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Thankful for Jesus!

lynette@derey.net — 2010-11-25T14:11:46-06:00

I am soooo thankful today for Jesus, His love, and the opportunity to know HIM!!! If you are reading this post and are not sure what it means to know Jesus, I would love to share this with you.

God is perfect, and He created each of us. We are unique and divinely loved by Him. Due to the choices we have made in life that are outside of God’s perfection, this world is broken and our lives to some degree or another are broken as well. The choices we have made have severed our relationship with God. The consequence for these choices and missing the mark of God’s perfection, is separation from Him.

However, God loves us so much, that although each of us has in some way or another taken action to pull away from Him, He took the separation from Himself that should have been upon us, and placed it on His son Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross 2000 years ago and took upon Himself the very essence of separation from God.

Three days later, He defeated death and rose again, conquering the power of death and separation from God forever!

Today, we have the opportunity to receive this precious gift of life that God offers us through His Son Jesus! He offers us the opportunity to have our relationship to God restored again! The Bible says, in the book of Romans- chapter 10- verses 9 through 10: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Saved from what? Saved from separation from God now and forever. Jesus came so that we could live life to its fullest- so that we could have a relationship with God restored again despite the fact that each of us has in some way or another chosen to turn our own way, .

I hope that this Thanksgiving you will find hope and encouragement in this good news!!! That God loves you, and that while we have tried to push God out of our lives, He has sought to lovingly draw near to us! Truly something to be grateful for!!!!

I pray that through Jesus’ sacrifice you will allow God to draw near to you today!

Love to all of you and a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Lynette

Praise God!!!

lynette@derey.net — 2010-09-23T22:48:28-05:00

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has appointed me to preach the good news to the poor, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise in stead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3a

Hello Everyone,

It is so awesome to know that the scripture above describes our Savior- Jesus Christ!

As many of you know, on March 23rd, 2010, my dad was rushed into surgery after results of his MRI showed an infection in his lower spine that was moving up the spinal chord. The doctor's told my step mother "he has to go into surgery NOW. Every moment counts." My father had been in extreme pain, and by the time he went into surgery he did not have sensation from the waist down.

It feels like just the other day that I was eagerly praying in the waiting room while my father was in surgery. In the middle of the night, the surgeon came to tell us that they had completed the surgery and that the infection was one of the worst if not the worst of its kind that the neuro-surgeon had ever seen. We listened intently as he told us that he did all he could to give my father the best chance of recovery. At the time, I wasn't quite sure what that meant.

We went into the recovery room where my dad was still drowsy from anasthesia. There, we prayed over him and I sang him a worship song. I later found out that he could hear me singing to him that night and that he was encouraged by it.

One week following his surgery, my dad was asking me questions about prayer and about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. On March 31st, 2010, just one week after his surgery, my father prayed to ask Jesus into his heart!!! A decision that forever changed Him and gave him true and everlasting life!!! Thank You God!!!!!!!

For the next three and a half weeks, my father remained in intensive and critical care, where he began to listen to audio sermons and teachings about God's Word, the Bible. My dad listened intently and soaked up truth as he listened.

He was later moved to a regular hospital room where he began to listen to scripture on the audio Bible. My dad would pray throughout the days and the nights as he was in the hospital where he stayed for about 4 months.

When the time came for my father to be moved to impatient rehab, he had no place to go as he did not have insurance going into the surgery. He had applied for rehab at the county's hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Miami, and had been denied. Coming to the edge of his time at the local hospital and when he could not stay there much longer, God miraculously opened the doors for him to be moved to Healthsouth Rehab hospital in the southern part of Miami. It was such a reminder that God always knows what's best for us, even when our hearts and minds are set on something different.

At Healthsouth, my father received EXCELLENT care and attention. He began intense physical and occupational therapy and grew in strength, encouragement, and in Christ. Praise the Lord!

In mid-August, my father was released from Healthsouth as his insurance would not pay for additional impatient therapy. For the first time in over 4 months, my father went home! Yesterday, my father completed his outpatient physical therapy evaluation at the county hospital where in August, he was accepted to attend outpatient therapy! Praise God!!! He will start his outpatient physical therapy sessions next week and will also be receiving occupational therapy.

Most of all, my father continues to grow in his walk with the Lord!!! This is the greatest gift!!!!

Today, is the sixth month mark from my father's surgery. We reflect on the miracles that God has worked. We thank Him for the life He has given my dad, we thank Him for the continued healing and recovery for his body, we praise Him for His provision, and we give Him heartfelt thanks for His salvation and hand on my father's life!!!!

I thank each and every one of you for your prayers for my father!!!!!!! He has asked me to please thank every one who has been praying!!!!

Please continue praying for my father's continued healing and for all that God desires to do in and through his life! Thank you so much!!!

Below, I have included a journal entry that I wrote on August 4th while my father was in the rehab hospital in southern Miami. I hope it will give you a glimpse into the miracle of what God has done and is doing! May God bless each of you! Much Love, Lynette

August 4th, 2010:

Last night while visiting my dad at the rehab hospital, one of the nurse assistants came in when we were just finishing praying. When she asked us if we wanted her to leave, my dad said that she did not have to leave and explained what we were doing. She said she would like to listen and as we prayed, she quietly bowed her head and held her hands together. After we finished praying she said how beautiful it was.

I learned that she came from a Muslim and Catholic background as she grew up in the Latin community. She said that she currently works with an elderly woman who was a preacher in Jamaica and who is always talking to her about God. Mercy says that her employer is always making her read scripture out loud as part of her care taking duties to her. I smiled as I looked back at her and said "you're there for a reason." "That's exactly what she says!" Mercy replied.

We continued to talk about the Lord, and Mercy expressed how she has seen God at work in her life and how every time she tries to leave her employer, something continues to keep her there. We prayed for Mercy and a short while later, I left. Today I found out that my dad continued to speak to Mercy when I was gone, telling her that she needs to believe, and fully surrender to God, because that is where she will truly see what it is like to have Him in her life. He told her that it is not just about knowing about him, but surrendering to him!

When he shared this news with me today, I said "dad, that is so awesome! God is using you to share His good news!" My dad responded by saying "Yup, I want my life to be used by Him to share the good news. Whatever He tells me to do, I want to do it. I want my life to be lived in obedience. His command is what I do." This was such a joy to me and I said "Dad, that's what truly living is all about." He responded "Yes, that's what living is. It took me a long time to figure it out, but it's true."

As I left the hospital room into the halls and out to the parking lot, I smiled and I laughed, and I thought about all of the times as a little girl and adolescent that I would pray for my dad and try to tell him about Jesus through Christmas cards and poems that I would write. I thought about the conversations that I would try to have with him about Jesus. I thought about the years of praying and waiting, and hoping that He would give his life to Jesus. And I thought about today and this moment-how sweet, how beautiful, how absolutely divine!

God knew of this day all along! He knew when my dad would come to know Him. He knew that we would have these last four months of hospitalization to dig into His Word and grow in His truth, He knew that my dad's life would be saved from physical and spiritual death, and He has given my dad a heart to follow Him no matter what!

God, for all of these things and so much more, I am eternally grateful!!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank you!!!!

My heart rises up in praise to You for great things You have done and are doing!!!!

Amen!!!

Kirsten Nelson to Costa Rica

lynette@derey.net — 2010-06-09T19:53:42-05:00

Flooding in Nashville

lynette@derey.net — 2010-05-09T21:24:22-05:00

Hello Everyone,

As you may know, I have been in Miami over the past 4 months although I previously was living in Nashville, which is where the Artists in Christian Testimony International Offices are located. Below, please see a note from Byron Spradlin of A.C.T. International on ways that we can help those that are a part of A.C.T. and were recently affected by the flooding. If you are unable to click on the link below, you may go to www.actinternational.org for more information on how to help. Thank you so much and I again, thank you for your prayers and support for my father!!! I will be writing an update on his progress in the next few days! Lynette

A.C.T. Intl Families Hit Hard by Flood

It was a very humbling experience to watch people I do not even know try to salvage my photo albums, wash mud off of my furniture, mop floors, and pump out water from under my house. When I was completely exhausted another wave of helpers would drive up in a truck with great joy and comfort to strengthen our weary hands. It is an awesome and beautiful experience to see the body of Christ rally together and help those in need.

We also had the most unique experience of having the National Guard evacuate us. Five huge trucks came to get the people out of the neighborhood. They had to use boats to get people out around my house. They said the water was rising another four feet and we had 15 minutes to gather our things and get out. Through all of this the Lord gave us great strength of spirit and peace of heart. There was even great laughter in the truck as we realized that some of the men had grabbed the women's shoes in the crazy rush.

I am thankful for all the people who came to help after our house was surrounded by a 4 foot river. Churches came by & brought water, food & hands ready to work. We tore out all the damaged drywall in the garage. AC unit, furnace, & hot water heater were destroyed. Because of the fast current, our landscaping was torn up. Today, we begin the process of trying to salvage some of our landscape.

Thanks again for your prayers, emails and FB posts,
Sharon and Bob

Would you like to help?

Flood Relief Fund, we will distribute these funds to those within or partners with our ministry who need help.

To make a donation Click Here

Thank you for your support and prayers.

The testimony above from one of our A.C.T. Intl ministry staff is just one of many stories of families across the state of TN devastated by the record breaking flood last weekend. Some of the hardest hit families are right here in the Nashville area, including some of our A.C.T. Intl staff.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to our special

Thank You for Your Prayers!!!

lynette@derey.net — 2010-04-14T23:31:58-05:00

Hello Everyone!!!

God is working miracles in my father's life and I thank you so much for your prayers for him!!!! I wanted to send you an update of what has been taking place over the last week and a half!

Spiritually, my dad is so hungry for Jesus and so honest and vulnerable in his crying out to the Lord for help. He continually asks me to pray for a miracle for him to be able to use his legs and walk again. Often we pray together while I am at the hospital, and many times my father prays out loud saying things like "Jesus, I need you. Jesus I want you in my heart. Jesus I want you to guide me and show me the way..." These prayers are precious, and I know God hears every one of them and is right there at my father's side!

My church in Miami uses a CD sermon series by Andy Stanley to help new believers grow in the faith and in their understanding of God's Word. My mom gave me a copy of one of these lesson books including the CD's, and I have been taking it, along with my computer, and most importantly the Bible, when I go to see my dad.

We have listened to at least 4 sermons already, including topics such as grace and salvation, eternity, intimacy with the Holy Spirit, God's promise to Abraham and the implications of how we are to trust God in our lives, and a sermon about "how good is good enough", and the idea that we don't get to heaven by being good, but rather by being forgiven. My dad is so eager to hear God's Word and has been listening attentively to all of the teachings, while sometimes asking questions about God when we are just sitting and talking.

Sometimes, we sing worship songs. The other day, I played him a DVD clip from Nicole C. Mullen singing "Redeemer". Little did I know, that the sermon we woud listen to immediately following this clip would talk about the idea of being redeemed, and would refer to the life of Job, who himself said "i know my redeemer lives."

My dad is also very eager to pray. We spend a lot of time praying together in the hospital and agreeing together in prayer. Sometimes I pray, and sometimes he prays. I must say that his prayers have really touched my heart, as they are so vulnerable before the Lord and are a sincere cry to Him.

Thank you so much for your prayers for my father to be rooted in Christ!!!! I can so evidently see how God is rooting him in HIS truth and it is truly awesome!!!! Please continue to keep him in your prayers!!!!! I have told him that many people are praying for him, and it is a real encouragement to him. Also, I have read some of your notes to him, and will be taking over more of your notes later this week:) They are truly an encouragement to him as well, and they provide a breath of fresh air from the world outside of the hospital. They remind him that you really are out there, and you really are praying:) If you would like to send a note of encouragement or prayer to him, please feel free to send it to Lynettederey@gmail.com and i will be sure to pass it along to him.

Physically, my dad is still in ICU. The infection that they were battling late last week, seems to be gone and this is another huge answer to prayer. Additionally, he had a stage three bed sore on his back, that I believe is healing much better using special equipment at the hospital to work with these kinds of wounds. They took out the remainder of his drainage tubes from the surgery, took out some of the stitches, and then apparently did some re-stitching. I'm not exactly sure why.

His doctor has been talking ahead towards rehabilitation and therapy, which is a huge blessing and something to look forward to! We don't know exactly what the process will be, as my father does not have medical insurance. However, I trust that God will lead the way in everything!

Being in a hospital for an extended period of time, really helps to put a lot of things in perspective about life and what really matters in life. Yesterday, I met a woman whose husband has been in I.C.U. or C.C.U. for over one year due a a stroke. She faithfully comes to the hospital every morning before work, and every evening after work to be with her husband until about 11 PM. She acknowledged how lonely and difficult the journey can be, as many times family does not even come to visit any longer. Her husband is 58 years old. I told her that I would keep them in my prayers as well, and ask you to join me for full healing and recovery for her husband also.

I am truly in awe of how God is at work and what He is doing in my father's life! Please continue praying for continued growth and rootedness in Christ, and total and complete healing and restoration for the glory of God and for the growth of His kingdom!!!!

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" Mark 10:27

Thank you so much!!!

Blessings, grace, and peace in HIM,

Lynette:)
(305) 431-6494 Cell

Prayer for My Father

lynette@derey.net — 2010-04-06T15:15:00-05:00

The last few weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of emotions and I am wanting to take time to share with all of you what has been taking place in my family, with the hopes that you will join me in prayer.

Two weeks ago, my father went to the hospital for terrible back pain. After an M.R.I., the doctor determined that my father had an infection in his lower spine, that needed immediate emergency surgery. Every second counted and from what I understand, within about half an hour of the decision, they had my father prepared for surgery.

I went to the hospital that evening to wait while my father was in surgery. When the surgeon came out, he informed us that the infection in my father's spine was amongst the worst he's ever seen. He informed us that he removed the infection and tried to give us a better understanding of what he saw. He said that he did note some nerves in the lower spine that the infection seemed to have started damaging. He informed us that recovery varies from person to person.
They allowed us to go back to the recovery room, where my father was recovering from surgery. Although his eyes were closed, and he was on the respirator, I began to talk with him, pray for him, and sing worship songs to him. He moved a bit as we shared with him as if trying to respond.
He later told my sister that he could hear everything I said and that he could hear me singing. Praise the Lord!

Later that day, they removed the respirator and my father was much more alert and speaking- Praise the Lord!

Two weeks after the surgery, my father is still in I.C.U., where they are continuing to treat him with massive antibiotics to combat any and all infection. Thus far, my father has feeling all of the way down to his toes. He has moved his right toes a little bit- Praise the Lord!!!

I ask you to please join me first and foremost in praying for my dad spiritually. Last week he asked Jesus to come into his life and to be the king of his life!!! Praise the Lord!!!! He has been asking a lot of questions about God and truly desires closeness with him. Please pray that He will experience Jesus's peace in a way that surpasses all understanding. He has been asking a lot of questions about God and he truly desires closeness with him. Please pray for believers to come to the hospital and encourage him in his faith and to help him to continue to grow in Christ! My grandma's pastor went to the hospital yesterday, and is planning on returning today! Another huge praise!!!

Please also pray for all of my family members who may not know Jesus, to truly surrender their lives completely to Jesus in this time.

Please pray for my father's physical healing. We know that God is the divine physician and that he can do what no earthly doctor can do. Please pray for the removal of any and all infection in my father's body and for his immune system to be strengthened. Please pray for full healing of all wounds in his body. Please pray for full restoration of the nerves and the ability to move his legs, walk, and run!

Thank you so much for joining with me in these prayers!!! I know that when God's people pray, great things happen, because we lean on and depend completely on God, and we know that with God, all things are possible!

If you would like to send an e-mail message for me to give to my father, please feel free to send it to Lynettederey@gmail.com, and I will be sure to pass it along to him.

Thank you again with all of my heart for your prayers and support in this time!!!

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13-16

Grace and Peace in HIM,

Lynette

Junior Dance Company

lynette@derey.net — 2010-02-02T22:15:52-06:00

Hello Everyone! I thank you for your prayers for Haiti, and ask that you continue to keep the people of your Haiti in your prayers as the journey of restoration and healing continues. As of this January, I am living at home in Miami and am working here as well. I came here primarily in an effort to spend a season of time closer to my family and grandparents. It is my desire to continue the ministry projects taking place through De Rey Ministries in Nashville, while continuing to expand and grow in new ministry opportunities as well! As many of you may know last fall, we began a Junior Dance Company in Franklin, TN. The focus of the company is to mentor young people, ages 8-18 in the arts, and to help them use the gifts and talents that God has given them to share the truth and love of Christ with others in our local communities and beyond.

This last Christmas, the Junior Dance Company had a chance to perform at the Brentwood Baptist Christmas Concert. It was a joy for these young women to get to share God's love with others through dance, and their faces showed that they were truly grateful for every moment of the opportunity! Please keep the Junior Company in your prayers, as they began the spring season of rehearsals a few weeks ago! Missy Tillman is currently working as the company's choreographer for the start of this season. I am grateful that Missy has been so enthusiastic about working with this ministry and sharing her love for the Lord, and her gifts and talents in the area of dance and choreography. Please pray for Missy as she works with the Junior Dance Company, that the Lord will accomplish all He desires to in and through this group of young women.

I also wanted to share with you about an opportunity I was given several weeks ago, to lead a dance workshop for teen girls at a Korean church in Broward County! It was a really great experience of being able to encourage the girls in the dance ministry and choreography that they have been developing, as well as to pray for them, and share new choreography with them, all the while remembering that the reason we can do anything that we do is because of Christ! I am hoping to have lunch with the director of this dance ministry in the next few days. She has a tremendous heart for the Lord! Please pray for these young women as well as for all of us, that we will grow in Christ and be all He desires us to be!

Prayer for Haiti

lynette@derey.net — 2010-01-28T20:24:19-06:00

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 
Much Love because of HIM,

Lynette
www.derey.net
Lynettederey@gmail.com

HI Everyone! I wanted to write to all of you to encourage you to continue to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers! Personally, I have been burdened to pray for those that have been trapped by the rubble, that God would miraculously sustain them, and provide for them, that He would minister to their hearts and bring them to Himself by the power of His Spirit, and that people would be able to get to them and pull them from the rubble alive. I praise God for the stories of those that have been rescued alive throughout the past week and a half!!!

There is great need, and it is so important that we come before the throne of God to pray for those that are hurting and in need in Haiti. God can work miracles! He can sustain those that otherwise wouldn't have life. He can bring people to Himself even in the midst of this very difficult time. He can breathe life into those who are dying. He can bring hope to those who have given up. He can free those who are trapped. He can answer your prayers, even the ones that seem impossible! With God all things are possible! I have been reminded this week, with the stories of those pulled alive from the rubble one week after the earthquake, that God is working miracles! In light of this, please pray boldly and in faith as the Lord leads you to pray for the people of Haiti. I encourage you to pray for the impossible if He leads you to, because with Him, all things possible---dare to ask to see things through His eyes!

I also encourage you to give as the Lord leads you, to meet the physical needs of those in Haiti at this time. I am so grateful for the prayers and financial gifts that you have given to De Rey Ministries this last year and even this month! Your encouragement and support means so much to me and it truly is a blessing. Even this week, I was almost brought to tears by God's provision and one of the anonymous contributions given by you. I gratefully ask that in the coming few months, if you are planning on giving to De Rey Ministries, you direct your gifts instead to ministry organizations working to bring the people of Haiti the medical, and physical help that they are currently needing. If you are looking for suggestions as to where to give, you may want to consider "Food for the Poor"-www.foodforthepoor.org, and "Samaritan's Purse"- www.samaritanspurse.com. Some of you may also have ministries through your church that are collecting donations to help those in Haiti. Please know that I will be praying for you and stand with you in your prayers for those in Haiti at this time! May His peace and truth be with you and may He bless you for your love for Him and for others!

Merry Christmas!!!

lynette@derey.net — 2009-12-25T20:52:02-06:00

"But the angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in snugly cloth and lying in a manger." Luke 2:11-12

Hi Everyone!

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very special Christmas focused on the true reason for this season! May the peace and truth of Jesus reign in your hearts and homes this Christmas and always!!!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement, prayers, and support for De Rey Ministries over these last 7 months!!! Your presence in my life and your friendship are a blessing to me for which I am truly grateful!!!

As 2009 comes to a close, I am humbly reminded of my desperate need for Jesus and His grace. I am reminded that anything of eternal value that takes place in and through my life, is only through Him by His grace, and certainly by no merit of my own. It is with this in mind, that I would like to share with you some of the ministry events that have taken place this year as a part of De Rey Ministries.

Additionally, I am so excited this Christmas season, to be able to partner with my parents in a ministry effort that they are spear-heading to provide a water well for children in a Sudanese orphanage!

Please see the note, link, and photos below from my mother Lourdes, and prayerfully consider if you might be involved in this exciting opportunity through prayer, giving, or in any other way!

2009 De Rey Ministry Events and Partnerships:

- Cuba :This June, myself and a group of friends, many from University Baptist Church in Miami, took a trip to Cuba where we had the chance to partner with a local church in Havanna that is doing amazing work to impact the world for the Kingdom of God!

-Hong Kong, China: This July, I took a trip to Hong Kong, where we had the chance to partner with "Inner City Ministries" to provide a dance workshop for young girls in Hong Kong. I along with my mom, also had the opportunity to serve as a part of the Brentwood Baptist Church team to Hong Kong, as they hosted a Vacation Bible School for many Nepalese children and other children in Hong Kong.

-Vince Wallace-Peru: This fall we had an opportunity to partner with and pray for Vince Wallace as he journeyed to Peru to investigate the start of a clothing project that could potentially be a tremendous blessing to those in the local Peruvian communities and around the world! For more information on this project, or to get involved, please visit http://www.silverhillimages.com/peru/page5/page5.html

De Rey Ministries Junior Dance Company: This fall, we began the De Rey Ministries Junior Dance Company in Franklin, a group of girls ages 8-17 that meet each week to work on choreography and to use the gifts and talents that God has given them in the area of dance to share Christ's truth and love with others! The vision for this Junior Company is to be a place where young girls are encouraged to grow both spiritually in their relationship with Jesus, as well as artistically and creatively as they become more intimate with the Creator! These young ladies had their first opportunity to perform together in the community on December 12th at the Brentwood Baptist Church Christmas Concert as well as on December 20th in both of the Brentwood Baptist Church morning services in Brentwood, TN!

It is my hope and desire that in the coming year, De Rey Ministries will continue to grow in God's purposes!!! Please pray that God would have His way with this effort and would accomplish His purposes through it! If you would like more information on the ministry or would like to become more involved, please visit www.derey.net.

Again, I thank you with all of my heart for your support this year!!!
I very much look forward to seeking the Lord for His direction, and seeing how the He leads in the coming days and months!

May you and your families have a very blessed Christmas and New Year!!!

Please take a moment to read the note from my mom below, and to view the photos regarding the Sudan Water Project!

Thank you!!!!

Because of HIM,

Lynette Villa de Rey
www.derey.net

Dear Friends, Relatives & Colleagues,

First of all, thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time to read this important message .

Imagine living without family or clean water? That’s the reality for 120 children at St. Bartholomew's orphanage. I found out about their predicament through my friend Jose Nunez, a selfless young man who has been doing humanitarian work in Sudan for years. Jose has contracted malaria 8 times during his time in Sudan but he keeps going back because his struggles are nothing compared to the daily plight of these children.

After hearing the anecdotes and seeing the precious faces , my heart was stirred to join him in this journey by helping him drill a well (bore hole) for these precious children. The lack of clean water affects their health and their every day existence.

The organization that drills the wells will be in this remote area of Sudan in January. This water project consists of a bore hole with electric pump powered by existing solar panels, an elevated water holding tank and plumbing to the surrounding buildings. The cost of the project is $20,000 USD but CH Global has a donor who will match our contribution, thus we have to raise $10,000 by January 10, 2010 in order to provide these children and their community with the gift of clean water. I believe that together we can do it.

Please check out the link below, attached brochure & picture as well as Jose’s email at the bottom to get a glimpse of the situation.

www.tobybrooks.com/WaterProject/

PLEASE DON'T STOP HERE. There are 2 ways to give.

·                   You can send your tax deductible contribution through Horse Tamer Ministry, 3915 Toledo St., Coral Gables, FL 33134. My husband Sal and I guarantee that every penny raised will go to this project. Visit www.HorseTamerMinistry.org

·                   You can make a tax deductible credit card contribution online through www.chglobal.org (enter  "water for Sudan" in the comment area). CH Global is the organization partnering with Jose as he serves the people of Sudan & other countries.

Please feel free to call Jose, Sal or myself if you have any questions. Our phone numbers & email addresses are listed below.
Also, please share this information with your friends & family. We will notify everyone as soon as we reach our goal.

May you experience an abundant dose of God's blessings as you give to those in need.

Lulu Landa
(305) 431-6484 Lulu llanda@med.miami.edu
(305) 491-9234 Sal horsetamer@bellsouth.net
(786) 380-6860 Jose jnunez@chglobal.org

Winston Churchill said, "We make a living through what we get, but we make a life through what we give."

-----Original Message-----
From: Jose Nunez [mailto:jnunez@chglobal.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 6:14 PM
To: Landa, Lourdes
Subject: Water for children in Sudan Africa

Hello Lourdes, Sal & Lianne,

It was great to see you the other evening and share some the profound anecdotes that occurred to me during my stay at the orphanage in Sudan, Africa.

As I mentioned to you, there are 120 children, 30 of which are newborns. While I lived with them I experienced many hardships and difficulties that originated mainly from an insufficiency of water. I remember medically treating children with severe infections on their skin and hair scalp, these infections were primarily provoked from the unsanitary environment they children were constantly subjected to. While I resided with them I had no choice but to consume the water that was available and as a result contracted gastrointestinal parasites several times, which were found in large quantities in the water that they have no choice, but to consume.

Though there was never a minute of physical respite while living and sharing struggles with them, our pain and suffering was constantly alleviated by the faithful support that CH Global offered. CH Global is an organization that financially supports the orphanage. The children's nutrition, shelter and well being undoubtedly depend on the constant support from CH Global, but due to their large involvement with the children, CH Global is now having limitations when it comes to providing sufficient clean water. This is the reason why I write to you today.

Taking into account all the expenses, labor and materials, the total cost of the water project is 20k USD. This project will assure that all the children have clean and potable water. I am encouraged by your desire to be a part of this beautiful cause. Below are multiple links to websites that contain photographs which portray the beautiful lives and faces of the children. I hope to hear from you soon.

Truly yours,
Jose
www.tobybrooks.com/WaterProject/
www.chglobal.org

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Life in Thompsons Station

lynette@derey.net — 2009-09-08T14:04:57-05:00

Hi Friends!

I sincerely apologize that it has been over a month since I have written! I hope that this blog entry will provide some insight into the most recent happenings in my life and will provide a glimpse into where I am at on this journey of life!

I must say, that during my time in Hong Kong, I missed home (the United States) more than I have on probably any other mission's journey. This is interesting being that Hong Kong is a city that I am quite familiar with and that I really do love to visit. However, on this particular journey, I found myself with a continual longing to be home.

On the last night of our trip in Hong Kong, my mom and I found out that my grandma was in the hospital in intensive care. As you can imagine, it is quite difficult to be on the other side of the world, knowing that one of your family members is in intensive care and that it will be a good 24 hours or more before you can reach the hospital. I spent a great portion of the night, on my knees praying for my grandma and for God's healing for her. I give HIM praise that He kept her stable and recovering!!! He provided my mom and I with a speedy return to the states (we were flying standby internationally, so this is definitely a miracle), and we were able to be reunited with my grandma in the hospital the next evening! I stayed in the Miami with my family for about a week as my grandma continued to recover and I had the opportunity to visit with loved ones. My grandma is currently doing well, has been at home for over a month, and has recovered greatly- PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!

I returned to Nashville in August. It is good to be home, but it has also been quite lonely at times.

After being with family, friends, and traveling literally around the country and the world for the past 3 months, being home without family or roomates has been difficult at times. There has been a lot of transition for me in the last 3 months and perhaps for this reason, I feel the loneliness a bit more than usual.

I had planned on traveling to India and possibly Peru this fall to be involved in art's related ministry in both places, but quite honestly, I do not have the funds to do so at this time. I also am living in the reality of having to find work locally in order to pay a mortgae, and every day bills. Emotionally, I have felt all over the place with travels and the life changes that have taken place. For all of these reasons, I felt that perhaps God wanted me to settle down this fall and remain rooted in a local community here in the states. Therefore, I have decided not to pursue the trips to India and Peru for this fall.

However, these mission journeys are still taking place! One of my hopes with De Rey Ministries was not only to use the arts to share God's truth and love with others, but to partner with others who are also using the arts to share God's truth and love. I believe that the upcoming trip to Peru is a great opportunity to do just that! Therefore, I am very excited to share with you about my friend Vince Wallace who is one of the team members planning on using the arts in some amazing ways to share God's love with the people of Peru this month!!! I encourage you to visit the following link to learn more about the hopes and dreams he has for this mission journey and to prayerfully consider partnering with him on this journey!
The link is:

www.silverhillimages.com/peru/index.html

You can also click on the "Partner With Me" tab on his site if you feel led to partner with Vince on this journey!

I am excited to have the privilege to be a part of this ministry opportunity!

With regards to my work, I have begun working part time at a local dance studio near my home in Thompsons Station, TN! The way that this job came about is a tremendous blessing from the Lord! I started with one class, a week, and the Lord has now provided 12!!! He is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider. I am learning more and more in this season about what it means to trust Him for His provision and the importance of walking in obedience, and in step with His Spirit. I am prayerfully considering if there is another city where He wants me, and am seeking to be sensitive and open to where He may take me. However, while I am in TN I want to take advantage of the opportunity to be a light in the community where He has placed me! I am also prayerfully considering beginning a Junior Dance Company with children and youth ages 8-13. This dance company would involve teaching young people choreography with messages of truth that can be shared in churches as well as at other community events. I believe that this would also be a great opportunity to mentor young dancers about the importance of living our lives for Christ totally and completely.

Please pray for me, that I would walk with Jesus in His wisdom and truth and that I would keep in step with His Spirit. I would also love to know how I can pray for you! Please don't hesitate to contact me at Lynette@derey.net or at Lynettederey@gmail.com with any prayer requests or thoughts you'd like to share.

To those of you who have given to De Rey Ministries, you may not know the incredible encouragement, and blessing you have been to me!!!! Your gifts have touched my heart and have ministered to me in a profound way! Please accept my sincere thanks for your giving that means so much! I pray that the gifts you have sown will continue to bear fruit for His glory! If you would like to continue giving to future De Rey ministry projects, please click on the "Donate" tab on the derey.net website. Thank you so much!!!!!

I will try to do a much better job of keeping this blog updated in the coming days and weeks! Thank you for your friendship, love, and prayers!

Blessings, grace, and peace in HIM,

Lynette Villa de Rey:)
Lynette@derey.net
Lynettederey@gmail.com
www.derey.net

Reflections from Hong Kong

lynette@derey.net — 2009-08-01T23:21:57-05:00

I arrived in the states earlier today from the trip to Hong Kong! I apologize for not writing more while I was away. I hope that some of these pictures will give you a glimpse into the journey!

Preparing to leave Atlanta on the way to Tokyo. We were flying standby because of my mom's former airline work. When you fly standby, you accept whatever seats you are given. You also have to be willing to be flexible as seats are not always available when you want to get on a flight. Little did we know that the flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong would be delayed for a day and then cancelled altogether. This led to our being in Tokyo for two and a half days- not bad, considering that it once took people months upon months to travel from one side of the world to the other!

One of our first views of Japan from the air.

We're back in the Tokyo airport on the second day, to see if we can get on a flight to Hong Kong. However, our flight is cancelled and the next flight is completely full.

Our third day in Tokyo and our final attempt to catch a flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. We are able to get on a flight! - A blessing!

Arrived in Hong Kong! Praise the Lord!

Our first day at Vacation Bible School in Hong Kong! These are some of the young men in the older children's class where my mom volunteered.

Singing with the VBS worship team and the children!

The first day of a dance workshop I held after Vacation Bible School! A lot of the children love to dance and were excited about the opportunity to have a dance practice after VBS! It was a blessing for me to get to be a part of this time with them!

This is my friend Janice who I met two years ago on my first visit to Hong Kong. Janice takes a week off of work each time that we come, so that she can help us and be our Hong Kong liason. We are so grateful for her friendship and her love for God! She is truly a blessing!

More singing at VBS with the VBS worship team---Jamie and Courtney!

Spending time at dinner with friends Oscar and Faith who I had the privilege of meeting last summer! They are a part of the church in Hong Kong where we held Vacation Bible School last year.

This young VBS attender was having an amazing time throughout the week. He was probably the youngest child with us each day and he loved to dance and sing. He brought a smile to my face each time I saw him. "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew 19:14.

My mom and I at Lamma Island, an outlying island of Hong Kong. I am so glad that my mom was able to come to Hong Kong with me this year!

The 3rd-4th graders that I had the privilege of working with at Vacation Bible School in Hong Kong!

My mom Lulu, (on the far right in red), with the older children that she worked with during the week!

Some of our precious new friends from Vacation Bible School! The two young girls in the center and on the far right, prayed to receive Christ into their lives for the first time while at Vacation Bible School. They come from a Muslim and a Buddhist background.

My mom and I with our dear friend Shanti. Shanti was previously Buddhist and lived in Nepal. Having experienced some very difficult life circumstances, she sought to take her own life. However, God protected her and she is alive today! Upon coming to Hong Kong, she met Caroline from "Inner City Ministries", and came to know Jesus personally. She is an amazing woman of God who desires to share God's truth and love with others! I met Shanti and learned of her story, last year when I came to Hong Kong. I was very grateful for the opportunity to see her again this year and to hear more about how God is at work in her life and how her desire to serve HIM continues to grow!

My mom and I with our new friend Dawn. Dawn works with Caroline and Bonnie (of inner city ministries) as a full time staff member. She is originally from Nepal and is a chef. She cooks absolutely delicious Nepalese food (which we got to taste firsthand)! She assists with cooking and ministering to the children at the ICM facilities in Hong Kong! I was told by one of the other ICM staff members that Dawn and Caroline sometimes spend 7 days a week at the ICM center seeking to minister to the children and others who have great needs both physically and spiritually. At the same time, Dawn and Caroline do not have a lot themselves. They share a very small apartment with no window or air conditioning in a very hot hong kong! Please pray for them and for the ministry they are doing, that God would continue to use them so that many captives might be "set free!"

Family night at Vacation Bible School! The children had a chance to invite their parents to a presentation on Friday night where they shared many of the songs that they had been learning throughout the week. The good news about how to know Jesus personally was shared with all of the parents! It was a great night!!!

Some of the Nepalese girls dancing at Family Night. These are some of the girls I met last year when I came to Hong Kong. They were very sad when we left last year, and they are a large part of the reason why I felt it was important for us to come back. Some of them have difficult family situations and struggles they are facing. I believe it is important for them to know that we have not forgotten about them and that we are praying for them! They also love to dance and attended the dance workshop after VBS. My hope is that having this opportunity to pour into their lives through an art form that they love so much, will truly minister to their hearts and help them to continue striving towards Christ for the true life that is found only in HIM!

Final Goodbyes:) This was our final photo with some of our friends from Hong Kong and Inner City Ministries!

Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed for us on this journey!!! We saw awesome miracles of transformed hearts and lives while on this trip, and I sense that God was and is at work in ways even bigger than what we have physically seen with our eyes! I ask that you continue to keep Inner City Ministries and its staff (Caroline, Bonnie, and Dawn), in your prayers. Please also prayerfully consider giving financially to the work that they are doing in Hong Kong. If you would like more information on Inner City Ministries, or how to give financially to Inner City Ministries, please visit www.innercityministries.org, or email icmjordan@biznetvigator.com.

Also, if you would like to give financially towards De Rey Ministries, please visit the "donate" tab on this website. This will lead you to the Artists in Christian Testimony International website, where you can search for De Rey Ministries to make a financial gift.

Thank you so much!!!! May God bless you!!!

Lynette:)

Hong Kong Day 1!

lynette@derey.net — 2009-07-28T09:51:58-05:00

We arrived in Hong Kong late last night after about two and a half days of being in Tokyo! Today was our first day of VBS! I had the opportunity to work with third and fourth graders and my mom had the opportunity to work with the older children and youth. It was great to see some of my dear friends from Hong Kong again! Some of the children stayed after VBS to be a part of a dance workshop that we did this afternoon. We hope to be able to continue the workshop each day throughout the week! I also hope to be able to post some photos of our time here in the next few days.

In Tokyo-On the Way to Hong Kong

lynette@derey.net — 2009-07-25T07:10:17-05:00

My mom and I are on the way to Hong Kong where we will be meeting a group of friends to help host a Vacation Bible School for children through "Inner City Ministries." As a part of my time in Hong Kong, I will also be helping to host a dance workshop throughout the week for some of the children and youth from Inner City Ministries! My friend Caroline, who works with ICM in Hong Kong, informed me that the children are expecting me to teach the dance classes and are already working on some of their traditional dance forms to share with all of us!

This will be my third visit to Hong Kong and I am very much looking forward to returning. It is a very special trip as I originally did not know if it would be feasible for me to return this year. However, God has been providing for every aspect of the journey in amazing ways! For me, it will be very sweet to see friends that we have made in the past, and to show the children at ICM by our returning, that we have not forgotten about them!

I am especially grateful that my mom is able to be with me on this trip!

We were originally planning on arriving in Hong Kong this evening (Saturday morning in CST). However, our flight fro Tokyo to Hong Kong has been delayed until tomorrow morning. We are in a hotel this evening and will head out for the airport in the morning. I hope to be able to share more stories from this journey throughout the week!

Because of HIM,

Lynette:)

Cuba Photos!

lynette@derey.net — 2009-07-24T00:46:14-05:00

This evening I received some of the photos from the trip to Cuba! My dear friend and photographer Vince took these photographs. He did an amazing job capturing some of the essence of Habana and our time there. I am so excited to share with you a glimpse into the people of Cuba and the country that my parents and grandparents once called "home."

On the plane heading to Cuba for the first time!!!

One of our first views of Cuba from the air! Amazing to see the place that my family once called home- a place that is so close to where I grew up, yet always seemed so far away.

The room where I spent my first night in Habana.

Getting water in Habana. Very important to stay hydrated in the heat!

The place where we ate our meals each day. Truly a blessing!

My first meeting with Migdalia, a relative by marriage. We walked quite a few blocks from our hotel, to find her home!

Some of the guys playing basketball at the youth outreach in the park.

Some of the youth, and even a few adults at the park wanted to learn dance, so my friend Tara and I were teaching them a dance combination!

Some of the guys from the church in Cuba are amazing Hip Hop dancers!!! They were great and so much fun to hang out with!!!!

More dancing in the park:)

Some of the youth we met at the park. Marlo on the left, accepted Christ as His Savior at the church, on the final Sunday that we were in Habana. Praise the Lord!!!

Some of the younger boys wanted to learn a dance combination as well.

Meeting more of my family for the first time. On the left, my third cousin Niurka and on my right, my great aunt Irma! Truly a blessing to meet them!

A family photo with my cousins and great aunts who live in Cuba! Everyone in this photo I had never met before coming to Cuba!

Tara and I were invited to dance with the dance team of the church in Cuba:) It was great to be able to dance with them in praise and worship at their church in Habana!!

My last day in Habana. I am searching for the home where my mom grew up. I have the address, and I am close:) This is the street that my mom would have played in as a child!

Found it!!!

Wow! Amazing!!! This is where my mom grew up!!!! She has never been back since she left after the Revolution.
This is also the home where my grandma owned a school. The second floor of the home was a school. The government took the school away from her after the revolution 50 years ago! I am so grateful I had the chance to see this home first hand!

I then went to find the home where my great aunt's live. I was greeted ever so warmly by my great aunt Olga. I found out upon my arrival, that this is also the home where my father and grandfather grew up!!! It is also the home where my great aunt's grew up! Wow!

Chatting and catching up!!! In the case of my great aunt Isis (on the left), we were meeting for the first time ever! These are two of the sisters of my grandfather Jorge who passed away in March of this year. Irma in one of the pictures above, is his other sister. All of them wanted to know more about what happened to my grandfather and how our family was doing. I had the opportunity to share with them the miracle that before passing away, my grandfather gave His heart to Jesus!!! My great aunt Irma heard the Gospel from the Cuban Pastor on the day I met her. She later assured me, that she also was going to ask Jesus into her heart!!! God You are so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another special moment for which I am so grateful to the Lord!!!!!!

I hope that I will have the opportunity to return to Cuba to visit again! I ask that you keep the people of Cuba in your prayers for many to continue to know Christ, and for the continued growth and strengthening of His church!!! Thank You Lord for the privilege of allowing me to be on this very special journey!!!!!!!

Cuba Mission Journey Update!

lynette@derey.net — 2009-07-03T10:29:07-07:00

Hi Everyone!!!

Thank you so much for your desire to be updated on my life and on what is taking place in and through De Rey Ministries. The last month has been one of a great deal of transition and change! I have been reminded that although I am not worthy to know God or share His truth with others, God is gracious, loves us, and uses us in the midst of our shortcomings.

CUBA MISSION JOURNEY UPDATE!
Last week, I had the opportunity to embark on the first international journey of this new season of life! Interestingly enough, the journey that I took was to Cuba! For those who may not know, my family is from Cuba and came to the United States shortly before and after the revolution took place there.

I had never been to Cuba before, and can say that it was a powerful and emotional time. Myself, several others, and a team from my home church in Miami worked with a church in Havana who truly believe and live out the fact that Christ came to set the captives free!!! This church seeks to go to those who are in bondage to drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, and homosexuality, and share the truth and love of Christ with them! Many who have been set free in Christ, are now leaders within the church who are returning to the places from which they came to proclaim Christ to others who do not know Him and who also need freedom in Christ!

As a part of this trip, myself, along with my friend Tara, had the opportunity to teach some dance steps to children and teenagers out in the park "curita" in Old Havana. As we danced, adults began to join in as well, including a man who seemed to be a recovering alcoholic, and a woman who seemed to be homeless and pleaded with us to come back the next day and teach some more dance steps. One of the young men who was working with us on learning the dance routines, accepted Christ as His Savior later in the week when he came to church and responded to an invitation to accept Christ as His Savior! How great is our God!!!!

MEETING WITH FAMILY
Perhaps the greatest personal highlight of my trip, was the opportunity to meet with family in Havana that I have never met before! The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to meet great aunts, second and third and even fourth cousins! I had the chance to talk about Jesus with my great aunt, who had very evidently been sensing a spiritual void in her life. After hearing the pastor talk about inviting Jesus into her life, she assured me, that this is what she is going to do!!! Also, one of my family's friends who came to the family gathering lunch that we had on Sunday afternoon accepted Christ as her Savior and came to church that afternoon! I also had 5 additional family members who came to church with us that afternoon although most had not yet accepted Christ as their Savior! Praise the Lord! How Great is our God!

On my thirtieth birthday, June 29th, the Lord blessed me with an incredible day! He allowed me to spend the first half of the day in Cuba, seeing the home where my grandma ran a school and where my mom grew up in "El Vedado" outside of Havana, as well as the home where my grandfather, great aunts, uncle, and father grew up! It was amazing!!!! Later in the day I had the chance to come home to Miami, where a house full of family was waiting for me to greet me for my birthday and celebrate our return! We sat around the dinner table sharing what I had just experienced and recounting stories! Some of my family cried as I shared my experiences, and we also had moments of laughter! It was truly a special and unforgettable 30th which I believed was laid out by the Lord!!!! Thank You Jesus!!!!!

I am hoping to continue moving forward with other ministry projects in the coming weeks and months!

PRAYER
Please be in prayer for the church in Cuba! The people of Cuba are hungry not only physically, but also for the Gospel. The churches are going into some very dark places to shine Christ's light and to share freedom in Christ for those who are held captive. Some members of the church are well aware of the fact that they could be put in prison for the work they are doing and the methods they are using to share the gospel. However, they consider it a privilege to be in chains for Christ, if this should be what they encounter. They know that Jesus is the only one who brings true freedom. Please pray for their strength, stamina, provision, peace, joy, and unity in Christ! Thank you for your prayers!!!

GIVING
In order to move forward with upcoming ministry projects to Hong Kong, India, and Peru, we are in need of prayer and financial support.
If you are prayerfully led to do so, you may donate funds towards the Cuba mission journey as well as other De Rey Ministry projects that may take place this summer and fall, by going to the De Rey Ministries website at www.Derey.net.

Once on the site, you can click on the donate tab. This will take you to the A.C.T. International Donations page. Once on this page, you will have the opportunity to indicate whether you would like to make a one time or monthly donation, as well as the payment method you would like to use. You will then have the opportunity to look for De Rey Ministries or any other A.C.T. International Ministries to whom you would like to designate a financial gift. A.C.T. will then send you a tax deductible receipt for your gift.

For those of you who would like to make a gift through the Brentwood Baptist Church Mission's Department. You may do this by making your financial contribution to the Brentwood Baptist Mission's Department and designating my name, Lynette Villa de Rey, at the bottom of your financial gift. The mission's department will then send these gifts directly to A.C.T. International designated for De Rey Ministries.

Thank you so much for your prayers and your support! I so appreciate your encouragement and ministry to me and those that I am having the opportunity to meet on this journey!!!

"The Lord bless you and protect you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord look with favor on you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

By His Grace Alone,

Lynette Villa de Rey

De Rey Ministries
www.deRey.net
Lynette@derey.net

www.actinternational.org

The Journey Overseas

lynette@derey.net — 2009-06-23T00:04:10-07:00

It has been a long time since I have written, and I apologize for not updating sooner! Much has happened since the last time I wrote. I have had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with family and friends in different parts of the country! This has certainly been a great blessing. I also had the opportunity to attend the Artists in Christian Testimony Orientation Conferece earlier this month. It was truly a blessing to think more about the role of the arts in the church and in the world, and to meet others who have a desire to share the creative talents that God has given them even more with others!

This week, I will have the opportunity to travel to another country to be a part of work that is taking place there. I hope to visit some family members that I have in this area of the world! I covet your prayers during this time!

God is so good!!! Lynette

Back in Nashville

lynette@derey.net — 2009-05-31T16:33:09-07:00

I returned this morning from being in Miami for a little bit over a week! I am now back in Nashville! Everything here is so green!

Some of the highlights of my trip to Miami are:

-Amazing time with loved ones and seeing the wonders of God's creation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Participating in a fundraiser for the Cuba Mission Journey!!! For those of you who don't know, I found out that I will have the opportunity to visit Cuba on a mission journey this next month! As a part of this journey to Cuba, we will be partnering with a church that is doing amazing work ministering to the people in the inner city of Havana! This church does a lot to use music, dance, and other creative outreach methods to reach out to those on the streets of Havana! We will be providing an outreach of the youth and children of this community during our time there. Please stay tuned and please pray as God leads you for this trip to Cuba. Please pray for God to have His way in all of the preparations and carrying out of this journey! If you would like to contribute financially towards this trip, please click on the "donate" tab on the home page of the web site deRey.net. Thank you so much!

-An opportunity to purchase a new computer with the ministry funds provided by extremely generous loved ones and families from my home church in Nashville! I am so humbled and blessed by your love and kindness, and want to thank you with all of my heart for this amazing gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow, I begin my first day of orientation with Artists in Christian Testimony International!!! I covet your prayers for this next season of the journey and look forward to keeping you updated on how God is at work in my life personally and through this ministry! Thank you so much for being a part of the journey with me!!!!!

Because of His Grace,

Lynette:)

The Journey Begins

lynette@derey.net — 2009-05-25T01:11:52-05:00

It's late. But that's normal for me. I've been spending the last several days preparing for the next chapter in my life. This year has been one of transition for me, and the moment is no exception. I'm excited about what lies ahead. I'm grateful that you are sharing in this journey with me, and this is the place you can keep up with events as they unfold. I'll have pictures, links, and maybe even a video or two, so stay tuned!

I'll let you know as soon as the first plans firm up, but fyi, it looks like an exciting opportunity to go to Cuba has recently surfaced!! I'll let you know as the details are solidified. I'm so excited about walking into the future with all of you. Your prayers and support have already been felt! Thank you and blessings in Him!

Lynette