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There is no place like home!  Not only did Dorothy say so in the Wizard of Oz, but I (Elizabeth) concur!!!  The trip in the States was a great time of being able to see family, friends, & ministry partners.  Time & time again I was blessed by God’s faithfulness & the generosity of Brothers & Sisters in the faith.  We have been praying for provision from our Heavenly Father & He has been responding.

Praise the Lord, Thursday, April 14, Leo & I were able to make a payment paying off almost half of my college loan debt.  We were downright giddy with joy & thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for His provision, as well as to many Brothers & Sisters who have faithfully been willing to be channels to His provision!  That night as we were celebrating & enjoying His presence and a time of intercession with the church body at the weekly prayer service, the enemy had conspired a plot with the intention of stealing our joy.

We came early to church that night, 6:30 p.m. and arrived home around 9 p.m..  As Leo was opening the gate I noticed that the front door to the house was ajar… not how we had left it.  Someone had broken in.  We called the police from the driveway & waited for their arrival before entering (just in case the thief was still hiding inside somewhere).

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”  -Psalm 34:7

We don’t really have flashy or expensive possessions: car, motorcycle, small television, MacBook, Nikon camera… all still in their places.  We are convinced that either the Lord blinded the thief to walk past many of those things.  Either that, or as soon as he broke into the house of children of the King, covered by the protection of the angel of the Lord – a fear came over him to exit the house more quickly than he had entered.  The wooden door was forced open with a pic axe (which was left inside the house).  He walked through the living room & dining room, where nothing appeared to even be touched, to the bedroom we are using as an office/study and then to our bedroom.  There was a backpack by the office door which it appears that he took in order to take with him everything he stole: Leo’s computer, Leo’s iPod, electric razor, alarm clock, flashlight, a USB-photo card converter, a pair of Elizabeth’s tennis shoes, and some of Elizabeth’s jewelry.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  -John 10:10

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  -Nehemiah 8:10b

Earthly possessions are just things.  It’s almost more unsettling the fact of someone breaking into our home & going through our things than what is no longer there.  That night we slept on the air mattress in the living room (as the front door was wide open).  Friday I went on a field trip with the boys of the Timothy School to a water park in Santiago (you can see pictures on Facebook) while Leo stayed home getting the wood door fixed as well as having a barred metal door made & put in for a little added protection.  Even while we were still sitting in the car waiting for the police, we recognized that the enemy wanted to steal & destroy our joy… not just the joy of what God has been doing in providing financially, but our hope, confidence, trust & joy in Him.   We are challenged even more to build up treasures in heaven…

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  -Matthew 6:19-20

The joy that Jesus gave His life for on a cross so that our joy in Him may be complete.  When we look at the cross & the amazing display of incomprehensible love… the repeated tricks of the enemy fade away & we are caught up in thanking, worshipping, loving & finding inexplicable joy in our Savior.  This joy of the Lord is our strength… this joy cannot be stolen!!!

Thank you for your prayers!  After a difficult night, Elsa is now stabilized & her blood pressure is back down within normal range, PRAISE THE LORD!!!  She’s still in the hospital, at least overnight tonight (Sunday).  There were numerous factors which were causing all of her complications, but nonetheless, God has been answering prayers and we are so thankful!

We ask you to take a moment to pray for Leo’s mother, Elsa.  Yesterday she wasn’t feeling well & in the middle of the night her blood pressure sky-rocketed.  She’s now in the public hospital in La Vega (next biggest city near Jarabacoa) & if tomorrow morning she doesn’t show improvement the family will take her to Santiago (the 2nd largest city in the DR).  She has had some different tests done, a CAT-Scan which came back fine, a sonogram which showed a lung infection, but still the source of her extremely high blood pressure, nausea, vomitting & tingling has not been determined nor is it at this current time completely under control yet.  Please pray for the Lord’s healing touch, wisdom & diligence on behalf of the physicians, financial provision for the family in all the tests, medicine & transportation costs, and peace for all!  May Abba Father be glorified!

Elizabeth is still Stateside (today has returned to Iowa after a great time of visiting friends, supporters & meeting new friends in Wisconsin & Minnesota).  Please continue to lift up the rest of this time in the States.  She’ll be speaking Sunday, March 13th in her home/sending church, First Baptist in Kiron at 10:30am, as well as Saturday, March 19th, 6pm at Iglesia Fuente de Vida & Sunday, March 20th, 10:30am at United Presbyterian Church (both in Denison).  If you are in the area, or would like to have some fellowship one-on-one, please give her a call at 712-263-8486 or 712-267-4246.

Thank you for your prayers!

Currently back in Iowa… bundled up in layers of winter clothes.  Have had two full days of errands & name changing 🙂  Head tomorrow (3-5) to Wisonsin, Monday (3-7) – Friday (3-11) will be in Minnesota & Saturday (3-12) back in Iowa until March 23rd.  While on the road you can reach me by email leoeliescalante@gmail.com or at 712-267-4246…  HOPE TO SEE YOU!!!

March 3 – 4 Denison, IA

March 5 – 7 Muwagno, WI

March 7 – 10 Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

March 11 – 22 Denison, IA

I would truly love to see as many people as possible and hope that if I am in your area that at some point we can connect for some fellowship over a cup of coffee or a meal!

March 2 – 23, 2011 Elizabeth will be traveling to the States to meet with supporters and persons/churches interested in partnering with the ministry here.  As the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective, we sincerely ask you to pray with us for the following:

Protection.  We are not looking forward to being apart for this time, but understand that it is necessary & have been counseled to take this step of faith at this time.  Pray for physical, spiritual & emotional protection for each of us as individuals, as well as for our marriage in this time.

Connections.  Elizabeth is willing to travel & is hoping to be able to connect with past, current & future supporters & partners in this ministry.  Pray for divine connections and that the Brothers & Sisters with whom she is able to share may be able to capture the vision & mission of what God is doing in & through us in the Dominican Republic.  If you are interested in meeting with Elizabeth to hear firsthand about this Kingdom work please send us an email: leoeliescalante@gmail.com

Provision.  Our lives belong to Him and we live by seeking to follow Him.  As we have the privilege of serving the Lord & His church, we trust that He will complete His promises: “Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”  (Malachi 3:10)  In faith we pray giving thanks to God for how He will provide.  We trust that soon we will be able to testify of how He opened the windows of heaven responding to our prayer. 

Genuine thanks!