AKCS Mexico Mission Updates

Mexico Mission 2008

Daily(?) Updates

March 14, 9:30am

The 2008 Mexico Mission Team is on the road. After packing their gear and saying goodbye, they were sent off by 6:30am, with prayer from parents and Mr. Driedger. Thank you to the many parents and friends who came in the cold, early morning to say good-bye.

They will drive directly to Lethbridge, where they will pick up students and a teacher from Cornerstone Christian School, one student from Cherry Coulee Christian Academy, and two more interpreters.

From there, they head to the US Border and the I-15. Please pray that the border crossing will go smoothly with both vehicles.

Sunday, March 16, 9:30am – Mr. Driedger

I just spoke to Mr. Hughes a few minutes ago, knowing that they were going to be heading south of Las Vegas today. It’s hard to believe, but it’s actually snowing as they drive through the Mojave Desert. It was raining in Las Vegas, and now snowing in the desert!!

Mr. Hughes says that the trip is going very well. Aside from having to wait quite awhile in the line up at the Sweet Grass border crossing, the actual time spent processing the students was only about 15 minutes, and the inspection agents were friendly and helpful. Praise God!! Mr. Horwood and his van load were just waved on through.

Both nightly stopovers were good, with the contacts ready to meet the group and being very hospitable. Mr. Hughes also commends the group for moving very quickly and responsively at the stops and in the early mornings when they wake up. The team is moving along very efficiently.

There are several things to pray about today.

First, please pray that it is not raining in Mexicali, as that makes the tenting and ministry locations very muddy. The soil is a clay-like sand that clings to everything!

Also, please pray for the border crossing into Mexico. While God has always smoothed the way for our teams in these crossings, even to the point of the miraculous, expectations can be quite unpredictable. The team will be quietly praying on the bus, so let’s join them in prayer throughout the day, and particularly from around 3pm to 5pm.

The last big job of the day is to properly set up the “Tent Village”, which will be their place of rest for the next six nights. In the evening, there will be an opening service to spend time welcoming all the teams and to join together in worship. Pray that the teams will be filled with joy and anticipation for the ministry that is ahead of them. I am so thrilled to know that God will use these teens and their leaders as they have submitted themselves as His chosen instruments.

I’m not sure how many teams will be at the YUGO base at Ejido Tamaulipas. I do know, however, that the combined total of our team and the team led from Koinonia Red Deer is 107 people. That’s a lot of trained Koinonia spiritual warriors on the front lines this week. Please, remember to lift them up before their Commander each time He brings them to your mind.

I have asked Mr. Hughes for some kind of communication each day, and I will post it as soon as I can.

Mr. D

March 16, 2008 – New email from Janice H’s Blackberry J

“We’ve just crossed into Mexicali – easiest crossing ever!! Currently mostly sunny and very dry! 5:45pm – lots of light.

Dios le bendiga! (God bless you)"

Janice

Thank you to everyone who was praying today. The Lord heard your prayer and provided wonderfully!

Mr. D

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 – 9am

Due to fear of rain and desire for high ground, campsite is small.

Our church is about 5 min. away in Ejidos Sinaloa. The work team is digging the foundation for a building to contain a larger sanctuary and orphanage. The Women’s ministry went well with about 9 ladies, including one who accepted Christ! Please pray for Anniea who has been suffering from insomnia for 3 years - we all prayed with her last night.

The Children’s ministry had at least 40 kids! We now have enough supplies for 70. We have a LOT of boys and attention during lesson time is a constant issue.

The Sports team brought out 16-20 kids. The afternoon went well except that one of our boys got hit in the face with the soccer ball (he’s okay).

The evening services have been adjusted as “big” services will be Wednesday & Friday. The church is VERY conservative so our guys have to tone it down a bit - no clapping or actions to songs. Choir kids sang - wonderful! Daniel did a great job with his sermon - he set a high standard for the rest.

Tonight 10 of the team will be going a short distance away to help Pastor Julio with a street ministry in a community he has been reaching out to.

Kids are excited and looking forward to what today will bring.

March 20, 2008 – again from Mrs. H’s Blackberry, pictures too!

One of our interpreters, Lucia, has been asked to help another team who lost a translator to illness before they even got here. She has been translating for their women and says it is going very well.

Tuesday was much hotter but our work team kept on going - as well as digging the foundation, they cheerfully took on the task of fixing the toilets at the base - 2 were not working when we arrived and several more had been plugged when the water was shut off at night and people continued to use them instead of going to the outhouses.

About 36 children came out in the afternoon. Lesson went well, but still no decisions. The evening service had about 15 kids. It’s a continuing story and kids are getting interested.

Women’s ministry is also going well - another lady 'considering'. They really enjoy singing together. The team has a plan for teenage girls, who don't really fit with either children or women.

Sports also had lots of kids. Lessons are going well.

Wednesday evening had a few adults in attendance. Michael also gave a good sermon and Allison gave her testimony.

The street ministry went very well. Ashton gave his testimony and Ian preached. The pastor spoke afterward and 6 people gave their lives to Christ!

One of the other teams in another village has discovered that their church is in the middle of several gangs, so please pray for them.

Several youth are fighting colds and the heat is hard to take for some (temps in low 30's).

We expect the service to be much bigger tonight as it is a regular meeting night. Charity will share her testimony, the choir will be singing, and Matt B will preach.

From March 21, 2008

Wednesday: Hotter still!

Sports: had collected the balls so the boys would pay attention, but someone managed to get some and halfway through the lesson they lost everyone to the field. They plan to hold on to the balls better!

Children had about 38 kids in the afternoon, 5 of whom made decisions! Evening went well.

Work team finished the foundation trench.

Womens was exciting as they broke into 2 groups; one for the ladies and one for the teen girls. It went very well.

Evening also went well. Charity shared her testimony, choir sang 2 songs, and Matt B preached.

Thursday: felt hot but the thermometer only read 29.

Sports went well today.

Women had another decision and things are going very well with the teen girls.

Children had 15 came forward, but only one was actually a first-time commitment. However Nathan G prayed with another child just before we left.

The work team started making a porch into a room on the assistant pastor’s house which will be used as a meeting room. We’re now heading out to evening service.

Another email from Janice, Saturday, 1am.

Last night's (Thursday) service went well again. We had a few more adults and about 19 kids. Stephen G shared his testimony and Jesse preached.

Stopped on way back to base for tacos - excellent!

Team Communion at base led by Mr. Rempel - very thought provoking.

Friday afternoon

Children’s ministry only had about 20 as it is a holiday and many go to the beach. Still had 2 make decisions! Had about 20 again in evening, no decisions.

Women had 7 teens in their new ministry. One decision and 6 recommitments!

Work: team worked all day until about 9:30 to get room ready for mudding (windows and lights in too). Will leave tools for Mac McGrain to use.

Evening: Josh N gave testimony and Ian preached. Choir sang, then their choir sang for us (5 women). 3 people gave their lives to Christ, plus Mr. Stacy has interesting story about a couple he and Josh G led to the Lord tonight.

Lots of tears at goodbye as usual.

The plan is to get up at 5:30 and be packed up and ready to go by 7am.

From March 22, 2008

Have a leak in emergency brake system so delayed while Mr. Rempel made temporary fix. We’re almost 2 hours late starting. Currently in line at border - 9:50 am.

Please pray for quick and easy crossing.

Janice H.

This just in… (2:45pm)

The team had a very smooth border crossing and are now in Arizona, moving north towards Flagstaff for the night.

They are planning to have their Sunrise Service at the Grand Canyon in the morning.

March 23, 2008 – from a Saturday evening email

We made it through border in about an hour. The crossing was actually pretty easy. We should be in Flagstaff around 7:00 pm. Will go for supper and then hopefully do a better fix on the bus.

A few notes on our kids: sermons, lessons and testimonies were all VERY well prepared. Our interpreters said the interpreters from other teams complained several times that the lessons were boring, sometimes even just being read. They were proud to say – “Not OUR kids!"

This morning while waiting for the bus repair, I was asked if any of the kids would like to help out instead of just sitting around. I turned around and called "any volunteers to wash dishes?" almost instantly 4 kids were up and running. I then told YUGO just to ask if they needed other help. A few minutes later several were cleaning and moving tables. When they were finished, they came back and asked if there was anything else they could do.

Rod's comment to us was "Boy, you don't often get them coming and asking for more to do”, and the dishwashers actually whined when told they might have to leave before the dishes were finished! No, they're not perfect, but there's some really good stuff going on. We're proud of our youth!

March 23, 2008 – from an early Sunday email

Up early to clear out the church before their service and head out to the Grand Canyon for our Easter service.

We have more and more people getting sick - colds, diarrhea, and a possible case of pink eye. Of course everyone is tired and in close quarters so conditions are ideal for the spread of illness. Please pray for health for everyone. In the midst of all the sickness the youth have maintained good spirits.

Thank you for your prayers!

Janice H.

Easter Service:

Snow on ground and only about 4 degrees – cold! However, the canyon is amazing!