Patricia Carey

Patricia Ann Carey is a gift to the people of Mexico. This retired nurse moved to Chapala to help the less fortunate by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by opening a FREE Consultario in San Nicolas de Ibarra. Patricia was born on October 29, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. As an only child Patricia was close to her father William. Her mother Angeline was a highly educated woman that suffered with mental illness. Angeline was involved in the occult, unstable and at times violent.  When Patricia was three years old her parents divorced and in 1966 when Patricia was only 16 her father died of lung cancer. Patricia attended high school in a suburb of Chicago and in 1967 she studied at Western Illinois University.  On a blind date while in college she met her future husband Antonio Cardona who was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  They dated for a year and married in 1969 when Patricia was 19. Her Latino husband had a volatile temper which led to much physical and emotional abuse. Before their first year of marriage she discovered that Antonio was unfaithful. The young couple moved to Bolivia and their first son was born in February 1971.  While living in Cochabamba, Bolivia - Patricia had no idea of God --- or His plans for her. After Antonio had heightened angry encounters with his family they left Bolivia when their son Ernesto was just 6 weeks old. In April 1971 this young family moved back to Colorado to live with Patricia’s step mother Gracie.  In shame, Patricia hid her physical abuse and pretended for 16 years that everything was okay in her turbulent marriage.  Eventually Antonio acquired a job teaching in Chicago and so they moved back to Illinois.  Two more children were added to the family while in Chicago; Cynthia was born in 1974 and Daniel in 1981. Patricia always wanted to become a registered nurse so in 1984 she attended school part-time to become an RN.   After being severely beaten, this desperate mother moved into a Women’s Shelter with her three kids.  A social worker at the shelter asked her some deeply penetrating questions. “How long will you accept this abuse in front of your children?” 

In 1985 Patricia filed for divorce and Antonio moved out. For three years she received zero financial support from her ex-husband.  Patricia held a part time job at a local hospital working from midnight to 8:00 AM.  After struggling for three years to support her family, the Judge ordered Antonio to ‘quit claim’ the mortgage over to Patricia and pay child support until the children were age 18.  As a single working mom for the next seven years, Patricia worked part time for six of those hard years attending night school to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  After dating for one year, in 1992 when her son Ernesto was age 21, her daughter Cynthia was 18 and youngest Daniel was 11 years old, Patricia married David J. Wisdom, a construction worker.  Patricia admits that after years of secular counseling, she was woefully immature, self-absorbed, emotionally scarred, and spiritually ill prepared to handle marriage to another bitter man filled with hate towards his mother.  She felt invisible and rejected by a husband who would remain silent at dinner.  In 1997 Patricia began finding the counterfeit comfort of drinking until she was numb.  David filed for a divorce in 1999. Patricia did not want the divorce, she wanted to work things out. With all her kids out of the house, the day that husband David announced “I do not love you anymore” Patricia began to drink more heavily throughout the ensuing three year court battle. God intervened by sending a neighbor who invited Patricia to church. In November of 1999 Patricia accepted Jesus as her Lord and was baptized in December of 1999. She attended Christ Community Church four days a week and soaked up all that the Spirit of God was teaching her.

In July of 2000 Patricia took a short term mission trip to Mexico. During that trip Patricia was called to share Jesus with the poor of Mexico. She returned home where she was working as a Nurse Case Manager in the Chicago area. Patricia continued to grow in Christ as she studied the Bible and attended seminars. In 2001 she went on a mission trip to Mexico City with Campus Crusade in Christ. Back in Chicago she volunteered at church and led Bible Studies for women.  For the next 13 years Patricia served at church and longed for more.  Seeking more depth, Patricia left her original church and joined a local Baptist Church and was asked to be on the Mission Committee.  For three years Patricia learned how missions were funded and she also volunteered at a Christian Medical Clinic in the Chicago area.  Sometime within 2015 she was made aware that her kids did not understand her heart for Jesus or her hope to serve in the mission field.  Not wanting to hurt those she loved, Patricia humbled herself before the Lord asking Him for direction. Her Spirit was directed to study “Spiritual Warfare”. Obediently, in 2016 Patricia enrolled in a deep study which led her into personal deliverance from her fear of rejection, alcohol abuse, and her unforgiveness towards those who had hurt her. She was supernaturally delivered from past baggage and her friend Laura planted the seed for Patricia to start a Christian Medical Clinic in Mexico. Paul wrote to the people in Corinth "My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might NOT be based on men's wisdom but on God's power." 1 Corin 2:5 - Patricia chose to trust in God, not in man's wisdom. 

Patricia was discouraged by a few church members and even a Pastor. She was told NOT to expect that God would provide the resources necessary to accomplish such a vision in Mexico. Our Father responded to her naysayers by sending Patricia an older lady from Bolivia!  God is so faithful, He sent a woman from the very town Patricia once lived as a frightened, immature wife so long ago!  In 2016 Patricia met Blanca Mustafa, a Godly woman from Cochabamba, Bolivia.  God personally sent Blanca who immediately recognized Patricia's willing, servants heart. Believing in God's power, purpose and provision, Blanca encouraged;  “Patricia, God chose and equipped you with the perfect experiences to open a Christian Medical Clinic in Chapala, Mexico.”  It is true that what the devil intends for harm, God turns around and uses it for His glory!  Patricia retired early in 2013 to prepare to move to Chapala, Jalisco. She sold her house in Chicago and hired a company to sell the contents. Patricia arrived in Mexico on December 5, 2017 with five suitcases and a strong faith in the vision God had given her. All her worldly possessions were stolen and her faith in God as her sole provider intensified! She enrolled in Spanish lessons and Bible Studies immediately. On any given weekend you will find Patricia walking the Chapala malecon handing out tracks.  She is a volunteer at Love in Action, a local orphanage. Patricia has financially and spiritually supported a few of these abused girls through school. Patricia wrote a program approved by the LIA Director entitled “Who You Are in Christ”. She uses the program to teach two girls at a time during the week and then they cook and pray together.

“These young girls need to be prepared to lean on God, not man when they are forced to leave the sanctuary of support they get at Love in Action.”  Trusting in God alone, Patricia has never had to ask for money to fund her work. Working as a volunteer at the local hospital in San Antonio,  Patricia has made valuable connections. In January 2020 by the grace and many mercies provided by God, the perfect location for “Mision Posible” a Christian Free Medical Clinic was rented and renovated to fit the needs of the under privileged around Lake Chapala!  When God opens a door, Patricia strides with a confident smile right through it! With the 2020 Pandemic of Fear crippling the economy in Mexico and around the world, Patricia kept the Consultario open until August 2023. We make our plans and our gracious Father modifies them as He sees fit.  Patricia is constantly weeping in humility for all that our Lord has provided. She draws tremendous strength from the saints that have gone before her.  These are a few of the Scriptures that keep Patricia’s faith on fire.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 The life of George Mueller has inspired Patricia to trust God in all trials! "Love must be without hypocrisy....be persistent in prayer...Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.  Do not be proud, instead associate with the humble." Romans 12:1-16 Pat's beloved Mamita went home to Jesus on July 27, 2020. Patricia Carey email:  Pat.wisdom@sbcglobal.net