Belize you Me!!!

Belize was awesome. I could have stayed there the rest of my life. I loved the people I worked with. I loved the fast pace. I loved the work. Everything about it I loved.

SO the ministry I went to work with is called LOL ministries. (aka Laugh out Loud) Ministries. They are building an orphanage in Belize by the town or city of Punta Gorda. The couple that is running and started the ministry is Jervis and Melissa. Man Melissa and I became quick and close friends. I wish we could live together and work along side each other she is just so awesome. They have 2 kids who are adopted one is an orphan and the other two they had together.

Melissa and I in our last moments together (tear tear)

They have groups come down once or twice a month to help them out and the groups go and evangelize in the local tribes. My job was to help serve the group. My main job was breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There was 42 in the group of Grade 12 (Seniors) who were on there mission trip. It was required for them to go on it to graduate. They were so awesome. I totally fell in love with them. They are such great kids. They always said thank you and please. They were really great with the locals especially the kids from Belize. Man I just loved them. They stole my heart.

So I was located in the jungle or in the woods near Punta Gorda. I was able to go in to a village or tribe near where I was staying at. I was taken to a home of a lady named Margarita. She has 9 kids. In Belize it cost 1,000 dollars Belizean money (500 U.S. Dollars) to send your kid to High school. That is not including fund raising and other odds and ends needed for your child to go to High school. So Margarita makes purses and necklaces and sells them to send her kids to school. Her husband works for LOL ministries. Margarita was so nice letting us come into her home. Most of the buildings I saw in the villages were one room. Melissa told me that is to have wind flow because it gets so hot in Belize. So Margarita lived in a one room hut with her 9 kids and husband. She and her husband slept in one hammock while her kids slept on a floor or what we would consider a table with no matteress and I didn’t see any blackest.

Margarita with her youngest Kelly. Ms. Irma is sitting on one of their beds.

Their Stove they cook on.

I also worked with 3 ladies: Ms. Irma (Her husband paid for my trip to Belize) Ms. Carol, and Ms. Bonnie. Man I loves those ladies. They are all on fire for the Lord. I learned a lot from them. And listened to them as much as possible to try and learn as much as I could. So wise, so on fire: I just love it!!!

I also got sick in Belize. The bug or virus was going around the kids (I guess one was already sick before they came and spread it around.) I got it from them. Yuck. So the last two full days I was there I wasn’t feeling so hot. My stomach was killing me. But I really wanted to work. I just can’t sit still. So the first day I got sick the kids were on their way to a village to minister and bring hot dogs. The bus broke down just before they got there. So Melissa asked if I was felling well enough to help take 3 vehicles to help them out. Oh man was I. I loved that trip. Deep in the jungle on dirt roads. On our way there a bridge was being worked on. Now our bridges and their bridges are completely different. There bridges are wood planks. Nailed down. Very narrow. Very narrow with no railing on a lot of them. I wish I could have gotten a picture. SO any way the people working on the “bridge” decided that they would let us go without finishing the bridge. Now there was a bus, a van (that I was driving) and a pick-up truck. The bus was in the lead so I had thought if the bus can make it so can I. The 4x4 planks of wood was not nailed down yet. And as the bus drove on it you could see the planks move. But it made it through and then I went and then the truck . . . NO PROBLEM . . . “Thank you Jesus” is the moral of this story!!!

We got the vehicles there and Melissa and I turned right back around in the van. What a wonderful adventure.

Also the animals in belize are so skin and bones it is so sad to me. But I kept reminding myself if the animals are this bad you know the people are not well fed either.

Okay so the things I learned. I learned about the Heart of the Leader. How important it is to know why they do what they do. There was a lot of miscommunication at times and the Lord really blessed me with knowing the heart of both sides of the story. And I found when you know the Heart of the person it is easier to do what they want or it is easier to see why they do what they do. So communicating the heart. That was the biggest thing I learned. Oh Don’t get me wrong I learned other things about leadership like why for some people it is easier to accept every one than it is for others. And when a person who is under leadership is healthy it is easier for them to do what you ask them to do. I am not going into details but I learned a lot about leadership and why it is so important to find out where people are truly at.

So that is the gist of my trip. I had the most wonderful time. I hope soon God will send me back or at least let Joel go and maybe even together.

Thanks for all your prayers and asking about it. I love all ya’ll.

Love love love,

Dess

Ms. Bonnie, Ms. Irma, and Ms Carol: I love these Girls!!!

Typical House in the Villages

Supplying Needs and Belize

So life is pretty crazy right now. Things have slowed down in regards to passing out food. On March 1st we gave out the last of our huge food donation to a church that gives to 10,000 households. Wow I was blown away by that number. I wanted to ask if I had miss heard them but when I saw they had three 40 foot long containers full of food I thought better of my question. A few days later another Christian group called and said they heard that we were giving away food. I told them we were out but they kept insisting they wanted to trade with us and asked to be put on our list of people we give to. Then they offered us food they had cantaloupe, pears, potatoes, and egg plant. We ended up going and giving them office and household supplies as well as picking up cases of the food they had for us.

SO we were able to give all the food that the grocery store with the fire had given us to about 11 groups. Pretty amazing what God can do in a blink of an eye. Each group has their own testimony of what Jesus is doing.

Right now our main focus is PAPERWORK. Our ministry has a fiscal year end which ends in February. We are now doing paperwork that we have to do at the end of EVERY year. Joel and I have been spending hours and days trying to understand and complete the long tedious work. But it is worth it if we want to stay up and running.

It has also shown me the provision GOd has done in less than a year in regards to starting our ministry. In a matter of 11 months we have received 43,013 dollars worth of product and fincial support. This includes our refrigerated box truck, the 23,000 dollars worth of food from the grocery store that had the fire, a mini bus and much much more. It is mind blowing what GOd can do with two people who do not have income coming in (aka no paying job) and with other people to help out that believe in the vision as much as we do!!! Thank you Jesus!!! And thank you every one that has supported through this. We could not be doing what we are doing with out you.

Last I am heading to Belize tomorrow. The man that gave us the refrigerated box truck asked if i would accompany his wife to Belize. She goes down 2 or 3 times a year to do mission work with a group called LOL Ministries. www.lolministry.com. I will be gone for 12 days. I am pretty excited. Sad to be gone from Joel but all the same adventure is an adventure. I don't know exactly what I will be doing but this is what God wants me to do so I am excited for what He has in mind.

WEll that is it from us. Thank you again for all your love and support. GOd has used you in a mighty way to help further his Kingdom.

To God Be the Glory

Love love love,
The Butlers

Distributing Food

Since receiving the huge donation of food and supplies in mid-January from the grocery store that had the fire Supplying Needs has been able to give out half the food in a matter of 3 short weeks. The food has gone to 7 churches who reach out to their community and some have come back multiple times to pick up the donated items. Supplying Needs has also been able to directly give food to 9 families.

Here are some testimonies:

One church has been giving food out in a time of need to their congregation. The pastor was praying and planning to open up the food pantry to the public this March of 2010. He had been praying for God to open doors for them to start receiving food when he got our call. When we arrived the Pastor had said this was an answer to pray.

Another church had given almost all their food out in November and December and were strategizing how they could get more food for those in need when we called. They came by to the office building that was donated to us for one month and took as much as they could fit in their vehicles.

Another pastor had just moved to Stockton from San Fransisco looking for cheaper rent. He saw there was such a need here that he started helping his surrounding area. We were connected to this pastor through a man that does Celebrate Recovery at one of the churches we give to. The first week we gave food to him he had two or three families by the next week he had a list of ten families that were in need of food and clothing.

One church we give to helps 60 people per week and another church over 300 people.

God continues to blow us away with His timing and His strategic planning to connect us with churches who have a heart to help the poor, hungry and lost.

On a final note we just learned that Stockton is number 4 in the nation of hungry people.
There is such a need here in the City of Stockton.

Please pray for:
1) The people of Stockton
A) They would come to a knowledge and salvation in Christ Jesus
B) Their needs would be met (clothes, food, shelter)

2) We are seeing now we need a warehouse more that ever. Please pray God would provide one for Supplying Needs

3) That food, clothing, toys, furniture, and building supplies would continue to pour in so we can be a solution to the city of Stockton and to the San Joaquin County.

God Bless,
The Butlers

Photo's of the Huge Donation of Food from the Fire!!!

Photo's of God's blessing!!!

Inside ONE out of two of our Storage Units.

Food in the truck piled high!!

More food in the truck!

Two Big card board bins full of food!!!

A fire that turned into a blessing!!!

So Joel and I had gone to over 60 grocery stores in 3 cities. One of the grocery stores in September/October said they would give to us. We put a plastic bin with Supplying Needs name on it and our phone number. We called every few weeks and went in a couple of times. But every time they said no no we will call you. Over and over they said no no we will call you.

Last Wednesday we get two calls during bible study from a number that we did not recognize. AFter bible study Joel called them back. It happened to be the same grocery store that said yes but never gave to us. They said they had a fire in their store and needed us to come pick up food. Joel asked if we needed the mini-bus or the truck. They didn't know but thought the truck would be best. We went there and as soon as we got out of the vehicle they asked us where our flash lights were. I ran to the nearest store and bought 4 flash lights. At the store the owner took us on a tour of the grocery store in the dark. We went up and down the aisles as the owner told us to take EVERYTHING. I mean everything. Then he asked if it was only Joel and I and where our help was. We didn't have any help. We called as many people we could think of. And after a few hours the youth pastor from our Church was able to leave work and come help us. HUGE HUGE HUGE HELP.

During this time we were wondering where we were going to put all this food. I wasn't worried I knew that if God had this planned out he would plan where the food needed to go.

The first day we loaded the truck from the top to the bottom FULL of dry and canned goods. And we had only been able to get clear 4 aisles.

We rented a 10x20 storage unit and got the first month for free. We unloaded it all the next day into the storage unit. Then went back on Friday to load more from the grocery store. We filled the truck up once again with as much as we could fit. On Friday we had a friend of ours come help of an hour. She heard Joel and I talking about renting another storage unit because there was no way we had enough room in the one we were renting. She said she had connections and called a friend whose husband owns a strip mall full of offices. Her husband approved us to be there for one month FREE OF CHARGE. Saturday we went to the place and unloaded our once again FULL TRUCK.

Today (Monday) we loaded the rest of the items. Look at God. He is so good.

And the guy that called us about the fire at the grocery store didn't even know us. When we mentioned the guy that had approved us he asked how we knew his brother. The only thing the guy had or knew of us was our one plastic bin with our name and phone number on it. We praise God and look forward to giving all the food out free of charge so we can spread the love of Christ and share what God does in the lives of people today!!!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY,

The Butlers

TRUCK COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU . . . . ..

YEAH YEAH AND YEAH!!!!!

Just to update you Supplying Needs has been donated a refrigerated box truck!!! Can you believe it. Thank you Jesus. A dear friend of ours that we met through Friend Ships emailed us and asked if we would want a refrigerated box truck. We said YES!!! We really need one. WE just needed to get it to Stockton. So through months of researching and talking with the owner we came to the agreement for Joel to fly to Lake Charles Louisiana and drive it back to Stockton. Yeah yeah and yeah.

Joel is leaving this Wednesday December 16th. He will be gone for over a week. Joel and I decided that I should stay back to be on call. We still have a grocery store that is thinking about giving us food on a consistent basis. Which is fine with me. I mean I am super sad that I cannot go and see all my friends and loved ones in Lake Charles (where we did mission work with Friend Ships for 4 years.) But I have peace and know that it is for the better good of our ministry.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS (for us getting this truck)? It means we can ask wholesalers for donations. That we can pick up pallets of donations instead of just boxes of donations. Either way we say Thank you Jesus when we do get a donation no matter big or small. But with this we can go to the bigger companies.

Okay so all we need now is a warehouse. Please be praying that a warehouse (with refrigeration) would open for us.

We love all ya'll very much.

GLORY TO GOD,
The Butlers

Our newest addition to Supplying Needs!

PS. The dog on the truck was put on there by the owner in an email. We told the owner our desire to stay behind the scenes (incognito) and he photo-shopped the dog on. It is pretty funny!!!

It's like the Cash Cab but you can call it the Jesus Cab

So Joel and I believe in helping people because God helped us and loves us. And one way we like to do this is to pick people up on the side of the road that are in trouble. Don't get me wrong we don't pick everyone up but we do it when we feel lead by God. This past week we have picked up two people that have just made us smile.

The first one was the day after America Thanksgiving (just so you American's know Canadians have a different thanksgiving, Any way) so Joel and I were driving to the mail to drop off a package. On the side walk in downtown Stockton we saw a young man wave his arms frantically trying to get someone to pick him up. Both Joel and I thought he may have to go to the hospital. Joel pulls over and asked what is up. He said he needed a ride but it was an hour away. We agreed. (I was for sure praying silently that God would protect us, because I mean come one who is this guy) Turns out he didn't need to go to the Hospital but (get this) TO HIS WEDDING!!! Can you believe it. He flew to LA to do a skateboard show then drove up to go to his wedding. He stopped in Stockton (for who knows what, Joel and I still do know what) and he parked in a Cops Car only zone and got his car towed. He asked the cops if they could take him to the wedding but they said they are not a cab. He went out to the side walk and started to have a panic attack for his wedding was in 3 hours. And he didn't know how he was going to get there. He actually lives in New York and flew for his wedding. Any way needless to say he wasn't a killer and was really a nice guy. He goes around the nation and world to skateboard. He said he is not a famous one but does open acts for the famous professional skateboarders. He was taken back by our kindness and we explained that it was the God in us and asked if he knew Jesus. He said that he knows Jesus and that his Dad is a real example to him.
We got him to his destination and he emailed us and said thanks and will send us Pics of his wedding later. Pretty crazy eh. It is funny because of a few reasons 1) Joel and I have been praying that God would use us to help people 2) I actually slept in that morning and felt it was okay by God to do so. 3) We stopped at the library and we were going to the post office 4) the guy had only been standing on the corner for 10 minutes. Our paths crossed at the perfect time. So God's timing is so perfect.

My next adventure was without Joel. Last night I went to women's group. I was waiting in the car for the church to be unlocked and had this huge urgency to go the Laundromat to see our Friend John to talk about Prayer. The urgency just would not leave me. So I bailed women's group and went to see John. When I got out of the car and at the Laundromat this women startled me. She was bawling and said her daughter was dropped off at a person's house and she just had to get there. She seemed frazzled yet not frazzled. It was weird. So I talked John into going with me because 1) I had no idea where the streets were and 2) I just didn't trust her.

When we got in the car she reaked of alcohol. On the way there I get this boldness that I don't experience very often and asked very boldly if she knew Jesus she said yes that she prayed to him every day because it was good or the right thing to do. The boldness came after she said that and I said no you need to have a true relationship with Jesus because he has a purpose for you. YOu were not made by accident and you have to ask Jesus what He wants you to do in life because he has something just for you. She started crying more and said started saying things about her life and how it wasn't so good and I said that doesn't matter God loves you and wants a personal relationship with you where you talk to him and he talks to you.

She said she understood.

When I took John back to the Laundromat it didn't seem so important what I was going to talk to him about any more.

On the way back home I started to think that when People got in Joel's and my car they didn't know what they had just gotten themselves into like the game show Cash Cab. But with Cash cab the money they won would be gone in no time. (Oh the cash cab is a cab that is New York that is a game show in the cab and you don't know you are getting into it. You have to answer questions until you get to your destination and if you miss 3 they kick you out at that spot you missed the last question and you get no money. If you answer the questions correctly you get the money you earned from each question you answer right.) But What Joel and I have to offer people can last for all eternity. So I was thinking we need to be called "The Jesus Cab"


Life is just too much fun with Jesus. There is never a boring moment.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

The Jesus Cab,
The Butlers