About Us

"In 2000 Larry and Anne went for a two-week holiday for their first trip to Mexico. The hotel Larry and Anne stayed at had a sign on the front of the hotel.  The sign invited them to get on a bus to see the “other Mazatlan”.  Turns out that the “other Mazatlan” far away from the tourist zone hotels captured their hearts.  The bus brought them to the city dump which as a first for them!  At the the dump they saw people working at the dump, scrounging to find things to sell. 

 Larry heard at The Vineyard Church in Mazatlan that concrete footings were being poured for the second feeding Center (now called Community Centers where women and children are fed nutritious food and learn about Gods love) and knew this was his chance to help.  Larry met many great friends along the way as he worked and made lots of precious memories. Larry drove trucks to pick up teams of volunteers from the airport, hauled Mexicans to the volunteer dentists, hauled a mobile dental clinic to various Community Centers where it was needed.  

The second year Larry and Anne visited Mazatlan they stayed for two months and rented a house in a Spanish gated community, and got really good at riding the bus all over the city. This meant they needed to learn Spanish!  Anne volunteered to go to the Community Centers just as Larry had the first year.  The children loved her Spanish English bilingual children's books, and they helped Anne learn more Spanish. She created tiny flashcards - English on one side, Spanish on the other side.  Word got out, a blonde teacher was giving English lessons beside the Community Center.  

Larry and Anne visited Mazatlan for two months each winter totalling sixteen times! Anne’s Spanish continued to get better and better, opening up many opportunities to be invited into homes to hear her story and to share the stories about how much Jesus loves them.  It wasn’t a good day unless she was stretched to use the Spanish gift which God gave her.  

Since their very first trip in 2000 the changes have been overwhelming!  

Providing kids with nutrition and a chance to go to school changes a student, their family, their community.  Through the Child Sponsorship Program (VSP) students receive school uniforms, school shoes, school supplies, and paid tuition. The Child Sponsorship program offers children love, food, field trips, shoes, and a friendly loving environment.  

Canadians just like Anne and Larry many times “accidentally” found Vineyard Ministries in Mazatlan, found the Compassion Tour,  or heard about the need when they were at church. Right from the beginning Larry and Anne wanted to help Canadians to get an official income tax receipt for their giving.  So in 2006 they registered The Central Mexico Mission Society of Canada for this purpose. 

Canadians love to give when they see that their donations make a difference.

With returning each year, it is easy to see the changes, the growth, the development of new programs. It's exciting to see that improvements are happening, our sponsored students are graduating, and we are getting closer to making Mazatlan a “Paradise for All”.

What a journey!  

Larry (Anne’s Husband) sadly passed away in May of 2020 after six long years battling Cancer, but the memory of Larry deeply remains in Mazatlan from his faithful work, and the friends and lives he touched along the way.

Anne Continues to be a key role in the mission of Central Mexico Central Mexico Canada and visits Mazatlan, Mexico yearly when ever she can.