Hello friends and fellow partners in the Gospel! I am proud to announce we have just now finished our first week here in Mexico. It has been an amazing experience serving and seeing God moving in the communities here. Our first outreach was with Pastor Eddie from Calvary Chapel Home X to the dump. The people who live here build shacks with whatever scrap materials they can salvage. We walked up to a man and woman burning a pile of electrical cords to harvest the copper, while being bathed in the toxic smoke. This woman had actually been looking for Pastor Eddie, wishing to leave that life, a life of substance and physical abuse. That day she left the dump to get the help she needs, which is no small feat as addictions to and debts from drugs run rampant. Since then we’ve gotten news of four men from there attending church service for the first time, some of whom professed faith in Christ with us that day, prayerfully on their own road to recovery.

Wednesday evening we attended our first Calvary Chapel Rosarito service, led by Pastor Herman, who will be going to plant a church in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This is quite a beautiful church, which currently has a body of approximately 1200, after eighteen years of operation and three prior locations. Thursday we had outreach with translators from church, ours was Jorge, and he was such an inspiration. This was his first time street witnessing and it came so natural to him, it reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:9:

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

You see, like most of us, Jorge has a history of bondage and is on the road to recovery from that which once had a hold on his life. His story beautifully brings this verse to life, as his past has enabled him to sympathize with those struggling with the same bondage. Jorge had also worked as a promoter for Papas and Beer, so he has a great deal of discernment regarding how to approach people, and how to best deliver the Gospel message to them. It’s awesome how God can make our mess our message, and it’s comforting to know that the Lord is at work in our weakest moments and that He has a plan and a purpose!

Saturday we had a park outreach with Pastor Jose Luis of Calvary Chapel Vista Del Valle. It was set to be a scorcher but the Lord blessed us with clouds and even some drizzling for most of the day. There was a large turnout of children, and I had the privilege of playing sports with them, feigning death via balloon swords, and most importantly giving them a message on the Fruits of the Spirit. It was fun interacting with them and they were eager to participate, answering questions from what are your favorite fruits to how can you show love to one another. It was also inspiring to see their childlike faith when asked if they wanted to accept Christ into their lives, which was followed by each of their hands shooting up high!

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven – Matthew 18:3

It was such a blessing to show these little ones the love of Christ, and to make new friends in the process. One that captured my heart was a sweet boy name Ulysses, who told me, “Estas bonito,” after arriving back at the church. Of course I told him he was handsome as well! These children were all so sweet. I definitely see myself helping children in the future, sharing the love of Christ with them through the Gospel and through actions.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this update, and I want to thank you again for your prayer and financial support. You, the body of Christ, are essential in helping me pursue this developing calling God has placed on my life. If you would like to partner with me financially to help fund this trip and the ones to come, there is a link below. I thank you in advance for becoming partners in the Gospel with me. May the Lord shine His face upon you!

Prayer Requests

1. That God would continue to work in and through us

2. That God would anoint the teachings from the R family

3. For an abundance of God’s spiritual and financial provision