Finding Rest

To all of our family, friends, and other readers,

 

Once again we must apologize for posting a late blog but I wanted to finish writing to all of you about 2015. I know this past year has already come to an end, but yet, God moved in that time.

 

I feel every month we write to you that the base is going through something different, a new season. Here with us things change very quickly. We have our ups and downs as well. Right now we just went through a season of learning to rest.

 

I know you may think, well it's Christmas time...everyone has rest time. Not here, because there are still men and women on the street needing love.  Our ministry continues during this time of year helping the sex trafficked and street children.  The street people really needed our help and support during this season.  It is a particularly hard time for them since the loss of their families and lives is so vivid during this family time.

 

We asked for a week off during Christmas and had the joy of spending some time with my family

in Guajuanto. It was a bit strange for me not going to Texas for Christmas or going to California where my parents and siblings have moved to now. To tell you the truth, it was hard spending

Christmas away from my family as I am used to. This Christmas was still new though because for the first time ever I got to spend it with MY HUSBAND.

 

That first Christmas together will never be replaced! I was able to learn more of the culture I am living in today. 

 

For the American readers, Christmas in Mexico is celebrated on Christmas Eve. There is no Christmas tree that everyone runs down to on Christmas morning. Instead, they celebrate The Three Wise Men who come January 6th. In all of this strangeness, the Lord was still God. As most parents teach their kids it's not about the gifts, it's about who you are with. That was very true for me this year. 

 

Although my expectations were different, the Lord taught me more of who He is and the love He has for His people. That was the gift I was able to share in a new environment.

 

When we returned back to the base, our leaders spoke to us on how this year the Lord hasspoken over everyone to take time to rest. We enjoyed a week and a half off. Everyone. Which had never been done before. During this time we were able to find again God's purpose for our lives as individuals and as a base. We took time to reenergize and to connect again with our families.  Now we are ready to again dive into God’s purpose for us in Mexico.

 

 January will kick us off in helping to lead a DTS Discipleship Training School that starts this Monday January 18th!  Rodrigo and I am excited and nervous as we have never done this together as a couple. Please join us in praying for our students and for our marriage. If you could please prayerfully consider joining our journey and financially supporting us, we would greatly appreciate it! God is always faithful and He loves to use YOU to bless His Kingdom. To this day we are still struggling with finances and support and having monthly supporters. If it means skipping a Starbucks run which could enable you to send us $10 dollars a month, you'd be surprised how far that would get us. Thank you for reading about our life on the mission field! We love you all and the invitation still stands to all who want to visit us, you have a home here with us!! God bless.

Traveling outside of Mexico City

These past three months have been a very challenging season upon my heart. I've fought to give it all to the Lord and thankfully He always wins. We have had a team of 8 staying with us the past month from Battleground, Washington. With them being here, I've had the opportunity venture out of Mexico City twice now.

Our first travel was for a weekend to Iztapalapa where we went to go and minister to  the youth in the church there. We had the privilege of playing with kids in the parks, going to hospitals, and partnering with a church. It was a bitter-sweet experience because the Lord broke my heart for the younger generation in a new way. These children are very poor and many come from  rough family situations that really impacted me.  I heard their stories and saw their lives... I wanted to take them all back home with me. It is really hard to see such devastating situations and not be able to do a thing about it. You do what you can and hurt for the people and yet it seems all you can do is trust in a faithful God. Have you ever asked the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His? My whole weekend in Iztapalapa felt like that. Being in the hospital, seeing suffering parents waiting on their children, and meeting a man who had burned his eyes with some sort of acid. It's was all an open door for the Lord to let His healing fall. What a beautiful God we serve who LOVES to heal!

My next adventure was in Maztalan for a second year now! What an honor it is to be able to partner with YWAM Mazatlan in the journeys into Carnival. Once again I was in the ministry on the outside of Carnival where there was still a loud party going on. This year, the Lord absolutely gave me even more empathy and understanding in a new way for all the girls we serve here in Mexico City and around the world. Last year we had a line of males and females tied up by a rope. This demonstrated what it meant to be a slave of human trafficking in a very-so-real way. This year we did the same skit, but with a larger group which included my younger sister Gabby.  At that moment it was when it really hit home for me and I experienced how vital and real these situations are.  Why couldn't it be my blood sibling that was on the street? There are over 5,000 girls that work a day within a four-block radius. It could be anyone's grandma, aunt, mom, sister, or even daughter. My anger grew stronger within me knowing the Lord's heart was also against it all. It made me never want to stop this fight. Everything that I go through, including being away from my family and my "reality" of life, is worth it all.

Thank you everyone to all your support and prayers! May the Lord continue to bless you all!!

Wedding Fund

                                                       
 Our Wedding Fund Picture  Link   
                      

We are very excited for this time in our lives, not only for our wedding but also for the next season God is taking our ministry into. God brought us together and is providing in big ways! We are so amazed how God has provided for us. 

THINGS PROVIDED:                                                             

 Organizer - Charity Young Repurposed By Grace.                  

The Venue - Paridase Cove                                                        

Catering - Flores's.                                                                     

The Cake - Yoshia Flores.                                                          

Wedding Photographer - 

                                                           

 THINGS NEEDED:

1. Wedding dress, Bridesmaid dress

2. Flowers

3. Music/DJ

4. Wedding Videographer

5. Honeymoon

         

If you would like to help provide any of these services please click Our Wedding Fund link above or email me rejoice2rescue@gmail.com. 

Our plans after the wedding are to continue working with Yourh With A Mission Mexico City in the fight against Human Trafficking. Thank you for all your support & prayers!

                                                  
 Picture Link

SURPRISE! WEDDING SOON

 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE 

 

Wedding Fund Picture Link

    The Lord has been so sweet! The Biggest news in my life (SURPRISE!!!)  is that I will be getting married April 26th in Grapevine, Texas.  I am marrying one of my fellow coworkers on the mission field, who's name is Rodrigo! :). The Lord has been speaking to me about him since August when we finished our Discipleship Training School and ministry in Brazil. The Lord spoke specifically to both of us about how He was developing a friendship between us that would lead to marriage. As most of you know (from the tattoo on my wrist), the Lord spoke to me regarding my name, (Victoria) which means "victorious".  Also, the Lord spoke to me regarding Rodrigo's name which means "He who bring glory". Then the Lord explained to both of us that as we walked along the path He has prepared for us it would bring "HIM GLORIOUS VICTORY"! Please pray for this new season of our lives as the Lord begins a glorious adventure on the mission field full of victory! We are so excited!