To Everything There is a Season;
(January - April 2026)
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says,
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;”
The beginning of 2026 saw the beginning and end of many seasons in my life. From ministry changes to life changes, from physical changes to emotional changes, God has really been stirring the proverbial pot of my life! I have never been one to adapt well to change, but God is working on that, making me more open to His changes.
That and my favorite punctuation mark, the semicolon (;), continue to remind me that God is still at work in my life, one season at a time;
“A time to be born, and a time to die;”
Ecclesiastes 3:2a
On January 18, I arrived at the fifth floor, as they say in Mexico – my 50th birthday! Age has never mattered to me (30 and 40 were just numbers that came and went), but 50 surprised me. In a moment of nostalgia and reflection, God showed me how He has been so good to me throughout each of my 50 years, and how, step by step, He has guided me to where I am today…
· Living out the dream God placed in my heart at age 16 of being a missionary
· Planting churches in a war-torn city and reaching unreached tribes
· Raising two godly children as a content, single mom
· Depending completely on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Here’s to 50 well-lived years and hopefully, 50 more to continue dying to self and fulfilling God’s Great Commission.
“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;”
Ecclesiastes 3:5a
One area that God has been working on in my life is letting go of the good to make room for the best. Over the past 10 years, I have been a participant, speaker, and leader of Idónea, my church’s women’s ministry. While I was sorry to step down from leadership, God has shown me that 1) Idónea is in excellent hands under our four pastors’ wives, and 2) I am needed more in other ministries. While this was a hard stone for me to cast away, I am grateful to continue serving the women of my church while receiving and recharging instead of just managing the ministry.
Each month, our women’s breakfasts grow as we invite new ladies, our family in Christ grows as these new ladies give their lives to Him, and our unity as a Body grows as we fellowship and share life together. (Photo: February 2026)
“A time to gain, and a time to lose;”
Ecclesiastes 3:6a
One ministry that has required a lot more of my time is Transformadas, our women’s rehab ministry. After its formation in May 2024, Transformadas grew to 24 staff from six churches, but when it restarted after a pause for the Cartel war, only six women returned, and over the past six months, that number has dwindled to two. Please pray for my ministry partner, Martiza, and me as we continue the ministry on our own.
On two very positive notes, we held an amazing love-fest on Valentine’s Day and celebrated baptisms shortly thereafter. On February 13, a large group of women helped us throw a full-blown party for the ladies. Many gave their lives to Jesus, the One who truly loves them, and all enjoyed an afternoon of fun, food, and fellowship. Then, 13 of the women who have given their lives to Christ over the past months were baptized before God and their peers. It has been a great joy, not only seeing them get baptized, but watching them grow in their walk with the Lord.
While Transformadas lost the majority of its staff, it continues gaining souls for the Kingdom.
A local pastor baptizes 13 women in a swimming pool inside Casa Manantial, the women’s rehab center where we have volunteered for 2+ years. Their faces may be covered for security reasons, but their names are written clearly in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
“A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;”
Ecclesiastes 3:2b
At our annual church planting and missions conference in Mazatlán in March, I was privileged (as always) to hear and translate for many amazing teachers. This year’s greatest highlight was having David Guzik, one of the greatest Bible commentators of all time, as a guest speaker. What a blessing!
But my two greatest joys were:
1) Translating for Pastor Antonio’s “Transcultural Missions” workshop and witnessing the fruit of that ministry as Pastor Elías was officially commissioned as a Calvary pastor while his wife Santana and a large group from their congregation watched. Having Pastor Elías and his congregation seated in the front row of our workshop, a living testimony to our ministry, thrilled me, but seeing Pastor Hugo (the founder of Calvary Culiacán) speechless as he received Pastor Elías on stage was even better! Who would have guessed that God would use a small, poor congregation in Culiacán to reach the unreached? Yet, here we are plucking the harvest.
2) Sharing with the AWANA group from La Semilla church in California via Zoom. As their sponsored missionary, I shared my story with them and answered their questions. Many children surprised me with deep questions, but my favorite was the little boy who asked if I was really at the beach or if that was just my Zoom background.
(Above) Pastor Hugo praying for Pastor Elías and his wife Santana at the conference in Mazatlán while members of his congregation, Casa de Dios Cofradia, watch and record from the front row. (Below) Students and staff from NOW MISSIONS pose for a photo with Pastor Elías and his church.
Taking a break from the conference to share with the AWANA group of La Semilla church in California via Zoom… with my beach background.
“A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;”
Ecclesiastes 3:5b
The week after that conference, we held our annual A Tus Pies women’s conference. This year, we held a special dinner for pastors’ wives the day before the conference. I was privileged to translate for Debbie Douglass, wife of Pastor Trent Douglass, from my missions agency. I have always felt a deep spiritual connection with pastors’ wives, and Debbie’s words ministered tremendously to my soul. I also translated for Debbie at the conference. Nearly 200 women attended, and many gave their lives to Christ and received healing from past traumas. What a blessed weekend!
After the conference, leaders met to plan the future of the ministry – an ongoing online teaching ministry to reach more women with the Gospel? This is yet another decision before me – to embrace or to refrain from embracing. Is God calling me to join this ministry, too? Pray for God’s guidance and direction both for me and this new ministry.
(Left) Me translating for Debbie Douglass at the pastors’ wives event and the annual women’s conference, A Tus Pies (right) where nearly 200 women attended and many received Christ and healing from past traumas.
“A time to love, and a time to hate;”
Ecclesiastes 3:8a
That same weekend (Yes, 4 major events in 10 days!), we had our annual youth conference, Contra Corriente. More than 200 teens from several states gathered to learn how to go against the flow – loving the things of God and hating the things of the world. Speakers from Rosarito, Mazatlán, and Ensenada taught these great truths and answered many of their questions.
Many youth made first-time professions of faith, but the discipleship was off the charts! The conference was such a huge success that our youth group dedicated an extra month to going back and revisiting every topic. Our youth are growing into a spiritually strong army that is ready to impact their city with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
(Left) Pastors Manuel, Ben, and Saulo answer questions during the final Q&A session of Contra Corriente (“Against the Flow”) in March, and Marjorie (right), leads teens in “Sword Drills” to improve their speed and accuracy in finding Bible passages.
“A time to break down, and a time to build up;”
Ecclesiastes 3:3b
In this case, it was a time to break down tables and chairs and build up lives at our annual Family Camp, VUELVE 2026! This year, we hosted 300 people at an amazing new location with a huge, covered meeting area, kitchen and dining areas, and a separate camping area with a pool, lake, volleyball, soccer, and baseball fields, amazing scenery and horses, peacocks, cats, and more!
Family camp, held the week before Easter, is always a special time for my family, but it was extra special this year, because Ruby was able to take time off work and enjoy it with us. Thanks to Pastor Jesús and Beny Ochoa from Rosarito, many families found healing, restoration, and strength to move forward – mine included! It was a great time of being built up in the Lord.
In between the amazing teachings and group sessions (below), Sammy enjoyed a week off of school to hang out with friends, Ruby integrated herself a little more into the youth group, and I actually got to play a little volleyball for the first time in years (above).
“A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;”Ecclesiastes 3:3-4
All the strength and restoration of family camp came at just the right time to prepare me for one of the hardest moments of my life – the death of my father. On April 17, my dad went home to be with His Lord and Savior, leaving a very large hole in our hearts. Sammy and I were able to travel home for the funeral and spent a month and a half with my mom. It was a bittersweet time, but through the grace of Jesus, we found reasons to laugh and dance in the midst of our weeping and mourning, and slowly but surely, God is bringing healing to our hearts.
“A time of war, and a time of peace;”
Ecclesiastes 3:8b
Please continue to pray for Culiacán. For nearly two years now, we have been living under the oppression of a violent civil war among factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel. The violence comes in waves, leaving devastation in in its wake, giving us temporary reprieves, and shattering our hopes with the next swell again and again. On September 9, 2024, no one envisioned the extent of this conflict, nor its effects on our city.
Please pray for the continued safety of not just my family, but all of Calvary Culiacán. To date, God has miraculously shielded us. Only one Calvary family still awaits news of a missing loved one.
We cling to Psalm 91, especially verses 7-8:
“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.”
Also, pray for spiritual growth! Throughout this conflict, we have seen God’s hand not only protecting us but growing us. Our churches continue to see record growth and record numbers of decisions for Christ. Pray that God will continue to use this situation for His glory.
These #CuliacánWantsPeace billboards are sprouting up all over the city. This one declares: “CULIACÁN WANTS TO LIVE IN PEACE. Assassin: Enough already! Stop killing us!”
“A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;”
Ecclesiastes 3:7b
This summer has been full of activity and adventures, too, but alas, that will have to wait for my next newsletter, which will hopefully go out within the month.
In the meantime, how can you partner with us?
Pray for us!
The best way to support us is with daily prayer support. We can’t do what we do without the support of those at home committed to covering us in prayer every day. Here are a few things you can pray for…
1. Pray for an end to the violence in our city. While violence statistics continue to drop, we remain fully occupied by all branches of the Mexican military and police.
2. Pray for my children: their continued growth in their relationship with the Lord, Ruby’s success in her new job and Sammy’s transition into youth group and answers to his medical questions.
3. Pray for the ministries we are involved in: Idónea (women’s ministry), Transformadas (rehab ministry), missions, church-planting, and more!
4. Pray for our upcoming conference in Rosarito, August 14-16, and some very important conversations that will be taking place there.
To receive real-time prayer requests and ministry updates, join my care team on WhatsApp by clicking here.
Rejoice with us!
God gave Ruby a new job with good hours and a great boss, allowing her to integrate more into church life.
Sammy successfully finished another year of school.
Our church has grown so much that we are transitioning to two Sunday services!
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Last year, God called me to leave secular work and become fully funded, raising approximately $2,000 in monthly support while serving on the field. We are up to 56% of that amount. Please pray that God will raise up more monthly donors, so we can budget more accurately and participate actively in ongoing ministries, and if you feel led to do so, sign up! Any amount goes a long way. Thank you for your partnership!
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God bless you as you continue to support our ministry both financially and in your prayers.
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