Training for Battle

“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1 Lately, I can truly relate to this particular verse.

It would be wonderful if verses like this relating to battle somehow didn’t apply to us as we lived a peace-filled life as “turn the other cheek” Christians. The sad reality is that there is evil in the world around us, and sometimes we are forced to face and even confront this evil. This is especially true in Kilometer 33. Juarez has had almost 400 murders this year alone, and all of Mexico is at war with the drug lords that have held this country captive for decades. Danger is a reality. We ultimately rely on God’s protection when we travel to Una Esperanza, and we have experienced this divine protection many times, but it’s also wise to prepare the best we can.


I’ve trained in martial arts for years, and after a two-year layoff, I felt the need to hone my skills again so I joined a local MMA (mixed martial arts) fight training gym that teaches Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kick boxing and wrestling. The idea is to master each unique discipline and combine them all together, i.e. MMA.


Most of my instructors are professional fighters and they very much look the part. My personal trainer Adam looks like he could kill you with his bare hands, and quite honestly, he probably could if he wanted to! He’s covered in tattoos, (which seems to be common in the profession) shaves his head and looks just plain mean!

Adam and the other instructors also train our son Noah three times a week, and I’ve learned (and so has Noah) that you can’t judge a book by its cover. As we’ve gotten to know Adam, we have found that he’s genuinely one of the nicest guys we’ve met in a long time.


I’ve since discovered that many of the instructors at the gym are also Christians, and Noah and I have had a great time establishing friendships and honing our self-defense skills. Lesli and I have even established some meaningful relationships with some of the parents of the other students as we sit in on Noah’s classes. We never know when or where God may use us but it’s exciting to see how He does when we least expect it!

O. C. (Orange County) Kids update:
Our Una Esperanza O.C. Kids spent this past Memorial Day weekend at our home as they often do and it was a great time of building relationships and having fun. We had church at our home with these kids on Sunday and it was a great time of studying God’s word together. We thought we’d give the home church concept a try, and I must say that everyone enjoyed the experience greatly! The kids seemed to get a lot out of it and we were able to share specific needs and pray for each one, and I think that meant a lot to the kids. It reminded me of how the early church must have been where they gathered in homes and sought to meet each other’s spiritual and physical needs.

Una Esperanza Juarez, Mexico Update:
Patsy (our on-site missionary at Una Esperanza) has been reporting that she has been seeing a real breakthrough with the kids at Una Esperanza ever since our January trip where we made a point to hug and pray for each child at the center.

The Easter trip with the Iowa State Navigators also made a huge impact on these kids. She says that they have really been responsive to the bible teaching like never before. Una Esperanza has been doing well, but we still have many obstacles ahead to overcome, and we would greatly appreciate your continued prayers as we seek to reach the “least of these” in Jesus name.

Mother's Day

I just wanted to express how thankful I am that I get to be a mother to quite a few kids, both here in the US and in Mexico.  I couldn't ask for a sweeter son than my Noah.  He has such a sensitive heart for God, and he's always my #1 little man, and he so willingly shares my love with so many other kids who call me "Mom."  I am so grateful that God has opened up our world and our hearts to include all of them.  My heart is full of blessings that each one of the children in my life have brought into my life, and I can't imagine life any other way.

Our Orange County kids fill our home with joy and have added many girls to our lives, which is a wonderful addition, and I love my God-given daughters so very much.  They make me laugh, and they brighten my life and my weekends.

All the little (and big) ones that God has brought into my life through the work of Una Esperanza fill my heart with love and hope for them, that they will have a better future because they are coming to know Christ as their hope.  God has given Brad and I the privilege of unique positions as the father and mother of so many children who know no other love or parenting.  

I'm also so thankful to God for my own mom.  Hopefully she'll forgive my using this picture from our past.  She has taught me and continues to teach me much about living by faith and loving God.  I'm so proud of the legacy of faith that my mom has given me, and I want to always pass that on to my children - God is good, and He is faithful, and He can be trusted with anything and everything.  Thank you God, and thank you, Mom.