Super Surprised- Aug 2019

He asked and I said YES!

I, and the Calvary Chapel Rosarito congregation, will forever remember what happened immediately after the evening service of Saturday, June 1, 2019!!  Francisco walked up to the front of the church, went onto the platform, turned to face the congregation, and invited me to join him. I was shocked! Was he going to ask for my hand in marriage in front of the whole congregation? As I walked up to the front of the church, Francisco shared with the congregation how he had fallen in love with me. When he dropped to one knee and articulated those four little words that all women want their man to ask them at the right time, I felt as though God was grinning ear to ear and embracing both of us!  The whole congregation went wild with clapping and hooting in approval. I could not say, “YES!!!” fast enough!

Francisco has great leadership skills that compliment my skill set in ways that only God could have orchestrated!  Francisco will join me in full-time ministry after we are married.

Many years earlier Francisco, too, had received the call of God upon his life to serve our Master. There is always a great need for extra hands in the Mexico Recovery Ministry but neither of us could have anticipated the extreme blessing that God had in store for us! The opportunity for us to serve Christ together as a husband and wife team is an absolute dream come true. We are both excited about our future.

Francisco and I continue to see God’s hand move in amazing ways in the lives of those who have dedicated themselves to Jesus Christ.  We see the effects of the Holy Spirit convicting new participants to follow the Celebrate Recovery program.  Through Christ and the Celebrate Recovery program, participants receive healing from hurts, habits and hang-ups. As we watch the gospel biblically transform lives, we see participants recognize their gifts and talents they were created to use. The blessings Christ pours upon us as the participants use their gifts and talents to serve others around them humble us profoundly.

Jesus is one of those that came through the CR program.  Jesus recognized he had gifts and talents to share with others. Jesus facilitates CR Step Studies on Tuesday nights and facilitates CR Open Share groups on Thursday nights. Jesus has a wonderful, compassionate heart as he leads the men in his groups into a deeper walk with Christ.

At our last Celebrate Recovery Meal Night, Jesus shared his powerful testimony of how God rescued him from the effects of a broken childhood.  Jesus’ broken childhood followed him into his adulthood. He shared with us how, with the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, he left behind the only life he had known.  Jesus left the drugs, the alcohol and the women to follow his new Master, Christ Jesus. Today, Jesus is happily married and attends CR with his wife and children. Jesus is a real blessing to all who have the opportunity to get to know him. His story of biblical salvation is just one of many that we hear regularly. 

When we allow God to do so, God takes the broken and gives them a new beginning and a new purpose in life. I cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers and generous giving towards the Mexico Recovery Ministry. Together we are seeing lives being set free from dysfunctional behaviors that the devil has deceptively kept them in bondage to for years. It is an honor to partner with you in ministry.