In Mazatlan, Pastor Carlos Marinelarena operates three feeding stations where children come to hear God’s Word. The children are part of the fellowship of the body of Christ, and receive a meal for their hungry stomachs. Brother Carlos and his church are also busy in the prison ministry in Mazatlan and the surrounding area.
In Ensenada, Pastor Marco Cruz operates a women’s rehabilitation home. Women with troubled backgrounds can come and find refuge and comfort. In this atmosphere of love and peace, many have met Christ and are now living for Him. Also in Ensenada, twelve years ago, Living Waters had the privilege of building a church for Pastor Angel Lopez. This church continues to thrive and is heavily involved in community outreach.
Most recently in Tijuana, Living Waters has purchased a piece of land. On this land, God is establishing a mission headquarters for our work in Mexico. Our vision is to reach out in the city of Tijuana in different areas of ministry (children, aged, prisons, rehabs), and also to have a base for outreach into all of Mexico.
At this time, we are working in two neighborhoods in Tijuana. For almost five years now, we have had the privilege of seeing God change the lives of two wonderful groups of children. Now, some have become teenagers, and God has allowed us to see the fruit of this labor of love.
In a place named “El Canon”, we have had the privilege of ministering this Gospel to hundreds of children over the past five years. “El Canon”, is a squatter’s village and most don’t stay there for long. Many Mexicans come to Tijuana looking for a better way of life, and some find it here. Some get discouraged and go back to the south, and some get stuck in El Canon and carve out their lives here. It’s here that God led us originally and here that we will continue to work. In the beginning, we came once a month, but soon realized it wouldn’t be enough. Then we decided to come twice a month and others from our church began to join us. God has always met out needs financially and with co-laborers in this work. After three years we heard about another area called “La Rinconada” or “dead end place”. We expanded to two services every other Saturday, one in the morning at El Canon and one in the afternoon at La Rinconada. Last December, Living Waters purchased land in “Nido de las Aguilas” or “eagles nest” which is adjacent to La Rinconada. Now my wife and I are in Tijuana three days a week, and are able to minister to these beautiful children more often. We are becoming a part of the community and are now establishing working and loving relationships with the people. Our lives are greatly enriched by the eternal graces of our Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. How can we not enrich the lives of those around us? We are determined, by God’s grace, to advance His kingdom. We possess the truth, we must proclaim it.
For these five years our services have been held outside and under tarps, but God has blessed us with property. Soon, we will have a building in which to hold services. It will have a large kitchen and pantry through which we will be able to reach out to the community, as well as classrooms for Sunday school.
God has given us a wonderful vision for Tijuana, and all of Mexico. Our goal, as the Lord raises up the people, is to have a network that reaches from Chino to Tijuana. From there, south and east, into all of Mexico. We intend, by God’s grace to meet that goal.
God bless you,
Dean and Maria Helzer
