New Life and Peace Ministries

www.newlifeandpeaceministries.blogspot.com

April 2015

Dear Family in Christ,

          As I write this letter, it is the time of the passion of our Lord: just before Easter Sunday.  Christians all over the world are getting ready for their Easter morning service and at the same time, many Christians are being persecuted.  Even the United States of America has turned away from our values of right and wrong and is taking the reason of good morals out of our government and many of our churches.  There is a lot of division between people on some very important issues and many churches are divided on issues of belief.  In Mark 4:24, Jesus said:

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.  And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;  And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

        I believe what Jesus is saying here is to be careful of your desires because your desires determine how and to what you listen.  And, what you listen to determines what you get.  Then Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God.  He says it is like a seed that is planted and grows.  How it grows is a process:  first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.  The blade was the early church that came about from the former rain.  The ear is what stays on the stalk and goes through the period of waiting for the full corn in the ear to grow.  This, many times, is a dry parched time; a time when the farmer waits for the latter rain to come to produce fruit.  I believe this is where we are.  We need the latter rain of God to produce the full ear of corn.  The kernels represent the maturity of the individual members of the body of Christ.  This means that we will be joined together and our interests will no longer be just for our own good or for my own welfare.  God’s purpose needs to mature in us so that we identify ourselves with His interests in others.  Right now, there is dryness because it’s easy to see the interest people have in what they want to do and for their own welfare.  I don’t think that the last move of God will be to bring millions more into the church.  We have built enough monuments to ourselves.  What God wants to do is mature those who are already in the church.  Funny, that before Jesus spoke, He said:  take heed of how you hear.  We need the Holy Spirit moving in our lives and moving in His corporate body to hear and to live.

            Here in Guatemala, we are looking to the future of the ministries and now own two new properties.  We need to first put a wall around the properties, and then I would like to build a home for the workers who work with the children and have a family to live in.  We are also working with Naomi, the girl from Canada who has a home for “special needs” children, to build a home for her and these children.  The properties are big enough for these houses, but we need your help if it is to come about.  One of our boys who is now 22 years old, Miguel, has decided that he wants to work with us in the ministry.  He speaks English very well and has a heart for the Lord.  We are hoping he will be able to help us with the new responsibilities of working with groups and with our office work.

            Chici and I are now pushing the 70’s and still have a lot of work to do, but we are training the people here in Guatemala who have a vision from God to serve others for the sake of Christ to start taking over areas of the ministry.  I’m hoping that this land and homes that the Lord has given to us will serve not only our needs but the needs of others in the body of Christ.  It’s really great to see how the Lord puts things together, kernel by kernel.

Thank you for all of your care and support. 

Without the body of Christ, none of this would be possible!

God bless you all,   Victor & Chici Barbella

If You would like to help with this work please make out checks to : Christ Chapel

memo NLPM 

Please no names on checks for IRS purposes 

Send to :

Christ Chapel 

3051 Cloverdale Rd.

Florence Ala. 35633


Praise God we have started the wall ,excited to see what God is going to do !

 

Different Activities before to end the Year

We are ending the year with a lot of different activities but we are very thankful with God for his love and care for all of the children during the whole year. 
 Edgar is 22 years old and he finished his trade career in November, he always wanted to be a mechanic since he was a child and this year the Lord Jesus allowed him to finish his career. After the graduation ceremony we went to a restaurant to celebrate Edgar´s achievement.

Edgar with Victor & Chici

Edgar walking with the parents

Engler receiving his Diploma

 Engler is 15 years old he finished 8th grade with very good remarks and last month he received a diploma because he was the best speaker in the science exposition, we are very proud of him. 






Fernanda and Luis finished 6th grade this year and they had a very nice activity at school with all their classmates to receive the diploma. Luis and Fernanda were really happy and proud because for them it means that they are beginning a new stage in their lives.

Luis with a big smile in the center

Fernanda in the center with her friends

After all the activities at the different schools the children started having different activities on their vacation time. Christmas began the last Saturday of November with the decoration of the Christmas tree, every year the children have a very good time decorating the tree all together a with a guatemalan family that comes to help them with the decoration and they  bring a very delicious typical dinner to celebrate the beginning of the Holy Days. Last week the children went to an excursion with some friends from the church to have a pic-nick and to enjoyed a very delicious roast beef, beans, grill patatoes, and sausages. They children enjoyed long walks but for us the adults it was very tired. 
Last Tuesday three guatemalans families came to prapare a very delicious breakfast for all of us and we could feel the love that they have for all the children, it was a very good time to have fellowship. We are very thankful with all the brothers and sisters that have in their hearts the desire to share the love of God with our children. 

Decorating the Christmas tree

Dinner after decorating the tree

Excursion

Enjoying the pic-nick

Delicious breakfast

 Now the children are counting the days before Christmas because they are very exciting about the gifts that they are going to receive. We really appreciate the support that you gave to the children because they are going to have a very nice Christmas and we can do that because of all your help and support.
God bless all of you.

After Breakfast with the three Guatemalan´s families

Birthdays and Vacation time

All the children are very happy because they are on vacation and for them it is really nice to be at home playing and doing different projects. Last month we celebrated El Dia del Niño at home with ice cream cake and they really had a very good time.
The last two months were very busy for the children because they finished school but now is very nice to see all of them enjoying their vacation time playing soccer, wathcing movies, playing their game boys and wii, they also love to go hiking.

Child´s Day celebration

Fernada´s  Birthday 14

Fernando´s Birthday 12

Fredy´s Birthday 12

 We have been eating cake for the last two months because we had many birthday´s celebrations and the funny thing is that all of them ask for their favorite flavor cake. But it is really nice to see their happy faces when they see their cake and the little present.

Engler´s Birthday 15

It is really a privilege to share the love of God with them.
Thank to all of you that are supporting them because it is really a blessing to see all of them happy and secure.

How to Become a Volunteer

Urgent Prayer Request

How to Become a Volunteer

Even though we do have a Guatemalan staff to help us fulfill our daily needs, long-term volunteers are always needed to fill the gaps. Do you feel the call on your life to be a foreign missionary? Begin by joining our team here in Guatemala! You can help by: tutoring, fundraising, building projects, teaching, sports activities, computer, or public relations. Or let us know one of your many talents or how you think God has called you to help us!

All positions require people who speak Spanish or willing to go to school to learn Spanish at least on a basic level. All volunteers will be expected to assume their own cost of living.

We are also praying for directors to work alongside us and help us expand the vision that God has given us!

Please contact Victorbarbella@conexion.com.gt or chicibarbella@gmail.com

GRANT 2014 NEW LIFE AND PEACE REHAB CENTER

We are very thankful with the Lord and also with the brothers and sisters that are making possible this year to make big remodeling changes at the rehab center. For 14 years the house has had the same roof and the same cement  floor because it is really a big expense to change everything while at the same time we are having a lot of expenses with the children´s home. But today is a miracle to have the money to start changing the roof,and adding the steel beam structure to make it more safe for the men and adding false ceilings in the bedrooms and also new windows, closets, and tile floors. All these changes are going to be a blessing for all the men that are in the program today looking for an answer for their lives and also for the ones that God is going to bring in the future.

The whole work is going to take a lot of time, but today the house already has the new roof and the new electricity to meet the safety code  that was needed.

The guys helping to paint the new roof

Taking out the old roof

Putting the new iron beams

Miguel helping with the electricity work

The old roof

 Miguel one of our boys that is at the transition home, is studying electricity and is also studying English at the same time and he is really good in both things. He helped a lot with the electricity work that was needed at the rehab and he did an excellent work.

The new roof

The new roof

Thank you very much for all your help and support God bless.

NEW YEAR NEWS

Jose came to us in the middle of March of 2011. He had been abandoned and left in the park and was told by his parents that they would come back for him soon. He waited for three hours but they did not return he was abandoned so Jose sought out the help of the police.             His father is an alcoholic and is physically abusive with Jose and his mother. He has seven siblings and his older sister has not lived with the family for a while. When his mother was interviewed she told the psychologist that Jose was not well behaved and often had an attitude and would not shower. She also said he had been stealing. At this point he has had so Valeriano´s first day at home Valeriano this year me rebellious attitudes at times but does obey. With us, he is mostly eager to please and is very affectionate.             He was brought to our Home the afternoon of the day he was found and we have been granted temporary custody of him. His mother told us and the courts that it was better for him to stay here permanently because she is afraid of the extreme physical abuse from his alcoholic father.              Two weeks ago he had his audience and the judge decided that Jose has to go back with his family, but Jose talked to the judge and ask him to stay with us because he wants to have a better life and he wants to continue study and have better opportunities in the future. He told the Judge that for him our home is his home and he doesn’t want to leave. For a child that is 13 years old is a big decision to stay with us instead of going back home.  We are very thankful with the Lord because Jose is going to stay with us permanently and he is going to continue knowing God and receiving love and protection.                         Jose is 13 years old, he is in 5th grade. He is attending a private school and enjoys learning English and playing soccer and loves to give hugs!  He interacts very well with everybody at home. Valeriano is a very kind boy, when we celebrates birthdays at home he loves to make a nice card for that person or if somebody is sick he is always concern about that person and make little notes to make the person to feel better. He loves to help with the different things at home. He is improving in his English conversations with the visitors.  In the home we have the custom to celebrate our children's birthdays with a cake and a little present. The children are counting the days before their birthdays because they know they are going to have a special cake and a little present. For them to celebrate their birthdays means a lot because it makes them to feel loved and part of the family. We eat the cake in the afternoon when everybody is together. We sing happy birthday and the child receives an envelope with some money. When the girls are at home they help to bake the cake and they love to decorate it. Their favourite cakes are chocolate, strawberry, and lemon. Last month we celebrated Noe's and Silvestre´s birthday Silvestre´s Birthday Noe´s Birthday

MIGUEL´S GRADUATION

Miguel now is a professional

We are very thankful with the Lord because he allowed Miguel to finish with his trade career this year,he has been with us for almost 12 yrs. Miguel was studying electronics and he learned a lot of things. He is also studying English on the weekends and he is doing very good.
Here in Guatemala it is a great accomplishment and very important to finish a trade career because the majority do not have money to continue studying at the university. With a trade career they can get a job to help with the expenses of the home and Lord willing support a family in the future.
Miguel wants to work next year and take a year to decide what he really would like to study because he has not decided yet what career he wants to study.

He is receiving his certificate with his spiritual parents!

Victor& Chici had the honor of  walking with him to receive his diploma.!

We would like him to go to college when he is ready to get a better education. We are praying for Miguel to get the necessary support to attend college.

Having dinner to celebrate Miguel´s guaduation

His sister Doris celebrated with him

We want to thank all of you that have supported our home and especially thank the people who personally supported Miguel may God Bless you all !