How to have a Prodigal Child

We all love the story of the prodigal son that Jesus tells in Luke chapter 15!  What a story of rebellion and then redemption!  What a story of hope and happy endings!  Well, life has recently prompted me to ponder a bit more about the prodigal.

Leo and I at one of his games

A few weeks ago, I faced a parenting situation that required wisdom, insight and determination, like most all situations that we face as fathers and mothers!  Two of my teenage boys, Leo, age 17, and Miguel, age 15, also biological siblings, had made some unwise decisions while at a national soccer tournament with their team.  As occurs on many occasions, a bad decision is rarely an isolated decision, but actually just one more bad decision in a rather long line of bad decisions.  There comes a time, along that line of bad decisions, where decisive action must be taken.  That time had arrived. 

As a result of the most recent bad decision, I made the determination to pull them out of soccer, explaining that the development of their integrity and character carried much more weight and importance than the development of their soccer skills.  In fact, the decisions they had been making had the potential to completely ruin their hopes and dreams of moving up in the soccer world, so to protect those dreams and ambitions, this lesson needed to be learned NOW.

Miguel enjoying vacation

Not surprisingly, their perspective of the situation and my perspective did not match.  In reaction to my decision to make them step back from soccer for a time, Leo and Miguel decided to return to their biological mother. 

Leo and Miguel, as well as their three siblings, Fatima, Carolina and David, became my children in February of 2011, when their grandmother, who had raised them up to that point, needed a loving and healthy home where they could be nurtured.  She has remained an important part of their lives and is just as devastated as I regarding their decision.

So, after loving and raising them for over 8 years, since they were 9 and 7 years old, respectively, and within less than 48 hours of making their decision, Leo and Miguel left our home….but never our hearts!

After their leaving, I really wanted to sit down with the Dad of the prodigal son in Luke 15 for a long cup of coffee to share our woes (Look at that family with the obedient and happy teenagers!), our worries (What kind of bad decisions are they going to continue to make?), our wonderings (What should I have done differently?  Anything?  When?). 

So, I did just that, although it was a rather one-sided conversation, with his insights limited to those placed on paper by Luke’s pen.  I’ll let you in on some of the musings that have come out of our time together, prodigal Dad and me.

Soon into the conversation, I realized that what I love about the story….is the ending!  In fact, I began talking about the end of the story first, when prodigal Dad reminded me that every story with an ending had a beginning…and probably a beginning further back than you realize at the moment.

The day that younger son demanded his inheritance, prodigal Dad assured me, was not the first day that conflict had occurred, nor that a hard heart and pride had been present in the home and conversation.  It was simply the day in which Dad determined that it was time to let go…and let God…and let life.

There can no be no ending without a beginning.  There can be no prodigal coming home without a leaving first.

So, the first step in having a prodigal child….is knowing when to let him or her go!

Throughout our conversation, I kept wanting to jump forward to the end.  Let’s get to the happy part!  To the resolved part!  But, prodigal Dad just kept bringing me back to the beginning, which I was coming to realize was really the middle, of the story.  He reminded me that the day his son left home, inheritance in hand, he did not know if he would ever see him again!  At the beginning, in the middle, we don’t know the end!

Only once in my life have I jumped to the end of a novel because I simply could not wait to find out how all the unresolved issues present in the current chapter would find resolution.  That move ruined the book!  I finished it out of sheer determination…and determined to never make that impatient move again!

We might not know the end at the beginning, but trying to jump to the end without going through the middle just won’t work!

In the middle, part of Prodigal is waiting.

Step two in having a prodigal child….The Wait… a waiting that you do not know if or when it will ever end.  You just wait.

So, how do you wait well?

You wait, while preparing for your part in the end.  Certainly, it is an end that you do not know if or when it will ever arrive, but you better start getting ready in case it does! 

A Prodigal Parent’s heart always wants and waits for the Prodigal to come back, but do we prepare for his or her return?

The amount of pain, rebellion, disrespect, blindness, lack of gratitude, selfishness and anger present at the moment of a prodigal’s parting does little to prepare the compassionate heart needed at the time of the return. 

The Waiting can provide the space to begin to heal, forgive and prepare to love anew.

I’ve done “Prodigal returns”.  Leo and Miguel’s younger sister, Carolina, returned to their biological mother in August of 2017.  She came back home this past February.  She is all the essence of Carolina, my constant shadow, the always-informed member of our family, but with a much softer heart and one who now loves hugs!  A true Prodigal return requires repentance on the part of the Prodigal and forgiveness on the part of the Parent.

Carolina and I after her return home :-)

As our conversation continued, I really wanted to know more from Prodigal Dad about the return: his other son, how to guide and parent post-prodigal, how to live out forgiveness on a daily basis….but he had a party to get back to!

Step three in parenting a prodigal…pray for a party!  In faith, and in your heart, prepare for a party!

Before prodigal Dad left for the party, he reminded me of one last Truth:  He is actually my Father and I am the Prodigal.  So, as I love children with the potential of being Prodigals, I am to love them as my Heavenly Father has loved me….full of loving limits and limitless mercy when encountering a repentant heart.

So, with these, Leo and Miguel, we are in step two….The Wait.  Please wait with me as we pray for a party!  May the Lord soften hearts and open eyes to Truth!

Welcome to Mexico, Darrel!

Today's blog post is written by a Godly young man, Darrel Current.  You will be hearing more from Darrel in the coming weeks and months for several reasons.  First of all, he is currently living and serving at Refuge Ranch until the end of July!  We are blessed to have his help in school and especially, like today, with the area of communications.  Secondly, he is also our youngest member of the Fishers of Men Board of Directors.  Since a very young age, Darrel has been involved in Fishers of Men, having already served at the Ranch on mission trips with his family.  Darrel's father, Don Current, is the Fishers of Men treasurer and his mom, Dyan, passionately shares about what God is doing in and through Fishers of Men with anybody who will listen!  I know you will enjoy Darrel's perspective on life with Jesus at Refuge Ranch!

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been here a week!  Although my days have been busy, they’ve been filled with adventure and family, so I’ve enjoyed every day.  Last I left you, I was on my way to Mexico city preparing to begin a whole new adventure.  Well, that adventure has begun and I have much to tell, so sit back and enjoy the tale of my week!


After I landed in Mexico City, I found my way to the curb to be picked up after a bit of people watching.  Especially when there’s traffic, it can be quite the drive from the airport back to the Ranch.  If you’ve ever been to a foreign country (non-first world), you know that driving is always an experience.  Personally, I love it.  Watching the vehicles flow adeptly through the streets so closely together without crashing is always fun for me.


Thursday, my first full day there, was spent relaxing from travel and adjusting to my new life at the Ranch.  My Mexico siblings slowly became more talkative as the day went on, although they still prefer to talk in Spanish rather than use the English they’ve been learning.


The next day I got up and ate breakfast (prepared by the wonderful chef Rosa) before starting a day of blog writing and helping the kids with their school.  I’ve discovered I will be a lot busier than I had thought here, which thrills me.  I didn’t want to be simply a guest here, so I’m glad I have plenty to keep me busy.


Sunday was a fun day.  Most of us kids (other than those who are too young or busy with other events) went to youth group, which takes up most of the day here.  To be fair, that’s partly because the church is anywhere from one to two and a half hours away depending on traffic.  Since only the kids need to be there, Julie (founder of FOM) drops us off at the bus stop to take public transportation.  Talk about fun!  I love riding the busses (whether the big ones or smaller public transports) around and staring out my window at all the shops, cars, and people nearby.

Both youth group and church the next day proved to be excellent opportunities to absorb more of the language, which I’m learning slowly and steadily!  It was fun to hang out with a group of people my age who I can laugh and joke along with even though we don’t speak the same language.

Church on Sunday has to be one of my favorite things about Mexico and other countries in general.  The service was two and a half hours of pure joy.  We sang our hearts out, listened to the pastor give an amazing sermon (which I managed to catch parts of) and partook in communion together.  Words cannot describe how wonderful it is to hear Christ worshipped in another language.  Although you may not understand all the words, the joy is tangible.

Afterward, we share a meal provided by either the worship team or children’s ministry.  I’ve never had food there that I didn’t like and getting another chance to hang out with my Mexico siblings and the other youth is always a great time.  We stayed for a while, so I wandered out of the church compound (most properties in Mexican cities are walled in with a courtyard inside the gate) with some of the kids.  I say kids but really they’re my age.  Can we really be considered kids?  Anyway, we walked around for a bit and I bought some amazing sweet bread called a concha.  It only cost about 20 US cents!  Not bad!  That’s another of my favorite things about Mexico, all the little street shops with any food you can imagine.  I forgot to take pictures of my Sunday this week but in the future, I’ll try to remember to snap a few.

Most evenings here are spent hanging out with the family playing games, telling stories, and laughing a good bit.  So far my time here has been amazing.  Not that I expected anything different.  I’ve always felt much more at home out of the United States than I do in it, although I must admit that I miss my family there.  Aside from that, I’d be fine living in places like this forever, a fact I’ve reminded my mom of on multiple occasions.

While God doesn’t call everyone overseas, I know He’s certainly called me.  There’s so much to do with our time here on earth, and I’d much rather spend it sharing the Joy I’ve found with others than remaining comfortably in a familiar place.  Wherever God has called you to serve, are you doing it?  Are you spending the time God has given you wisely?  Decades from now when I look back at my short trip to Mexico, I pray I will be able to answer those questions well.

  Happy Anniversary, Fishers of Men!

Fifteen years….what a privilege, what a joy, what a testimony, what a celebration!

From the driveway of the home in which I grew up in Michigan to a mountainside in Mexico;  

Refuge Ranch today

from one toddler to twenty children; 

Josiah and I nearly 15 years ago!

2017

from just a call from God and some dreams, to the reality of kilometers traveled, thousands of prescriptions written and Bibles given, buildings constructed, 

staff joining forces and lives transformed, 

these fifteen years, as I look back, can only be summarized in one word…

INCREDIBLE!

The consummation of one prayer at a time,

 one peso at a time, 

one kilometer at a time, 

one soul at a time, 

one hug at a time, 

one schoolwork question at a time, 

one tear at a time, 

and one day

 (sometimes one minute and even one second) at a time, 

has brought us to now.

So, celebrate we will!

Our 15^th anniversary celebration will take place on Saturday, October 20^th, 2018 at a Christian Bible college only five minutes from Refuge Ranch here in Central Mexico!

The anniversary celebration location

Now, some of you just stopped reading and thought:  “Nope.  Not possible.”  Please, just read on and let the possibility of joining us for this celebration play around in your mind and heart and prayers.

That afternoon and evening we will join together: my family, the Refuge Ranch staff, our Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusade volunteers and YOU, to sing praises to the Lord for all that He has done, in Spanish and English, as well as hear His Word and the story of these years, in both languages.  We will share a delicious dinner and fellowship that crosses borders and barriers.  A Fishers of Men mini-museum will introduce you to and highlight different aspects of both the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades and Refuge Ranch.

But, that’s not all!

We have designed a weekend full of activities that will give you an excellent taste of Mexican culture as well as getting to experience Fishers of Men firsthand!  The itinerary includes a visit to some incredible pyramids, the world’s best tacos, a day immersed at Refuge Ranch with the family and joining us for Sunday worship, among other things.

We suggest you fly into Mexico City on Thursday, October 18 and back out on Tuesday, October 23, in order to take full advantage of your time here! 

Only $200.00 will cover all your ground transportation, lodging (at the Bible college), meals and activity expenses for the entire weekend!

If you’ve never visited us before this is the perfect opportunity to see the ministry in action, without doing a full-fledged mission trip.

Have a friend you’ve wanted to introduce to Fishers of Men?  I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than to spend a weekend with us!

Been here before?  Come back!  See what God has done!  And dream with us about all He has yet to do!

I’ll be looking for your email at fishersofmenmexico@gmail.com

or your Facebook/Messenger message at Julie Claassen or Fishers of Men Mexico

or your phone call at: (734) 206-2392

to find out more details, or to let us know you are coming!

More Than You Can Ask or Imagine

In my early teen years, between accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and perceiving His call on my life, this verse became a favorite: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

More than I could ask or imagine...now that’s a lot…because I can certainly imagine some incredible things!

Quite honestly, much of what the Lord has done up to now I have dreamed about, prayed about and imagined, but He blew me out of the water less than two weeks ago.

You see, I found myself seated dead center in a church pew on a beautiful Mennonite high school campus in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Might not sound like a “more than you can ask or imagine” scene, but what catapults this ordinary moment into the realm of the extraordinary, into the “more than you can ask or imagine” category, is the fact that it was the graduation of my eldest daughter, Angie.  That still may not seem like a “more than you can ask or imagine” event, but, do you know the whole story?

Angie front and center during her graduation.

Angie started kindergarten at age 11, when she became my daughter.  I am known for dreaming big, but God beat me on this one!  It honestly never occurred to me as I taught her her first math problems and the letters in English, surrounded by mounds of dirty laundry that needed to be washed by hand or with the generator running, while carrying infant Caleb on my hip and distractedly thinking of what to make for dinner for our family of seven on a mountaintop in Mexico, that someday I would see her in a cap and gown in the United States after just listening to her give a half hour Senior speech in English.  The distance traveled between these two scenes was certainly riddled with rocks of resistance, stones of suffering, mountains of mercy, puddles of praise, chasms of challenge and journeys of joy, but that all formed part of the “more than we can ask or imagine.”

2006... Caleb as a toddler and my mom trying to rescue me from oodles of laundry! 
You can see evidence of homeschooling all around!

2018 Angie and I at graduation

2004 Angie and I (and Caleb in my tummy)...
we had been mother and daughter for just a
few weeks

As I flew back to Mexico from that incredible experience just last week, and was reflecting on that verse, I knew that several daunting situations awaited me at the Ranch…each of which seemed so far away from the “more than I can ask or imagine” description.

You see, in my weak human mind, and lazy and selfish heart, “more than I can ask or imagine” means something positive, something I want or desire, preferably the way I want it or desire it to be.

What if the “more than I can ask or imagine” can’t be seen or perceived or understood by me……at least for now…maybe not here….maybe there (in Heaven)…but maybe never.   (“All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”  Hebrews 11:13)

Is knowing that He said He can do it, and having even seen that He has done it before, enough for me to believe He can, and will, do it again?

Can I trust His “more than I can ask or imagine?”

You see, less than two months ago I became the mother of two precious children, seven year old Harumi and five year old Crhistopher.  It now appears that my time for mothering them has already come to an end.  Certainly not my idea of “more than I can ask or imagine.”

The day Harumi and Crhistopher came home.

While I was in the U.S., the kids’ grandparents showed up at the Ranch, as far as I was concerned, from out of nowhere!  They drove from the state of Oaxaca, 9 hours away, as the grand finale and final intent to a search for their grandchildren that had lasted over a year!  I now know that the kids’ mother had run away with them and simply disappeared from her parents home, whom had helped raise the kids since birth and whom arrived at my home toting baby pictures, photos of birthdays and kindergarten graduation certificates.  Since the moment the mother disappeared with their treasures, the grandparents had been looking for them!  Through an anonymous phone call and social media they had tracked the kids down to our town, drove to city hall and inquired about them.  Having signed guardianship papers at city hall only 6 weeks previous, local authorities knew exactly where the children were…with me!... and brought the grandparents to the house.

So, less than three days after the “more than I can ask or imagine” moment at Angie’s graduation, I was signing guardianship of my two children back over to their mother. 

I suppose this is part of the “more than I can ask or imagine”, too, even though my heart doesn’t feel like it, I choose to believe it!

Pastor Ruben and I with Harumi and Crhistopher during their dedication at church.

My specific call and purpose from the Lord is to love and provide a family for children who need such.  For the six or so weeks that Harumi and Crhistopher needed a mom, that is what I was, with every intention of it being lifelong.  However, that doesn’t seem to be a part of God’s “more than I can ask or imagine” plan for this situation.

Harumi on vacation

Crhistopher on vacation

Despite that fact, there are glimmers of “more than I can ask or imagine” in this situation.  Had the kids not been with me, their grandparents, who love them deeply and have everything needed to raise them, may have never found them!  It was only due to the fact that we had recently signed the guardianship papers that the local authorities could reunite grandparents and grandchildren.

Whatever may come, I am sure of one thing: It will be more than I could ask or imagine, and my God, the God of “more than I can ask or imagine”, will be glorified and His purposes will prevail, as He holds our hearts during the painful, confusing parts of “more than I can ask or imagine”.

All in a Day's Ministry

It has taken me over a week to even begin to digest all the happenings of last Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 and 26, 2018, even just enough to be able to share with you in a coherent way!  I will try, despite the lump that still wells up from my heart to my throat. 

Overwhelming….those days were, simply put, overwhelming!  Overwhelmed by: God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His generosity, the confirmation of the call, His presence in the midst of great joy and great trial, a funky mixture of fear and security, of responsibility and rest, a strange trust while feeling like you are jumping into the unknown….again!

The summary: on the same day, we brought home the new 15 passenger van, signed guardianship papers for two new children, continued to enjoy the weeklong stay of a 9 member work team from Michigan and faced continued challenges and consequences stemming from the past.

Now, piece by piece: We praise the Lord continuously for His faithfulness and generosity expressed through you by providing for the purchase of a 2014, 15 passenger van for use on both the crusades and for the family at Refuge Ranch!  After just a few months since we found the vehicle that met our needs, the Lord made it possible to bring the new van home!  Driving to church on Sunday with all of my children in seatbelts, without the fear of the van breaking down at any moment, not having to listen to every gear shift, roar of the motor or other sounds and questioning what may be happening, and not having to shout over the shake, rattle and roll of the suspension and other various sundry parts of the old van, was priceless!  I cannot wait for our crusade team to enjoy their first crusade in a trustworthy vehicle!  They will arrive so much more rested and ready to serve!  Thank you, for your prayers and for your giving!

My first trip in the van with some of the kids to a children's event at church!  Wonderful....just wonderful!

As for the children, it gives me great joy and pleasure to introduce you to my new daughter and son!  Harumi (ha-roo-mee) is 7 years old and Crhistopher (I did not spell his name wrong.  It was spelled that way on his birth certificate, so we are stuck having to teach it to him that way and use it that way ourselves!) is 5 years old.  They are originally from the State of Oaxaca, but were currently living with their mother in our same town.  The Lord knows their circumstances, even better than I, since at times it is difficult to sort out the truth.  It is, for me, a great honor and privilege that He has chosen me as their adoptive mom, knowing that, from my mother’s womb, He created me for little ones such as these!  What a peace to know that where He calls He will provide the love, wisdom, strength and resources to raise them up to His honor and glory!

Me and my kids....Crhistopher and Harumi!

In the Lord’s perfect timing, our family’s annual vacation was scheduled for this week!  So, we LOVED travelling with a safe, well-running and air-conditioned van and are now fully enjoying getting to know each other in a relaxed and beautiful environment before jumping into school and daily life together.

The work team that the Lord sent last week was such a blessing and balm for our souls during such tumultuous days.  They just kept on keeping on plastering the walls of the new house, which is now more needed than ever, as well as doing other home improvement projects on our current home.  In the midst of all the work, they took plenty of moments to hand our family encouraging notes, smiles and lots of hugs!  So, their presence strengthened the physical aspect of the ministry, as well as our souls!  Thank you!

Whiteford Wesleyan Church Work Team

Finally, we know that sin can have long lasting consequences, and Thursday afternoon felt like Exhibit A in a court of “Proofs of the Consequences of Sin.”  I cannot go into details, but would be negligent in sharing about the wonderfulness of Thursday, new children, a new vehicle, and a work team, without sharing the opposing bookend of fear and brokenness that the enemy wanted to use to kill and destroy.  After my feeble human heart cries and trembles in facing such circumstances, it does eventually remember God’s truths that stand as a rock in the midst of the storm:  He will never leave us nor forsake us; He sends his angels to protect us; He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world; we are to love our enemies and conquer evil with good.

My kids (the ones that live at home) and the new van!  Many more blessings than I can count!

 And, that was, all in a day’s worth of ministry!

Oh Ye of Little Faith

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Ephesians 3:20)

“He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” (John 21:6)

When I gave my life to the Lord, and especially as I seek to serve Him as a missionary, I would hope that the faith and abundance displayed in these verses would characterize my living.  However, more often than I wish to admit, Jesus’ admonishment of, “O ye of little faith” seems to better describe me.

Such the case has proven true regarding the need I recently shared with you for more reliable transportation for both the Evangelistic Medical Mission Crusades and my family here at Refuge Ranch.

The ministry has been suffering a lack of decent vehicles for passengers, for both the crusades and the Ranch, as well as a vehicle apt for carrying all of our equipment for the medical crusades.  However, the decision was made to first share the need for a newer passenger vehicle, as it is utilized both for the crusades and for Refuge Ranch, besides the fact that caring for our human cargo is a higher priority than caring for physical cargo.  And, asking for two vehicles at once seemed a bit overwhelming and imprudent.

Therefore, just a little over a week ago, we shared with you that we had placed a deposit on a 15 passenger van with donations from our Mexican crusade volunteers, but that over $18,000 was still needed to bring the van home!

Today, it gives me indescribable joy to share that:  THE LORD HAS PROVIDED ALL THE FUNDS IN ORDER TO FINALIZE THE PURCHASE OF THE 15 PASSENGER VAN!

But, we aren’t quite ready to make the same declaration as Moses in the following passage:

 ^“Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more,  because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”  (Exodus 36:6-7)

Because, you see, we believe that the Lord is already providing for the cargo truck needed for the crusades!

The truck that we use to carry all of our medical supplies and equipment to the crusades broke down on crusade in February.  In fact, the vehicle is still four hours away from the Ranch where it broke down!

We have knowledge of churches and individuals that were/are still in the process of praying about and considering giving towards the transportation needs of Fishers of Men.  We encourage you, if that is the case, to please follow the Lord’s leading so that the ministry can be well equipped to carry out God’s will here in Mexico!

We are actively seeking the appropriate vehicle for the crusade equipment and will keep you posted as the Lord leads that search!

So, please join us in prayer:

1) thanks to the Lord for His provision for the passenger van

2) guidance in finding the right vehicle for the crusade equipment

3) we can sell soon, and at a good price, the broken down crusade vehicle and the bus (which Mexican laws prevent us from using for our family and crusade) so that we can apply these funds towards the purchase of the cargo truck

4) those who have felt the Lord’s leading to give would do so to provide for the purchase of a reliable cargo truck for the crusades

Thank you for walking this road with us, for praying, for giving and for rejoicing in all the Lord has done and will do!

New Wheels for Fishers of Men

Taking the good news of Jesus Christ to towns and villages around Mexico requires....wheels!

Taking my children, the children of Refuge Ranch, to church each week requires....wheels!

We have the need, and opportunity, to purchase a set of new-to-us wheels (no worries...they come attached to a 15 passenger van)!

The need? 

Our current vehicle is a 1996 Ford Club Wagon 15 passenger van with over 280,000 miles on it.  None of the doors open from the outside (we open the sliding window, put our hand through, open the side door, get in, open the front passenger door, lean over and open the driver's door).  It has only a few seatbelts and has begun to suffer many mechanical problems that make us question the wisdom of pouring more resources into such a vehicle.

The opportunity?

A 2014 Ford 15 passenger van with only 22,000 miles on it!  And...all the doors work!  And...it has 15 seatbelts!  And...four new Michelin tires!  And...it runs smoothly!  And...it is new enough that it would circulate everyday in Mexico City in order to pick up work teams, go on family outings, take to purchase equipment for crusades, etc. (In Mexico, emissions laws determine that vehicles older than a certain year are restricted from entering city limits one day of every week.)

After test driving the vehicle, and talking to the dealer, they allowed us to reserve the van with an initial payment of $2600.00 dollars.  OUR MEXICAN CRUSADE VOLUNTEERS CAME TOGETHER AND DONATED THAT INITIAL PAYMENT!  We rejoice in watching how the Lord has given them sacrificial hearts and hands to help meet this need, since they experience the need for more reliable transportation on EVERY crusade.  Many crusade trips turn into much longer travails due to vehicle issues, not to mention the unsafe conditions of our current van.

So, the van is ready to come home to Refuge Ranch as soon as we pay it off!  The dealer has given us until the first week of April with no interest to finish purchasing the vehicle.

The total cost, including one year's worth of insurance and registration fees is:  $20,850.00.  Of this cost, our Mexican volunteers have given, so far, $2650.00.

Therefore, the outstanding balance needed to bring the van home is:

$18,200.00

Let's enjoy watching more and more of the van turn blue with your support!

You may give your designated donation towards this opportunity online at:

www.fishersofmenmexico.org

Or by mailing a check marked "van" to:

Fishers of Men
P.O. Box 940
Shelbyville, IN 46176

Let's get the wheels rolling so that the Gospel message can keep going!