Christmas in Canada-Dec 2014

It was my last day to be with “Our Girls” on the inside before leaving Mexico to return to Canada. After many hugs and promises to keep Rod and I in prayer our Prison Ministry Recovery Team said our goodbyes and headed to a local Chinese restaurant to celebrate our annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange. The Christmas lights and decor were nowhere to be seen, but the fine fellowship and laughter was enjoyed by all as we celebrated and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Sandra, Karla, Cheryl & Lorena

Rod and I spent our last night with our Celebrate Recovery family at Calvary Chapel Rosarito before heading back to Canada with mixed emotions. We love these folks!! We have found great joy and community with the friends God has placed in our lives while serving here in Mexico. Our greatest friendships have been formed with those we have the honor to serve next to.

After a much needed two week vacation we headed to Canada to visit friends and loved ones and share what God is doing in Mexico. Our first visit after entering Canada was to see our daughter Rebekah and her husband Eric. The night we arrived Rebekah went into labor and the next day our grand-baby Sawyer entered into the world. What a joy to be here in Canada for such an event as this.

Papa is enjoying holding newborn Sawyer

Rebekah & Sawyer (one month old)

As we enter into this Christmas season we are reminded of the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born of a woman, a human being that came to earth so he could walk where we walk and fully understand our experiences and struggles. Because He is the Son of God, he has the ability to help us when we reach out to Him in our times of need.

By placing our faith in Christ’s healing power, addictions are broken, marriages are healed, relationships are restored and so much more. What a privilege to be able to serve folks that are committed to seeing their lives be set free from brokenness. I am sure this Christmas will be better than others past for most of our Celebrate Recovery participants who have slugged through the program and found healing and wholeness.

Rod and I want to thank each of you for loving us and standing beside us in the Recovery Ministry. We want you to know how valuable you are to us. We have enjoyed being able to meet for coffee and times of fellowship with some of you since being back to Canada. Hope you have a peace filled Christmas!

Feliz Navidad our precious family and friends,

Rod & Cheryl

PRAYER REQUESTS-

The store house is empty. Please join us in prayer that many will give generously through YUGO’s Women’s Prison Ministry Amazon Wish List. Did you know that Mexican prisons do not supply toiletries to the inmates? See HOOPLE'S RECOMMENDED LINKS to find out how you can be involved in purchasing toiletries for "Our Girls" on the inside. All items will be shipped to our YUGO USA office and we will pick them up and deliver them to the inmates.

Pray for Rod and I as we travel around Canada and share about the Recovery Ministry that God will rise up prayer and financial partners for the ministry.

YUGO Ministries Canada has a new phone number. 780-961-7625

Due to the high cost of mailing, we feel led to be good stewards of the finances the Lord has supplied to us. We will no longer be sending out bi-monthly prayer letters through the postal service. Rather, we will be sending out prayer letters by e-mail. If you do not receive our prayer letters by e-mail, feel free to contact rod@yugo.org or cheryl@yugo.org to sign up for bi-monthly e-mail updates. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

25 Years With the Same Passion-Oct 2014

“I was a drug addict living on the streets, eating from the trash cans.” Stories like these are no longer shocking to us as Celebrate Recovery participants open their hearts and share where God has rescued them from.

In October Rod and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We began our adventure together serving the homeless with our church body in Canada. It was not the hardy soup we served on Friday nights that nourished their souls; it was the message of God’s unconditional love that satisfied the destitute. Today is no different. We have the opportunity to see God’s hand at work in the lives of those around us as we utilize the Celebrate Recovery Program as a catalyst to bring the Gospel to a lost and broken people.

25 years later still in love and ready to serve

It takes a committed team working in unison to reach the needs of those that attend the CR program. And a committed team we have! We are thankful for those God has handpicked to serve alongside us. We even have "Prayer Warriors" praying for our weekly prayer requests. Thank you for investing your energy into the lives of those acknowledging their hurts, habits and hang-ups. If you are interested in praying for the “Recovery Ministry” please contact us. We would love to have you as part of our team.

Our Celebrate Recovery Team are amazing

September 8th was an extra special day as nine of “Our Girls” on the inside were baptized. One week earlier Conchita responded to an alter call we gave in the prison. Her story is extra special as Conchita was a missionary for the Jehovah Witnesses for three years before she went to prison. It was beautiful to see her walk through the waters of baptism.

Cheryl, Lorena, Karla, Marina & Linda served "Our Girls" on the inside at the baptism event

After 4 years of prayer, God has opened a door for our Recovery Team to partner with New Beginnings. This women’s discipleship home will continue the good work our team began in loving "Our Girls" on the inside. Women (and their children) will be fed spiritually, provided food, clothing, and medical care, taught basic literacy, trained and equipped with life skills. We are excited for this wonderful opportunity to see "Our Girls" gain confidence and self sufficiency away from the cycles of abuse and addictions. It is an honor to partner with the staff of New Beginnings helping “Our Girls” fulfill their dreams for a healthy future.

Rod and I will return to Canada in November and look forward to seeing some of you! We are filling in our agenda and are open to share in churches, bible colleges, youth groups, cell groups and with individuals interested in hearing how they can be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission and share what God is doing in and through His people in Mexico. Contact us @ 780-628-2415 and we will plan a date so we can meet for coffee.

It is you, our partners in ministry that allow us to continue serving the Mexican people. Thank you!

Blessings,

Rod & Cheryl

Celebrating 10 Years-Aug 2014

10 Years in Mexico! July marks our 10th anniversary of packing up our belongings (what ever fit in the back of a truck and 21 foot RV trailer) and heading to Mexico. It is hard to comprehend that God has allowed us to serve in full time ministry for this length of time. Pouring our lives into those around us is a small price to pay for the mercy and grace God has extended to Rod and I with the work He has done in our own lives and the eternal life He has promised us in the future. Being immersed in Christ’s love has taught us to love others abundantly and serve with great joy.

Rebekah and Rod waiting to head to Mexico in 2004

Co-coordinating the Recovery Ministry has been a fruitful and rewarding ministry. We have the incredible opportunity to walk shoulder to shoulder with those struggling with brokenness; mentoring others on the “Road to Recovery” and training up new leaders as the ministry continues to grow. One life at a time people are coming to know Christ, marriages are being restored, addicts are being set free and shackles from generations of pain are being unlocked and cast aside. God is keeping his promise to continue the good work He has begun in all of us.

Albert, Gabi, Karla, Noemi, Elisa, Luis, Rod, Miguel & Lorena completed their Celebrate Recovery Training

Our thanks go out to each of you for bathing us and the ministry in prayer, for those that have given so our needs and the needs of the ministry are met, and for those that have joined us in serving on the front lines. Having you as our partners in ministry has made a difference in the lives of the Mexican people. July 13th our sending church, St. Albert Alliance traveled to the Rosarito Outreach Center to build three houses for those less fortunate. 46 dedicated folks left their comfort zones in Canada to join our YUGO family in serving the Mexican people.

St. Albert Alliance Church ready to build and serve

Day 2 of the house build, 2 more days to go!

July 14 Carissa, Janelle, Sherry and Melissa (from St. Alberta Alliance Church) joined our Prison Ministry team in celebrating with our 2014 Celebrate Recovery graduates in the Ensenada Prison. Melissa shared a powerful message that encouraged all of us. Sherry told her beautiful story of God’s healing power and redemption in her life. The rest of us filled in where ever needed to make the day extra special for “Our Girls” on the inside. What a blessing to be able to serve alongside my sisters in Christ from our sending church in Canada.

Back-Karla, Susy, Cheryl, Lorena, Carissa Front-Janelle, Melissa, Sherry

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Karla translated as Melissa shared a powerful message

Our prayer is that we may live our lives worthy of God and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in His knowledge, strengthened in His power so we may have endurance to continue running the race set before us.

NOTE: Due to the high cost of mailing, we feel led to be good stewards of the finances the Lord has supplied to us and send out our bi-monthly prayer letters by e-mail rather than snail mail. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

So Long Never Good-bye-June 2014

After serving faithfully at the ROC (Rosarito Outreach Center) for nearly 10 years, Rod has been commissioned by our YUGO leadership to work full time leading the Recovery Ministry. Shortly after launching the Celebrate Recovery program in Calvary Chapel Rosarito it was evident that this task would take greater commitment and time. Our dreams of seeing more people in Mexico being set free from their hurts, habits and hang-ups is coming to pass. We can’t express to each of you our excitement in serving alongside an incredible team of individuals that have the same vision. We are very thankful for our friends at the ROC for throwing a “So-long, Never Good-bye” gathering for Rod. He feels loved and appreciated!

Rod's in his party spirit

Easter week was remarkable! Our Prison Ministry Team set up an event for “Our Girls” on the inside. Tracie shared her powerful story of how God healed her life of brokenness and touched the lives of many. Elisa gave a powerful Easter message that left each of us encouraged by the deep love of our Heavenly Father. She shared that God loved us so much that he allowed his one and only Son to die a brutal death on a rugged cross so we could live eternally with Him. Others served faithfully singing, praying, serving lunch and communion. We ended the day passing out personal gift bags as “Our Girls” were led back to their cells. What an incredible day!

Cheryl, Joni, Karla, Elisa and Tracie (missing Susy)

Easter Sunday was spent with our Celebrate Recovery family sharing turkey tacos with various side dishes and deserts. The fellowship was sweet and the food was delicious. Week after week we gather together, pray together and openly share what God is doing in our lives. We have had the privilege to see marriages being restored (one couple even renewed their wedding vows). God is in the business of transforming lives.

Mothers Day was another day to be remembered. The Ensenada Prison threw a grand event and invited our Prison Ministry team to take part in it. Each of the women inmates enjoyed a tasty meal complete with desert and a message of love. After Beranise shared the message she gave an invitation for those that do not know Jesus personally to do so. Many accepted the invitation! We left the prison that day feeling satisfied knowing we had the opportunity to not only meet the physical needs of the female inmates, but also be a small part in meeting their spiritual needs as Mother’s Day is an especially hard day for the women as they are separated from family members.

Beranise shares a message of love

Rod and I know you are backing us in prayer in this ministry. As we continue to post our prayer requests and prayers are answered, we are in awe of what is happening all around us. Thank you for walking the “Road to Recovery” with us. We couldn’t do this without your continued love, prayers and generous gifts.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Pray that God will continue to bring healing into the lives of those struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups. Join us in prayer that the financial needs of the Recovery Ministry will be met.

Weddings on the Inside-Apr 2013

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:2 Do you know of anyone who is in prison? Most of us think that those in prison deserve whatever misery they experience as punishment for their crimes. But, God loves all men no matter how far they have fallen. He wants to reach them with his love and help them find hope.

Saying their wedding vows to each other

What a blessing it was to be asked to participate in and celebrate the marriage feast of 21 inmates. Our Prison Ministry team gathered together to make and decorate five wedding cakes as well as serve at this festive event. Our prayer is that these couples learn that joy is not found in material possessions, the circumstances around them, or how much fun they have in life, but that true joy comes from knowing the confident assurance of God’s love and that He will be there for them not matter what.

Karla, Cheryl & Monica serving cake

Week after week people all around us are accepting our Heavenly Father’s unconditional love and finding freedom from the wounds of their pasts through the Celebrate Recovery program. It is our prayer to eventually have a team of men that could bring the CR program into more prisons so that men could find freedom from past hurts, habits and hang-ups. We can only begin to wonder how different these 21 marriages might be with Christ at the center.

The most dynamic, life changing stories are from the people who have found Christ and wholeness but still remember what it was like to walk in brokenness. Let me tell you about Alfredo. His childhood was riddled with difficulties. Having an alcoholic father left him with a distorted view of a father image. He sought to fill his hopes and dreams through education. After years of studying he became an agriculturist. Filling his life with work, fun and relationships did not fulfill him. There remained emptiness deep within his soul.

Eventually Alfredo invited Jesus into his heart. Alfredo has gone through excruciating misfortune among his family members. With the economic downturn jobs are scarce in Mexico and opportunities to work in his chosen profession have been scarce. Through all of this Alfredo has clung to Christ in the midst of the grueling challenges. Nearly a year ago Rod began to go through the Celebrate Recovery program with Alfredo. By allowing God into the innermost shattered areas of his life, healing began. Alfredo may not have been to prison physically, but he was imprisoned emotionally.

Rod & Alfredo at the Celebrate Recovery Info table

Alfredo is just one of the many that are experiencing liberty from oppression through the CR program. Today Alfredo is serving alongside us in reaching out to others that struggle with past hurts. His enthusiasm is infectious! Please pray with us as we continue to raise up Mexican Nationals to serve in the Celebrate Recovery program. Pray that God will open doors to take the program into more churches and prisons so others can find hope.

Rod and I would like to thank you for your partnering with us in ministry. It is through your prayers that we find spiritual strength, and it is through your financial partnership that God provides for us and the needs of the ministry. Together we are seeing others brought into the Kingdom and healed from past wounds.

If you are interested in helping fund this ministry, please contact us rod@yugo.org or cheryl@yugo.org and we will guide you on how you too can partner with us in ministry. Daily we are seeing lives changed.

God's Mercy and Grace-Feb 2014

“I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway.” Isaiah 57:18

Visiting mediums and sorcerers, sacrificing your own children on alters, now that’s what I call wicked! Manasseh was a King that led a life of doing evil deeds. He was the worst of the worst. His father had been a godly man, but Manasseh chose to walk a path of his own until he found himself in great trials and tribulations that brought him to his knees in brokenness. Eventually he cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, and God in his mercy and grace lent an ear to Manasseh and accepted his apology. Recently after entering the prison, we noticed two new women with our Celebrate Recovery study group. Jamie, being an English speaking American, asked to speak to me. She shared with me that as a young child she had attended church with her parents. She even told me her father was a pastor. Somewhere in Jamie’s teenage years she turned her back on the biblical values taught to her by her parents and chose to walk a life of destruction. The path she chose came with a great price! Jamie now finds herself in a Mexican prison, at the bottom of the barrel. This is what it took for Jamie to be ready to turn from her sinful behavior and enter into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ. Her eyes filled with tears as she listened to the message of a heavenly Father that loves her unconditionally no matter what vile acts she committed.

Alfredo is excited about Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a basic program designed to address areas in our lives where we’ve blown it, hurt others or suffered from others hurting us. January 10 we showed the movie “Home Run” and had 300 + in attendance. January 16 we launched Celebrate Recovery after months of planning and training and had 100+ people join us (not including children).

Hector Lazano from Saddleback Church told us his powerful story of how he came to find the Road to Recovery. Our CR team worked diligently using their gifts and talents to accomplish a common goal of preparing to offer a biblical based recovery program at Calvary Chapel Rosarito, a safe place where others like Jamie can experience freedom from hurts, habits and hang-ups.

We have an amazing team of workers serving together and caring for others around them. It is an honor to be a part of our church family. We don’t have to get to the place where we find ourselves in great tribulations like King Manasseh and Jamie before we recognize we have a heavenly Father that wants to reach out to us and comfort us.

Karla translates Hectors powerful story

If you would like more information about Celebrate Recovery or would like to get connected to a group near you contact www.celebraterecovery.com

Thanks for joining us on this Road to Recovery! We couldn’t do this without your prayers and continued support.

Mission Fest Vancouver

Rod and I were in Canada January 23 to February 25 representing YUGO Ministries at Vancouver, Winnipeg and Edmonton. How incredible to see how many are interested in global missions. Along the way we stopped by to see grand children, family and friends. It was so good to reconnect with loved ones.

Nana & Papa with the grand kids