Mexico Missions Trips Slide Show-Mar 2009

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Home Sweet Home-March 2009

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Home Sweet Home! Rebekah and I landed in San Diego and sighed with relief. Routine and schedules were calling our names. We are back in the land of sun and palm trees. It is hard to fathom that just hours before we were wearing winter coats to protect ourselves from the bitter cold of the Great White North. Isn’t technology amazing!

Time in Canada was spent visiting family, friends, churches, Christian schools, Mission Fests and local restaurants always with coffee in hand taking advantage of opportunities to share about what God is doing in Mexico through His people. We feel our time and resources were well used!


Rod representing YUGO Ministries at Missions Fest Edmonton

Rebekah has settled back into school and I jumped back into ministry after a brief time of getting settled. Rod remains in Canada until after Missions Fest Edmonton and will drive back to Mexico with a donated van and trailer containing donations. Thank you Al & Evelyn Ridley for the donation of the van and Tim & Jodie Seivewright for the trailer. Thank you to the many that sent donations to fill the trailer to be brought back for the Mexican people.

My brother Jack is at home and continues to gain strength each day after is battle with chemo. It is one thing to battle cancer and yet another to battle the effects of the chemo. I found out shortly before leaving Canada that I was not a match for a bone marrow transplant for my brother. My sister just recently informed me that she is not a match either. Our prayer is that his donor will be found soon. Thank you to the many that prayed for Jack and our family. Your prayers kept us strong and courageous without falling into discouragement.

Missionary Training started up in El Faro again the same week Rebekah and I returned from Canada. Mike Mc Donald is doing a great job sharing on Soul Shaping. He is encouraging us to keep our souls healthy so we can be more effective in the ministries where we are serving in Mexico. We love learning, fellowshipping and sharing a meal together weekly with our new missionaries.

How to Pray For New Missionaries (Saving Grace World Missions)
Imagine yourself in their place, trying to learn a foreign language and culture. Imagine that you are living amongst a people that think totally different than you and speak a language that neither you nor your family understands. Imagine the emotions, frustrations and the never ending confusions that you would go though. Missionaries are no different than you; they feel the same emotions and think the same thoughts.

Pray that God would give clarity to the missionaries to learn the language and understand the culture. Pray for boldness and confidence on the missionary’s part to step out and be vulnerable in using the new language. Pray that God would intercede to present the Gospel clearly to the nationals. Pray that God would bridge language and cultural gaps.

Part of why Rod and I chose to return to Canada was to continue raising support so we can remain in Mexico fulfilling the dream God has placed upon our hearts to bring more missionaries on the field and train them up so they can be fruitful in ministry and remain strong. Many thanks to those that have come along side us to support us through prayer and finances. We realize that it is a sacrifice as the economy falters.

Christmas with Family-Feb 2009

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:11,12

Each of you is likened to Aaron and Hur as you have held my family up in your prayers. Jack has gone through heavy doses of chemo so the Leukemia will go into remission. I am sorry to say that I am not the right match for Jack for a bone marrow transplant. A search continues as I write this letter for the correct match to be found.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Canada! Jack was given a pass from the hospital so he could spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with family. The New Year was brought in watching fire works, enjoying family time and fun with Jack (he was granted another pass) and other family members.


Peggy, Jack and Cheryl on Christmas Eve

These past few weeks have left long lasting memories (some better than others) with us since venturing back to Canada. We have had our fair share of driving through white outs in the snow, battling the black ice on the highways and trying to find warmth in the cold temperatures that have dipped to 40 degrees below zero. It is apparent that we have become acclimatized to the warmer winters in Mexico.

Our time has raced by quickly due to a busy schedule, representing YUGO Ministries, deputation (raising support so we can remain in ministry in Mexico), visiting family and friends as well as visiting my brother is the Cross Cancer Clinic. Rebekah and I will return to Mexico before Rod but, not without seeing our daughter Jessica, son in law Ryan and our grand babies in Burns Lake British Columbia.

Driving through the Canadian Rockies is an exhilarating adventure this time of year. Everywhere we look hoarfrost covers the trees. It looks as though God has taken a can of artificial snow and sprayed the country side. It is simply beautiful! Most years we often only see our grand babies once or twice a year so enjoy every visit to the fullest. Our days were filled with tobogganing, sledding, trapping and keeping ourselves warm by the fire.


Rod, Cheryl & Maddy by the fire after tobaganning


Rebekah celebrated her 18th birthday while in Canada.

Soon Rebekah and I will return to Mexico as school starts for Rebekah February 3. Rod will remain in Canada as a representative for YUGO Ministries at Missions Fests in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Edmonton. His heart is to share with many how they can get involved in the Great Commission.

Thank you to each of you that have encouraged and prayed for us during our time in Canada. Your prayers have made a difference in all of our lives. My brother Jack is at home resting and regaining strength after chemo. We have had many inquiries about YUGO and the ministry we are involved in. Praise for the opportunity to spend Christmas with family.

PRAYER: For a bone marrow match for Jack. Pray for continued strength for Jack and our family at this time. Pray that Rod will inspire many to get involved in short term missions as he represents YUGO at mission fests.

Christmas Gifts For The Children-Jan 2009

"If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord-and He will repay you!”

After an exhilarating day of shopping and searching for the perfect items to fill Christmas gift bags, we were now about to see a miracle.

Boxes upon boxes and bags upon bags had to be removed from the van to repack it so all would fit for our return to Mexico. Sharlene (YUGO missionary) and I know the man from the toy liquidation place was sent by God to help us. He packed and repacked each box and bag until not one more box or bag could fit into the van. With a prayer we crossed the border with enough items to fill hundreds of gift bags.

Many children will be blessed because of the generosity of those that sent in finances and gifts to the less fortunate children of Mexico. For many, this will be the only gift they will receive this Christmas.

A team from Georgia handed out over 300 Christmas gifts at a local church in Tijuana. Each child that received a gift also heard the story of the greatest gift ever given, the gift of God sending his son Jesus Christ to earth so we can have eternal life. It has been an amazing month. I could go on and on with the many miracles that have taken place.

A team from Canada used their gifts of service to feed children at a breakfast feeding program, painted an orphanage and a pastor’s home. Mixteko children enjoyed crafting and eating snacks while hearing a message of hope and love.

Cheryl & Kim cooking for the children in the Victoria orphanage

It never ceases to amaze me how God works through his children. One of the ladies from the Linden group made mentioned that a couple from Canada had sent money to be used to fill a need in Mexico. I gave my normal answer, “God will show us by the end of the week where He would like to see the money used.”

A few days later the need was revealed. Each year we trust God for finances to supply a Christmas dinner for some of the underprivileged orphanages nearby. God had tapped upon the hearts of his obedient servants in Canada to send finances to Mexico.

Just days before the Linden team had arrived, my parents made mention of the incredible sales on turkeys where they winter in Arizona. I called them and asked them if they would be willing to go on a turkey run.

The seniors of the Lost Canadian RV Park took up the challenge and they proceeded to shop for 140 pounds of turkeys at .39 cents per pound. They also loaded up our truck with many homemade quilts and gently used clothing for the orphanages.

God had a plan and He called together a team of willing hearts to take part in making sure the orphans are well fed, have warm clothes and gifts to open this Christmas. Thank you to each and every one of you that have given your finances, time and love to meet the needs of the underprivileged children in Mexico.