We are here in Tuba City having a great time serving and playing together but we want to take the time to ask that everyone here in Tuba City and back home spend a few minutes in prayer for Amber Wise. She is headed into surgery today and we want to lift her up. While we work today, we'll be remembering Amber and praying during the day.
We really wish you were here with us Amber. We hope that everything goes well and you feel better soon. We miss you!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuba City - Wednesday Update
Well, we figured it was about time for an actual blog entry. We found an internet cafe here on the Navajo Nation that sells Seattle's Best coffee! Too funny! But it's got WiFi, so we're in business. We went to McDonald's first, but it cost too much and they didn't have an outlet to plug into.
We made it obviously (because I have been posting Twitter updates all week). It has been quite a different trip and there is much we're not used to. But overall it has been a very positive experience. I have to say that our teens are such a great group and have displayed a great attitude all week.
We made it on time to our scheduled destinations (See pic #1 -- in Flagstaff). The East County group was not as fortunate. Their plane was turned around and they didn't arrive in Tuba City until 2am Saturday!
We had church (pic #2) on Sunday and I (Mike) led singing because the Navajo guy didn't show up who was supposed to do it. Paul Ghee still preached though so Heston was bailed out of having to do that (just kidding).
Sunday evening we went to Coal Mine Canyon for a devotional (pic #3). Such beautiful scenery! I feel like I am in a Western movie.
Monday we prepared for VBS (pic #4). The teens are doing an outstanding job with it. They are all so creative and funny.
On Monday we also began working (pic #5). It has been going well and we're learning a lot about the culture and history just in our conversations with the homeowners. It is much better than we thought as far as communicating with each homeowner. They are very inviting and friendly toward us. They are very, very nice people too.
On Monday and Tuesday evening we were all able to participate in Prayer Sweats (pic #6). This was a very unique experience. It is something that is done very regularly by the Navajo people. We sat in the Prayer Sweat Lodge and heated rocks were added and then the blanket was closed over the door. It got VERY HOT! We all prayed for each person in the room with us but not for ourselves. We gave our request ahead of time and were to suffer and sweat for the sake of the other people in our room. Many prayers were lifted up and I think the Wingfield's need to prepare an area on their property, because Heston is going to build a Sweat Lodge when he gets home.
Today (Wednesday), we were honored with a special guest. The President of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Joe Shirley (pic #7 - with Paul Ghee) came to visit because he knows one of the adults from the other youth group. He came to see his friend and to address us for the work we were doing. He spoke for a while about the kinds of things he is doing for the people and how he is working for better relationships with the United States government to get equal rights for the Navajo people. The Native Americans in this country are not given many rights and they see these reservations as P.O.W. camps. Sad, but it was very interesting to hear him speak about what he does and how his job is seen by our government.
We are having a great time. We look forward to sharing more pictures with you in August when we have our mission Sunday. Of course if you want to see more, we'll be happy to share early. It is turning out to be a great trip but we look forward to being able to go back to Mexico again next year. We love our Mexico trips so much.
So beautiful here!
We made it obviously (because I have been posting Twitter updates all week). It has been quite a different trip and there is much we're not used to. But overall it has been a very positive experience. I have to say that our teens are such a great group and have displayed a great attitude all week.
We made it on time to our scheduled destinations (See pic #1 -- in Flagstaff). The East County group was not as fortunate. Their plane was turned around and they didn't arrive in Tuba City until 2am Saturday!
We had church (pic #2) on Sunday and I (Mike) led singing because the Navajo guy didn't show up who was supposed to do it. Paul Ghee still preached though so Heston was bailed out of having to do that (just kidding).
Sunday evening we went to Coal Mine Canyon for a devotional (pic #3). Such beautiful scenery! I feel like I am in a Western movie.
Monday we prepared for VBS (pic #4). The teens are doing an outstanding job with it. They are all so creative and funny.
On Monday we also began working (pic #5). It has been going well and we're learning a lot about the culture and history just in our conversations with the homeowners. It is much better than we thought as far as communicating with each homeowner. They are very inviting and friendly toward us. They are very, very nice people too.
On Monday and Tuesday evening we were all able to participate in Prayer Sweats (pic #6). This was a very unique experience. It is something that is done very regularly by the Navajo people. We sat in the Prayer Sweat Lodge and heated rocks were added and then the blanket was closed over the door. It got VERY HOT! We all prayed for each person in the room with us but not for ourselves. We gave our request ahead of time and were to suffer and sweat for the sake of the other people in our room. Many prayers were lifted up and I think the Wingfield's need to prepare an area on their property, because Heston is going to build a Sweat Lodge when he gets home.
Today (Wednesday), we were honored with a special guest. The President of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Joe Shirley (pic #7 - with Paul Ghee) came to visit because he knows one of the adults from the other youth group. He came to see his friend and to address us for the work we were doing. He spoke for a while about the kinds of things he is doing for the people and how he is working for better relationships with the United States government to get equal rights for the Navajo people. The Native Americans in this country are not given many rights and they see these reservations as P.O.W. camps. Sad, but it was very interesting to hear him speak about what he does and how his job is seen by our government.
We are having a great time. We look forward to sharing more pictures with you in August when we have our mission Sunday. Of course if you want to see more, we'll be happy to share early. It is turning out to be a great trip but we look forward to being able to go back to Mexico again next year. We love our Mexico trips so much.
So beautiful here!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Departure
Here we are! Time again to begin another mission.
We all hope to make it to Tuba City this evening as a group.
Thanks for all your support and prayers. We are having an awesome time together so far.
We all hope to make it to Tuba City this evening as a group.
Thanks for all your support and prayers. We are having an awesome time together so far.
Friday, June 19, 2009
If you look to your right on the page, you'll see that Mike will be trying to Twitter and update as often as he can (considering we have cell phone service in range).
This should be a fun little addition to the blog this year.
This should be a fun little addition to the blog this year.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuba City, AZ 2009
So, I don't think we've said it officially here, but we're not going to Mexico this year. We are heading to Tuba City, Arizona with the East County church in Gresham.
We leave Saturday, June 20th. You will still be able to follow our adventures here at this blog.
We leave Saturday, June 20th. You will still be able to follow our adventures here at this blog.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May Spiritual Formation Schedule
Here is our schedule for May. Put it on your calendars:
May 10: Mother's Day - No Spiritual Formation
May 17: Spiritual Formation 6-7:30pm (Have Part III read of Secret Message of Jesus)
May 24: Spiritual Formation 4:30-6pm
May 31: Congregational Retreat/Pie Auction - No Spiritual Formation
May 10: Mother's Day - No Spiritual Formation
May 17: Spiritual Formation 6-7:30pm (Have Part III read of Secret Message of Jesus)
May 24: Spiritual Formation 4:30-6pm
May 31: Congregational Retreat/Pie Auction - No Spiritual Formation
Friday, April 10, 2009
Christian Chronicle Article
Here is the Christian Chronicle article on the border violence:
Border violence curtails mission trips to Mexico
Border violence curtails mission trips to Mexico
Monday, March 23, 2009
Spring Travelers Detour From Baja
Concerns about violence has volunteers, tourist groups adjusting their itineraries
By Sandra Dibble (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer SignsOnSanDiego.com
2:00am March 23, 2009
TIJUANA – The student volunteers are here, in T-shirts and jeans, wielding hammers and trowels. They've arrived from as far as Ohio, Alaska and British Columbia to spend nights in tents and days on work projects in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods.
As reports of drug-related violence prompt cancellations in Baja California's traditional spring break destinations, volunteer groups are coping with their own falling numbers on projects across the state.
“My mom, she almost didn't let me come,” said Jillian Yañez, 21, a student at Notre Dame de Namur University working recently in the eastern Tijuana neighborhood of Lomas del Pedregal. “But it sounded like a good opportunity.”
Yañez, who is studying to become an elementary school teacher, was one of 11 students from the small Catholic university outside San Francisco who spent four days raising a wood-frame house that measured 11 feet by 22 feet on a concrete foundation.
San Ysidro-based Amor Ministries, which coordinated the project, said participation in its Mexico programs for March and April has dropped to 4,000 this year from 6,000 last year. The sun-and-sand venue of Rosarito Beach, where students long have packed hotels in the spring, expects about one-fifth of the young visitors it had a few years ago.
Directors of Amor Ministries and other groups that run spring break volunteer trips attribute their declining numbers to widespread U.S. media reports about violence in Mexico and U.S. government travel alerts.
The groups say they place a premium on the safety of their young visitors, and are confident of smooth trips. Still, some groups have modified their plans.
“We have taken more precautions in response to what our parents are saying are their concerns, but not as a result of what we're seeing down here,” said Gayla Congdon, founder and chief spiritual officer of Amor Ministries.
The Christian organization coordinates volunteer house-building efforts in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Puerto Peñasco in Sonora, and outside Ciudad Juarez near El Paso, Texas.
The group, one of the largest such organizations in the border region, has never had an incident in 29 years, Congdon said. Concerns about student safety led the Amor Ministries to cancel its spring break trips to Chihuahua, across the border from Texas, but it has kept operating in Baja California.
Los Niños International, a Chula Vista-based group, also said there have been no incidents. But its directors decided to keep student volunteers out of Tijuana this spring break, focusing instead on projects in Tecate and Mexicali, said Elisa Sabatini, the group's executive director.
“We have to honor people's concerns,” said Sabatini, whose group hosted 15 students from Fordham University through Saturday in Mexicali. “We would love to have them back in Tijuana once the situation merits it.”
Phillipe Gagné, reservations coordinator for Los Niños and another nonprofit group, Esperanza International, said attendance is down about 10 percent overall.
Gagné said the Mexican families lose out, but so do the volunteers, who pay $500 for a weeklong program.
“You lose the opportunity for our two cultures to get to know each other better,” Gagné said. “We lose the opportunity to teach young people and sometimes older adults that low-income people may be poor economically, but in many other ways they're as rich or far richer.”
Drug-related violence in Mexico has risen as a result of President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug cartels responsible for smuggling methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and heroin into the United States.
The Tijuana region experienced a surge in killings beginning in September as rival gangs fought for control of drug routes and the domestic market, authorities said. The killings in Baja California have dropped significantly since mid-January.
Though visitors have not been targeted, the violence has been devastating to the tourism industry.
Summer Winter Action Tours, a Costa-Mesa based company specializing in student spring-break travel, said it canceled its planned trips to the resort of San Felipe and diverted to Palm Springs because of concerns voiced by students and parents, the Orange County Register reported.
Officials in San Felipe said the tour company canceled its two trips this month, but that hotels remained on “stand-by” for the last two trips in early and mid-April, which would bring 2,000 visitors. Summer Winter Action Tours did not return numerous phone requests for comment about the situation.
Rosarito Beach is hoping for 10,000 student visitors during the three-week period that started Friday. That is about one-third of last year's number, and one-fifth of what it was at its peak about three years ago.
“It makes me sad and angry at the same time,” Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres said.
Torres said tourists are safe and stressed the steps the city has taken, including issuing citations in English and Spanish and the designation of a special tourist police unit. Officers suspected of collaborating with organized crime have been dropped from the force, Torres said.
But the message has not gotten through, he said.
“I blame the media to begin with, but now I blame this organization in Los Angeles,” Torres said, referring to a travel alert issued last month by the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that discourages travel to Rosarito Beach and Tijuana. “If I could sue them, I would.”
Ignacio Zamudio, owner of a Club Iggys, a beachside bar in Rosarito Beach popular with spring break tourists, said he plans to focus more on Mexican tourists this season.
“You can't fight the tidal wave of bad publicity,” Zamudio said. “You've got to let people come here and find out for themselves that things are OK.”
Some groups have kept on coming. A weekend ago, San Felipe's hotels were filled with participants in the Baja 250 off-road race, and this past weekend the city's annual Hobie Cat Regatta took place, despite a drop in participants. From April 3-5, Rosarito Beach is hosting a professional surfing contest, and April 7-9, a binational clown convention. Tijuana's Convention and Visitors Bureau last week announced its promotional campaign for the city's 120th anniversary with “120 Things to Do in Tijuana.”
Far from the bars and beaches, 15 Canadian students gathered in prayer this month outside the two-room house they built for a young family in Lomas del Pedregal.
“I've waited my whole life to do this,” said Brienne Knorr, 15, a ninth-grader at Vernon Christian School in British Columbia. “It's kind of sad that it's over.”
In Bakersfield, members of Laurelglen Bible Church are getting ready for their trip to Mexico next month. Eric Burns, pastor of high school ministries, said church leaders decided to bring 65 students only after careful consideration.
“For me, the trigger was looking at this in context,” said Burns, whose group will stay at the Amor Ministries camp in eastern Tijuana but work on a project in nearby Tecate. “When you say Tijuana, what and where do you mean by that? Where you see people are dying? Is it humanitarians being killed, or is it people in the drug world being killed by drug gangs?”
Sandra Dibble: (619) 293-1716; (Contact)
By Sandra Dibble (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer SignsOnSanDiego.com
2:00am March 23, 2009
TIJUANA – The student volunteers are here, in T-shirts and jeans, wielding hammers and trowels. They've arrived from as far as Ohio, Alaska and British Columbia to spend nights in tents and days on work projects in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods.
As reports of drug-related violence prompt cancellations in Baja California's traditional spring break destinations, volunteer groups are coping with their own falling numbers on projects across the state.
“My mom, she almost didn't let me come,” said Jillian Yañez, 21, a student at Notre Dame de Namur University working recently in the eastern Tijuana neighborhood of Lomas del Pedregal. “But it sounded like a good opportunity.”
Yañez, who is studying to become an elementary school teacher, was one of 11 students from the small Catholic university outside San Francisco who spent four days raising a wood-frame house that measured 11 feet by 22 feet on a concrete foundation.
San Ysidro-based Amor Ministries, which coordinated the project, said participation in its Mexico programs for March and April has dropped to 4,000 this year from 6,000 last year. The sun-and-sand venue of Rosarito Beach, where students long have packed hotels in the spring, expects about one-fifth of the young visitors it had a few years ago.
Directors of Amor Ministries and other groups that run spring break volunteer trips attribute their declining numbers to widespread U.S. media reports about violence in Mexico and U.S. government travel alerts.
The groups say they place a premium on the safety of their young visitors, and are confident of smooth trips. Still, some groups have modified their plans.
“We have taken more precautions in response to what our parents are saying are their concerns, but not as a result of what we're seeing down here,” said Gayla Congdon, founder and chief spiritual officer of Amor Ministries.
The Christian organization coordinates volunteer house-building efforts in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Puerto Peñasco in Sonora, and outside Ciudad Juarez near El Paso, Texas.
The group, one of the largest such organizations in the border region, has never had an incident in 29 years, Congdon said. Concerns about student safety led the Amor Ministries to cancel its spring break trips to Chihuahua, across the border from Texas, but it has kept operating in Baja California.
Los Niños International, a Chula Vista-based group, also said there have been no incidents. But its directors decided to keep student volunteers out of Tijuana this spring break, focusing instead on projects in Tecate and Mexicali, said Elisa Sabatini, the group's executive director.
“We have to honor people's concerns,” said Sabatini, whose group hosted 15 students from Fordham University through Saturday in Mexicali. “We would love to have them back in Tijuana once the situation merits it.”
Phillipe Gagné, reservations coordinator for Los Niños and another nonprofit group, Esperanza International, said attendance is down about 10 percent overall.
Gagné said the Mexican families lose out, but so do the volunteers, who pay $500 for a weeklong program.
“You lose the opportunity for our two cultures to get to know each other better,” Gagné said. “We lose the opportunity to teach young people and sometimes older adults that low-income people may be poor economically, but in many other ways they're as rich or far richer.”
Drug-related violence in Mexico has risen as a result of President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug cartels responsible for smuggling methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and heroin into the United States.
The Tijuana region experienced a surge in killings beginning in September as rival gangs fought for control of drug routes and the domestic market, authorities said. The killings in Baja California have dropped significantly since mid-January.
Though visitors have not been targeted, the violence has been devastating to the tourism industry.
Summer Winter Action Tours, a Costa-Mesa based company specializing in student spring-break travel, said it canceled its planned trips to the resort of San Felipe and diverted to Palm Springs because of concerns voiced by students and parents, the Orange County Register reported.
Officials in San Felipe said the tour company canceled its two trips this month, but that hotels remained on “stand-by” for the last two trips in early and mid-April, which would bring 2,000 visitors. Summer Winter Action Tours did not return numerous phone requests for comment about the situation.
Rosarito Beach is hoping for 10,000 student visitors during the three-week period that started Friday. That is about one-third of last year's number, and one-fifth of what it was at its peak about three years ago.
“It makes me sad and angry at the same time,” Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres said.
Torres said tourists are safe and stressed the steps the city has taken, including issuing citations in English and Spanish and the designation of a special tourist police unit. Officers suspected of collaborating with organized crime have been dropped from the force, Torres said.
But the message has not gotten through, he said.
“I blame the media to begin with, but now I blame this organization in Los Angeles,” Torres said, referring to a travel alert issued last month by the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that discourages travel to Rosarito Beach and Tijuana. “If I could sue them, I would.”
Ignacio Zamudio, owner of a Club Iggys, a beachside bar in Rosarito Beach popular with spring break tourists, said he plans to focus more on Mexican tourists this season.
“You can't fight the tidal wave of bad publicity,” Zamudio said. “You've got to let people come here and find out for themselves that things are OK.”
Some groups have kept on coming. A weekend ago, San Felipe's hotels were filled with participants in the Baja 250 off-road race, and this past weekend the city's annual Hobie Cat Regatta took place, despite a drop in participants. From April 3-5, Rosarito Beach is hosting a professional surfing contest, and April 7-9, a binational clown convention. Tijuana's Convention and Visitors Bureau last week announced its promotional campaign for the city's 120th anniversary with “120 Things to Do in Tijuana.”
Far from the bars and beaches, 15 Canadian students gathered in prayer this month outside the two-room house they built for a young family in Lomas del Pedregal.
“I've waited my whole life to do this,” said Brienne Knorr, 15, a ninth-grader at Vernon Christian School in British Columbia. “It's kind of sad that it's over.”
In Bakersfield, members of Laurelglen Bible Church are getting ready for their trip to Mexico next month. Eric Burns, pastor of high school ministries, said church leaders decided to bring 65 students only after careful consideration.
“For me, the trigger was looking at this in context,” said Burns, whose group will stay at the Amor Ministries camp in eastern Tijuana but work on a project in nearby Tecate. “When you say Tijuana, what and where do you mean by that? Where you see people are dying? Is it humanitarians being killed, or is it people in the drug world being killed by drug gangs?”
Sandra Dibble: (619) 293-1716; (Contact)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Movie Night Spiritual Formation
We are planning a special Spiritual Formation to help us bond a little more. We will be watching "Amazing Grace" as a group this Sunday. Also, we want everyone from Westside to come enjoy this time together. We'll be watching the movie and then discussing it a little at the end in groups.We'll see you Sunday night from 4:30-7pm.
Amazing Grace is rated PG.
We think this story of William Wilberforce will inspire us as we think about our work around the world as followers of Jesus.
Mexico Violence
The violence in Mexico has been elevating and we're not sure what we are going to do yet. We really want to be able to serve but to also be safe. The Christian Chronicle is doing an article about the violence and how it has affected churches bringing groups into the country.
Here are our homes we built the last two years.
Rosarito 2007:
Terrazes 2008:
Here are our homes we built the last two years.
Rosarito 2007:
Terrazes 2008:
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Stump Service Project
We have a work party scheduled for this Saturday, March 7th, at 10am. The projects
that we'd like to accomplish are:
- Take out bamboo
- Clean out gutters
- Pressure wash walks and drive
- Replace a few boards on the deck (at least one 2x4 and possibly a few 2x6's)
- Weed all flowerbeds
- Remove some wood debris as well as some flagstone stacked by fence
- Maybe bark dust around maple tree in left corner of back yard
- General cleanup/raking/branch removal
- Take out rhodie in corner of back yard
- Put down pre-emerge weed killer in the flower beds
- Plant some flowers
In terms of tools/materials, feel free to bring anything that you think would be useful for the above projects. I've included a list of stuff that I'd like, together with what I can bring, below:
- 8' ladder for gutters (Larry)
- Bucket for gutter debris (Larry)
- Small scoop to clean out gutters if anyone has one
- Rakes (Larry can bring 2-3)
- Wheel Barrow to move debris (Larry can bring one but another might be useful)
- Hoes for weeding (Larry)
- Chainsaw (Larry)
- Pressure washer (Larry)
- Large shovel for barkdust (Larry)
- Spades for misc shoveling (Larry)
- Carpentry tools to replace deck boards
- Boards for the deck (we'll have to survey the situation once we're there)
- Pre-emerge weed killer for flower beds (Larry can bring Casoron and an applicator)
- Bamboo killer (I'm not sure what to use this time of year if it's raining)
- Flowers and potting soil
Everyone should come wearing clothes they don't mind getting down and dirty. This will be some good work. We should all probably bring work gloves and maybe some knee pads (if you have them...for long periods of time on your knees) too.
I'll plan to bring my truck and trailer to haul off all of the junk. I can burn the wood debris at my place; however, if someone objects or has a better plan, I'm happy to drop them someplace on my way home as well (we'll have quite a bit--does anyone want some bamboo stalks?).
If all goes well, we'll plan to do this again in a month or so in order to keep things looking nice and also start on some of the long-term projects.
More long-term projects that we can do in the future but that will require some additional planning/direction and/or drier conditions:
- Install a retaining wall/planter along the back fence
- Arb or some other type of hedge along back fence to break up neighbor's house
- Rototill/smooth/ground cover/gravel entire back yard
Thanks to everyone!
Larry Bailey
that we'd like to accomplish are:
- Take out bamboo
- Clean out gutters
- Pressure wash walks and drive
- Replace a few boards on the deck (at least one 2x4 and possibly a few 2x6's)
- Weed all flowerbeds
- Remove some wood debris as well as some flagstone stacked by fence
- Maybe bark dust around maple tree in left corner of back yard
- General cleanup/raking/branch removal
- Take out rhodie in corner of back yard
- Put down pre-emerge weed killer in the flower beds
- Plant some flowers
In terms of tools/materials, feel free to bring anything that you think would be useful for the above projects. I've included a list of stuff that I'd like, together with what I can bring, below:
- 8' ladder for gutters (Larry)
- Bucket for gutter debris (Larry)
- Small scoop to clean out gutters if anyone has one
- Rakes (Larry can bring 2-3)
- Wheel Barrow to move debris (Larry can bring one but another might be useful)
- Hoes for weeding (Larry)
- Chainsaw (Larry)
- Pressure washer (Larry)
- Large shovel for barkdust (Larry)
- Spades for misc shoveling (Larry)
- Carpentry tools to replace deck boards
- Boards for the deck (we'll have to survey the situation once we're there)
- Pre-emerge weed killer for flower beds (Larry can bring Casoron and an applicator)
- Bamboo killer (I'm not sure what to use this time of year if it's raining)
- Flowers and potting soil
Everyone should come wearing clothes they don't mind getting down and dirty. This will be some good work. We should all probably bring work gloves and maybe some knee pads (if you have them...for long periods of time on your knees) too.
I'll plan to bring my truck and trailer to haul off all of the junk. I can burn the wood debris at my place; however, if someone objects or has a better plan, I'm happy to drop them someplace on my way home as well (we'll have quite a bit--does anyone want some bamboo stalks?).
If all goes well, we'll plan to do this again in a month or so in order to keep things looking nice and also start on some of the long-term projects.
More long-term projects that we can do in the future but that will require some additional planning/direction and/or drier conditions:
- Install a retaining wall/planter along the back fence
- Arb or some other type of hedge along back fence to break up neighbor's house
- Rototill/smooth/ground cover/gravel entire back yard
Thanks to everyone!
Larry Bailey
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Reading Assignment
Hey Pilgrim Peeps!For this Sunday, we all should have read all the way through Part II in The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren which is page 113. If you still need a book, you should probably work that out with Roy soon so that you won't get to a point where your reading assignment is the whole book. We're about halfway through now, so get that done soon.
$100 Due
Hey Pilgrimizers!
It's March, so that means $100 is due toward your trip. Get that to Roy soon.
It's March, so that means $100 is due toward your trip. Get that to Roy soon.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Schedule
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 18th -- Adults Only Meeting/Preparation For Spiritual Formation
January 25th -- Spiritual Formation Begins
January 18th -- Adults Only Meeting/Preparation For Spiritual Formation
January 25th -- Spiritual Formation Begins
Friday, January 9, 2009
Building Project
Here is a message from Arturo (I edited it a bit):Buenas tardes Roy!
Hi! This is one of the families who need a house this summer. This month they had to move from the house they used to live in. Now they have to find a house for rent. Jesus is going to buy the lot next to Victor and Cristina who live in the house you built last year. I hope you consider them for the next house this summer. God bless you.
Jesus and Maria de los Angeles and the kids Daniel, Juan, Joel, and Jose.
In Jesus' Love, Arturo.
Be praying for this family and our work this coming summer.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Mexico Commitment
We are needing a commitment to go to Mexico. Please turn in your forms ASAP! We have extended the deadline to this Sunday because of all the snow we've been getting.
So, please turn in the Commitment form (print it online HERE) and the first payment of $100.
So, please turn in the Commitment form (print it online HERE) and the first payment of $100.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Mexico At-A-Glance
Here is some basic data about Mexico including the economy, debt, and poverty.
Mexico At A Glance
Mexico Health & Poverty
The Human Development Index - going beyond income
Mexico At A Glance
Mexico Health & Poverty
The Human Development Index - going beyond income
Human Rights In Mexico
Here is an article about the criminal justice system in Mexico...lots of human rights violations.
Mexico Human Rights
Mexico Human Rights
Monday, October 6, 2008
Application Forms Due Soon!!!
Here are a couple of documents that were handed out at the Mexico Pilgrimage Meeting last night, October 5th, 2008.
You need to look at these and download the necessary items and fill them out and turn them in to Roy soon. There is a deadline this year in order to get the best possible price on flights. I think it is December 14th.
You will need to register for a Google Account after clicking on these links in order to view and print these forms.
Overview and Application Form 2009
Mexico Meeting Agenda 10-5-08
You need to look at these and download the necessary items and fill them out and turn them in to Roy soon. There is a deadline this year in order to get the best possible price on flights. I think it is December 14th.
You will need to register for a Google Account after clicking on these links in order to view and print these forms.
Overview and Application Form 2009
Mexico Meeting Agenda 10-5-08
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Royal Flush!
This is "The Twister" from the Parque de Agua that we lovingly referred to as "The Toilet Bowl". This guy went around the park video taping different people and happened upon our group and posted this to YouTube for us. You'll notice it starts with Jason Aasland and goes from there to Caleb, Elise, (random kid), Jeremy, Brogan, Rebeca, Shiloh, (a second random kid), Larry, Brent, Jason again, and then the rest are other park goers. Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Graduation Dances
I hope you have enjoyed the late posts from the end of our trip. I was able to upload a couple more videos to YouTube. These two are from the graduation ceremony that the ladies experienced earlier in the week. These are the dances they performed for the crowd.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Pilgrimage Home
We got to the airport early with a decision to not try and mess with time in line at the border. We smoothly got to the airport around 10am. We waited for a while. Caleb and I decided it would be amazing to have a double hamburgesa con Queso even if it was from McDonald's. It was amazing. We were in the U.S. again!
Our flight took off on time and we had a tailwind that got us home a few minutes early. Our MAX ride was cramped but we were greeted in Beaverton by a swarm of loving family members as we stepped out.
Thanks for everything you have done for us in our travel. Thanks for the prayers and emails. We are glad to be home and hope to have a great video for you to view in a week or so...Tabi, I promise to help with it.
P.S. Jasper got his blow dart gun home. After a year of trying to cope, he is happy to have it with him now.
Our flight took off on time and we had a tailwind that got us home a few minutes early. Our MAX ride was cramped but we were greeted in Beaverton by a swarm of loving family members as we stepped out.
Thanks for everything you have done for us in our travel. Thanks for the prayers and emails. We are glad to be home and hope to have a great video for you to view in a week or so...Tabi, I promise to help with it.
P.S. Jasper got his blow dart gun home. After a year of trying to cope, he is happy to have it with him now.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 8: Rosarito Church
Sunday meant church in Rosarito. They have been growing a lot since we last visited. The church was full and we had to add chairs to the aisles and in the back. I ended up standing outside for the last part of the services. It was very encouraging to hear them sing loudly and proudly hymns of worship.
The teens did a great job with their class this time again. They were a lot more comfortable and polished in their performance of Noah's Ark. I think the kids had fun too.
After worship we had a giant potluck in which I was stuffed to the rafters. I don't think I could eat anything after that day. I am still full as I type this in my living room on Tuesday.
The teens did a great job with their class this time again. They were a lot more comfortable and polished in their performance of Noah's Ark. I think the kids had fun too.
After worship we had a giant potluck in which I was stuffed to the rafters. I don't think I could eat anything after that day. I am still full as I type this in my living room on Tuesday.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Day 7: Parque de Agua & Baseball
[Mike]: Since our last few days were pretty busy, I decided to add some late posts. On Saturday we got to have a fun day at the Parque de Agua (i.e. the Water Park). It was a day full of fun as many a person killed themselves on the slides and air bag (see videos below).
I actually rode a few slides this year rather than just sit and read the whole time. They actually got Roy "el Jefe" to ride the Anaconda. Nice!
Like I said though, the major fun was watching different people in our group fly through the air from the giant air bag.
Shiloh Simmering:
Rebeca Mendez-Beck: OUCH!
Jason Aasland:
Jasper, Caleb, Jeremy, Brogan, and Brent:
Elise Anderson: DOUBLE OUCH!
After the Parque de Agua we went to a Mariners/Padres baseball game in San Diego. I was pretty tired and the weather was nice and cool. The Mariners won 4-2. We stopped at Cold Stone Ice Cream on the way home. When we got home I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly.
I actually rode a few slides this year rather than just sit and read the whole time. They actually got Roy "el Jefe" to ride the Anaconda. Nice!
Like I said though, the major fun was watching different people in our group fly through the air from the giant air bag.
Shiloh Simmering:
Rebeca Mendez-Beck: OUCH!
Jason Aasland:
Jasper, Caleb, Jeremy, Brogan, and Brent:
Elise Anderson: DOUBLE OUCH!
After the Parque de Agua we went to a Mariners/Padres baseball game in San Diego. I was pretty tired and the weather was nice and cool. The Mariners won 4-2. We stopped at Cold Stone Ice Cream on the way home. When we got home I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Special Edition: dood
ey so this is brogie and jeremezzie.
prior to reading any further please understand that everything that we have learned in school about punctuation, grammar and capitalization is being disregarded with the utmost intention...
with that sit back, enjoy the ride [?] and read some words we wrote here in tijuana.
YA! CARNE ASADA TODAY! this was by far the best meal in the entire universe. so i [jeremezzie] decided that gaining weight was so dang overrated and that losing weight for wrestling camp wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.. so i didn't eat lunch. and then, i gained somethin like 3 meals worth of weight during tonights dinner.. way to lose weight jeremy.
[Brogie] The sleeping situation has been mostly good, apart from the symphony of snoring going on in the mens room. My father being the loudest, lead a few of the other men in a rousing round of "keep the person next to you from falling asleep."
We finished the house today which was really cool, the work was very smooth and the whole week just flowed really well. There were no major problems or anything, so we were able to stay safe and get our work done really fast. It was sooo legit, in fact, that me and brogie were put in charge of done creatin them interior walls. thats 3 of those dividers that are soo imperitive to daily living that were placed in our able and fully capable (now) hands. gotsta give props though to caleb and jason and all them others who showed us the ropes and got us there. ahaha.
now we have to go eat some cake, play with some water balloons and hit some paper mache. We know we're having more fun than you ;p
keep it riggidyreal.
Brogie y JB
prior to reading any further please understand that everything that we have learned in school about punctuation, grammar and capitalization is being disregarded with the utmost intention...
with that sit back, enjoy the ride [?] and read some words we wrote here in tijuana.
YA! CARNE ASADA TODAY! this was by far the best meal in the entire universe. so i [jeremezzie] decided that gaining weight was so dang overrated and that losing weight for wrestling camp wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.. so i didn't eat lunch. and then, i gained somethin like 3 meals worth of weight during tonights dinner.. way to lose weight jeremy.
[Brogie] The sleeping situation has been mostly good, apart from the symphony of snoring going on in the mens room. My father being the loudest, lead a few of the other men in a rousing round of "keep the person next to you from falling asleep."
We finished the house today which was really cool, the work was very smooth and the whole week just flowed really well. There were no major problems or anything, so we were able to stay safe and get our work done really fast. It was sooo legit, in fact, that me and brogie were put in charge of done creatin them interior walls. thats 3 of those dividers that are soo imperitive to daily living that were placed in our able and fully capable (now) hands. gotsta give props though to caleb and jason and all them others who showed us the ropes and got us there. ahaha.
now we have to go eat some cake, play with some water balloons and hit some paper mache. We know we're having more fun than you ;p
keep it riggidyreal.
Brogie y JB
Day 6: House Completed
[Caleb]: Hello all!
I'm honored to be able to be the guest blogger on a very special day. Today we not only finished the house, but we handed over the keys. What an AWESOME moment. The family was very happy and we were all rewarded greatly. This has been a life changing experience, as I expected it would be. It has also been much more than I had anticipated.
The part I didn't expect or really think about was the strong bonds I would form with all the people on this trip. We are truly blessed as a family to have so many impressive young adults. I am priveleged to get to know these people and spend time with them. This is not so much about building a house, although we have proved to be efficient and quality craftsmen/women. It is about being a light of Christs love on Earth, and that is overflowing from these teens.
I am very excited for our next Sunday at Westside. Instead of walking by people and avoiding an awkward "I don't know you as well as I should moment", I will be able to greet all of these people with arms wide open. This to me has been my greatest blessing of the trip. My hope is to bring our new minister on our next Pilgrimmage. I want everyone at Westside to feel what I am feeling. It is an undescribable gozo (JOY). If you haven't had the chance to experience this, you should.
I would really like to thank Roy for all he does. Bob, Connie, Linda, Dan, Big Mike, Larry, & Brent: It has been an absolute pleasure to learn & love with you. Teens, you guys are incredible! Your parents should glow with pride.
Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this experience. My plan is to be involved with this ministry for as long as I am able. Our family at Westside is blessed immensely by this ministry! We'll see you all soon - Caleb
Tonight is FIESTA! Lots of food! Can't wait!
P.S. Jasper got a luchador mask this year...maybe he will forget about his blow dart gun.
I'm honored to be able to be the guest blogger on a very special day. Today we not only finished the house, but we handed over the keys. What an AWESOME moment. The family was very happy and we were all rewarded greatly. This has been a life changing experience, as I expected it would be. It has also been much more than I had anticipated.
The part I didn't expect or really think about was the strong bonds I would form with all the people on this trip. We are truly blessed as a family to have so many impressive young adults. I am priveleged to get to know these people and spend time with them. This is not so much about building a house, although we have proved to be efficient and quality craftsmen/women. It is about being a light of Christs love on Earth, and that is overflowing from these teens.
I am very excited for our next Sunday at Westside. Instead of walking by people and avoiding an awkward "I don't know you as well as I should moment", I will be able to greet all of these people with arms wide open. This to me has been my greatest blessing of the trip. My hope is to bring our new minister on our next Pilgrimmage. I want everyone at Westside to feel what I am feeling. It is an undescribable gozo (JOY). If you haven't had the chance to experience this, you should.
I would really like to thank Roy for all he does. Bob, Connie, Linda, Dan, Big Mike, Larry, & Brent: It has been an absolute pleasure to learn & love with you. Teens, you guys are incredible! Your parents should glow with pride.
Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this experience. My plan is to be involved with this ministry for as long as I am able. Our family at Westside is blessed immensely by this ministry! We'll see you all soon - Caleb
Tonight is FIESTA! Lots of food! Can't wait!
P.S. Jasper got a luchador mask this year...maybe he will forget about his blow dart gun.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Day 5: Almost Done!
Today was really a wonderful experience, we are almost finished with the house. If you know whose birthday is on June 26 then you know who this is.-->[Dave Coburn]: This pligrimage, I feel, has been the best yet. Glen, I wish you were here!
I have to say that I was really proud of my mom today she got on the roof which was a huge step for her. Becca Brower and Elise Anderson took on the formidable task of organizing all are disparate tools and that was a huge blessing that I hadn't even hoped for.
Experiencing my Westside brothers and sisters down here has really been a joy especially, Caleb and his fun card game "Pick It Up", and God willing, I will come next year.
Sweeping out the house was really enjoyable it is one of those things that helps you to feel ready to hand over the house, I know now that when it comes time to stop tommorow I will be ready and proud to help give this house away. There aren't many things that give you this much joy.
If you aren't already convinced that you're missing something you should know that you really are missing an incredible opportunity.
Goodbye from Me until I return.
The Outrageous Birthday Man
P.S. Thanks for the card Sis.
Back to Mike Lewis...
[Mike]: Thanks for the words Dave. We are almost done. We only have a few little things to finish and we'll be able to hand over the keys to the new house. Caleb and I worked on getting a door in for over 2 hours with no luck. It was a bad frame job by Home Depot and we just couldn't figure out how to make it fit, so we gave it over to Larry and Brent to rip apart the door frame and fix it. Finally by noon, the door was in and the deadbolt would fit.
Caleb read to us our Mid-Day Reading for today. We all sat at his feet in the shade of the house and listened to the thought provoking phrases and verses. I thought that was pretty cool to share the Mid-Day Reading rather than read it on our own in silence.
The tar is on the roof and a few people are still working it off their hands.
The first injury happened today. I got hit by a 2x4 right in the eyebrow and cut myself open...but it sounds worse than it is. I am fine with just a bandaid. I need to watch what I am doing better. The best meal so far tonight was tamales, refried beans, and potato/macaroni salad...yum!
Enjoy the pictures from today taken by Roy.
P.S. Jasper's blow dart gun was fun to play with...shhh...don't tell him.
I have to say that I was really proud of my mom today she got on the roof which was a huge step for her. Becca Brower and Elise Anderson took on the formidable task of organizing all are disparate tools and that was a huge blessing that I hadn't even hoped for.
Experiencing my Westside brothers and sisters down here has really been a joy especially, Caleb and his fun card game "Pick It Up", and God willing, I will come next year.
Sweeping out the house was really enjoyable it is one of those things that helps you to feel ready to hand over the house, I know now that when it comes time to stop tommorow I will be ready and proud to help give this house away. There aren't many things that give you this much joy.
If you aren't already convinced that you're missing something you should know that you really are missing an incredible opportunity.
Goodbye from Me until I return.
The Outrageous Birthday Man
P.S. Thanks for the card Sis.
Back to Mike Lewis...
[Mike]: Thanks for the words Dave. We are almost done. We only have a few little things to finish and we'll be able to hand over the keys to the new house. Caleb and I worked on getting a door in for over 2 hours with no luck. It was a bad frame job by Home Depot and we just couldn't figure out how to make it fit, so we gave it over to Larry and Brent to rip apart the door frame and fix it. Finally by noon, the door was in and the deadbolt would fit.
Caleb read to us our Mid-Day Reading for today. We all sat at his feet in the shade of the house and listened to the thought provoking phrases and verses. I thought that was pretty cool to share the Mid-Day Reading rather than read it on our own in silence.
The tar is on the roof and a few people are still working it off their hands.
The first injury happened today. I got hit by a 2x4 right in the eyebrow and cut myself open...but it sounds worse than it is. I am fine with just a bandaid. I need to watch what I am doing better. The best meal so far tonight was tamales, refried beans, and potato/macaroni salad...yum!
Enjoy the pictures from today taken by Roy.
P.S. Jasper's blow dart gun was fun to play with...shhh...don't tell him.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 4: Linda and Rebeca Blog...Just Prepare Yourself Before You Read
[Linda Coburn]: Today a group of us went to the work site while the other group (the cool group) stayed back and went to a graduation ceremony for 6th graders. While the first group (less cool than the second) built walls and placed beams we (the cool group) listened to numerous speeches, watched cultural dance and were greatly humbled. Later of course we got to work and did some small repairs on the IBLA roof top.
Although we have done so very little for Nohemi's (Arturo's sister) school--a few dozen books, some jump ropes and balls and a little painting--we were each given chairs of honor at the graduation. We of course had no idea that we were to be honored and it was awkward. All of the other attendees were seated only on concrete steps or were standing while the 7 of us sat in front of them all in chairs. God is so good and so we were able to just smile awkwardly during their applause.
[Rebeca Mendez]: Tonight we had "tacos dorados" or potato tacos which were D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. Dave ate 20. Now we are blogging.
By the way, we listened to Celine Dion's theme song to the Titanic FIVE TIMES at the ceremony. Linda cried every time.<<<< That was Rebeca and she way overstated the one tear that glistened oh so gently on my cheek once.<<< That was the crybaby who must always have control of the keyboard.
[Mike]: Sounds like somebody has a case of being truth-challenged (gotta be P.C.) The men went to the house site and finished the walls. We stood triumphantly over the home laughing at the dirt and wood that thought it could overcome such studly creations (okay, so I am also truth-challenged).
But seriously, we finished all four walls, forgot that there is supposed to be a center wall (which we will build tomorrow). We also got up the center beam and all the rafters and most of the plywood for the roof (shade for lunch tomorrow!!!).
Tonight's dinner was pretty amazing. I only ate a few tacos so I don't hurt my stomach anymore. In all it was a great day.
P.S. Jasper knows exactly where his blow dart gun is, but we won't let him have it. He feels persecuted...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Day 3: Walls
::UPDATED:: Pictures Below
Today the groups were shuffled a little.
I went with a group to Rosarito to finish making cushions for the pews at the church. We and the rest of the church will be able to enjoy them Sunday...they are definitely thick and soft seats.
A few of us got little stomach aches but we're feeling better now. I am going to let Jasper and Shiloh share some thoughts here. They will share as soon as they finish washing dishes in the kitchen.
[Jasper & Shiloh]: This morning we woke up. We had an amazing breakfast that was set out by Connie and Linda. It consisted of cereal, bananas, and muffins (although a few people ate peanut butter and jelly which was SUPPOSED to be for lunch). Ok...then what happened? Oh yeah...We (Jasper and Shiloh) got put in the group that was going to Rosarito to put new cushions on the pews. It was really boring (JK it was alright, and the puppy was so CUTE!). Actually the puppy was also boring and the girls only thought it was cute because it was small.
The other group went to the house site and put up 3 walls, fully painted. The guys wanted to stay and work but Roy made them come home so that we would work slower so we wouldn't be done early. Don't ask us why he doesn't want to finish it up early, but I suppose he is an adult and he has a good adult excuse...I mean reason. I mean seriously, we could have a whole 2 more days possibly to go to the water park man!
This year we continued the practice of having spanish words for each day. So far, they are church (iglesia), cement (cemento), nail (clavo), and joy (gozo). Today on the way to the Rosarito church I (Jasper) single-handedly wrote an amazing limerick. Actually Shiloh and Connie did help a little bit but not very much =D. Here it is:
There was a group full of gozo
Who went on a trip to Rosarito
When they got there
They had a care
to go to a place called Home Depot
It was pretty amazing I thought.
This paragraph is for Glen since he wasn't able to join us on this fabulous, exciting, magical, superb, fantastic, trip. I will let you know that we have seen many girls with blue shirts but we didn't pick them up because you weren't there. We hope you are having a blast back home so you won't be jealous of us here in Mexico. We hope your back troubles wise up a little bit and get the heck out of there for their own good. Because if they don't we are going take issue with them on our return. Beware. Anyway, see you soon (hopefully).
OK, bye.
Today the groups were shuffled a little.
I went with a group to Rosarito to finish making cushions for the pews at the church. We and the rest of the church will be able to enjoy them Sunday...they are definitely thick and soft seats.
A few of us got little stomach aches but we're feeling better now. I am going to let Jasper and Shiloh share some thoughts here. They will share as soon as they finish washing dishes in the kitchen.
[Jasper & Shiloh]: This morning we woke up. We had an amazing breakfast that was set out by Connie and Linda. It consisted of cereal, bananas, and muffins (although a few people ate peanut butter and jelly which was SUPPOSED to be for lunch). Ok...then what happened? Oh yeah...We (Jasper and Shiloh) got put in the group that was going to Rosarito to put new cushions on the pews. It was really boring (JK it was alright, and the puppy was so CUTE!). Actually the puppy was also boring and the girls only thought it was cute because it was small.
The other group went to the house site and put up 3 walls, fully painted. The guys wanted to stay and work but Roy made them come home so that we would work slower so we wouldn't be done early. Don't ask us why he doesn't want to finish it up early, but I suppose he is an adult and he has a good adult excuse...I mean reason. I mean seriously, we could have a whole 2 more days possibly to go to the water park man!
This year we continued the practice of having spanish words for each day. So far, they are church (iglesia), cement (cemento), nail (clavo), and joy (gozo). Today on the way to the Rosarito church I (Jasper) single-handedly wrote an amazing limerick. Actually Shiloh and Connie did help a little bit but not very much =D. Here it is:
There was a group full of gozo
Who went on a trip to Rosarito
When they got there
They had a care
to go to a place called Home Depot
It was pretty amazing I thought.
This paragraph is for Glen since he wasn't able to join us on this fabulous, exciting, magical, superb, fantastic, trip. I will let you know that we have seen many girls with blue shirts but we didn't pick them up because you weren't there. We hope you are having a blast back home so you won't be jealous of us here in Mexico. We hope your back troubles wise up a little bit and get the heck out of there for their own good. Because if they don't we are going take issue with them on our return. Beware. Anyway, see you soon (hopefully).
OK, bye.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Day 2: Concrete Slab
Day 2: Concrete Slab.
[Mike]: We got a great start this morning. After we spent an hour or so at the build site unloading equipment and starting the leveling of the ground there, Roy, Dave Coburn, and I went to the San Diego Home Depot to get doors, windows, and other building materials we would need this week. We knew it was going to be rough to get concrete up and down the hill our build site was on. We were blessed unexpectedly when the pump truck and concrete mixer showed up and drove up the hill next door to our build site and poured it right into the form. It took maybe 15 minutes to finish. The team of levelers led, from what I hear, by Jason Aasland, Shiloh Simmering, and Jasper Bawcom got it leveled off by Noon. From what I hear, Shiloh was knee-deep in cement...don't worry though, we didn't erect a permanent statue of St. Shiloh. He washed it off. Of course everyone pitched in to get it ready and leveled. But we've got some awesome teens who stepped up and took the lead in getting it done early.
As the three of us showed up to the house site after spending all morning at Home Depot, we didn't expect all the work to be done. We left at 2pm (it was drying too quickly, so we made sure to water the new slab for the next 2 hours) from the house site to IBLA and let the concrete dry tonight.
Last night Dann Pierce talked about true gratitude. I remembered his thoughts as I made my lunch. I was overcome with gratefulness as I made my sandwich as many people here do not have even this.
Here are some words of the day from Becca Brower who spent the day on another site...I'll let her tell you about it.
[Becca]: A group of seven of us went to the church in Rosarito. Together we worked to re-upolster their pews. They were in horrible condition and not comfortable at all. They were in definite need of repair. We were able to take apart the upolstry on two of the pews and were able to completely finish and repair one of them. We plan to return to the site again tomorrow in order to finish the second pew and start on a couple more. It was a good day. AMEN!!!
[Mike]: Great stuff. We ate so much food yesterday. Today was tame. I look forward to tonights simple meal. We hope our Westsiders are having a great week. Thanks for your continued prayers. We've been praying for our fellow pilgrimagee Glen who couldn't make it due to a back ailment. We hope you are feeling better. We miss you.
These pictures are but a fraction of what we did. I am sure it will be a blessing when we get to show you all the great things we did in slideshow form.
P.S. Jasper thinks he found his blowdart gun, but he doesn't have it yet. Need to re-hide it before tomorrow. Mental note...
[Mike]: We got a great start this morning. After we spent an hour or so at the build site unloading equipment and starting the leveling of the ground there, Roy, Dave Coburn, and I went to the San Diego Home Depot to get doors, windows, and other building materials we would need this week. We knew it was going to be rough to get concrete up and down the hill our build site was on. We were blessed unexpectedly when the pump truck and concrete mixer showed up and drove up the hill next door to our build site and poured it right into the form. It took maybe 15 minutes to finish. The team of levelers led, from what I hear, by Jason Aasland, Shiloh Simmering, and Jasper Bawcom got it leveled off by Noon. From what I hear, Shiloh was knee-deep in cement...don't worry though, we didn't erect a permanent statue of St. Shiloh. He washed it off. Of course everyone pitched in to get it ready and leveled. But we've got some awesome teens who stepped up and took the lead in getting it done early.
As the three of us showed up to the house site after spending all morning at Home Depot, we didn't expect all the work to be done. We left at 2pm (it was drying too quickly, so we made sure to water the new slab for the next 2 hours) from the house site to IBLA and let the concrete dry tonight.
Last night Dann Pierce talked about true gratitude. I remembered his thoughts as I made my lunch. I was overcome with gratefulness as I made my sandwich as many people here do not have even this.
Here are some words of the day from Becca Brower who spent the day on another site...I'll let her tell you about it.
[Becca]: A group of seven of us went to the church in Rosarito. Together we worked to re-upolster their pews. They were in horrible condition and not comfortable at all. They were in definite need of repair. We were able to take apart the upolstry on two of the pews and were able to completely finish and repair one of them. We plan to return to the site again tomorrow in order to finish the second pew and start on a couple more. It was a good day. AMEN!!!
[Mike]: Great stuff. We ate so much food yesterday. Today was tame. I look forward to tonights simple meal. We hope our Westsiders are having a great week. Thanks for your continued prayers. We've been praying for our fellow pilgrimagee Glen who couldn't make it due to a back ailment. We hope you are feeling better. We miss you.
These pictures are but a fraction of what we did. I am sure it will be a blessing when we get to show you all the great things we did in slideshow form.
P.S. Jasper thinks he found his blowdart gun, but he doesn't have it yet. Need to re-hide it before tomorrow. Mental note...
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Day 1: Arrival In Mexico
[Mike]: We have arrived in Mexico after a somewhat long day. Southwest lost one of Larry's bags, and he and Jason's flight was delayed a bit so they hadn't been at the airport long when the rest of us arrived. After Roy and Connie got our rental vans, it was only 15 minutes until the next flight came in with Larry's bag so we waited and were able to get it. After a quick stop for breakfast groceries, we went on to our favorite taco stand. I don't know if it was the time we stopped, but there seemed to be more people begging than usual. Times are tough. One man said they were going to hear about us on the front page of the paper...I think he thought we were some kind of religious cult.
We ate and arrived at IBLA and greeted our brothers and sisters with warm hugs all around. It was great to see everyone from just a year ago. This morning we will be headed to Rosarito for some tourism and then to Terrazes for worship...they have services in the afternoon now or that might just be this time. Let me turn it over to Bob Greenlee for some other thoughts.
[Bob]: It was great to see Arturo and Lupe again--as Roy said, it's as if we left a week ago and are returning to good friends. Downstairs a group is practicing a skit about Noah's ark (in Spanish!) for the kid's Sunday school class. Should be a big hit. Back to Mike.
[Mike]: It is very warm and kind of humid this year. It should be even hotter in Terrazes. Sleeping was a bit difficult in the heat, but hopefully we can turn on some fans or something to cool us off. There will be eating and more eating on this trip. We'll have to be careful or we'll end up gaining weight before we're home.
Last night I (Mike) taught a short lesson on Hope and shared 2 real life stories: one about Watchman Nee the devoted Christian from 1920's China. He grew thousands of churches and wrote many volumes of his thoughts. The government couldn't get him to stop so they cut his arms off. The second story of guitarist Brian "Head" Welch from the heavy metal band Korn who left the band in 2005 because he had become a Christian and couldn't continue to be involved in music with such dark images. They have a hope for their lives even though they are so different. We are different, but we also have the same hope in our salvation and we are here in Mexico to share that hope. Pray that we are serving the way we need to according to God's will.
P.S. Jasper hasn't found his blow dart gun yet.
We ate and arrived at IBLA and greeted our brothers and sisters with warm hugs all around. It was great to see everyone from just a year ago. This morning we will be headed to Rosarito for some tourism and then to Terrazes for worship...they have services in the afternoon now or that might just be this time. Let me turn it over to Bob Greenlee for some other thoughts.
[Bob]: It was great to see Arturo and Lupe again--as Roy said, it's as if we left a week ago and are returning to good friends. Downstairs a group is practicing a skit about Noah's ark (in Spanish!) for the kid's Sunday school class. Should be a big hit. Back to Mike.
[Mike]: It is very warm and kind of humid this year. It should be even hotter in Terrazes. Sleeping was a bit difficult in the heat, but hopefully we can turn on some fans or something to cool us off. There will be eating and more eating on this trip. We'll have to be careful or we'll end up gaining weight before we're home.
Last night I (Mike) taught a short lesson on Hope and shared 2 real life stories: one about Watchman Nee the devoted Christian from 1920's China. He grew thousands of churches and wrote many volumes of his thoughts. The government couldn't get him to stop so they cut his arms off. The second story of guitarist Brian "Head" Welch from the heavy metal band Korn who left the band in 2005 because he had become a Christian and couldn't continue to be involved in music with such dark images. They have a hope for their lives even though they are so different. We are different, but we also have the same hope in our salvation and we are here in Mexico to share that hope. Pray that we are serving the way we need to according to God's will.
P.S. Jasper hasn't found his blow dart gun yet.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Pre-Pilgrimage Thoughts
We are but a day away from leaving Oregon to be pilgrims in Mexico. We are going to be doing our best to serve God as He chooses. Keep us in your daily prayers. It will be a difficult journey full of wonder and exploration. Some are a little frightened about the known violence happening in Rosarito and Tijuana. We go with hope, faith and assurance of God's presence in the world and in our lives.
I [Mike] hope to be able to comment and bring good news of our friends and brothers & sisters in Mexico regularly. Many others will also share their perspectives. I look forward to the food myself...its always a blessing...kinda "Simple" but refreshing and sustaining. The hospitality is always a blessing.
Jesus is with us.
I [Mike] hope to be able to comment and bring good news of our friends and brothers & sisters in Mexico regularly. Many others will also share their perspectives. I look forward to the food myself...its always a blessing...kinda "Simple" but refreshing and sustaining. The hospitality is always a blessing.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."What we hope for is a week and a half of building a home and building bridges to people who maybe full of faith and for those that may have none. My prayer is that we have one life to touch in a way that they never thought possible. That they learn of this man Jesus whom we represent and that we truly mirror Jesus. We won't eliminate poverty while we are there, but alleviate it and show this faith and hope the Hebrew writer speaks about.
Jesus is with us.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Poverty Test
1. How many people are in the world?
a. 3 billion2. How many people in the world today get by on less than $1/day (known as extreme poverty)?
b. 4.7 billion
c. 6.5 billion
a. 4 billion3. How many people die of dire poverty every day (i.e. want of food, safe drinking water, medicine or other essential needs)?
b. 1.2 billion
c. 2.2 billion
a. 20,0004. What are contributing factors causing extreme poverty exists in the world today?
b. 200,000
c. 50,000
a. Natural resources5. How many people in the world today do not have access to clean water?
b. Climate
c. Topography
d. Proximity to trade routes and markets
e. Government corruption
f. All of the above
g. None of the above
a. 20,0006. Of the people without access to clean water in the world, how many live in Africa?
b. 500,000
c. 1 billion
a. 500 million7. How many children die of malnutrition before their 5th birthday?
b. 314 million
c. 105 million
a. 500,0008. How many people die from malaria each year?
b. 1 million
c. 3 million
d. 6 million
a. 500,0009. Globally, how many children have lost one or both parents to AIDS?
b. 1 million
c. 2 million
a. 5 million10. Ten years ago it cost $10,000 a year for the antiretroviral medicine used to treat people with AIDS. How much does it cost today?
b. 10 million
c. 15 million
a. $5/person/year11. How much does it cost to purchase effective malaria medication?
b. $50/person/year
c. $140/person/year
d. $220/person/year
a. $20012. Which of the following interventions have proven successful in eliminating malaria?
b. $20
c. $2
a. Using insecticide treated bed nets13. In 2002 only 50,000 HIV positive Africans had access to AIDS medication. How many have access to this medicine today?
b. Spraying indoors to kill mosquitoes
c. Preventative treatment for pregnant women
d. Treatment for those already infected
e. a and b above
f. all of the above
a. 20,00014. Can extreme poverty be eliminated?
b. 500,000
c. 1,300,000
a. Yes15. Find one new important fact about world poverty, hunger or disease to share with the class.
b. No
c. I don’t know
Packing List
-Bedding, do not bring large sleeping bags! There is not enough room and they will be way to hot. A fitted sheet and a couple of blankets will be fine. There are also fleece sleeping bags that are very small and thin at many of the outdoor stores for sale that work great and are only about $15. You will also need a pillow or a stuff sack to make a pillow.
-One pair of scrubs
-One 32 oz. water bottle
-One pair of work gloves
-One pair of work jeans
-One work site t-shirt
-One sweatshirt
-One nice Sunday morning church outfit (to be left in Mexico)
-One pair of pants or modest shorts
-One t-shirt to wear in San Diego (only a t-shirt)
-One bathing suit (girls may only bring a one piece)
-One towel
-One wash cloth (not mandatory)
-Four pairs of socks (you must write your name on every sock in permanent marker so after you wash them and hang them you will not lose them)
-Underwear enough for one pair every day
-Work Shoes (must be close-toed)
-One other pair of shoes that can be worn with scrubs and Sunday clothes (you do not need to leave in Mexico)
-Hat (full brim if possible)
-Bandanna (mandatory)
-Sun glasses (not mandatory)
-Cameras (not mandatory)
-Bible (mandatory)
-Two Pens
-Tooth Brush
-Tooth Paste
-Deodorant
-Hair products (this is only if you need it, there will be no curling irons or blow dryers available)
-Shampoo
-Soap
-Sunscreen (mandatory)
-Face products as needed
-Razors (If needed)
-Prescription medicine (must be checked in with nurse)
What you may not bring!!!!!
-Make-up
-Curling irons & blow dryers
-Outside Reading-books, magazines, etc.
-Cell Phones/pagers (we will have cell phones & will allow calls once during trip.)
-CD-player/CDs/iPod/Computer
-Electronic game devices
-Alcohol, drugs, or firearms
-blow dart guns
-Cigarettes
-Lighters or Matches
-Knives
-Snacks (you may have snacks for the plane ride down, but they must be gone by the time we arrive in San Diego. If not they will be thrown away.)
-Do not buy anything in Mexico that you will not be allowed to bring home.
Everything must be able to fit into a small soft duffel bag or back pack that can be carried on to a plane. You may carry your pillow
outside of your bag.
-One pair of scrubs
-One 32 oz. water bottle
-One pair of work gloves
-One pair of work jeans
-One work site t-shirt
-One sweatshirt
-One nice Sunday morning church outfit (to be left in Mexico)
-One pair of pants or modest shorts
-One t-shirt to wear in San Diego (only a t-shirt)
-One bathing suit (girls may only bring a one piece)
-One towel
-One wash cloth (not mandatory)
-Four pairs of socks (you must write your name on every sock in permanent marker so after you wash them and hang them you will not lose them)
-Underwear enough for one pair every day
-Work Shoes (must be close-toed)
-One other pair of shoes that can be worn with scrubs and Sunday clothes (you do not need to leave in Mexico)
-Hat (full brim if possible)
-Bandanna (mandatory)
-Sun glasses (not mandatory)
-Cameras (not mandatory)
-Bible (mandatory)
-Two Pens
-Tooth Brush
-Tooth Paste
-Deodorant
-Hair products (this is only if you need it, there will be no curling irons or blow dryers available)
-Shampoo
-Soap
-Sunscreen (mandatory)
-Face products as needed
-Razors (If needed)
-Prescription medicine (must be checked in with nurse)
What you may not bring!!!!!
-Make-up
-Curling irons & blow dryers
-Outside Reading-books, magazines, etc.
-Cell Phones/pagers (we will have cell phones & will allow calls once during trip.)
-CD-player/CDs/iPod/Computer
-Electronic game devices
-Alcohol, drugs, or firearms
-blow dart guns
-Cigarettes
-Lighters or Matches
-Knives
-Snacks (you may have snacks for the plane ride down, but they must be gone by the time we arrive in San Diego. If not they will be thrown away.)
-Do not buy anything in Mexico that you will not be allowed to bring home.
Everything must be able to fit into a small soft duffel bag or back pack that can be carried on to a plane. You may carry your pillow
outside of your bag.
Schedule/Pie Auction
It is hard to believe but our trip is almost here. We only have four more meetings together (only three focused on our study material). Be sure you have all your questions answered as time is running short:
May 4 -- Meeting
May 11 -- (Mother’s Day – No meeting)
May 18 -- (Faith Quest Worship – No meeting)
May 25 -- (Memorial Day – No meeting)
June 1 -- Meeting
June 8 -- (Pie Auction – No meeting)
June 15 -- (Final preparation meeting)
June 18 -- Wednesday (Check-in)
June 21 -- Saturday (Leave for Mexico)
Please note that our Pie Auction is set for June 8. Please be prepared to help with set up, cleanup and providing baked goods. This has been our major fundraising event for Mexico. Last year we raised over $5,000. Also our service that day will be focused on missions and outreach – I hope some of you will have the opportunity to participate in that venue too. Please be in prayer about the trip, plans, pie auction, preparation, and the people we will meet in Mexico.
May 4 -- Meeting
May 11 -- (Mother’s Day – No meeting)
May 18 -- (Faith Quest Worship – No meeting)
May 25 -- (Memorial Day – No meeting)
June 1 -- Meeting
June 8 -- (Pie Auction – No meeting)
June 15 -- (Final preparation meeting)
June 18 -- Wednesday (Check-in)
June 21 -- Saturday (Leave for Mexico)
Please note that our Pie Auction is set for June 8. Please be prepared to help with set up, cleanup and providing baked goods. This has been our major fundraising event for Mexico. Last year we raised over $5,000. Also our service that day will be focused on missions and outreach – I hope some of you will have the opportunity to participate in that venue too. Please be in prayer about the trip, plans, pie auction, preparation, and the people we will meet in Mexico.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Baseball Game Options
San Diego Padres vs Mariners game – Friday, June 27
vs. 
Option 1 – Park pass (gets you into Petco Park onto the grass/picnic area but not the game). No additional cost.
Option 2 – Ticket to game (cost ~$25/person). Each person wanting a ticket would pay an additional $20. Must let Roy know option preference by April 1.
What? No Potros game?
vs. 
Option 1 – Park pass (gets you into Petco Park onto the grass/picnic area but not the game). No additional cost.
Option 2 – Ticket to game (cost ~$25/person). Each person wanting a ticket would pay an additional $20. Must let Roy know option preference by April 1.
What? No Potros game?
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Short Term Missions Workbook
We got our text that we'll be reading and studying from as a group on Sunday. Make sure to come to Spiritual Formations and pick yours up if you missed last week. We'll be going through Chapter 1 this week, so make sure you have read too.
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