So, you're probably thinking that there's someone missing in this picture. David is living in Anaheim, Ca. and Ty is with me in our new home, in Milwaukie, Oregon. Ty's going to school at Rex Putnam High School while I have been volunteering the last 8 months at The Father's Heart Street Ministry.

While I miss David like crazy, I am proud of his work ethic and resourcefulness. He has jumped in to the "adult" world with both feet, working many long days and of course visiting friends in Mexico....well, let's just say..."often".

Ty is still and always has been "Mr. Friendly".  He makes friends easily and I'm grateful for that.  He also is showing more and more interest with working will young children.  Some have even called him "the child whisperer" because he has this ability to get little kids not only to listen to him, but he's like a "kid magnet" wherever we go.  His gentleness and patience with kids is amazing and I'm excited to see what God has for him as he approaches adulthood.

I've been volunteering at a wonderful ministry called The Father's Heart Street Ministry since last June.  When we came to Oregon last April, I was pretty clear on the reasons for my sons coming here, but very unsure why God brought me here.  All my long term plans to stay in Mexico seem to come to a halt that I never anticipated.  I struggled emotionally with the move.  My friends in Mexico are very dear to my heart. I didn't want to leave, but I knew that it was what God was directing me to do.  

It wasn't the first time that I had to trust that God was leading and in time, His plans for me would be revealed.  God got my attention shortly after arriving in Oregon.  I injured my back, which prohibited me from going straight into the job market and brought me to the day shelter called The Father's Heart Street Ministry. Being in Mexico taught me a lot about stepping out in faith and watching God provide for me. I have continued to volunteer at the shelter for 8 months now and I couldn't be any more sure of God calling me there.  

God Sees Me

My heart for the poor, the lost and forgotten have been touched through this shelter time and time again.  It has enabled me to work with the very people God has called me to reach with His love.  I am so grateful for the direction of the Holy Spirit and almost every day I feel the pleasure of God's love working through me to touch lives with His love. I am so blessed to be allowed to serve in this shelter, to work with the incredible volunteers, to be able to pray with the hurting and offer them hope and love. 

As I continue in this new adventure of faith in Oregon, I ask that you pray for me and my family.  Recently, I re-injured my back. So, I need my back to be strengthened. I am also praying and looking for a means of income soon.  I'm open to working from home online if I can find a way not to get caught up in a scam.  Or, if my back heals soon, I would like to pursue employment in the evenings in the service industry. I'm looking for something that will work around my volunteer position. God has always taken care of me and I have no doubt He will continue to do so.  Would you pray that I would be sensitive the Holy Spirit's leading in what God has for me in the area of employment?  

Until He comes!

Robin

Waiting on the Lord

A lot has happened since my last entry. I'm approaching the 2 month mark of living here in Milwaukie, Oregon.  It's quite the change from Mexico, or even from California, if I look at my environment.  Way more flowers, green trees, rivers than I'm used to.  I am enjoying that part of the change.  I'm also enjoying the body of Christ up here.  It's so great to know that the body of Christ is everywhere.

Tyler is adapting well.  He's very happy here and making many friends. He continues to jump in to every opportunity to serve through the local church we attend and is even pursuing helping in a VBS with his new friends from another church.

David made the decision to leave recently. He is pursuing work in southern California so that he can be close to the border and visit his friends in Mexico. David will be 20 years old on June 20th.  Time has really gone by fast.

I continue to wait for the Lord's direction.  I have been just a little incapacitated by something going on with my lower back for the last month or so. Today, I was referred to a neurologist to see if they can figure out what is causing the pain, stiffness and spasms.  The Lord has me very still right now.  As much as I would like to hit the job market, my back is telling me "not yet".  So, I continue to wait on the Lord.

I am pursuing the possibilities of working with a ministry called Father's Heart Street Ministry in Oregon City.  I should be starting sometime this week part time while I wait for my back to heal.  Father's Heart seems to offer everything that I could dream of all in one place.  They prepare meals, provide meals, clothes and showers to the homeless in the area.  They even help find the homeless work and get them back on their feet.  Most of all, they share the hope that comes from a life of trusting in Jesus.

Another project that I'm working on is getting food to my friends at Dios Me Ve. Since I am not currently employed, I am unable to send funds on a regular basis. I've had a lot of time to brainstorm while waiting on the Lord. One of the ways that to help my friends in Dios Me Ve is to collect water bottles and soda cans. My plan is to go my neighbors here on my street and ask them if I can have their bottles and cans for recycling. This will help me get funds to them to purchase food in Mexico for the hungry families of the colony and Dios Me Ve. 

If this is something that you would like to be a part of, you can email me for more information.

God bless you,

Robin Schmidt

rschmidt316@yahoo.com

Oregon Update

Yes, it's true.  We really did move from Mexico to Milwaukie, Oregon. At the last minute, there was a change in our plans.  My son David, made the difficult choice to come with us to Oregon due to lack of employment options.  His heart is still very much in Mexico.  Please pray for him to find work here in Oregon, as he prepares to pursue a career in heavy equipment engineering.  I'm very proud of David for making a difficult decision in order to pursue his dream of living in Mexico one day.  Once he has his training and apprenticeship, he hopes that he can land a job close to the border so that he can return "home" to Mexico.

Tyler is doing very well here.  He's enjoying getting to know the area and making friends at our new church home, Waterfront Foursquare Church.  He's already helping in the sound and tech ministries and will soon be helping in the children's ministry as well.  Today, he applied for his first job and hopes to work on getting his driver's license!

All three of us joined with our new church family and others in community to clean and help a local high school.  It was a blessing to be able to get to know people better and meet new people, but....the best part was when people saw us helping when we didn't have any students at the school.  We really had no connection to it at all.  We were just willing and looking for a way to put our faith into action.  

My sons worked much harder than I did at the high school.  I was so proud of them for jumping in to help in a new place, where we knew so few people. 

I'm doing well here.  It's a blessing to be able to live with my long time friends, Judy and Reese Mayo.  God is directing my steps daily.  I've been taking my time looking at the community, different ministries to the homeless and social services in the area.  I would appreciate your prayers in looking for a job for myself.  I'm deciding between a job that would allow me to serve in the community or a job with flexible hours so that I can pursue helping in the community after hours.  Not quite sure what that even looks like, but that's where I'm at.

I continue to think of Door of Faith Orphanage and Dios Me Ve ministries.  It was very hard to leave, not knowing when and if the Lord will allow me to return.  I sure hope He does.  I really miss my dear friends in Mexico.  

I am also pursuing ideas to still help my friends in Mexico while living up here in Oregon.  It would have to be in a different capacity, but I think there's still a way I can help.  Please join me in prayer about the following:

- Collecting donations for Dios Me Ve for purchasing food only.  Since I am no longer living in Mexico, I need to have a way to get funds to a Mexican grocery shopper, that loves Jesus and would like to help. I think I have that already. I also have a Paypal account that people can donate through. I'm looking at fundraising as much as passing the financial blessings.

- Door of Faith Orphanage is in great financial need due to several needs that occurred in the same week.  If you would like to learn more about Door of Faith go to www.dofo.org and you'll get updated on the current needs.

- There are other ministries that could use help too.  Maybe God wants me to network and help them all.  Not sure.  Please pray.

So, there you have it.  Please pray as we continue to follow Jesus daily.

Robin 

A New Season

It's hard to know where to begin. God has been incredibly generous to me and my sons with the ministries he's allowed us to be a apart of since coming to Mexico September 18, 2009.  We started serving at Door of Faith Orphanage. In time, like many of the volunteers of Door of Faith, God gave us opportunity to be involved in ministry outside of Door of Faith.  This speaks well of the generous and grace filled leadership of Door of Faith; a ministry that not only serves the children of the orphanage, but the community around them and sends out to other ministries with their blessing.

A few years ago, I believe the Lord lead me to help in  ministry with my friends Hector and Maribel Gonzales in colony 89; an impoverished, violent, drug addicted and forgotten colony.  The ministry of Dios Me Ve (God Sees Me), was begun as we worked together to reach the lost and forgotten people of colony 89.  What started with door to door groceries delivered to the hungry, grew to blankets, mattresses, jackets and uniforms for school being given to those in need. Before long we were feeding over 180 families twice a month with groceries, passing out shoes and clothing for the children and even rebuilding a few homes that had burned down due to fires.  From there, Dios Me Ve ministries began to change and to grow even more.  Property was purchased, a building was built on the property by our friends from Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley and Bible and English classes began.

To date, there are over 12 Bible studies either in homes or in the Dios Me Ve building. Gang members that used to earn colony 89 it's dark reputation are now beginning to follow Christ and giving back to their community. The colony is changing as the children, parents and youth gather to learn  of  God's love for them through faithfulness to the study of the Bible.

After much prayer, the Lord has made it clear that it's time for a new season in our lives. It is now time for us to return to the states for the next step in our faith journey. In mid April, My son Tyler and I will be headed to Milwaukie, Oregon while my eldest son, David is remaining in Mexico.  We wish to thank you for your all of your encouragement, prayers and financial support.  I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider sending the personal support that you've sent in the past to enable my family to serve in Mexico, to the ministry of Dios Me Ve or personally to Hector and Maribel. If this is something that God would lead you to do, please write out your tax deductible donation and send your support to:

Calvary Chapel of Apple Valley
13601 Del Mar Rd.
Apple Valley, Ca, 92308

Designate it to Dios Me Ve or Hector and Maribel Gonzales.

By sending your support through this local fellowship, you will receive a tax deduction.

Please continue to pray for and support this wonderful work of God.  I've seen with my own eyes what God can do through the teaching of His word to the most hardened of hearts. I've seen with my own eyes the response to the pure gospel; changed attitudes and countenances, hope restored and lives redeemed and given purpose.

Where He leads I will follow,

Robin Schmidt