"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