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
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