Serving during COVID-19-Jun 2020

As believers, we see firsthand the coronavirus induced fear spread throughout the population worldwide. Francisco and I continue to pray and to turn to God for protection, peace and open doors to serve Him. Many have felt especially vulnerable with losing jobs and questioning how they will feed their families. As we drive down the bare streets we wonder how the little old man that sold peanuts on the side of the street is surviving or the guy that sold ice cream on the beach.

In Baja California around 1/3 of the workers do not work at what the rest of us would call a “normal job”. The Mexican people are the most creative people I know. Many live on faith and survival mode selling whatever they can to make ends meet. This time of enforced isolation has affected a multitude of people around us.

                        Ysidro sells ice cream and is grateful for the gift card ($20.00)

Your generosity makes it possible for us to help some of these individuals and families. Your donations are being used to help feed those without. Thank you for partnering with us in the Mexico Recovery Ministry. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we reach out to those without.

As staff at Calvary Chapel Rosarito, Francisco and I continue to serve (praying) during live streamed church services and greeting those who attend Car Church (similar to a Drive Inn Theater) on Sunday mornings. It is beautiful to see those we greet eagerly sharing smiles and waves from their vehicles as they follow that laws of social distancing. So many have missed the fellowship of the church body and are very excited for the opportunity to return to church as see others from a distance.

 My Prison Ministry team and I are on hold bringing the Celebrate Recovery Program to “Our Girls” inside the Ensenada Prison for now. One of the inmates called us to let us know they are well and miss us! We miss them just as much! I meet with our Prison Ministry Team twice a week on video chat to talk about online assignments and PRAY. We are grateful for modern technology and the opportunity to stay in constant contact.

Our Celebrate Recovery Team is in contact with our CR Step Study facilitators and participants encouraging them through worship music, testimonies, devotionals and words of encouragement. We know to fulfill God’s purpose and will in our lives and the lives of those around us; we need God’s Word in our hearts and minds to remain strong, courageous and filled with faith.

Once the quarantine is finished we will host a large gathering with our CR forever family to reconnect and celebrate. We know others worldwide will be doing the same!!

Thank you for your prayers and generosity! Together we are making a difference in Mexico.

Family in Mexico-Apr 2020

What a joy to have my sister (Peggy), brother in-law (Dwayne), dad  (John) and bonus mom (Gretchen) come for a visit to Mexico. They experienced torrential rainfall but still had lots of experiences and fun!

Dwayne, Peggy, Gretchen, Dad & Francisco

 Peggy and Gretchen jumped right in and helped prepare for a Prison Ministry event.

 Dad found great joy in handing out candies on Sunday morning to many of the children at church.

 One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to our local candy store.  When we were at the candy store, we saw my dad’s heart for the Mexican children.  Dad’s heart warmed us all as he filled a grocery buggy with Mexican candy to give to the children of Calvary Chapel Rosarito. 

We all enjoyed having my family here.  It was a great visit!

 Many of “Our Girls” on the inside are in prison for many years cleaning up their lives. They choose to give up their sinful lives, not because they have to, but because they want to. Celebrate Recovery offers them a safe place to share their traumas, recognize their sinful behaviors, and take the first step of filling their lives with God’s Word. 

Our Girls, felons of all types, have learned to experience firsthand how God accepts them.   The women may be murderers, kidnappers, drug dealers, prostitutes, etc., etc., but God’s mercy empowers.  God’s mercy empowers those who confess their sins and accept Christ’s finished work on the Cross.  God gives the women the strength to live changed lives in His power. Week after week, my Prison Ministry team and I watch God transform “Our Girls” to be biblical women of God.

 “My name is Arlen.  I carried many fears, kept people at a distance, and could not express my feelings. My relationship with God was distant because I walked without faith. I walked without faith because I could not understand about a God who genuinely cared for me.  No one had ever cared for me so I only called out to Him when I was in trouble.  I had been physically abused and I turned to drugs to forget the abuse.  The drugs started me on a downward slide that landed me in prison. 

One day one of the inmates shared with me about Celebrate Recovery.  CR sounded different, somehow.  I signed up for the program.  I started working the 12 Steps and 8 Principles and applied them to my life. I was shocked – the steps and principles actually worked!  I grew in my relationship with Jesus Christ and learned to pray. Once I recognized my fears and insecurities, Celebrate Recovery helped me live out my faith.  Since I started working on my recovery, I have learned to communicate with others better.  I am now able to confidently share about God’s love in my life.  My life has changed completely.”

This is just one of the many testimonies we hear on a regular basis from “Our Girls” on the inside. My team and I have been serving in the Ensenada Prison for almost 11 years. Each week we drive the 3 hour round trip to share God’s love with the inmates through Celebrate Recovery. 

Thanks for being our partners in ministry.  Thank you to those that pray and give generously to the Mexico Recovery Ministry. “Our Girls” on the inside, and our Celebrate Recovery participants in Calvary Chapel Rosarito, are experiencing true freedom from their brokenness.

In His Service,

Cheryl & Francisco