God's Spirit within us :)

Greetings to all! God has been speaking to me in so many ways about focusing on His Spirit within me. I want to share with you Galatians 3v16 it states Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. Jesus is the seed, God plants the seed. We are the ground, the ground must be kept plowed and weed free. I am reading emails from Wendy Backlund/Feasting on the Spirit and she makes such a beautiful observation, she says "instead of trying to kill your old nature and prevent sin, focus on your new nature. See yourself as alive to righteousness. Focus on training your brain to be aware of God in yourself, drawing yourself to those things that are pure, healthy, and full of grace." Everything does not change all at once it is a process. The Holy Spirit along with our yielded hearts can begin to make the needed changes in our lives. I find peace in knowing that God has gone before us, He has made the path in which we are to walk. Cling to Jesus and He will never let you down.
Ron and the team came for a visit on November the 5th - 8th. Ron, Gary and Jes Schwartzkopf. Great visit we were able to get 23 cans of formula for the babies out at Rancho Milagro, yay God! Visited many families, the newest family God has placed into our path is a single Mother of 7 who escaped an abusive relationship and is currently caretaking a house but will need to leave soon. Pastor Ezekiel has a home for abused women on his church property so we believe she and all of her children will be able to live their on a temporary basis until she can get her family onto their feet. One of the younger boys is also bi-polar and is currently not on any medication. She is able to work here and there with odd jobs when her kids are in school. Her oldest daughter is hopeing to attend College next semester so we are praying for support for them. Please lift them up in your prayers her name is Veronica and here is a picture of her with the smaller kids. She is so grateful for any and all help that we can give her. She said she is just happy to eat beans and tortillas with her children in peace. It reminds me of the Proverbs that says " Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred".
 

 

        

Veronica and the kids

 
Fredrico looks the best I have ever seen him look, he is the man who is blind and has diabetes. Ron and the team have been visiting them for many years and God has given that man such a wonderful outlook on life. He was riding around in the car with his son, smiling and beaming with the glow of God's grace and glory.

Fredrico and Alisha

Jes blessed Frank and I with a new bed. We had to burn our old box spring due to a bed bug infestation. We are so grateful to her, bed bugs are no joke. They give a new meaning to the word "bug". They did not want to go away it appears we have it taken care of after burning the bed and spraying the house three times. Thank you Father God for meeting all of our needs. What matters to us matters to Him, no matter how big or how small. Proverbs 11v25 says "The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself". I can testify to that 100%, the more that we give the more we receive. Yes of course in the spirit realm but also in the natural, I have never gone without since I began this journey of complete reliance on Father God for my well being. All of my needs are met by donations from you! His children, (wow!!) to trust Him like this gives me such a sense of freedom.

Frank and I were blessed to be able to take a family shopping for food and school uniforms, thanks to a generous donation for them. The joy I feel when I see them so excited in the store over cheese and bacon, the things lots of us take for granted,fills me up to keep on going. Each day is a new begining, it is not to say that all is going to be smooth. I have already experienced loss and pain, in Bishop I was safe in my cocoon and God grew me and sent me out. I came here with rose colored glasses on and wanted all things to be as they appear on the surface. The truth is things  are not always  as they seem, little by little in a way that only God could have with me He is showing me the truth about many things. I will always stand for truth and love, knowing in the deepest part of my soul that God has gone before me and yes there will be disapointment any time we deal with the sinful nature of mankind. Hate the sin not the sinner, always with a grateful heart not to worry about the outcome of things but to focus on the Presence of the Lord.

Guadalupe and his wife Estella

 

Their two beautiful girls!

Ron will be back with a team on December the 17th buying blankets now for his visit our goal is 100

blankets we have already purchased 64 and will soon be able to get another 30 or so. Ron already brought warm jackets for us to give out to the people here. It gets very cold here at night and most people do not have heat. Your donations do matter in a real way. What you do for the least of God's children is like you are doing it directly to Jesus. Christ's love to you, (that is alot of love)! Big hug :) Talk with you next month, Bye for now!

Jared w/new jacket :)

Miracle Babies

Greetings and much love sent out from me to all who are reading this. I ask God to use me as a channel for His honor, love and glory. My hope is all who read this find inspiration and desire to serve our Jesus. We had an amazing week down here last week. We were honored by a visit from two groups one from  Nevada and another from Utah. Frank and I had an amazing time reuniting with old friends and also making new ones. Yay God!! it is never boring when you are in service to the Lord. I believe He puts people in our path's just because He feels that we would enjoy them in our lives. As a gift to us, from our Father. Frank and I had been notified of a need that a local orphanage had a

 

 

 

 need for baby formula. There is an orphanage in Valle de las Palmas called Rancho Milagro and they have 10 babies at this time. Their cost for formula is 500.00 per month, we were able to take some of the group members to visit them and God placed on their hearts to donate to their need. These babies come from very young Mom's ages 12-18 and one of the smallest infants was found in a toilet and rescued. Miracle Ranch is located about 15 miles from where Frank and I live so it is even more isolated yet a beautiful area. One of the group members got so excited and touched by God that he wants to start the process to adopt one of these precious gems. I felt so blessed to be able to take them here, I felt like look what we found out here a whole bunch of beautiful babies. Needless to say I will be spending some time there just holding and loving babies.

We got to spend some time at Cora's church in Polvorine and Pastor Jim spoke to the people there. They are going through a transition and we are here to help support them in any and all ways that God leads us to.

Brother Jim

Church in Polvorine

 

 

Sister Cora

Each time a group comes down here to see what is really going on in Mexico not just what you hear on TV or radio. Yes of course there are dangers but dangers are everywhere. I have been down here for 16 months and praise God not problems other then a few minor health issues which all were resolved. God takes care of His children and we are the vessels in which He uses to spread His love. I ask you from the depths of my heart to help those in need. Lend a hand to a less fortunate child of God, we can help no matter what situation we are currently in. We do not have to wait to be "better" to help another. Our brokenness is what is attractive to another in the same situation. "It is those who have been in the fight who can tell about the victories, it is in the trials that we are made" (Smith Wigglesworth). The devil who is a liar wants us to believe that we are too broken to make a difference. Again we are never too broken with God on our side, no matter what we have done or where we have come from or what we have come out of. God will ALWAYS pick up the pieces and make a beautiful masterpiece out of our garbage. My husband lived in a landfill for five years while in his addiction, now that is hitting rock bottom in my opinion. That is how low the devil can make a person feel about themselves, we are not our situations. God can and will use us, give Him a chance and see what happens. Please do not wait for a feeling, step out in Faith and watch His love flow through you. Trust me the feelings will come, the Joy of the Lord can be yours, it is already yours all you need to do is claim it. Yay God!!!

Silly Jason

Adina and Ruben

 

 



 

Freedom from Depression

Freedom from Depression
I will spend the rest of my life in a state of "Forever Praise". My desire is to spend each moment of each day in a state of awareness of the Presence of God. Thanking Him for all that He has done for me. I say my desire because it is not as easy as it sounds. The cares of this world can quickly bring us down, without us even knowing. To stay in continual awareness of our Creator, our Saviour, our Friend, our Constant Companion will give such a sense of ease to our days and to those around us. People say "why do you laugh so much". I simply say it because of what Jesus has delivered me from.
He brought me out of a deep depression many years of drug and alcohol addiction, suicide attempts, episodes of self mutilation and extremely destructive behavior. I had lost contact with my children and I was in such a place of despair. "He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in mouth- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40v2-3) God saved me in 2009, I did not become completely drug free until a year later. God delivered me and set me free, slowly but surely my life began to change. I was able to begin to breakaway from a destructive marriage and destructive behavior and depression and shame and self-hatred. The laughter came at a conference in Bishop, CA at my church "the River". The speaker was Steve Backlund and he spoke from such a place of truth to my spirit and the laughter came upon me and I have never been the same. I want to say earlier that day I had gone to the 10am session and alot of people were laughing and I was getting annoyed because I could not hear the speaker. Later that day I was engulfed in uncontrollable laughter. The chains began to break off and the freedom from depression was lifted. Cane Ridge Camp meetings (1800-1801) is one of the first documented experiences of "holy laughter", deliverance and freedom from lifelong depression, fear and sadness was a result from this joyful encounter with the Lord.
My experience of uncontrollable joy along with daily affirmations of truth. Began to change me from the inside out, even if you do not believe the positive declarations speak them. A saying in "AA" is fake it until you make it, that is not being fake that is acting above your emotions . I had been paralyzed with fear my mind was a playground for the devil. Jesus rules by Peace and Satan rules by fear. Submit to God resist the devil and he will flee. Never lose hope, He can and will deliver you from any and all afflictions, nothing is too big for Our God. I also want to say that it took almost being physically dead and mentally so confused and lost. Searching for the answer in all of the wrong places. That void could never be filled by anything other then the Love of our Jesus.  I never thought I would be able to function in life again. I was tormented and broken and I thought beyond repair, but He being so gentle and patient never gave up on me and I will praise Him all of the days of my life. A yielded heart is a beautiful thing. Jesus is the answer!!!

Me reunited with my kids :) All the Glory goes to God!!

Lens of Love, through the eyes of the Father

Greetings one and all, we are all so very special in the eyes of our Father. I desire to see things like He does through lens of love. Sending an update from Cerro Azul, we are having a rainy day today. We have had rain since yesterday and it really slows things down here since our roads are dirt. Last Wednesday was my last offical day at the orphanage. I had a hard time saying goodbye to the girls, I know it is not goodbye just see you later but not seeing them on a daily basis is a big change for me. I plan to visit as often as I can, they will forever be in my heart and coming to Mexico has changed my life forever.

Ron and the team from Bishop came down November the 17th we had a quincenera for Lupita. She is one of the young girls that God has placed in our path to help in any and all ways that we can. She has come from a very disfunctional and terribly abusive family situation. Her Grandmother is the primary care giver and it is a very complicated family dynamic. Ususally I don't want to "overhelp" a family feeling that would lead to enabling them but this situation is different. So with that said we did all that was possible for her. Ron raised funds for her and we were able to have her dress made, a cake, food the whole thing was so special. She was so beautiful, no matter what obstacles one encounters we are all so beautiful in the eyes of our Lord and Savior. He sees our hearts not our circumstances, to love like He loved. My heart longs for that, true love for our fellow man. My flesh is so annoying and gets on my last nerve. Often crawling off of the altar of daily sacrafice and most the time just wanting to be stagnant. I will always use Jesus as my example on how to live and love here with His children. Ron also sent a message saying that he wants to help Lupita with College when the time comes, again giving her hope for her future. Yay God!! We had pozole with Juanita another family that Ron has been helping out for many years, she lost her husband many years ago from suicide and left her with 8 children the youngest having down syndrome. What a special lady, she made the tamales for our wedding, so special to my heart. I guess it is because it is so poor here that the gratitude from the people just blows me away. God shows up, we ask for healing and it is here. I know He is always around us and always with us. The team prayed for Juanita's daughter and her chronic back pain was healed. We also got a chance to pray for Macrina and her back pain was healed, she said she has been doing laundry for two weeks. We had the opportunity to pray for a women at Cora's church with mental illness, hearing voices etc. I could feel the spirit pushing me away when we were praying for her. The spirit lifted and she accepted the Lord in her heart to live forever. Yay God!!! So happy to see the team from Bishop I so miss all of there faces. Jean Bigham soooo great to see you and Liz. The team will be back in November and we always look so forward to their visit.

Holy Spirit has really been ministering to me about the healing. Healed to be a healer and blessed to be a blessing, He gave me insight about what He wants us to do down here and it was a healing ministry, a freedom ministry and a helps ministry. Great I said sounds perfect, Jesus sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. God has placed many people in our paths that share the same vision. We are here to serve Him to be representatives of His Kingdom.

We ask for your prayers for strength, wisdom, protection, provision and always increased levels of awarness of His presence. Still planning on the transitional housing for the young adults, still in the planning/praying phase. One thing Father God is working on me with is slowing down. I am here and I want to make a difference and I see so many in need and I want to do all that I can for all that I see through Him of course. Slow down, pace yourself this is not a sprint it is a marathon and we have already won. Through Christ we already have the prize, eternal life. I will take a deep breath and enjoy the sweet aroma of His presence. Christ's love to all!

It has also been brought to my attention over the past few days that out here in the more rural areas, we need to focus on getting these kids through high school. Many of them drop out after junior high to work or to begin making bricks. So yes we want to help them with College, but first things first give them whatever assistance they might need to finish high school. One step at a time. Again the message of "slow down".

Church of Christ, Cerro Azul

 

Lupita with her Grandmother.

Beautiful Lupita

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

　

The Joy of the Lord :)

Greetings one and all, I hope this update finds everyone well! So much has changed since I decided to come to Mexico in June of 2014. I came to Rancho San Juan Bosco with no plans on leaving knowing I would get very attached to the kids. I had no plan B and I was allowing God to set the pace and I was here to reflect His glory. First off I fell in love, God blessed me with a wonderful man to share my life with and spread His love. My plan was to serve Jesus at the orphanage with my husband by my side. Frank did volunteer there for six months and we were able to serve together with the kids and it was a special time for us to learn more about each other and what God has in store for our future. As always we seek His will in all that we pursue. We married on June the 27th and as soon as we returned from our honeymoon we were informed that they were overstaffed and there was no longer a position there for him. So since July I have been there part time, the rest of the time working here in Cerro Azul. I have received confirmation that it was time for me to leave the orphanage which is very difficult for me because I became so attached to the girls. I realize it is in God's plans for me to move on and create a place for the kids to go when they are 18 with no where to turn or no stable family unit. I find some comfort in being able to tell them they can come and be with us when they are older and we are creating with the help of God a safe haven and stable loving environment for them to transition into the world. We desire to help them not to enable them we have a vision of helping them in all aspects of daily living and teaching them the love of Jesus, focusing on a personal relationship with the one true Father that will never leave or forsake us. We can not pick our family but we can allow Jesus to place people in our paths to guide and direct us. September the 30th will be my final day at Ranch San Juan Bosco. I will be living with my husband in Cerro Azul and until the transitional home/homes takes off I will be keeping busy with the families that God highlights for us to help. We are still doing food baskets on Fridays and home visits, praying for the sick and those in need and helping them with food, clothing basically anything that is donated to us we then turn around and find it a new home. We have had a supply of donations that just seem to show up and we can reroute them to those in need. I love how God works.

God has put together a group here we call it the English speaking fellowship of Tecate. Because that is what it is (lol). Also just a side note I have had to really pay attention to my laughing back at home in Bishop I would laugh as often as I could but down here I have had to put somewhat of a damper on it because the people think I am laughing at them or I am just plain insane. The joy of the Lord really is my strength and He delivered me out of such a pit of despair that the laughter just seeps out of me for no outward reason. Anyway I have been blessed with these people we are all here for the same reasons to serve Jesus and some of the people have been deported and others are missionaries it is a great way to communicate about what we are all doing for the body of Christ. Also once a month we are also able to attend an English/Spanish worship service at John and Pat's house bringing local Pastors together to praise the Lord and to encourage a spirit of unity between the church's, Yay God!!
Christ's love to all and no matter what your circumstances are the joy of the Lord is always available to us we just have to tap into it. Awareness  of His presence is as easy as saying "I trust you Jesus" He is right there with you at all times to give you all that you need.

The pictures are first of a couple that Ron and the team have been helping and  praying for, Fredrico has diabetes and is blind and has lost his teeth and hair. He is filled with the Joy of the Lord, you can see Jesus in him and when we come to visit he is joking and so thankful. 

These kids are from the family that got the new house built, looking at them I can see such a difference in them since their living conditions have improved so greatly. Yay God!!

Before the new house

 In the new house :)

Chiquita Lupita is suffering from tumors and she is one of the lovely ladies that we visit at the church in Polverine. We have and will continue to pray for her, the Lord has delivered her from alcoholism.

All the girls were able to be bride's maids for our wedding, thanks to all who made my wedding possible.

Update from Cerro Azul

Greetings and God's love to all! Here is an update on the house in Cerro Azul that Amor built for this family of nine. A team from Escondido came down yesterday and put in all electrical wiring and made walls for this family. God put them in our path early this year and with His help and direction we were able to communicate their need. God is always faithful and we are here to serve Him. He allows us to be His hands and feet and this family is one of the most humble and grateful families that I have met. Special thanks to the team from Escondido that did the finishing touches for them.

Frank and I were married on June the 27th at Rancho San Juan Bosco and took two weeks off to have our honeymoon. As soon as we got back changes began to take place in our lives. We were notified that the orphanage was over staffed and they were unable to find him a position. Frank is now out in Cerro Azul full time and I have cut back my days to three a week there. I am out here the rest of the days. We had planned to be at the orphanage for an extended time period, but the Lord had different plans for us. Our ministry out here has already taken off. I am now involved with dispensing of food baskets to needy families on a weekly basis. The Lord has provided food for us to dispense to those in need. We make house calls to whom ever the Lord "highlights" to us and we pray for their needs and bring hope and encouragement to them on a weekly basis. Also providing transportation to and from appointments for those in need. The Lord has placed on my heart to open a transitional housing program for those in need of placement leaving the "orphanages" in this area. We are in the praying/planning process at this point. Please keep us in your prayers for support and encouragement. Also if anyone is interested in sponsoring a family or a young adult for University please send me an email and I can send you the information on who is available for "help" at this time. Your donation will be tax deductible. My email is debmbaker777@gmail.com. I will be posting pictures and info about families in critical need and young adults that are interested in attending school to better their lives. God's love and His joy and peace to all of you.

"To Mexico in Love"

And now abide faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love. "To Mexico with Love" has become "To Mexico in Love". God has placed an amazing man in my life. He is my best friend and soon to be husband. Frank joined the Ministry on my 2nd missions trip and we became friends and God had a plan for us. Without my knowledge Frank says he fell in love at that moment and began praying for our relationship. Things have progressed and our friendship has blossomed into love, we have already taken the first step of obedience by having our civil ceremony. The most important step to us will be the Wedding ceremony that will take place on the 27th of June here at Rancho San Juan Bosco. Before God and all our brothers and sisters in Christ. ( in Mexico it is required to have a civil ceremony before the actual wedding ceremony)  June the 27th would have been my Mom's 70th birthday, I lost her suddenly in April of 2013. I would like that day to also be a remembrance of her. How she loved me, regardless of my behavior. As only a Mother could. Miss you so much Mom! We will continue to serve here at Rancho San Juan Bosco and the surrounding areas for our community outreach. Two are stronger then one and with God as the center of our marriage we will be more effective in spreading His love to those He places in our paths.

We have continued to help families in need with food, clothing, prayer, transportation and networking with local church's. The ministry "To Mexico with Love" is expanding we are encouraged by renewed interest. All is in the Lord's hands and we are here to serve. If you are interested in information about coming to Mexico for short term missions or volunteer positions at the orphanage please contact me at debmbaker777@gmail.com. You will get a new perspective on the world around you by reaching out to those in need. Please continue to pray for us down here, thanks for your love and support. Jesus is our example, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you"  John 15v12. To lay down our lives for Jesus, to love the "unloveable" the one with no voice. We are called to be His hands and feet, all the Glory goes to God. Love to you, your sister in Christ :)

Greetings :)

Greetings, greetings, greetings. I have limited access on the Wi-Fi right now so I am able to post from my laptop, yay! We will see how long this lasts, one thing I have learned down here is to be  always so flexible with my plans and my time. You see I say my time and my plans, once I give "my" stuff over to PaPa God things start to improve in all areas (imagine that). Life is good down here, I have officially gained 10 lbs. from all of this wonderful food especially the flour tortillas they melt in your mouth and go directly to your hips, that is the absolute truth. I am still adjusting on a daily basis, always room for improvement but also always celebrating the progress. God fulfilled my hearts desire when I got to come to Mexico, but I believe my hearts desire was also His hearts desire for me. The girls are learning more and more English as days go by and my Spanish is also improving. God is amazing and always faithful even if we do not realize it at the time. I started to think on how things we do in the natural effect the things which are unseen. I finally finished a book called Worthy of  Love and it was as if something shifted and the angels sang out "she finished it" the next day I had a great revelation on my self worth. I actually began to feel and act more worthy of the love that was around me. I have no problem giving out God's love to others it is in the receiving that things tend to go astray. I was told that this would be a season to learn God's love and I believe it and receive it. Yay God! As always I am so in love with you!!

Many lives are being touched by the Love of our God down here and I am blessed to be able to help in any and all ways. We are going out to Cerro Azul on the weekends and helping families with food and clothing donations. The Lord provides the items and we take them out to the families. We have not had any shortage of food or clothing donations for these families that God puts in our path. We are here to help serve the Lord and that is just one of the ways He has been able to use us. The prayer from Bishop came last month and we had a report that one of the men that we had prayed for was healed of his Hep C no signs they were going to do a liver biopsy just to be sure. A biopsy just to try and prove a miracle. Do whatever it takes to believe in miracles, but in the end just believe.

I will try and update more often, big hug to my friends and family. Te quiero mucho :)

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Cerro Azul

Giving out God`s love :)

Matthew 6v19-21

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where theives break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where theives do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Greetings, Ron and the team came down last month, it was Sandy, Gary, Susan and Jan. We were able to participate in handing out blessings at Cora`s church in Polvorine. Blankets, hats and scarfs and some toys and candy for the kids. About 100 people or more attended, they also provided a meal for all who came by to get blessed. 92 blankets in all were purchased and about 72 were handed out that day. Ron blessed Frank and I with 10 to hand out to the people in Cerro Azul and Danny also took 10 for anyone at Ezekiel`s church that might be in need. We were able to purchase food for three families and deliver to their homes on the following day(families in extreme need), also were able to take jackets to two men who live in a tent dwelling on the river bed in Polvorine along with food and prayers. God is good and always provides a way for us to share His love. The men did some repair work at Cora`s church that same day after that we visited some of our regular families, the ministry has two families that we help support their medical needs and whatever else we can help with. On that note Frank and I were led to a family in Cerro Azul in extreme need. They are a family of 9 living in a small dwelling with dirt floors, no windows, no running water, the smallest child is 4 yrs old. The Father works in TJ and the Mom and kids make bricks to help supplement their income. Very humble and loving family my spirit loved them from the first moment that I met them. They are on the list for a house to be built but for now we are going to help them as much as we can with their needs. They are attending Pastor Ezekiel`s church and were very grateful for what food and clothing we could provide them. Prayer is needed and I will keep you posted on any other needs for support. Ron will be back at the end of this month with a team.

God has placed on my heart to share a hope that we could all return to a more authentic way of living. A Revival of what has been forgotten. To love your neighbor as you would love yourself, to help those in need with out fear of not having enough left over for yourself. Knowing in the deepest part of your heart that God will always take care of us,the more we give the more we  receive. It is an endless circle of giving and receiving of love, hope and joy! We are His instruments, He will never leave or forsake us. In the name of Jesus lets bless someone until it stings, it will only be for a moment the blessing of giving will return two fold or more. Trust and See, God Bless now and always :)