Matthew 21:21-22 
Jesus replied, \I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain,\'Go, throw yourself in to the sea,\' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.\
 
My wife and I were in the mission field of Mexico and Central America for the past seven years. Many times it\'s very difficult to measure your faith when God is blessing your dreams ... married to a beautiful and spiritual wife, two awesome kids and feeling that God is taking care of your future. However, God in His infinite wisdom allowed a time of testing and trials to test our faith and love for Him. When you have so many years in the mission field, moving and giving so much to others, having kids and being married, you start thinking about personal comfort and how to increase stability in your life. 
 
Last year (2006) we experienced some times of trials while we were looking for comfort and stability. God sent us back to our home country, Guatemala --  unemployed, living with family, without furniture, without money to pay rent and with children suffering from illnesses. My wife\'s father had cancer and was treated with chemotherapy. His brother (my wife\'s uncle) died of cancer in June. We endured many restless nights filled with tears and questions such as what can we do to support our family. My wife didn\'t finish college and didn\'t have any occupational experience except ministry.  In order for us to make it, we felt that we needed two incomes. At this point our hearts felt overcome with thoughts of depression and limited options.
 
Times of trials is when the Lord expects us to keep our joy and faith in Him the most. We didn\'t see anything for us in the near future ... days, weeks and months passed by, and their was no answer.

I recall a night when we prayed and cried out to God and this Scripture came to mind: \For I know the plans I have for you,\ declares the LORD, \plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11. (NIV) It was very difficult to believe that God was going to have better things for us when we were faced with trials of this kind. However, the very next day was the day that we received a call from a friend in Los Angeles. Our friend mentioned that there is an opportunity to serve in the full time ministry in Los Angeles. He asked us to come and interview for the position and possibly serve in the ministry again. Our hearts felt revived at the thought of serving God\'s people in Los Angeles. We were excited and faithful in how God was building our faith and refining our character. We were ready to go any where and give up everything for the mission to impact the world for Christ!
 
Now we are here serving in the great Metro Heights Region\'s Ministry De Las Americas. We have many dreams for the ministry and for God\'s people to serve and bring hope to many Latin people in Los Angeles.  

We must face trials with joy and faith and hold on to the Scriptures because our God, the God we serve, is a very loving, merciful and faithful God. I have learned to grow in my faith and my ability to hope for the best in every challenge that God may give us in our lives.
 
To God be the glory!