HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

MSF 2008: A YEAR IN REVIEW

We would like to wish each one of you a Happy New Year.  It's hard to believe that MSF has been helping and making a difference in many lives for over four years.  Reflecting on this past year and seeing what has been accomplished brings such a blessing to the foundation and the countless number of individuals that partner with us.  So many lives have been touched because of you. 

Take a look back with us as we highlight last year's accomplishments:  The Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center that has earned the nickname "The Mitch" is in full service being used daily by the Harvest Christian Academy and various groups including a men's basketball league.  We awarded the first annual "Torch Award" which gives a full one-year scholarship to one high school boy and girl.  In February we took 12 carpenters to Peru to work on the "Cuna Day Care" center in Manchay.  This daycare center that started four years ago now serves almost 100 kids daily.  We have seen firsthand love provided, hot meals served and most importantly the teaching of Jesus.  Without this daycare center many of these kids who range from infants to pre-school would be left alone while their parents go to work.  We have also started construction on the new orphanage in Pachacamac, Peru.  When completed the orphanage will house over 85 orphans.  The Tabitha House continues to see improvements with Phases 4 and 5 being completed.  Tabitha, a safe haven for battered women and children, has changed many lives for those who step through its' doors. In addition to the construction projects, MSF has provided grants for several of our ministry partners which include:  Cuna Daycare Center, Walk in the Word, Warm Blankets, PADS of Dupage county and Leadership Resources.

Proverbs 19:17, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord and He will repay him for his deeds."  We would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of our partners who have given so faithfully, for the individuals who have labored with us side by side and for the continued prayers that we receive daily.  MSF was started because of a young man named Mitch who really understood what it meant to serve those who had less than him.  Let us not forget why and how this foundation was started and let us not forget whom we are here to serve.

We praise God for the wisdom He continues to give us and for that we give him all the glory.

~ MSF Board of Directors

"Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)

Do you like new things? I do. I like having new friends, new cars, new seasons, new restaurants and new kids (not in that order). I like getting new clothes. To me, new is a really good feeling. I like new jobs (even though I'm in somewhat of a rut at this point—and twenty years happily so).

God loves new stuff too. Do you know that about your heavenly Father? All the way through the Bible, God talks about the new things He has given to us:

• God gives us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26).
• God gives us a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).
• God puts a new song in the hearts of His children (Psalm 40:3).
• He has given us a new name (Revelation 2:17).
• He has given us a new self (Ephesians 4:24).
• He makes us wholly new. Second Corinthians 5:17 pulls it all together and says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."

Among the final words God will speak in human history, will be: "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5).

The Christian life is all about being new, different, and changed. If you are not being transformed little by little, day by day feeling His victory, then what's up with your faith? The people who are in Christ are being changed. The words "newness of life" from Romans 6:4 translate a Greek word which does not mean new in time, but new in character, new in quality. You're a different person.

Think back to the time before you committed your life to Christ. Do you remember how you were a slave to certain sins? No matter how you tried, you fell back into those same patterns over and again. The good news is that when we confess Christ as Savior, God connects us with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the power of sin in our life is broken. Sin may try to get our attention but it cannot boss us around anymore.

That's the picture Paul communicated in Romans 6:1–7. He wanted us to know that we do not have to be under the control of sin anymore. That need not be our experience, and by the power of God, it is not the experience of those who live in His resurrection power. Tragically, most Christians are still living like they are under the power of sin. Are you? I challenge you to embrace the truth that can set you free. You don't have to sin! Before Christ you had no choice. Now you have a choice.

Keep that in mind, because you know by experience that there is still a part of you that wants to sin. It is not gone but it's sort of unplugged. You can't make toast if the toaster is unplugged and you can't sin if the old man is unplugged, but you can go plug him in again.

In Christ you have the power to be the person that God wants you to be. No pattern of thinking holds you. No pattern of behavior enslaves you. That power has been broken through your identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that took place when you turned from your sin and accepted Christ by faith. The chains of sin are broken in you; you are free to do what is right. Claim that truth as yours for a new year—in Christ you are free!

~ Dr. James MacDonald

For more from James MacDonald on "igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of the truth," visit Walkintheword.com.

As you can see the finishes are beginning to take place on the first two new homes MFS is building in Pachacamac, Peru.  Our goal is to have these homes completed by January 1st so we can start to welcome some of the kids into their new home!  What a way to start off the year for these children!  Construction will begin this month on the next two homes, to be completed at a later date.  On January 31st MSF will be heading to Peru to work on these very homes with a team of 12 carpenters.  This will mark our forth year of bringing teams to work on various projects all benefiting kids who have nowhere else to turn.

Thank you for your prayer and financial support to give these kids a better place to live.

View more photos of Pachacamac, Peru Orphanage >

The excitement level is starting to rise as we are about a month away from seeing these new bedrooms and bathrooms being put into service.

December's work included new acoustical ceilings, fluorescent fixtures, taping and sanding of drywall, first coat of paint and the new interior doors. In the next few weeks all the finishes will be complete and then we can finally move in the new furniture, bedding and accessories.

Take a few minutes and look in our picture gallery to remind yourself of what this project looked like before we began. We are going to have a huge impact in helping others feel good about themselves because they have a warm and comfortable place to stay while they work through some tough times.  Remember, Chicago in December/January is brutally cold and these rooms provide warmth for many families.

We are grateful to be part of Tabitha's Ministry as they reach out to the homeless and hungry in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.

View more photos of Phase 5 >

We are getting close to a finished product.  This month plumbing fixtures were installed, doors were hung.  Soon to arrive are lockers and benches.  Lastly, a ceramic tile base will be installed.  Completion of this project should be in one month.

View more photos of "The Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center" >

Tuesday 3/16/2004

Today God taught me about the focal point of spiritual power.  The power of God is the resurrection life of Jesus we have to dwell on, the tragedy of Calvary or on the meaning of redemption more.

Mitch spent the last few months of his life not only living his life for the Lord but putting his thoughts in his journal everyday. How do we want to live our lives? Why don't we all try something radical today for the Lord!

> Visit Mitch's Story on our website