John (17) and me (16) telling a story at a church in India. Check out his hair! Love is blind!

I met my husband, who is a year my senior, when I was fourteen years old. We married when I was twenty years old, just one year and five months ago. I know that’s young, but we just knew that we loved each other. We knew that we loved in an indescribable way that’s so deep it touches the bottom of our souls. For us, marriage has been the most wonderful experience of our lives. My heart feels such immense joy just sitting with him on the hand-me-down couch in our one-bedroom apartment. With a plate of barely cooked cookie dough and a Red Box movie on our television we feel like we’ve struck it rich. John is my first love and I his.

John and I on one of the happiest days of our lives!

It scares me, though, to see so many married couples that don’t even like each other anymore. It’s not that those couples want to leave each other or are unkind. They even accomplish all kinds of tasks together – taking kids to school, making dinner, paying bills, etc. They persevere through life’s trials amazingly and remain together. It’s just that I just don’t see the love in their relationships, and if there’s not love, what does the rest of it even mean? I wonder, you know, is that going to be John and me? Did those couples ever have what we have or was it always bad? How on earth did they lose that first love that John and I cherish?

I couldn’t help thinking of the letter to the church in Ephesus found in the book of Revelation. The letter says the following:

“…These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance…Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…” (Rev. 2:1-5, emphasis mine)

The church in Ephesus did great and moral things. They even persevered through tough times and stayed true to their faith in Jesus Christ. In all of that, though, their relationship towards God became kind of like that of an old grumpy married couple, that first love was gone. I think this broke God’s heart because He still dearly loved them and wanted a relationship with them. The church had allowed the relationship to go stale, though, to be about doing good things and not about love for the Lord. And without love, what did all of the rest even matter?

Many of us are at this same point in our relationships with the Lord. We do good and moral things. We may even read our Bibles, pray, volunteer at church, and persevere through spiritual trials. The question, though, is have we forsaken the first love that we had with our precious Father who sent His Son to redeem us? If we do find ourselves at that point, doing without real love, we have the prescription for restoring the relationship: “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Speaking of newlyweds, I am so excited to introduce you to the newest Mr. & Mrs. Nolen! Matt and Allison got married this past New Year's Eve!

Have you forgotten your first love in Jesus? Has the relationship gone stale and become about doing? Talk to God and say sorry. Remember that first love and go back to those things you first did. Perhaps that means just sitting alone and thanking God for who He is. Whatever it means for you, get that first love back.

At Conexion 10/40, our first love is Jesus and we believe that Jesus is glorified by the proclamation of His name across the nations. We are so excited to pursue our first love by supporting the missions movement in Latin America and training missionaries! We hope that you’ll join us by praying for Conexion 10/40!

Loving Jesus,
Mary Nolen

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by emailing: info@conexion1040.org

It was difficult to say goodbye to Maria, but we are so excited to see how God will glorify Himself through her ministry!

Well the Conexion 10/40 Language Training Program is back in full swing! We said goodbye to “Maria” in mid-December and began classes with the remaining students in early January. It was sad to say goodbye to Maria but so exciting to know that she is preparing to go to the field. Now she has the tools that she needs to learn the language of the people group she wants to reach! It is really a blessing to be part of God’s plan to reach people that have never even heard the name of Jesus by investing in these students.

Thanks again to Mr. Bob for leading a weekly conversation class with the students. What great practice!

Even though Maria is no longer studying with us, the other students and the Conexion teaching team are having a blast! From English classes to conversation classes to Friday in-community projects, we are making the most of our time! Last Friday we visited six different hotels to practice inquiring about rates and hotel rooms. (This is a really important topic for people that travel a lot!) Tomorrow we have another fun activity planned! We’re excited to be in a new semester of teaching and learning!

The students braved the cold to practice their new hotel vocabulary!

If you want to be a part of investing in the Conexion students’ lives, let us know by writing to conexionltp@gmail.com. There are volunteer opportunities available! Even if you aren’t able to volunteer at this time, please support the students by praying for them as they prepare to go to the field. Also pray for the Conexion 10/40 staff to have wisdom and discernment in decisions regarding the language program!

You’ve probably heard this song. I think it’s true about life- that sometimes blessings come through raindrops. I once went through a difficult situation. I had been a Christian for some time and knew that I should “endure hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). I knew that Jesus said that we would experience troubles on this earth and that God allows the testing of our faith to develop our perseverance. I knew all that and I believed it.

I couldn’t help feeling, though, that this suffering was unjust. I mean, my husband, friends, family, and I had been praying for a long time for something. We asked God in His name to answer the prayer. It was a good thing, too, not selfish or vengeful. He didn’t do it, though.

I kept thinking about those verses in Matthew 7 that say, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?…If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”  If the Bible is true, then why was God giving me a stone when I prayed for bread? It just didn’t seem right. How could God do this when He promised otherwise?

I finally brought these concerns very honestly and brokenly to the Lord in prayer. My heart was touched when I felt him gently and kindly answer in my heart, “My sweet child, I cannot give you what you have asked for. In my all-knowing eyes, what you asked for is the stone and what I am giving you is the bread. What I will teach you through this difficulty is far more priceless than bread.”

I don’t know what you are going through in life right now or what you will encounter in the future. What I do know is that when you experience trials, hold on and don’t lose heart. The Lord teaches us things, priceless things, through trials that we couldn’t learn in other ways. Just hold on.

Loving Jesus,

Mary Nolen

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

Getting started again in class!

Feeling alone, desperate, and bitterly sad: this is how we find Naomi near the beginning of the book of Ruth. Naomi had left her home country with her husband and two sons when a famine overtook Israel. Now, her husband and two sons had passed and she remained in that foreign country called Moab. She knew all too well the condition of widows without sons in that time. She would have no way of providing for herself and her only hope would be to live off of the good graces of those around her.

Enter Ruth, Naomi’s Moabite daughter-in-law. Naomi had already made up her mind. She was going to tell her two daughter-in-laws to leave her and start over with new husbands. After all, they were still young and didn’t have to subject themselves to a life of poverty and misery. Ruth didn’t see things that way, though. She took a huge leap of faith when, knowing the difficulties

Students with Conexion 10/40!

she would face as a widowed foreigner in Israel, she refused to leave her hurting mother-in-law. She claimed that the God of Israel was her God and left for Israel.

For those of us who know the end of the story, we know that this step of incredible faith on Ruth’s part was completely worth it. She met and eventually married a wonderful man named Boaz and lived happily ever after. Even more amazing, Ruth became an ancestor of Jesus Christ!

The Conexion 1040 Teachers !!

Opportunities similar to the one presented to Ruth will face us during this coming year and the ones to follow. No, I don’t mean that we will have to choose between living in the U.S. or in a foreign country with our mother-in-laws. (For some people, living with a mother-in-law would be a step of faith!) I mean that we all face choices in which there is a safe option and a great option.

Naomi’s other daughter-in-law was faced with the same choice as Ruth. She chose the safe option, which no one could blame her for, right? Had Ruth followed suit, she would have also landed the safe option. We who know the end of the story, however, know that Ruth would have missed something great by playing it safe. She would have missed out on being part of God’s amazing plan to bring to world to redemption through Jesus Christ.

When God asks us to do things, things that make us feel uncomfortable and unsafe, like sharing the Gospel with people we know and meet, we have those same options: the safe option and the great option. If we choose to follow Christ wholeheartedly by mentioning that we believe God has a plan for our lives, praying for people who share their problems with us, and even telling what Jesus did on the cross, we choose that great option. We get to be part of something great- the Great Commission and God’s plan for others to come to know Him for His glory! After all, we do know the end of the story: Jesus will ultimately come back to earth and those who know and follow Him will live with Him forever. Choosing the safe option of ignoring God’s promptings in our hearts to share His Gospel means that we miss out on being part of bringing lost people into His Kingdom and giving Him glory!

Conexion 10/40 wants to choose the great option, to be part of sending the Good News to people that have never heard. This year, pray how you can help us in that endeavor. Don’t just play it safe. Choose to obey Him in fulfilling the Great Commission!

Loving Jesus,

Mary

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please consider joining our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

End of the year celebration at Centinneal Olympic Park with ice skating!

I taught the lesson by playing a series of songs.  The student had to identify what the singer was wanting for Christmas while listening to each song.  I played Maria Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You“, Nate King Cole’s, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.”  Then the last one caught the student off guard.  After hearing it a couple of times and realizing the story she blurted out, “This song makes me want to cry!”   Have you heard “Christmas Shoes” by Bob Carlisle? This little

Then, Krispy Kream Donuts!!

boy was buying shoes for his dying mother who was going to meet Jesus.

At the end of this song we had a great discussion of wants, wishes, and desires both of our own and of others.  We talked about the fact that Christmas is difficult for some people.  It’s not all light and fun for some who have difficult situations or are coping with loss.  We talked about how we as believers can really gain insight during this season into the hearts of others – happy or sad.  It is a season for us to offer Hope.  We have Jesus. How/where/ when can we offer hope?  I’m sure Jesus will surprise us with the opporutnity to bless others if we are open to this - we can see this just standing in line somewhere!!

Lot's of "see you laters" for some who are heading out!

Much love,

Ruth

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

Honduran leaders with Bruce Hardy from Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Ga.

Partnership is about building relationships. During the brief trip, the leaders visited 8 ministry sights to begin developing the relationship in Honduras. However, six people (two couples and two singles) among those met have missionary calls and want to serve in other countries in the near future.

Four of these called out ones are currently serving among ethnic groups or in

Honduran Church Partners with U.S. Church!

Cross Pointe and AMBAH are planning and praying about the best way to move forward, to see God’s vision for the nations expand in the U.S., Honduras, and in the 10/40 Window.

Conexión 10/40 is a catalytic ministry, desiring to bring together God’s people in the U.S. and in Latin America, so that the Kingdom of God will be blessed as we work together among the unreached 10/40 Window peoples.

We want to thank each of you who partner with us and His Body in this endeavor through your prayers, time, and financial support.

Steve

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

Buddy Hoffman, Pastor of Grace Fellowship in Snellville, Ga., partnering in Nicaragua!

These were the words of a Christian attorney in Nicaragua recently. As God wonderfully does things, the missions event Conexión 10/40 was invited to participate in was held in a church located two blocks from the street where the Muslim store owners operate in Managua.

Two churches from the U.S. participated with us on this trip. One of those was Grace Fellowship, a church heavily involved in ministering to Muslims. So, on Friday afternoon, we walked over to the area where the stores were located, and prayed for the area and Buddy Hoffman, senior pastor at Grace, was able to engage the owner in a very pleasant conversation.

The owner shared that he was from Palestine, that there were a couple of thousand Muslims in

Buddy and Nicaraguan Church members hit the Muslim district.

At this time, plans are being made for a workshop in Managua to help the churches in the area learn more about how to minister to the Muslim community that God has placed in that city.

Part of the vision of Conexión 10/40 is to facilitate partnerships to minister among unreached peoples, no matter where those peoples may be located.

Steve

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please consider joining our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

What a great vision! To support 365 Missionaries as a family!!

Elias, the youngest Caballero son, told us this story about the transition following the 22 days of prayer following their dad’s passing.

Early on Monday morning my oldest brother Lorenzo and I had to go on a trip, so we were driving along the highway. About 4:00 a.m. we saw this dirt road we didn’t recognize, and my brother said, “We need to go up that road!” So, he turned and went up the road. We soon came to a rustic, small church building without walls.

As we drew near, we saw a man at the altar praying. It’s 4:00 a.m.! So we got out of the truck, and as we approached the man, Lorenzo took out $5 and handed it to the man, saying, “The Lord wants us to give this to you.”

The man took the $5, hugged Lorenzo and began to weep. He was the pastor of the tiny church for an indigenous group. They had finished their service the night before around 11:00 p.m. The offering had been a mere 32 cents.

The heartbroken pastor, following the service, had stayed and cried out to God.  He had a wife and a baby, but had no money to buy formula for the baby. So he had set himself to seek the Lord, vowing that he would not leave until God provided the money for him to buy the baby formula.  He had been at the altar from 11:00 p.m. until the Caballeros arrived around 4:00 a.m.

A can of baby formula, of course, cost $5.32!

Elias said, “That is how God answered our 22 day prayer vigil.  He assured us that He would lead us just as He had led our father.”

Steve

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

The Caballero brothers and Phoenix Church here in Atlanta Partner

“Our dad left the house with $10 to buy food but saw a poor lady with a sick child. He took them to the doctor, spent the $10 on the doctor and medicine for the baby, and came home without meat.  I resented that growing up, but when our dad passed away, I understood.”

“Our dad once a week would go pick up the older, poor men in the area in his truck, and take them down to the river so they could bathe.”

“When our dad passed away, the entire town shut down for the funeral, and nine people accepted Christ at the service.”

“When our dad died, we 10 brothers and sisters spent 22 days in prayer, dedicating the farm to the Lord and asking Him for direction on how to manage it to glorify Him.”

These are all statements made in conversation with the

Thank you to the Phoenix Community Church leaders here!

Caballero family on the recent Panama trip. We were there with the leaders of the Phoenix Community, a local church in Duluth, Georgia that sells coffee for missions endeavors.

There are 10 Caballero brothers and sisters along with their mom.  They inherited the coffee, tomato, and pepper farm in northern Panama, and started an agricultural chemical business after their 22 day prayer vigil. The company is called, “The Sower,” after the parable of the sower in the gospels.

They live in simple houses, but possess a legacy from their father that is an astounding testimony of a man’s faith and love for people. Their goal as a family is to support 365 missionaries from their profits. You see a sign in their stores: “Vision 365.” They are already supporting 48 missionaries plus other projects! And this is beyond their tithes.

Their decision making on whom they support is simple. They receive a request, and the entire family prays about it. They support those when everyone (all 10!) are in agreement. I joked with them that I didn’t know 10 people who would agree on anything related to their money!

As we were in the airport leaving, one of the brothers stuck some money into my pocket with the words, “We want to sow into your ministry.” Later, I saw their offering totaled $310.

What a legacy left by a farmer in the northern mountains of Panama to His children. What is my legacy?

More to come in Part II!

Steve

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing: info@conexion1040.org

Maria, Ruth, Harry Maugans - A big thank you to First Evan in Memphis for supporting Maria's training here in the U.S.

Now for a year we’ve logged the process and many interactions of “Maria” here on our blog. We’ve called her Maria for security reasons. Close to the end of her time here with us, she is beginning to say – “See you Later”. She will be heading to the mission field shortly. We have mixed emotions about it all.  Sad to see her go, yet so glad to have a sweet believer better prepared to hit the South Asian mission field. 

Harry Maugans from First Evangelical Church of Memphis, Tn. visited with Maria this week.  Harry’s church hosted Maria earlier in the year and arranged for various cross cultural experiences for her in the Memphis area.  Maria met the believers at First Evanelical and participated in various activities.  A sweet relationship developed between Maria and the believers in Harry’s church.

What a joy to send out missionaries that are better equipped for the mission

What do two North Americans and a Mexican have in common? KOREAN FOOD!

field!

Ruth

Website: www.conexion1040.org

Please join our prayer team by writing; info@conexion1040.org