Casa Hogar Para Ancianos “El Refugio”

Pastor Jesús (left) and his right-hand man, Frank

Over two years ago, I was introduced to a ministry on the east side of Tijuana called Casa Hogar Para Ancianos “El Refugio”. It is a group home for indigent elderly and infirm. It is run by Pastor Jesús Mondragón who has given his life 24/7 to serve the most dejected members of Tijuana. This July, I led a short term team from my home church in Winter Haven, FL to serve this ministry for a week alongside members of our local congregation (Misión Presbiteriana Monte Horeb) in Tijuana who also volunteer regularly at El Refugio.

El Refugio provides a home to over 100 persons and is staffed by a handful of volunteers, some of whom live on site and receive free room and board but no (or very little) cash remuneration. In the context of Tijuana, this ministry provides a home for those who would otherwise be in the street or worse. Nevertheless, living there is simple, sparse and by American standards, not clean. Most of the residents cannot clean up after or fully care for themselves, so basic cleanliness is a full time job for several people. Over the many dozens of visits I’ve made there, I had never seen the dining hall clean when I arrived. After working there for a week and personally being part of the sweeping and mopping crew, I discovered how quickly a clean room becomes dirty at El Refugio. The needs are virtually endless and it doesn’t stop with cleaning. There are medical and personal care needs, cooking, laundry, bathing, maintenance, and on and on.

There is another within this story, however. This was brought to light in a closing time of prayer with Pastor Jesús as he asked us to pray for the staff. “Everyone asks what the residents need and how they can be prayed for or served, but it is rare that someone asks how the staff can be prayed or cared for.” As we were preparing to depart and return to lives of relative ease, comfort, and cleanliness, it was then that we really considered the lives of Pastor Jesús Mondragón and the other staff. Recalling their joyful service during the week and the joy and exaltation with which they greeted us each day was nothing less than remarkable, especially realizing that by the time we arrived each morning the nastiest chores of cleaning up from the nightly production of dirty diapers, soiled beds, and dirtied bathrooms was already completed. Each of them has decisively made a choice to use their time and lives to serve others who are in desperate need. These capable and talented souls, who could be doing a variety of different things with their lives, have chosen to serve and live by faith depending upon the Lord’s provision for themselves and El Refugio. Their lives’ self-sacrificing devotion truly reflects what Jesus Christ teaches us in Matt 6:31-32.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (ESV)

I like John Piper’s paraphrase of this passage: “…if we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great.” If we are to be about bringing God glory with our lives, and if He truly is better to us than life itself (Psalms 63:3), then we will follow the command that Jesus gives us immediately after in verse 33.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matt 6:33 (ESV)

As we reflected on the godly service of living and volunteering full time in this difficult location, we saw the treasure of Jesus Christ written all over the lives of those who serve at El Refugio. He is magnified through their service in ways that most people cannot possibly imagine. I’m not saying that all Christians have to serve in this way, but rather that we should examine how we are investing our lives and ask ourselves before the Lord if is it consistent with where we say our treasure truly is. If we genuinely lived our lives this way – decisively and consistently making choices that demonstrate Christ’s preeminence and glory, the world would notice and desire to better understand this Jesus who is glorified through our joyful service while they serve their own comfort and glory in ultimate misery.