Christmas Memories-Dec 2023

Merry Christmas Family & Friends,

It’s almost Christmas! For me, the Christmas season is always a time of looking back and reflecting on memories from the past. Memories of Christmas past is sweet and filled with treasures. Many of those treasured memories were when the kids were growing up. I can’t imagine how Mary felt the day an angel told her-her child would be the Messiah. We all know motherhood is painful at times. I don’t know about you, but I often second guessed myself. “Am I doing this parenting thing right?”. Can you imagine the pressure of bringing up God’s one and only Son?

I am grateful Mary, an ordinary person like you and I made herself available to be the mother of the Son of God. I love how God’s plans involve extraordinary events in ordinary people’s lives.

It has been an incredible year serving the people of Mexico. Our Celebrate Recovery family has grown! Our servant leaders are ordinary people, like you and I, who have followed the call to serve. Pancho & Cristy lead “The Landing”, our Celebrate Recovery program for youth. This couple have reached into the depths of our youths’ hearts to earn their love and respect. Irene and Araceli lead Celebration Place”, our Celebrate Recovery program for children. Weekly they pour out their love on our children and lead them through Celebrate Recovery at their age level. These are just a few of the many that serve alongside us.

Ana & Karla preparing toiletry girft bags for "Our Girls" inside the Ensenada Prison

We are blessed to have the ordinary servant leaders fulfilling extraordinary callings. Each one is making a difference in the lives of children, youth and adults. Francisco and I count it a blessing to serve alongside our Celebrate Recovery servant leaders. Each come with special gifts and talents with hearts to serve.

As we enter into the Christmas season filled with festivities with family and friends, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth Jesus. Francisco and I are thankful for each of you! Your prayers, words of encouragement and generosity are making a difference in Mexico.

Feliz Navidad,

Cheryl & Francisco

NOTE:

When giving a Year-End contribution for tax purposes, please remember: Year-End contributions mailed or given online to CTEN must be no later than December 31st.

Freedom found in Jesus-October 2023

Greeting from Mexico Family and Friends, My time in Canada this past summer was AMAZING! I landed in Saskatchewan and spent time with my daughter Rebekah and her family. The farm life filled with grandkids and various other adventures was exhilarating. Then we packed up the van and drove to Alberta. Alberta brought many gatherings: our annual Family BBQ, spray parks, pie at the historical Tea House, ice-cream out with Grampa and Gretchen, a Picnic in the Park with friends and supporters of the Mexico Recovery Ministry and other such wonderful adventures. Each event left of me filled to over flowing with love and special memories.

Visiting Gramma Hoople with my 3 daughters (Kelsey, Jessica & Rebekah)

I returned to British Columbia with my daughter Jessica and her family. Our time together included new and wild adventures. I have an armload of bear stories I could share, but won’t this time around. Seeing my daughters, grandkids and family all together once a year brings great joy for all of us. I returned to Mexico refreshed, restored and ready to serve.

So grateful to have seen all my family at the 2023 Annual Family BBQ

Psalm 56:8 “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in a bottle. And You have recorded each one in your Book.” Celebrate Recovery gives our participants the opportunity to know Jesus in a deeper way so they can be set free from dysfunctional behaviors and become the people God created them to be. When we started a new set of Celebrate Recovery Step Studies in January, Patty joined our group. Patty has been open to revisit her past to find freedom for her future. In the past, Patty often wavered in her faith as she felt no one understood her pain. The brokenness of Patty’s childhood may have led her down a dark path for many years, but the freedom she has found in Jesus is leading her to a live a life of gratitude and commitment walking forth in victory.

The foundation of Celebrate Recovery is built on the concept of having sponsors and accountability partners to walk alongside you on the Road to Recovery. I have the honor of being Party’s sponsor and Francisco is her husband Benny’s sponsor. As we watch both Patty and Benny grow spiritually, we feel overjoyed in walking beside them in this stage of their lives and recovery. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS: October 21, 2023 we will be hosting our 8th Annual Celebrate Recovery Networking Event. We will be inviting people from our local church, our community and Celebrate Recovery groups across Mexico. Our guest speakers will be sharing powerful messages and testimonies to lead others to God’s healing power for their lives.

As partners in ministry, together we are changing lives one person at a time. There are many Patty’s and Benny’s benefiting from your prayers and financial gifts. Thank you for being our partners in the Mexico Recovery Ministry.

Blessings, Cheryl & Francisco

Serving God Effectively-Aug 2023

Greetings Family & Friends,

I love, love, love summer!! Two weeks out of each summer are designated for reconnecting with my (Cheryl) daughters, nine grandchildren, family and friends of the Mexico Recovery Ministry. I can’t wait for those tea parties, family BBQ’s and a Picnic in Lion’s Park. All of these activities fill my love tank to over flowing.

Being loved is a powerful motivator. “Our Girls” on the inside of the Ensenada Prison feel our love and respond well to it. Many do not feel loveable due to the lack of being cared for in their lives. Finding God and His deep love transforms lives. When our Celebrate Recovery participants find out God sees all and continues to love them, healing begins. By finding the truth of God’s unconditional in our lives, we are able to love others in return. Then, God offers us the opportunity to serve Him effectively, using our God given gifts and talents for His glory. Eleven years ago, I met Karla. I was in need of a faithful servant leader to serve on the Prison Ministry team.

Let me share with you Karla’s story.

Karla’s Story: My name is Karla and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggled with anxiety, insecurity and fear. I grew up in a typical family with parents that focused on making us feel safe and loved.

Over the years I realized my parents were having trouble between themselves. My older sisters took it upon themselves to contact a tarot card reader who met with us and told us my father had a black magic spell placed on his life to drive him crazy and destroy our family. That same week we opened the doors of our home to a white witch which was highly recommended to help us. We were told white witches were placed on earth by God to protect us. This began a nine-year nightmare for my entire family as we became involved in witchcraft. We lived a life of secrecy that left us feeling alienated, dirty and ashamed.

God had mercy on us and sent an aunt to share the Gospel with us. Because of the horror and emptiness, we were living, my whole family came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior in one day. WE all began to change drastically as God’s love and forgiveness flowed into our lives. One day I was introduced to Cheryl, and she invited me to join her on the Prison Ministry team. This was my introduction to Celebrate Recovery. I learned to give my fear, insecurity and anxiety to God. What the enemy used to bring shame, guilt and condemnation into my life, the Lord has turned into a song of gratefulness and victory.

Thanks for letting me share

Little did I know Karla would be such a great fit in the Mexico Recovery Ministry. Karla has been my gift from God, my life line in times of distress and a faithful leader serving in the Prison Ministry and Celebrate Recovery in our local church, Calvary Rosarito.

Francisco and I are grateful to have you as our partners in the Mexico Recovery Ministry. Your prayers and financial support remains invaluable to us.

Blessings, Cheryl & Francisco

From Darkness to Light-June 2023

Greeting from Mexico Family and friends,

We hope that you are ready for summer! We are! Francisco and I took a few days to vacation in Puerto Vallarta. From there I headed to Canada for a short time. It had been a few years since I spent Easter with family, Time with family, friends and supporters of the Mexico Recovery Ministry made for a great time.. I was also able to spend my dad’s 89th birthday with him. What a treat! Francisco remained in Mexico with hope that one day he too will be able to visit our Canadian family and friends together.

Happy 89th birthday to my dad, John Szott

May is a full month with extra opportunities to serve and celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings, spring potlucks, and other various events which included a movie event for “Our Girls” on the inside of the Ensenada Prison. Eating nachos and candy while watching the “Road to Redemption” made for a fun day. We ended our time handing out plenty of hugs and toiletry gift bags. Thanks for supporting the Mexico Recovery Ministry so my Prison Ministry team can host special events and hand out gift bags before the inmates return to their cells.

Many of our Celebrate Recovery participants inside the prison or at our local church often feel guilt ridden from their pasts. They are learning that no matter how shameful your past, God forgives us and sets us free from dysfunctional behaviors.

Gwen completed Calvary Rosarito’s requirements to serve and has been a huge asset to us at Celebrate Recovery serving in various areas of ministry. When she met Jesus, her life was forever changed. It is beautiful to see how God did not waste Gwen’s pain from her past, but instead is using it to increase His Kingdom. It's an honor to be serving together Gwen.

Gwen is not only a dear friend, but is also a faithful servant in CR

Gwen’s Story: "I was born prematurely and was left to die. The doctor may have given up on me, but the mid-wife did not. God spared my life.

I was raised on a home with a mentally abusive, alcoholic father and a co-dependent mother. At the age of thirteen my friend and I hitchhiked to Hollywood. We met some hippies, were introduced to drugs, child pornography and sexuality. Eventually the police picked us up and sent us both home to our parents.

My parent didn’t want me and I was made a ward of the state. My mom divorced my dad and remarried. My biological dad died when I was 17. I moved out on my own and went from one boyfriend to another. There was never enough money to make ends meet. By the age of 22 I became an escort. I knew my lifestyle was not pleasing to God, but I still turned to Him for help.

I completed my first set of 12 Steps with Adult Children of Alcoholics. It was here that my life turned around. I met Bill, the love of my life and we spent twelve great years together. My husband Bill was diagnosed with cancer and died within six short weeks. I turned to wine, weed and a relationship with a man to numb my pain. This only brought chaos, including a short stint in jail. You can only imagine the guilt and remorse that brought me.

I walked into a Celebrate Recovery program in a church in California and joined their 12 Step program. My relationship with Jesus grew! I learned to love and trust my Heavenly Father and continued to work on my harmful habits. Today, I enjoy working for the Lord and I delight in sharing what He and Celebrate Recovery have done for me."

Here at Celebrate Recovery, we witness miracles on a daily bases through changed lives like Gwen’s. Francisco and I thank you for your ongoing prayers, and financial gifts. It is beautiful to partner with you in the Mexico Recovery Ministry.

Blessings, Cheryl & Francisco

Fresh Start-April 2023

Greetings from Mexico,

How do we show love to the individuals and families around us? We have a beautiful team of servant leaders, serving alongside Francisco and I, using their God given gifts and talents to reach out to our church body, our community and the female inmates of the Ensenada prison. It is an honor to serve with these dear friends.

Prolonged grief (separation from family) and punishment bring hopelessness and despair. Being in prison reminds the inmates that life’s struggles are too hard to handle on their own. When “Our Girls” on the inside are caught in their criminal acts and found guilty, they are placed behind bars. We have seen firsthand how being behind bars is a place that is free from distractions, a place where the Celebrate Recovery materials are used to reach deep into the hearts of many and to give them hope for the future.

We see the importance of Prison Ministry! Prison is a prime spot to share God’s unconditional love. Some are not ready to respond to the gospel, but our God is faithful and merciful, He continues to hold his arms out to all who are willing to come to Him.

Cheryl, Ana & Karla reparing for a Valentines Event for "Our Girls" on

the inside It is beautiful to see how God uses negative experiences to have his people turn to Him. No matter how terrible the crime may be, God reveals his unconditional love to the broken and promises a fresh start, and eternity with Him. God graciously accepts each inmate, forgives them and draws them into a deeper relationship with Himself.

When the COVID restrictions were removed, our Prison Ministry team were able to return to the prison’s chapel rather than conduct ministry from a courtyard surrounded by women inmates in their cells. It was God’s perfect timing as the inmates participating in Celebrate Recovery program had been preparing themselves to work on their inventories, which entails bearing their souls and sharing very painful experiences. Having privacy in the chapel provided a safe place to write and share openly. Every page written and every story shared brought many tears, tears of healing.

In January we relaunched all areas of Celebrate Recovery in Calvary Rosarito. So many around us are struggling with depression, discouragement and searching for answers. We have already heard many testimonies of how God is healing adults, youth and children from their hurts, habits and hang-ups. Having programs for the whole family has brought forth many victories, and the year has just begun!

We are so thankful for our Celebrate Recovery Servant Leaders

Many of our servant leaders feel as though they are unlikely candidates for God’s service in leading the lost and broken on the Road to Recovery, but they continue to walk in obedience to the call placed upon their hearts. We know God has a plan and are honored to be a small part of it. Thank you for being out partners in the Mexico Recovery Ministry. Your words of encouragement, prayers and financial gifts are important to us.

NOTE: We have changed our mailing address Cheryl Hoople Ahumada C/O Lupe Quezada 2420 Palm Ave. Space 56 San Diego, CA, 92154

Blessings, Cheryl & Francisco

Jacobo's Story-Feb 2023

Greetings from Mexico,

As 2022 came to an end, it was easy to reflect and see how faithful God had been last year and years gone by. Sometimes it feels like our influence here in Mexico is futile, but we continue to walk forward, trusting God’s Word to bring spiritual work into the lives of those who struggle around us with hurts, habits and hang-ups as we continue to offer Celebrate Recovery.

In December we hosted our annual Celebrate Recovery Christmas gathering at Calvary Rosarito. Sixteen “first time” Celebrate Recovery participants received certificates of recognition, congratulating them on their faithful attendance and hard work on the Road to Recovery. We worshipped together as we celebrated the birth of our Savior, shared a delicious traditional Christmas meal, and heard a powerful testimony from Jacobo.

Jacob receiving his CR certificate of recognition

Jacobo’s Story:

My parents separated when I was very young. My sister, a mere child herself, cared for myself and my three younger siblings while my mom went to work to supply for our needs. After a time, we were reported to the Mexican authorities. Myself and my four siblings were placed in an orphanage.

I was only 7 years old when we were placed in that orphanage. I blamed my mom for our circumstance. I was always getting in trouble and was continually being punished, sometimes more severely than others. I remember being given the punishment of cleaning the dormitory for a whole year while the other children went out to play. That was painful.

It was through this Christian run orphanage that I accepted Jesus into my heart and was later baptized. I left the orphanage at 12 years old with a mountain of blame and resentment stored up inside of me. I stopped going to church and started walking in the ways of the world.

I was celebrating my birthday with some of my friends one day, when one friend started talking to me about Jesus. I knew this Jesus that my friend spoke of. It was then that I came to my senses and realized I had chosen the wrong path. I then made the choice to start attending church again.

I arrived at Calvary Rosarito and was invited to attend Celebrate Recovery. I knew I needed help, as I was carrying around lots of baggage. At Celebrate Recovery I found a place where I could share openly and not be judged. I asked God to help me forgive those who harmed me and eventually was able to forgive myself.

God has done a great work in me through the Celebrate Recovery program. This scripture speaks deeply to me as I continue my healing process. “I am certain that God, who began the great work in me will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day Jesus Christ returns.” Philippians 1 :6 Thanks for letting me share.

It is though stories like Jacobo’s we can see firsthand how God is using the Celebrate Recovery program to bring healing into the lives of his people in ways we never dreamed or imagined possible. We continue to pray, trust and move forward knowing that our Heavenly Father knows how to reach out to those who are struggling and lead them to Himself.

Francisco helping prepare for "Our Girls" on the inside

My Prison Ministry team and I brought in toiletry and candy bags, chocolate bars and blankets to the Ensenada Prison. Thank you for your generosity so we could bring a bit of Christmas warmth and joy to "Our Girls" on the inside.

In January we relaunched Celebrate Recovery Step Studies in Calvary Rosarito and had 60 people join us on the Road to Recovery. We look forward to hearing many more stories similar to Jacobo’s in the future. Thank you for continuing to partner with us on this amazing adventure. Together we are seeing people’s lives changed as they draw closer to Jesus.

Blessings, Cheryl & Francisco