Hit the Ground Running…

That is what I have been saying to myself all month.  And the busier the month got, on went the running.  We have some prayer concerns that we wanted to ask you to bend God’s ear on.

First I want to share what an honor it was for me to be by my grandmother’s side when she breathed her last breath.  For those of you who prayed that I would make it to NC in time, I thank you.  It was a privilege to spend a couple of days with her before her passing.  It was also an honor to deliver her eulogy, though hard to summarize the faithfulness of a 97 year old saint.  Our family will miss her dearly and we will need to up the anty on a prayer warrior loss for VOB.

I returned from North Carolina, along with my mom. She had an already planned visit to see us and tag along on some VOB missions.  Many of our friends and ministry partners in Tijuana loved meeting her.  I know it means a lot to them that someone would come down and visit while on vacation, just to be a blessing.  In turn, they were a blessing to her.  You may hear from her next months newsletter!

VOB is what I like to refer to as, “on call” for what sometimes is a daily pick up of food (yesterday marked 13 days in a row).  We have connected with a local mission which provides food and various needs to the massive homeless population of downtown San Diego.  This mission, appropriately named “God’s extended Hand,” receives donations from many resources, including the San Diego Rescue Mission.  When they have more (particularly non-perishables) than they can move quickly,  they call me.  I then sort the truck load, and attempt to properly store items, until I can run them down to Tijuana.  Sometimes an immediate delivery is necessary.  Although I am most grateful for this provision, it has been hard to determine a consistent schedule each day.  Thus, I need your prayers for my ability to plan accordingly, as well as for favor in managing my time.  And please, just as when we pray, start your prayer first with THANKS for the abundance, because we ARE so thankful!

A final, and current concern for prayer, is regarding a new difficulty we are having with Mexican Customs.  More specifically, with Mexican Agriculture Inspectors known as the “Sagarpa”.  As you may remember we have not been allowed to declare fruit for 8 or more months now.  Remember the huge truck loads of oranges we were getting in just before? This is due to a concern about the potential problems of a fruit fly epidemic.  Well, the concern now, is over a moth that may pose a  potential threat by coming in on vegetables brought INTO Mexico.  We are working closely with the Sagarpa, regarding this concern.  But, as of now, we are being told we can no longer bring produce of any kind into Mexico.  This is a huge upset, as not only do we desire to get important nutritional food to the poor, but it comes at a time when we are experiencing an abundance of donated produce.  At this point, I am limited to only taking small, undeclared amounts of food in multiple trips across the border.  This ban only applies to produce being brought in through the non-commercial declaration side of the Mexican border entry.  Therefore, the ban only applies to those bringing in donations.  We are looking into what it would mean to be recognized as a commercial exporter of produce, recognized by the Mexican federal government.  This is what we are told would give us greater favor.  Basically the government wants paperwork which documents where the produce originates, and how it was managed.  The irony is, most of the donated produce we get  first originated in Mexico before being imported into the US!

Thank you for beckoning the Lord on our behalf and on behalf of the poor, once again oppressed by red tape!  I am encouraged by a quote we found jotted down in my grandmothers night stand:

“The Lord has been good to me, whenever I have any worries I go to Him”.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep,

so that you will not grieve as those who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

A scripture that has come to us many times this season…a scripture quoted recently at a dear ministry friends’ memorial who, like a couple of other ministry friends in recent weeks, has gone too soon.  These friends are gone too soon for those here on earth who will miss them dearly, and who struggle with understanding why.  I guess, as you know, it is harder on those of us who are left behind.  However, we are encouraged in scripture to rejoice in their home going.  For we, unlike others in the world, have hope in eternal life.

In addition to these 3 ministry friends we also have known 3 close friends who each lost a parent recently.  Though these parents may have lived life a little more toward its fullness, being prepared to lose someone is never easy.  I, myself, have my dear grandmother on my mind each day.  At 97, she is likely in her last days here, as her body is tired and responding less to earthly substance and she most likely has her eyes on her Savior.

How do we prepare for grief?  How do we comfort those who grieve?  Perhaps there are some around us who do not fully grasp having “hope” when losing a loved one.  Thankfully, all those mentioned above knew the Lord and met their awaiting King.   They all had faith that they would someday meet Jesus, and they had great hope in that knowledge.  As Believers, this is something we look forward to.

Many of us often look forward to Heaven.  Particularly when life is hard, times are tough, the state of the world seems in such dire straights. But we press on and know that our present duty is to tell as many around us of His grace and His free gift of Salvation that extends eternal life to every soul.

We had the opportunity to do just that at a recent Tuesday night outreach in Tijuana, when addressing the group that had gathered to receive their bread.  Yet another passing in the prior week,  of a dear friend and helper,  just an hour or two after the outreach, gave us reason to exhort the crowd.  Raquel (pictured in last update below) had been a faithful helper in distributing food with us each week. She collapsed from a heart problem due to prior drug abuse and, although her life was redeemed and her passion was serving the Lord, her frail body had run its course.  Raquel loved serving her community and as we reminded them of that we encouraged them that, like Raquel, our days are numbered and life on this earth is not guaranteed.  But a new eternal life in Jesus is promised if only He is made Lord of their lives.

So, just as we did at this past weekends memorial, we gather with others to remember a loved one who has passed.  We rejoice in their completion of suffering for those who were sick.  We remember their mark on our life and attempt to make a difference in others lives based on their influence.  Though we are saddened, we are thankful for having hope and therefore able to grieve in a way that says “bye for now…until we meet again” And as I posted on my Facebook status this week, “Heaven has yet another good one up there!”