Hello friends, family and partners in the Gospel, it feels like I was just writing you; these weeks are just flying by! It’s true what they say, time does fly when you are having fun, and it’s been such a delight serving the Lord and sharing the love Christ with the local communities. This week we had the privilege of loving on the community in Otay Mesa and serving with Pastor Ros Solis and his church plant there. The entire week wasn’t all fun and games, however. Pastor Rob Douglass came and gave us a sobering look into the realities of the unreached people groups, those who have yet to hear the Gospel and are therefore perishing every moment. It was a slower week, but as always God moved, bringing more people into His fold and stirring our hearts for a commission far larger than ourselves.

Much of our week was focused on the wonderful little community of Otay Mesa, which is located near the American border. Led by Pastor Ros Solis, it’s the smallest church plant we’ve been to yet, but the people there are big on love. Tuesday we had a special student led church service, and we went into the neighborhood a half hour prior to hand out invites, which we did for our Saturday outreach as well. The schedules for many people oriented cultures around the world are far looser, and inviting them the day of lessens the likelihood of them forgetting and expresses a greater love for them. Coming from a culture which prioritizes planning ahead, it was awesome to see God sending divine appointments in such a small window of time. One such appointment was a man named Pedro in front of a laundromat.

Branden and I were handing out invites and we were led to a busy laundromat storefront; it was a prime location as people were waiting with little to do. We were talking to one man, but it was Pedro who God had appointed to meet with us. He overheard the conversation, asked for an invite, and proceeded to join us for both the Saturday outreach and service on Sunday. After service Sunday, Pedro shared about guilt and strife within his family, at which point we prayed for and encouraged him. I see God doing a great work in and through him, as he already expressed a desire to serve at the church, only a day after accepting Christ into his heart. The way God brought him to us reminds me of how He encouraged Paul and his work in Corinth through a dream:

Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people - Acts 18:9-10

For the Saturday outreach, I partnered with Adam to create Jonah themed games for the children of Otay Mesa to play. Along with a sharks and minnows spinoff, we created a game of hopscotch with fish squares; if one of these squares were touched, the child would be sent back to the start, or “Nineveh.” We also looped the board around, so even if the child made it all the way through, he or she would end up back at that wicked city where God told the disobedient prophet to preach. The kids had a blast. It was awesome to be able to put a smile on their faces, and a few in particular really put a smile on mine. Salmaeli, who I met on Tuesday, melted my heart as she was climbing and loving on her dad. It was such an innocent scene, and it painted an image for me of our relationship with our heavenly Father.

Another child was a boy named Liam, who was so sweet and kind despite having a difficult upbringing. Besides sharing his food with Adam and myself, he did not want to eat without his sister Mia, who had gone upstairs momentarily; his story seems to explain the reason behind this well. Liam had shared with another team member, Vanessa, that he and Mia were abandoned by their parents, left to be taken care of by their aunt and uncle. He expressed feeling like they don’t have a family, at which point Vanessa was able to share about their heavenly Father who loves them and will always love them.

Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me - Mark 9:37

The more somber moments of the week, however, were filled with eye opening and soul stirring realities for nearly half of the world. Approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude, the 10/40 Window is often called “The Resistant Belt” and includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. Many of these countries are unreached because they are hard to reach, yet there is an enormous shortcoming of the modern day church. In biblical days, there was 1 church for every 12 unreached people groups. Now, there are 650 churches for every single unreached people group. This is happening because many churches are more concerned with seating capacity rather than sending capacity, and to raise that number comfort has to be the priority. It’s uncomfortable to talk about hell, and it’s certainly uncomfortable to talk about half the world going to hell, but this is the reality. Much of the world is in heaven going to heaven, while the rest is in hell going to hell, and cruise ship churches such as these are turning the great commission into the great omission.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? - Romans 10:14

Once again I thank you for reading my update, you and the body are vital to the work myself and others desire to do here and elsewhere around the world. I look forward to partnering with you in the furtherance of the Gospel, because yes, how shall they hear without a preacher? Wherever the Lord leads me, I am answering the call of Jesus to fulfill this great commission, and your support helps and will always help tremendously. And thank you so much for your replies, it’s a pleasure to hear what God is doing here edifies the body back home. Feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or prayer requests of your own!

Prayer Requests

1. That the Gospel would pierce the darkness over the unreached

2. That God would bless those who have accepted Christ thus far

3. That God would continue to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us