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

SHARLENE'S TESTIMONY

My name is Sharlene and I am a believer in recovery struggling with the old me because I want to be a new being.

My life before recovery was difficult, I did not appreciate the gift that life gave me; I did not value my life as I should have and did not recognize the fears of my heart. In other words, I was the kind of person that walked without faith, I did not understand many things in life and I could not express my feelings. My relationship with God in that time was distant and I only cried out to him when I was in trouble.
I kept others at a distance and I treated others the way they treated me. The lowest point in my life came when I started using drugs and I allowed someone to physically abuse me. Because  of the mess that my life had become I ended up in prison.

One day I heard someone speaking about the Celebrate Recovery program and I signed up.  Since I’ve started working on the Steps and Principles of the program I’ve grown in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ve learned how to pray.  CR has helped me to become a better person, allowed me to recognize my fears and insecurities. I’m no longer in denial. Since I started working on my recovery I find it easier to communicate with others and I am able to confidently share about God’s truth and what He has done in my life.  I am learning to love others in the same way that God loves me. My life has changed completely.  I know that God is with me all the time and I am convinced that my strength comes from Him. I appreciate what is going on in my life now and I am able to encourage others to give their lives to God.

**names have been changed to protect identity**

Road to Recovery, Fourth Edition

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You in the next.  Amen

 

 

On May 25th we went into the Ensenada Women's Prison with the Baker family.  Not only were we able to share the Word of God, we also had the opportunity to do some creating with "Our Girls" on the inside with this awesome new craft.  Who would have thought rolling little pieces of paper could turn into something so beautiful.

  

Celebrate Recovery in Canada:

Have you ever been an answer to prayer?

     My introduction to Celebrate Recovery and Prison Ministry began with a short term missions trip in July 2014. I felt called to join our church team and headed to Mexico to build houses.
     I volunteered to be a part of the team that went into the prison; it was their Celebrate Recovery Graduation Day and I was asked to share my testimony. I felt safe and accepted at the Ensenada Prison by the “Ladies on the inside".  A stirring in my heart started.
     Returning to Canada I spent much time in prayer; I had never considered prison ministry before. I told my sister-in-law that I was interested in prison ministry, she gave me the name of a lady to connect with.  Volunteer training took place and I became a co-mentor with a young Bible College student, Kristen. 'Triangles' was the name of the program where two Christian ladies come alongside an inmate and disciple her.  We discipled our girl from October until January - she was paroled to another city. I felt God moving me in the direction of Celebrate Recovery as I remembered how impacting it was for the Mexican ladies. I found a local church who offered the CR program and started attending.

One night I mentioned the reason why I was attending, not only to grow personally but also to observe how CR was run so that Kristen and I could bring it into the prison.  A lady quickly handed me a note and said to meet her later on.  She had been praying for two people to lead CR at the minimum security prison. PRAYER ANSWERED!

     I now serve as a co-facilitator of Celebrate Recovery in the minimum security prison. The joy I feel at the growth I see in our girls is hard to contain.
Thank you for letting me share.
Sherry 

A word about Donating Items:

Did you know that the Mexican prison does not supply any personal items such as shampoo, toilet paper and deodorant to the inmates?
Are you interested in helping to meet their needs?
We have an Amazon Wish List where you can go online and purchase items. These items will be sent directly to our National City office which is right across the border from us.  This means that your donated items will be placed into the hands of those that need them quickly. It also means that you may go shopping whenever it is convenient for you.   

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

~ protection over our Prison Ministry Team as they minister every week.
~ protection over the facilitators in Celebrate Recovery as they meet with their small groups.
~ strength for "Our Girls" on the inside as they grow in their walk with the Lord
~ that God would raise up financial supporters for the Recovery Ministry.
~ continued growth in the girls that Sherry meets with every week.

And my God shall supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19 

 

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

My name is Laura and I am a believer in Jesus who struggles with having a hard heart. My life before Christ was empty; I had no interest in knowing God. I lived in sin and the only thing that mattered to me was hurting others and using drugs. I isolated myself from the people I loved and I also cause much harm to my children. I was arrogant, full of pride and very hurtful. The lowest point in my life came when I started mistreating my children and then I got them involved in the bad things that I was doing. That’s what life was like when I came to prison. One day somebody shared with me about the Celebrate Recovery Program that when my recovery began. Now that I have a relationship with Jesus Christ I can tell you that there have been changes in my life. God gave me the grace to change; in my own strength this would have been impossible to achieve. With Jesus Christ and the help of Celebrate Recovery I have been able to gradually let go of the things that hindered my freedom. I have learned how to talk about my problems and how to trust others. I am able to interact with other people in a positive way and treat others with respect and love. I am also able to receive love and respect from others. Best of all, I have discovered and experienced true love, the love of God.

 

Today I am free of addictions, free of anger, resentment and evil thoughts. I know that by the grace of God I can say that I will not go back to being the woman I was before. I have learned to forgive and to ask for forgiveness when I hurt someone. Change was only possible after I gave God the chance to guide my life.  My life is so different now that God is in control. I love Him with all of my heart and day after day I put everything in his hands; my relationship with Him grows daily. I like to encourage others with what God has done in my life and I feel the responsibility to reflect what God has done in my life through my behavior and attitude towards the inmates and authorities here in prison. My desire now is to live for the glory of God.  

  

Thank you for letting me share.  God bless!

**names have been changed to protect identity**

Road to Recovery, Third Edition

Greetings to our Partners in Ministry.

In the book, Life's Healing Choices - Freedom from your Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits by John Baker, chapter 5 talks about why we make the choices that we make.  We can't blame everything on our DNA or life circumstances. You can't go back and change who your parents are or the environment that you grew up in. But you can, with God's power, change the choices you make today.  We need to change our thinking. We need to change what we grasp onto. Choose God; He loves you too much to leave you the way you are.
If God is going to work in my life then He needs room to move; the question is, am I going to give God the room that He needs to do His work in my life or am I going to keep hanging on to the stuff of the past?

Your Sister in Christ,
Jody

January 2015 was the 1st anniversary of having Celebrate Recovery in Rosarito, Mexico.  We had a movie night filled with laughter, popcorn and drinks. Martha shared her testimony, cake was consumed ... a lot of cake was consumed and a good time was had by all.

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

While discussing the CR lesson about DAILY INVENTORY with one of “Our Girls” inside the prison, Emily shared how God, through the CR Program, has helped her to overcome her bad reactions and attitudes. An inmate accused her of doing something really bad and went to the Comandante Ingrid, the Officer in Charge. Comandante Ingrid was going to discipline her for something she did not do. This was Emily’s chance to reveal the changes in her life; this was her time to put into practice what she had been learning in Celebrate Recovery. She brought her situation before God and asked Him to help her not to react in anger or vengeance against the inmate causing all of the problems. She was very upset but allowed God to work in her. With God’s help she did not react the way she would have in the past.  She did not react the way her flesh wanted to react against the injustice. With certainty in her heart she is able to say that day by day she is changing. Thanks be to God for using the CR Program to change Emily and so many others.

**names have been changed to protect identity**

 

Graduation Day!

In March we will be having our prison Celebrate Recovery graduation. 30 gift bags have been put together for this very special day.  Please be praying for each of our girls as they take what they have learned and apply it to their lives. Please also be praying for the new ladies that will be starting the program.

 

Gift bag items include:

1 roll of toilet paper, 1 deodorant, 2 scoops of laundry soap, 1 bar soap, 

10 feminine pads, 1 toothbrush, 1 tooth paste, 1 shampoo

A word about Donating Items:

Did you know that the Mexican prison does not supply any personal items such as shampoo, toilet paper and deodorant to the inmates?

Are you interested in helping to meet their needs?

We have an Amazon Wish List where you can go online and purchase items. These items will be sent directly to our National City office which is right across the border from us.  This means that your donated items will be placed into the hands of those that need them quickly. It also means that you may go shopping whenever it is convenient for you. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

~ strength for our girls on the inside as they grow in their walk with the Lord - that they would walk away from the temptation of responding in the flesh and choose to respond with the Fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 
Galatians 5:22-23  

~ protection over our Prison Ministry Team as they minister to our girls every week.
~ protection over the facilitators in Celebrate Recovery as they meet with their small groups.

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3

~ that God would raise up financial supporters for the Recovery Ministry.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

~that each one of us would be vigilant in putting the full armor of God on every morning.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Ephesians 6:10-13