July 26 Support Letter

Dear Friends,
From July 13-19, we had the opportunity to go down to Mexico and spend time with our ministry partners, Randy and Sandy Huebert and the rest of the team at El Refugio Fundacion (The Refuge Foundation). We were able to find the home we will be renting and were once again amazed at how God continues to bless us. The house is exactly within the budget we had in mind, and is large enough to fit our family and host visitors as well. We are really looking forward to ministering from our home!

We are preparing to move to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico in the beginning of September 2011. We have a 2 year lease on our house there, so that will be our first 'term' so to speak. After that, we'll see where the Lord will have us go, whether it be remaining in Mexico, coming back to Canada, or somewhere else in the world!

We also had the opportunity to go out to two of the ministry sites that El Refugio is establishing regular contact with. The first was a migrant camp where families who work in a farmer's field have gathered together to make their own community. These people are absolutely destitute, but the happiness that spread over the children's faces when our van pulled up was enough to make us well up with tears. Somehing we are hoping to do is raise funds so that we can do a feeding program at this camp. Currently, we are just visiting, playing games with the children, singing songs and sharing a story from the Bible.

The second ministry site we visited was a feeding program at a makeshift village called La Populars. El Refugio has been doing this program for a few months now, and it's such a humbling blessing to be a part of it. For some of the children that come, this is the only real meal they receive every week; but you never get the sense that they're missing out on anything, they're just happy that you're there.

We were so blessed to be able to go to Casa de Esther (the girls orphanage that El Refugio operates) numerous times on this trip. We spent time in worship and devotions with the girls, interns and staff at the home. God's presence and power were so greatly manifest in those times and we can't wait to get back and continue in this area of the ministry.

This was a blessed week for us, and we are constantly amazed how God continues to  put all the pieces in place. While we were in Mexico, we received word that our charitable receipting has come through, so we are now able to offer tax receipts for donations. Cheques can be made out to "The Refuge", just make sure to include our name in the memo line (Nic and Michelle, The Brouwers, Brouwer, anything will do) and send to the following addresss:
The Refuge
5107 55 Street
Lloydminster, AB
T9V 0S8

Also, while we were in the air on our way back to Canada, an email came in regarding the sale of our house in Marcelin and it looks like it should be completed by early August.

Regarding our financial support, we had someone suggest the idea that we give people the opportunity to sponsor a specific area of our ministry. Now, obviously, if we can't cover rent of put gas in our vehicle, we can't go to a feeding program, but, we serve a big God, who has all things in His control. And we realize that sometimes it's nice to know what exactly you're supporting, so, we've put together a list of our expenses, feel free to ask for specific breakdowns or explanations:
Housing $530, Household $210, Office $140, Education $180, Auto $635, Food $650, Clothing $150, Feeding Ministry $250, Medical $335
These are our monthly expenses, but if you would like to give a one-time gift, or intermitent gifts throughout the year, these are all greatly appreciated.

We are currently running two ongoing fundraisers until we leave, and we also have a great fundraiser event coming up. We are collecting bottles, cans and milk jugs until the end of August, we will come and pick them up, so if you'd like to help in this way, please let us know. Also, we are running an online auction with many great items, including some that we brought back from Mexico, and more to come. You can find this on our facebook page. If you'd like to donate an item, please let us know. Lastly, we are preparing a fun night of tacos, music and fairwells on August 24, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Family Life Fellowship. Tickets are $25 each and all proceeds will go to our move to Mexico. For this event, we need volunteers to make it run smoothly, please let us know if you can help!

Attached is a support form that you can print and mail in or drop off to us in person.

Thank you for joining us in this journey, we look forward to hearing and seeing how God blesses your efforts and support, both here in Canada and in Mexico!
Grace and Peace,
Nic and Michelle Brouwer
cell: 306-821-1850 (until August 31)
magicjack: 1-917-5-MEXICO
email: family@thebrouwers.info
www.thebrouwers.info
www.facebook.com/brouwerfamily
www.facebook.com/therefugemx

How would my faith change if I were being persecuted?

I want the answer to that question to be, "Not at all". My desire is to live a life that is on fire for the Lord. If Christianity was outlawed, would I be silent? If Christians were beaten on sight, would I go into hiding? If Christianity were against the law, would Christian musicians be able to make a living? Would we gather together in elaborate buildings on Sunday mornings? Would there be such a thing as a paid pastor?

Is it possible that I'm too comfortable in my pseudo-christian lifestyle? Persecution is coming. Maybe not in the next 5 years, but I'd venture it will happen in my lifetime. Am I prepared? If they took away every bible in my house and burned them, do I know enough Scripture to teach my children? Am I relying too heavily on church programs for my children's spiritual upbringing? If they bombed my church building, would I stay in contact with my brothers and sisters that meet there? If a friend of mine is killed, am I man enough to take care of his wife and children?

This is my challenge to myself. I pray that it challenges you as well.

Is discrimination okay?

We live in a society today that is supposedly open and non-judgemental. Yet I see bigotry and discrimination everywhere I turn. Racism still thrives, but it's more of a quiet discrimination now because people know it's wrong. Discrimination based on sexual orientation, on the other hand, runs amuck; unbridled and unleashed. People try to use the Bible to justify their hatred, they love to use Old Testament scriptures to back up their bigotry, and then try to use New Testament freedoms to get away with "minor" problems in their own lives.

Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me."

My question is, who are "the least of these" to you? Automatically your mind goes to the poor and the homeless. Yes, those are definitely people in need, but are they really the "least" in your mind? I would argue that you value those homeless over the gay man to you know at work. Isn't it true that he repulses you far worse than the homeless person's urine-soaked stench? And if that is true, then how are you treating that homosexual co-worker, neighbour, etc.? Are you treating them the way you would treat your Saviour?

I remain convinced that homosexuality is a sin, but I ask you: When was the last time you met someone without sin? I have only met one such person. He was poor, ugly, he smelt like camel fesces, he looked like he had been beaten to a bloody pulp and yet he gave everything he had for me.

I have used this example numerous times and will probably continue to use it until the day I die, but it works. I remain convinced that being addicted to anything is a sin. I believe that we are not supposed to let any chemical or emotion control any part of our lives. However, there are many believers that are addicted to nicotine. Are they being cast out of the church? There are many believers that are addicted to alcohol or gambling; are they being shown the door? How many believers are addicted to pornography of sex, do we even talk about this? I like to take this one step further. How many believers you know are addicted to caffiene? How many churches have erected altars right in their foyers to the java god?

Is it okay to let a chemical or emotion control you? Is it a sin? Is any one sin worse than any other? You may say, "yes", but I say "no" and I believe the Bible backs me on this. Does God hate sinners? The Jesus I know hangs out with pimps and whores. He hangs out with murderers and thieves. The Jesus that died to pay for my sins, spends his days talking and laughing with drunkards and homosexuals. That's the Jesus I know, which Jesus do you know?