Safely Home

While many of you already have your youth or loved ones home... I thought it would be worthwhile to post on here that we DID in fact make it safely home around 12:45PM yesterday.

There are many stories to tell, some of which are only hinted at on these pages. I hope that as you converse, learn, and dig deeper with the team members that you can tease some of those stories out. God has done some amazing things in our lives, and in the lives of those we met, and we trust that He will continue to work on us and in Mexico in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Thank you for your prayers!

ETA

We've made some great time through the night, and at 7AM this morning we are stopping for dinner. We expect to arrive home at Bakerview for 1/1:30PM this afternoon.

Can't wait to see you all there!

The First Leg Home

We arrived in Benecia, CA tonight at around 10:15 PM. It was a long day, having left the orphanage around 6:15 this morning, but everyone is in good spirits.

It's always a hard thing to leave behind the memories that we made. There are so many important relationships, experiences and people in Mexico that we may not see again. Yet that doesn't diminish the importance in our hearts. These are real people, living a real life, and we are fortunate enough to help them in this moment. God is doing some pretty incredible things in our hearts, and we pray that He uses the small gestures we were able to leave behind to work in the lives of these people as well.

Tomorrow we have a little decompression, which is always a bitter sweet thing, as we process all of what we've learned. We'll be back on the road at 6:30 PM tomorrow night for a straight drive home. Your prayers for the drivers is MUCH appreciated.

We literally have thousands of photo's. Most of which will go up in the coming week after we arrive home. Check Facebook for them, or grab a team member to watch them.

On the way

After all the drama on the way down, it was surprisingly refreshing to pull up to Tijuana and practically walk right through. We left the Orphanage at 6:30 this morning, and arrived at the border around 10 and after meandering our way through the Tijuana streets to pull up to the crossing. Everyone except Darrell disembarked and walked through with the luggage.

Because I was first, they asked me a few more questions... 3 of them and waved us through without any problems. We usually schedule around an hour for the crossing, but we were through and driving again in 15 minutes.

Currently we are crawling through LA traffic on our way north, but everyone is in good spirits and happy to have begun the journey home.

Purpose

Today was a seminal moment. We worked this morning, finishing up various projects from around the Mission. Pulling cable, finishing a building, pouring concrete counter tops. It's fulfilling to see the work you've been doing come together into a finished project.

What really stands out yo everyone, however was getting off property today. We had the privilege of visiting the migrant camp this morning. Handing out soccer balls, quilts, clothes for all ages and shoes was a real impact. We're about to head into a debrief meeting, but for each of our youth I know it was a deeply moving experience to see how these people live day in and day out and have a real measurable impact on their lives.

Even though you ate thousands of miles away, this is because of each and every one of you. You have been praying, you have sent your children, you have supported with money and supplies. This part of the Kingdom is because of you. Thank you for being faithful.

We leave bright and early tomorrow morning (6AM) for the border, and straight north to San Francisco. Pray for the drivers, the border, and opportunities along the way. God is so good!

Purpose

Today was a seminal moment. We worked this morning, finishing up various projects from around the Mission. Pulling cable, finishing a building, pouring concrete counter tops. It's fulfilling to see the work you've been doing come together into a finished project.

What really stands out yo everyone, however was getting off property today. We had the privilege of visiting the migrant camp this morning. Handing out soccer balls, quilts, clothes for all ages and shoes was a real impact. We're about to head into a debrief meeting, but for each of our youth I know it was a deeply moving experience to see how these people live day in and day out and have a real measurable impact on their lives.

Even though you ate thousands of miles away, this is because of each and every one of you. You have been praying, you have sent your children, you have supported with money and supplies. This part of the Kingdom is because of you. Thank you for being faithful.

We leave bright and early tomorrow morning (6AM) for the border, and straight north to San Francisco. Pray for the drivers, the border, and opportunities along the way. God is so good!

Nearly done!

Towards the end of last night, a large portion of the group went down into town and took in the local hot springs. Water at the Orphanage has been scarce, so showers have been off limits! It has been a stinky few days. People were coming back last night saying they felt like a new person!

We also wrapped up last night with a fashion show with the kids from the orphanage showing off their new clothes and spending some time with us. It had a real party!

Hard to believe that today was the final full day of work here at the Orphanage. A crew went down into the local school to lay blocks for a small shed on site. Another crew finished pulling network cable so they can have internet throughout the Orphanage buildings. Another filled in the 900 feet of trenches we've dug, while others cleaned the bricks in the courtyard. Each and every one of the youth (and leaders!) have worked super hard in the past few days, and it shows!

Tomorrow we change pace a bit, the morning will be business as usual, but around 11am we will lead up into vans and head into a migrant camp to serve soup, give out clothes and play with them youth and kids. It is something I've really been looking forward to.

The last part of the day will be spent in La Beufedora shopping and experiencing an authentic taco stand. Our final day in Mexico!

The internet in Mexico has been tight, so this is likely the final post until Friday when we are back into the US. We'll be pulling out of the Orphanage around 7am and driving for the border. Two long days of travel will see us home!

Thank you for your continued prayers as we work and listen for what God is doing! It shows in the heart of the youth and the opportunities God has given us.

Finding our Rhythm

I believe it would be fair to say that everyone here is both exhausted and thrilled. We had a chance to debrief last night for the first time about the past few days and chat about how God has been at work in our hearts and in our trip. Never tell me that a teenager cannot see the hand of God working tightly with their lives. These youth are extremely perceptive, they understand where and how God is at work in the many situations we have already encountered.

Random encounters with strangers, various perspectives on the border troubles, interactions within the group, nature... all of these things God is using to speak to our youth in powerful ways. It's a beautiful thing to see and hear about as a youth pastor, and one of the reasons I love what I do. As we serve, God is faithful to meet us in this place.

Today brought quite a few projects! We were hard at work finishing the utility building in front of the mission's building. Rob Betts has been leading a team to get network cable pulled all throughout the site so that they can eventually have high speed internet for the kids in every building. Darrell has been working in the kitchen, figuratively and literally, doing the ground work for concrete counter-tops. Micah has been leading a team digging trenches, and cleaning up an area for the prayer garden.

These kids are hard workers. I say that every time I'm privileged to lead a team, and this is no different. They have the right attitude when approaching this work, realizing that they are building something so much greater than their own pride. They are working for the Kingdom.

Tonight will bring some much needed relaxation, a possibility of heading to the local hot springs for showers/baths. We have been unable to have showers here due to a water shortage, so hopefully it will work well -- it would definitely be well received! No one stinks... too badly.

One of the mom's from the Orphanage came and looked through the clothing that was bought and donated -- she couldn't believe how what we brought met all of their needs. We are planning on having a multi-national fashion show this evening with the kids wearing some of their new clothes, and our youth hamming it up.

God is good, as is evident in every conversation I have with these youth. Thank you for your continued prayers -- there are many more stories to tell in the days and weeks ahead. I can't wait to share them with you!

Made It!

After the adventure we had yesterday, you can't imagine the excitement we had when we finally pulled through the border, and pulled up to the orphanage. All said and done, we arrive 19 hours after we originally left San Juan Capistrano. One of our longest days on the journey on what should have been the shortest.

It was 2 AM when we finally arrived, and everyone was quite beat. Bed was not far behind after getting the lay of the land, and all was quiet until the 9 AM wakeup call this morning. A hearty breakfast awaited us, and everything is right into work mode. A testament to the character of these youth, and what God has been doing in their hearts.

Internet is severely limited, so I won't be able to post pictures, but MANY are being taken and will be posted when I am able!

Right now, we are building a generator building, painting wood for bunk beds, mixing concrete, preparing for a real internet connection here at the Orphanage and more. The youth are VERY excited for the orphanage children to arrive home from school and to shift gears from work into loving on them.

God is at work, and it's not hard to see!

Our Border Stories

A few weeks ago in our meetings I told our youth that crossing into Mexico would be an experience they wouldn't soon forget. Little did I know what a prophetic word that would be.

Today has been a frustrating experience that has been free of frustration. For each roadblock that we have encountered I have felt God's presence telling me that He's got this, rest in Me. Something I hope has shone through to the youth.

We encountered a border guard this morning who was more interested in he letter of the law than the spirit. In crossing back to the US, the guards there went and spoke with him to find what was required for us to cross. He told us a notarized document from the church would scrape us by. Where to find a notary on a Sunday in a foreign nation?

God provides, and withing 15 minutes I was speaking to a notary who would come to us. We drafted up a letter, and Nikki helped translate it into Spanish. Pastor Michael signed it and we finished what we needed in a Starbucks.

Back to the border we went. Same guard, similar story. This time God sent us an advocate in the form of a local business man named Ronny who was able to translate and advocate for us. Through Ronny, and much talking we were able to come to an agreement which lead to us having our Visa's to get into the country, but they would not allow the bus through. We are now on our way to a separate border crossing to get the bus through.

Your prayers are appreciated, and I believe a huge part of Ronny being present at the same place at that moment.

Hopefully the next post will be from the orphanage, with many great stories to come.

Adventures

It wouldn't be a fun trip if there weren't some adventures, and adventures we have! We pulled up to the Tecate border crossing right on schedule, but things went south pretty quickly from there. The border guard was unimpressed with the amount of minors with us, and then wanted signed Spanish documents to say that they were allowed to be with us.

We were turned away. But God is in control.

In the time since then, we've found a 24/7 notary who will meet us and sign a document, drawn it up, gotten it translated into Spanish, and now we will notarize the document and try again at the border.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated! :)

Safe in San Juan Capistrano

Well, that was a LONG day. Wakeup call was at 6:00 AM this morning, and we were on the road for most of the day. A wonderful breakfast at the hotel, a quick loadup of the bus and off we went!

One thing I've noticed particularly about this group is how quickly they have bonded. The bus trip does wonders for that, but most of the time is spent in the back playing games, laughing together and generally just enjoying one another presence. A great thing to see, and says a lot to each of their characters.

For lunch, we stopped at the famed In-N-Out Burger. We did our fair share in calories, and got schooled in the hidden menu that makes this such a fantastic burger stop.

From there, it was straight on till dinner, where we stopped at Claim Jumper and enjoyed American sized portions. A short two hour journey brought us safely to our hotel for the evening.

A trip like this isn't just fine dining and fun, however. Tomorrow is a wakeup call of 7 AM, and then we head for the border, for the real fun to begin. We expect to be at the orphanage late tomorrow afternoon, and have an opportunity to get settled in for the work ahead of us. That's where the real ministry begins.

Thank you for your continued prayers! I'm looking forward to sharing with you the work that God is doing in and through us in the coming days. You can expect nightly updates from the orphanage, and I'll do what I can for pictures, internet dependant.

Small Blessings

We are part of something so much bigger!

Saturday Travels

We made good distance yesterday and pulled into Yreka around 8PM. Today is our second longest stretch of our adventure, with over 1100 kilometers ahead.

By the end of the day we will be through Los Angeles and into San Juan Capistrano for sleep tonight. Good news is there are some beautiful views around us in God's great creation!

Safely in Yreka!

Thirteen hours after we left Abbotsford, we pulled into Yreka. Some great memories and experiences already behind us, we're heading to bed after a fantastic dinner for an early start tomorrow.

The roads were in great shape for driving and we even passed King Road MB on their way down to Mexico. We waved!

God is good, thanks for your prayers and support! We'll check in tomorrow with more pictures and stories.

We're Off!

The team is assembled and we're off! Many great adventures await us, thank you for your prayers in the past and in the coming 10 days!

Preparations

Before we ever load up a bus, there are many things that need to be done for a missions trip to come together. Destinations have to be picked, approval gained, applications need to go out, the team formed, meetings held, fundraisers put on, devotionals completed, team building games played, shopping to be done and so much more! The team has been hard at work over these past six months to get ready for our journey starting this Friday.

It's an exciting time, as we prepare to head to Mexico to work with kids and families who are far, far less fortunate than we are. Not worse off, just in a very different life situation. We will have many opportunities to be Jesus' hands and feet throughout our trip. There will be laughter, games, memories and so much more -- but these are not the reasons we are going. We go to be a light into the darkness and in turn have some of the people we are priviledged to minister to speak huge amounts into our own lives.

One of the things that we have done to prepare has been to take some of the money many of you have generously given to us and put it towards a tangible cause -- clothing for people who have none. We went to Walmart here in town to go shopping with these people in mind, and were blessed beyond belief to spend an hour shopping for people who are not ourselves. I can't wait to share with you the stories of travelling with these clothes and handing them to people who need them.

Already, we can sense that God has His eyes upon us. While shopping I (Stephen) was walking down one of the isles when a gentlemen was walking towards me. He clearly had a desire to speak, and stopped me asking me if I was going on a missions trip to Mexico. When I responded that I was, he pointed up to ceiling with some tears in his eyes and handed me a gift card, saying, "God told me that I should give this to you." We had a little moment right there in the middle of Walmart as the cosmic intersected our ordinary lives.

There are greater things in store, and I can't wait to share them with you as they happen. We serve an awesome God, who is in the habit of doing unexpected things. Thankfully, we don't have to go to Mexico to be His hands and feet!