We serve a Great God!!!!!

[Arline Martinez]

I have spent several years in the mission field at an orphanage in Mexico (just south of Tijuana). After six years of service I became ill and had to return to the U.S. to seek medical treatment. The most awful diagnosis was given- cancer. I had no insurance, no money to speak of (have taken early retirement social security and it had just started), was taking care of my mentally challenged sister and was out of options. But my Father opened the doors for me to receive treatment and be able to pay it off in installments. I was able to buy a car and furniture, and was able to live modestly on my pension. A friend of mine sent me a ticket to go and visit my family in Mexico. I was able to spend the month of October with them. Things have changed dramatically in Mexico (Tijuana area). The violence has become out of control. The children cannot leave the orphanage compound except to go school and church. The gates remain locked and all visitors are screened before entering the property. One Sunday, on the way to church, the children witnessed a decapitated corpse lying by the side of the road. Traumatic for even the most well adjusted child, devastating for these emotionally damaged abandoned children. This is what life has become down here.

To the glory of God, I received another ticket to go and visit my family. I have been at the orphanage for some time now. After intense prayer and soul searching I have decided to return to where my heart is. I will be conducting Sunday services in English and will pick up where I left off so to speak. Our Soup Kitchen Ministry is now feeding well over 200 children a day. We have opened another orphanage facility in Rosarito for troubled teen boys. We currently have four boys living at the house.

I praise my Father for the mercy He has bestowed on me. It is like a dream come true that I will be able to return. Please keep me and my sister in your prayers that we may make this journey cross country (I currently live in South Carolina) safely and without incident.

IHS

Arline Martinez