The last leg of our summer has been an interesting one!

The last leg of our summer has been an interesting one.  God has taught us in unique ways how to continue to depend on Him in all that we do.  Three adults over the last three weeks have visited the hospital and needed an IV to rehydrate their bodies.  Several people have struggled with the normal Mexican symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.  Come to find out our pure water filter hadn't been changed by the company for a year.  Two of our daughters and I ran to the hospital for fear they may have had the swine flu, just to find out it was a cold.  As Rick has been sharing in the debriefs, coming to Mexico is a step of faith.  It is not taking the "safe" route.  God shows His power even through the times we're not sure what is going on, or why everybody is getting sick.  There doesn't seem to be an easy answer, but one thing I continue to realize, God shows Himself through every circumstance.  We have an amazing God who we serve.

 

The past three weeks have been a stretch for us, they have been made up of several different groups each week.  Starting in August we had 5 different Churches represented.  Two from North Carolina, one from L.A., one from Redding and a lady from Tacoma, Washington.  With each group coming together to finish Reynario's church, painting Jamin's church,  putting an extension on Pastor Faustino's house and building a home for a family Reynario knew.  All this in one week and each group sharing with the children in all five churches.  Because there were so many we were able to visit each church three times during the week.  It was crazy to organize, but incredible to see more and more kids coming each day.  In Fransisco's church there were kids who had been coming to the VBS's, and through that a family became interested in coming to Church.  Fransisco got Casey to bring a prayer team by their home, and were able to minister to the family. 

 

The following week three different groups from Wisconsin, New Jersey and Redding, California came.  Again we were able to pour a lot of time into the communities with VBS.  The encouraging thing is that we can see lives change and grow as groups communicate God's love.  Two groups were able to work on two pastor's homes.  Todd Skinner's group built Pastor Fransisco's home on top of the church (beautiful view of the city and ocean).  Lee Cha's group put on an extension for Pastor Ricardo's home.  The night before the group arrived, Rosi and Ricardo had a baby girl.  And Bob Riconda built a home for a family in Pastor Fransisco's community.  Again, all this in one week!! 

 

In a matter of two weeks 8 different churches got to taste, touch and feel the mission field.  Our prayer and hope is that this will ignite a deep desire to go home and live sold out for God.  That this would not only be an experience for Mexico, but that the work begun here would continue at home.

Todd Skinner's group sitting in front of Pastor Fransisco's house.

Rosi sitting with her new baby girl!

Lee Cha's group doing a VBS at Pastor Faustino's church.

Pastor Bob's group moving wood and getting ready to work.

Pastor Bob's group gave a Bible to Juan & Sofia along with there house warming gift.

 

Amazing couple of weeks being involved in His ministry!

We've made it through over half of our summer, lots of amazing stories of what God has been doing here and many answers to prayer.   Our team was tested two weeks ago with the biggest group of our summer.  We were a little nervous how things would go with 81 people building, eating, sleeping and getting to know each other.  It was an amazing week as we looked back on how smooth everything went, and were able to build relationships.  Princeton Alliance had a hefty schedule with the amount of building they wanted to get done.  They managed to get a second story on Pastor Reynarios church, built three houses (almost finished all) and an extension to Pastor Jamin's house.  The hardest part of the week was the amount of people who got sick.  Not from the swine flu!  All week they passed a virus that ran its course through just about everyone, at the end of the week even knocking out our team.  Through it all, God's light shined through each member in two communities, and in each church they shared the love of Jesus.  God continues to do work in the hearts of many who have come down, it has been a great encouragement to hear the stories of changed lives.  One member of the team, Kevin, planned to stay with us for a month.  It is has been our joy to give the opportunity for those who want to seek God's will to stay and serve God for an extended time.  We look forward to seeing how God will use these opportunities to shape and mold the interns who have served here.  We are grateful for the sacrifice of time and finances it takes to come and stay for a longer period of time.

 

During the week I was driving our car on one of the dirt roads, the car felt like it had a flat tire.  I got out to check and didn't see any tires were flat.  So I continued, I went onto the highway and soon realized I had no control of the car.  After pulling over Stephanie and I went out and looked under the car, and the control arm to the back tire had snapped.  Thankfully, I was not driving on the highway very long.  I realized very quickly how God had taken care of us in a very simple way.  As much as I hate the dirt roads, I was so thankful I was driving on one at that time. 

 

Last week we only had 38, it seemed so small.  But, great things happened!  Michael Alcorn from Moses Lake, Washington brought a group in to do our first youth ministry week.  God was at work in a great way.  Each day around 40 youth came from all 5 Alliance Churches.  They played games, worshipped together, danced before the Lord, listened to testimonies and heard a message prepared by youth (and Bill).  The week ended with a huge youth rally at Pastor Jamin's.  Over 120 Mexican youth came out, both groups of American and Mexican youth along with many adults came to worship together (probably close to 200 in total)!  Rafa brought in a band from Mexicali, all cultures came together worshipping and dancing together.  Michael challenged the youth, and they all came forward to put Christ first in their lives.  It was a great experience ministering to the youth.  Jeudy and his team from California joined the Washington group on Monday afternoon.  They spent their time ministering to the children in each of the churches, and finishing up the houses from the week before.  They were willing hearts wanting to do what ever was set before them.  One of the greatest moments was seeing both groups, and the youth from Ensenada up front on Friday night arm in arm worshipping the same Lord in two different languages. 

 

God's mighty name is being proclaimed throughout this humble valley.  Pray for us that we will continue to seek God's face in all that we do.  Pray that we will be a strong light shinning to our neighbors (all 20 of them below us), the hot dog guy (Julio) and Carlos who owns the neighborhood corner market.  They know who we are and what we do, our prayer is that we will be a reflection of Christ in our words and actions.

Reynerio's church at the end of the week!

Kevin & Nicoli working hard!

Princeton getting ready to pray and hand over the keys to a family.

Having a meeting with the Princeton group at the orphanage.

Youth ministry on the beach, some really enjoy this part of ministry!!

1st day of youth ministry with Moses Lake group up at Pastor Fransisco's group.

Moses Lake youth worship team at the youth event on Friday night.

Teens worshipping & dancing unto the Lord!