Technical Issues With Our Email

Greetings,

Kristin and I wanted to let everyone know that we just discovered a major problem with our blog. As you all know, every time we update our blog you get an email from feedblitz with that blog post. Until now, every time those emails went out they were from a random feedblitz email address, which means that if you replied we never got your messages. If you emailed us in response to these blog posts and never received a reply from us, we are truly sorry. We have fixed the error and will now get all of your emails.

Thank you all for your continue faithfulness and support! Without all of you we would not be able to do what we do! You are all a true blessing in our lives!!
Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

The Next Generation Wheelchair from Free Wheelchair Mission

Greetings,

We are very excited to introduce you to Free Wheelchair Mission's newest creation! This new chair will revolutionize this awesome ministry. The older model was made using a plastic lawn chair, therefore it could not be be collapsed or made in different sizes. This new model is made using cloth so it is easily collapsed and can be easily stored. The chair can also be re-sized for children or overweight people. If the chair is made smaller for a child, it can be adjusted as they grow. This makes the chair safer for children as well a more comfortable. The chair also has lower back support to help with the back pain that people experienced with the previous model.

We are the first country in the world to receive the new chair. Please pray that we can soon deliver the chair to the rest of the world.

The new chair cost a little bit more than the previous models. The new cost is $60 per chair. This a $10 increase in price for a world of difference! If you would like more information about Free Wheelchair Mission please visit www.freewheelchairmission.org.

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

Another Life Being Transformed

Greetings,

Kristin and I have been blessed with some free time these past couple of months. This free time has allowed us to work with the Nancy Cole Women's Home a lot more. We have gotten to know a girl named Antonelle very well. She recently told us that she knew we asked people to share their stories and wanted to know when it would be her turn. Please read and enjoy her story, in her own words below:

My life started rough. My parents never married, and since I was a baby my family has been super dysfunctional, until a man named Sandro came into our lives. He lived with my mother and accepted me as his own child. He was very good to us and I looked to him like a father figure. When I was 7 or 8 years old my uncle started touching me. It was a very tough year for me because of this. My mother, stepfather, and I went to live in Ica (Southern Peru) to get away from everything.

When we were living in Ica I started stealing from my mom; just a few soles at a time, not a lot. I also started other bad habits such as taking food without permission, lying, and I also got involved with some people in a gang. They were a bad influence on me but I trusted in them. They supported the way I was acting. They made me feel like I fit in, like stealing was the right thing to do. I later realized that they were stealing money from me.

Soon after my little sister was born we moved back to Lima. I continued with this conduct and I hated my mother. I started lying to my family and telling them that I had changed, that I was not doing the things that I used to do, that I had grown out of stealing, and that I was going to school. That was all a lie. I was continuing to steal and I was lying about going to school. I started eating all of my aunt and uncle’s food. My aunt and uncle started getting suspicious and asked me about it. I lied and said, “no, no, it wasn’t me”. Lying was becoming a worse habit than my stealing.

My grandmother would always tell me that I needed to read the Bible but I would never listen. I started reading the Bible a little and going to church. Being honest I did not care if I went or not, but my parents thought I was changing. Later on that year I robbed some kids in my school. My parents found out and they were very angry with me. Because my behavior was getting worse they decided to put me into the Nancy Cole Women’s Home. I was there for 3 months and acting like I was doing better. I was hoping that my parents would think I was doing better and take me out. When I left the Nancy Cole Women’s Home I went back to school and started doing better. My parents were making me see a life coach. I realized that I wanted to make a real change and went back to the Nancy Cole Women’s Home. This time I let God move in my life and fill my heart. I am doing so much better now. God is continuing to move in my life and show me the plans that he has for me. Being here has also made me feel loved by the people in the home and by God. I am grateful for the Nancy Cole Women’s Home because it has changed my life and helped me find what I have always been looking for- the love of Christ.

God is doing some AMAZING things in the Nancy Cole Women's Home and all over Peru. We encourage you to visit www.projectrestoration.net for more information.

Thank you all for your support! Without all of you, none of this would be happening!!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

The End of the 2009 Groups Season

Greetings,

With the 2009 groups season wrapping up we wanted to take a second to say thank you to everyone that came to Peru or supported those who did. We also wanted to summaries all the awesome things that God has done here in Peru. We had teams go all over the country and do a wide range of outreaches, but there were a few highlights that really stand out to Kristin and I.

Obviously the work at the Nancy Cole Women’s Home always comes to mind. From February to the end of August we have had 11 teams go to the home. They have done everything from a tour and spending a couple hours with the girls to spending a full week with the girls doing some in-depth trainings, maintenance projects, and simply relationship building. The home is still suffering for the effects if the worldwide recession, but we have received a grant to purchase some items that should help with long-term cost. Please continue to pray for the home. If you would like to see pictures of what’s going on at the home or would like information on how to donate please visit www.projectrestoration.net.

Kristin & I have also been involved in many ministries in Iquitos (the Amazon Jungle). I would have to say that the best part of the ministry there was the street evangelism we did while there was a transportation strike. It was amazing to see what God did in the face of adversity. Over 15 people came to Christ in the town square!

As all of you have seen, we have been and are currently involved in a lot of ministries, but these are a couple of the highlights of a very busy mission’s group’s season. We still have 2 teams this year, so we are trusting God to continue the amazing results we have been seeing.

We could never express our gratitude for everything that God has used these teams to do. If you came to Peru this year, thank you for taking your time and money to come bless this great country. If you didn’t get to come this year or you have never been I would like to urge you to come in 2010. These trips can and will change your life. If you or your church is interested in coming please email cdvgroups@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

LGCLC @ Casa Cole

Greetings,

Last week we had the pleasure of having our home church here in Peru working at the Nancy Cole Women's Home. We had an amazing week!! The girls in the home were seriously impacted.

The theme for the week was ordinary people, extraordinary God. Each day the group took someone from the Bible and someone from modern times and shared how God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The importance of showing both biblical and modern examples is to show them that God never changes and still uses people today. We want them to understand God has a purpose for their lives. A great purpose!

We also held an Independence Day celebration- Peruvian Independence Day is July 28th. The group taught on Peruvian history as well as US history. We ended the day with an American style BBQ with hotdogs, hamburgers, and Lays chips.

Overall, it was an amazing week. I do not have pictures because Dale, my father-in-law, was taking enough for both of us, but I forgot to get them from him before he left. If you would like to see some pictures of the week please visit my facebook page- www.facebook.com/michael.gulbronson.

Thanks to everyone that was on the team and those who supported the team for an awesome week!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

PS- Please be praying for the girls in the home. They are all sick and are being tested for H1N1 (Swine Flu). We will update you on the situation when we know more.

Ministry in Iquitos With Church of the Redeemer

Greetings,

I pray that this update finds everyone well! Kristin and I had the pleasure of ministering in the Amazon Jungle city of Iquitos this past week with an AMAZING church out of Maryland called Church of the Redeemer (www.church-redeemer.org ). It was a truly blessed time for the people of Iquitos, but also for Kristin and I. We were able to be involved in some amazing ministries, see lives changed, and souls saved.

On Monday we held a parasite pill & lice prevention campaign. Close to 200 people received pills and lice treatments and 83 adults received Christ as their Lord and Savior!

Tuesday we had some adversity. There was a transportation strike and we could not go to the campaign. Some teams would become discouraged, but the COR team came up with skits and songs so that we could perform street outreach. I was unable to take pictures because it wasn’t safe to have our camera with us, but 15 people that day came to Christ. Without the strike those people would still be lost. In the afternoon the transportation strike ended and we were able to dedicate a well and provide a community of close to 1000 with fresh water!!

Wednesday was probably the most meaningful and impactful day we had. We were able to build two homes in the poorest area in Iquitos known as Belen. Eleven people that have NEVER had an actual home now have a house to live in! We also bought them groceries that would last them a week.

Overall we had an awesome and blessed week. Without groups like Church of the Redeemer we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Special thanks go out to them for all they did!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

A Life Being Transformed In the Nancy Cole Women's Home

My name is Martha and I am 16 years old. I am a resident of the Nancy Cole Women’s Home in Lima, Peru. This home has changed my life if way I could never explain. I wanted to share a little of my story with you.

It all started when I was 13. I was having a problem getting along with my mother. I wouldn’t listen or obey any of her rules. We were fighting so much and I was getting more and more involved with people who were not having a good influence on my life. One night I threatened to leave home and my parents didn’t try to stop me. So I left my home, everything that was comfortable to me, and went to live on the streets. Shortly after I left home I joined a gang, I did this so that I would have friends and a family while I was living in the streets.

One night my gang and I were up to our normal routine and while we were robbing some people the police caught us. I knew what I was doing was wrong but I never thought I would get caught. After they caught us they took me to jail. I was there for almost one year. When I got out of jail I went to live with my boyfriend. While living with him I got pregnant. I continued to live my life the way I wanted I was completely consumed with my so called friends. I was still participating in the actions of my gang. My whole pregnancy I tried to pretend that I was in control. Shortly before I had my baby I started to realize that this wouldn’t be a good life for my baby. Shortly after I had my baby boy Aaron my parents came to me and asked me to let them take Aaron, and that they wanted to me to go to a home that could help me. I accepted and went to the Nancy Cole Women’s Home.

Here I am in Nancy Cole Women’s Home changing my life. I have found God here and he is setting me free little by little from all the baggage in my life. I am continuing to move forward so I can become a good mother and women of God. I hope that when I am finished with the program I can bring the word of God and his blessings to my family. Thank you for all of your prayers and support of the Nancy Cole Women’s Home I just want you to know that it is changing lives. Thank you for listening to my story.

Be Our Friend on Facebook!

Greetings,

We have an exciting new way for everyone to keep in touch with us- Facebook! All you have to do is click on the links below and then click add friend. It will allow you to see many more pictures, send us small notes, and see what we are doing on a daily basis!

Michael's- www.facebook.com/michael.gulbronson

Kristin's- www.facebook.com/kristin.gulbronson

Please add us today!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

Back in Lima

Greetings everyone,

I wanted to send a quick update and let everyone know how we are doing. We got back to Lima late Wednesday night. We are extremely excited to be back home and back to work. We want to thank everyone for the great time we had while in the United States. We had a blast getting to see so many old friends and making so many new ones!

I also wanted to say thank you for all of your prayers and support during Kristin’s surgery and during the recovery that followed. I speak for the entire family when I say we wouldn’t have been able to get through it without all of your prayers and messages of support. It was a truly trying time, but we are pleased to report that Kristin is almost back to 100%!!

Now that we are back we will be posting more frequent blog entries. If you have any question about what we are doing please feel free to send us an email at pointofneedministries@gmail.com or leave a comment on any of our blog entries.

Thank you all again for everything!

Blessings,

Michael

United Pastors Network Conference

Greetings,

This past week Kristin & I had the pleasure to attend the United Pastors Network 2nd Annual Conference. It was an awesome week with some of the most influential pastors in the Americas. There were some great speakers from Texas (Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church in Austin), Florida (Pastor Stovall Weems of Celebration Church in Jacksonville), Lima Peru (Pastor Robert Barriger Camino De Vida in Lima), Louisiana (Pastor Dino Rizzo & Marc Cleary of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge), Virginia (Pastor Arlie Witlow of The Community Church in Ashburn), and California (Pastor Doug Balcombe or Living Way Church in San Diego). This doesn't include some of the people that were just there to be a part of it! Buddy Bell, Paul Cole, and many other leaders in the Christian community were there to take in the most amazing conference I have ever been blessed to be a part of!

It was a truly blessed time for Kristin and I. We feel very refreshed and renewed. I think that all the pastors out there need to check it out... If you are not a pastor, make sure your pastor takes a look at the site. I feel truly blessed to be a part of what is going on in the Church today. God is doing big things in the world and this is a network of some amazing leaders in those big things!

If you want to know more check out: http://www.unitedpastorsnetwork.com/

To listen to the messages from the 2009 conference check out: http://www.unitedpastorsnetwork.com/upn/resource

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

Update on Kristin's Neck & Other Notes

Greetings all,

Kristin and I wanted to take a quick second to update you Kristin's condition. We went to the doctor on Wednesday afternoon. The doctor said that the mass had grown and was close to being full of liquid. The mass is called a bronchial cleft cyst. She had surgery today. She is doing well, but she is in a great deal of pain. It was a fairly routine surgery, however we will have to stay in the United States a week or so longer than we originally thought for extra observation due to a high risk of infection. Please continue to pray that everything will continue to go smoothly.

I also wanted to let everyone know that I lost my grandfather (my mom's dad) this past week. I was in NC for the funeral and had to reschedule my speaking engagement for this past Sunday, May 17th, at Life Church (Formally Washington Christian Life Centre) for Sunday June 7th. Please pray for my mom. She has lost both parents in under 4 months.

Thank you all for everything!

By the way, here are our current speaking engagements while we are here:

May 24 - OPEN (AM and PM)
May 27 - Cutbanks Baptist Church (DeWitt), 6:00 p.m.
May 31 - Lake Gaston Christian Life Centre (Ebony), 10:30 a.m.
May 31 - Deliverance Church (Blackstone), 5:00 p.m.
June 7 - OPEN - AM
June 7 - The Life Church (Manassas), 5:00 p.m.

Please contact us at 434-636-2808 if you would like to schedule us to speak at your church or group while we are home. We currently plan to return to Peru around June 10.

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

Vessels of Mercy International Minister at the Nancy Cole Women's Home

As many of you know, Kristin and I came to Peru because of our work with the Nancy Cole Women's Home here in Lima Peru. Now that we live here, we work with many different ministries, but the Nancy Cole home remains our passion. This week we have had the pleasure of having some very good friends from Vessels of Mercy, out of Virginia, here ministering exclusively at the women's home.

Vessels of Mercy is actively ministering all over the world, from Cambodia, Romania, Kenya, and Peru, to name a few. If you would like to know more about their ministry please check out www.vesselsofmercy.org.

On this, their 3rd trip to work at the home, the four ladies each gave lectures on things like good friendships and relationships with men. They also showed movies and did crafts with the girls. It has been a true blessing to have them here with us. They are developing a true relationship and changing the lives of the residents of the Nancy Cole Women's Home.

Here are some of the things they did...

This is Brenda Freeman teaching the girls on God's purpose for their lives. It was one of four powerful teachings given by the group.

VOM brought all of the supplies to help the girls make new personalized aprons. Many of the girls used this as an opportunity to make gifts for their mothers for Mother's Day.

Here is the VOM team with the residents of the NCWH. What a powerful week we had. They were a true blessing to the girls as well as Kristin and I!!

If you would like to see more pictures, please visit the Nancy Cole Women's Home page on facebook or email us and we will send them to you directly.

Thank you so much VOM for all you do here in Peru!! If you would like to bring a team to Peru to work at the Nancy Cole Women's Home please send an email to cdvgroups@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

We are on Twitter!

Greetings from Peru! Kristin and I wanted to let everyone know we are on the social networking site Twitter! If you use Twitter please follow us! It is another great way for you to keep up to date on everything Kristin and I are doing here in Peru. Simply click on the link below!

Michael's-http://www.twitter.com/mikegulbronson

Kristin's- http://www.twitter.com/klgulbronson

We look forward to tweeting with you!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin Gulbronson

Servolution 2009 at CDV

Greetings from Peru,

This week here in Lima, and all over the world, is Servolution! Servolution is a week dedicated to serving your community through simple acts of kindness. As of today, there are 239 churches worldwide involved! For more info check out http://servolution.org/.

Anyway, Kristin and I will be involved in outreach activities all week: whether it is an organized event or simply buying someone’s food at a fast food restaurant. Servolution kicked off yesterday (Saturday, April 4th).

Our church sent out over 1500 servolutionaires to all parts of Lima. Every ministry went somewhere different to serve. Our youth department went to the beach to clean and handed out ice cream. Part of the women’s ministry went to a poor area and passed out care baskets to women and mothers in need. The men’s ministry went to a local police department and painted and replaced lights bulbs that were burnt out. The list goes on and on!

Kristin and I went with the outreach department to a back-to-school and personal hygiene campaign (School here in Lima started in mid March). We passed out 200 backpacks and lunchboxes, 500 cases of water, 100 tubes of toothpaste with toothbrushes, and 100 towels. It was an amazing days. Before passing out the aid items, we simply hung out with the kids. We did a show and played games, and even jumped rope!

We went out to bless the community and it turned into the most blessed day we have had here in Peru! Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayers. Without all of you supporting us, we wouldn’t be able to minister to such an awesome people!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

In the United States in May

Kristin and I wanted to let everyone know about our upcoming visit to the United States. We will arrive on May 12th and return to Peru on June 2nd.

We are coming home for a couple reasons. Kristin will be having out-patient surgery to drain a cyst that is in her neck. It has been growing over the past 3 months. We would really appreciate it if you could please keep her in your prayers over the next couple of months. We are trusting God for zero complications.

We are also coming to the United States for a mid-year fund raising drive. We have all dates open except for May 31st. If your church, ministry, or home group would like us to come and speak please email us at pointofneedministries@gmail.com.

We are very excited about seeing everyone and sharing about the work we have been involved with in Peru! If you have questions regarding our schedule while we are home, please don't hesitate to ask!

Blessings,

Michael & Kristin

PS- One quick story- About 2 weeks ago we were at a medical campaign and a woman brought her baby to us and wanted to name it after someone in the group. The baby ended up being named after Kristin. The baby's name is Kristin Isabella!!

Mariner's Group led by John & Joy Cooke

Kristin & I had the pleasure to host a team from Mariner's Church this past week. Along with the team, we passed out wheelchairs, worked at the Nancy Cole Women's Home, visited the orphanage in Cusco, and held an anti-parasite/ Dental campaign where we pass out over 800 pills and cleaned close to 50 sets of teeth!!! Check out the pictures below!!

This is the team from Mariner's that we worked with.


These 5 wheelchairs were passed out house to house in the poverty stricken area of Callo.

This is Paola explaining to a family how to operate, clean, and repair that chair. Dale (Kristin's Dad) was with us on this distribution.

Chris and the Mariner's team running quality control test on the wheelchairs at a mass distribution. 27 people had their mobility and dignity restored!!

While Mariner's was working at the Nancy Cole Women's Home they ran four workshops. One of these workshops was a sewing workshop. They trained the girls on how to use the newly acquired sewing machines. They helped the girls make customized pillow cases. They were beautiful!

The Mariner's team with the residents & workers of the Nancy Cole Women's Home.

These are some of the children at the Limatambo orphanage making personalized bags. Once they finished their bags they were given a gift of toiletry items to put in it.

The children in the orphanage were also given a dental training and new toothbrushes. This picture is Pastor Kenny (Director of the orphanage) and the children of the home showing off the new toothbrushes!

This is Shirley working in the dental portion of the anti-parasite/ dental campaign in Lima. Over 400 kids received the training.

This is Jacqueline cleaning teeth at the anti-parasite/ dental campaign. Over 50 people had their teeth cleaned.

A New Blog!

We have decided to start a blog to keep everyone up to date. This should help us keep you updated with all the different project that we are involved in as well as let you see up to date pictures.

If we have your email address we will automatically add you to the subscribe list so that you may confirm your subscription.

This is going to be a exciting new way for us to communicate with you, our prayer partners and financial supporters. You will also be able to leave comments on each post if you want to!

I will try to keep blogs short and to the point and try to post as many pictures as I can.

Love and Blessings,

Michael & Kristin