Baja Blog

Mucho Ministry

The past couple of weeks have been busy since we returned from Israel.  Last week, the Lord provided opportunities to do street ministry with kids by giving them bible story books.  He provided new shoes and socks for ten barefoot boys and girls in Las Misiones (a Triqui Indian village) that required a trip up to Ensenada.  These shoes may allow some of them to attend school again.  If they don't have shoes and the required school uniform, they cannot attend school.  That's the rule here.  Since families around here earn just enough to keep from starving, there is not much left over for shoes whether they're needed or not.

This week, I've been building a movie screen on which to show the Jesus film.  It's wooden with "blanco brillante" paint.  You can see pictures of my craftsmanship (yeah, right!) in the Jesus Film photo album on this site.  The screen can be easily dismantled into 5 pieces that fit in my pickup.  It bolts together, is fairly light, and will stand up in Baja's wind.

Also, a few Jesus film opportunities are possible next week.  There are a couple of Mexican citizens who are in the process of arranging venues and appointments in and around the towns of Emiliano Zapata, Santa Fe, and Playas Guerrero.  The Jesus film may also venture down south to San Ignacio, Mulege, & Loreto within a week or so.  Tune in next time to see what pans out!   

Back to Business in Baja

Hello again from Baja.  Yep, we made it back from our tour of Israel a couple of days ago and are getting back to normal, whatever that is.  We traveled for over 24 hours beginning in Jerusalem at 1:00 a.m. to arrive in San Diego on the evening of April 8.  God blessed us with a near perfect trip for the past three weeks.  We had great weather, outstanding accommodations, exceptional tour hosts, tour guide & bus driver, and many rich experiences.  The only exception for me was the erasing of one of my camera memory cards with over 600 photos by airport security.  Bummer.  That means I'll have to go back next year to re-take them!

If the Lord ever provides an opportunity for you to visit Israel, jump for it!  Don't believe the horror stories shown on TV news.  They are incredibly biased against Israel.  We traveled by tour bus throughout northern Israel, by foot in Jerusalem, by taxi, and by Jerusalem city bus without incident.  We witnessed many IDF soldiers and Jerusalem police officers peacefully stationed in various places with their machine guns, but we were only jostled by fellow tourists and accosted by vendors.  We witnessed Arab people living among the Jewish people as citizens.  The Sea of Galilee region, which is admittedly subject to rocket attack by terrorists in closely neighboring Lebanon, was particularly peaceful.

Now, I'm looking for the King of kings to provide more opportunities to serve Him here in Baja.  He did not send me to Israel for nothing.  He expects us to use what He gives us, so I'm keeping my slightly jet-lagged eyes open.  More thanks than I can express to the anonymous donor who provided the funds for me to tour Israel!

Hello from Jerusalem!

I've made it to the center of God's universe, Jerusalem, Israel!  Most importantly, I can report that Israel is an amazing, beautiful, peaceful place.  Everyone we have met has been friendly and helpful.  They are happy to share their country and culture with tourists.  You do not have to speak any Hebrew to visit because nearly everyone speaks English.  There are certainly places in Israel where it is dangerous if you loudly proclaim to be Jewish or Christian, but that is true in many parts of the world.

Israel seems to be a stew of many cultures because, according to Ezekiel chapter 37, God has been and still is in the process of bringing His people back to the Land.  Jewish people have returned from the U.S., England, Russia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and many other places to live in the land God promised them in His everlasting covenant with them.  Additionally, Israel is buzzing with tourists from every continent.

Our tour of northern Israel began in Tel Aviv, went through the Galilee region, and ended yesterday with an expedition through Jerusalem's ancient water system, a visit to the City of David in the Kidron Valley, and a trip to Jesus' empty tomb in Palestinian controlled East Jerusalem.  In the past 10 days, our group of 30 has tried desperately to stuff a college semester's worth of information into our overheated brains.  It has been a struggle just to understand that we are in The Land.  Comprehending about 4,000 years of history has been impossible.  My favorite times have been when we have had time to simply take in the beauty of God's land and attempt to picture what Jesus saw when He was here.  It's not difficult, particularly in Galilee and Jerusalem because many things that existed during His time on earth are still here.

I've taken about 600 photos during this tour.  I won't make you look at them all, but be watching for a select few in my photo album when I get back to Baja after next week.  Ani ohev et Israel. (That's Hebrew for:  I love Israel!)

Back to Camalu

Does that sound like a movie title to you, too?  Well, last night we returned to some of the poorest of the poor at the little campo in Camalu to show the Jesus Film for Children again.  Thanks to God and an awesome group of students from Regent Christian Academy in Canada who led worship and served dinner to the people in the campo and surrounding neighborhood, the night was a blessing!

After the students completed the house they built this week in the town of Emiliano Zapata, they prepared soup and purchased tortillas to serve at the outreach.  They loaded up on the school bus they had ridden from Canada (they're tons tougher than me!) and our little caravan traveled a few miles north to Camalu.  We pulled onto the dirt soccer field at the campo and the people of Camalu came.

The students led worship by singing a few songs in Spanish and served dinner to everyone.  After sunset, we set up the movie equipment using the school bus to block the wind.  When the movie ended, our partnering missionary from Emiliano Zapata led everyone in prayers of repentence, thanksgiving, and praise to God.  She also led them in prayers for their personal needs.  Then the students distributed rice & beans to everyone who wanted them.

As a bonus, while we were packing up the equipment to leave, a missionary who came to help me with equipment met a man who was homeless.  Through this meeting, the Lord provided a jacket and a place to stay for the man.  If we're willing and walking around with our eyes open for what the Lord would have us do, the King of Kings will provide opportunities to serve Him!

Stay tuned for a report from, or at least about, our tour of Israel!

Thank you, Taber, Alberta!

You may have never heard of Taber, Alberta, but there is something you should know.  This city in Canada's farming country sent an amazing group of servants to Baja to build houses this past week.  They traveled by bus 36 hours one way to get here, stopping only when necessary.

This group of Albertans chose to go the extra mile for God by partnering with a small church in the community of Leandro Valle (about 10 miles south of IDT) to do an outreach event.  Last Wednesday, about 150 people of Leandro Valle enjoyed dinner, a puppet show, and the Jesus Film for Children.  The church's pastor had the pews from his church brought across the street to our basketball court venue.  The Lord did His job by not allowing the gathering clouds to rain on us, by keeping the wind in check, and something more.

At the end of the film, another missionary from IDT presented the gospel in Spanish and welcomed people to come forward to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  People were, as usual, a little slow to respond.  No one wants to be first, you know.  In the end there were about 20 people gathered around the missionary praying.  Hallelujah!  That's what it's all about.

More Victories....as promised!

The Lord provided two opportunities to show the Jesus Film for children this past week.  What a blessing!

Last Thursday, I traveled to Camalu about 15 miles north of IDT's base with another missionary.  We went to a small "campo".  A campo is a place where agricultural laborers live.  Most are little more than metal shacks and this campo is among the worst.  I promise that you would not want to walk into the building, much less live there with your children as some families do.

When we arrived, a futbol game (that's soccer to you and me) was in progress.  We waited until the game stopped at sunset and set up the generator, screen, projector, and P.A. to show the Jesus Film for Children DVD.  About 35 people were present with a handful of men standing off in the shadows as usual.  In this somewhat male dominated culture, some men think it's not cool to rely on God or at least they don't want their amigos to see them seeking God.

On Saturday, we were in the small town of Emiliano Zapata about 8 miles north of IDT at a basketball court.  There was a crowd of about 20 people waiting when we arrived and about 15 more arrived later.  Again, the whole generator, projector, P.A. screen worked perfectly and everyone seemed to enjoy the film.

We always present the gospel after the film and urge people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord so they will receive His promise of eternal life.  It's impossible to know how many souls are added to God's Kingdom because that's His biz.  Our job is to simply spread His word and His story according to His leading.  It's all about Him!

Small Victories

Ahh!  The past week or so has been full of small victories.  God has continued to guide, provide for, and bless His work here in Baja.

He gave me some opportunities to improve play structures at the Triqui village daycare center so they don't fall over on the kids.  That's a good thing, huh?  The fewer smashed kids, the better.  Little kids who aren't smashed can grow to follow Christ and change their communities for Him.

God also has given me a steady improvement in my Spanish.  The linguistic victory this week was when I was able to have a casual conversation with a Mexican citizen in Colonia Vicente Guerrero for a half hour.  Don't be too impressed.  There are still a few thousand words to learn before my vocabulary is respectable, but it sure is nice to know progress is being made!

All of the equipment for the Jesus film (projectors, screens, generator, cables, etc.) is ready and waiting for the two opportunities the Lord has provided this coming week.  I'm planning to show the Jesus film in the town of Camalu this Thursday and in the town of Zapata on Saturday.  Your prayers for successful outreaches are appreciated!  More victories to report later!

Miracles and Wonders

One thing I have long neglected to mention about serving the Lord by serving the poor in Baja is the miracles we see.  In Isaiah 58:6-8, God promises many things to us when we "fast" by caring for others in difficult circumstances.  It is absolutely true.

Here at IDT, we have hundreds of people working on construction projects throughout the year.  One ongoing miracle we experience is a lack of injuries.  These short-term missionaries, many of them high school students, are rarely injured even though they work with power tools with which they are unfamiliar.  I don't remember the last time anyone had more than a blister or minor cut.  I truly believe this is God's supernatural protection due to our ministry to the poor.

We full-time missionaries at IDT tend to put in a lot of miles on the highway between here and San Diego, but accidents and car trouble rarely occur.  We also see speedy healing which is specifically mentioned in Isaiah 58:6-8.  This can be the healing of a cut hand, a cold, a child's development, etc.  God is powerful and amazing!  Look for what He is doing around you! 

Christmas Week

Well, the shoebox gifts from the U.S. and Canada have all been delivered to the children near Colonia Vicente Guerrero.  We had several huge outreaches to make sure as many children as possible received a gift this Christmas.  It was wonderful to watch their faces beam as they opened their gifts.  My job was to travel around to about five outreaches and take photos.  It was a privilege.

Now, I'm visiting my family in Kansas after an easy enough trip through our nation's airport security.  They would not let me carry-on vanilla I had purchased for my mom.  We all know how dangerous vanilla can be after all.  When mixed properly with certain substances that are readily available at grocery stores, it can drastically increase your weight.  Especially at holiday dinners!

We had the normal gift exchange and family dinner.  It was a blessing to visit with everyone!  We took our annual trip to the Sedgwick County Zoo and I've done my best to explain what it's like to serve the Lord as a missionary in Baja, Mexico.  My conclusion?  You cannot really understand unless you spend some time south of the border.  After a few more days of family time and a few days in Lodi visiting Cornerstone Church, I'm planning to be back in Baja.  Happy New Year!

A Whirlwind Week

What a great week!  The busy Christmas season at IDT is certainly here.  This past week began with a load of about 300 shoebox gifts for the children in this area from Cornerstone Church www.cornerstonelodi.com   God was gracious and we were able to process and sort them in about one day.

Tuesday and Wednesday brought a trip to San Diego for me to pick up a load of donated food for the daycare center in the Triqui village.  The Lord blessed the entire, trouble-free trip.  I only missed one turn in Tijuana, didn't get lost, and was able to drive straight through the border into the U.S. and back into Mexico.  Hallelujah!  Any trip during which you don't get lost in Tijuana is a good trip.

Thursday brought a day of Spanish study and our school's Christmas pageant.  What a treat!

Friday was filled with a surprise visit from more of the Lord's servants from Cornerstone Church with another huge load of shoebox gifts.  On Saturday morning, I was sent to a church in San Telmo on a mission to get photos of children receiving their shoeboxes.  That was the icing on this week's cake!