Sweet Memories . . .

The other day while driving in town I saw this sign going up for yet another pharmacy in Ensenada (there's a pharmacy on every corner, literally) and my immediate thought was, "Cool! A pharmacy named after my uncle, or as I use to call him, "Mi tio Roma." It's been a couple of years since he passed away, but driving downtown, especially when I pass by the Hotel Bahia or the Casa del Sol, brings back all the memories I had as a kid visiting cousins here with my parents and my uncle and his family. Then just today, while sitting in a restaurant with a friend, looking out the window to see the Bahia Hotel, it occurred to me that God had been preparing my heart since I was a kid to fall in love with this town. I really do love Ensenada, and the people who live here. I go into culture shock whenever I return to California to run errands. To all my friends and family and Reality family too, please come visit me! I would love to be your tour guide, and in terms of how safe it is to stay here - I feel safer here than I do in Santa Barbara, I just can't vouch for Tijuana.
Shalom!
C.L.

Why I Live Here . . . Ensenada . . .

I can remember coming down to Ensenada as a kid and staying in hotels which are located on calle Primera, back in the day when the beach was just a block away. Almost 28 years later after my last visit, I ventured down to Ensenada with a group of kids from an orphanage from Tijuana in the year 2000, my very first missions adventure which impacted my life greatly. The following years I kept coming back to visit other orphanages through other ministries and churches, until the Lord finally directed me to move down here as a missionary from Reality in 2007.
God continues to give me direction, and I am here for good reason, and also a season. Please continue to pray for me as the Lord directs my steps - Ensenada is my home now. This coming from a missionary who had NO desire to come to Mexico, but when God changes your heart, He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." To God be the glory.
Shalom
C.L.

The Kidz At Zorrillo . . .

This morning while contemplating whether I should get out of bed (after a night of no sleep) and head out to the new ministry planted in Zorillo by Lantern Hill ministries, the Lord in His infinite wisdom gave me the same scripture He has given me now on three different occasions before heading out there - Luke 8:16,17 "No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all." Then just a few minutes ago, another friend asked me, what is this place? My immediate reply - that place is known as the LightHouse. God is doing something absolutely amazing on this small piece of property that He has so graciously given us to minister to the 'lost' kids of Zorillo. Please pray for healing and salvation to come to every single kid that steps on this property, and all glory be to the Most High King. Praise Him . . .