NEW WEBSITE + FACEBOOK PAGE

We are excited to announce the launch of our new website (dkgarcia.com) and Facebook page.

Over the coming days, weeks and months we will be developing these web spaces to allow you to
Engage, Learn, Connect, Share, Pray, Give

with our ministry in Ensenada. 

The website will also facilitate online giving through PayPal - please see dkgarcia.com/give

Step #1 for you is to Connect by:

+ signing-up to receive our blog posts via email and/or RSS at dkgarcia.com 

+ hitting the "Like" button on our Facebook page

Women Making a Difference

Last night I had a women's cafecito here at the house. There were seven of us around the table ranging from young moms in their 30's to a grandmother. It had been a few months since the last time we had met.

To get us caught up I asked for each one to share what had impacted, challenged or excited them in their lives recently.

It was amazing to hear how with passion and spontaneity each and every one shared that what was most exciting in their lives had to do with an opportunity that God has given them to serve in the community. Here is a sample of how God is using women from our home church and Reflejo to make a difference to those who need it most:

• Thermalton--a project between a Pre-school, an Elementary school and a Family Therapy clinic to collect long underwear as gifts for the 54 children and youth of a local orphanage
• Casa de Paz--the name of the orphanage mentioned above. Another woman, a psychologist, is working together with other colleagues and professionals to direct a program for the 11 special needs youth that live there
• Casa para los Bello--gathering resources to build a house for a retired pastor who is blind and his wife.
• A home Bible study
• A Day Care Center for working moms
• A feeding program for the homeless

And what did I share?...How I was witnessing a dream come true before my eyes--leaders who are following Jesus and are sharing the heart of their Saviour; to bring hope, help and healing to hurting people.

Agua Viva Colleague Shares at Leadership Breakfast

Shaun and Maria Sheahan worked with us at Rancho Agua Viva during the majority of our time there from 1986-1993. Our friendship has continued and our lives and families are deeply connected and our life and faith journeys have been interconnected although we now live in different countries.

For that reason it was our privilege to invite them to our most recent Leadership Breakfast and to have Maria speak to the group that gathered there. Her comments challenged us to consider what it is that motivates us to serve God and serve others.

Along with the Sheahans, three other members of the community where they now live and work came down and attended the breakfast with them: John, Bri and Laurie. Sharing friends with friends--that is one of the most rewarding parts of our work.

A Home Church Family serving the Community

Juan Carlos and Laura have been friends for many years, even attending the same church at one point. Because of Juan Carlos’ career as an executive with Mexico’s largest privately held corporation, they moved frequently, but each time they came back to Ensenada we would reconnect. Laura is a psychologist and has been a tremendous support to our work with the CAME crisis center.

This past February we “happened” to be at a CAME gathering at their home when Juan Carlos informed us that he had resigned his position that very day. Laura was even surprised! That evening when everyone else had left, we listened to their story and also shared with them what God has been doing in our lives and in our faith journey and told them about the Home Church. The next morning they called and asked if they could attend, and ever since then they have become part of our church family along with their 22-year-old son, Gabriel, who is also a psychologist. (At far left in the picture is Manuel, their oldest, who lives and works in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.)

Laura is also recently retired after 30 years of working as a school psychologist. But don’t picture them in rocking chairs somewhere! In May they cut the ribbon and officially opened their own counseling center called Desarrollo Personal (Personal Development) serving the Ensenada community with professional and value-centered therapy and support.

But they did not stop there. While promoting the Center’s services they connected with a local children’s home (sometimes known as an orphanage) that has 11 special need youth transferred from a psychiatric facility. So for the past few months this family and others on their staff have been developing and implementing a program for these young people, training them in basic motor, cognitive and interpersonal skills.

God has also given them the grand vision to assist the children’s home in becoming self-sustaining and in the process they have been inviting other friends and colleagues to partner with them in this project. It has been an incredible set of events that has us in awe of our awesome God!

As members of our Home Church it has been our privilege to support them spiritually as well as participate in this exciting new phase of their lives and life work. Leaders loving and serving God as they love and serve the community—That's the fruit we trust that God will continue to develop here in Ensenada.

Feliz Aniversario #17

On a sunny Saturday in September seventeen years ago a young woman from California and a young man from Tijuana promised before hundreds of friends and family to unite their lives for as long as they live.

This past weekend we took a little time away from the work and the routine to go to a spot on the ocean and relax and reflect on all the blessings God has brought us through these years.

Thank you also to all our friends and family who were there with us on that special day and also to all of you who have supported us in our lives, our family and our work throughout these years. We celebrate with all of you.

Celebrating 200 Years of Independence

Every September 15th in Mexico the whole country se pone de fiesta (celebrates) to commemorate their Independence Day. But this year was bigger and better than ever as they celebrated 200 years from the beginning of the struggle for Independence. There were many events leading up to the big day and incredible festivities, parades, fireworks and star studded shows marking this momentous occasion.

Not to be left behind, our home church planned a Bicentennial party complete with costumes from the era. We had Pancho Villa, Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez y Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon along with others, represented in historic attire. Aided by a Karaoke, stanzas from many traditional ballads rang out into the night until the time to shout the requisite "Viva Mexico!" honoring the heroes who fought to the death for this country's freedom.

What a privilege to live in a free country and to be able to celebrate with friends and family who have also experienced freedom in Jesus.

Good News and a "Confession"

Sounds like I'm going to write about some religious experience, but really it's just a couple of announcements about our blog.

The good news is that after my blog about being "technologically challenged", I was finally able to get my computer to recognize my camera so I could upload the rest of the pictures from the past three months.

The "confession" is that now that I have the pictures, I am writing some blogs about past events, but I am post dating them so that they will be in chronological order. So when you go on our blog, be sure to scroll back far enough to see the posts I am adding to fill in the huge blanks that existed previously.

We can all be believers now--miracles do still happen!!

Rest in Peace Ventura Delgado 1940-2010

Jose Buenaventura Delgado was the caretaker of Rancho Agua Viva and his wife, Isabel, (in front of casket) was the cook when I arrived in Mexico 24 years ago this past June. They promptly "adopted" me along with my co-workers Shaun, Diana, Darice and JoJo. We became their "gringo" children and they have loved us and cared for us ever since, asking about and always sending their greetings to those who now live far away.

One of my favorite memories of Ventura is that every morning during the summer months when he would go to town to buy groceries for his wife to make the food for the visiting groups, he would buy me a big, ripe, juicy mango. He knew I loved them and also that often times I didn't have time to sit down for a big meal , but I always had time to eat a mango. It was his way of showing me his love and affection. From the beginning I called them "mama' y papa' " as they have been my mexican parents.

This past Sunday Ventura and Isabel were doing what they did every week, driving around the neighborhood to pick up members of their congregation to take them to church. But this time the brakes went out on the car and to avoid a more tragic situation, Ventura crashed the car into a wall. Their injuries were not life threatening, but required hospitalization. However, as they were being treated Ventura had a heart attack and was gone almost instantly.

All of their children and many of their grandchildren and great grandchildren attended the services for Ventura. (In the picture the children appear from L-R: Rommel, Ruben, Juan, Maria, Rufino and Dalia.) It was truly a family reunion--but likely nothing compared to the one Ventura had when he arrived at his heavenly home almost one week ago.

We miss you, Papa'. You are gone, but not forgotten.

Two Friends...Two Funerals

One had just turned 70 in July and the other was 47. Both were family men. Both loved Jesus and served Him in their lives and work. One on Sunday and the other on Thursday, both men passed from this life to the next in a matter of minutes.

Both of their funerals were packed with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members, and members of the larger faith community. In both of the services it was mentioned that these men had always hoped to see their churches full, and for their funerals--they were.

For us it was a time to remember these men, support their families and to communicate the news to others who know them but are far away. On these two occasions we also saw many people whom we had not spent time with for many years, in some cases for decades.

These experiences have reminded us: that life is very short, especially compared to eternity; that "man knows not his time"; and the time to prepare for eternity is now. Likewise, it's better to reconnect with friends and family in any way you can outside of a funeral. So reconnect with someone today who is in your heart and has been on your mind.

Celebrating Laura's Birthday

Laura has been a blessing to our family and also to all those who know her. She recently had her 4th birthday and we celebrated with a cake in our Home Church. We rejoice with every piece of encouraging news and pray for the challenges that she and her family face daily. Here is an update from her mom about her current condition:

Dear friends,

Laura was diagnosed first with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Later, she was diagnosed profoundly autistic, and now with epilepsy. The neurologist sent her a medicine. She took it for a month, and then we went for another EEG. In this it was obvious that not only did the epilepsy continue, it got much, much worse. So, we have switched medicine. We have an appointment later this month to see how this medicine is working out. I am very worried that it could be Rett’s, a degenerative developmental disorder.

Recently my sister called me with the awesome news that she was able to get an appointment with the most important expert in epilepsy in Mexico. We are looking for an appointment, also, with a neurologist that specializes in Rett’s: the point being ruling out Rett’s.

Friends, I want to thank you so much for your help and for your prayers. Though it has been a really tough time, God has done so much for us. He has kept joy in my heart, He has made sure we have friends that support us through it all. He has also made sure that the three of us are well between us. We are very thankful.

Technologically Challenged

I am now convinced that there are some of us on this planet that are missing the gene that provides ability and understanding for tools of modern technology. Among those born into this unfortunate population are my husband, David, and myself. Fortunately it appears that our offspring have avoided this mutation and will continue to be productive and successful in a world dependent on batteries, chips, gigas, memory, and sufficient functioning brain cells.

Case in point: Our friend's two year old daughter can grab his I-Phone and navigate like nobody's business. Put one in my hand and I won't be able to turn it on, let alone make a call.

Having coffee with a friend this week she says, "You haven't updated your blog in 8 months!" (not technically accurate, but close.) I have no excuse, but here at least is an "explanation."

Two years ago our digital camera died. This past June we bought an inexpensive Kodak "EasyShare" ("Easy" being the operative word.) Happily I began taking pictures and even downloaded a few on my laptop. (It really was pretty easy.)

Mid July--computer won't recognize camera, can't download pictures. Fast forward to end of August--First attempt to re-download camera program. Result--need for full system back up of computer. Install Carbonite. Three days later(!!) computer is backed up on the free 15-day trial. Another week goes by (now it's September!)--second attempt to download camera program. Result--hard drive is out of memory. Run Disk defragmenter. Discovery--camera program is installed twice. Erase duplicate program. Connect camera and attempt to download pictures. Not recognized. Compress current files. No can do--insufficient memory. Spend hours deleting three years of emails and making CDs of four years of pictures to free up disk space. Not done yet. Stay tuned...........

So besides my lack of discipline to keep up this blog, my tendency to write chapters instead of posts, the other three family members clamoring to use my laptop (as our family PC died earlier this year)...I am officially "technologically challenged" and what would take any "normal" person 15 minutes takes me hours, that turn into weeks, months and years. Can someone tell me if there is a remedy for this, or could I at least get some government compensation for my condition? Better yet, maybe my 9 year old could become the family IT person. It can only get better!!

Sister Love

At the Benning Music Academy first anniversary concert after each student played their piece the Director handed them a white rose that he took from a huge bouquet at center stage. As our youngest daughter watched each participant receive their flower, a plan formed in her heart. When her sister's turn approached she asked us if she could be the one to give her the rose.

So timing it just perfectly, as the applause erupted with the last sweep of the bow, our little girl left her seat and arrived just as the Director took the rose from the bunch. Seeing her outstretched hands, Tito passed her the rose and with a hug of affection and admiration she presented it to her big sister.

I will be forever grateful for the expertise of the photographer who captured this moment in time. My grandmother never experienced it, my mother never had it, and neither did I. But my daughters have this gift--it's "Sister Love."

First Anniversary of Academia de Violin

Our daughter had worked for months on her Concierto piece, preparing for this evening...her first formal recital. She played beautifully, accompanied by an excellent pianist on an elegant Steinway in the hall of the Ensenada Art Center. She was one of 24 students selected from the music school where she studies violin to play for this First Anniversary concert.

The Director of this school is a personal friend of ours whom we have known since he began playing the violin 13 years ago. Last November his father died after suffering with cancer. Our friend dedicated the concert last night to the memory of his father and gave each of us a CD as we left where his father shares about his faith in Jesus.

We are so grateful that our daughter has the privilege and opportunity to study at Academia Benning and we congratulate her and all the talented musicians who played last night.

Summer B&B Retreat

This July only six women could attend our annual Bakersfield & Baja women's retreat in the beautiful mountains of Hart Flat, east of Bakersfield...and I was the only one from Mexico. Although we missed our Mexican amigas, we had a wonderful, relaxing, refreshing and rich time together.

Lorraine was our hostess and meal planner extraordinaire (lower right). Christie (lower center) led us in Lexio Divina where we listen to God's voice through His Word. Hope (lower left) our nature expert opened up God's creation to us. Jo (upper right) taught us extensively about God's grace. Barb (upper left) was the newcomer (but long time friend of Jo and Lorraine) who trusted us with her heart and wowed us with her creativity. And the person at upper center--that's me!! I shared about Freedom in Jesus and led the group in our first retreat craft--collages that represent our lives. Every collage was meaningful and unique--just like their designers.

Next gathering--February 2011 in Ensenada

A "Commercial" for Reflejo

Perusing my Facebook I found a post from a good friend in San Diego sharing about Mexico and about our Reflejo community. He did a great job and I thought some of you would be interested in reading it too.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/notes/john-coghlan/reviving-the-church-in-ensenada-mexico/10150181248335188

May God help us to truly live up to our name as a community and by His grace be agents for change, revival and building bridges.

Happy Birthday to Us!

How do a group of High School friends celebrate their mutual 50th birthday? Drawing pictures, having a "whine" and cheese session, eating delicious mediterranean cuisine, writing out their reflections about "soul sisters" and finally singing together "Happy Birthday to Us!"

There were lots of laughs, a few tears and an overall spirit of gratitude and appreciation for the renewal of our friendships and for all that God and life has given us.

Happy Birthday MVHS '78 Fabulous 50 Women!

Reflections from February in Ensenada

This year has ushered in a season in the ministry that can be likened to tending a field. For many years we have planted seeds, watered, waited and watched expectantly and joyfully. But lately as we observe the soil we are seeing sprouts and plants springing up everywhere! Here is a quick look:

For several months we have been collaborating with friends from another ministry to organize and host monthly breakfast gatherings for local leaders. The purpose is to provide a setting to build relationships, introduce the person of Jesus, promote love for our neighbor and unite in a spirit of prayer for and service to the community. David and I have been praying for the vision of a city wide prayer breakfast for over 15 years. Now we are working with others who share our passion. There are buds on the branches of that dream! Please pray for the next one on April 8.

Likewise, each Friday a small group from our Reflejo community has been uniting in prayer for our city, for the needs we encounter and the channels through which we desire to see God meet those needs. This has become a way to support one another both in the challenges of our daily lives and our respective areas of service. Each one plants, we all water, and God gives the growth.

One example is a couple that went with us to Mt. Hermon for the first time this past December and returned home inspired to respond to the need they observed among the homeless. This month they began an outreach each Wednesday afternoon that provides a hot meal for approximately 80 men and women. Leaders impacted by Jesus serving among “the least of these”—fruit that fulfills one aspect of the vision we shared when we began investing in leaders almost 20 years ago.

Another was our fourth Ensenada women’s retreat where twenty four women attended, nine for the first time. We studied the book The Battlefield of the Mind and the impact in the women’s lives was astounding. We were privileged to see God’s spirit work in their hearts and lives before our eyes! Growth, change, fruit!

At the end of last year we felt that maybe our time for having a home church had reached its conclusion. However, God has brought three new families in the last couple of months—and for one of the families it is their first church experience. How exciting to see them learn, discover and grow!

Now spring is in the air. We expect there is a lot more to come!!

Rewarded for a Job Well Done

We have always encouraged our girls to do their best, work hard, study, learn and to reach their full potential. Above all we emphasize that God has a dream for their lives that He is fulfilling it day by day and that there are no limits when they seek Him first and submit to His will for them.

Sometimes God's surprises go far beyond anything we could imagine or think. The Jr. High our daughter attends informed us one afternoon that there was to be an awards ceremony in Tijuana where the best students in the state would be honored for their scores on the standardized tests taken the previous year. We were thrilled to learn that our daughter had achieved the second highest score in the state for the section on Spanish language skills!

Along with the recognition and the congratulations, a photo session with the Governor and glowing accolades from the Secretary of Education, each of the over 1,000 students in attendance was given a check with their name on it to assist them in continuing their education.

Felicidades, mija!! We are sooooo proud of you. Keep up the good work!

Snapshots of January

It seems that each January begins with lots of activities, ideas, projects and plans for the upcoming twelve months and this year is no exception. Last week, in fact, we had five separate group gatherings in our home for everything from a birthday breakfast, to a strategy session, to a holiday celebration for the staff of the family crisis center. It’s a privilege to have a home where we can receive people from all different sectors of our community and share with them what God has given to us, both materially and spiritually. Allow us to give you a snapshot of a few of those times with people and what they can mean for our lives and work this year.

Monday morning David hosted a breakfast for the men’s prayer group he has been meeting with once a week for the past ten years. For many years we have had the vision and desire to see our city joined in prayer for its leaders and its specific needs in events like the ones we have attended in San Diego, Bakersfield and Washington, D.C. Around August God placed it on David’s heart to begin a “prayer breakfast” with the men he is already meeting with and build from there. Now the third Monday of each month this group is gathering to share a meal and pray for the city and its leaders.

Monday evening we met with three other couples to pray and strategize about ways to impact our community. One of the ideas discussed was a retreat similar to the one we attend each December at Mount Hermon but hosted down here by the Mexican delegation. Other ideas were a community center for counseling, medical care, training courses, Bible studies, etc; a breakfast program for needy children; a toy and blanket drive; a feeding program for the homeless and other ideas. These ideas are just in the dream stage, but what we did commit to was to gather for prayer each Friday morning at 7:30 am to allow God to lead us and seek His direction for what He wants us to do.

Friday morning Karen hosted a surprise birthday breakfast for our good friend, neighbor, hair stylist and Reflejo member, Dina. The exciting part was that the guests were women who live here in our neighborhood. The first guest arrived at 9: 30 am and she, along with two others, didn’t leave until 2:30 pm! Several mentioned that they would like to do it again. Perhaps this is something that could grow into a monthly gathering, or….

These are just a few of the plans that have us excited about what God may have for us during these next months. In addition we continue with our counseling several days a week, monthly times of gathering with Reflejo (our faith community), discipling and team building times, two home Bible studies, home church, David’s times with the men from the gym, a new monthly breakfast gathering in conjunction with another local ministry, two women’s retreat, a men’s retreat, at least two work weekends with Casa Esperanza (a woman’s shelter), raising our girls and being involved in their lives and activities and all the administrative tasks that support the infrastructure of this work.

What snapshots do you have of the first four weeks of this new year and decade? What are you excited about for the months to come? Let's work hard and trust even harder that God's dreams for us are even bigger than our own.

A Breakfast at City Hall

History was made today in our city!

Public servants representing the three levels of government met over breakfast at City Hall with leaders from the professional as well as the religious community. David attended the event accompanied by two friends he had invited--Hector Amador, a former school principal who currently holds a position with the government in the area of Physical Education and Marisela Luna, former first lady of Ensenada, former City Councilwoman and the former Director of Social Development.

Around 40 people attended this fourth Leaders' Breakfast organized by our friends at Ensenada Outreach Center (EOC) and the first to be held at City Hall. Co-hosted by a City Councilman and his assistant and members of the EOC team, the spirit of the gathering was one of relationships, friendship, unity and mutual support. Padre Miguel, a priest from a local church, read from the book of Deuteronomy and said the blessing for the food. The closing prayer was offered by Pastor Abraham, who serves with EOC as a liaison to the local churches and the Ensenada community.

Lucy Meza, a partner with us in ministry and Administrative Coordinator for EOC, wonderfully shared the vision for future breakfasts reflecting on her experience of attending the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. two years ago.

Those of us who have been praying for years for a Prayer Breakfast for our city, state and country view this gathering today as pivotal and monumental. Please join us in praying for the monthly Leaders' Breakfasts that are now being held the first Thursday of each month at the EOC facilities. Please pray as well that if this is God's timing and plan, that out of these relationships and our times together would come the seeds for future gatherings focused on the person of Jesus and on prayer for our communities.

A Gift for Three Kings' Day

In Mexico, January 6 marks the official end of the Advent/Christmas season. Today is the day to commemorate the arrival of the Wise Men to worship Jesus and present Him with their gifts. Children receive toys they have dreamed of all year and families and friends gather to eat together the "Rosca de Reyes" a delicious bread adorned with figs and dried fruit.

For the second year, our family has accepted the invitation to serve the noon meal and the "Rosca" to residents of our local "Asilo de Ancianos" (Home for the Elderly). The four of us greeted the "abuelitos" (grandparents), helped set up for the meal and served plates of roasted chicken, beans, rice and tortillas to the appreciative recipients, followed by the bread and a cup of hot chocolate.

Many of these precious abuelitos have no family in the area. The majority are sick and weak. Some need to be spoon fed, while others eat slowly with trembling hands. They especially loved seeing our girls and the children of the other volunteers.

We were there a couple of hours. We helped out where we could, shook hands, wished them well, and smiled a lot. It wasn't much and it didn't take long, but it reminded me of a song that became one of my favorites this past December.

Light your world let the love of God shine through;
In the little things you do, light your world.
And though your light may be reaching only two or three;
Light your world.
It only takes a little time to show someone how much you care.
It only takes a little time to answer someone’s biggest prayer.
Light your world….

By Eddie Caswell, Marc Aramain, Oliver Wells and Niles Borop
Sung by NewSong on the album "The Christmas Shoes"

It wasn't gold, frankincense or even myrrh, but hopefully our humble efforts to bring a ray of light to a few dozen older folks can be a gift worthy of our King.