Be Love, Be Mercy

The beautiful, historic church in General Cepeda: San Fransisco de Asis.

Last spring, we were discussing the miracle of the Eucharist and the gift of the Mass during a Wednesday morning prayer group when a woman, L.M., shared something that has stuck with me. I was encouraging everyone to go to Mass to be a part of and witness to this great miracle that God performs every day at Mass. She shared that each of her five children have a different dad, none of to whom she’s been married. When she walks into the church, she feels like everyone judges her, incredulous that she should enter the church, and she has no desire to go. Few people share so openly in this indirect culture, and I was grateful for her honesty and vulnerability. But as a faithful Catholic Christian, her words stung me to the core and broke my heart. Jesus came for the sinners; He was most compassionate and merciful with them. He was harshest with the pharisees, the rule-followers with no love. Has our faith become more about the rules and less about Love? How do I treat the people who I know are living in sin? Do I stop to ask what’s their story/what has happened in their life? How do I look at them compared to myself? Are those with more obvious/visible sins less than those of us who can easily cover our sins? Do I worry about what religious circles will think of me if I befriend a visible sinner? Do I treat everyone I come into contact with as a daughter or son of God in spite of if I agree/disagree with the choices they are currently making?  

In my own personal story and in my experience journeying with others, the rules of our faith are of no importance until we have felt the love and mercy of Jesus. Once His love becomes real to us, we want to know all the details of how we can best follow Him. We want to understand why He gave us the directions He gave and why the Church teaches what she teaches. 

When people are too scared to go to church and feel unworthy to go directly to Jesus and to pray, how can they feel His love? We, the people of God, are His hands and His feet, His eyes, ears and mouth, His heart. We have the beautiful opportunity to love people for Jesus through our words and actions, our smiles and greetings, our welcoming conversations, and our increased awareness and sensitivity to who may be feeling unworthy or left out.

I’m sad to say, L.M. still doesn’t feel welcome in church and she no longer comes to our prayer groups. However, I have great hope that seeds of Jesus’ love have been planted and that one day she will know she is worthy simply because she is created by and loved by God.

Jesus told St. Faustina, “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 723). 

Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy for me! Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy for L.M. Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy for every person in this world. Give us the grace to say yes to You, to accept Your mercy. Jesus, I trust in You. I want to trust in You more. Give me the grace to trust more, give me the grace to say yes to You.

With love in Christ,
Lisa

A Horse Named OB

We received a horse for training a few weeks ago. There was nothing abnormal about this encounter; I accepted the horse and started him the following day. One of the boys that spends a lot time with us, Angel, watched me start the horse. I met Angel here at a local ranch called La Gloria 2.5 years ago when we were first in General Cepeda as part of our Intake training. I still recall the encounter like it was yesterday. A smiling, ornery looking kid rode by me on a grey horse as I sat alone visiting with God during a desert day (day of prayer). I spoke to him and gave him a prayer card revealing the power and steps to receive God’s love leading to repentance, forgiveness and salvation. I didn’t expect to see Angel again, but much to my surprise, he entered into my family’s life about 10 months later and is now typically with my family several hours everyday. 

 

Angel riding OB 

It isn’t abnormal for Angel to help me start the training of horses we receive in. He loves horses, and I love to share what knowledge I have acquired. I could see OB had experienced some heavy hands in his life. He had one eye slightly smaller than the other which signified he had taken a hit to the eye, and his front knees were scarred from other trauma. I felt a sense of empathy for him and started him with patience, gentleness and kindness. Within the hour, we were riding him. The owner stopped by, I shared that he was muy mansito (a very gentle horse). The man was slightly aggressive noting the horse was hard mouthed, and he wanted me to run the horse. My lack of self-control spouted back that it was his first day under a saddle, and if he wanted me to train him I would use the methods that have worked for me which did not include running the horse on the first day of training. As the week progressed, a handful of people stopped by to comment and to ask questions about the little horse OB. I replied that he was doing well, he was really gentle, and my kids had even been riding him. Finally, one gentleman said that the horse is a bronco, that many people have tried to ride him and he is a bad horse. Angel's brother had witnessed the encounter and shared that the story was true. As I continued to ride, I heard God say "love changes everything!” 

The words may not seem profound to the reader but they were super touching for me. I realized in a powerful way that my strong will, anger, criticism, teachings, and sharing my self-righteous opinion with perseverance in self-reliance changes nothing! The Lord recklessly changed me with HIS gentle, patient, merciful, unconditional love. So much so that it compelled me to completely change my life.

I felt again like St. Paul with scales falling from my eyes to see the transformation in the lives of the men around me: the life of Francisco, Angel, Chuy, I., Al., T., S. and many other men. They didn’t need someone to tell them their sins. They already knew, but love changed their lives. 

 

Friday Night Mens Group

Friday Night Mens Group

I love training horses, but at times I get frustrated and want to strong arm a troubled horse and then the argument only escalates. There was no argument, only empathy, patience, and gentleness shared with this horse. The love and gentleness OB received may have been a first time experience for him; he responded not with a fight, but with unity and cooperation. I will fall short in the future as I have in the past, but I am moving forward with a stronger conviction for gentleness and patience. Please pray for me to withstand and remember this experience. A gentle approach tamed a notorious bronco and it will win over more and tame our wounded hearts as well. I encourage you, too, to approach an untamed situation with empathy, patience and gentle, merciful love. As Jesus Christ showed us first hand "love changes everything.”

Blessings of peace and joy.

Jmn

Ezekiel 37 Project Part 3: The Lord's Breath

This is a continuation of the story Ezekiel 37 Project Part 2: Francisco.

We have watched the Lord breathe His breath of life into several men who previously struggled with alcoholism. The miracle began with Francisco and continued to two other men T. and S. who are also now free of alcohol and living in their own homes. For a while it seemed as if God freed one man a month from the trap of addiction, but several of the men have fallen back into alcohol. Please pray for them.

We were able to move into our house on September 11, the night before my birthday. I have a whole new appreciation for having my own kitchen. Our oldest two, Jaylyn and Lincoln, have thoroughly enjoyed having a room separate from us and their younger siblings. Zane, Simon and Gabriella are pleased to continue sharing a room with us and receive snuggles as they fall asleep. All are enjoying having a bit more personal space as well as lots of room to run outside.

Jaylyn and Lincoln's room

The bedroom for the rest of us

Our kids in the living/dining room

Living here right next to the men who struggle with alcoholism has allowed us to enter into their lives in a way we otherwise couldn’t. We frequently provide them with coffee (with lots of sugar and milk) in the morning and when requested at night. We share meals with them occasionally and our kids enjoy talking and interacting with them. We are able to provide them with a place to shower and clean up. And of course, we are able to pray with them. 

The pavilion giving us a little shade when the sun is hot and the perfect place for prayer groups

One evening a couple of weeks ago, one of the men knocked on our door crying and asking for help taking another of the men, R., to the hospital. Jeremy went to talk with them and R. looked very ill. He did not want to go to the hospital but reluctantly agreed most likely due to the concern of the rest of the men. Jeremy took R. along with two other men to the hospital. The other two men were intoxicated, but R. was not. However, the nurse sent R. out essentially telling him to sleep it off. Jeremy tried to talk with them, and they said he was just drunk. We watched R.’s health go downhill rapidly in the last month or so; there was obviously something more going on. A couple days later, R. fell and cut his hand badly but he was not willing to go back to the hospital, and I can’t say that I blame him. We cleaned it up, put medicine on it and re-bandaged it daily. We prayed for his hand and for him. Thanks be to God, his hand was healing well. However, R. was still clearly very sick but had no desire to look into it further. He passed away this past Thursday. He was a good man with a kind and generous heart. He loved to cook and had an artistic touch. He had great respect and love for the Lord, but the stronghold of shame and feeling not worthy kept him locked in the cycle of alcoholism. 

The altar beside our house was created by R.

No doubt one of the reasons God calls and sends missionaries outside of our homeland is because we come with fresh eyes. When we see the same people with the same difficulties in front of us everyday, we can become hardened and judgmental. Coming in with fresh eyes allows us to see people and love them as Jesus does. And it has caused me to reflect at length, who is in front of me that I do this to? Who do I fail to treat as a child of God because I’ve become impatient and annoyed with them?

Though our plans for giving a lot of kids horse lessons hasn’t panned out with the onset of the pandemic, we have still been able to bless a handful of kids with the opportunity to ride and interact with horses on a regular basis. And its incredible the number of people we have met and interacted with because of horses and the arena. In fact, there was a man who stopped in last week to ask about Jeremy training a horse. Jeremy and the kids went to his house, and incredibly, this man wrote a book about addictions and is an owner of a treatment center in Mexico. Who knows, maybe he was an angel sent here to help these men who want to take a different path but are stuck in addiction. We are hopeful for what God may have in store. This encounter occurred thanks to the horses.

A couple of weeks ago, Jeremy realized in prayer that the message of Ezekiel 37 isn’t just for the men at the arena who have struggled with alcohol. It is also for himself and me and everyone else that we journey with here and every one of you. We all have dry places inside of us that the Lord is just waiting for us to give to Him to breathe His breath of life into, healing us with His love and mercy and filling us anew with His power and peace.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7: 7-8

So let us ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon us and to fill us all anew. Let us ask for Him to give us eyes of mercy and of compassion to help us see each other as He sees us.

With love in Christ,
Lisa

Ezekiel 37 Project Part 2: Francisco

This is a continuation of the post: Ezekiel 37 Project. 

In May of this year, we began the renovation and work on the abandoned property with the arena. We had the opportunity to work with, visit with and pray with Los Santos (the men who struggle with alcoholism there) regularly. One of the men, Francisco approached Jeremy one day and said he would like to become a missionary. Francisco was intoxicated. He was dressed in dirty clothes as he had been homeless and sleeping outside with minimal to no bathing. Jeremy looked into Francisco’s eyes and could see a good heart, a special child of God. Jeremy smiled and said “Great, the first thing we need to do is to pray.” He gave him a cross and a miraculous medal to wear. Francisco spoke with teary eyes of his desire to change his life and his desire to stop drinking. Jeremy told him his first mission would be here with Los Santos (the other men who struggle with alcoholism). Francisco’s friends witnessed this whole event, and Francisco told his friends that he was done drinking. A few days later, we were working on the property. Jeremy noticed Francisco was drinking with his friends. Francisco later asked Jeremy, “Todo bien amigo?” (“everything okay friend?”). Jeremy challenged Francisco saying no everything was not okay, he had said that he was committing not to drink anymore. Francisco looked at Jeremy and said it was only a little bit, and Jeremy responded that for him only a little bit was too much. 

Jeremy stayed the night with our older kids in a tent on the property that night to ensure our project materials were not stolen. In the middle of the night, Jeremy awoke to the cold night air and Jenny, our dog, aggressively barking. He saw Francisco hurriedly rising from a pile of dirt about 35 yards away; Jenny had noticed him there and alarmed us. The next morning Jeremy awoke and learned Francisco slept the night there in a dirt pile next to the tent to ensure Jeremy and our kids were safe.  Tears fill Jeremy's eyes when he remembers that event and just how much love and goodness is in Francisco's heart.   

Later that day, Francisco approached Jeremy again saying he was ready, really ready to stop drinking. Jeremy invited Francisco to our house for a hot shower and food. Francisco came and lived with us in the mission house for the next week. He spent a lot of time with our family, exercising in the morning and praying throughout the day. He spent a lot of time in the chapel with Jesus, and Jesus recklessly changed Francisco's life. It has now been four months since Francisco lived with us. He comes every Wednesday and Friday for prayer groups. He invites and brings his family with him and is often accompanied by his friends, the saints. He organized a prayer group on WhatsApp messenger. Francisco now has two disciples, T. and S., and has influenced many others.  We overheard him talking with a couple of others at a prayer group last week, and they were in disbelief that he had been an alcoholic, homeless, and living at the arena only a few months before. God is Good!

Having coffee at the mission house after participating in Mass online this past summer.

Francisco’s story in his own (translated) words: My name is Francisco Tello Sánchez. I used to drink a lot until one day my brother Jeremías came to where I was drunk, thank God for sending me that angel who was praying for me. From that moment, my life changed. I told him that I I no longer want to be there, and he helped me a lot with his prayers and thanks to God I no longer drink. Now I read the Bible and pray. I feel very happy because now I see my family, and they are very proud of me because I no longer drink and very grateful to my brother Jeremías because he helped me get out of where I was lost in vice. Now, I just want to serve God and keep moving forward with His blessing.

God said He would make these dry bones come back to life, and we are watching His hand at work. It strengthens our faith to see these transformations that only God can bring. We are so grateful for our supporters who make it possible for us to live here witnessing these miracles and sharing the love and mercy of Jesus with each of His children especially the poor and the outcasts.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.  Matthew 18:12-14

With love in Christ,

Jeremy and Lisa

Ezekiel 37 Project

Last fall, the Lord introduced us to a piece of ground completely barren except for some fence posts in an outline of an arena, scrubby cacti type plants, trash and a dilapidated house. A local friend, Cesar, had received permission from the property owner to ride on the property and had placed the fence posts. Old tires laid on the ground that he and his daughter would practice barrel racing and pole bending with, and they began to teach our kids the basics of these events also. My family was super excited for the opportunity to ride and learn these new events of rodeo. Lisa and I envisioned this as an opportunity to finish the arena and have this as a place to provide horse lessons to the children in the town that did not have access to horses. We shared this with Cesar and his wife, and they excitedly said Cesar had a similar dream. Our excitement grew last November (2019) when a short term mission trip helped us to dig new holes and to set new posts in the ground secured with concrete. The arena was enclosed with woven wire fencing offering a safe place for all to ride. 

The short term mission trip helping build the arena on this piece of property in November 2019.

The abandoned house on the edge of the property.

Fast forward to April of 2020, our family felt called to move out of the mission house and to begin looking for a piece of property to make a home for the next 3-5 years. The first place we dreamed of was the “Huerta,” the beautiful piece of property with good access to water, large pecan trees, and a large old abandoned house. Another local friend, Rodolfo, blessed us in October of 2019 by allowing us to keep a few horses on this property. As we dreamed about and planned the renovation of the building, we felt God saying this was not the place He wanted us to live. “But God, why not?” This didn’t make any sense; we lamented that this place seemed perfect.

In obedience, we looked elsewhere. Leaning not on our own understanding, we felt called to look at the ejidos. I have a group of about 30 local men on a WhatsApp messenger app group that I sent a message to asking them for possibilities for a place for us to live. We looked at several places and nothing felt right. We could feel the Lord stirring a change, but the struggle to understand what type of change was stealing our peace. Our family entered into a three day prayer retreat. We immediately felt the Lord asking us to stay in the town of General Cepeda, but we were uncertain as to where.

Then Lisa had the thought during her prayer time of the abandoned property where the arena was located. There were certainly many obstacles associated with this location. I mentioned it was basically an abandoned property, covered with bare dirt, littered with trash, and liquor bottles. The liquor bottles were another obstacle as this abandoned property was a popular hangout/home for the local borrachitos (this is the word meaning little drunks that the town uses to refer to these men). We went to explore the home and property in more detail. Another obstacle was water. This property did have an old well, but there was no water in the shallow well and we learned it was nearly impossible to receive a permit to deepen or to dig a new well. This location was certainly not the easiest nor most desirable of the three options we narrowed our search to. However, as we continued our prayer retreat the Lord continued to put this location on Jaylyn’s and Lincoln’s hearts. A vision started to materialize. We made contact with the owners and arranged a meeting to share our vision. Much to our surprise, the owners really liked the idea and envisioned a similar project as they are generous people with a heart to help improve the town and help the local people in many ways. Additionally, they were concerned for the men who struggled with alcoholism living in the abandoned building on the property as the police had threatened to tear down the building if the owners didn’t do something about the men there. 

 

Taking the remains of the falling apart roof off

Inside one of the rooms (that would become our bedroom) of the abandoned house with the old roof still intact but not functional 

Cleaning up after taking the dilapidated roof off

We were so excited and felt the Lord’s hand in the plan. In the upcoming weeks, I frequented the property and established a list of materials needed. We wanted to repair and restore the home using mud adobe as it was originally constructed. The adobe is much more economical and the dirt offers better insulation than the concrete blocks commonly used now. I befriended the borrachitos and renamed them los santos (“the saints”). They had many questions but offered to help. The men knew how to make adobe, so it was a perfect partnership. As we worked together, I got to know them and their stories. I was filled with the grace of God’s merciful love as I listened to and reflected on their lives and the chain of events that can take place to allow a man to lose all dignity. Once a man loses his dignity and self worth, a snow ball effect can take place that leads to misery and despair that is numbed by alchohol which turns to dependence and addiction. 

Side of the dilapidated house

Cleaning up (our future kitchen) inside the dilapidated house

Cleaning up outside

Cleaning up outside. Our little street dog, Jenny, is at the bottom of the picture.

It seemed as if we had found the place we would call home. However, as the next few weeks passed by there was little to no follow up or contact with the owners. Additionally, our family fell under heavy spiritual warfare. The clarity of our plan and mission became foggy in the spiritual battle, we almost lost hope. Then God provided the old testament reading of Ezekiel 37.
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he led me out in the spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the broad valley. It was filled with bones. He made me walk among them in every direction. So many lay on the surface of the valley! How dry they were! He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come back to life? “Lord GOD,” I answered, “you alone know that.” Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Listen! I will make breath enter you so you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you so you may come to life. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I prophesied as I had been commanded. A sound started up, as I was prophesying, rattling like thunder. The bones came together, bone joining to bone. As I watched, sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top, but there was no breath in them.Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. 

I knew with certainty the Lord was asking us to live at this property. I could feel in my bones HE was wanting to breathe life into this barren piece of ground and the dry bones that occupied it. The mission and vision for the project was solidified by God and gradually the details fell into place. 

 

Adobe blocks added to restore the walls of the house.

Working on the roof constructed of boards with a layer of plastic, dirt, and concrete on top.

Please pray the Lord will bless this land, but most importantly breathe HIS breath of life into every person that steps foot onto the soil.

Peace and love with blessings of perseverance and fortitude.

jmn


See the continuation of this story in the post entitled: Ezekiel 37 Project Part 2: Francisco.

Mexico is Fun

By Jaylyn

I like Mexico because I like meeting new friends and school. I like being in dances at school. l also like learning Spanish and running barrels. I like that people come knock on our door and sell homemade donuts and bread. There are lots of boys and girls to play with. I also like when mission trips come, and there are more girls and boys to play with.

In a dance at school in 2019

Playing school with friends

I like horses. I like horses because I grew up with them, and I have learned to ride from my Dad. I’m glad I met a girl here that taught me how to run barrels.

I love horses.

I don’t like Mexico because there are lots of bad things that are not good like drugs and evil, and it is far away from my family.

I like living in Mexico. Mexico is fun.

My family visiting a historic church an hour from where we live

The Poor Will Always Be With You

Tonight, a woman came to the door. I know her well; she frequently comes to ask for an item or help with something. She said she had hit herself in the eye and had been to the hospital. Her eye had what looked like a large bruised cyst below it, and I could tell by the way she was holding her head that she was in pain. I asked her how I could help her. I thought she might need help buying medicine or maybe reading directions. She said she already had the medicine she needed; then I remembered she has government insurance so when she comes for help with doctor bills or medications, it is usually for her children who do not have insurance. She said her head was hurting like a migraine and asked if I had any fruit or anything like that. I looked at her with her youngest child (4 years) of 5 sitting next to her on the bench and I understood-she had food at home at the moment but because her head was hurting so badly she didn’t want to have to go home and cook it. Cooking dry beans from scratch is never fast but if she happens to be out of gas which happens fairly often for her, then she would have to build the fire first to cook them over. I went to see what I had in our pantry and brought her some canned fruit and crackers. She looked at me with such relief. I prayed with her and told her what a special person she is; silent tears streamed down her cheeks.

I walked back to my kitchen with my baby girl and empathy just flooded me. How would it feel to be that grateful for canned fruit and crackers? When I feel bad or even am just a little tired, I have so many possibilities that I could feed my family without that much effort on my part. I mean really, how would that feel to only have beans, rice, or noodles with homemade tortillas on a good day to feed my family?

Sometimes I get a little hardened to some of the people here. I think if they would just have a little more initiative or creativity or responsibility or…then they wouldn’t be in quite as bad of a situation as they are in. I’m so grateful when God floods me with His grace to break off the hardened places in my heart. I’m no bible scholar, but I don’t recall Jesus ever saying that we should only help the poor if they act a certain way, follow our advice, do their part to help themselves, etc. I do, however, recall Jesus saying that the poor will always be with us and that we are to serve the poor, love the poor, show mercy to the poor, and give preference to the poor. It has really struck me this year in missions that it is not my job to fix the situation of the people I encounter. It is my job to love the people and show mercy to the people that appear before me. And many times that includes lightening their burden on this earth by sharing food, repairing roofs, and buying medications. Sometimes it even means brainstorming possibilities and exploring opportunities to help them meet their own needs. But God is the judge and the fixer. He is the one that makes the broken whole. My role is the lowly servant, and it is with trust and faith in our God that I pray for the people who come for help. Because He gives us the hope of Heaven and He can move mountains at any moment in this life. And I will choose with the help of His grace to fulfill my role of sharing His love and His mercy with each person I encounter. Praise you Jesus!

Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’   Matthew 25: 34-40

With love in Christ,
Lisa

The edge of one of the small neighborhoods here in General Cepeda