Greetings children of God; what powerful words. So happy to be writing this blog and sharing about what has been going on in this part of God's Kingdom. First of all I would like to thank all of the groups that have been here over the last six weeks. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come down and serve the people in this area. Thank you, thank you, thank you,
words can not express the gratitude that we feel when people come down and help with the needs of the people here in Baja. Some of you might not know that God called me to Mexico to help Him take care of His people, to be His hands and feet. I have been down here two years this month. I am a full time permanent faith missionary, along side my husband. I said "yes" to Mexico and the Lord blessed me with a wonderful husband to serve beside. We never know what the Lord is up to. " A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9.
In the last part of May a group came all the way from Alaska to help. They came and stayed with Pastor Ezekiel and helped with his Church and the addition to the kitchen. They also helped with the feeding program for the school age kids and daily VBS for the children in the area. I was very impressed that people would come down all the way from Alaska to help here. I love the way the Lord will call people from different areas. It just shows how small the world really is from the perspective of God. Thank you Rich and Tina Jensen for bringing this wonderful group of young people.
The first week of June was when the Wisconsin team came down. They also stayed with Pastor Ezekiel and his family. The Pastor has worked very hard to build a place where groups can come and stay. This group also helped with the church, finishing the extension on the kitchen along with Frank and the Pastor and painting the exterior of the church and the women's home. Pastor Ezekiel and his church have a home for women coming out of abusive situations, that are victims of domestic violence, there on the church property. Sue spoke to the women and Tom spoke to the men, giving words of encouragement and wisdom. Tom also spoke to the church congregation. They also did VBS with the kids and puppets, everyone loves puppets. We were blessed to be able to take them to Rancho Milagro an orphanage in Valle de las Palmas. They cooked hot dogs and did a puppet show for the children there. The smallest things can mean so much to a person, the giving of one's time is so important in healing the broken hearted. I can only imagine how sad and confused some of these children feel when they tell us their stories of how they came to the orphanage. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" Galatians 6: 9. I was blessed to spend a lot of time with this group and I was so impressed with the young people. Wow so much fire and love, when the groups come down to serve they get blessed by the experience of helping. We get blessed on a personal level because of the fresh fire they bring and leave here with us. Helping each other to help others, it is a beautiful flow. Thank you to all involved with this group, Sue and Tom, Dan and Rhonda, Kristen, George, Brad and all of the youth.
The week following their visit we began to help our friend Vince from Mexico Medical Ministries prepare for the Medical/Dental brigada that was to be here June the 18th in Cerro Azul. Vince had teams here from Hemet and Iowa. Frank and I helped hand out flyers for the brigada with the team from Hemet, along with Vince's daughter Rita, and help from the congregation of Pastor Ezekiel's church and " La Hermosa " church from Tecate. We went door to door handing out flyers, it was a great experience to be involved with this brigada. Ron and the team from Bishop arrived June the 16th, they were not here in May so we were very excited to see them. It was Ron, Gary,Wes and a first time visitor Christy. Friday the 17th we went with Ron and the team to the church in Polvorine which is still going through changes, we were able to pray for the people and love on them. The Lord placed a mother and daughter in our path that grow and sell squash along with other vegetables. We were able to buy directly from the grower, the woman Carmen is a Mother of ten children she lost her husband shortly after the birth of the last child, she also takes care of her elderly Mom. I love this way of blessing the people, by purchasing the squash from a local grower we are able to help them and also help other's in need. They care for the property and the owner said they could use the land to grow, so that is how she has supported her family all of these years.
The Lord led Frank and Ron to a man named Alberto who used to live by the river bed in a tent. We used to visit him and take him food and water but then he left the area. He went to work on a local ranch as a caretaker in a small trailer, he was living beside the ladies who grow the squash. They brought him to church and we prayed for him, he had stopped talking. He had fallen and was alone for some time until one of the ladies from the church, Estella found him and helped him. We were able to give him some food and prayer, spiritual food and physical food a great combo. We had lunch at sister Juanita's house and had so much delicious food that we could barely move, she loves to cook for Ron. Her girls are the three that we are raising money for to send to College.
Saturday June the 18th was the Medical/Dental Brigada, wow so excited to have been able to be a part of this. They had doctors, dentists, physical therapy, chiropractic, hair cuts, children's tents, prayer tents for salvation and healing, podiatry, free food, lab work, nutrition. It was complete, the services where amazing and the volunteers were from all over. Frank was translating, Ron and the team were in the prayer tent for healing. I was blessed to be able to help with the podiatry section, having very minimal experience in foot care as a CNA the amazing woman who ran this section was named Greta and she showed us how to clean and care for the feet of the people who came to us. Anyone with an elevated glucose level would come to our section and we would evaluate their feet. A very humbling and amazing experience, some of these people had never had their feet cared for. One woman who spoke English told me her feet had never been so happy and she was 70 years of age, foot care is very important especially for diabetics. Estella and Jose were able to bring Alberto to the brigada for care and I was blessed to be able to clean and work on his feet, he was still very sick and still not speaking. They ran many tests but the following night he passed away, he was not alone and he knew the Lord. We felt honored to be with him in the last days of his life. Estella said she had shaved him and he was all cleaned up from head to toe and he made his journey home.
The brigada was fabulous 587 attended, 62 salvation and 36 re-commitment to the Lord. Revival for healing and wholeness :)
A change in plans for the transitional housing project, we are currently seeking a location. We are in prayer about the property that Church on the Mountain has here in Cerro Azul. We are getting a small trailer this month that will stay on our property where we live and if the Lord leads them to us we will be able to house possibly two young men. This vision is the Lord's that he placed in our hearts. His timing is always perfect and we are seeking His will in the direction to go.
We have located a bakery in town that will sell us bread at a discount price and now we have the squash connection (lol) and currently seeking any and all open doors to purchase food to hand out to those in need. I have been told by several people that maybe we should focus on one thing. But I feel it is more like focus on the needs of the one in front of you. I feel like the Lord "highlights" those He wants us to help. We are here planted in this community to serve and shine. We are vessels for His honor and glory, when people look at us I want them to see Him.
With God all things are Possible - Matthew 19:26
I am headed to Bishop this month to share about what the Lord is doing down here and I so look forward to seeing everyone there.
Prayer requests:
* Guidance and direction
* location for transitional housing
* more connections for affordable food, that will also bless the seller
* provision and abundance for the Ministry and also for all those we encounter
