Change is in the air-Jun 2019

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will

actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

I have recently spent several days in the 11th chapter of Hebrews marveling at God’s goodness in my life.   During the past couple of years, I have seen God’s hand move powerfully in the Mexico

Recovery Ministry. Much of the time I was in a fog, able only to place one foot in front of the other, as God gave me strength.

Looking back I can now see how God led me through the fog, embracing me and healing my wounds. In my emotional absence, God grew the Recovery Ministry through the many Celebrate Recovery leaders who serve Him so faithfully.

In the past 8 months, dozens of new CR Step Study participants have earned and received certificates for completing Step Studies:

• 25 in September, 2018, and
• 47 in April, 2019!
• 72 in all- to God be the glory

Karla, Francisco & Cheryl

Francisco was one of those participants.  Francisco received his certificate with great joy. Francisco loves watching God transform lives through Celebrate Recovery.   Francisco loves Celebrate Recovery passionately, and comes with a powerful story of Christ’s redeeming salvation in his life. He will step up to the plate to facilitate a Spanish Men’s group.

On a more personal note, Francisco and I are dating!!! Yes, you read that correctly.   Francisco and I have committed our relationship to Jesus Christ. Jesus will direct our paths as only He knows best.  Francisco has been diligently on his knees praying for a wife these past 13 years. And my faith has been stretched wondering how God would match me up with someone who loves Celebrate Recovery as much as I do. We are having fun dating and getting to know each other better.

Debbie, Cheryl & Angela

Angela, Debbie, Karla, Liliana, Monica and Lorena

Debbie and Angela, from Alberta, Canada, and Monica from Mexico joined our Prison Ministry team in celebrating the graduation of “Our Girls” on the inside of the Ensenada Prison. The inmates who completed their first Celebrate Recovery Step Studies.

We had a great time worshiping, sharing a meal, beautiful worship music and great fellowship. Each inmate left with a toiletry gift bag and candy bag. The graduation celebration was a great time! Thanks to Debbie, Angela and Monica for serving with us.

Here at Calvary Chapel Rosarito wee launched a new set of Celebrate Recovery Step Studies.  Our leaders are trained and ready to serve!!! People’s lives are being transformed. We thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support. We couldn’t do what we do here in Mexico without each one of you, our partners in ministry.

Quick updates on my involvement with Celebrate Recovery’s Broken Chains ministry to bikers:

In February I was given the opportunity, after many years, to get back on a bike. Thank you to the many that made this possible. After a collision with a car, I came to the conclusion That I will remain being the chase car driver in the truck for Broken Chain events.  Much safer for this lady. I’m OK but the car and bike were damaged

Please continue to pray for our new Celebrate Recovery participants who are in the prison, and in Calvary Chapel Rosarito.

CR is Growing!-Apr 2019

“You eat an elephant one bite at a time!” has been my motto for the past couple of years.  The past couple of years have tested me with constant changes and new responsibilities. I have needed an easy motto and the simple, time-tested, riddle, “How do you eat an elephant?” provided. 

When I feel overwhelmed with the changes and responsibilities, I empathize with the seemingly impossible task of eating an elephant!   The answer reminds me to break everything down to very small and manageable tasks.   Also, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, reminds me that my Savior, Jesus Christ, gives me the strength to break intimidating projects down, and He also gives me the strength to actually complete the projects.
Celebrate Recovery has been busy!  In less than 10 weeks, starting on December 1, 2018, CR launched three new arms of ministry in Calvary Chapel Rosarito:

1. Broken Chains (December 1, 2018),
2. The Landing (January 17, 2019), and
3. Creation Station (February 5, 2019).

Broken Chains is Celebrate Recovery’s fellowship for bikers to find healing and hope in Jesus Christ.  The healing and hope in Jesus Christ comes from biblical Salvation and being set free from hurts, habits and hang-ups.  I was privileged to be the chase truck driver for the first ride.   In addition to driving, the chase truck driver is responsible for having the first aid kit, snacks, and water, in the truck.
The Landing, mentioned in February’s prayer letter, is geared toward Junior High and High School aged students. The Landing ministry is God’s answer to five years of prayer.
Creation Station is CR’s biblically based children’s ministry.  Creation Station replaced our Tuesday night Child Care.  Our Tuesday night Child Care gave the children’s’ parents respite knowing their children were lovingly cared for.  The parents’ respite let them concentrate on finding hope and healing in Jesus Christ at their Celebrate Recovery Step Studies.  The healing and hope in Jesus Christ comes from biblical Salvation.
God is faithful to His ministries:

• Shawn Cullen has come alongside me to be my Ministry Leader Assistant;
• Jody Gonzales, my Office Assistant, will be leaving the Recovery Ministry. God is moving her into other areas of ministry at Calvary Chapel Rosarito.
• Lorena Lucas has stepped up to become my new Office Assistant

God is good!   My TEAM and I are so grateful to have Shawn and Lorena with us on this great adventure.

                       Lorena not only serves with but is also a dear friend 

Shawn came to Celebrate Recovery as a retired firefighter.   He had turned to opioids to deal with physical pain.  Unfortunately, Shawn became addicted to the drugs to hide his deep emotional pain. God worked through Celebrate Recovery to enable Shawn to deal with the trauma he had ignored for many years while serving as a firefighter.   Ignoring the trauma left him battling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Today, Shawn walks free in his Salvation in Jesus Christ and serves wholeheartedly with our Celebrate Recovery TEAM. 

                         Shawn sharing his testimony at Celebrate Recovery

Shawn’s story is just one of the many where people are being set free from their hurts, habits and hang-ups.

We teach our Celebrate Recovery participants that 2 things are most important:

1. Learning to love God with all our hearts, and
2. Encouraging them to listen to what God says in his Word.

The CR participants have learned that, when we love Christ, his Word becomes a shining light that guides our daily activities and, in turn, leads us to the foot of the cross for healing and wholeness.

My trip to Canada was AWESOME!  God blessed incredibly with:

• Time with my family, and
• Talking to people in small groups and large groups about Celebrate Recovery Summer has captured this Nana's heart

I had time for my grandsons Tucker and Sawyer while my daughter, Rebekah, and her husband, Eric, welcomed Summer Jeanne into the world.   Summer Jeanne is our precious new treasure straight from God Himself!

                                    Summer has captured my heart

Luke 16:9 (NLT) reads, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others.”   The best use of your money is to use it to present the Gospel of Christ clearly and then let the Holy Spirit convict.   I happen to have one of the best jobs in the world!   I point people to Christ using the Celebrate Recovery program as a tool to bring them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   I had opportunities to share what God is doing in Mexico through Celebrate Recovery with several groups in Canada.  God used those opportunities to share to bring on board new ministry partners. Fund raising for the Mexico Recovery Ministry is a time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I had a great time sharing what God is doing in Mexico at the Women's Breakfast at Morinville Alliance Church.

                      Mexico cuisine and theme at the Women's Breakfast

Thank you for your continued prayers and generous gifts towards the Recovery Ministry. We thank God for the Prayer Warriors and the Giving Warriors who are the backbone of this ministry.  We also thank you, His Prayer Warriors and the Giving Warriors, for putting His conviction on your hearts into action.   At Celebrate Recovery, we know that God always provides for His own.

In His Service,

Cheryl  

Freedom Means Life-Feb 2019

A young woman who once  battled with the shame of prostitution, a man with the effects of drug abuse gone from his system, a child who has found hope after being physically abused and abandoned, a teen no longer struggling with suicidal thoughts … they are free. With a new outlook they can begin a new life.

Celebrate Recovery brings new life to those who have been struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups. There is nothing more freeing than to know the past is forgotten and a new beginning awaits us. Faith in Christ brings true freedom.

In January we celebrated our 5^th anniversary since launching Celebrate Recovery. We hosted a CR meal complete with anniversary cakes, a powerful testimony by Shawn sharing how he was set free from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the fear of being judged. Shawn shared how his freedom came through attending Step Studies at Celebrate Recovery.

Freedom from PTSD

This same night we launched our Celebrate Recovery youth program called The Landing. Our leadership team had diligently prayed for this program and then saw God answer our prayers by sending us leaders is such a huge blessing. Our first night we had seven youth in attendance. Thank you Jeanette, Eddie and Yaneli for loving and leading our youth into a closer walk with Jesus.

Celebrating Recovery with our Youth

Week after week Celebrate Recovery continues to grow. Recently we had another two men give their hearts to Jesus.  Calvary Chapel Rosarito is building an expansion on the church building. The addition will be our new CR room when the room is complete. The timing couldn’t be better. Celebrate Recovery is growing! People’s lives are being healed from dysfunctional behaviors. God is moving!

Christmas in Canada was amazing! I had the privilege of spending Christmas with my daughter Rebekah and her family. There is nothing sweeter than waking up Christmas morning and celebrating the birth of Jesus with loved ones. It was like a Hallmark Christmas story filled with precious memories. My time in Canada ended with celebrating the marriage of my niece Jennifer and the love of her life Steven.I was able to reconnect with all my grand-children. What a blessing!

Congratulations Jennifer and Steven

All together once again

I will return to Canada for the month of March and will be seeking private homes in the Edmonton area to be able to host a coffee evening with small groups where I can meet and greet and share some powerful testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of the Mexican people through Celebrate Recovery in Mexico. If this is something that may interest you, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to catching up with each of you .I can be reached at 780-628-2415.

In His Service,

Cheryl Hoople

Happiness, Peace of Mind and Love-Dec 2018

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10

 Every birth is a miracle, every child a gift from God.  When Jesus came into the world it was an awesome experience. I can only imagine how shocked the shepherds must have been when the angels announced this joyous event.

Excitement bursts inside of me at the thought of returning to Canada to celebrate the birth of my Savior with loved ones this Christmas. The Recovery Ministry is placed on hold for two weeks so our team members can gather with their families to celebrate this special event. Snuggling with grand babies and reconnecting with family and friends fills me up and prepares me for the ministry in Mexico.

I am grateful for each of you, God’s people that support me in the work He has called me to serve in. I cannot reach the goal of bringing healing to the nation of Mexico without a team. Rick Warren says, “It takes a team to fulfill a dream.” Thanks for being part of the team as we serve, give and pray together for the people of Mexico.

This past year serving in the Recovery Ministry has been incredible and amazing. We have seen people cry out to God for help and to be set free from their troubles. Once they find freedom from addictions, harmful memories, broken marriages and the list goes on and one, the participants openly share their stories of how they have found freedom from their hurts, habits and hang-ups.

Jeanette’s Story

Jeanette turned to drugs and alcohol in her teenage years to cover her pain and disappointment. She met and married a man like herself that was addicted to drugs. Both went to church and accepted Jesus into their hearts but continued to struggle in their marriage. After joining Celebrate Recovery, Jeanette was able to release the anger stored up in her heart and found joy and peace. She recognizes that God has brought restoration and healing into her life.  These changes have blessed her marriage and her relationship with her husband and children. Jeanette is now giving back and is a facilitator at Celebrate Recovery. It’s gonna be a joy filled Christmas for Jeanette’s family.

                                                                     Jeanette

Jeanette is now co-facilitating the English Women's Celebrate Recovery Step Study group.  In January she and her team will be launching The Landing at Calvary Chapel Rosarito. The Landing is Celebrate Recovery's student ministry geared towards Junior High and High school aged students.

As you enter into this Christmas season and celebrate the greatest gift ever, may you be filled with HAPPINESS, PEACE OF MIND and LOVE as you celebrate the birth of our Savior with loved ones.

Feliz Navidad,

Cheryl Hoople

Amazing Summer-Oct 2018

Wow has it been an amazing summer!!!

Since my last letter, much has happened. A team from my sending church St. Albert Alliance came to Mexico and painted the inside of El Faro (the ministry house I live in). August 1^st 2004 Rod, Rebekah and I came to Mexico to serve. August 1^st 2018, 14 years to the day, I started serving under the direction of CTEN. I am so grateful my church family was here with me to begin this new chapter of life serving as a missionary in Mexico. We went out for Chinese food, took in dessert at the local Thrifty’s ice cream shop and topped the night off with a train ride in the local mall.  So many beautiful memories!!! I feel blessed.

                                          Celebrating with St. Albert Alliance

A couple of the team members joined us for a Prison Ministry event for “Our Girls” on the inside. We hosted a Purity Event. We all have sins from our past that we are ashamed of, but Christ has the power to change us.  He did a lot of changing that day as Debbie shared a powerful message on how important it is to walk in purity. Melissa and inmate Kendi shared their testimonies and many volunteers kicked in and helped as we worshiped, served communion, delighted in a tasty meal together complete with fine fellowship and ended the day by giving out toiletry gift bags and candy bags. It was a great day filled with great memories.

     Lorena, Liliana, Cheryl, Cinthia, Debbie Front: Sherry, Melissa & Karla

Shortly after the team from Canada left Mexico we loaded up ten of our Celebrate Recovery leaders and headed to the Summit at Saddleback church in Lake Forest California. 3,000 people gathered together to worship; hear powerful testimonies and receive amazing training. We all came back to Mexico on fire to share more about Celebrate Recovery with our leaders and participants. This year our Senior Pastor Mike Vincent, from Calvary Chapel Rosarito joined us. We love and appreciate how he supports Celebrate Recovery from the pulpit.

 Pastor Mike, Cheryl, LeAnn, Jeanette, Liliana, Karla, Alberto (front) Angel

Let me go back a few months, in January we started Celebrate Recovery Step Studies in Calvary Chapel Rosarito with 80 participants. People are seeing the changes in the participants who allowed God to work in their hearts.  25 of these participants finished the race well and our team hosted a meal night in their honor and each was given a certificate for completing the 12 steps. Is their recover complete, not a chance! We all have sins from our past that we are carrying around with us. Little by little we let past hurts, habits and hang-ups go and therefore people begin to see the changes in us.

On September 4^th we launched our second set of CR Step Studies and have 100+ in attendance. No matter how brokenness these participants come to us with, we have well trained facilitators and co-facilitators in place with hearts to serve. They share the Good News through the Celebrate Recovery curriculum so each participant can be drawn closer to Jesus and in turn find healing from their hurts, habits and hang-ups.

White board Testimonies for New Step Studies

As you can see, the Recovery Ministry is growing and thriving.  With growth come challenges.  God is equipping my leaders and I to press in with our own recovery so we can be empowered to deal with the challenges from God’s perspective.

Are you wondering how can you pray?

-Pray for the 100+ Celebrate Recovery participants that are in Step Studies that they find a closer walk with Jesus and healing

-Pray for wisdom, stamina and continued spiritual growth for myself and my team as the Recovery Ministry continues to grow

-Pray for my YUGO prayer and financial supporters to switch over from YUGO to CTEN

NOTE: Christmas is just around the corner. Just letting you know my mailing address remains the same:

Cheryl Hoople, 340 W, 26 St. Suite K, National City, CA, 91950

CTEN Canada and CTEN USA are accepting regular donations to support me in the work I have been called to. You can find me on the CTEN web page at https://cten.org/cherylhoople/, (click Donate Canada or Donate USA to give online) or if you prefer to send a cheque, it should be made payable to CTEN and write Mexico Recovery Ministry-Hoople on the memo line. Send it to: CTEN Canada PO Box 22017 11500 Tecumseh Rd E Windsor, ON N8N 5G6 Please be advised YUGO Canada will continue accepting support for me only until the end of October 2018. Thank you for your continued prayer and financial support.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me CDN 780-628-2415 USA 619-884-0380 or e-mail me hoopleshideaway@gmail.com

Change is in the air-Aug 2018

“Life is unpredictable and you never know what is coming next.” Author Unknown

My time in Canada was amazing! Every day was filled with opportunities to reconnect with family, friends, supporters, churches as well as sharing my God Story with various Celebrate Recovery groups. Having my grand-babies close by wrapping their arms around me lifted my soul. 

I dreaded driving alone without my human GPS and dearly missed husband next to me as I traveled around Alberta, but learned to enjoy the alone time listening to worship music and communing with my Heavenly Father. I have lots of changes in my life right now and the solitude helped me process my next steps in Mexico as a missionary.

Tea parties with the grand kids always lifts my heart.

We added a plaque to Dad Hoople's headstone to honor Rod

I am always grateful for the opportunity to update family and friends that God is doing great and marvelous things in the lives of the Mexico people through the Recovery Program and in my own life with the upcoming changes in store for me in the near future.

         Szott family reunion, great seeing everyone

Caylee & Mike-Congratulations. Lots of fun!!!

 Rebekah, Tucker, Eric & Sawyer. Thanks for giving me a place to hang my hat as I traveled sharing about the Recovery Ministry in various churches and Celebrate Recovery groups.

Many of you have prayed for me as I sought guidance and direction after YUGO Canada decided to close their doors the end of 2018. Thank you for your prayers.  God has been faithful to answer them! I have now been accepted to serve under the direction of CTEN (Commission To Every Nation).

Commission To Every Nation is an inter-denominational missionary co-operative serving 711 missionaries in 61 nations. CTEN USA was incorporated in 1994 while CTEN Canada opened its doors in 2005. Although CTEN USA and CTEN Canada are fully independent organizations, they work cooperatively to accomplish the same goals.  CTEN is two organizations with one heart and one mission.

All my areas of responsibilities will remain the same.  I will continue to be the Ministry Leader of the Recovery Ministry in my local church Calvary Chapel Rosarito and over the women’s Prison Ministry in the Ensenada Prison. I carry on doing what I am passionate about, leading the lost into His Kingdom and seeing the broken set free from their hurts, habits and hang-ups!

I am grateful for the 14 years serving under the covering of YUGO Ministries.  Trail blazing with YUGO Canada stretched and helped Rod and I grow spiritually and taught us to trust God in all circumstances. I am confident that God has many more exciting adventures in the future as I step forward into this next chapter of life serving Him.

Prayer Partners
I need people to join me in prayer and commit to praying for the Recovery Ministry Team as we reach the lost and broken in Mexico.
 
Financial Partners
I would like to thank each one of you for coming alongside me over the years. Your support through prayer and finances means the world to me. Together we are making a difference in Mexico. I ask that you prayerfully consider coming with me as I transition over to CTEN.

*SPECIAL NOTE: If you have been supporting me through YUGO Ministries please contact the YUGO Canada office by phone at 1-780-961-7625 to stop your payments and then contact CTEN toll free at     1-888-863-4810 to start your monthly support through them.  Trevor Eby will be able to assist you with any donation arrangements or answer any questions regarding the organization. You can also visit the CTEN website by clicking on this link https://cten.org/cherylhoople/ to set up your monthly support or to make a one-time donation.

In His Service,

Cheryl Hoople

Canada here I come!-June 2018

As children of the King, we choose our paths. Sharing God’s love with shattered people helps them get past their hurts, habits and hang-ups. Our Prison Ministry team is thankful for the opportunity to bring the Celebrate Recovery program to “Our Girls” on the inside of the Ensenada Prison and to Celebrate Recovery participants in Calvary Chapel Rosarito.

                              Celebrate Recovery is growing

Karla, Veronica and Lorena are women of God whose lives are devoted to serving those around them, yet they are lay persons. They could have chosen jobs in the secular world to provide for their families, but God gave them a vision for the future and I just happen to have the privilege serving alongside them. God has asked each of us to bring a message of HOPE through the Celebrate Recovery program to the broken and lost people of Mexico. Veronica is our newest member of the team and we are pleased that she will walk alongside us as we start new CR Step Studies with “Our Girls” on the inside of the Ensenada Prison in the near future.

                            Veronica and Karla handing out gift bags

God is working through our Prison Ministry team to do extraordinary things as we serve together in the prison. It is evident that sinful practices have become a way of life for “Our Girls” on the inside. Through the Celebrate Recovery program we have taught them the process of correction by confessing their sins to God and asking Him to forgive them.  They have learned to make amends with those they have hurt and forgive those that have hurt them. They now have HOPE not to continue on in their old patterns of sin.

                      Faces have been blurred for security reasons

May was an extra special month for “Our Girls” on the inside that completed their CR Step Studies. Our Prison Ministry team hosted a graduation event. We are so thankful for all the volunteers who joined us in this special event and for those that completed their Step Studies. Debra, from Morinville, Canada, shared her God story, inmate Gloria shared about her involvement with the Cartel and how God intervened bringing her into a relationship with Himself. Each of “Our Girls” on the inside were encouraged and left well fed spiritually and physically returning with toiletry and candy gift bags in hand as they returned to their cells.

Debra thanks for sharing your God story

Note: to those who are in the Edmonton area, I will be in Canada from June 1-July 9. Please feel free to call me (780-628-2415) to see if we can get together for a coffee date.  I’m taking some time out for hugging family and grand-kids along with speaking engagements in churches, correctional institutes, Celebrate Recovery meetings and with individuals. Keep me in prayer.

Thank you for your continued prayers, words of encouragement and generous gifts. Together we are making a difference in Mexico.

In His Service,

Cheryl Hoople

First Anniversary-April 2018

As March crept up on us, so did the first anniversary of Rod’s going Home to be with Jesus. I was filled with memories of Rod having the stroke, surviving the trip back to Canada, saying our final goodbyes before he went into surgery so his organs could be donated so others could live. It was a year of tears, learning how to navigate life and ministry without my beloved husband and partner in ministry. God has proven to be the most amazing Heavenly Husband that has met all my needs. God has answered your prayers and given me the strength needed to learn, lean on Him and carry on.

For many God is their last resort. They go through unnecessary suffering because they did not call out to God until they tried everything else but God. Many of our Celebrate Recovery participants in Calvary Chapel Rosarito and in the Ensenada Prison have been desperate and then turned to God. The Celebrate Recovery program brings healing and leads people to a closer relationship with God. He knows how to meet every broken person where they are at. My own Celebrate Recovery Step Study group, my mentor and accountability partners have embraced me, shared my tears, listened to my heart, loved me, encouraged me and prayed for me.

In January, after a short break, we resumed our Celebrate Recovery Step Studies with nearly 80 participants.  Many of the previous participants stepped up to the plate and took on positions of being facilitators and co-facilitators. We are a forever family who have discovered everyone has a place. Together we have learned to accept those around us with their character defects and are figuring out how we can serve God with our gifts and talents to increase His kingdom.

February 12 our Prison Ministry team hosted a craft event inside the Ensenada Prison for Our Girls on the inside. What an honor to see the joy each one had in fellowshiping, using their creative abilities to construct Valentine cards, worshiping, eating and laughing.  Sterilize shared a beautiful message on the Father’s love, Lorena & Viridiana shared their powerful stories of God’s redemption in their lives, while other volunteers served joyfully. Each of Our Girls from the inside returned to their cells with candy bags, gift bags filled with toiletries and hearts filled with joy. What an amazing day!

Thank you for your continued prayers for my Recovery Ministry servants, for your words of encouragement and for your generous giving so we can continue the good work set before us.

Blessings,

Cheryl

HAPPY NEW YEAR-Feb 2018

Last year was a year of challenges that brought great growth in my life and the lives of others around me. Here are a few of the highlights from 2017.

January-Celebrated our 3^rd anniversary of Celebrate Recovery in Calvary Chapel Rosarito

February-Rod & I represented YUGO Ministries at Mission Fests Vancouver, Winnipeg and Edmonton for the last time

March-Rod, my beloved husband and partner in ministry went home to be with Jesus. Together with family and friends we celebrated Rod’s life at our sending church St. Albert Alliance.

April-Church family and friends in Mexico celebrated Rod’s life and service at Calvary Chapel Rosarito.

May-Hosted a Mother’s Day event in the Ensenada Prison for all the female inmates with Rancho Refugio

June-Prison Ministry team hosted a Baptism/Graduation event for Our Girls on the inside of the Ensenada Prison

July-Thirty two passionate servants from my sending church St. Albert Alliance served in Mexico, some joined our Prison Ministry team hosting an event inside of the Ensenada Prison

August-Twelve of our Celebrate Recovery leaders attended the CR Summit training at Saddle Back Church

September-Returned to Canada to celebrate my mom’s last birthday this side of heaven

October-We hosted our 3^rd annual Celebrate Recovery Information Seminar at Calvary Chapel Rosarito

November-Training Coach Nick Tudor met with 45 pastors and church leadership to discuss resuming the work Rod had begun. January 2018 training resumed.

December-Our Recovery Ministry team hosted Christmas events in the Ensenada Prison and Celebrate Recovery at Calvary Chapel Rosarito while I returned to Canada to be with family.

December 21 my mom (Gerry Szott) went home to be with Jesus. Mom was a fighter! We were told most patients with lung cancer only live up to a year, but mom lived almost 3 years. Mom knew she would not get to heaven because of her beautiful personality or good deeds. She knew eternal life with Jesus came by placing her hand in His and believing in Him. Mom and Rod are together worshiping our Savior.

Even though it was a difficult year, God showed up.  Many lives were changed as Celebrate Recovery participants were pointed to Jesus. I am so grateful for the many that participated in serving alongside me. I can’t begin to thank each of you for your ongoing prayers and financial support for myself and the Recovery Ministry.

"Our Girls" on the inside thank you for your generous support

NOTE: Our store house is empty! If you would like to help us gather toiletries for "Our Girls" on the inside, please feel free to contact me at hoopleshideaway@gmail.com so I can let you know how you can help.

In His Service,

Cheryl

Christmas in Heaven-Dec 2017

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23

When you experience the excitement of an event, you naturally want to tell somebody. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the miracle of miracles occurred. A baby was born! Not just any ordinary baby. Angels announced the joyous event to shepherds and they in turn went about spreading the Good News. With a divine Father and a human mother, Jesus the Son of God had entered into the world.

Jesus grew up showing tender sympathy to the poor, the despised, the hurt, the lonely and the sinful. He was our perfect example of an individual who offers forgiveness to all who accept him as Lord and Savior of their lives. He was the greatest leader in showing us how to love those around us. He would have been the perfect Celebrate Recovery Step Study facilitator.

Jesus is the kind of being who stirs us to keep moving ahead, someone who believes we can do the work He has set before us. As I have served alongside an amazing team of people this past year, I am comforted in knowing Jesus will be with me all the way leading the Recovery Ministry and He will continue to send others that are like minded to reach the lost and broken that surround us.

Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement and sacrificial giving. Together we are making a difference in Mexico one life at a time.

First Christmas without Rod

                                          Mom you will be missed by many            

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below,
with tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
for it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me. I see the pain inside your heart,
but I am not so far away. We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me dear ones. You know I hold you dear,
and be glad I'm spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory of my undying love.
After all "Love" is the gift, more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,
for I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So, have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I'm spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

December 21, after a three year battle with cancer, my mom went home to be with Jesus and Rod. There were two empty chairs as we gathered for Christmas with family this year. I am thankful for each of you, for all your prayers, words of encouragement and caring.

Faith makes all things possible, hope makes all things work, and love makes all things beautiful. Hope you and your loved ones experienced all three for these during the Christmas season as you gathered together to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Feliz Navidad,

Cheryl Hoople