Exciting Changes!

We are finding God leading us down new, uncharted paths for us, and it is an exciting place to be! In our last e-Newsletter, we shared with you that we felt the Holy Spirit putting on our hearts that the time to move into a new location and a new sphere of influence was upon us. Since that time, we have proceeded in faith, "pushing on doors", so to speak, seeing which ones God would open and which ones He would close.

It's been encouraging to see the hand of God in divine appointments with people He has brought into our path and circumstances and opportunities arise that could only come from His hand. Following a scouting trip to Northeastern Arizona along with much prayer and confirmation, we fully believe that we are being called to move to Show Low, Arizona, to open up our home to abused and neglected Native American children, as well as to work with children on the Navajo, Apache and Hopi reservations, God willing.



In some ways, it comes as no surprise that God would bring us back to an area where He directed us to become involved at the very onset of ministry with Kingdom Flight. There is a huge, desperate need for loving care in the lives of these children, and we look forward to seeing the healing hand of God on these childrens' lives, releasing them from darkness and bringing them into His marvelous light. Show Low is centrally located in this area between the Navajo, Apache and Hopi reservations, allowing close proximity to several different potential ministry sites as well as our children's home. One specific prayer request would be that God would show us the exact home He has for us, with plenty of room to take in the children He brings to us. It is our hope to make this move in time to begin active ministry when school starts up in the fall, but that is entirely up to God's guidance and provision.

Una Esperanza, our children's shelter in Juarez, Mexico, is still very much in our hearts, but the out-of-control crime in that area specifically and in Mexico as a whole has made ministry by Americans a nearly-impossible task at the present time. Our prayer has always been to see God raise up local leaders who would oversee the day-to-day ministry to the children of Una Esperanza, and we trust Him to do that. Please keep that little oasis in the desert in your prayers. It has always been God's ministry center, not ours, and we trust Him to continue to show Himself strong to our loved ones.

As we walk in faith, pursuing this move to Show Low, we ask for your prayers and participation in our calling to share the good news of Christ. Although the location may shift, the goal remains the same - to love children in the name of Christ, attempting to demonstrate His love that changes lives and gives hope, and bringing them to know Him as their Savior. This is a huge step of faith for us on every level, but we are confident that as we follow His leading, He will provide the resources, strength and wisdom as they are required.


In Him,

Brad & Lesli Bieganski

Expecting Great Things From God...

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God. - William Carey, missionary to India (1761-1834)

Harnessing all my random thoughts after a mission trip is always a challenge - they seem to be random observations and ideas to mull over, then God slowly brings them all into focus and the overall impressions hit home as He gives insight. This last trip was no exception to this pattern.

We felt the many prayers for our protection all week, despite the schemes of the enemy to distract or de-rail us. Both the US and the Mexican borders were much tighter security than ever before, which was an encouragement. The Mexican soldiers are serious about their jobs, yet every one we encountered both at the border and in Juarez were also friendly and professional. We were awakened at our hotel one night by the police, who had caught some one trying to break into our truck, but praise God, they were caught and were unable to take anything from the truck. We also had a strange experience on the remote highway between Una Esperanza and the border where a car sped up to us, swerved around us and then slammed on the brakes, but we thank God for Brad's quick reflexes and we were able to get around them without having to stop. We know beyond any doubt that God was at work, and that the enemy was not happy about it, but God's will prevailed in each circumstance.

The children were so encouraged and just reveled in the love and attention while we were there. Steven and Julie and two of their kids joined us for the week, and were able to love on kids and share Bible stories with the children. They also brought baseball equipment, which led to many great baseball games in the dirt! We know that God has not forgotten these children, and it was a privilege to remind them of that. We thank God for His guidance and protection, and we will continue to be seeking Him as to how this aspect of ministry is fleshed out in light of the current environment in Juarez, and in Mexico in general.

We have been reminded that our ministry to the Tarahumara and at Una Esperanza is a long-term commitment, and that the impact we desire to see will perhaps take many years to show what some would define as "success." We're reminded of Hebrews 11, the "Hall of Faith" where we learn that some who walked in faith did so, never seeing what had been promised in their lifetimes. Reaching the Tarahumara will require many years of pouring out our lives and hearts to these children who will grow into adults and be impacted by the Word of God. In a society that places such a high value on instant gratification and is so result-driven, we have to be reminded that it's not one big bang with a sudden solution, it's day after day after day of being faithful to what God has called us to do with Him that will produce fruit that will remain (John 15:16). Our primary calling is to love these children and demonstrate Christ to them as we tell them that they can know Him as their Savior. However, simply sharing this information will have no lasting effect in their lives if we do not spend our lives living out that love to them.

One of those children we love as our own is Alma, a 10-year-old girl who was with us at Una Esperanza last week, giving and receiving hugs, and just hanging out with us each day. Alma asked Jesus into her heart during our Christmas outreach two years ago, and we have seen the love of Christ at work in her through her dealings with other children as well as the staff. She has such a tender and sweet disposition, although her outward behavior would be more in line with what some would call "a bull in a china shop." She frequently shows up with a skinned knee from falling off her bike or a bruise from playing on the playground.

When we returned from Mexico to California, we received an e-mail from our new friend in Juarez, informing us that Alma had been involved in an accident at her home where she had climbed up on a roof to get a frisbee and the wall crumbled beneath her. She was taken to a hospital in Juarez and was in a coma, and her parents were told that she was going to die from internal bleeding. Because we do love Alma like a daughter, this news absolutely broke our hearts and we have been praying for Alma each day, that God would do an absolute miracle and that if there is any chance that God will use her to bring others to Him, that He will spare her life and heal her. We know that God knows what is best and we trust Him in that, but we will also continue to intercede on her behalf, asking for God to show Himself strong and to raise her up. Yesterday, we were encouraged to hear that she is breathing on her own, off the ventilator, even though she is still in a coma. We praise God for this good news, and are continuing to pray that God would be glorified in what many would see as a hopeless situation. Her parents, Rosy and Francisco, are dear friends, and our friend Raquel visited with them yesterday and was able to pass along our love and encourage them that many, many people are praying for Alma and for them. We do ask for your prayers as God brings Alma to mind.

I know this has been a lengthy post-trip report, but there is a lot going on and we have much to consider as we continue to follow Christ in this adventure. He is good, and we are encouraged to see His hand at work, but it is not simple right now. As I was reading this morning, I came across the quote from William Carey at the beginning of this post, a missionary to India who was used mightily by God in India, but who also knew much resistance and difficulty in ministry in a foreign land. It's encouraging to remember that we serve the same God, who can and does do great things.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Here are a few quotes that I've been thinking through lately...words of encouragement to those who feel they're too "radical."  When you think, "Why bother?  What does it matter?", be reminded that it really does.  

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!" - Mark Frost, "The Match"

"Jesus promised those who would follow him only three things...that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble." - Maltbie Babcock

A Franciscan Prayer

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

We Are His Hands Reaching Out To The Least Of These...

I've seen Jesus this Christmas.  Much like the dirty, dusty stable where He chose to take on human form over 2000 years ago, He came in human form to another dirty, dusty shelter where the poorest of the poor live, to show His love and to make a way for us to know eternal life through His greatest gift.  This time instead of coming in one human form as God Incarnate, His Spirit filled 18 wonderful people who were His hands and feet to the children of Kilometer 33.

I saw Jesus swing kids around, give them caballito (horsey) rides, polish fingernails, play basketball with boys, hold little girls, feed the hungry ones, hold the crying ones, sing with them, and sit and read the Bible with them.  I saw Him considering others as more important than Himself and serving them with every ounce of His energy.  I would encourage you to follow this link to our photo gallery from our Christmas event and see the love of Jesus in action.  You will be blessed.

We saw God's hand at every turn.  He provided many wonderful toys for the children through people who were prompted by His spirit and obeyed.  We were able to hand out Barbies to each girl that attended the event, in addition to many wonderful baby dolls, many cars and soccer balls to the boys, and each child was given a gift bag of goodies in addition to a large gift.  They heard the real meaning of Christmas, and they were challenged to have hearts of integrity toward God.  They were fed and clothed.  Above all, they were loved.

One of the biggest blessings we received was when some of the children from the shelter performed dances set to praise music for the team.  In a year when there were times we questioned whether the ministry could even survive, we saw the fruit of Una Esperanza, and that it is beginning to grow in depth as well as numbers.  To see our little ones praising God in dance was beautiful.  Several of our teenage girls also prepared some songs and I was brought to tears by God's goodness, knowing that three of these four teenagers had come to know Christ as their Savior in the last two months.   The ladies also showed off their culinary skills for the team with a salsa-making contest, which the team bravely took part in as the taste testers.  No reports of sickness to this point... :)

We just want to say thank you to the many people who held us up in prayer.  We felt the angels all around us.  We knew we were covered, and we are truly appreciative.  We are grateful for the people who enabled us to pull off this event financially.  It's always a very costly event, but God always provides.  We are so grateful for the college students from Iowa State, New Mexico State and Hardin-Simmons University that came and poured themselves out in service and in love, for the families that made this their Christmas and demonstrated the love of God to others in front of their own kids.  We prayed for Jesus to be seen by all, and we believe He was.  We know He showed up in each of the team members that came to Juarez this year, and we believe His presence will continue to change lives as a residual throughout the year.

Christmas Treasures

We're getting ready to head down to Una Esperanza for our annual Christmas outreach in a little over a week, and it's all a little different this year.  We're looking forward to seeing God's hand at work, like we do every year, but the circumstances all seem different.

We're collecting the gifts for the kids, which God is providing through wonderful, compassionate people that are responding to His leading.  That's the only way to explain it this year.  With the US economy in a not-so-great state, many people are not reaching out, including many churches that are having their own financial crises.  It's just what it is this year.  Due to the drug wars in Mexico, many people are concerned for their safety and not wanting to take that risk this year.  In past years, we've had as many as 50 people volunteering for this outreach - this year we only have about 8 confirmed.  We've had many thoughts of canceling the event this year, which is what most ministries that work in Mexico are doing this year, but God has laid on our hearts that it is still in His heart to reach these kids, regardless of what we see around us.

Mexico is indeed a very dangerous place right now, and Juarez in particular.  Depending on the source, there have been between 1300 and nearly 2000 murders in Juarez in 2008, nearly all related to a drug cartel war, and it's getting uglier, more brutal.  It's not in the US news much, but it's very real to our kids.  Mutilated, headless bodies are turning up on elementary school playgrounds.  Gangs are threatening to hurt children if teachers don't hand over their Christmas bonuses.  Kidnappings of store owners are becoming common place.

Fear is a very real, very raw emotion in Kilometer 33 as well as the rest of Juarez.  There is no sense of security from the law, as the government is under seige by these same cartels.  In the midst of this, we MUST bring the hope of Jesus.  We believe that's where He would be (and is going to be) in the midst of this Christmas season.  His perfect love has to be what casts out the fear.  Toys may be just toys in some instances, but this year, they are bringing hope and love, that these kids have not been forgotten, that God has not abandoned them in the middle of all this.  

We are so grateful for all of you that have responded in whatever way you can, and we ask you to continue to pray for God's guidance and provision as we press forward.  We ask you to pray for protection while we are down there, from about the 15th of December to the 22nd.  We ask you to pray that God's hand would be so evident to each child, each person involved in this outreach.  We pray that God would lift some of the heaviness in the hearts of the people during this time, that they can be reminded that God loves them and that He has not left them, that they are His Christmas treasures for which He gave His very own Son in exchange.

The Value of a Life

I've been thinking about the value of a life a lot lately.  By what standards do we measure the value of a life?  By what we can see?  By how it affects us or benefits us?  By one's bank account? By human accolades?  

In addition to the everyday ministry focuses associated with Kingdom Flight and our Una Esperanza ministries, I've had a lot going on in my family of origin over the last several months.  My dad has been in serious need of a kidney transplant for quite some time now and has been on a transplant list with UCLA Medical Center, undergoing dialysis four times a week for many months now.  Now, it's all good and fine to be on a waiting list for a cadaveric kidney, but it's another thing to really think about the fact that someone will have to die in order to get that kidney.  It has made for some soul-searching while I've been praying that God would provide a kidney so that my Dad will live.  At 3:00 AM this past Sunday, my parents got the call that my dad was the match for a kidney that had just come available, so we headed up to UCLA and he had the transplant operation.  He came through the surgery and is recovering well, but it really set my brain in motion considering the person who had provided a life-giving organ for my father.  

Prior to the surgery, the surgeon gave us as much information as he could about the donor.  Honestly, it wasn't a real pretty picture.  I won't go into all the details here, but this man didn't have a lot of value that would be measured by worldly standards - no family ties, a questionable drug history, a questionable cause of death.  Who knows if anyone will even miss him.  Maybe if I had seen him on the street, I wouldn't think too much of him.  But now, the fact that he lived makes a world of difference to my dad and to Mr. Keller, who received his other kidney.  

One of my sisters, Traci, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in early August, underwent surgery, and is now currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.  Her prognosis is very good, although the present treatment is not pleasant.  Once again, when you're faced with a potential loss of life, you value it a whole lot more.  You're willing to do anything, pay any price to keep it, even subjecting yourself to pain and discomfort.

About the time Brad and I started Kingdom Flight, we read a little book that forever changed our outlook on life, the value of life, and the focus of our lives, The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.  The basic premise of the book is that as followers and representatives of Christ, we are to live our lives with an eternal perspective.  If eternity is a timeline that stretches out endlessly in both directions, backwards and forwards, then our entire lives can be summed up in a dot on that timeline.  Everything we've ever done or accomplished, everything we have poured into our lives.  He makes the point that most people, and even most Christians, give ourselves filling up that dot on the timeline with stuff that has absolutely no value, accumulating things for ourselves, building ourselves up, and then at the end of our lives, we're still just a dot on the timeline.  What can truly give our lives value is when we spend our lives, our finances, our time investing in things that have eternal value.

As I read the Bible, I'm more and more convinced that Christ didn't call us to concentrate on ourselves and our needs, but the needs of others.  That is one of the strongest convictions we have as a ministry.  Every day we have to see the value of the lives placed before us through the eyes of Christ.  Each dirty little child is invaluable to Christ, so they must also be so in our eyes.  We're constantly asking for the eyes and heart of Christ, to value the ones the world would say have no value.    One way to have the mind of Christ is to lay down our lives and our "rights" for the redemption of others.  And there is always a cost.  I was reminded of that anew with my dad's surgery on Sunday.

Another book I'm currently reading is Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  Once again, highly recommended.  It's just reminding me of who God is and who I am, and that anything less than giving my very all to Him is an insult.  It's all about Him, not me.  I was reading Matthew 10 yesterday, and Jesus minces no words in telling his disciples how tough it is to follow him. Why do we think it should be easy in 2008?  

I'm in awe of how much God loves us and values us, even paying the highest price to redeem us, instilling great value where there was none merited.  I want to live this life, this dot on the timeline, spending myself for things that will last, not what will burn away when my days here are over.  I want to value what God values, to have His mindset, to love as He loves.

God Is Good...

We didn't see the rainbows in these pictures when we initially took them, but we feel they are indicative of what God did at Una Esperanza this week.  There were storms to weather, but God turned it all for good, and those little rainbows were treasures of hope for the days to come.

God honored all the prayers for clear communication and breakthroughs, and we are grateful to God for softening hearts and establishing unity once more.  Once we got past the staff "stuff" we had to address, it was wonderful to see how God moved among the children through the Bible lessons, sharing times and the feedings.

The children were a lot thinner than they have been in the past, and you could see the physical toll it has taken on them with the ministry center being shut down for a few months.  The economic hardships in Mexico as well as the crime sprees in Juarez have made it even more difficult for their parents to provide any food for them, and they were so glad to be fed every day we were there, and were so happy to know they were loved and were not forgotten.

I think the highlight of all the many blessings throughout the week was a water baptism service we held Friday afternoon in which about 20 kids that have received Christ as their Savior, either that day or in the past year or so, were dunked in our blow-up pool.  Our son, Noah, bravely led the pack as he knelt in the pool and publicly stated that Jesus is his Lord.  What a wonderful time it was to see child after child going in the pool (which got a bit more dirty with each child!) and affirming their decision to follow Jesus.

We know that these children are the fruit that God has promised, fruit that will remain (John 15:16), and we praise God that He can bring life out of any situation.  We have been praying for the salvation of all of these children, but it was particularly joyful to see our friend, Carolina, come to accept Christ as her Savior.  She's been a part of our ministry from the beginning, but has been a tough Tarahumara to crack in regards to choosing Jesus.  

Never ones to waste an opportunity, following the baptism service, we turned the pool into a much needed hair-washing party, and much fun was had by all.

We are so grateful for the prayers that were lifted on our behalf for blessings, breakthrough, safety and discernment.  We truly felt the weight of all these prayers, and we thank God for His provision in each circumstance.  Juarez is still a dangerous place, as is all of Mexico right now, but it was wonderful to see ground taken back in Christ's name and light being established again in the midst of darkness.  These sweet little faces make it all worthwhile, and we look forward to all that God will do in the lives of these children to bring forth His kingdom.