On The Front Lines

Our time in India this past month was a whirlwind, but in such a good way. We landed in the beginning of October and the very next day began teaching a three-day conference for those who attend Calvary Chapel Mussoorie. The believers from CCM gathered to be equipped in the area of Spiritual Warfare. Many of them live, work and do life in a places where there is a constant oppression, demonic activity and idol worship on a daily basis. To give them the tools they need through the Word of God was powerful and necessary to see the work of the Lord continue to expand in that place. The attendees went forth with the needed armor to serve the Lord in the battle of life. In the midst of the trying times in America as well, it is a good reminder when Ephesians 6: 10 - 13 says “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” On the Front Lines ...

November 9, 2016 · 6 min · gaona

Secret Seal Team

It was difficult to leave Uganda last month and we both said, “I wish we had more time”. With Sudanese refugees flooding across the border by the thousands into Uganda, it was heart wrenching to get on the plane. Our hearts are burdened and we are praying earnestly. Promise Child is continuing to minister in the camp alongside the churches that are in the area where BidiBidi Refugee Camp is located. A small team will be returning next month to help put a long-term plan in place to reach these precious people with the Gospel and meet basic needs, which we are thankful for. ...

October 12, 2016 · 6 min · gaona

Expect the Unexpected

There is great joy in seeing churches planted and lives changed forever. It is a partnership. You send us. We send them. They send their own. The multiplication process begins slowly, but the effects are like a wave that sweeps a village and then a community and ultimately a nation for Christ. Be encouraged that disciples are being taught, pastors are planting churches and the next generation is being raised up to reach the ends of the earth in Africa. Bond was able to teach through the books of Matthew, Acts and Genesis with the pastors and ministry leaders this summer in Midigo, Uganda. Since there is no translation needed, it was 7 hours a day of teaching and the growth of the leaders was astounding as their minds and lives were challenged through the Word. ...

September 1, 2016 · 7 min · gaona

Fleeing To Uganda

This past month our precious Breanna celebrated her 1st birthday. She also learned to walk, which has been a fun season. The outpouring of love that was given to Breanna and our family while we were stateside blew us away. Breanna truly has been our joy this past year as she has circled the globe with us and shared her smile with people from the USA, Nepal, India and now Northern Uganda. As we reflect back on her first year of life, Breanna has met and made friends with orphan girls in Nepal, widowed mothers in India, pastors in the foothills of the Himalayas, and now with hundreds of Promise Children in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, support, and care for our family that has made our first year as a family so remarkable…all glory to God! ...

July 31, 2016 · 4 min · gaona

A Month To Remember

We have spent the past several years investing in the lives of men and women at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Kathmandu, Nepal and Saving Grace School of Ministry in Northern India. It seems like yesterday that these schools and ministry campuses were just an idea we talked about in conference rooms in the USA. Starting new works seemed crazy, nothing we had money for and a long shot at best. But, we laugh that in our lack of experience God choose us to be part of something so amazing and much bigger than we ever envisioned. With huge amounts of faith, lots of prayer and a ton of support from churches / ministry partners like you, the Lord established these schools so that He would receive all the glory! ...

June 3, 2016 · 6 min · gaona

A Month of Many Firsts

What a spring! We have had many firsts and thought we would share just a few with you. First Resurrection Sunday Service at CC Kathmandu IMG_1653 It was Easter Sunday and we had no idea what to expect. We invited the community, Bond prepared a message of our Risen savior, we prayed, purchased food and opened the ministry campus. Not sure why we were shocked, but the sanctuary was completely packed with Nepali people who came by bicycle, bus, scooter, motorcycle and by foot to celebrate Jesus and all He did for us. It was standing room only with many people sitting outside the doors because there simply was not enough room inside. The clerk from the store came, our neighbors came, the young guys who play basketball on our campus came, a group of young people from a children’s home came and we celebrated. Everyone heard the Gospel and several made a profession of faith for the first time. It was our first Resurrection Sunday service and it was one to remember. ...

April 25, 2016 · 5 min · gaona

What Took You So Long?

We had a blessed and busy whirlwind of a time in the states during Christmas and January. It was great to be able to celebrate and be with family, attend Missions Conference in Murrieta, host Dessert Gatherings in Orange Country and to see many of you who partner, pray and make it possible for us to continue serving another year! Our schedule for 2016 is to be in Nepal through May, mid-July – August in Uganda, fall months in India and finish our remaining visa days in Nepal towards the end of the year. As we start our 5th year as full-time missionaries, we cannot thank you enough and look forward with eager expectation at all the Lord has in store for us this year. ...

February 29, 2016 · 7 min · gaona

Transforming Lives Through Outreach

As we finished the semester in mid-November in Nepal and we concluded teaching classes, we turned our attention towards outreach. The definition of outreach is “to go too far” or “to reach out”. We took students, teams, doctors / nurses, construction workers and our ministry staff with us for outreach. We traveled by van, jeep, truck, motorcycle, helicopter and by foot and we made it our goal to go too far and reach out to the Nepali people. ...

December 29, 2015 · 6 min · gaona

It's All About People

On October 20th, we left India and headed to Nepal where we have spent the past month. It was our first time returning to Kathmandu since the earthquake that hit this country earlier in the year killing 10,000 people and leaving 450,000 people homeless. There has been much provided in the way of relief supplies during the aftermath of the earthquake for both victims (blankets, tarps, food, hygiene kits, sheet metal for new roofs) and for the ministry campus (a new truck that picked us up, off road motorcycle for hard to reach villages, staff, computer lab, library, student dorm improvements). It was actually quite overwhelming to us, the abundant blessing that has been poured out upon this place in a relatively short amount of time in the wake of such a horrible tragedy. Quite frankly, we were in shocked seeing it all with our own eyes for the first few days. We reflected back on our humble beginnings less than two years ago when the Lord provided this place and we were clearing trash, cleaning toilets and sitting in the dark at night praying for provision to feed the students that God brought to this place to study His Word. We began giving thanks for the outpouring of support, generosity and prayer that made all of these things possible. ...

November 29, 2015 · 4 min · gaona

Setting Fear Aside

It was one month ago that we boarded a plane bound for India. This time was different than times past because we now had our two month old baby girl Breanna with us. Prior to leaving, we heard all kinds of comments from well meaning people about taking our child overseas to a third world country. Most of them were filled with fear, worry and concern as was to be expected. Many of the things that were said to us had already crossed our minds as new parents…..questions like “what if she gets sick” and “what about her safety” and “what if she screams the whole flight and does not adjust to being overseas” and the list could go on. ...

October 12, 2015 · 7 min · gaona