My heart was filled to overflowing as family members arrived, brushed off the snow and entered the warm surroundings. The air was filled with excessive chatter and laughter. Most I had not seen in 15 months. I drooled as the smell of family delicacies wafted through the air as we gathered around the dinner table. Thank you Steve and Susan for providing a place to gather, a place to fill our tummies and a place to share memories and catch up.
Having had COVID in September was a wake-up call. I desperately wanted to see my family! I’m not trying to be dramatic, but people all around us are losing loved ones. My chat with God went something like this, “Thy will be done Father, BUT can I please see my family members one more time?” Francisco and I recovered from COVID and I booked a flight back to Canada. I had three amazing weeks surrounded by the love of family. My greatest regret was not being able to see my daughter Jessica and her family due to provincial lockdowns.
2020 was a year of great challenges and growth for all of us. What did we learn through all of this? God is still on the throne in the midst of this worldwide pandemic. As we look back over last year, we may have had some ups and downs but see that Celebrate Recovery is growing in Mexico.
Our Celebrate Recovery training coach has been busy. Angel, from our Tijuana Celebrate Recovery has been preparing leaders in La Paz and Mazatlan to launch the CR program in their local churches. You can only imagine how excited I was when I received this message from Juan in Mazatlan. “Today Celebrate Recovery was born, for the glory and honor of God. I am extremely excited because it is the fruit of everything we have been doing. Thank you for your support. You are the Gramma of CR Mazatlan.” 2020 had been a tough year, but God had a plan.
Francisco and I traveled to Mazatlan to share our testimonies with this newly planted Celebrate Recovery in early January and shared our stories of God's mercy and grace in our lives. We could see God’s hand moving in a powerful way as we connected and listened to the stories of others. We spent time with Juan and Alma, the Ministry Leaders of CR Mazatlan. We shared how God, though his amazing love, brought healing and wholeness into our lives and in turn we answered the call to provide the same opportunity for others.
One of the CR Open Share Group participants shared his powerful story of being part of the Cartel, not only was he part of the Cartel, he was a hit man. His story was amazing as he shared how God captured his heart and is transforming him week after week as he takes part in Celebrate Recovery Mazatlan. God never ceases to amaze us with his love, mercy and grace as he draws the lost and broken to Himself.
Lorena served with us in various areas of ministry for several years before being called back to Mexicali to reside close to her family members. Lorena was more than a servant leader with the Mexico Recovery Ministry, she is like a daughter to me. Thank you Lorena for your many years of service and your friendship. You will be greatly missed.
Now that we are in 2021 I would like to take this time to thank each of you for your ongoing prayers, words of encouragement and generosity. It takes a team to reach the broken!
