Caleb Barton - Update from Caleb 02/21/2011

Dear friends and family,

It's been a couple months since I have written. The school year ended and I was under a deadline to finish all my work. So much has happened in just two months around and within me I do not know what to write. Ah, Ompeth, the nine year old that was swept from his house in the floods, pinned on the fence and drowned. First, I want to thank all those that gave to this family. Auti Nida and Jocelyn, Ompeth's mom and Aunt, have been Christians for about a year. They both are very young in their faith and about four months ago Auti Nida was going to walk away from the church and "take a break" as she put it.

I tell you this because Auti Nida and Jocelyn were very angry at God for taking
Ompeth. I knew without much prayer these two women and their families would be lost. Satan attacked and we fought! We supported them all nine exhausting nights of the funeral, we supported with much needed money, fellowship and prayer. I watched the Lord begin to work within a few days, Auti Nida, who was going into full on post traumatic episodes when it would rain, which it did off and on every night, begin to get better. Every night we went to their house and sang praises to Jesus, heard God's Word and every night we saw drastic improvement.

The first night of the funeral, which was a little over a week after Ompeth's death, Auti Nida was comatose! She could not move, talk or eat. Every time it rained she would scream at the top of her lungs in complete terror, as if Ompeth was dying right in front of her. Jocelyn, a once vibrant and thankful Christian women, was blaming God for her loss, she was very angry. At the last day of the funeral Auti Nida was able to get up and speak, which is customary to do. She thanked me for the money provided, which was amazing since she had been
upset with me since the Christmas incident. She felt that I miss treated the guy with the machete and crossed cultural boundaries.

Culturally, especially for Auti Nida, to thank one of the American students was touching for everyone, God softened her heart and showed His love; thank you Jesus! Even greater, she thanked Jesus, as she began to cry and said she knew that He had a purpose in taking Ompeth. While the night was very touching and we all went home thanking Jesus for answered prayer, I was still a bit weary of Satan's attacks now that the church would not be their every night.  So we stepped into the ring and prayed without ceasing for Auti Nida, Jocelyn and the
family. To make a long story short Auti Nida and Jocelyn both came back to church! Three Sundays ago, Jocelyn went in front of the Church and sang "Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me. This song speaks of praising God through the hard times and being willing to suffer pain if that is
what it takes to praise the name of Jesus. As she sung and as I write, tears come to my eyes.

Only God Almighty, through Jesus can give this type of hope, joy and peace in the midst of such a tragedy. Only the love of Christ is bigger than this type of pain and knowing this love
causes His chosen people to praise His holy name even when a young child is lost. I have experienced so much pain in my life and without a doubt the worst pain of all is experiencing pain without Jesus! Thank you Jesus for your grace and love, thank you for the hope we
have in you and in your return. Lord, please come quickly, I long to see you face to face and have a perfect body that no longer wars against you. Until then, Lord, allow us to shine as lights to this dark world, let your love shine in each one of us.

Father give us the strength and desire to live a life with no compromise, that people may look and see that we are different, not of this world, full of love and commitment to You, who loved us first. Thank you for the strength, peace and even joy you give during the hard times. Thank you for creating us and finding pleasure in us. Lord, let my ways please You, search my heart and reveal any evil, that I may lay it at the cross and proclaim the victory You won at Calvary. Lord, allow your fire to consume our lives, let this fire never go out, but let us burn with a passion to serve You. Here we are Father, use us! You alone are worthy of all praise, to You be the glory. Amen

Papa and Mimi,
I love you very much! Papa, last time I saw you, you told me the importance of prayer and the importance of coming to our Father in prayer daily. I do not know why, but I can't forget it. I want you to know that I pray, intercede, petition, and worship our Father every day. I pray and give thanks for you and Mime often. Thank you for your prayers Papa and Mime, not just the resent ones, but those that were lifted up in my darkest hour. I miss you both and love you very much; I cannot wait to see you!
Love,
Caleb


Romi,
I wanted to say hi, thank you for the encouraging word you wrote and sent through Pastor Ron! I remember you and the ranch often in my prayers. I want you to know how thankful I and my family are for the work you and all those at the ranch are doing. Never grow tiered or
weary in doing good, as we put our trust in the Lord, He will renew our strength. I hope you are encouraged by knowing that your life and work for the Lord affects so many, me included. Please say hi to Ralph, Paul, Jason, the pastors and anyone else I was at the ranch with. I look forward to coming to the ranch in May when I come home. Please continue in prayer for me and the others and know that you and the ranch are in mine.

God Bless You,
Caleb