Ambassadors for Christ

Greetings children of God; "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you."   Isaiah 43:2  God will take care of us,  when we pass through the rivers they will not overflow and through the fire we will not be burned. He is with us all of the time.  When we take our stand for Him regardless of the consequences when we place Him as the first and foremost important thing in our lives He will always take care of us. When we stop striving and just "be" one with Him in His Presence all things will fall into place, Yay God!!

Father God has been doing some amazing stuff through us down here in Mexico. This year in February we began the school sponsorship program, we began with one child and now we have grown to seventeen full year sponsor ships for the kids down here. Some of the sponsor ships are for the College students but the majority are for the elementary school and junior high and high school age kids. It is approx. 150.00 dollars for all of the needs for one school year, includes two uniforms, one for PE and one for regular days, two pairs of shoes and all of the school supplies. In addition we were able to hand out 73 backpacks along with pads of paper and pencils, crayons and pencil sharpeners. None of these things are provided by the schools down here so inless the children can afford these things the teacher has to contribute or they are asked to leave the school. We have also partnered with a local elementary school and were able to supply paper and pencils to the sixth grade class there. 

These children were so happy to receive paper and pencils we do not appreciate all of the things we have in the United States. So much is taken for granted but I can not stomach kids not getting an education because they could not afford paper or a uniform or shoes for PE. I came out here to Cerro Azul full time last year in October with the plans to help send kids to College. Not realizing that a lot of these kids were not even going to school past elementary due to a lack of resources. So we began praying for wisdom and direction for the ministry, these young people are our future. We live as examples to them, we carry Christ in us. We have the authority to light the fires of God's glory wherever we walk, a container of Christ. Wow, it is all so much bigger then we make it, to get out of our own way and let God drive us.  The smallest donation can make a huge difference. I was able to go to Bishop in July and share at the Neighborhood Church and at my church " the River" and also at the "Upper Room" at Penny McCoy's house.  I am so blessed to be able to share with all of you the progress and the fruit that has been growing since I came to Mexico in June of 2014.  We can all make a difference never think you are anything less then completely capable to achieve all that the Lord has in store for your life and the lives of those whom He places in our paths, their is need everywhere. Thank you to all of you who contributed toward the education fund for "To Mexico with Love". Thank you to the Neighborhood Church for the shoes also we were able to hand out shoes to some of the most needy kids at the elementary school. Thank you Father God for the in to this school what an awesome opportunity to help these kids with their future. The Principal said that all funding from the government has been frozen and they have not been able to get any help for these kids. They have a leaking roof in the eating area and it is a super small room for 130 kids to eat in it also has holes in the wall and the kids get wet when it rains.  

Frank and I were blessed by a visit from Ron in August,  originally he had said he would not be here in July and August due to the heat.  He was able to stay with Pat and John and they have air conditioning and a very cozy guest room. He really wanted to visit Selsa she is a lady who has been a faithful servant of the Lord and a long time friend of Ron and his wife and of Sister Cora. She is in our prayers she has been having some health issues, but praise God she is feeling better. The Lord is always faithful. 

 We were able to visit Carmen and her family and purchase fresh produce to hand out to those families that the Lord placed in our paths. We were able to bless her with help for three of her children in need of resources to go to school. She has ten children but all of them are grown except for three are still of school age. We are so blessed to be able to help them with their needs and in return hand out very fresh produce along with rice and beans and tortillas. Yay God!!

 Frank and Bernardo

 two of Carmen's kids

 Ron and Pastor Ezekiel

 Pastor Ezekiel

Our wonderful friend Yvette purchased a small trailer for the ministry she cleaned it up and registered it got new tires and made additional repairs as needed to ready it for travel. Then our wonderful friend Ruben Perez brought it all the way down here from Bishop and he lives in Fernly Nevada. He brought his daughter and his Mom with him we were so blessed by all of them. We got to take them to "Rancho Milagro" an orphanage in Valle de las Palmas and Ruben's Mom Nicole was so touched by the wonderful work that they do out there. I know it was a life changing experience for her. We are so grateful for all of the hard work that took place to get the trailer here, I must say it was a little "iffy" at the border but as always God's hand was in all of it and eventually they let us cross with it. 

Ruben and his daughter Adina :)

We now have a place for guests right here on the property. Please feel free to come and visit any time you would like. We would love to see you!!

 Alex is in College for Engineering

Your donations are making such a huge impact on people's lives. All of these lives have been changed by your prayers and donations. We are here on earth and Jesus lives in us and we are His representatives. The question will be "did you learn to love?" We will stand before Him and without a doubt be able to say "YES".  God's love to all, your brother and sister in Christ, Frank and Deborah :)

With God all things are Possible :)

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  Matthew 25:37-40

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.

 Team from Alaska

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.

 Team from Wisconsin

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.

 Carmen

 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.

Alberto with Walt

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

Unashamed dependence

2 Corinthians 12:9New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 

Greetings children of God; The place He wants us in is a place of complete dependence on Him, He is our life source. I received the analogy that, He is like the phone charger and we are the phone. We must return to Him to be recharged, our strength comes from Him. When we disconnect we can go out on our own only for a short time, we are filled with His power but we must return to Him for our strength, our life source. To latch onto Him with unashamed dependence, like a newborn baby with its Mother, only seeking her. Only seeking Him, all of that we need is in Him. He said "I have already taken care of the giants" we have no need to worry, the path has been made clear, He has gone before us. To be completely filled with His Spirit, battery complete 100%. Then start your day, head out into the world. I urge you to charge your battery with the one true Life Source that will never let you down. Yay God!!! We ask for fresh filling of the Holy Spirit today and every day. 

Speaking of newborn babies, Roree Marie has finally arrived. I am officially a Nana. Mother and baby are doing wonderfully, divine favor is all over them. We are blessed by the addition to our family, thank you John and Zoe.

"To Mexico with Love" is having a taco fundraiser May the 15th at the First Presbyterian Church from 11:30-1:30. Taco lunch and live auction by Curt VanNess.

Please attend for those of you in the Bishop/Mammoth area, a great way to support the ministry and also enjoy the fellowship. 

The ministry is going through a lot of changes, we trust in the Lord for His guidance and direction. For many years we were able to get food from one of the food banks here in the US and take it over to help give some relief to the needy. That door has closed and we are sure that the Lord will provide a way for us to continue to help with food for those who hunger. We provide a bag of food with prayer and hope for the future. Because for those we help, I believe they begin to think who is this God that would send these people here all the way from their homes and jobs in the United States to come and help us with our daily needs, our basic needs. God does see me, He does hear my prayers, I do matter to Him. The food is an avenue that we use to open the doors, to help begin to set the captives free. Poverty is a cycle that can be broken, Jesus is the answer and we are His vessels. We are commissioned to, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

One of the avenues that we believe that the Lord is leading us down is through education of the children and young adults. To keep the kids in school, originally I wanted to begin only a program to help send kids to College but once I moved out into the rural area of Cerro Azul I realized that the children were not even getting to high school let alone college. We are helping to keep children in primary and secondary school along with raising funds to help with their college education. Each child must have two uniforms one for PE and one for regular classes, plus shoes for each uniform. That does not sound like a lot but if you have seven children and they all require these uniforms and the only income is a Father who works making bricks which is dependent upon the weather and other factors. These things add up and sometimes only the boys get to go or only the oldest children get to go to school. So we are working on providing uniforms and backpacks and school supplies to help break the cycle of poverty by helping to keep kids in school. 

With all of that being said we currently have three young ladies who are ready to attend University. They are sisters who come from a family of nine the youngest having down syndrome, they lost their Father to suicide when they were young and their Mother has been the sole provider. These girls have overcome many obstacles, their faith is strong. They are mighty prayer warriors and I feel honored to help them with their goal of going to University to better themselves and their family. 

This is Narahi and she will be majoring in Business Administration.                   

Abby will be majoring in Customs and Trade and in the future would love to be a Veterinarian. 

Ellie will be majoring in Law, these girls are amazing and we are blessed to have them in our lives. 

The cost for University is 1,200.00 dollars per year, that includes all of the fees for registration and testing. All three of these girls currently work and all three live at home with their Mom. 

Juanita has overcome so many obstacles and with the help of God and His children she has become victorious. We need to raise 10,000.00 to send all three of these girls to University and they will all finish with Bachelors degrees. The programs are three years here in Mexico with three semesters per year. The girls start classes in August.

I believe that God has this covered and He is telling me to put the need out there and let the people know about what is needed and He will take care of the rest. We help one person at a time one family at a time, if we look at all of the need around us we will wilt. It may seem hopeless if we look at the earthly circumstances. When we raise our eyes above to our Father who created heaven and earth the possibilities are endless. 

How can you help? First of all we need prayer, these are the areas that are touching our hearts at this moment in time.

*Prayer for affordable food to dispense to those in need, new doors to open and clear paths to take. 

*Please lift the girls up in prayer for funding for University 

*Please pray for the education program to help fight poverty

*Please pray for the transitional housing project that will be helping children leaving orphanages with no place to go, opening soon. Yay God!!

*Praise report for the physical and emotional healing's that have been taking place in our area. Thank you Lord for using us as instruments for your healing. 

*Praise report that Frank and I received confirmation about being added to the  missionary support list for Life pointe church in Elkgrove CA. Thank you for partnering with us down here in this part of God's kingdom.

If you have any questions or if you have any ideas about fund raising for these girls please send me an email at debmverdin@gmail.com. If you feel led to give financially please send your tax deductible donation to COTM-Bishop address is as follows: Church on the Mountain-Bishop, 165 Sequoia St. Bishop CA 93514, please put College fund in the memo line and make your check or money order out to COTM.

Blessings and much love to all of you without your prayers and support none of this would be possible.