How do we say thank you? As construction moves forward on the House of Refuge at our base in Mexico, we feel a huge sense of gratitude to the hundreds of people who have come alongside this project and One Life. From the many words of encouragement, the financial support, the prayer, and the help of local businesses, to the physical work of building the structure and creating a counselling program, it has been more than humbling to see God mobilize so many to move forward with this vision, His vision.
It is hard to single out any one individual or group. Every one of you, from those first businesses that lent their support, to the plumber who first broke ground with the help of a church team from the Okanagan, to the servant who worked along side indigenous labourers to create the foundation – without any one of you, we could not have advanced. We are also grateful for the hard work of excavating and the concrete and block work done by our indigenous work force. At every move we have been aware of both groups and individuals surrounding the building and our organization in prayer. There really is no way to express how thankful we are to God for all of you. You know who you are, we know who you are, and more importantly, God knows who you are and I believe He is far more grateful than we could ever be.
As we enter November, we are so amazed that approximately 19 individuals will be giving up holidays, money, and time with their families to frame both floors and put a roof on a building that will be dedicated to changing lives and rescuing children from abuse. To those amazing people, thank you seems so inadequate.
We also need to thank the families who stay behind and are making such a big sacrifice here at home. As you stay at home and have to deal with whatever life throws at you while your husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and friends are away, please remember the following: these men are not going to Mexico to frame a building. They are going to stand in the gap. They are going to say “no, this can’t happen anymore”. They are going to stand between the abuser and the abused. These are men as God intended men to be.
Isaiah 59:15-16 says that there was a time when “the LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene.” This is not one of those times. People like you are rising up to stand in the gap, and words are not enough to express how much of a difference you are making.
Thank you all for your sacrifice and obedience to God’s calling. Thank you from the entire board and staff of One Life One Chance Ministries, and thank you from the children who will never understand your sacrifice. They have been lied to. They have been told they don’t matter, that no one will listen to them, and that no one is coming to rescue them. Your work will shine a holy light on those lies, and so many lives will be rescued and restored.
We are so honoured, and so humbled to be able to serve with all of you.
