iers,
g Barr
Ove rcomin es,
ing Liv
Tra nsform gdom Volume 1, Issue 8
d’s Kin
Building Go
September 2009
J&J’s Journal Upcoming events
September Dental
The Portillo’s Whole Enchilada 19-27 team #1
Serving with MAF in the rugged mountains of Southern Mexico September Rebekah’s
24 Birthday
ADS invited to an unprecedented event October Dental
10-18 team #2
Two generational enemies in peace talks
October Johanna’s
In previous newsletters idea or central point of the conflict. They have 14 Birthday
I have mentioned the idea meetings: Dialogue, Peace suffered; they are seeking
that we work in an area and Unity. It shows two a better future for their October Benjamin’s
where conflict has been the hands stretching out to children. Some skeptical; 31 Birthday
norm for generations; an each other. To the right, others with high hopes.
area where three people the white flag being held Our prayer continues to
groups converge. We have high—truce! be that Jesus, the Prince Prayer & Praise
transported many wounded; To most, this picture is of Peace, would become a
orphans and widows abound. about a bunch of men in a reality to them. Please join Pray for Juan Carlos
It was a privilege for me Town Hall Meeting. For us in prayer as we continue as he starts planning
to be a guest of honor in those involved, it is an to minister to their needs. and budgeting for
representation of Alas de historical event that 2010
Socorro (ADS) during they never thought Pray for strength
recent peace talks. To me, could ever happen. and safety during
it shows how much we have Two cultures, two the final stretch of
become part of their lives. languages; very differ- 2009 with only two
I had to take pictures! ent from each other, full-time pilots
At first, I thought this although neighbors. A
picture was ruined when a lot of these men have Pray that God would
man stood up as I was relatives who have been send us another full-
taking it. Looking closer I wounded or have given time pilot soon
found it captures the main their lives during the Dialogue, Peace, and Unity Praise — Johanna
was declared free of
cancer on her last
Saving lives through medical evacuations
screening!
Truce, as mentioned above, has mother/infant mortality rate in our state,
Praise — We will be
greatly reduced the amount of wounded and they heavily rely on our service to able to “settle” for a
people we have flown in recent months. accomplish this goal. They have done few weeks
Another important change we have excellent work in prenatal control and
helping families understand the risks of Praise — for the
noticed is that high risk pregnancies are
delaying treatment. But all this work kid’s schooling
being treated at a much earlier stage. In
the past, they would seek help when it would be of little help in these isolated Praise — Our
was already too late for the baby and areas if it weren't for the airplane. monthly support has
sometimes even for the mother too. You are an important part of these remained steady,
The Department of Health has been stories by enabling us to be here through even in this slow
working extremely hard to reduce the your prayers and support. Thank you! economy
Mission Aviation
Fellowship
PO Box 47
Nampa, ID 83653 E-mail Updates
www.maf.org
During the initial process with Johanna
Phone: 208-498-0800 ’s thyroid problems we
were greatly encouraged by the com
Fax: 208-498-0801 ments, Bible verses,
testimonies, and words of affirmation
that we received via e
Contact us: -mail during that time from our pray
er partners. We also
E-mail: jportillo@maf.org
received multiple comments about how
johannaportillo@maf.org much more connected
www.maf.org/portillo they felt with short notes updating the
process and prayer
requests that helped them pray mor
e specifically. We would
like to continue with these updates and
make them available
to anyone who would like to receive them
. If you are
interested, please send us an e-mail
so we can share the news
more often with you.
Mom’s Corner E-mail us at jportillo@maf.org or joha
nnaportillo@maf.org
Mom’s Corner is back!
In the midst of my medical Family News
treatment and adjusting to life
without a thyroid, I have made it Summer simply flew by us
my priority to focus on God. I without much warning! Kids
have limited my activities, but started school the last week of
continue in the worship team, August. All three are now
coordinating the nursery and enrolled in a small mission
helped with this year’s VBS- school; Rebekah in 6th grade,
Vacation Bible School, teaching Benjamin in 4th, and Hannah is
the pre-teens (10-12 years). starting 1st grade. This school
It was a challenge! I was is God’s provision for us, given Our kids on their first day of school
exhausted by the end of the Johanna’s health. She will have
less of a load from homeschool commerce and industry.
week. Looking back, being able
to touch the lives of almost 100 giving her time for projects she After three weeks without
children, yes, one hundred kids had left aside. the hormone, towards the end of
from K5 thru 7th grade, was An important event for us as August, Johanna went through a
worth the effort. (Picture below) a family was to take the first screening to determine if she
missionary family from our local needed more radiation. We
“In Christ I can do all things!”
church to their new home and praise the Lord because the test
help them get settled. We will showed no signs of cancer or
be the church liaison for them thyroid tissue! Please join us as
as they work we rejoice and thank God.
on a church Thank you for your prayers
plant in an and partnership!
area that is
developing Juan Carlos and Johanna
fast through Portillo