All that we do should lead them back to Jesus. Doing nothing for our own reward, all for the glory of the Lord. To bring them to Jesus to be a shining light for those still trapped in darkness. Day in and day out we are surrounded by the lost. To be so filled with the love of Jesus that they can not help but see Him in us. We must be careful though, it is very easy for the enemy to sneak in and whisper in our ears his lies. Recently I had fell prey to the enemy and I started to believe his lies and had a very emotional time of it could not stop crying and was very irrational, also with some physical ailments attached. We had just had a very powerful weekend of praying for others and delivering them from demonic activity and praying for emotional and physical healing. So I became a target and was not being completely aware of what was going on. I became deceived by his lies and was filled with despair and hopelessness in a matter of hours. We went to the church and had Pastor Gustavo pray for me at that time I was not even aware that it was demonic activity. After he prayed for me I was able to stop crying and start to see through the lies and deception that I had began to believe also my friend and sister in Christ prayed for me on the phone. My advice is please have others around you who see clearly and can help you break through the lies of the enemy and also know that our God is bigger then any lies and the devil came to steal, kill and destroy and all he has is his lies. It was an experience that allowed me to feel and see what others go through and how important it is for us who carry the light to help others breakthrough out of darkness into the light. Wow!! God is so very good and turns all things around for His glory, even the things that the enemy meant for evil.
The last part of July and the first part of August I made my bi-annual trip to Bishop, Ca. visiting church's and sharing what is going on down here in Mexico. Had a really good visit was able to share with Church on the Mountain and the River church they gave me the whole service at my home church the River I thought there is no way I can talk that much but it was no problem I talked for over an hour, yay God!! The Presp church had a bible study and they allowed me to share there, I was able to attend the "upper room" home group twice what a priveledge. Along with many home visits and meeting with sponsors and visiting with many friends. The Lord has so blessed me with such a large and supportive group of friends. I was there for two full weeks and then made my way down to Bakersfield. There I attended Calvary bible church which was the church I got saved and baptized at when I was 10 years old. The Lord asked me to go back to my roots and visit some of the people in Bakersfield that I had not seen for many years. I was blessed to see Don and Charlotte Edwards and have lunch with them they are the parents of my friend Misty who was my best friend in elementary school and who the Lord put back in my life. It was full circle for me I had not seen her parents for close to 35 years. They are the family that took me to church with them when I was young. Thank you Lord for placing them back in my life. I also got to see two other friends that I had not seen in a long time. I left Bakersfield in 2010 and did not look back, but I was so blessed to be able to return and tell my story of victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus.
Thank you to all of those who donated for this upcoming school year. We were able to purchase 96 backpacks and pads of paper and erasers, pens, pencils, crayons, pencil sharpers and provide uniforms and shoes and pay tuition for many children. The help these children receive for school is a huge blessing to them and their families. Only the children in high school and College require tuition but the rest must buy all of their own school supplies and provide two sets of uniforms and when you have a large family and with the wage being so low here, 43% of the population live in extreme poverty. We are blessed to be able to help and your donations make it all possible.
Right after I returned home to Mexico, we were blessed to have Pastor Mike come down to visit from Church on the Mountain in Crowley Lake. It was his first time down here with "To Mexico with Love" and Ron. We held a service at Jehovah es mi Pastor with Maria and Gustavo LaVerde and Mike and his message really hit home for many of us. He shared on Psalm 103 and we all needed to hear about the rejuvenation and renewed strength that the Lord was bringing to us. We attended a sweet sixteen party for our dear friend Juanita and her beautiful daughter Edith. We also got to take Mike out to Rancho Milagro and visit with some of the kids and see what a beautiful lay out that orphanage has. Thank you Mike for coming down and visiting us we hope to see you again in the future down here.
Last but not least we had a group from Arizona come down and see us. Last year when my daughter had the baby I spent some time in Arizona and the Lord led me to a church called God's living room and I met a lot of wonderful people, Godly believing believers as I like to call them. Mark 16:17-18 says "And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
We a prayer meeting at the seminary for the group and some of the people on the "front lines" to get prayed for and encouraged and to have life spoken over us. We took the group out to eat dinner at our favorite torta place and we had to continue the tradition of Brother Ron our founder and take them to Dairy Queen for ice cream. We had two church services one on Saturday and one on Sunday and also were able to take the group to Rancho Milagro and help the kids celebrate their birthday's which is a once a year celebration for all of the children at the orphanage. All of the services were amazing, God showed up and worked miracles and many lives were changed and much oppression was broken off and some strategy was given to us to help take back what the enemy has stolen from us. Unity, unity and more unity. To break down the barriers of this church and that church, my people, your people. No we are ALL God's people and we are all equal and we all belong to Christ, He is the head of the Church it is not about a building, it is us a body of believers, we are the church. Once we can break down all of those lies and start to work together for the lost and the broken and the lonely and the sad. There will be no different church's in heaven only Jesus. Thank you Lord for clarity and wisdom on how to work together and become one for You. Break every chain, break every chain in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord for anointed truths that set captives free. Thank you to everyone who came from Arizona to bless us with a touch from the Lord and renewed hope.
If anyone is interested in hearing my testimony it is at theriverchurchofbishop.com under messages under my name Deborah Verdin. Also if anyone is interested in donating we now have a pay pal account and it is under debmverdin@gmail.com. Love and blessings and hope to see some of you down here in the near future.
