Posts Tagged ‘Janet Lambert’

A Heart for the Homeless

Posted: March 30, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Tijuana, Video
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Pastor Leo & Gloria meeting with Janet Lambert at the YWAM center

Pastor Leo & Gloria meeting with Janet Lambert at the YWAM center

This week I introduced Christian and Liz Castro to Janet Lambert in Rosarito Mexico. While there we learned of a great story of redemption, a wonderful testimony of God’s mercy.

Homes of Hope

Janet shared more about their ministry called, Homes of Hope. Janet and her husband Sean head up the YWAM ministry in Tijuana. They have a burning passion for the poor.

While we were with Janet she shared through tears about one of the families that they built a home for. Eric & Josephina Ochoa not only were homeless, but they had to scrounge for food. They were digging through the garbage to find food, clothing and other items of value.

Can you imagine the humiliation and desperation of having to dig through garbage to live?

A Story of Redemption

The Ochoa family connected with Janet and the YWAM staff, and they put them on the Homes of Hope list. Eric and Josephina’s story was heartbreaking, and it touch those with YWAM. The Lord moved and now the family has a home. Janet said the last time she saw the family they were so happy and grateful for all that YWAM had done for them.

Eric & Josephina share their story in this video:

Paying it Forward

The Ochoa family are paying forward the blessing given to them.

After they got their new home they didn’t forget the families and children who were looking through the garbage with them. They wanted to care for them, and reach out with the love of Christ.

In a future post I will write about when the family actually received their home, and more about their response.

A Side Note: Leo & Gloria’s Ministry with YWAM

Since we introduced our friends, Leo and Gloria Nevarez to Janet last summer they have been ministering together. Every time I’m with them I come away encouraged by the ongoing story. Leo and Gloria go out each week with the YWAM staff to reach out to drug addicts and those caught in sex trafficking. The testimonies I hear from them are amazing. God is so good!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

God Uses Little Things to Build His Kingdom!

Posted: January 19, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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dinner, Lo Mejor del Trigo

Hannah, Dawn, David and Dave having dinner with Leo and Gloria and other friends

This past Tuesday our friends, Pastor Leo & Gloria Nevarez invited us for a wonderful dinner at their church in Rosarito, Mexico. They also invited Pastor Marcos Gomez and Pastor Bennie and some other friends from the church.

Leo and Gloria wanted to thank Dawn and me for encouraging them in their ministry by introducing them to Janet Lambert and Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The Lord also used this blog to connect Leo and Gloria with a family in Oxnard, California that wanted to make a difference, and minister to people in need. All of these people and ministries have begun to work together and God is moving in Rosarito in a powerful way.

I really didn’t do that much, but I’m glad the Lord used the little I did to bless Leo and Gloria and their church Lo Mejor del Trigo (The Best of the Wheat). It reminds me of how the Lord takes the little that we have and multiplies it. He took a young boy’s lunch, five loaves and two fish and fed 5,000.

I think the Lord takes pleasure in using the weak things of this world.

I wrote about some of the latest things God is doing in Rosarito in the post: God’s Blessings Keep Rolling Down in Rosarito! I like that title, because I think it accurately describes what the Lord is doing there.

I would have never connected the Nevarez’s with Janet and YWAM, if a friend of mine in Scottsdale, Arizona wouldn’t have suggested that I introduce them. Eric Tooker gave me Janet’s contact info, and it all began from there. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for faithful friends. Thank you for bringing all the loose ends together.

border, Tijuana border, San Ysidro

The San Ysidro Border crossing going into Tijuana

Leo told me that they now have about 60 people coming to their church. The church is growing!

I also enjoyed getting to know Pastor Marcos and Pastor Bennie better. They are pastoring churches that aren’t too far away from Leo’s church. Dawn and I pray that the Lord will use us to be a blessing to them. We hope their ministry and outreach into the community will grow for God’s grace. Please join us in prayer as we engage in dialogue with them and explore how best to encourage and strengthen them.

Thank you Lord for using the little we have to offer to expand your kingdom! May your rich and powerful blessings continue!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Hope for the Homeless in Rosarito!

Posted: July 7, 2012 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Journey, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria

Pastor Leo Nevarez and his wife, Gloria

Apart from the hour and a half wait in line to cross back into the US we had a great time in Rosarito and Tijuana on Friday!

While there we met Leo Nevarez, pastor of Lo Mejor del Trigo in Rosarito, and his wife, Gloria. It’s so encouraging to be with them and learn about what the Lord is doing as He touches lives in their church.

We were able to introduce them to the ministry of “Juventud Con Una Mision,” YWAM. They have a base about three miles from the church. Juventud Con Una Mision brings churches in and they build homes for families that are living in card board boxes, or in homes with dirt floors. It’s an important ministry since there is so much poverty in Tijuana.

Leo & Gloria meeting with Janet Lambert

Leo & Gloria meeting with Janet Lambert at the YWAM center

This ministry of YWAM is called, Houses of Hope or Casas de Esperanza. While we were at the YWAM base we met with Janet Lambert, who is one of the key leaders. Janet and her husband started Casas de Esperanza over twenty years ago. The Lord has blessed them with a beautiful facility to house the church groups that come to build homes.

I got connected with Janet through a friend in Phoenix at one of our supporting churches. The church regularly sends groups down to Tijuana to build homes. A friend, Eric Tooker, saw in my newsletter that we were involved in starting a new work in Rosarito, so he sent me a note and encouraged me to contact Janet.

I’m excited to see what God will do through this ministry connection! It’s encouraging for me to see how God brings all the moving parts together. He is the Lord of the Kingdom!

Dawn and our intern Lindsay Anne waiting in line to cross back into the US

Dawn and our intern Lindsay Anne waiting in line to cross back into the US

If you have a helpful ministry connection for us, please send it my way. There’s no telling how the Lord might use it for His glory!

What made it wonderful to connect pastor Leo and Gloria to Juventud Con Una Mision is that there are many impoverished people living in the community where the Rosarito, Lo Mejor del Trigo church ministers. This could open up some new doors for both ministries to reach out with the love of Christ to hurting people.

Wow, thank you Jesus! We look forward to watching what God will do!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org