Missions Team...

This past week, we had the blessing of hosting our 4th missions team this year.  It was a combination of men and women from Horizon Christian Fellowship and Immanuel Christian School, in El Paso Texas.  Our desire was to accomplish some work projects at the orphanage and church, as well as host a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, to reach the community.  God was incredibly faithful to not only meet, but, exceed our expectations! I think this was my 20th or so missions trip to Bachiniva, that I've been a part of.  In all of these trips, I have learned that you can definitely expect the unexpected.  No matter how much you plan, coordinate or "schedule" the Lord will often change things up...which is ALWAYS for the better!

One of those things we didn't expect, was VBS part two.  There is a dear couple in the church, Sergio and Josefina, who have been leading a bible study in a town named Porvenir, about 25 minutes away.  Pastor Luis and Kim asked them to lead our VBS in Bachiniva, in which they did an outstanding job.  I found out that they needed some help running the VBS in Porvenir, and figured we could spare a day to help out.  However, not too much, because we had our "schedule" to keep with the missions team.

All of that changed, after the first day, on Monday.  About 45 kids came out to the town hall to hear about Jesus, some, for the very first time.  All of the VBS' I've been apart of have been hosted by a church.  However, this was my first VBS, in which a young couple and their family, stepped out to reach a small town for Christ.  Talk about being the "hands and feet" of Jesus.  I felt so blessed and privileged to be apart of what took place.

Here come the kids...

Morning started with worship, prayer and our memory verse...

The day was broken up into 3 stages...bible study, craft and game.  Here is Pastor Jose teaching one group about Jesus being the TRUTH...

 Working hard on their crafts...

Hanging out waiting to be picked up...or..walk home...

Another exciting event we had, was our 3 on 3 basketball tournament.  Dan, one of the team members from El Paso, played basketball in high school and then went on to play in college.  He now teaches and is the head basketball coach at Immanuel Christian school.  Spencer, another brother who is serving down here with us from Puyallup WA, also played basketball in high-school.  However, he quit his senior year because he fell more in love with Jesus then basketball.  Then you have my cousin Jose, who played basketball in high school and now loves playing with the youth from the church.

In light of that, we felt that this would be a perfect opportunity to share the love of Christ with the community.  After lots of prayer, planning and prepping...the Lord gave us the green light to go for it...OR...”just do it.”  The city gave us approval to use the gym and we began to get the word around town.  The nice thing about Bachiniva, is that word travels very past.  We put up posters, passed out fliers, and invited anyone we came across.

Tuesday night came and we were all AMAZED at the turnout.  12 teams of 3 signed up to play in the tournament.  Plus, we had probably another 100 people show up throughout the night to watch and cheer on.  The night was full of basketball, contests, hotdogs, prizes and most importantly, the Word of God.  Before the championship game was played, we invited everyone to sit down on the bleachers.  Normally this is where people start to leave...however, over 50 people stayed, listening very intently on what was being shared.  Dan gave his testimony of a life changed by God’s grace and forgiveness, and then Jose brought the gospel message.

At one point, I noticed out of the corner of my eyes, a man walk in with a machine gun.  It was the director of the police.  He was with another gentleman who too had a gun.  I began to get nervous, thinking this was it, they are going to shut us down, ESPECIALLY because they walked in right as Jose was talking about the price that Jesus paid for everyone.  They stayed for a few minutes and then left.  What I learned afterward, from Luis, was that the other man with the gun, the drug lord of the area).  Rather then being worried or scared that he came, I began to get very excited.  Of all the people who could have shown up, at the perfect moment, to hear words of life that he so desperately needs, were these men.  They need Jesus so badly, and we know that the Lord desires for them to come to repentance.  Isn’t that the beauty of what 2 Peter says...

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

We were all exhausted by the end of the night, but it was a such a rich, rewarding and incredible night.  Please join us as we continue to pray for all those that stayed to hear the message of hope and were invited to church.  Please also pray for the drug dealers, that the Lord would bring them to the end of themselves, in an attitude of repentance and a need for Jesus.

Dan, Nieves and Spencer organizing the tournament...

Immanuel Christian School donated a bunch of basketball jersey's that we will be able to donate to the schools...

Registration and welcome table...

Lets the games begin...

Testimony and the Gospel...

The last 2 teams standing...

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

VBS (Escuelita De Ninos)...

 "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth" (Ps 127:3-4). Think of how much you love your kids.  Yes they can get annoying, fiesty, cranky and make you want to rip your hair out at times.  However, they are a tremendous blessing from the Lord.  Now...imagine how much the LORD loves them.  And not just your kids, but all the children of the world.  All throughout scriptures we see how special, precious and treasured children are to the Lord.  We are also carefully warned and instructed how to treat them, care for them and raise them up.

Unfortunately, this is a huge issue down here in Bachiniva.  There is a tremendous lack of parents that are taking a responsibility, before the Lord, to care for their children.  It is difficult at times to see children all over the place, doing whatever they want, coming and going as they choose, and trying to get through life in the absence of parents.  Oh they might be there physically, to put food on the table or clothes on their back.  But for the most part, any type of raising or training up is not there, especially, in the ways of the Lord. As a result, you find kids who are forced to look to other things to fill that void in their life.

One of the biggest blessings of the church and ministry down here, is how many children are apart of it.  Tonight, we will feed 60-70  people after church through our soup kitchen.  30-40 of those will most likely be children and youth.  God has given us the opportunity to invest in the lives of these children and more importantly, teach them how much Jesus loves them and what a relationship with Him looks like.

Like most churches back home in the states, we too held our VBS (escuelita de ninos) last week.  It was a huge success and blessing to see all of the children come out , over the 3 days, to hear and learn about Jesus.  Our theme was "Rancha Avalancha" (Avanlance Ranch).  During our time together, we wanted the kids to understand that Jesus is the Truth, "Jesus es la Verdad", Jesus is with us, "Jesus esta conmigo" and Jesus is our strength, "Jesus es mi Fuerza." 

Through our daily time of worship, bible study, craft, games and questions/answers at the end, we were pleased with how the Lord worked and moved.  Our continual prayer is that the Word will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent...AND...that the seeds that were planted in these kids' hearts will begin to grow.

The theme song for the week was "You Are My All In All"  I hadn't heard that song in a while, and it ministered to my heart in a tremendous way, especially in spanish.  There are just certain songs that are incredibly beautiful in other languages.  It was also extra special, watching all of the children worshipping and singing from the depths of their hearts....

"Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is your name.  Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name.  Worthy is Your name, worthy is Your name."

Golf Tournament...

Tiger Woods started his golf career at the early age of 2.  Just one year later, this 3 year old phenom shot a 48 over nine holes at the Cypress Navy course.  Like Tiger, I to started my golfing career at a young age, 4.  I remember it like it was yesterday.

We lived in Casper WY and my older brother, Joey, and I were in the back yard.  As I was playing on our patio, my brother stood off in the distance, on that beautiful sunny day, with club in hand. I remember him swinging, and that ball traveling about 90 miles an hour right at me.  I guess you could say he made it in the hole, which was actually my mouth.  It was a beautiful shot that bounced once on the pavement and then right into my teeth.  I'm a little bit hazy on the rest of the details after that, as I was suffering from teeth being knocked out and blood flowing profusely.

I wasn't really interested in golf anymore after that until later in life.  Actually, I'm not sure if I ever really was interested in the "golf" part.   Having a dad who played all his life and was ridiculously good at it (and still is) golf was a part of our family.  However, whenever the 4 of us (dad, and two brothers) would go play, I was more interested in "dinking" around...the driving range, driving the golf cart, running around the course, eating those tasty hotdogs, fighting with my older brother, spending hours trying to find where I hit my ball and averaging 140 on 18 holes.

I would like to think that I am a golfer, because its in the family...but the reality is, I'm not, and I'm okay with that.  Especially after my last experience at the driving range, when I hit someone.  No, it wasn't someone standing out in the fairway, rather, the gentleman that was right beside me.  How does that happen?  I have no idea...but it was miserable as I saw that ball pelt the man's leg next to me, rather then going straight into the fairway.  He grabbed his leg in pain, walked over to put his clubs away and then left the driving range.  My brothers helped comfort me as they quickly fought over who could have the man's leftover range balls!

Okay, having shared that little experience...what does that mean?  Well, I wanted to share with you all about a very special event our home church is hosting.  Each summer, South Hill Calvary hosts a "Golf Invitational" that benefits different non-profit organizations.  Now that the Lord has opened the doors to start an orphanage down here in Mexico, the invitational will benefit the "House of Blessing" this year.  I would love to personally invite any and all of you to be involved in this.  Whether that is playing in it, sponsoring a hole, or just praying for this event.  I'm so excited that I get to fly home and be a part of it...BUT...don't worry, I won't be playing in it.  I will be there at one of the holes to share and talk about the orphanage and ministry down here, with all of the players.

I have included a link to the website where you can read more information, find out details and even get registered, if you would like to play in it.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any assistance, or call the church office, 253.841-5680.

Thank you so much and I hope to see a lot of you on Saturday, the 27th.

www.southhillcalvary.org/golf