Mission Mexico 2006

Back in Houston

The team has just arrived back in Houston after a brief delay in Chihuahua Airport due to weather and air traffic. Our team is scheduled to arrive back in Grand Rapids at about 11:15 pm tonight.
Please continue to pray that God would protect our team as they continue to travel home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

You can check the status of our flight from Houston by clicking here:
Flight: Continental Flight 2114 From IAH to GRR on Monday June 19

Final Days

Our team photo with Jordan

Our team photo with Dan.
(We really don't like to be seen together :-)
Please continue to pray for our team as they will be traveling on Monday and arrive at the Grand Rapids Airport late tommorrow night. Pray for the students specifically as they celebrate and process the work that God is doing in their lives. The next few days will be the most critical in their spiritual growth from the trip. It is a very difficult transition from the mountain top to returning home. Pray that each member would be able to communicate what God has done in them and through them this past week.

This was an amazing trip. I am so proud of our team and the way that they served and lead people to see and hear about a God who loves them. Each member of our team did their part well...the Body worked. Thanks so much for your prayers and support of our team. Also, a huge thanks to our amazing team of leaders- Jordan, Amy, Brenda, Doc, Shane, Kim, Dana and Spence. They did a great job of pouring into our kids and loving them.

Please keep coming back to this spot for more pics in the coming days (after the leaders wake up from their nap:-)
Thanks for being part of what God is doing in Guachochi, Mexico.

Media Team or DJ?

English Camp...the Cha Cha Slide

The Crowd at the morning session.

Singng along at the Opening Session.

One of the teachers and some of his students.

Opening Session at English Camp

An English Class on the last day.

An English Class on the last Day

Sports Camp

Guys at Camp

The School

Guachochi, Mexico

Sports Camp

Josh tasting a Mexican treat!

A view from the school...Guachochi.

Photogenic kids showing off their new shirts.

More Face painting by master artist: Kelsey

Face Painting and more.

Drinking that lovely water in between class.

English Camp - Class

English Camp - class

English Camp - Class

English Camp - Sports

Our amazing girls.

Our fearless men. (and some are feared greatly)

Chillin at Sinforosa

Relaxing by the cool water

Sinforosa

Hiking down to the Bridge at Sinforosa

Sinforosa

Team Pics

Our Fearless Bus Driver - BETO! OKAY! Please pray for him that He and his family would come to know Jesus. They are very close!

Our guys at Sinforosa.

Dental Clinic Pics

"The Father/Son Duo"

More Pictures are on the way!

English Camp Pics

More Pictures are on the way!

Journey back

We traveled from Guachochi to Chihuahua today. After a long bus ride, we are swimming and feasting on pizza! Tonight we will celebrate what God has done over the past week.

Yesterday was another great day. We started with the English and Sports Camps while the dental clinic was in full swing as well. It was another great day. We were all sad to say goodbye to our new friends, but will continue to pray for their personal journeys.

In the afternoon we traveled to Sinforosa, the best kept secret in Mexico. It is a HUGE canyon -- some say 3 times the size of the Grand Canyon! Many hiked to the foot bridge while a few stayed up at the top and relaxed.

Then it was off to host our last evening program. When we pulled in, there were already about 100 kids anxiously waiting for us. The students presented the gospel clearly through The Redeemer skit and Dan spoke. When we broke into small groups we walked step by step through the saving grace of Jesus. Many decisions were made for Christ. Please pray with us as the local church follows up and continues to build relationships with these precious kids and adults.

We are having a great time relaxing and tommorrow will worship together, shop for souveniers and celebrate more of what God has done and is doing in each of our lives!

Mission Mexico 2006

Mission Mexico 2006
We have had another great day in Mexico. We started our camp this morning at the school and Raquel and I started talking with the special ed teacher there as our students were singing and playing with her students. I started telling her about my neice and nephew who are autistic and she offered to show us her classroom as we continued talking.
Raquel began talking with her about Jesus and that He wants a personal relationship with each one of us. In my very broken Spanish, I knew enough to be quiet and pray that the Holy Spirit would touch her heart as Raquel explained that Jesus knocks on her hearts door. After about 20 minutes, she prayed to begin her journey with Jesus! She has been bringing her 3 year old to our evening program because she likes our singing and drama. Please pray for her. That we will be able to get her connected with the local church to encourage her growth.
We also had an entire group of children last night acknowledge that they are interested in starting a relationship with Jesus. When we arrived at Pastor Adrian's house today to prepare for the evening, there were already a half a dozen kids here. So, we are playing games with them for about 3 hours until we start!
We are so proud of our students! They have maintained an incredible energy level and are building relationships with kids and adults. The English and sports camps have gone extremely well.
Philippians 3:7-14 is apparent in their lives. Last night we sang and prayed under the open sky as we gazed at the stars and looked over Guachochi. Please continue to pray that this will forever change each one of us as well as the people we come into contact with.
God is so good!