Fishers of Men Ministries needs a new set of wheels!  We currently have a 1996, 15 passenger van with over 250,000 miles on it that provides transportation for both the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades and our family here at Refuge Ranch.  Actually, that vehicle is in such poor condition that we are not even using it at this moment!  Currently, a borrowed 1997 van provides transportation for both the crusades and the family.

Our current van would require a new transmission as well as other mechanical repairs in order to make it safe enough to trust with the lives of our children and crusade volunteers.  Last month, I had to stop several times on the way home from church to add transmission fluid to the van just to get home.  The year and condition of the vehicle just does not make it a wise choice to keep pouring financial resources into it just to keep it running!

As you have realized, we use one passenger vehicle to cover both the needs of the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades, as well as the family here at Refuge Ranch.  Depending on where the Lord has called us to go, the crusade team alone travels an average of 12,000 miles a year, besides the miles driven to meet the needs of the family at Refuge Ranch.

Therefore, Fishers of Men is seeking to purchase a new, 19 passenger, Mercedes Benz Sprinter passenger van.

• This vehicle would provide the strength needed to carry our crusade volunteers to the towns and villages to which the Lord is calling us to in 2018, and beyond.  Strength for trips that require strenuous long-haul driving, mountain curves and even dirt roads with more potholes than road.

• This vehicle would provide the safety needed (individual seatbelts for all passengers, as well as a vehicle that will not breakdown in the middle of nowhere) to trust with the lives of not only our crusade volunteers, who leave their families on a regular basis to serve the Lord, but also with the lives of our children here at Refuge Ranch, and those who are yet to form part of our family.

• This vehicle would provide the legality required to assure that Fishers of Men meets all government stipulations regarding the transportation of personnel, since the Sprinter is the only vehicle recognized by the Mexican government to meet the standards set for such use.

If we divide the cost of such a vehicle by its expected usage over the next 5 years, thereby still retaining resale value that would allow Fishers of Men to maintain using top quality vehicles to transport its most precious resource and responsibility, its people, the cost comes out to only $1.00 per mile to provide the ministry with new, safe, legal and trustworthy transportation!

That means that:

• for only $63 you sponsor one round trip for our family to attend church on Sunday morning
• your $194 donation provides the mileage required to prepare for a crusade as we purchase supplies and pick up donations around the Mexico City area
• $96 supplies the mileage for an average family outing
• In return for your sacrifice of $1500 you will have provided transportation for our volunteers for an entire crusade!
• For every dollar you give YOU LITERALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

You may give your designated donation to “TRANSPORTATION” online on our website:

www.fishersofmenmexico.org

Or mail your donation, marked “TRANSPORTATION” to:
Fishers of Men
P.O. Box 940
Shelbyville, IN 46176

Thank you so much for your support and generosity!

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Greetings from Refuge Ranch here in Central Mexico….my home and the center of Fishers of Men Ministries!

I never imagined that I would one day sit down to write a blog/letter/post such as this, but the Lord knew and is in our midst;  never-changing, always redeeming, never leaving and always loving.

We are only a few days away from the one year anniversary of my husband, Victor Zaragoza’s, agreeing to go to the United States at the request of a group of five godly men in order to spend, at that point, an undetermined amount of time in the United States for counseling and restoration for habitual sins that were affecting our marriage, family and ministry and had not found healing through less extreme means.

After six months of therapy and discipleship, Victor returned to Mexico this past April, yet not to our family nor to the ministry, as time was needed to give him the opportunity to live out in tangible ways what we hoped had been accomplished in his heart and mind during his stay in the U.S.

Sadly, now, six months later, a lack of fruit of repentance, sufficiently changed attitudes and transformed behaviors has revealed Victor’s continuing choice to not submit to the Lord’s leadership in his life. 

Therefore, I have made the decision to get a divorce, with the understanding of my Pastors and family that this is a necessary step, and with the permission granted by God’s Word, thereby ending our 18-year marriage, much of which was marked by abusive behaviors that placed both myself, our children and the ministry in spiritual, emotional and physical danger.

Those who know me, know that such a decision was only reached after gut-wrenching prayer, fasting, consideration, godly counsel from my pastors, leaders and family, and after years of marriage counseling, waiting, and forgiving time and again while hoping for a transformation.

I would ask for your fervent prayers for myself, my children and grandchildren as we seek the Lord’s comfort, healing and restoration.  And, of course, continue to pray for Victor.

I am fully committed to continue to carry out the Lord’s good will and work through Fishers of Men Ministries, both the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades and Refuge Ranch.  I felt the Lord’s call on my life at age 13 and specifically to Mexico at the age of 16, much before meeting Victor and becoming husband and wife.  Therefore, my call and commitment to the Lord and, specifically, to His work in Mexico through Fishers of Men remains steady, firm and lifelong.  The Lord has provided an incredible staff at Refuge Ranch, excellent leadership for the crusades, a Board of Directors and passionate volunteers, as well as each of you, to continue to grow and minister His love and hope to Mexico!

In order to clarify, a daughter organization grew out of Fishers of Men several years ago here in Mexico.  A body of believers began Fishers of Men Pacific (Pescadores de Hombres Pacifico) following the pattern of our Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades.  While we share a common love for Christ and for spreading the Gospel, as well as a very similar style of ministry and nearly identical logos, we are independent organizations and do not share leadership nor finances.  Victor has recently been involved with their organization, so I find it necessary to explain that any communication from him or photos that appear to be related to Fishers of Men MEXICO is not so.  He is no longer associated with Fishers of Men Ministries, commonly known here as Fishers of Men Mexico. 

Thank you for your continued prayers for the ministry and, especially, for your continued and generous financial support during this difficult and tumultuous time.  Such support allows me to concentrate on loving my children through these days, as well as leading the ministry and its volunteers.

Following Christ in a sinful world where He lovingly allows each of us to decide whether we want to live in accordance with His will and way or not, does not always pan out the way we had expected.  My heart is grieving, the tears are many and frequent, the hurt is oh so real, but I choose to trust daily that the reality of Christ’s love and Word is even more real! 

May you find, in the midst of your own challenges and turmoil, the same hope, security and love that I have found through God’s Word expressed through the prophet Isaiah when he wrote:

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
… Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you.” Isaiah 43:1-4

Lastly, I would request that any contact with my children be limited to expressions of support and care and that any questions regarding what I have shared here be directed to me.  Thank you!

In Christ,

Julie

Zaragoza Family Update

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you may recall, last October a team of five Godly men, composed of Pastor Kirk Hanger (the founding pastor of our church here in Mexico), Pastor Ruben Bonilla (our current pastor), Pastor Dave Claassen, Elder Dan Claassen and Elder Adrian Tovar, formed an intervention team that confronted Victor Zaragoza with unrepentant sin present in his life and encouraged him to spend a time of restoration in the United States, under the leadership of Pastor Kirk and his wife, Marilyn, while working with a Christian therapist. 

Victor’s visa allowed him to stay a maximum of six months, which has now expired.  Therefore, he returned to Mexico on Monday, April 24^th, where the restoration process continues.

As a part of this process, Victor is not living at the Ranch, but rather with his parents, while maintaining communication and visitation with the children.  He will also not be attending our same church.

As far as the crusade ministry, according to the decision of the Fishers of Men Board of Directors and the intervention team, Victor has agreed to not be in charge of nor participate in the crusades.  Adrian Tovar will continue to lead that portion of the ministry.

So, Julie Zaragoza, under the leadership of the Fishers of Men Board of Directors, now holds the position of General Director of Fishers of Men Ministries, Inc., which includes both Refuge Ranch and the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades, with Adrian Tovar serving as the Crusade Coordinator.

We thank the Lord that in these last 6 months, both ministries of Fishers of Men have continued to fulfill God’s plans and purposes!  At Refuge Ranch, the construction of the new main house continues to move forward!  In the last 6 months, we have poured over 60 columns and the entire first floor and are now working on all of the first floor headers!  Of course, the focus of Refuge Ranch is not on building a house, but the lives of our children.  Each of the 13 children at home, and the four children that live elsewhere, continue to grow, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually!  As for the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades, we finished out the 2016 calendar as planned and, by God’s grace so far in 2017, we have held five crusades and a two day volunteer training retreat.

We continue asking for your prayers for our family, for Victor, and for the ministry as we walk through this next stage of life, seeking the Lord’s full restoration in each of our lives, in our family, and His continued grace and power in the ministry!

In Christ,

Julie Zaragoza – Fishers of Men General Director

Bob Siler – Fishers of Men Board President

Don Current II – Fishers of Men Board Treasurer

Ashleigh Weis – Fishers of Men Board Secretary

Jen Yoder – Fishers of Men Board Member

January Fishers of Men Photo Album

January Fishers of Men
Photo Album

The year started out with a wonderful work team, like nearly every year, from Blooming Glenn Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania.  Fishers of Men Board Member and dear friend of the family, Jen, organizes the team each year and Dave Moyer, with his incredible earth moving equipment, transforms the place!  This team does more in one week than what we could do in 6 months on our own!

The team poured the entire first floor of the main house!

A view of the entire work site.

The entire floor was poured using two hand-fed gas powered mixers.

Bucket after bucket after bucket after bucket...(you get the idea)
of gravel!

Adrian and Joseline

Cement bags, cement bags and more cement bags!

Our Fidel, Leo and Joseline with Beth, one of the team leaders

Leveling the cement

The view of the new house with the floor partially poured and
the excavating equipment working on the drain system.

David and Dave...a blessing each January with his giant earth moving equipment!

Hammering away!  If there is something we've got at the ranch....it's rock!

And then to move the dirt and rocks!

Working on the drain system.

The relationships developed, around a gravel pile or a card game,
are what makes these times so rich!

Jen, work team leader, Fishers of Men Board Member,
and dearly beloved friend of our family, with our eldest, Angie

Our son, Miguel, with Josh...friends are the best!

Carolina having fun with Josh!

Jen always lovingly purchases flowers for Danny's grave
and accompanies us there to remember.

 On January 21, Fishers of Men held the first Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusade of the year, a local one day crusade at our church, Peace Christian Church.  During the day of work, 213 attentions were given and 22 individuals prayed to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The crusade team

Adrian, our crusade coordinator, leading morning devotions.

Vero leading worship during devotions with Joel and our son, Leo.

The registration area.

Nursing

General Medicine

Dentistry

Dentistry

Cleaning dental instruments

Massage therapy

Our daughter, Ana, sorting medicine.

Hair cuts with evangelism

Evangelism

An aerial view of the sanctuary doubling as the crusade site.

I, Julie, had the privilege of working in children's ministry.

These kids LOVED playing with the flannel board after we were done with the lesson.

Working the puppets.

 

Clowning

Handing out Operation Christmas Child Boxes from Samaritan's Purse

Then, on January 28th, we had the enormous joy and privilege of celebrating the 15th birthday of our daughter, Joseline.  While she has chosen to take a trip with me as her gift, which we will go on later this spring, we had a special gathering of friends and family at the Ranch to celebrate her life on her birthday!  And quite the celebration it was!  Thank you, Jesus!

Joseline and Adrian

The worship service 

Our beautiful daughter, Joseline

Vero sharing a wonderful message from God's Word!

The fifteenth birthday celebration at Refuge Ranch.

The most important people in Joseline's life praying a blessing over here:
Myself (Julie);  Mireya (her teacher) and her husband, Jorge; Pastor Ruben and Ely;
Vero and Adrian; Isma and Mari (her youth leaders)

My precious, precious daughter!

Leading worship

Joseline and her candy bar

Me and (most) of my kids!

Adrian, Joseline, Isaac and Vero

Cake!!!!