I was 17 years old when I moved to Tijuana, Mexico to serve The Mission. For the first several months I didn’t have a specific role; I did whatever needed to be done. That included anything from picking up garbage to cleaning outhouses. Eventually I became the primary care-giver of 22 girls in the orphanage. I cared for them five days a week, for 24 hours a day. Since I was ten years old, I had dreamt of having an orphanage that would love kids unto their complete healing. When I finally had the opportunity to take a step towards that dream, I felt unequipped. I decided to dig in; my “yes” to those girls and to my dream was strong. I learned that in the midst of feeling unequipped, God will equip you with all that you need. It was a challenging season but it is only because of my continual “yes” to those 22 girls, that I am where I am today.

Looking back, I can see that it wasn’t just one “yes” to taking care of them. Each time one of them woke me in the middle of the night or threw a fit, I got to say “yes” all over again. One day, when I felt particularly overwhelmed, I heard God say that consistency is what I could bring to The Mission and to my girls. Consistency in my “yes” to serving Him and my “yes” to caring for them.

When you say “yes” to partnering with God, it isn’t a one and done sort of thing; He requires all of you. All of your life, time, finances, dreams, relationships...the list goes on. Every time you are confronted with a challenge, you are also confronted with an opportunity to surrender to Him once again as you say “yes” to leaning on His strength and not your own. The fruits of that season were not only the skills I acquired but the lives that were transformed around me. Because of my “yes” and consistency, I have Sheyla. She and her two sisters [three to six years old] arrived in 1995. They were brought by their biological mother because she did not have the means to care for them.

[Sheyla, her husband and son]

When they arrived, the girls’ hair was so unkept that they had dreadlocks full of lice and feces, along with open sores on their scalp from untreated ringworm. They were incredibly malnourished and ready for family. I specifically remember getting to give them their first bath. As I washed the caked-on-dirt off of their bodies, cut their hair, picked out lice, gave them clean clothes and care bears; I knew that they were mine. This was what my strong “yes” and consistency could bring. I was their house mom for one year and then eventually began overseeing the entire orphanage program. In 2008, I began leading The Mission as a whole, alongside my husband. Sheyla and her siblings were with us for many years; well into their teenage years.

Each of them were flower girls in my wedding. Now, 25 years later, Sheyla’s step daughter is in the high school and I get to snuggle her baby boy at church; we are still in relationship.

The consistent “yes” that I gave to those girls 25 years ago, not only transformed me but transformed them as well. I got to love them when their biological mother couldn’t. When Sheyla came to enroll her step daughter in the school, she proudly walked around our campus telling her, “This is where I grew up.” That is something we are extremely proud of. Our team has created a home and family for children, not an institution that they are ashamed of. What a beautiful experience it was to see the girl I first met in 1995, when she had dreadlocks full of lice, now married with three beautiful children. Not only that, but she was proud to call The Mission home and us her family. That is what my consistent “yes” was for. At times, it can feel that what you are doing isn’t “significant” but if you stay the course you will get to see the fruit of your labor and the manifestation of your dream. You get to see your Sheyla, 25 years later.

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 Sheyla’s, follow Genea and The Mission on social media @geneamarie and @themissionorg.

We pray this finds you well! Just last month, we shared that The Mission was facing an immediate loss of $150,000 due to missions trips being cancelled because of the precautionary measures being taken against COVID-19. Since then $186,473 has been given to The Mission’s COVID-19 Aid Fund! Thank you for your incredible generosity! Because of it, we are now covered financially through May 30th. Our team is overwhelmed by the swiftness of your response and filled with hope as we continue to work in the nations. Currently, all groups have cancelled through May 30th. As none of us know how long this season will last, we will keep you updated on how COVID-19 is affecting The Mission’s finances as we head into summer; what would be our busiest “missions trip” season. Each of your donations truly makes a difference. Thank you for being part of The Mission Family!

The Mission has not and will not cease any of the programs we currently have to care for children in the nations; although that does look different now. Each day we have the privilege of caring for 595 children, in different ways. Whether a child was part of a 12-hour care or 24-hour care program, our team is doing an incredible job with continuing to care for them in ways that honor what our government is asking of us. At the Mexico campus, although schools have been shut down, our team has put together an online program for the over 300 children enrolled in grades K-12. For any families that cannot access the internet, we are delivering schoolwork to their homes. In-home childcare has been provided for the families whose parents are unable to cease working. 

In both Romania and Mexico, we are providing social care visits to the families who are not part of our 24-hour-care, as well as food delivery when needed.

Our orphan-care team is doing an incredible job of coming up with creative and fun activities for all of our 24-hour-care, kids! From beginning garden projects, to crafts and even a few special cooking classes. Please continue to pray for our team as we navigate this season!

Like we have said before, although missions trips have ceased during this time, the need for “missions” hasn’t. We at The Mission are continuing to faithfully provide for all of the children who call us family. We are declaring, daily, for supernatural protection over all of our campuses; all while taking the precautionary measures our governments have asked of us. 

We wanted to reach out to you personally, in response to COVID-19 and The Mission. Our entire team is praying for a quick abolishment of the virus and the safety of those most at risk. As we are sure you have been experiencing, these are unprecedented times. First of all, thank you for your incredible faithfulness in choosing to partner with us; whether that be through donations, child sponsorship or joining us for missions trips. It all makes a difference. As you can imagine we, along with countless other organizations, are being deeply impacted by the preventative measures being requested by governments. When a global crisis like this presents itself, “missions” doesn’t end although missions trips generally do. Because of that, unfortunately, one of our main sources of income ends as a result. Multiple trips, along with the Jesus Culture Missions trip scheduled later this month, have been cancelled or postponed in the past few weeks. These are incredibly difficult conversations to navigate. It is a balance that can only be lead by the Holy Spirit, as we lean on God and say no to fear; all while using common sense to keep one another safe and honoring what our governments are asking of us. Because of multiple trip cancelations that have happened in the past few weeks, we at The Mission are faced with over $150,000 in immediate lost revenue. Our hope in sending you this letter, is to be fully transparent with the repercussions that this will have on The Mission. As you probably know, the prices visiting missions teams pay goes a lot further than just the meals, ministry and work project supplies they would be participating in. A large percentage of that income is how we cover the cost of the many programs we have that feed, educate and care for children, daily. Currently, The Mission cares for 595 children on a daily basis through orphan-care, education programs, feeding programs and more. That being said, we are asking you to join with us in prayer for an end to COVID-19 as well as for supernatural provision of that $150,000 and even more as we prepare for further trip cancelations.  If you feel lead to partner with us in the midst of this, we would be extremely grateful. You can do that by making a donation to help offset the unintended effects of so many recent cancelations. You may do so by following the directions below.

Over the past 32 years, we have experienced many times of need as a ministry; God has never failed to provide and meet us there. We know this will be no different and are eagerly awaiting to see what provision looks like this time. God bless you as you navigate this season in faithfulness and thank you again for all that you do; we are extremely grateful for your partnership in both prayer and finance. As a team, we are declaring the supernatural abolishment of the virus and can’t help but feel that this month especially, as we celebrate His resurrection, is the perfect time to see that.

Loving Him, 

Genea & Jimmy Horner
Senior Leaders of The Mission

*The financial amounts are being updated live.