Leading Worship

Several years ago I led worship at a women's retreat hosted by an association of churches to which our church here in Mexico belonged. At that retreat I met another young woman, Irma. She and I "happened" to be in the same small group for the weekend. She was greatly impacted as I shared the vision that the Lord had given us for Refuge Ranch, as she had always had the dream to have a home for children needing a home. She had already felt drawn to the name "The Refuge" for such a place. So, when she heard our vision and that the name of our home was "Refuge Ranch" it seemed to be the Lord drawing us to one another.

That weekend has led to a beautiful friendship between Irma and our family throughout the last three or four years. Irma visits our family every couple of months here at Refuge Ranch. She always brings an entourage of people with her - Christian friends and family and even non-Christian friends from work so that they may see and hear of God's real love. She brings cakes to celebrate whatever birthdays have passed since he r last visit. One of Irma's best friend does professional clowning so, many times, we get our own private clown show! We always have a rousing soccer game, great food and the group always leaves lots of non-perishable items like canned food, shampoo, toilet paper, etc. It is one day that my cheeks always hurt from laughing and smiling so much!
This past year, Irma wrote a book that she has self-published, as she continues to look for a bonified publisher to publish the book. It is a basic Christian living book that is simple, yet profound, and written from the heart, Biblically-based, yet comes out of Irma's personal experiences with the Lord. I had the privilege of writing the forward for the book, which was actually published on the outside of the back cover.

Irma and I with her book

Several weeks ago, Irma held a book dedication service at her hom e church and asked the kids and I to lead worship for the service! What a joy, honor, privilege and opportunity! We spent months practicing at home and even gave the Mayfair Plymouth work team a preview as a dress rehearsal the night before the service, which was held on the day that the work team flew back to the U.S.

There are not enough or the right words to express what it was like to lead worship alongside my children. Actually, our rehearsals at home were of even greater impact on my life because I was relaxed enough to fully contemplate what this meant - my children and I worshiping our Heavenly Father together: children, of whom several, would have never known who God was if He hadn't brought them, in His mercy, to our family; children who have been abused, abandoned and mistreated and now worship their Savior; children whose talents had been hidden and buried, but could now shine in all their glory - Josiah on the drums, Angie on guitar, Diana on the violin and the others singing! May we continue to declare His praises both now and throughout eternity!

Josiah on drums, Diana and Fidel singing. Diana also played the violin.

Martha and Erika singing.

Jocelin and Martita singing

Angie on guitar and vocals, along with Lolis singing

Julie on keyboard

Josiah on the drums

The entire group running through things one more time before the service began.

"In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever."
Psalm 33:8