Brian & Sue McCoy Update
December 2009
Dear friends, family, and partners in ministry,
Happy New Year and Seasons Greetings. The end of a year is a great time to reflect on how we are living our lives and on what God is doing to transform us. I, probably like you, tend to remember what I should forget and forget what I should remember.
Almost every week I have the opportunity to talk to groups at Rancho Casitas. I try to always remind groups that we as the American church have a greater need to give than those in Mexico have to receive. While the needs in Mexico are real and sometimes seem urgent, I must agree with Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Many of the groups faced “well meaning” opposition to their ministry trips to Mexico this year, but found that they were especially blessed for their demonstration of faith.
October brought a brush fire that threatened both the Johnson and VanNes homes here at Rancho Casitas. The fire came within about 100 feet of both structures. Mexican firefighters, military and friends all joined in to fight the fires and save the homes. Thank you for your prayers during the fires.
The gift of lofthomes continues to meet the needs of families that lack adequate housing. God has used the little lofthomes to change lives on both sides of the border. It is our prayer that stepping out in faith to serve in Mexico will open doors for many to serve in other countries around the world. For example, in our family, Shelby (18) was able to serve in Ethiopia and Shirlee (19) is preparing to go to Kenya with a team from Biola. Both girls are enjoying their time at Biola and doing well in their classes.
Jen Dahlin has joined our team in Mexico and in addition to hosting groups, is helping teach the missionary kids here at Rancho Casitas. Jen is a credentialed schoolteacher and it is a blessing to have her here. Cade (15) and Colton (14) are both in high school and Jen is helping tutor them while Sue is starting Shaina (5) in Kindergarten. Sue is also helping out in the school at Pastor Bogar’s church in El Zorillo on Fridays. She is teaching English to three different classes while Shaina attends the Kindergarten class for three hours. Shaina really loves going to school.
We know 2009 has been a challenging year for us and for many of you as well, but we know that God is faithful to bring new growth and fruit even in times of pruning and trial. We truly covet your prayers and are so encouraged by those who come to visit us. Thank you for your support and may God richly bless you in 2010.
The McCoys
John 15:1,2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
427 S Center St., Redlands, CA 92373
Email: mccoycoffee@gmail.com
June 2009
Dear friends, family, and partners in ministry,
Thank you for all your prayers and support during the last few months. In addition to our church family in Redlands, we had 10 Mexican churches praying for us. We are reminded of our constant need of prayer and encouragement from other believers.
Shirlee is doing well and has started a summer internship at Oaks of Hebron, a Christian non-profit agency providing residential and recreational services for persons with developmental disabilities. Oaks serves nearly 70 people in two group homes, private apartments and other supported living settings in Northern California. Shirlee lives and works in one of the group homes and also works at the “farm”. The farm is an adult day program that focuses on helping people become successful gardeners. The gardeners sell their vegetables and flowers to people in the community. Shirlee worked at Camp Lee Mar, a camp for developmentally disabled children last summer and has a great compassion for those with special needs.
Shelby just left Mexico for her summer job, lifeguarding at Campus by the Sea, Catalina Island, and will be joining Shirlee at Biola University in the fall. As many of you know, Shelby was able to travel to Ethiopia on a short-term missions trip this spring. Her team passed out over 2000 pairs of eyeglasses and 200 wheelchairs. She had a wonderful time, but returned to the US with a severe case of salmonella poisoning and had to spend 5 days in the hospital. I asked her if she had any regrets about going and she said “no” and that she would return if given the opportunity.
The fear of the swine flu and concern over crime has kept a lot of folks away from Mexico this year. We can only report that we have seen no real changes as we travel back and forth to California and that there have never been any incidents involving our work teams. I feel that many have missed out on a tremendous blessing by choosing to cancel their ministry trips to Mexico. On a positive note, Mexican churches using the ranch for retreats have filled many of the “open” weekends.
Recently, Steve Johnson, Danny Van Nes (fellow HoM missionaries), and I along with about a dozen Mexican brothers built a lofthouse for a recently widowed woman. Her husband, in his mid-twenties had died and left her with two small children (2 years and 10 months). The lofthouse had belonged to the church in Lomas Bonitas and was donated to the family. We disassembled it and moved it several miles away to its new location in Salitral. It is a privilege and a blessing to help those in need.
According to the Bible, the poor, widows and the fatherless have a special place in God’s heart. Thank you again for helping us be a blessing to needy families. We hope you will be joining us on a project soon, I know you won’t regret it.
Brian for the McCoy family
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
Proverbs 19:17 (New International Version)
Please note that we have closed our San Ysidro mail box and will receive mail at Sue’s mother’s home: 427 S Center St., Redlands, CA 92373
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