BRAD BUSER - CHAPEL SPEAKER
YUGO MISSION TRIP - JUNE 2008

Part 2 - Conclusion

Before we name the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we ought to realize that Jesus wants EVERYTHING!
--Luke 14:28-30 - “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’”
There is no salvation without being completely taken over by Jesus. He is to be our sole affection. Heaven is where we will stop the battle. Jesus comes into our lives here on earth only to come in and take over, completely.
--Luke 14:31-32 - “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace."
The only reasonable decision is to realize it costs us everything to come to Jesus. What choice do we have? Because Jesus IS the only One who completely satisfies in the long run! Everything else is really just a mirage.
--Luke 14:33 - “In the same way, any of you who does not give up EVERYTHING he has cannot be my disciple.”
There you have it! There are only disciples--and those going to hell! There is nothing in between. The future is ours to choose. Will we lay it all down at the feet of Jesus, or walk away from Him? Continuing to play games and making excuses, compromises, and rationales in defense of the way we want to follow Jesus? Jesus’ command is clear. We must come empty handed, on our knees, to Him.

The great thing is that what God then gives back to us is sweeter and more satisfying than ANYTHING we would cling or hang on to! We’re all going to die doing something--so why not “go for it?” We get so busy and forget that our life is His when we go home from a place like YUGO. We get back to everything familiar and just live nice, easy, mundane, dull lives in the old routines and activities. But only His life will truly satisfy.

It is OBEDIENCE that should motivate us. But this is also difficult:
--I Samuel 15:3 - “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Everything dies! This was a command of God to King Saul. It was doing something that doesn’t come naturally. Yes, obedience is difficult. And Saul wasn’t obedient. The evidence of his disobedience is in Scripture:
--I Samuel 15:13-14 - “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, ‘The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?’”
Saul tried to be obedient half way! And He tried to justify himself:
--I Samuel 15:15, 20-21 - “Saul answered, ‘The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.’ ‘But I did obey the Lord,’ Saul said. ‘I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.’”
Saul could not see his own disobedience. Self deception is so easy! However, there is only obedience or disobedience. No in-between! And Samuel put it this way to Saul:
--I Samuel 15:22 - “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Do we really want to try and live halfway obedient to God? Live a secondary, compromised life with God, just giving back to the Lord a few moments of our time every now and then? When we obey God, what we give up in total obedience to Him always pales in comparison to what we gain in eternity. Do not live a life of disobedience! The trinkets of life--momentary pleasures, status, youth, money, activities, homes, RV’s--never satisfy, and they will all pass away.

--Hebrews 11:1-2 - “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
We need eyes to see the unseeable, as the ancients did. These people were commended for this--for their faith--and they were people who wanted to hear God’s word.
--Hebrews 11:6 - “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Noah heard God’s voice and obeyed, building an ark to save his family--but the flood didn’t happen till many years later! Abraham heard God’s voice calling him to leave home, but not knowing where to go. What’s important here is don’t wait till you have all the answers before obeying; before going. God will show you as you go.
--Hebrews 11:13 - "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth."
These people did not have all the answers--but it’s not about the “now!” It’s about something bigger; better. Faith is about living where you don’t see it all right now.
--Genesis 22:2 - “God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’”
This is God talking to Abraham again, challenging him to do something that he cannot see and understand right now. This is the first time that the word “love” is used in Scripture, in connection with sacrificing his only son. And Abraham goes.
--Genesis 22:5 - “We will worship...”
This is the first time the word “worship” is used in Scripture. It involves a sacrifice--a deep sacrifice--much more than just a song to sing! Is this how our worship is today? Does our worship really involve a sacrifice on our part? Too often our focus is on trivial matters (style, hour, length, songs, getting “fed,” etc.)
--Hebrews 11:24 - “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Moses was the second most powerful man in the world, and he said “NO” to riches.
--Hebrews 11:27 - “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.”
Moses persevered with God, and finally saw the Lord--forty years later in the burning bush! With the Lord, we must be still, develop our relationship Him, be quiet and listen.

From Hebrews 11:1 through verse 35a, the results of faith--of following the Lord--are positive for everyone mentioned. But it wasn’t always a happy ending for those who followed God! Hebrews 11:35b-38 lists the many terrible endings that were in store for God’s people: torture, prison, flogging, stoned, sawed in two, death by the sword; destitute and persecuted and mistreated. Still, they persevered. God said “the world was not worthy of them.” We need to develop a right and true perspective that is not dependent on the world. We need to develop an “eye” in our chests that sees things properly, not from the world’s perspective. In Matthew 25, there is a big party for all who belong to the Lord; who live in such a way as to be ready for the Lord’s appearing. We must ask ourselves: “What do I want most?” Is it God’s affirmation? His “well done, good and faithful servant?” Spending time and basing your life on His word? Then the world will not be worthy of you either. You will be stepping out for the Lord and stepping away from the world. You will develop that “eye” in your chest that sees the Lord’s way.

May nothing deter us from following and living for Him!
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You can get an experience of hearing Brad preach by clicking on this link:

ForGodSoLoved

This takes you to the website of Cornerstone Church, where he preached a year ago. Click on "quicklink - get a sermon" and scroll down to "3/18/07 - Brad Buser - For God So Loved." Click on "Watch." It is a 45 minute presentation--and well worth taking in!

BRAD BUSER - CHAPEL SPEAKER
YUGO MISSION TRIP - JUNE 2008

Part 1

“There are well over 4000 people groups--millions and millions of individuals and communities around the world--who have never heard the name of Jesus. What are you going to do about it?”

With these words, our YUGO chapel speaker, Brad Buser, challenged ALL of us--students and adults alike--with the central, urgent reality facing Christians today.

But what are most of us concerned about instead? How do most of us in America spend our time? How do most Christians in the wealthy, abundant West live out their faith? How do most of us in American churches understand what it means to be a Christian? In many instances, it is not what Jesus has called us to, but instead is a personalized, “bless me” sort of faith that does not reflect the demanding, ultimate, radical call that Jesus makes to everyone who would follow him.

Brad “punched us in the face” all week, sharing a number of strong verses from Scripture and his searing insights with us. Brad is not known for his tact! He clears away all of the excuses, the clichés, and the weak, watered down theologies that we are quick to settle for in our comfortable consumeristic Christianity. He challenges the many ways we have softened Jesus’ strong teachings and demands with the fluff of an easy, personalized spirituality that we in America consider to be the mark of a mature disciple of Christ. What follows here in my blog is a transcription of Brad’s five messages from each morning at chapel during our youth group mission trip to Mexico. Of course, these messages are not as riveting in written form, compared to when Brad was up front, in person, passionately ripping away all of our theological assumptions and customary understandings of what it means to “have Jesus in your heart” and, instead, calling ALL Christians to a life of complete, utter, sold-out obedience to the One we say is our Lord and Savior. This blog post will be intense, so put on your seatbelts and hold on tight for a ride that I guarantee will elevate your spirit with cutting insight, break your heart with repentance, and renew your “Yes!” to Christ with refreshed conviction!
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--I Corinthians 6:19-20 - “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
When we come to Christ, our life is over! We are dead men! We have been bought out; “bought with a price.” Our life is not our own anymore. It must be all about GOD’S dreams and desires, not our selfish preferences anymore. It’s not about our “rights” or anything that we think we deserve, and want to have. These are gone! It’s all about GOD’S agenda, and we must join Him in what He is passionate about.
--Genesis 12:1-3 - The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU.’”
God has always loved all people, not just the Israelites. From the very beginning, God’s plan was to see all people restored into a relationship with Himself. Verses similar to these are found throughout Scripture. Jesus had a similar topic on his mind at the end of his life. The tone of his voice was serious and he gave a command to do his mission:
--Matthew 28:18-20 - “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
These are our marching orders! Not to kick back and exist comfortably in our nice homogeneous circles with fellow Christians, but to GO and make disciples of every people group on earth until all have heard the name of Jesus. What is our excuse for not going? Especially now, with the entire world coming to us right here, where we live, in the USA? We are to be soldiers, radically sold out to our Leader, expendable for Him, completely obedient to Him, pouring out our lives continually for Jesus’ mission. Are you content with where you are? Then you’re not really a follower of Jesus! Do you think you know all about God? Knowing a bunch of information about God does not make you a disciple of Him. There’s a difference between understanding and practice!

What is our excuse for not going? We should take heed to what Jesus is saying, because we know from Scripture that people who make excuses for not obeying and following Jesus are left behind! (Matt. 22:1-14; Luke 9:57-62; John 15:2) Is Jesus too extreme in His demands? Are His teachings just “ideals” that we can theologize and exegete in intellectual ways, but we excuse ourselves from actually doing because of course He never expected us to take them literally? Our Savior loves the world! Do we? We are to be soldiers for Him, radical and expendable for Him. Hard? Yes! Extreme? For sure! Deal with it!

To what are you obediently giving your life?
--Mark 16:15 - “Go into ALL the world and preach the good news to ALL creation.”
Jesus makes it crystal clear what the needs are. And today there are still over 4000 nations/people groups who have never heard the good news. Perhaps you say: “I don’t feel called to missions.” Sorry folks! MISSIONS IS NOT A “ME” THING. It’s not something we personally choose or decide is “not for me” or “not one of my gifts.” MISSIONS IS A GOD THING! It is elemental to everyone who claims to “have Jesus in my heart.” It is not an “extra” to a life of faith; not an “elective.” It is a command!
--Luke 24:46-47 - “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.”
This must be our highest goal: His story--Christ, who suffered, died, and rose--is to be preached to all nations. The issue is not “them” or “me.” The supreme issue is what God said!
--Acts 1:8 - “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
These are Jesus’ last words to His disciples, and to us. He loves people, and so must we. All people, everywhere. We cannot pull back from them, fear them, wait to reach out to them until we’re “comfortable” with them, or until they become “acceptable,” or more like us. We must be willing to walk away from all of the incredible wealth and blessings and homes and opportunities that surround us in our comfortable American culture and take His message “to the ends of the earth.” This is difficult. We don’t like to be challenged like this--it makes us uncomfortable! We like things to be familiar, easy, relaxed, comfortable, secure. We want a life of self-actualization, ease, material abundance, happiness. We look forward to retirement; to “kicking back” and just letting the world go by. We want to delight in having our families all around us; our children and grandchildren close by, safe and secure, the focus of our priorities and schedules. (One of the biggest roadblocks for young people, in following through with their desire to go out and serve in global missions, is PARENTS! After getting an application and starting to act on becoming a missionary, many young people say that the pressure they receive from their folks and families to not go out on the mission field is just too intense--and they give up trying.)

But that’s what heaven is for! Heaven is where we retire! Heaven is where we get to enjoy our families and loved ones--forever! Spouses, families, self-satisfaction, self-fulfillment--these are not to be our goals on earth. Here, we are simply to be obedient to God; to pursue God’s agenda, which again is not about our comfort, our abundance, our desires, our preferences. It’s about being willing to pour out our lives completely for our Master.
--II Timothy 2:3 - “Endure hardship...like a good soldier for Jesus Christ.”
Soldiers are disciplined; committed. You committed young people: are you ready and willing to take the risk for your King’s sake? To be expendable for Jesus? Where do you fit into His plans? We think and act as though the Christian life is about fulfilling us; ourselves. But we know what Jesus says:
--Luke 14:25-27 - “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’”
This is what salvation means! To follow Jesus--but look at what is involved: hating everyone and everything except Him. Jesus will not allow ANYTHING--or ANYONE--to compete with Him. There is an ultimatum here. It is extreme; demanding. When we decide to follow Jesus, nothing is to compete with our Savior. It is costly, and we must count the cost. We cannot make a deal with Jesus; say to Him that we will follow Him a little bit, or as much as we’re comfortable with, or when we remember to, or when it’s convenient. The imagery of the cross tells all: it’s about death! Death to self; to all of one’s ideas, dreams, aspirations, and plans. It’s not just for the missionaries, or for the “most committed” either. This is for everyone who claims Jesus as Savior.

How do we hate, and yet love what is near? What is our Savior saying to us here?
--Exodus 20:3 - “You shall have no other gods before me.”
God is not “Number One” on my priority list--He IS the list! Totally! Completely! The sole one; to whom we are fully devoted. God’s affirmation must be more precious and important to us than that of our parents, spouses, kids--or from anywhere else. If not, Jesus is saying: “You don’t really love me.” Luke 14:25-27 - THIS is what it means to be His! When we “accept Jesus into our heart,” our future is over! Jesus says: “I am your life! You are a dead man! You are going to be taken over!”

(Watch for the conclusion to this blog post next week...)

Brad, his wife, Beth, and two infant sons moved to Papua, New Guinea in 1979 and served for 20 years with the Eteris, one of the unreached people groups of that huge, diverse land. They practiced there what they preach today here! It is a captivating story. You can view a brief video presentation about their life and work with the Eteris by clicking on this YouTube link.

HILMAR COVENANT MEXICO MISSION TRIP
June 21-28, 2008

I have to say that I really like my new mission responsibilities! Not only do I get to spend time reading and corresponding and keeping current with what’s happening in the exciting arena of both global and local missions, I also get to help people to go on mission trips--and to go more often myself! And I have to say, there is nothing like seeing firsthand what God is doing with “every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Rev. 7:9) right here--right now, not waiting until we all get to heaven!

Once again, I was blessed to be part of the Mexico mission team on its annual trip to Tijuana through YUGO Ministries. It was my ninth time going to Mexico with our youth, and our eleventh time at Iglesia Bautista Bethel, the little church in the colonia of Francisco Villa where we minister all week. In fact, because of our long term relationship--which continues to grow ever stronger as we return year after year--we consider ourselves “sister churches,” totally united and “one” in our work and ministry to spread the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are “hermanos y hermanas en Cristo;” brothers and sisters in Christ, one body, even though we happen to live on two sides of the border, speak different languages, and live in different cultures. It’s amazing how those little things fall away when Christ is the common bond drawing different people together. Of course, having an eleven year relationship helps too...

You would think that after going so many times to the same place and to the same people and doing essentially the same things year after year that the whole trip would simply become routine or boring or mechanical, like cruising on automatic pilot. Instead, all of the familiar aspects of our experience each year serve to free us up and get us more deeply connected to the people and community immediately, rather than having to deal with culture shock, getting oriented to a new place, beginning the long process of getting to know new people, and figuring out their preferences, schedules, habits, etc. Our team is able to dig into ministry immediately because of the familiarity we have with the church and the community and this makes culture shock all but irrelevant to us (except occasionally for first time participants).

Every year new things await us when we arrive at Francisco Villa too. One year the Bethel congregation had started construction on a new multipurpose room behind the church building so they would have room to expand and teach children and youth with better space and resources. This addition has been a boon to their ministry, and it facilitates ours as well. One year we discovered that more men had started coming to the church and getting involved in it--which was especially interesting because Pastora Delia is a woman! One year we connected with a local rehabilitation house for men with special needs, and ended up painting Scripture verses in Spanish on the steps of the many stairways that lead down into the canyon where our guys do their sports ministry at the soccer court. The house director, Juan, wanted to blanket the canyon with the truth and power of Scripture as a way to combat the darkness and evil that is so pervasive in that neighborhood. Those verses are still there, with not a speck of graffiti painted over them! One year we decided to surprise the Bethel congregation and show up for their Sunday morning service, a day before we usually arrive to start our week with them. We ended up being surprised instead, because that day they were dedicating their newly expanded sanctuary which had just been completed by a group of volunteers from the USA! The service became a three hour celebration time, with all of us coming together to thank God for the blessing of the new building and the relationships that had made it possible. And of course there was a wonderfully delicious Mexican food “smörgåsbord” for all of us to enjoy together following worship!

Rather than give a blow by blow account of this year’s trip to Mexico and our week there, I’d like to share instead the special highlight that we discovered at the church this year: an active and growing youth group that has sprung up in the church over this past year! It was started by a 20 year old young man who we’ve known for the past few years, named Oscar. After going through some rough times, personally and spiritually, God grabbed hold of him last fall--and things have not been the same for him, or for Iglesia Bautista Bethel, ever since. Oscar said that in November he felt God speaking to him to get a youth group going. He and his girlfriend, Amy, and each of their brothers began to meet on Monday nights at the church, and before long other young people began to show up. Word got around about the group, until nearly twenty people began to attend regularly! They would share testimonies, spend time in worship, pray for one another, and read the Bible. (I’m pretty sure that Oscar also did some teaching, after what we witnessed from him during our week in Francisco Villa.)As the group grew together, they began to do more things: camping trips, youth meetings with other church groups from around Baja, and a competition where each youth group chose a Bible story, created an artistic rendering of it, and then presented the story to the other groups. The Bethel team won first place! The group has also started reaching out in service to the community, going to the Tijuana dump and giving out toys, food, and clothing to the children who live there.

We learned all about this phenomenal group when we again crossed the border on Sunday morning to attend the Iglesia Bautista Bethel morning service. Here were all of these young people, eager and waiting to start worship! And did they ever add a lot of “life” to the morning service, sitting together and singing loudly, shaking tambourines and other percussion instruments, clapping and dancing and raising their hands, despite the unusual, incredible heat that had hit Tijuana.It certainly helped bring energy to the two hour service. During lunch, Oscar and Amy told us the story of how their group came together. Then they said they hoped we would stay after our evening worship on Monday night and be part of their youth service, because they had been looking forward to our Hilmar group coming to Mexico since January--and they had been billing this Monday night meeting as an “international youth service!” Of course, we said “Yes!”

And that’s what we did, after our first day of ministry in Francisco Villa. We did our usual evening service for the church and community, which the youth also attended, again bringing energy and spirit to the worship. Afterwards, Oscar and Amy and their group took over. Oscar began by holding a huge link of chain and talking about all the things in our lives that keep us bound up, away from Christ.Then he asked if people had any testimonies to share. Oscar’s brother, Edgar, was one who talked about the things that had kept him in chains for a long time. But this past year he turned to Christ, and experienced release from the heavy load he had been carrying. With tears running down his cheeks, he thanked God for this freedom, and for the youth group that was so helpful and supportive to him. Then Tessa McCullough from our group shared about the sadness and struggles she has faced since her grandfather’s death. Taylor Genzoli also spoke from our team, affirming the new youth group by using the passage in Revelation 3 about the church in Laodicea. Taylor said how the youth group is a strong witness for the church, and what a positive thing this is, compared to places where churches are “neither cold nor hot.” Finally, I challenged Oscar and his group with the idea of coming to Hilmar and helping us as we are trying to strengthen and expand our Spanish-speaking ministry. This brought smiles and applause from everyone. It will be difficult for this to happen--finances, documents, travel restrictions, etc.--but I reminded everyone that God can do anything. We must pray and trust Him to bring this about.

Another amazing thing that happened is that the guys from the soccer court stayed for this youth meeting--after they had attended our regular evening service! This was incredible. These guys are a completely different group. They come from another part of the neighborhood. They never attend church--except when our team comes to Francisco Villa for the week. Last year, for the first time ever, they came to our evening services every night (which they did do again this year). It was wonderful to see them on our first night at the church, but for them to stay afterwards and be part of the youth service--yikes! This was too much to believe! As the week progressed, some of the youth group went down to the soccer court each afternoon too. They got involved playing soccer with the guys, and Oscar spoke out with his own challenge to the soccer guys after our Hilmar guys gave their daily lessons and testimonies. Because both the youth group and the soccer guys continued to come to church at night all week, more and more interaction took place with all these young people. What could this mean? What could God be doing, bringing together young people who normally don’t mix?

And to think this happened simply because our mission team returned for an eleventh year to the little church, Iglesia Bautista Bethel, in Francisco Villa. What a testimony to the working of God! It verifies for me the reality that I’ve read about, and often hear from mission organizations and missionaries: that it is imperative to build relationships within most cultures before the gospel can be shared effectively. This always takes TIME--even years. Our Hilmar mission team realizes this. Perhaps this is why so many of the ones from our group who returned yet again to Francisco Villa this year are not high school students anymore, nor even university students, but are post-college adults! Their commitment to this community, this church, these people did not end when they graduated from high school, but has continued to this amazing point where they are now seeing “spiritual dividends” from all the years they’ve invested there. I can hardly express what a blessing and privilege it is for me to be part of this annual mission experience, to share it with these “kids,” and just to be a part of their lives in such a significant way. Honestly, why wouldn’t any of you out there reading this blog NOT want to come along with us next year?!

Of course all of the regular things took place on our mission trip again this year too: the long drive to and from Tijuana (NO VAN BREAKDOWNS, praise God!), staying overnight at Claremont Covenant in San Diego, setting up our tents on the barren hillside of the YUGO campsite, our daily children’s, women’s, and sports ministries and evening services at Francisco Villa (including a taco feast at one of the local stands on Thursday night after worship!), morning preparations at the YUGO campsite, including a fantastic chapel speaker named Brad Buser, and all the other activities that YUGO provides the youth groups that are there for the week. I was particularly challenged by Brad’s presentations each day. As he warned us after the first morning he spoke, he “punched us in the face” for the rest of the week, boldly declaring what a real, true, full life with Jesus looks like compared to what most of the American Church settles for, and challenging the students to consider radical obedience to Christ, including leaving everyone and everything behind to go and share the gospel with one of the 4000 people groups--millions and millions of individuals in the world--who have never heard the name “Jesus” before. In my next blog, I will summarize what Brad had to say. It ties in well with the missional reality that churches in America need to recapture if they are going to be effective and viable in the years ahead.

So get ready for a few spiritual cuts and bruises after my next blog posting.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of our Hilmar Covenant mission team’s week in Mexico. Know that God was truly glorified in all we were and did and said.

Gloria a Dios!

Upon arrival at YUGO's campsite, everyone helps unload all of our stuff from the vans and trailer. This plot of ground was our home for the week.


It's amazing that these tents can hold several people and all of the stuff they bring with them!


Josh's birthday celebration--it always falls when we are in Mexico and he gets to have a party!



This year, Josh's mommy provided bubbles, along with the party hats and Hostess cupcake treats. This sitting area is the place where our team hangs out for our daily devotions and in all of our free time, talking and snacking, preparing lessons, playing games and guitars, etc.

Every day on the way to our church, we stop for treats at "Soriana's" grocery store and at our favorite bakery. Megan bought bread every day and offered it to the children who were hungry.



For some reason, our team got bathroom duty three times this year! (Did you know that in Mexico, you don't put your toilet paper in the toilet, but in the wastebasket provided next to where you're sitting? That's what's in the white bag Norma is holding. It's always a pleasure to clean these out...)


Chapel happens every morning, with lots of music included.


This year's chapel speaker was Brad Buser. He is a New Tribes missionary, having spent twenty years in Papua, New Guinea with the unreached people group, the Iteris. He "punched us in the face" with his challenging words to live a life of sold out obedience to Jesus. (Watch my blog next week for more on this...)

Children's ministry craft project.


Children's ministry is supposed to be for elementary school kids--but lots of little ones always seem to sneak in too!


Bible memory game.


Kaitlin and her "amigo pequeño."

The Bible story of "The Prodigal Son." Here he is, "squandering his wealth in wild living."


The father rejoicing, "because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"


The children's ministry team with "los niños de Iglesia Bautista Bethel."


Piggy back rides--or as they say in Spanish: "capuchi!"


Jumping rope--with variations--is one of the most popular games with the kids. Here, they try to pass through the rope and not get tripped up by it.

Juanito and Joe




The children's ministry team ends the week by providing a piñata on Friday afternoon. This year's character, doomed to destruction: Spiderman!


The way the kids scramble to grab all the candy they can, it's a miracle no one has ever gotten hurt!

The women's ministry includes crafts, conversation, Bible study, and prayer.


Norma, Diana, Silvia, and the women of Iglesia Bautista Bethel.


The women of the church made us an incredible supper on Friday night! Letty and Sonia kept wanting us to eat more!


Ashley, Norma, and I didn't waste any time filling our plates--and our mouths!

The sports ministry team prays every day together before they head to the court to play.


A view of the soccer court, across the deep canyon. The red. green. and white paint (the colors of the Mexican flag) was a donation from our church to the soccer guys last year; unfortunately, graffiti is all over it now.




The sports ministry team at work!

Each day, our Hilmar guys buy some soda and take a break from soccer. This is when they share a Bible lesson and testimony with the Mexican guys.


Orlando and Chris Montague.


Taylor Genzoli with two of the soccer guys, holding photos of everyone who played during the week--a gift that Chris generously provided.


The 2008 soccer ministry team. Notice Katy and Kelly: unlike other ministry locations, the soccer guys in Francisco Villa don't mind having the girls play!

Taylor Genzoli opening worship for us with our "professional" translator, Robert.


Our music leaders each evening: Taylor Avilla, Jimmy Avilla, and Chris Montague.


Testimonies are a big part of our evening worship times. This is Naisha Vargas, with her translator, Amy.



There's "a whole lot of shakin' goin' on" when you worship with the Mexicans! The youth group taught us some moves.