July 14 The Mexico team left Calvary Chapel Melbourne around 1:30 am heading towards Miami to catch their plane. Pray for God's wisdom for the leaders and safe travels.
July 15 From Pastor Julio via a phone call this morning: "The team arrived safely but we have been so busy that I wasn't able to get to a computer yet to put out an update. We have already seen God peform a miracle and are on our way (early - 6 am for them) this morning to a feeding center."
July 16 The Lord is on it! He has us so busy in doing the work that we've prepared so hard to do and I know that He is pleased. I must tell you that I'm also pleased. Everyone has been working and playing (soccer) so hard.
Today is our second day of ministry in Mazatlan and all of the work so far has involved ministering in several impoverished communities here. The team has been blown away at the poverty and the living conditions of most people in those communities; however, the team has been most of all blown away at the love of the Mexicans in those communities. We have been welcomed and loved in such an amazing ways as we share time, strength, and the love of Jesus in times of worship (in Spanish), testimonies, The Word and more soccer!
We have one more day of ministry in these communities and then we are moving to the second phase of our work here which will involve several local outreaches. Tomorrow night we have been invited to take part in a local church outreach effort through a Hip-Hop/ Rap concert and skate demo. On Saturday, we will have been asked to build a bathroom at a local community church, and we are also organizing a skate contest for which we are expecting around 300-400 skaters and expectators! Please pray for physical and most importantly Spiritual strength. We have a lot of work to do but we are looking forward to what The Lord is going to do and how He will use us, especially after what we've seen Him do already.
Blessings, The Mexico team
July 20 Since our last update on Thursday, I'm sure a lot of you are wondering what's going on with the team. Well, I'm here to let you know that we have been hard at work ministering to the people of Mazatlan. We have gone into the second phase of our trip which has been focused on street evangelism through our balloon sculptures, drama, face painting, and most importantly our individual witnessing efforts. This part of our trip has been very challeging especially for our students some of which have never shared their faith before, and especially not in a foreign country to people who don't even speak their language. Nonetheless, our students have ROCKED this community for Jesus. We have shared the good news of Jesus with many and many have come to know and proclaim Jesus as their personal Savior!
It's been awesome to see our students impacted in such radical ways as they share their faith. For example, on several occassions as our students have led someone to The Lord, they have begun crying on the spot, overwhelmed by God's willingness to use them to change someones life for eternity.
The truth is we are also exhausted. Most of our days begin very early in the morning and end at around the same time; however, today is our "off day". We will be traveling by boat to an island off shore to spend a day of fun and hopefully relaxation (adult leaders). Tonight when we return we will begin the third and final phase of our trip which will involved ministering and loving on those considered by the Mexican community to be the outcasts of society. We will be visiting a community of hundreds, young and old, that live in the city dump and a community of orphans on the outskirts of the city, along with more street evangelism.
I will try to get another update out before our departure on Thursday. I must say thank you for your prayers. We have seen The Lord do some great things IN us and THROUGH us and we are expecting Him to continue.
With great expectations, The Mexico Team