Homes of Hope Edition 

Behold – I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
– Isaiah 43: 19

Another year is flying by! We are now in the latter half of the Spring semester of the 4th year of Equip! As this program year begins to wind down, it’s good to look back over the year and consider where it started.

Three young men joined the program at the end of summer and have learned to live away from their parents, which means learning a lot of responsibility for keeping an apartment. They’ve attended different classes to help encourage them in their walk with Jesus and challenge their perspective of the world and how they see themselves and others with consideration to how Jesus sees them.

They’ve learned skills in the mechanic shop, the auto body shop, in the warehouse, and with grounds maintenance. They’ve helped to make tasty food in the kitchen and assisted with different projects around the ministry.

They’ve also learned some hard things, like how to cope and deal with boredom, how to be without constant electronics/media input, how to show up even when you don’t want to, how to cope with hard feelings and talk through them, and what it looks like to do something kind for a stranger who could never repay you.

We’ve been learning many things along side them this year, as well. We thank God that His ways are higher and that He calls each of us to Himself. We trust Him and the work that He is doing here and that His Word never returns void.

Please continue to pray for us and our students through May! That we can all finish well this year to God’s glory!

Mexico Trip Recap

This year’s Mexico trip started with the house build. We work with Homes of Hope (HOH) and our friends at the YWAM base to construct a house in 3 days for a family in need. This year, it was in the upper 90s during the build without shade on the top of a hill – and we are very fortunate not to have had any heat exhaustion or injuries!

If you’ve never done a construction project with a group of young men, we highly suggest it! These guys were full of energy and did an amazing job working hard for the family!

We were fortunate to have Wyatt, Joel, Thaddeus, and Daniel on the trip with us who already have prior construction or HOH experience!

It was also a blessing to be able to share this trip experience with Nolan’s cousin Thaddeus and Uncle Daniel!

The Hernandez family (mother Selene, oldest son Richie, middle son Dominique, and youngest son Dorlan) had their house built on her father’s property, so we were able to spend time with them and their extended family. They took pride in the build and participated in painting, putting up the walls, and feeding us!

The boys took pride in showing their cousins their new house, where they would sleep, and where they would sit at the table to do their homework. We pray this house is a place of protection, peace, and stability for this sweet family.

Charles, Malakai, and Robby should feel proud of all the work they were able to do for a family they never met before. We pray they will look back on this experience and see the love of Christ demonstrated outwardly toward others – it’s tangible and it’s something everyone gets the opportunity to participate in. God has a plan for this family and for these students for their lives!

We shared the Gospel and the love of Christ with them, but we leave. Our friends stay and will continue to disciple the boys in the youth program and support this family as they get established here.

Daniel and others shared messages about God’s grace and encouragement, examples of how obedience to God’s law brings blessing and abundance. His ways are always higher. He is a Good Father and loves us as His children.

This drug and alcohol rehab has approx. 50 males aged young teens and up currently. Led by two pastors, they see many men and their families restored and come to Jesus.

This community church is run by the women of the low-income community, which popped up on a distribution center land near a canal. The houses are built out of whatever scrap materials they can find. Drugs, alcohol, and violence is rampant here. Despite their lack, they hold a church service and kids program weekly, supported by Pastor Adrian.

The youth program in El Barriel (The Barrel), which is the community that we have now built two Homes of Hope. Every Wednesday, the children hear a lesson and participate in the soccer program. The girls are being taught how to do nails professionally, so that they can have a skill to make some money for themselves and their families one day.

The boys of the Hernandez family participate in this program and receive weekly discipleship.

We were able to take a break the one day with our friends, get out of the city, and go for a hike! It was gorgeous! We were able to go swimming in the bright blue mountain water. It was very cold – our Mexican friends thought we were crazy, but coming from winter in Pennsylvania, we found it to be very refreshing after the hike up!

Please join us in praying for:

• The students – that they finish the last two months strong. That the Lord continues to encounter them in everyday conversations and continue to challenge them to go deeper in seeking Him
• The staff as they continue to pour into students through year 4! We are blessed to have such dedicated staff at CMTS who devote every day to serving the Lord and leading by example
• For the future of the Equip program – that God continues to grow and develop the program for His glory and to the benefit of us and others
• Funding for the Equip program – we run on donation and student tuition (which we keep very low for affordability)
• Funding for CMTS as a whole, which runs solely on donations – That the Lord continues to provide for the needs of those who serve HIm.

Thank you for reading!

Nolan and Jenny Lapp