All Entries in the "Testimonies" Category

I Love Mexico !!!

I love Mexico. How can I describe it? I guess the best way to describe it would be “the good kind of hurt”. Mexico, believe it or not, was not an easy thing for me. And you know what!? I don’t think it should have been. With every difficulty experienced, I learned something new. With every hard time, lives were changed. Now, don’t get me wrong. I had an inexplicably awesome time in Mexico; in fact I even considered living there! However, what I am trying to say is that even the tearful moments of this trip were beneficial. Not only to me, but also those around me. It made me wake up and realize that every decision that we make in life counts. Every decision made effects the life of someone else. whether you like it or not. The decision doesn’t have to be grand. It can be small, minuscule even, but we must know that what ever we do it doesn’t just affect us.

Jesus is so awesome! in Mexico I saw him change the lives of so many people. I saw the characters in people change. Even those who seemed as if they only had hope for the worst in life now have hope given to them from God. I have seen how God can give strength to some one who was once weak and torn apart emotionally. I have seen the power of God’s love declared and confirmed in many lives…including mine. God is alive. Jesus is alive. And hope lives in Him.

Our nation however America, seems almost spiritually dead. It saddens me when I really take a look at what we have become. And I mean really take a look. I say this because allot of the times we just skim over the problems that are in our country and dismiss them as simple spelling errors. Do you think that abortion is a spelling error? what about the murders, lies, and all of the other stuff that goes on? What about the stuff that goes on in your own lives? Mexico opened up my eyes to so many things that I was doing wrong in my life. I to open up my eyes to how selfish i really was. You don’t have to be rich to be selfish. And being selfish doesn’t have to be done with your belongings. Are you being selfish with your love? Are you loving others around you? are you caring for others as christ care for you? Am I caring for others the way that Christ cared for me? we must all ask ourselves this question. If find that you haven’t. Mexico is a good place to start. Ask God if he will allow you to come down and make a difference. Mexico needs so much help. Tijuana especially.

Whatever your gift is, God can use it in Mexico. And if you feel as if you do not have a gift…believe it or not you do. If you are able to smile, cry, laugh, or be weird even, God can use that to be the light or maybe even hope in someone else’s life. America, even though we are in a financial crisis we are still EXTREMELY, financially blessed.  There are SO many poor people living right across the border. and so many are right outside your doors. Either way, they both need help. Are you where you are supposed to be right now? We love others because Christ first loved us. We care for others because Christ first cared for us. DO this because Christ did it for you. Die to yourself just as he did for you. Just make sure that you are doing it in His will. Because you love Him.

One of thee mistakes I made was a mistake of the heart. My heart wasn’t right. I started out just as an act. I came down and did the things that I wanted to do for him. Which is better? Doing what you want to do for your spouse, or doing what your spouse wants to do for you? How would you better please the one that you love? When we die to ourselves and do what God wants us to do for him our relationship becomes closer and closer. And though at times it may be painful, if we wait, we will always be able to say that it was worth it. Consult God in everything that you do first! And I encourage you to consult God about Mexico, it could change lives.

Give all glory to God and spread the consoling, immense, and humble love of Jesus Christ.

-Evelyn Lax

“Tijuana today is no different–’dangerwise’–than Los Angeles”

I have been visiting Tijuana regularly for over 10 years as part of a Los Angeles based medical ministry called Healing Hearts Across Borders.  HHAB is affiliated with La Roca, which was founded by our friends, Carlos and Rosie Montoya.  As a clinical psychologist, I am not exactly an impulsive risk-taker by nature!  But I can tell you that , or any other American city.  I am saddened by the sensationalized news reports in the U.S. which exaggerate the dangers of crime in Tijuana, and terrify Americans who would otherwise be coming to visit.

I just returned from our quarterly trip (February, 2009) and life goes on as usual in Tijuana.  Just as in Los Angeles, there are areas that you are wise to avoid!  But it is absolutely safe in general, and I encourage folks who would otherwise visit to discount the American new stories of some kind of rampant lawlessness in the city.  It is a vibrant place, and the poorer citizens are penalized by the drop in tourist business!

Dr. Suzanne Lake

“We have nothing to fear except fear itself.” L. Turner, DDS

Dear Carlos: Thank you for giving me a guided tour of Tijuana City on our last visit. I did not realize that our Media reports of the clashes between Drug organizations and the authorities had had such a devastating impact on fragile businesses in Tijuana that depend upon US tourists. You showed me store after store that had closed because tourists had perceived that they were in danger in coming to Tijuana. The result is that many other “casualties” have occurred like wage earners losing jobs, and the slowing of economic progress that is so vitally needed.  It seems that the “Collateral damage ” caused by sensational  US media reports is much greater than that of the drug lord’s violence itself. I regret that the zeal to grab our attention to sell “stuff”in the US, or to make a headline, drives irresponsible editors print only the sensational fear invoking stories. It would be refreshing for them to print a more balanced assessment of the situation. I walked the streets just last Saturday and neither I nor my friends felt we were in any danger. I am very glad that the Doctors, nurses, medical students and friends that filled our bus this last weekend and crossed the border and work with La Roca, understood the meaning of this statement. “We have nothing to fear except fear itself.”  It is an unfortunate irony that  the people of Mexico should be hurt because their government is cracking down on drug traffickers, who are in business largely because people in the US use drugs.

Thank you for encouraging us all to come, thank you for helping us in Healing Hearts Across Borders to preserver in humanitarian our efforts and to realize that the forces that were making us fearful were the real  enemy, cultivating an even greater distractive force.

Godspeed, Lloyd Turner DDS

Evelyn Loves Tijuana !

My name is Evelyn Lax and I am a 19 year old intern here at La Roca ministries in Tijuana. I will be living here for a year.  I would just like to say that I enjoy being here in Tijuana. I have heard the many reports of violence however personally I have not seen it. I think the worst thing that I have probably seen in regards to that subject was a male getting beat up by a couple of guys. However even that wasn’t extreme. Yes there is violence in Tijuana, we all know that but then again what city does not have violence in it.  Nevertheless that shouldn’t push us away from Tijuana, that should draw us to it. If you saw that your neighbor was in great danger would you just sit back and watch in your selfish fear that you might get hurt? Or would you go and get help or better yet.. help them out yourself? I love Tijuana. I recommend that others should come and see what I love too.

Amanda says it’s Amazing in TJ !

My name is Amanda and I am 22 years old. I have been coming to Tj since I was 14. I came down here last month (January) to stay for a year. Its amazing being here and watching people’s lives being changed by the various ministries. I am so blessed to be here. I know a lot of people worry about the violence and decide not to come. But there is no reason to be afraid. Out of all the times I’ve been down here, I’ve never had a problem with anything. We’ve actually gone to the beach in the evening had a small worship service before. You shouldn’t wander off alone to late, but it’s not like you should do that in any city. I’m more scared when I’m wandering around my own city at night then I am here. All I know is that God called me here, and nothing will stop me because I have him on my side. There is a phrase I keep posted that says, “Fear knocked at the door, and faith answered, there was no one there.” What more is there to say ?