february 2013 mercy's border reflections · arid landscape with lots of brown and tan...
TRANSCRIPT
Cactus Rose (photo by Jerry Danie)
February 2013
Mercy's Border ReflectionsThere is Hope!
The desert and the parched land will be gladThe wilderness will rejoice and blossomLike the crocus, it will burst into bloom;It will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,The splendor of Carmel and Sharon;They will see the glory of the Lord,
The splendor of our God. Isaiah 35.12
inter better
Finding the beauty in thethornes Sometimes it is difficult to see the beautyin your circumstances. You make look
Mercy at Palomar MT, CA
Mercy has been serving as amissionary with InternationalMinistries for the past twelveyears. She has been workingalongside the "ConvencionBautista Dios con Nosotros"
since the year 2002.
The past year has been ayear full of challenges,
changes and searching forGod's direction in the midst of
these changes.
Her husband Rick is currentlyworking as a chaplain at theEl Centro Detention Centerdeveloping a ministry of
presence to men who havebeen detained while their
immigration status is clarified.
Mercy continues to teach atthe seminary in Mexicali andto mentor leaders as they
strive to find ways in which tominister to their communities.
As Mercy is going through herjourney of healing this year,she is also placing on hold onDMin studies at McCormick
Theological Seminary.
Mercy says, " I love to teachand I have a deep passion for
the Church. My goal atseminary is to develop and
refine my gifts for teaching; tobecome a better student and
to help the Church be atransformational and
incarnational presence in thecity of Mexicali.
Mercy and Rick have threechildren; Aida is a senior atthe University of Virginia,
Richie is a sophmore at theUniversity of Chicago andJoshua will be graduatingfrom 8th grade in El Centro,
CA.
Please continue to upliftMercy in your prayers and
around and just see what has becomefamiliar and routine. Sometimes God usesthe familiar and routine to remind us howmuch we are blessed. Read on to claimthe blessing that has always been there.
There is Hope! Last Saturday, it rained all day.This may not sound unusual tosome of you but I live in thedesert and it rarely rains. One ofthe things I enjoy is to see theimmediate change in theenvironment. What was once anarid landscape with lots of brownand tan immediately turns green. The ocotillos start to bloomand everything is brighter and full of life. Seeds that weredormant spring to life and the miracle of new life beginsanew. The amazing thing is how rapidly I respond to thischange. I feel my mood change as soon as I see the darkershade of green and the new growths of foliage peeking outfrom underneath boulders. THERE IS HOPE! Many of you know that this year has been a challenging onefor our family. This past summer I was diagnosed with breastcancer. This news hit me with a vengeance as it was areminder of losing my mother 23 years ago. She was 54years old when she passed away, the same age I am now asI repeat this battle. All of those feelings of anger, grief andloss came back with a force that shook me to my core. I did
her ministry with the studentsat the seminary. This is anexciting time because thereare many new students whoare striving to serve the Lord
and follow their call.
If you wish to contribute toMercy's ministry; please link
on to the following link
internationalministries.org/giveand go to Barnes and give.
You can also give by sendingyour ongoing contribution to
Int'l MinistriesP.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA194820851
or you can call
18002223872 and phone inyour offering.
not want my children to go through what I went through. Yet inthe midst of this whirlwind I was surrounded by a communityof love. Yet like someone navigating the arid desert; I feltparched and alone. I kept calling out to the Lord andproclaiming out loud, "The Lord is near, do not be afraid". THERE IS HOPE! This past Monday I had my final cycle of chemotherapy. Thejourney with breast cancer has become less scary as I learnmore about the process, the treatment and I share with otherswho are also walking this same path. I also feel closer to mymother and in a strange way feel less alone. The kids haveadjusted and I can't tell you how good it felt this pastChristmas as I nagged them to clean up their rooms. (Theblessing of normalcy) Rick and I are closer than we've ever
been before. This pastDecember on ouranniversary, we renewedour vows and it was truly anamazing moment. I amstarting to see the darkershades of green, the newgrowth of foliage and someblooms. I am starting to feelhopeful and the joy that
comes from seeing the miracle of new life. THERE IS HOPE! Breast cancer has been my walk in the desert. I know thatyou my readers also have your own personal walk in thedesert. Remember you too are surrounded by a communitythat lifts you up in prayer and deed. The seeds of hope arelying amidst the grains of sand and dirt. Lift up your voicesand proclaim "The Lord is near, Do not be afraid". THERE IS INDEED HOPE!
ContactsRev. Mercy GonzalezBarnesIM Missionary to Baja California, Mexico2310 W. Elm AvenueEl Centro, CA 92243email: [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support of this ministry with your prayers, andyour ongoing support. Your faithfulness in prayers and support truly does
make a difference.
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