Oh how He loves us!!

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as  I have loved you."  John 15:12 

Greetings children of God; so happy to be sending an update to all of you! I have been blessed to be able to share what the Lord is doing  in our part of the Kingdom. I headed back to Bishop CA for the wedding of my dear friend Jena Erickson in October so happy for Jena and Micha.  While I was   there I  was able to share at Church on the Mountain in Crowley Lake, I have not been there since they sent me out to Mexico two and half years ago. Thank you Mike and Heather for allowing me to spread the good news of all that is going on down here.  Due to all of your generous donations we were able to purchase 100 blankets to hand out at our yearly Christmas celebration. It gets very cold down here and most of the homes do not have any sort of heating. So blankets and warm clothes are such a blessing to these families.

In November I was blessed to head to Elk Grove CA at Life point Church to share with them. A team from Life point comes down every year and builds homes for the needy. This year coming up they will be building a Church in Rosarito and Frank and I are blessed to be included in the VBS (vacation bible school) that they also do along with the building projects. My first time at their Church, the Lord placed on my heart to share about the needs down here in Cerro Azul, Baja California and He would take care of the rest. To be an instrument for His glory, a light in the darkness. His light, His love, His joy flowing from me to others so that they could see that there is another way.  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except  through Me."( John 14:6)  Showing our love for God by loving others. Thank you Laura and Ryan Kerbs for opening your home to me, also thank you Pastor Chris for the opportunity to share with all you at Life point.

While I was in Elk Grove I had a huge surprise. My sisters from my Dad's first marriage that I had only seen twice as a child and then at our Dad's funeral 25 years ago. Lived in Sacramento and they said that they had been looking for me for along time, off and on. My sister Rhonda decided to look again one week before I was headed to Sacramento. She was successful  she had found me and her and my sister Kelli both live in Sacramento, yay God!! His timing is always perfect,  so blessed to have found them. I got to meet both of them but did not take any photo's with Kelli we were doing so much talking it slipped our minds. This is me with my sister Rhonda :) also Rhonda speaks beautiful Spanish. What a blessing they both are to me. Since I lost both of my parents and I had grown up an only child I was really missing family. The Lord knew the desires of my heart and along with my two sisters He also placed my first cousin Christi back in my life we had not seen each other since we were little kids. All of this happened on Facebook, social media can be used for good. God is good all of the time and He loves to give gifts to His kids, He always has our best interests in mind. At times it may not seem like it, but being in the airplane I had a realization of course on a much smaller level but  Father God sees the big picture all of it from beginning to end. We only see right in front of us and what we think might be the best way, He can see the outcome. So when you say "why are my prayers not being answered in a particular area" Well it is because He knows what is best for us. When He says to "rest" I believe it means to "rest" in the comfort that only He can give us. To jump in His arms and rest in the truth that all things will work out for the good, even if at the moment it does not seem like it. Not that nothing "bad" will ever happen to us but that He and He alone will guide and direct us on the right path." To trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Ron and the team from "To Mexico with Love" came down November 17th-20th. Wow what an exciting visit. We had Ron and Wes and a newbie first time here his name is Michael, also from Fernley Nevada Ruben and his Mom Nichole. What a blessed trip we were able to have one prayer meeting on Friday  at Journey Church in Valle de las Palmas the ladies cooked a wonderful meal for us.  We were blessed to  spend some time at Ranch Milagro with the babies and then to sister Juanita's house for tamales.   Saturday we held a prayer meeting at Pastor Ezekiel's Church with hot dogs and nachos. Thank you to all who were involved with helping us to spread the Love of Jesus.  A lot of kids showed up to the prayer meeting, Wes shared an excellent point "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not enter the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:15) Lots of parents just bring their kids and drop them off any time there is an event at the Church. The children are our future, Frank spoke on how they could pray for their friends and their family on how all of us have been given authority by Jesus.  "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) We were blessed by all of the children.

Ron also informed us that "To Mexico with Love" was going to be sponsoring three families for Christmas this year. The Lord led us to a new family, when there is so much need all around you, we must rely on the guiding of the Holy Spirit to direct us to who to help. God and only God knows the hearts and we must rely on Him for guidance. The Lord showed me a mental picture of this family and Frank and I went several times to their home but could not find any one home. One day we tried again and they were home and we had a bag of food and asked if we could pray for them and also told them that the Lord had led us to their family and we wanted to sponsor them for this Christmas. Of course they were in a state of disbelief and we assured them we had no alterior motives except to spread the Love of Jesus. We prayed for them, we got to love on the little kids. They later attended the prayer meeting at Pastor Ezekiel's church and both parents accepted Jesus to come and live in their hearts, yay God!! One person at a time, one family at a time always following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Letting God handle the big picture of us and only looking right in front of us for the next step to take. As we help Jesus take care of His people He takes care of us.

Ron and the team will be down for the Christmas party which will also be held at Pastor Ezekiel's  Church on Saturday December the 17th. We will be handing out blankets, toys, stuffed animals, hats, gloves and scarves. Also the ladies of the Church will be preparing a meal for the families that attend and Pastor Ezekiel will be sharing a message with us. We so appreciate all the help that we receive from this Church and it's members. "To Mexico with Love" has been coming to Mexico for almost 30 years and the Lord continues to bless us. Frank and I are honored to be hands and feet for the Ministry living down here on a full time basis. Thank you Rich and Barbara from Escondido for the clothing donations and we look forward to seeing you both at the Christmas party.  Also thanks to my sister Rhonda, the ministry has rented a house two doors down from where Frank and I live. With some TLC and some furniture it will be available for groups to come stay for short term or if someone was interested in coming for a school vacation or summer break for an extended mission trip. Also we have been blessed with so many donations that we can now use it for additional storage. Love and Blessings, in the name of Jesus Christ :)

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