Since we sent out the big fancy December newsletter via snail mail, there have been changes. Right around the time those newsletters were sent, we began noticing some serious red flags regarding the ministry. Please understand that we would not want to shed any negative light on this organization, The Refuge, but we need to remain true to our convictions and to our instructions in the Word. This has been a challenging time as we were forced to confront some major problems, and after prayer, time and counsel we’ve decided to disconnect from the ministry. The other family {The Brouwers} working with us, also made the same decision to disconnect at the same time. Please pray for continued wisdom and discernment and to know the Lord’s will for our lives.
During the last several weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time in prayer regarding what the Lord wants us to put our time and energy to here in Ensenada, now that we are not with The Refuge. “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” – Psalm 37:5 This is a scripture verse we turn to often, not only because this is one of Stella’s 2 verses memorized so far, which she recites so often, but also because God is kind and we find such comfort in this! It’s awesome!
So currently we feel strongly to remain focused on the house church that began when we first moved here. This group of believers of all ages and stages is growing before our eyes! New people are finding their way to our house for church and we’re just wanting more than anything to steward this well. From their mouths, it is a ‘lifeline’ to our community. We have a few local Mexicans, but we’re finding it’s primarily English speakers joining us. English speaking missionaries who had been attending Spanish speaking churches are, over time, realizing that they aren’t fluent enough in Spanish to actually be fed. Rather they’re constantly translating it all instead of actually learning and worshipping. That’s apparently where our little home church stepped in. In English, we are experiencing the presence of the Lord during our church meetings and hearts and minds are truly being renewed by the washing of the Word. The relationships are being strengthened through our fellowship and we’re seeing a true brotherhood {and sisterhood} developing! For almost 5 months now Theo has been teaching each week with the partnership of our friend Sean Cates. A few weeks ago, as Theo was praying for our little congregation, he felt the Lord lead him to begin teaching from the book of James. Without me {Melissa} knowing that, I told him that our women’s bible study was beginning the Beth Moore study ‘James: Mercy Triumphs’…on the life and actual book of James. Needless to say, that was confirmation that the Lord was speaking “JAMES” for us as a community for this new year! “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”- Psalm 37:23
We also have been hosting prayer meetings at our house on a regular basis throughout the week with other missionary families. We have been live streaming it via the internet as well and have had people from Florida, Kansas, and Canada join us ‘live’ for worship and prayer! We have plans to join the local YWAM base in their worship and prayer meetings soon as well. Soon, our friends Nic and Michelle will move about an hour north of where we all live now, and Nic has been our worship leader for church and the “BajaHouseof Prayer.” Please join us in asking God for another Jesus loving and talented music leader!
We are meeting many missionaries from different ministries and know the Lord has made us {Theo & Melissa} a sort of bridge for them all to connect and come together. Currently, it’s through the home church and weekly prayer meetings and is mainly serving believers. We are praying for wisdom for ways to connect with and reach our local, unsaved community in Playas de Chapultepec. {We live in a small town south of Ensenada}. Pray that God would open the doors that should be opened for us, and that we’d faithfully walk on.
Stella is doing well with learning to write letters, numbers and with phonics. She gets very excited when she’s able to sound out words on her own! Naya is learning well too and picking things up just from watching Stella ‘do school.’ Both girls are really intrigued by and wanting to speak Spanish and French lately. They’ve even been asking to watch their movies in Spanish or French! Theo and I are happy to take advantage of their interest, and we’re beginning to function at home a bit more in those languages. They are also learning to pray each day with us and learning scripture. Naya will turn 3 on February 17th , the same day as her great grandmother, Margo! There’s just an 80 year time span there. Stella will be 5 {definitely going on 15} this summer. Olivia is finally walking all around and has a mouthful of teeth coming in. She’s sweet, cuddly and feisty!
We are seeing the Lord do amazing things with us, as a family. Theo and I will celebrate 7 years of marriage this summer and God has really been so kind and faithful to us in specific ways, since we moved here. Communication and love between us is springing forth like never before and it seems we’re finding each other as friends again. We’re SO excited! We actually will begin the revised Love & Respect series in a few weeks with several other missionaries. Home life with the girls is tough and tiring, but such a blessing to us. We feel honored and rewarded by getting to have them. And we’re getting the opportunity to practice the patience, love, compassion, self-control, long suffering, and selflessness that we’ve asked God for, for so long. We get a go at it every day. Ha!
We’d like to ask that if you haven’t and would like to begin supporting us, that you would contact us via email, facebook or phone! We’d love to talk about how you can help specifically with what’s happening here, such as the home church needs and personal family needs.
We are beyond grateful for the faithful generosity of those who lovingly support us each month financially and we’d love for you to consider joining us in our pursuit of making Jesus known and exalted here in Mexico. This is why we’re here!
Whether via finances, prayer, or coming to visit, as several have and more are coming, the Lord uses YOU to support us! Whether you support us with $10 a month or $1000 a month, your support actually makes a difference. We’re genuinely thrilled at how the Lord has faithfully orchestrated the last 5 months of us living here. In many ways, it has been very “hands off” for us, and very “hands on” for the Lord, as we’ve watched provision, relationships and ministry literally come together and happen right in front of us. Praise Jesus!
*To give tax deductible support you can go to www.lightinternational.org Then, click on sponsor a missionary, find our names and the rest should be easy. For first time supporters, you’ll need to quickly create an account before hand.
* For non-tax deductible giving, you can send a check directly to the mailing address below, give through PayPal, or contact us for our Western Union location.
Our contact information is as follows:
Theo and Melissa Steinhauer
107 Avenida Del Reposo, San Clemente, CA 92672
American phone line is : (949) 945- 5956
Emails: theosteinhauer@gmail.com and melissasteinhauer@gmail.com
*Current needs we could use help with:
- We need to get our van worked on, so it can pass smog test in CA, and we can register it! We only have 60 days to do this and we’ll need around $600 for that!
- We feel it might be wisdom to buy life insurance for Theo just in case...
- We currently only have access to our mail, whenever we’re able to drive up into California. We need to buy a PO BOX so we can get our mail through a service here, which is about $200 for the year. Gas to CA and back is about $100 roundtrip. It’s a much better deal.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT!
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