. We’re grateful to be on His team and watch His work.
We consider ourselves fortunate to serve with such incredible, godly, loving families here at Rancho Casitas. The Van Nes’s and the McCoy’s are a gift and a pleasure to serve along side with.
As we approach the time we honor the “Greatest Gift of All”, we are reminded that His birth, life, and victory over sin and death all are cause for celebration. We thank Him for blessing our lives with so many faithful partners in prayer and giving. We value each of you as you continue to minister to us in these ways. We are encouraged by the investment you’ve made in our lives and this ministry.

As always, we are ever grateful to be in His Hands of Mercy,
Blessings for 2009
Steve, Sara, Micah and Josiah

Correspondence may be sent to: Hands of Mercy P.O. Box 7818 Redlands, CA 92375
tinmanof3@msn.com or forehim7@msn.com
(Steve) (Sara)