Greetings from Mexico,
In February of this year, I had the privilege and blessing of leading a tour of 72 from our church to the Holy Land of Israel! Originally, this trip had been planned for 3 years ago, until Covid spoiled our plans. But when we finally got to travel on my fourth trip, we realized the wait was worth it and I want to tell you all about it!
This popular trip is called “the Footsteps of Jesus” tour because the focus of the 10 day journey is primarily to visit the spots where Jesus lived and ministered. We began the journey in the area around the modern day city of Tel Aviv. Although Jesus didn’t spend much time there, many other great Bible believers did. We spent our first day enjoying the spots where Bible heroes from Jonah to the Apostle Paul witnessed some of their greatest victories!
From there we traveled north where we spent the next three days in the small towns and villages around the Sea of Galilee. We were blessed to tour two of the most ancient synagogues that remain from the days of Jesus! (Capernaum and Magdalena) We also enjoyed a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, which is always a trip highlight. But probably the most exciting time was studying the Sermon on the Mount on the same mountain where Jesus gave that amazing teaching found in Matthew Chapters 5 to 7. I was able to give our group 30 minutes to read through the sermon alone, and then time meditate on the words of our Savior while gazing down at the Sea of Galilee..
When I talked to my friends on the tour, most of them mentioned that their highlights were the baptisms in the Jordan River. We had many friends get re-baptized, but the highlight for me was baptizing 4 of my friends from church for the very first time. But one testimony truly stood out above all the rest. We had a lady from our church who invited her sister on the trip who was not a Christian. While in Israel, one of our ladies shared the Gospel with her, she was born again, and then baptized the next day. To baptize a one day old believer in the Jordan River is something that I will never forget.
We were also able to visit the historic site of Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine for His first miracle. (John Chapter 2) Cana is now an Arab Village and we were able to visit the local Christian church there and encourage the pastor who is laboring there amongst the Palestinian Muslims. Fortunately, they also have a beautiful wedding chapel there at the site, and I was able to help 8 of the couples renew their wedding vows. There were smiles and tears all around as our entire team was able to witness that.
The final four days of our tour were spent in Jerusalem. We visited the Temple Mount and the various churches that stand over the spots where our Lord spent His final days. A special blessing in Jerusalem for me was getting our group a private access to the Garden of Gethsemane. We had that Garden all to ourselves for one hour, and we not only got to study the Scriptures there, but spend some private time in prayer.
Our trip ended with a visit to the Garden Tomb. This spot stands outside of the city gates, and has a direct view of the spot where many Bible Scholars believe was Golgotha (the place of the Skull) where our Lord was crucified. But praise God the story didn’t end there. There is an ancient tomb found there carved out of the rock, which is the historic site of the empty tomb. Each of our tour members were able to enter in, and (surprise) the tomb is still empty! To worship and take communion overlooking the empty tomb is a memory that none of us will soon forget.
I love going to Israel and I am sure I will travel there again, but in two years (2025) I intend to take a different Biblical tour called “The Footsteps of Paul”. This life changing trip through Turkey, Greece, and Italy traces Paul’s church planting journeys in the 1st century throughout the Roman Empire. This trip will be a Calvary Rosarito AND FRIENDS tour, and I would love for you my friend to join me.
Finally, I want to thank you for choosing to partner with us and support our family as your missionaries. It is through your prayers that God meet’s our spiritual needs, and through your financial gifts that God meet’s our physical needs. So thanks again!
Con mucho amor de Mexico, (with much love from Mexico)
Mike, Sarah, Grace, and Daniel
Prayer Requests!
#1- That God would bless my upcoming missions trips to visit our church plants.
#2- That God would bless our two summer church plants targeting Peru and Colombia.
Praise Reports!
#1- Praise God for the 60 students enrolled in our church planting classes.
#2- Praise God for a blessed trip to Mazatlan to teach at our friends church planting conference.
For our personal support, checks should be made out to Saving Grace World Missions with “Vincent support” in the memo section. For special projects, checks should also be made out to Saving Grace World Missions or SGWM, with the project name in the comments section. Mail to Saving Grace World Missions, 17451 Bastanchury Rd., Suite 203, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-1873
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