December Prayer Letter

Our family has spent the last six weeks traveling from Mexico to Wisconsin and back. We spent time in five states, visiting and speaking at churches, sharing what God has been doing in Mexico, and getting to see some family & friends as well. It was fun, as well as encouraging, to be able to meet with people that we haven't seen in years. We were blessed by many, but one of the things that blew us away was the completely packed trailer we brought back home with us, full of donations for ministry. Primarily, these donations came from our sending church, Faith Community in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin - although many came in through visiting family and friends along the way as well.

God did amazing things through a challenge/update Ron gave to our church family at Faith. This challenge was born out of the song “With Everything” by Hillsong and was something that we all need to hear. Many hearts were touched, and in numerous different ways. Some were moved to think about whether or not they are honoring God with everything ñ their possessions, their time, etc. Some were encouraged and affirmed by God about something they have already stepped out in faith to do. Others were challenged to come or invite their whole families to come and serve in Mexico. There are so many awesome opportunities out there. For some, it may be serving in Mexico, Ecuador, or Africa. For others it means financially supporting those who are called to go into full-time missions. Are we holding tightly onto our money, our job, our stuff - or do we hold them with an open hand and ask God to do with them as He wills. Do we ignore that desire or prompting to go on a short-term mission trip because we are concerned about our finances or our safety?

Something else that “blessed our socks off” (to quote a fellow missionary) was talking to a couple who are close friends of ours and are considering full-time missions. They are completely open to what God may have in store and are considering serving next summer in Mexico. Are they calculating every penny they will need, worrying about not having a job to come home to, or wondering if they are not up for the challenge? No. They have sensed a call by God to serve in a capacity that they wouldn't have even imagined a few years ago. And they have made a choice to move forward until or unless God closes a door. That is a possibility, but either way we are encouraged by their faith and have been reminded of an invaluable lesson.

A huge thank you to everyone that we have met with on this trip and to each of you who've donated in some way to the ministry in Mexico. You are an encouragement to us beyond what you know.

Feliz Navidad/Merry Christmas!

Catchin' Up

Wow, it's already October! Here are a couple of updates to get you caught up on what's been happening here in Mexico:

AUGUST - WEEK II

This was our last official week of outreach for the summer. There were two teams scheduled to come to the ranch this week, but God had other plans. After both teams cancelled, new plans fell into place. Ron and I had the opportunity to work with the interns for the week, as the Intern Coordinators had other obligations to fill during that time. Monday and Tuesday we painted buildings at a local school.

Wednesday through Friday we did children's ministry at a new church plant in East Tijuana. This was very special for us, as the church we ministered to was Calvary Chapel Vista del Valle, which was started in January 2011 by fellow YUGO missionaries Jose Luis and Cindy Pesina. Brittany shared the plan of salvation using the Evangi-cube and William did a great job getting to know the children and keeping them involved in games and craft time. Both of them helped wherever needed, including helping to lead songs and taking part in the dramas that illustrated the days' Bible lessons.

Calvary Chapel Vista del Valle

Games



Snack

Leading Children to Christ

Puppet Show Reinforcing Bible Lesson

Craft Time

Drama

Bible Memorization

August - Week I

The first week of August was our largest week of the summer. We had teams here from California, New York, Massachussets and Alberta, Canada. Here is the highlight video from the week:

July - Week IV - "Mexicano a Mexicano" Week

This was our third year having a week designed for the Mexican youth to come and do ministry in the local churches. They came to do exactly what the American & Canadian teams do, only without interpreters. Multiple youth groups came together and formed five teams to minister to five different churches.

Inviting local children & youth to the church and to play soccer.

Children's Ministry: Which for this team
included leading this child to Christ on Day 5.

Sports Ministry

Women's Ministry

Our two Mexican interns, Claudia & Rossy, were given a lot of leadership responsibility with the children's ministry. They led the ministry training meetings each morning and were in charge of their team's children's ministry on the field. God is using them in tremendous ways this summer.

Claudia (2nd from the left) explaining this day's drama for Children's Ministry.

Rossy (middle), also explaining this day's Children's Ministry drama.

 Here is the highlight video from the week:

July - Week II - Home of Christ & Together Community Churches

We were so blessed by these two churches this week. It was great to renew friendships with Home of Christ Church. They are such a great team! It is a joy for the staff to be here and do everything we can to enable them to minister through the local Mexican church.

We also had the honor of hosting Together Community Church for the first time. What a priveledge it was to serve alongsiide them this week and build a home for a family in need.

This family of six had been living in one bedroom of a friend's home for about four years. They overstayed their welcome and needed a place to live. Just over a year ago, this woman's husband left to go find work and never returned. She has been working hard to put food on the table ever since. Praise God that they now have a home of their own and are not living on the street. We continue to pray for the salvation of this family and the seeds that were planted during this week.

Here is the highlight video from the week:

June - Week IV -- Hilmar Covenant Church & Individual's Week

This week was an amazing beginning to the summer ministry here in Mexico. Hilmar Covenant Church came and blessed a Mexican church and neighborhood in colonia Francisco Villa in Tijuana. They are always a great team to serve alongside and just fun to be around!

June IV was also our Individual's Week Home Build. Even though there were a couple of cancellations, it was amazing to see the group of people God put together for this build. We grouped this build with a project through another missionary from our church, Calvary Chapel Rosarito. He knew of a family in the church that was about to lose their home. There were so many ways God moved - from providing them with a piece of land donated by a non-believer, to temporary housing in a trailer, and then the many who donated the funds and materials to give this family of four a home. It was to be larger than the usual homes we build and include a bathroom and kitchen.

God used a missionary, his son, two people new to Tijuana interested in missions, the six YUGO interns, some staff, and a few individuals (along with our family). He also sent a group of people the Saturday before the build who helped frame the house. (Due to some other construction work, the house will be completed next week, so stay tuned for more photos.)

Here is the highlight video Kristy put together for the week.

East Tijuana: Building a Comedor (Feeding Kitchen)

Ron had the priveledge of leading the build of a comedor in East Tijuana a couple of weeks ago.  Comedor means dining room/area in Spanish.  The purpose of constructing a comedor is to house a breakfast feeding program.  This one was attached to the side of a church.  The church wanted to also build a small addition for church-related events.  We asked them if we could just build the comedor attached to the church and it could be used for both purposes, since the feeding program takes place early mornings on weekdays and the church would use it on Sundays, evenings, etc.  They were more than happy for the idea, as they didn't want to take advantage of the comedor building the team was building.

The team that came to build the comedor also worked on other projects in the area, including a new fence for this church.  The team was an amazing group of people from Canada.  They are from the church of two YUGO missionary candidates, Jody & Angela.  This was the first full comedor Ron has led, but not the first one he has helped with.  This team of about 30 people ended up working an extra day to help get projects finished up.  This was due to a malfunctioned computer system for their airline.  They were delayed by a few days and instead of flying home on the same flight, they flew home on about four different flights.  They handled this delay amazingly!  Here are some more pictures of the build:

 

 

 

 (Pastor Romero & the keys to the comedor)             

Two New Homes Being Built in Mexicali

These are two families that lost their homes in the earthquake last year in April.  Ron had the priveledge of helping to lead in the build of these two homes a few weeks ago.  This is a team from Arizona, and we thank two of them for the pictures (Sean & Peter).  What an amazing blessing this was!!  Here are a few more pictures: