We didn't know we would be called to support others through mental health struggles. We moved to Mexico to serve churches and that transformed into a sprawling youth ministry.

In July 2021, my wife got a call from her younger sister asking us to pick them up. There was panic and confusion in their voices and we had no idea what was happening. When we got to their house, everything was wrong.

It's when we finally got the news from them–their mom was kidnapped by cartel members.

That very same night is when we became parents to my wife's four teenage siblings. The feelings of grief, anger, and depression filled our home as every person in our family was struggling to understand what was happening...praying that their mom would return one day. She hasn't.

I struggled to support my wife, I had never lost a loved one before, and despite my wanting to support her I came up short for a long time. But we talked a lot, and over time life made us move on.

Then January 6, 2023 came.

This time the calls were for me. I woke up to dozens of notifications that all said "Dad," and as I dialed back my worry was hearing he was in the hospital. When he picked up he only needed to say two words "Your sister..."

The brokeness in his spirit told me everything. My baby sister had taken her own life.

Marco is originally from Puebla, the capital city of a state in Mexico with the same name, Puebla. Currently, he resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He has been married for 25 years to Fabiola Zayas, and together they have 3 children.

Zayas received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from “Nuevo Santander University,” and earned a second Bachelor's degree in Theology and Missions from Bethany Fellowship.

He has worked as a psychologist in Mexico’s federal system called “Desarrollo Integral de la Familia” (Comprehensive Family Development), while also providing serving as Director at the CEMM Bible Institute. Currently, he is living his calling as a counselor partnered with Our Cross to Bear Ministries.