S4 Episode #12- Hope Garcia
THE ONE WITH HOPE GARCIA
We are excited to welcome Hope Garcia to the show this week! Hope, born and raised in Oxford, OH, took her first international mission trip as a teenager in 2000 and has felt God's call to serve vulnerable children ever since. She moved to Monterrey, Mexico to work with Back2Back Ministries in 2008 where she fell in love and married her husband, Cheque. They served in a variety of roles in Monterrey before moving to help establish Back2Back's site in the Dominican Republic in 2019. Hope is "mom" to two young boys. She loves to travel, bake tasty desserts, make earrings, and has a passion for revealing the true nature of the Heavenly Father to others.
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In middle school, Hope took a one week Mission Trip to Monterrey, Mexico. She never dreamed that she would end up working with Back2Back (B2B) as an adult, but at that young age she knew that God was calling her heart into ministry.
After graduating from college, Hope moved to Mexico to teach kids with a one year commitment… and now she has been with B2B for 14 years! God had bigger plans that Hope could have ever imagined – including meeting her husband, Cheque!
Hope and Cheque now live in the Dominican Republic. Early in their marriage, they believed that God told them they would not always live in Mexico. They believed they would move right away, but then nothing happened for many years.
Hope went through seasons of questioning God’s plan. In one of those seasons, while journaling and praying, God spoke to Hope’s heart and said, “I’m going to move you and you will know when it’s time because there will be open doors and red carpets.” She went on with her life and about 9 months later, she was in a team meeting when her director started sharing about the potential new location in the DR. He described “open doors and red carpets” in the DR!!
Hope and Cheque began praying that God would bring about the invitation. About 3 months later, they were asked to be the directors of a new B2B site in the DR. It was still another year and half before they were actually able to move, but God brought it about in his timing.
Wait and Pray
When something is of The Lord– HE will send the invitation.
In waiting on God, you will see Him do the work in ways that only He can for the glory of His Kingdom. Waiting on God to move made it so very clear to Hope that God’s hand was in it. When things got hard and she had doubts down the road, she was able to rest in the knowledge that The Lord had made it happen, so HE would see them through and he would continue to move in His time.
Hearing God’s Voice – How to discern when something is from The Lord?
Continue to bring it to the Lord. He will often confirm through His Word or through other people. Look for and ask for confirmations.
Continue to grow in relationship with the Lord. “The sheep know His voice,” so the more we know Him, the more we can recognize when He is speaking and moving.
Sometimes you can just write it down and wait and see if anything comes of it.
God’s Character
He is a God of loving-kindness and great compassion. God has so much grace for us. He is slow to anger and quick to pour out His loving-kindness upon us.
He is our perfect Father. He is able to fulfill all of our needs.
Releasing
Hope has had to release her timing, her plan and her ways. Nothing she has planned on her own has come to fruition, so submitting her will to The Lord has been vital.
“We make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” -Proverbs 16:9
She has had to release her love of living in Mexico, and her vision of life as a missionary when she had children. Prior to having her own kids, she used to spend 45+ hours on the front lines, but now her babies at home need what only she can give. She has to daily say “yes” to the children that God has given her, rather than just the children that B2B serves. She has had to release her time and her ministry.
“Small Things”
When you are loving the people and places that God has put right in front of you, you are loving HIM.
Ask God, “What is my ministry right where I am?” Ask Him to open your eyes and heart to the purpose that you have in this season. God is using you for his ministry, purpose and calling to bring His light to this earth.
Life Message
Hope desires for people to know the true nature of God! His loving-kindness is so much bigger than anything we can imagine.
Many of the kids that Hope works with have a negative view of God– seeing Him as angry and out to get us. But the truth is that He desires so much to be in relationship with us.
Final Thoughts
Pursue God. Continue to seek His heart– even in difficult situations. In the hard times, ask God, “Where are you in this situation? What are you teaching me? Reveal to me Your character in this situation.”
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes Biondo and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.