Exciting Things taking place!

Two weeks ago the youth pastors here had a big event at our new church plant in Salitral.  Pastor Jamin has a lot of land for the youth to spread out and have fun.  About 40 youth came; played futbol and volleyball, ate, worshipped and listen to a message.  Rafa and Isai have been planning events for the youth once month.  It has been a slow, but improving ministry.  Both of them are eager and wanting to invest in the youth of the churches.  The hard part is getting the buy in from all the pastors.  Pray for them as they are planning and coming up with creative ideas for the youth.  Pray for the pastors that they will get behind the youth ministry. 

This last week, our family, the praxis students ( Casey, 

Kourtney, & Sarah) , Sammy and Fransisco and his family family all went to Mexicali.  We went to check out the facility for our spring break groups, and we also took advantage of meeting up with the pastors there (Gustavo and Rafa).  One of our spring break groups le

aders joined us in Mexicali.  The group will be coming from Las Vegas, we knew that they were coming to see us, but we didn't tell Sarah who is from that church.  It was fun to see Sarah suprised when her pastors and leaders showed up.  We spent the day checking out the property where the church will be built and meeting with the pastors (Gustavo and Francis).  We have really enjoyed making new contacts in Mexicali, both pastors are so grateful to be apart of The Christian and Missionary Alliance.  Rick had fun learning how to get around the NEW city.  He joked with Sammy that this is now his city.  Sammy is from Mexicali, and reminded us often how much Mexicali has grown.  We spent a good amount of time trying to find Costco, thanks to Kourtney's good eyes we found it.

 

Today we went to church in Luis Mercado with the new church plant with Jamin.  Jamin has been working in the same area that Reynario is in, so we merged to 2 congregations into 1!  God is so GOOD!  They have come together to reach Luis Mercado, to have 2 congregations in 1 small village would not have been a good thing, but now the community can see 2 churches become 1!  It was an encouraging service with 40 adults and 20 kids. After the service we had lunch together at our home with Jamin's family, Reyario's family, Sarah, Casey and Ricardo's family.  Rick has really enjoyed preparing carnitas, he brags that his carnitas are better than others.  It was a great time of getting to know Jamin and his family.

  

Continue to pray for the ministry here in Baja, as we prepare for groups to come this spring.  Our hope is that we will be a light in the communities and that God will be seen.  Our desire is to reflect Christ in all that we do, as the groups prepare to come, we pray that we will be an example and a help to the pastors.   

Ministry in Ensenada when groups are not in town!

Part of our job is to work alongside the churches here in Baja California.  We have many challenges as we try to encourage the pastors to have healthy churches.  This month Rick and I have spent a great deal of time working on character issues and problems.  As with anywhere in ministry problems happen, our purpose in being here is to walk alongside the local church, we do not take over ministry and do it the way we would do it in Canada or in the United States.  It has been another tough month of dealing with issues, please continue to pray for the ministry here.  At this time we have had to put the youth center on hold, it has been discouraging but we have to trust that there must be a reason.  Pray for wisdom as we need to make decisions, that we would always be sensitive to the Lords leading. We had rented another facility, but we were unable to move our group housing over due to some internal issues.  We are hoping and praying that we will be able to open the youth drop in center in early June.  At the youth center we hope to offer free Internet, Foosball, air hockey, pool & live music on weekends.  Pray that God would supply ALL the funds for the youth center and reliable staff!

 

Two weeks ago Ricardo came to us with another friend who wants to come under the covering of the Alliance.  Rick and Fransisco have both met with them and it seemed to be a great church with a lot of potential.  One of the problems is that they are ministering in two communities and one of the same communities is Luis Mercado, the same community that Reynario is in.  It is a very small community, and would be very difficult to have two churches in it.  At this time we felt that maybe it would be a good opportunity for Reynario and the other church to combine and become one church.  However, we need to seek God to know if this is His plan.  Pray with us as we talk, and pray through this possibility, both pastors are planning to sit down and see if will work.

 

Two months ago Reynario lost 38 people from his church for 4 months.  They packed up their families and went to La Paz to find work.  Reynario asked Rick several times if it would be possible to visit them in La Paz.  This week Rick, Reynario and Sammy left for La Paz to minister to Reynarios church people.  Rick loaded up boxes of toys, and both Reynario and Sammy had bibles to give away.  One of our saying here is "there is never a dull moment", while living here we are learning to expect the unexpected.  While Rick was in La Paz visiting families, 11 people wanted to return with back to Maneadero.  Rick loaded the pickup with kids/adults in the cab and back of his truck for a 16 hour trek home.  Two hours into the trip the differential went out and all 14 people spent 6 hours at a Mexican shop while the mechanic fixed the truck.  The 16 hour trip turned into a 22 hour Mexican adventure!

Sammy & Reynerio with the mechanics after we finished

praying for them!

We were only able to fit 14 in total on our adventure back

home from La Paz, you can't see everyone (some are

still sleeping!)

Sammy & Reynerio leading the kids in some songs!