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.