Una Esperanza Update

As far as we know, Mariquita has been taken back up to the mountains to the same ranch that we rescued her from this past July. The good news is that the known child molester is no longer with the family that has her. So while she may be back amongst the goats, she is somewhat safe. We’re hopeful that she will be brought back to Una Esperanza before the Christmas mission. Its our prayer that she will once again be the first child to receive a Christmas gift this year.

We’re busy planning for our Christmas outreach at Una Esperanza and we can really use some help with the toy drive if anyone is interested. The latest newsletter is posted online and it contains the details of the toy drive. Please continue to pray for the safe return of Mariquita. Maria is doing great at Una Esperanza and the war with the Indians appears to have subsided for now.

We still have a few spots open if anyone is interested in joining us on the Christmas outreach mission. We also have a new Christmas video posted on the website from last years event.

A Little Lamb Amongst The Goats

Sometimes we just don’t understand why God allows things to happen the way they do. Mariquita has been taken back to the mountains and is once again forced to shepherd goats from early in the morning to late into the evening. Mariquita was abducted from Una Esperanza this past July and was taken to the Sierra mountains by a Tarahumara woman whose son is a known child molester. When we heard the news, we set out to find her. We were miraculously led to her and we were successful in the rescue. However, this set off a major war between us and the Tarahumara Indians, as they did not like the fact that we involved ourselves in their affairs.

Mariquita’s mother knew that she was very well taken care of at Una Esperanza. It was her desire that Mariquita and her sister Maria remain living at Una Esperanza, as they had been since the rescue, but because of persecution and peer-pressure from some of the Tarahumara, she caved in and recently allowed Mariquita to be taken from Una Esperanza by another Tarahumara woman, who took her out of school and forced her to go downtown to beg each day. We received the news this morning that she has since been taken back to the Sierras to live with the same family that abducted her in July. For now, Maria remains at Una Esperanza, but some of the Tarahumara are determined to take her away from us as well.



Our goal has been to build a fulltime children’s home for these kids (Casa de Una Esperanza) and if it were completed today, the Mexican government would most likely grant us legal custody of Mariquita and Maria, and they would remain safely at the ministry center. As things are, without Mariquita’s and Maria’s mother's support, there is really nothing we can physically or legally do to prevent any of this from happening. We can, however, continue to pray.


The Tarahumara have been held captive by the spiritual enemy for generations and he will not give them up without a fight. We have experienced this spiritual battle intensely over the past few months on several fronts. Even though we do not understand how God could allow this situation with Mariquita and Maria, we do know that God is still on His throne, and that He will work this out for good somehow. Rom 8:28

While our first reaction to the recent Tarahumara behavior is that of anger for their utter lack of concern for their own children, we have to remind ourselves that they are acting predictably normal for a lost people. Should we expect anything different from them? This morning I was seeking answers to why God would allow this lost little lamb, who was found, to be lost once again? I came across Psalm 36: 1-7 and it describes the current spiritual condition of the Tarahumara people and a wonderful truth about the sovereignty of God.

Ps 36:1-7 “An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

We know that God wants to use Kingdom Flight to reach these lost and sinful Tarahumara Indians who have been living in darkness for hundreds of years. God wants to break the chains of bondage and set free the captives, even the captive little lambs amongst the goats! It is our prayer that God would continue to protect Mariquita and bring her home to Una Esperanza very soon. We also pray that God will raise up people who care enough to help us build this desperately needed home. There is nothing we can do in our own strength to change things. We can, however, pray!

As we prepare for our annual Christmas outreach at Una Esperanza this year, we do so with heavy hearts. Mariquita has always been the first child in line to receive the first gift each year. She has sort of been the poster child for the Christmas event each year. Please join us in prayer that God would protect this little lamb, and that she would once again be the first child in line to receive a gift this Christmas at Una Esperanza.


This is all that we ask of God for Christmas this year, but either way, we stand in the truth that God is still in control and that He will be glorified through all of this. We know in our hearts that The “Lamb of God” will watch over our little lamb, He will protect her, and hopefully bring her home to us very soon.