A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the inside: Sarah

My name is Sarah and I am a believer in recovery. My struggle is mostly with myself, my character, and my decisions. I want to do what is right but usually end up doing what is wrong. My life before recovery was "happy" according to the standards of the world.  I found myself always looking for something new to do because routine was boring.  Like any other girl I loved dancing, having different boyfriends, and always enjoyed new clothes.

I knew God existed but didn’t have anything to do with him until I needed something, then I would cry out to him.  I definitely did not have a personal relationship with him. He was my God when it was convenient.

Because I was driven by my emotions my attitude towards others was unstable.  I wanted to look good but I didn’t care about those around me.  My lowest point was when I was sent to prison.

For four years I was invited to join the CR group but I always said no because attending didn’t interest me. Finally I said yes because it was something new to try. It was through this program that I started to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  I never wanted to deal with my past but now that I have Jesus in my heart, He makes it possible to have healing and closure.  CR has helped me change my attitude towards others. I have learned to love my neighbor.  I have learned to love and appreciate myself as God’s daughter. Now that I know God I want to serve Him and seek His holiness. 

A real benefit of being a part of the CR program is that now I have a spiritual family that supports me. I feel that I can love without limits because God loves me.

May God bless you.

*names have been changed to protect identities*

A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the inside: Kerry

My name is Kerry and I am a believer who struggles with forgiveness. Rebellion ruled my life before I started my recovery process.  Listening to the advice of others never interested me. The only thing that I was interested in was being on the streets and drinking with my friends.  I didn’t care about anyone or anything.  My destructive lifestyle was spiraling out of control and I didn’t care about the consequences of my actions. I was rude and arrogant and definitely wasn’t interested in having a relationship with God.  While under the influence of alcohol I started having relations with men that I didn’t even know, why? because nothing mattered to me.  I was sent to prison for robbery and it was here that I notice a group of ladies who came to teach every week.  I got involved with the YUGO Celebrate Recovery group and started my own recovery.

 

I learned about Jesus Christ through CR and I realized that He loves and forgives me. When I heard this I was over-joyed because I needed to know that somebody loved me despite all of the mistakes I had made in the past.  CR has taught me how to forgive others and has helped me to accept the support from my fellow inmates. I make mistakes but now I am able to receive encouragement and love from those around me. They encourage me not to give up when I go through trials.

Step 6 touched me in particular as I needed to change my character defects. I was tired of the way that I had been living and I felt that I couldn’t go on alone. I asked God to change my way of thinking and it has happened.  I am able to listen and understand others without judging.  I am able to forgive and have let go of any resentment that had been in my heart. I am also able to ask for forgiveness to those whom I have harmed or hurt. 

One of the benefits of going through the CR program is that I have a feeling of peace in my life. I am free of the burdens of my past and it no longer haunts me. I am free!  Now I can encourage others that God loves them and wants to release them of their burdens but it can only be achieved by having a relationship with Him.

Thank You and God Bless.

*all names have been changed to protect their identity*

Road to Recovery December Newsletter

Dear Partners in Ministry,

This time of year always makes me look back and think about all that God has done. The testimonies that we continue to hear from people receiving healing from their hurts, habits and hang ups ...

Oh how faithful He has been!

 

It is my prayer that you will meet with our Wonderful Counselor and walk beside Him as we enter into 2016.

Your sister in Christ, Jody

 

A Testimony from Celebrate Recovery: Jolene

My name is Jolene and I am a faithful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with fear and codependency.  I grew up in a home where physical and verbal abuse was very much a part of life. My dad became an alcoholic and it was my responsibility to fix everything before he got home. Before the age of 11 I had tried to commit suicide three times. My family and I heard the Gospel and received Christ as our Savior, but a few months later everything went back to “normal”. From ages 12 - 16 I tried to find my value in relationships and was rarely without a boyfriend; they convinced me that I had no value.  At age 16, I returned to God, humiliated.  He accepted me with open arms and gave me a very special task – to be a missionary.  I started going on mission trips each year and in that found my value – in fixing the world. At age 23, I reconnected with one of my old boyfriends.  Despite the fact that he had a fiery temper and was addicted to pornography, I married him convinced that I could fix him. When fixing him didn’t work, I became his scolding mother and he turned violent.
I found my way back to Jesus and started attending a program similar to Celebrate Recovery. I was able to admit that I could not fix everything on my own. I needed God. I learned that codependency was ruining my life and I learned how to forgive those who had harmed me. I learned that my value did not come from men or from serving God, but it came from God Himself simply because He loves me.   With this I left for Tijuana to serve as a missionary.  God continued His work in my life as I served women and children with similar backgrounds as mine.  I found myself in another bad relationship; I was able to escape although I was a mess and fear consumed me. This situation allowed me to get involved in Celebrate Recovery where I learned that recovery isn’t an event but a process, a lifestyle. Now I have victory over fear and codependency.  I have learned to depend 100% on God.  I have healthy relationships; I recognize codependent situations and I flee from them.  Instead of fear, I have the peace of God that passes all understanding. God is restoring me and as it says in Isaiah 61:3, He’s giving me “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”     

Thank you for letting me share.                                     

*names have been changed to protect their identity*

 God is doing amazing things in Mexico.  On October 17th we had our first Celebrate Recovery Information Seminar.  Many pastors and church leaders came showing interest in bringing the Celebrate Recovery Step Studies to their own church bodies.
We have one church trained and three more that are in the training process so that they can offer the CR Step Studies to their congregations. 

 

 We believe that God desires to bring hope to the people of Mexico.  He sees the depth of their suffering, and He has not turned a deaf ear to their cries to be released from the cycles of violence, abuse, depression, victimization, neglect, poverty and hopelessness.

 

  YUGO Ministries has a team of women that have been bringing the Celebrate Recovery Step Studies into the Ensenada Prison for the past 6 ½ years.  The Recovery Ministry team uses the Celebrate Recovery materials as a means to bring healing and hope to the women in the prison.  

We believe the Celebrate Recovery program can be used as a tool to help transform Mexico into a nation filled with the hope of Jesus Christ.

 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

~ That God would continue to provide for the financial needs of the ministry by raising up more monthly supporters.

~ Please pray for the 3 churches which we are currently training to provide the Step Studies to their congregation that they would capture the vision of Celebrate Recovery and that growth and healing would happen.

~ More leaders and facilitators are needed to provide the proper care and attention to those who come to us seeking assistance.

 

 

Just 2 weeks remain
to make your tax-deductible
donation for 2015.

Your donations make the work of the
Recovery Ministry possible.

If you feel that God is calling you to come along-side the Recovery Ministry please go to www.yugo.org/giving; this link will take you to the YUGO Ministries website where you can join our team online - please indicate RECOVERY MINISTRY when donating.  If you have any questions regarding the donation process please contact us. 

 

From our hearts to yours we say thank you for your continued love and support.
May our Everlasting Father bless you during this season of Celebration.

The Recovery Team  

 

 

A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the Inside: Natasha

My name is Natasha and I am a believer in recovery.  I struggle with my character.  Emptiness was what filled my life before I started the recovery process.  I was irresponsible.  My attitude towards others depended on who they were and what I needed – this was my attitude toward God as well. I was rude when I needed to be and good when I wanted to be.  When I abandoned my children to be fully involved in a lifestyle of being with multiple men was the lowest point in my life. This lifestyle is what brought me to prison.

A friend told me about the CR program brought to us by YUGO; it was in joining this group that I came to know God.  With my relationship in Him growing I feel confident and protected.  Through CR I have learned to recognize my mistakes and through God I receive guidance for my life. I am learning how to treat others as I would want to be treated. Everything has changed.  Now I can’t go to sleep without talking to Him first.  My trust is in God alone.

One of the benefits of being a part of the CR Program is that I feel better about myself and I have a place where I can open up and share what is on my heart. My life has begun to change and now I have the opportunity to share it with the other women here and with my family.

*names have been changed to protect their identity*

A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the inside: Mari

My name is Mari and I am a believer who struggles with anger. My life before recovery was horrible; I had no fear of doing bad things. Alcohol and drugs were a constant struggle for me. Needless to say I didn’t know God nor was I looking for him. The lowest point in my life was when I started selling drugs; this is how I ended up in prison.

One day I was invited to the YUGO Bible study. I went because I wanted to know what it was all about. The women that attended were different and they spoke very highly of the program.

Now I have a growing relationship with Christ. The Celebrate Recovery Program has helped to empty myself of the resentment that I was keeping bottled up inside of me.   

James 5:16 says Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that 

you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Gone is the anger and rage and in its place is compassion for my fellow inmates. I have an 

interest in what is happening in the lives of those around me; this is all part of the work that God has done in my life. I depend on Jesus to help me control these feelings so that I don’t go back to being an angry person again.  Walking with God has totally changed my life. I feel safe and my trust is in Him alone. With this confidence I can encourage and invite others to get involved in the CR program.

Thank you for letting me share.

Mari

*names have been changed to protect their identity*

A testimony from one of "Our Girls" on the inside: Jane

My name is Jane and I am a believer in recovery from drug addiction, guilt and promiscuity. Before starting the recovery process my life was empty; it revolved around drugs and men. I remember hiding all my feelings behind my makeup. I was constantly searching of something to fill me, but I never found it. Drugs and prostitution took over my life. In my life I had no room and no time for God. The only things that mattered were my addictions; I was rude, selfish and irresponsible.

I was invited to attend the CR program and soon after my rebellion and immaturity was made clear to me. I was 18 years old and had a lot to learn.

Jesus Christ now lives in my heart and I have a growing relationship with him. I am learning every day to rely on him in every moment.  Thanks to the CR program I am working on my character defects and I know that I am improving. I know that I cannot do this on my own but only by God’s power am I able to make the changes I need to make.

Principle 5 is very special to me, it says: “Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects.”  When I voluntarily submit to Him and recognize that I can do nothing without Him, only then am I able to change. My life is different now. I love my fellow inmates, I have learned to listen without judging and I can give a word of encouragement to those who are feeling discouraged.

The drug addiction and promiscuity are behind me but there are days when I still struggle with my thoughts.  I struggle because I am still growing.  But with God’s help I claim Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The CR program has been a great blessing to my life. God has filled my life with peace, He is gradually restoring broken relationships and I am seeing that God’s love is not just for me but it’s for my family too. I love that I get to share the good news with others. I love that I get to encourage others and invite them to the CR Program.

Thank you for letting me share and God bless you.
 

*all names have been changed to protect their identities.*