"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
As the current crime situation in Juarez and in all of Mexico continues to severely limit our ability to minister hands-on in the country of Mexico, there have been many moments where we have had to take this verse by faith, that God will still work good in the midst of circumstances that are far beyond our control. Our hearts break for our kids at Una Esperanza as we hear of the continuing violence in addition to the ever-increasing economic problems that are facing Juarez as a result of the U.S. economic downturn in combination with many businesses closing down in Juarez out of fear. Hundreds of thousands of people are abandoning their homes, closing their businesses and moving elsewhere. An estimated 420,000 people, or 30 percent of the city's entire population have moved out of Juarez in an attempt to escape the crime.
In what has been a difficult and unprecedented season of ministry where our hands have been tied by the difficulties in Mexico as well as a severe limitation in financial resources to go forth, we have continued seeking God's face and His guidance in where we should be investing ourselves. We've been so encouraged to see God open many doors of opportunity and influence with our local ministry to the OC Kids, allowing us to have many teachable moments to "make God real" to these young women and men and show them that they can know God and walk in His ways at any age.
We are also thrilled to finally have our involvement with
Safe Families off and running. God placed a 15-year-old girl, Megan, in our home about three weeks ago, and we are daily praying for wisdom to help her in any way we can as she and her family try to work through a difficult time and attempt to come to a safe and healthy reconciliation. God is teaching us once again that our whole life is to belong to God, not just what happens on foreign soil. Wherever He places our feet is a mission field, and every moment matters.
We daily pray for our loved ones in Mexico in addition to the many, many more that God has put on our hearts to reach with the gospel of Christ, and we pray that God would open the door soon for us to return fully to that calling, but until He opens that door, we dedicate ourselves to pursuing Him and serving the least of these in the place that He has placed us. In a culture that measures worth and success by numbers and progress, it has been a humbling time to know that God still is using us in a mighty way despite a lack of numbers in our bank account or in our ability to minister to the masses. We thank Him for His guidance and provision as we walk through this time, and we are thankful to the people that have responded to the Holy Spirit's promptings to support this ministry through prayers and finances.
It's not easy to write a message like this, that has little to rejoice in from a human standpoint, but we know that Jesus is still Lord of the tough times, and that God is sovereign and good in spite of what we see with our eyes.
In Him,
Brad & Lesli Bieganski
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach
unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14-15 
