A Beautiful Tribute Rising in Mexicali
It is hard to wrap our hearts around it, but this coming October will mark ten years since our daughter Hannah moved to heaven.
Hannah had a deep, beautiful love for children. It was that very passion that inspired us to start Hannah’s Toys of Hope—a ministry dedicated to bringing joy, supplies, and the message of Christ to vulnerable children and their families. As we approached this milestone anniversary, we prayed about a meaningful way to honor her memory and continue her legacy on the field.
God, as He so often does, already had a plan in motion through a dear friend who loved Hannah deeply.
Years ago, our longtime friend Polly came with us to Mexicali to help build a local church in Hannah’s memory. During that trip in 2018, Polly watched crowds of neighborhood children flock to the construction site just to play with the work teams. A seed was planted in her heart right then. God gave her a distinct vision: these children didn’t just need a church building; they desperately needed a safe, dedicated space to just be kids.
Ever since that trip, the Lord has kept that vision alive in Polly’s heart—a vision to build a soccer field right in that Mexicali community.
Turning the Vision into Reality
When I recently reached out to Pastor Favian and his wife, Ana, to share Polly’s idea, their eyes lit up. “We love it,” they told me.
They explained that the neighborhood is absolutely packed with children and teenagers, but safe recreational spaces are practically non-existent. In fact, Pastor Favian shared a heartbreaking story: just recently, he had gathered a group of 30 local youth to play volleyball, only for them to be abruptly kicked out and told they could no longer use the area.
A Field of Hope
Without positive outlets, many young people in the community are easily pulled into vandalism and destructive behavior. To protect this new environment, Pastor Favian suggested building the soccer field directly adjacent to the church. This strategic placement ensures the church leadership can maintain the property, keep a watchful eye on the youth, and build lasting relationships with the families who come to play.
It feels incredibly fitting that in the tenth year since Hannah went home to be with the Lord, we can honor her life by giving these children a permanent place to run, laugh, and encounter the love of Jesus. What started as a seed in a volunteer’s heart is on the verge of becoming a lifeline for an entire community.
Extend Your Hands to Help
God is moving powerfully across Mexico, Cuba, and Beyond. Through your support of Beyond Borders, you aren’t just sending a donation; you are providing support for the Pastors in Mexicali to continue to reach families for the Kingdom. Your gift arrives as:
-
Kingdom Growth: Supporting pastors and church planters as they pioneer new works in the darkness.
- A Warm Meal: Feeding a family that hasn’t eaten in days.
- The Gospel & Joy: Through Hannah’s Toys of Hope, children receive
toys, 
school supplies, 
Prayer, and the 
Message of Christ.
Help us to Reach More: Your Generosity Travels
You may be thousands of miles away, but your generosity travels. It arrives as a warm meal at the door of a family that hasn’t eaten in three days. It shows up as a toy in the hands of a child who needed to know someone cares. It keeps a pastor’s family going one more month.
⚽ How You Can Help Build the Field
Every donation brings us closer to clearing the land, pouring the foundation, and purchasing sports equipment for the youth. Your gift is the love of Christ made tangible—and in a place where a little means everything, even a small gift goes a long way.
Click Here to Give a Special Gift.
Video – Hannah’s Toys of Hope
Join Us in Prayer
- For provision — that food and support reach families before desperation sets in.
- For the church planters — for strength, wisdom, and protection as they pioneer new works.
- For new believers — that their faith would take deep root in the middle of hardship.
- For open doors — that communities across Mexico, Cuba, and beyond are receptive to the gospel.
- For us — that Dave and Dawn would have wisdom, energy, and discernment to steward this work.
Somewhere in Mexicali, Cuba or a remote community tonight, a family has food on the table, a child is smiling, and a new church is gathering — because you said yes. Thank you.
Thank you for your generosity, and compassion in extending your hands to help.
In His Grip, Dave & Dawn Diaso