Mexico

This years team photo at our 7th annual traditional American Thanksgiving dinner hosted at our friends restaurant. in TJ. I know photos look the same each year but we do have a faithful and consistent team.

Happy: Hanukkah – Christmas – New Year

This Christmas Season as we gather with our families we believe it is important to remember those who are alone and possibly struggling with the loss of family. The testimony below, of our good friend who lost her adult son last year, shares how she finds peace identifying with others in their suffering. This was her experience traveling down with us one day.

“Two days ago, I traveled to Mexico with my friend Wayne from Voice of the Bride Ministries. We packed his flatbed truck with all the food and hygiene items we possibly could, and headed south into Tijuana. We journeyed into some remote little neighborhoods, to greet the hidden saints who have given their lives to serve the desperate and vulnerable. We pulled up to three different homes to give what we could; a home for women that have disabilities, a men’s home for those suffering with addiction and disabilities, and a home for the mentally ill and elderly. It was a privilege and honor, to be with those who are suffering and those who serve them. It was difficult, but at the same time, I felt connection and peace. They are the poor, serving the poorest of the poor, in extreme poverty. Only thirty minutes from my home, we witnessed such harsh conditions, that were troubling to see and smell. Yet, in those places, and in our darkest hours, God’s love and care is there. He doesn’t leave. He stays with us in the valley of the shadow of death, but doesn’t keep us from it.

There is a excellent book written by a father who lost his mother, wife and daughter in a car accident. It’s called, “A Grace Disguised” by Jerry Sittser. That title resonates with me, now that my son is gone. I feel connected to those who suffer, in a way I never did before. I feel community with the broken, because I am broken. I feel understanding when I look into eyes that appear grey, and searching. I feel joy when I can hug or touch the hand of a fellow traveler whose heart aches. I feel hope when I see a person continue to stay and believe, while living in a dark and seemingly hopeless situation. This may sound depressing or very sad, but for me, it is not. It is comforting. Beautiful. Jesus.” [Sheri Briggs – BridgeOfHopeSD.org]

p.s. watch for our Top 10 Highlights of 2016 next month!

Wayne on Christian Radio station Nueva Vida

We recently had an opportunity to share on a popular hispanic radio station, broadcast throughout North America. We were asked specifics on what we do as an organization, day to day. We thought you might be interested in these statistics of our day to day operations:

Food is collected 7 days a week, in the San Diego region, and carried across the border into Tijuana Mexico 5 days a week. More than 20,000 pounds of food are distributed every week. The recipients of this food, are residents of many different facilities, including orphanages, elderly homes, infirmaries and rehabs. Among these, there are 5 homes for the elderly, 9 homes for children, 5 medical clinics, 12 rehabs, 1 shelter for trafficking victims, and 1 shelter for deportees.

There are 12 outreaches each week, throughout Tijuana, to distribute food to hundreds of people who come through the food lines. In addition to these facilities and outreaches, nearly 200 individual families are provided for, each week. Among our Tijuana partners and team, there are 8 organic, grassroots churches represented.

We also continue to have a core team of 26 Chiropractors, Hands for Life, who rotate coming down twice a month, to treat the men, women and children of the facilities, and surrounding communities. The people love the care and hands on attention they are given!

Drs Ron & Mary here with a group of children they just treated.

Most recently, food and shelter were provided for a hundred or more Haitian and African refugees, after long journeys to Mexico. Due to the civil unrest in their homelands, they have come to Mexico’s bordertown of Tijuana, awaiting appointments for asylum in the US. The already overburdened-by-migrants, city of Tijuana, is unable to care for all the new refugees. Thank you for your partnership, which helps us offer that care!

Some of the refugees here with our Tijuana partners.

UP NEXT: Weekend Sept 30-Oct 2: Carol and team will be leading worship at the Arise Camp Meeting, a youth retreat for Native American youth, on the Soboba reservation. Soboba is about 2 hours northeast of where we live. Would you please pray for team/band unity, clarity on songs and music, for the breath of GOD on the worship, and that people will really experience the presence of the Lord, as they worship. Also, please pray for breakthru’s for the youth, as they learn and receive. The kids will be leading their own outreach on the reservation on Sunday, after the church service. Please also pray for protection and safety for us and for our team and all those involved. We really need this!

Oct 6-9: Carol, Wayne & team will be heading out to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to participate in a large First Nations/Native American worship & prayer gathering. Tahlequah is the area where the Cherokee people, Creek people and other First Nations tribes, were taken and left, during the Trail of Tears. This ANNA Call (All Nations North America) gathering, is the first of it’s kind, in terms of being led by, and specifically for First Nations believers. Carol and her team will have the opportunity to assist in worship leading with First Nations friends, and potentially some other worship opportunities as well. Please be praying for the same sort of things as above, as well as for the many details that need to fall in line to fly a team out to OK., to fall into place. Please pray for Wayne’s mom, Mary, dog sitting with Franki, here at home!