Monthly Newsletter: February 2020

RESTORATION THROUGH FAMILY 

“Yesenia is kind, smart, aware, insightful and a thinker. You can usually find her sitting back to observe and assess any given situation. She is thoughtful. When child protective services brought Yesenia to our Mexico base she did just that; assessed us. You see, Yesenia had been a witness to extreme violence and physical abuse, all from males toward females. This was before she’d been taken out of an unsafe living environment and placed in a different orphanage, where she experienced more of the same. The lesson she learned was straight forward; females are vulnerable and males are bad. When Yesenia was placed with us, she sat back and observed. But she also asked frank questions like, ‘Will you hit me?’ and ‘If I steal food, will you hit me?’

Yesenia’s story is not new to me. I’ve been hearing stories like hers for decades in Mexico, Romania and other countries I have visited. The pain and weight of their stories could become unbearable; too much to know or process. BUT, what can’t He do? What pain, hurt and memory, can’t He heal? 

Yes, it is true: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. I keep the testimonies of what He has done hidden in my heart; there are so many. I could talk for hours about the restored hearts and souls I’ve seen Him care for. Hours and hours. Those testimonies feed me HOPE. I have a deep, abiding hope that believes God can and will make all things new.

When Yesenia arrived at our Mexico base she had already decided that being a girl made her vulnerable to abuse and that men were to be feared. Because of that, she also decided that the safest thing was to be a boy. So, Yesenia dressed like a boy and acted like what she thought a boy would act like; all the while still observing our beautiful team and family. Slowly she came to the realization that men were actually kind, funny, safe and could be trusted. She noticed that the leaders, teachers and care-givers all worked easily together. They hugged, laughed and cried together. 

No one was hitting anyone; no abuse was happening. Through seeing that, Yesenia decided being a girl was possible and began embracing her femininity. 

Yesenia’s story of restoration is a testimony to family. We all played a part in helping her see the truth of who she is. Not all men are to be feared and being female doesn’t make you more vulnerable. Yesenia’s and the countless other testimonies I’ve been witness to have convinced me that restoration is always a full, family effort. It is in family that you find Him moving. I love my job.”

Genea Horner
Senior Leader of The Mission

Genea has been serving The Mission full-time since she was 17 years old. She is now co-leading the ministry with her husband, Jimmy. To see more stories like Yesenia’s, follow Genea and The Mission on social media @geneamarie and @themissionorg.