Welcome to the professional website and personal weblog of Jeremy Del Rio. Whether you're a client, friend, or curious onlooker, please don't stay a spectator. Engage the conversation. Your contributions matter here.
« May God bless you with discomfort | Home | Paint the Town »
She’s moving to Mexico!
By Jeremy | May 1, 2007
Smiley's moving to Mexico! One of my girls, Rachel Ann Gonzales, is off to the mission field.
Rachel used to be in my youth group. She volunteered, interned and worked at Generation Xcel. Now she's graduating college and preparing to spend (at least) a year living and working at Lily of the Valley orphanage in Tijuana, where youth from Abounding Grace have volunteered the past four summers. After four or five trips of her own (including Spring Break last month, when the above picture was taken) Rachel is officially taking the plunge this August, after her sister Dorothy's wedding.
Wow. My first reaction to the news was joy. (A close second was an overwhelming awareness that I'm getting old.) It seems like yesterday that Rachel and Dorothy first visited the church with their mom Cecilia. Rachel was a freshman at LaGuardia Peforming Arts High School ("Fame!") who sang like an angel. She immersed herself in the church life and became a vital member of the youth worship band when we finally started one. She was a soloist for the choir and volunteered with the Sunday school. All the while, her infectious smile made the rest of us happy. And now we get to share that joy with children whose lives were literally rescued from Tijuana's garbage dumps.
Rachel, we love you and are so proud that you have chosen to follow God's call, wherever it leads.
Topics: abounding grace, generation xcel, lily of the valley, rachel gonzalez, tijuana, youth ministry | 3 Comments »
May 1st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Thank you so much. It is so amazing to feel the peace of God in this decision. I know it was all in his plan, because on my own I could never have made a decision to relocate. It is a hard task, but I feel humbled that God would allow me to impart into the lives of these children. I just ask for continued prayer as it will be needed in the months and year to come. Amen God is good! I’m so excited!!!
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:23 am
Right on! We just had the blessing to send three of our former kids off to the mission field. Melissa (Duran) Gomez and her husband Moises went to YWAM in Amsterdam, Holland and Melissa’s baby sister Nicole Duran is doing a training school with YWAM in England. Yup – I’m old!
May 17th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Well I often search the web to see what is being posted about our orphanages – Lily of the Valley and I came across this blog on Rachel coming to stay at our Tijuana orphanage – everyone know that the children and all us staff love her very very much. The kids are very excited that she is coming to live with them in their house. The staff is excited because she represents another pair of hands sent by God to help and work work work. We pray to send her back to you all renewed and seasoned as a true missionary. Thank you for releasing her to come be with us.