"Do not worry about your life..." (Matthew 6:25)

A warning which needs to be repeated is that "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," and the lust for others things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22).

Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing--our relationship to Him. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life.

Well, I haven't written in a while. It is good to be back home and continue the work God has called us to do. Crime and violence continue to escalate in our country and it makes us want to 'worry' at times.

These are some of the headlines in the news:

46 Murders in Chihuahua in 2009

Mexico, Jan 21. The number of violent deaths has now reached 46 in the Mexican northern state of Chihuahua in the 20 first days of the year, according to a television report today from Juarez City.
Last minute press releases indicate that in that region were found 12 bodies, among them two couples and a pair of ministerial policemen, meanwhile they reported other violent deaths in the districts of Durango, Jalisco, Sonora y Sinaloa.
The news sustain that the wave of violence continues at the same rhythm as in 2008, despite the increasing operations of the police forces and the army to stop drug trafficking and organized crime.
In 2008, more than 5600 persons died in Mexico in a violent manner, mainly in six states, most of them North of the country.
According to official sources, in the clash between the police and the gangs, died 94 soldiers and around 500 policemen were wounded. Of the total executed, more than 130 were women.
Tijuana, like Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso, has been hit particularly hard by the drug violence that has spread across Mexico. Tijuana saw its bloodiest year ever in 2008 with 843 killings, compared with 337 the previous year.
The violence in Tijuana grew toward the end of last year and continued this year with numerous execution-style slayings. Many of the bodies were found decapitated. The State Department has issued a travel alert for Americans going to Mexico.
The Mexican police and military are sometimes outgunned by the narcos. Arms smuggling favors drug gangs in Mexico, while the police must use legal means to obtain comparable armaments. An expert at the Mexican education institution estimated that 2,000 weapons cross the border illegally into Mexico each day, many of these being automatic and large caliber weapons. The police, on the other hand, have restrictions imposed upon them by federal law that limits the kinds of arms that they may bear.
The weapons used by narcotics gangs include the Russian designed AK-47, but also fragmentation grenades that are ostensibly made solely for military use. Authorities in Mexico theorize that these may be crossing their borders from the U.S., or in shipments of goods imported from China such as clothing and shoes. The ammunition used by the narco-traffickers is also for military use and therefore penetrates the body-armor typically used by Mexican police forces. Chihuahua and Baja California are the two states where most of the illegal arms reach Mexico through its borders, which are porous in both directions.
I talk to my brother Miguel Angel regularly to see how things are going with him. Recently there was a shooting that took place in'Cieneguita' where he lives. He said it was quite noisy in his house. He told me though that the Lord lives in his house and He protected them all. Here in Sonora they're saying that about 25 people died in this shooting, my brother didn't know the number. Although, he has told me before that even if you know, you say you don't...

My brother is sharing the Gospel with the people there. Most of them are so scared they come to him because they know he has something they need. He tells them they need to seek Jesus always, not only when they're in trouble. A lot of people continue to leave their homes and move to other places where they think they will be safer, how they need to hear Jesus is the refuge and strong tower they need to seek to be truly safe.

Wednesday of last week, a seven year old girl was murdered in Cd. Obregón, (less than 100 km from us), by two drug addicts. Daniel was saying how our country is reaping the consequences of of what it has been sowing for so many years and was wondering what kind of harvest could possibly be coming from the new crop of violence and corruption?

Yet, in this unsecured and perverse world, we have the privilege of being bearers of the very best news of all, ('yeah, Josh, so you can't say I only share bad news'), there is hope in Jesus Christ, we can have fellowship with the Father, He is our strong tower, a help in times of need. We know how everything ends, our lives are secured in Him who paid the ransom for our lives.

More good news, last week in Mezquital at the women's Bible study, I was sharing with the ladies the blessing it was for us to be at the missions conference in Murrieta, and the urgency we received to pray without ceasing. I asked Benita (Carla's mother, some of you know her), 'wouldn't it be great if you started a prayer meeting in your house?' Well, it turns out, they have already started... So I asked what day they had designated for that, and they told me they were doing it every day. I was so blessed to hear that...

Obed is already 9 months old! How time flies. Aaliyah is learning how to ride a bike. Talking about how time slips away so fast, we feel the urgency to be doing all we can to reach others for Christ. It is a good time to do it, my husband always says. The world is so unstable, it gives us the opportunity to tell people how Christ is the only way out, that it is only in Him that we can find eternal life. As the darkness increases it becomes easier to shine!

Watching 'Prince Caspian' in our living room

Our visit with our friend Steve Nauert, and his son Dylan was sweet. We love those guys and they are such a blessing to us. We are looking forward to having the whole family, Lord willing, for Easter.

We were amazingly surprised by the visit of this lady with her daughter Tania. Some of you, I am sure, remember Tania. She came to live with us before she was a year old. She was Rochelle's baby for well over a year. Rochelle loved her like her very own, and shed many, many tears when Yoana, the mother, with Tania's father, took her far away to the Mexican state of Puebla. We haven't seen her, or heard from her in seven years. She is now nine. Yoana came a few days ago because she says she started going to a Christian church and she knew she had to come and ask for forgiveness from Rochelle and myself, for her behavior toward us many years ago. (for disappearing without leaving word of where she would be) Truly, I always had such compassion for this lady, she loved her daughter, but really didn't know how to care for her. She seems quite changed and is back in Navojoa where her parents live and wants to start attending our congregation.

The twins are now 14 months old! They are a joy to contemplate! Little, precious miracles! I told Tania how Rochelle would love to see her, and told her about the twins too. She went all over our house and was very curious looking at a picture we have of her with Rochelle, and kept asking question of when she lived with us. Her mother was telling her how she looked like a princess and how very loved she was. I told her she was speaking English before she left our house. She couldn't believe that, but would like to learn English again.

Well, I am writing this letter from Monterrey (capital of the state of Nuevo León, located Northeast of Mexico). We are here getting Marilu's birth certificate, she is with us too. It is quite an intimidating city, so huge. One of the three most important cities in all Mexico and a modern industrial and business center with a population of 1.1 million. Lord willing, we will be done with our business quick and head back home. I am so thankful to live in the country instead of a city like this one...

PRAYER REQUEST FOR RANCHO MARANATHA, ALAMOS, MX.
Please pray for us to find favor and get things done quickly here in Monterrrey with Marilú's paper work.
We are thankful to still have Jerry & Jo watching over the girls at the ranch. They will be heading back home soon. Pray for their return in the Fall.
Please pray for the women's Bible study I plan, Lord willing, to start in Alamos Wednesday, February 4th. I am mainly doing it to spend time with some of my relatives like Emir's wife Luli, his sister Elba, his mother, Emir's sister in law, and my brother Gero's widow Adelita. Other women want to come though. Please pray that the Lord will use me to bring healing and restoration to these ladies.
Pray for the groups coming to work with us in March, one from MN; the other from California.
Pray for the upcoming women's retreat, Lord willing, April 10th.

"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Mat 9:37-38).

Thank you so much for your prayers and your support.

Ana & Daniel

Happy New Year!

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me' " (Isaiah 6:8).
God did not direct His call to Isaiah--Isaiah overheard God saying, "...who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God's call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, "...who will go for Us?" However, God doesn't single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah, Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."

We need to remove the thought from our minds of expecting God to come to force us or to plead with us. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard--"the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me."


The theme of the missions conference this year was, "Till the whole world hears" (Matthew 24:14). We were very blessed hearing how God is work out His purpose in fulfilling His word through men and women that have heard and answered His call. What an amazing privilege it is to be bearers of the wonderful and amazing news of the kingdom of God. The time draws near and we need to be 'about our Father's business.'

Our time in the USA has been sweet and relaxing. We are quiet ready to get back home to the ranch though, and look forward to continue the work the Lord has prepared before hand for us to do. We look with expectancy to this new year as His coming draws closer. He is teaching us new things every day. My sister Delia was telling me how the apostle Paul expressed he was the chief of sinners (1Ti 1:15), we were saying how the closer one gets to the Light, the more we can see the blemishes...we are amazed that the Lord chooses us to be His messengers.

One of the speakers in the conference was comparing us to a father that invites his child to make cookies. He holds the child's hands in his and starts measuring the ingredients and makes the batter and all, in the end the child is showing the cookies she made. He was saying how God almighty chooses to use us to do this work that would be much easier for Him to do on His own. We can slow and mess up the work, yet He holds our hands and allows us to participate with Him. I really liked this illustration because I am one that would chose to do the work myself instead of having someone else mess it up, or not do it right...

We have the best friends in the world! Really. Steve, Daniel's soul mate, (definition for their sake: someone with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity and compatibility), they only see each other once a year, they don't communicate the rest of the year much, yet when they get to see each other, it seems like to me anyway, they feel like they have never been apart. I love that!

'Meet the Missionaries Day' in CC Costa Mesa was lots of fun. 'Thank you Patty & Tony for all the work you did, you will definitely get a raise for next year.'

We had the greatest time with our friends at 'a get together' at Steve & Shawna's house. 'Thank you, guys, for opening your house and doing all that work you did!' We are humbled and blessed to the max for the Lord's amazing, amazing blessings poured out to us through your awesome generosity and your undeserving love to us!

PRAYER REQUEST FOR RANCHO MARANATHA, ALAMOS, MX.
Please continue to pray for Paul & Pam Cooper as they get ready to come and serve full time with us at the ranch. We are looking forward to have them working along side us to farther His kingdom. Pray for the Lord to guide them in all they need to do.
The day the conference ended (Thursday, Jan. 8th) we found out Marco Antonio from 'Las Minitas,' (we do our Friday night Bible study there every week), had passed away. He was one of our drivers and a big encourager in his community. He was 46 years old and died of a heart attack, leaving his wife and three children. Please pray for Luz María (the wife), and for Brizeyda, (youngest daughter, 6 years old), she loved her father dearly. The other two children were his step children, Dulce María is one of them and she stays with us at the ranch and goes to school in Alamos. Pray too for their community as Marco will be so very missed there.
We are looking forward to have some short term mission groups that are coming to the ranch this year. We want, most of all, to be a blessing to all that come. Please for us to have serving hearts, and be an encouragement to each one that will be coming out to work with us. Pray for us to be diligent and be ready at all times. For God to give us His strength and that we won't try to do things in our own strength. What a waste of time that is, and how unproductive!
WE SO MUCH NEED GOD'S WISDOM AND GUIDANCE (this is truly a shout from deep), we want to be good stewards of His riches, and all that He has entrusted us.
Please continue to pray for the girls on the ranch. We have a new one coming, her name is Alejandra and she is 12 years old. Also, we started the adoption process with Josie. We have to do the stripping of the rights and that can take a long time. The Lord knows...we are also fixing something with Lolis' (Faith) birth certificate. We need to make a trip to Monterey, Nuevo Leon, as soon as possible, before this month is over, Lord willing, to get Marilú's new birth certificate. We really need to be done with that. We would like for her to start Bible college soon. We are thinking of sending her to Ensenada to Juan Domingo's school there. Please pray for the Lord to give us the wisdom and the desire to do all those things we need to do. We are also planning on starting adoption process for Carolina. Again, we only want to do what the Lord would have us do, so we need to be in tune with Him. Pray that we don't lose focus, that we remain true to the One that has called us to have a relationship with Him. That our eyes are fixed on Him, the Finisher of our faith.
Please be praying for our trip back home, for travel mercies and for His hand to be over us.

Mike's birthday today! He is having cancer surgery today, PLEASE PRAY!!!
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK you to each one of you for standing with us!

WE LOVE YOU ALL,

Daniel & Ana

"You shall not go out with haste,...for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12).

God requires an account of what is past (Ecc. 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from the very shallow security in the present.

"...the Lord will go before you..." This is a gracious revelation--that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God's hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

" You shall not go out with haste..." As we go forth into this new year, let us not be in haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Let us leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

We went to celebrate the new year with our brothers and sisters in CC Alamos. I was thinking 'the first day of the year is already ending..." How time flies...

I am excited about this new year. The coming of our Lord is closer. Daniel was sharing with us about the disciples not being at the tomb on the third day waiting for Christ to resurrect. Christ had told them He would rise the third day and so far He had never not had done what He said He would do. Daniel was saying they should have been there with all Jerusalem waiting. But then he was asking, "are we waiting for His soon return? Are we telling others His coming is at hand? Are our eyes lifted to heaven watching? May He find us ready...



Our year ended with countless blessings. We were again, this time at my parents' table, telling again of the blessings without number we each received this year that ended. None of my brothers were present, but all of us sisters with some of the husbands, nieces and nephews. I was moved beyond words by the things some of them shared, being my darling daughter Roshon one of the ones sharing from her heart.

Héctor & Joel (both of my sister Elia's sons) shared how the Lord spoke to them, in different ways, when their sister started singing a song of deliverance when they were safely on the roof of their house escaping the raging and deadly waters of hurricane 'Norbert.' That was something I hadn't heard before and it just made my heart rejoice.




My sweet Rochelle sent me a most significant letter the first of the year, (yesterday), she totally made my day. I am so blessed! The Lord has, as my brother in law Paco also shared, given me this past year, and the ones before, much, much, much more than I have, or will ever deserve! We are, I am, for ever in debt to Him that gave His life for me!

'We were all thinking and longing for you, mi Rosh.' My sister Nora was saying you are her biggest hero.'

We will face new challenges this year, no doubt, but He is the God of our tomorrow, our lives are hidden in Him. Things get progressively worse in our country. Kidnappings and horrible killings are going on here in Navojoa. My cousin's son in Aguaje Verde (mountains of Chihuahua) was just killed. This young man (our son's Josh age), had been involved in illegal work for quite some time now. He left a widow and a daughter. His dad, my cousin, is a Christ follower, but not his wife. I have a few relatives right now running for their lives. They are trying to save their lives, but not looking for the Only One that can give them life.



Luli & Emir
I am planning, Lord willing, on starting a Bible study in Alamos at my sister Delia's request, with Luli, Elba (Emir's sister), Adelita (my brother Gerónimo's widow), and other ladies in Alamos. I want to do all the Lord has for me to do this year, I want to be found ready, doing the things He would have me do.

Our lives are filled with HUGE little blessings. We are so thankful to our Lord for all the amazing and awesome gifts He has bestowed upon our lives.

Josh and Roshon

Obed vicky

We are leaving for the U. S. A. today. Please keep us in your prayers. Please pray for the ones left here, for the communities the Lord has put under our care, and for all the girls here. May the Lord keep them all safe. We are so thankful for Jo & Jerry, for their faithfulness to the Lord and their willingness to help in this ministry.

May the Lord fill your year with His blessings. May you too be found ready!

We love you all,

Daniel & Ana

"In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice" (Gen 22:18)
My sister Nora (second oldest in picture above, first starting from left) was telling us how this verse in Genesis is her prayer for all of us. Well, this year, unlike others when all the sisters get together and share with each other the struggles and joys experienced during the year, we included our brothers (the youngest didn't make it), two brothers in law and some of the nephews and nieces.


We had the most amazing time sharing with each other around our table. We had dinner together Christmas eve, then some left. We, first of all, had SO much to be thankful for, being one of the things, the salvation of our brother Miguel Angel. We were taking turns sharing, our sister Edy (the youngest) had a timer. Yeah, we needed it, but really no one was really paying attention, or being careful to stick to it.








Another thing we were all thankful for was the fact that God has placed each one of us in this family. Yes, of course, it can be insane being all together at times, just ask Daniel, Dave, Paco or Héctor.
Well, I just wanted to share these pictures with you.
May the Lord bless all of you and keep you,
Ana