Voice Of the Bride Ministries...

Moving back to North Carolina, helped shape our vision of ministry in Tijuana to the poor, in many ways beyond just being there and delivering food and resources several times a week like we did for 17 years. We have mentioned how we support teams who continue that aspect. And we support young people in furthering their education studies and work trades. But over all, the vision became more clear, in particular after we moved, that we are committed to helping the families we supported through life hardships in general for as long as the Lord provides a way for us to do so.The vision and goal was to help change the trajectory of a family caught in a generational cycle of poverty. The action applied, is stepping in when crisis’ arise.

Sadly one latest crisis was that of Fernando’s death from a senseless shooting last month in Tijuana. So very sad and devastating for any family. But this family in particular has had so many tragic losses. We are dedicating this months update in Fernando’s memory and his remaining families honor.

We first met Fernando’s mom nearly 20 years ago when we began the weekly night food outreach in Tijuana. She would come to get food with her 4 little children. The teen girl, her daughter Karen, became pregnant at 14. Not long after giving birth to her baby daughter, Karen became sick with a uterine tumor. We started bringing food to the families home when Karen could not make the evening walk to the outreach. One time in particular we found her so weak from the aggressive tumor that we scooped her up and drove her to Tijuana general. She never regained strength. Our VOB News of June 2009, told more of this story and how we not only committed to making sure medical needs brought to our attention would be taken care of for the poor, but we would stand with this family through their needs.

The mom had some narcotic addictions, her choice of coping with the hardships she was encountering. But with encouragement she went to rehab and got clean. She also got healthier in her relationship with the children’s father. They both started making greater effort to follow the Lord, even getting married in July of 2011. Our partnership and friendship continued as we helped this family with basic needs so that they could have a greater chance in their impoverished circumstances. We celebrated birthdays, quinceañera parties, weekly prayer with their gathered neighbors receiving food off our truck. In May 2015 I received shocking news that the father had been involved in a robbery at work and was shot and killed. The mom and kids were devastated to say the least. It would be the first wake and funeral that I attended in Tijuana hoping to comfort the family best I could.

With your help, we supported this new widow for several years with monthly funds to cover the loss of the fathers income. Hoping that the sons would not quit school to help support the family. Unfortunately they both did quit eventually after struggling in various ways in life without their father, eventually getting into some trouble with drugs, fathering a child, and gang activity. Through it all we were able to help with bouts of rehab and jail expenses as needed. These things are not provided in Mexico systems. All along, we continued loving these boys, and hoping to guide them through difficult stages of development. The remaining 2 daughters, finished high school and started their own families. One daughter is now raising her brothers son, who had birth defects. We have written of Manuel often in the last 5 years, as he has continued to need surgeries, rehab, orthopedic devices etc. This same daughter also experienced a house fire and lost everything, With your help, we built a house in October 2021 that she now raises her family in

Along the way, there has been dental work, eye surgeries, rehabilitation therapy and such. Then, on July 9th, we received word of young Fernando’s death. He was cooking some food, standing in his mothers kitchen, when 2 young men came in and shot him and ran away. His mom ran to him, but was unable to help. Fernando had been clean, and was not involved in any current gang activity. It is suspected that it could have been related to his older brother being in prison. These kind of acts, are often how prison and street gangs handle things. VOB sent out an emergency email and some of you faithfully helped us cover all the funeral expenses.

Why share all this tragedy? In summary, though it may seem like a lot of something for nothing, it is not. We know that, with your help, we have helped instill hope, in the many victims of these hardships. And that above all they know they are not overlooked, unseen, or left to fend for themselves. Jesus sees, Jesus cares and Jesus provides through His Body!

p.s. stay tuned next month for a worship event we have coming up.

The Fourth of July is one of my (Wayne) favorite days of the year. Photo to the right is on our farm Trinity Acres. So it was bittersweet when I first realized I would not even be in our country when celebrating our 250th independence day. Little did I know, however, that while in Lithuania I would have the honor of being there for one of their national holidays, July 6th, where it is customary for every citizen to step outside their homes and businesses, all over the country, at the same time of 9pm, and sing their national anthem. I was told that even Lithuanians abroad, no matter what time zone they are in, would join with the custom of their countrymen. Take a moment and watch this video (below) I took of this touching tradition.

Lithuania Anthem

Listen (below) to the Lithuanian blessing farewell sung over my teammates and I, as we departed toward the end of the Lithuania 2026 Living Waters training.

My take away from this trip could really be summed up with the word HONOR. I was honored by the above mentions, but also many other touching moments. One was being welcomed to sit family style at meal times, where everyone first gathered around the tables and waited for a prayer of thanks for the food before we sat down. Many of my tablemates at each meal, were delighted to share their customary soups, entrees, and the many pastry items. Our meal times were so intimate around the table, that you wouldn’t have guessed there were 60 or more of us gathered there (forty or so attendees from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, and Slovakia. 20 more of us on the leadership team made up of 4 from America, 1 from Great Britain, 3 Latvians, and the remainder being Lithuanians).

I was honored to hear from the hearts of many. Living under the shadow of constant threat of invasion, be it from Germany, Soviet Union, or another nation, the stories I heard in Lithuania were very different in comparison to other nations I’ve been to. And yet these dear people have been so resilient in the face of decades of fear. Whether it be Polish, Latvian, or Lithuanian, Eastern Europe is a very different place. And yet, each had similar struggles that are common to each of us, regarding family, past and present, identity, and just wanting to pursue Jesus with a pure heart.

My friend Sue, from England, a wonderful dear sister who was missionary to Thailand for nearly 3 decades, had a beautiful demonstration of taking your wounds to the cross and asking the Lord to take them. “Take it Lord I can’t bear it anymore!”

Lastly, since our training schedule is booked full on these trips, we don’t get many chances to see whatever nation we are in. However, we had one free afternoon to walk around the beautiful city of a Vilnius. (See photo gallery below) A new friend gave us a brief tour taking us to town square where there once were Jewish ‘ghettos’ during WWII. I learned that, comparatively, Lithuania saw the loss of almost its entire Jewish population during WWII, and the sight of the location was sobering. I have since done some research on this attempt by Nazi Germany to exterminate the Jewish people of Europe, and the plight of the Jewish people in Vilnius is so heartbreaking. Read about Vilna Ghetto AND know their story!

These kind of things inform the heart of a nation, and bring deep need for healing of inner wounds. I am thankful, and again HONORED, that I had the privilege of helping lead some of these dear ones, to new levels of freedom in Jesus.

Prayer & Thanks: 🙏

We posted last week on our social media and email that one of our dearest young people whom we have known since he was a small boy, was tragically killed in his home, by two unknown persons. His family has suffered so much loss through the years. We will report more in next months update. But we wanted to thank each of you who responded to the need to cover the cost of burial. We were so grateful to offer relief of the sudden unimaginable burden of burying your son and brother at the age of 25 years old.
Thank you to everyone who sent funds for this missions trip, where it was almost completely covered without straining our regular budget. And special thanks again to all who gave toward Fernando’s burial. Not only was it all covered, but extra came in to help family with other expenses derived from this tragedy.
Thank you all for the prayer covering while Wayne traveled, and for family at home. We learned that the ministry in Lithuania also had a group of 60 intercessors not only praying before our team came, while we are there, but also continued to pray 9 days after. Means so much to us. ❤️