SMO Ensenada 2015:Day 2

 After a much needed night of rest from all the traveling, we awoke to beautiful weather with a cool chill in the air. We had an authentic Mexican breakfast with fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal and pancakes. After breakfast, we did the chores around the Center to make sure everything is clean and well-kept. (Fyi parents, kids are doing chores here. They can do them at home. lol) Once the chores were done, we got ready to head out to the churches in the community for Sunday church service. We split up our missions team to visit 3 different church sites for morning service. It was a little difficult to break through the language barriers at first. The worship songs were in the Spanish, there was minimal translation and left students uncomfortable. This was  good time for students and leaders to wrestle with how to interact and communicate with the people at church. I believe many of those barriers were reduced as we sung worship song after worship song. Our student worshipping and singing with the people of Ensenada as an audience of one to our great God was amazing. It allowed for the students to see others their age and from another country worshipping.

After a 3 wonderful services in different locations, we gathered back together at the Center before we went to play soccer at a nearby field. It was a great game. Our students hung in there against some of the best players from the Oasis Boys Home. (You will learn more about this place on Wednesday. Stay tuned for that.) Students battled back and forth goal after goal to have an amazing time playing one of the greatest sports around the world.

Once soccer with the fellas from the Oasis Boys Home was over, we returned to the Center to clean up for dinner. But before we had dinner, some of the students and leaders explored the surrounding neighborhood. They visit the area basketball courts and play ground to interact with the people in community. One of the young ladies we met today invited our girls to come play soccer with their girls team later this week. So early in this trip and God is allowing for the language barrier to not be an obstacle rather an opportunity. The opportunities come with hearing God's word preached in another language to challenge us to God an read about what was taught. God has given opportunities for our students to interact an share about their relationship with God. God has been growing each one of us while we are here

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. God is doing a mighty work in and through all in Ensenada, Mexico. Look for the next post tomorrow. Until then, Buenas Noches!! (Good night)

SMO Ensenada 2015 Day 1

Almost dinner time!!

We have arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. It was a long travel day starting at 345am when the first flight team arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport. With half awake students and leaders checking in to get boarding passes, going through TSA security and waiting for our flights to depart, there was  passion and vision for what the mission trip to Mexico was going to in-tale. So, we took our flights out to San Diego, California where we were expecting wonderful weather. As we arrived, we were met by some major torrential downpours of rain. But the rain would not stop our progress. We loaded our luggage into our vans and headed to our favorite lunch stop in California, In & Out Burger. This restaurant always serves as a bench mark in the trip. It is a place filled with great food, laughter and more memories for years to come.

Meeting the Intern serving in Ensenada

Gathering our luggage in San Diego

We left not so sunny San Diego to head for the border crossing into Mexico. Thank you Lord for no long stops or hold ups at the border. The added blessing the Lord gave to us was clear sky all the way to Ensenada. God was preparing the way for a better time where we were going.





As we arrived at the Center in Ensenada, were greeted joyfully by the interns and staff of the C&MA  Ensenada Envision site. We were able to unpack, get settled in and enjoy a wonderful Mexican dinner after our orientation.

As the mission trip moves forward, there are going to be many things asked of us. In doing so, we are fulfilling the plan God intended to use us for. As the blog gets updated, please be in prayer for our students, leaders, the missionaries, the interns, and the people of Ensenada. May God use us this week to expanded His kingdom in a powerful way. Thanks!! Let's GO BUCS!!!

SMO Ensenada 2015

Today, the Ensenada team of students and leaders are doing all their final packing and preparation for our departure to Ensenada, Mexico. The is great exciting and anticipation for what God is going to do in and through us while we are in Mexico. Please pray for the students, leaders and staff attending the trip. You can look for updates on the trip soon!!

Ensenada - 2014 Friday

One last day ... for VBS, Oasis and construction.

As I write the boys have headed to bed, the girls are "packing" the interns are singing Karaoke, and a small handful of leaders are playing best of 37 on the foosball table and Mike has just finished his evening clean and mop of the dining area. It had been a great week on so many levels. Today as the the final day of ministry - but the students continued to step up - to serve and to love.

The VBS team represented today. They showed their flexibility, willingness to go the extra mile and see the children as the focus (and not themselves). After a surprise second group showed several hours before our group was scheduled to host a VBS on the same day, with the same kids...our groups jumped in to help, play...and love on the kids.

Several students who desired to serve primarily in construction shifted toward the Oasis home and more relational ministry. These students really loved others and built friendships. As the boys from the home shared their transformational stories of Christ pursuing them and the joy they now experience, our students' worldview and understanding of a God who loved individuals changed for the better.

The construction teams worked hard. Many learned how to frame walls, hang drywall, mud a wall and sand...and so much more. By the end of the week the team was able to virtually complete the house. The new owners brought us a home cooked meal - not that PBJ or ham and cheese are bad, but  this was really good.  At the end of the day we had a dedication service and officially handed the young couple the keys to the home and prayed for them.

We were blessed this week.
Tomorrow we travel back to San Diego  - a slightly different schedule and a little slower pace.

We will be putting together a presentation for you during mission month in October.
Thanks for your continued prayer support!
Peace,
P Scott

Ensenada - 2014 Thursday

The last two days have been very, very good. Thank you for your prayers.

Wednesday was a full day  -  morning devotions, experiencing the market, more ministry and construction, and attending the misweek church service. Each day we have three options for the students - Psalms, Love like Jesus and a walk (hike) and dialog. Ths students have been up and ready each day. After brreakfast we traveled to the 'local' tourist market place to test negotiation skills one the open market. While we all love winning the lowest price prize, I must admit the constant pressure to purchase - come and see can become a little tiring. We all survived - some pockets emptier than others.

The Oasis team again connected well (both days)- giving and hearing testimony of God work in lives. the home is receiving younger boys seeking (some intentional - some imposed) to battle addictions social problems. I has been exciting to see the result of our project this pat year - raising money for the home - the student raised a good portion of the money needed to purchase the land that they were renting.

The construction crews on both days worked with excellence   - the progress on each site has been well above expectations (and I'm a guy with high expectations for our team). I am eager for you to see the transformation - on each of the three sites.

The specials - on Wednesday we joined the same church communities from Sunday giving us a chance to follow up with new friends and experience some very unique times of worship and digging into God's word. On Thursday, we had dinner at the the taco stand  - really, really good...it might be difficult to return to the taco places in Pittsburgh.

After dinner today, we jumped out to a beach - fun in the water, a pickup game of soccer with several local guys, a little relaxation and just plain fun. The water was much warmer than expected.

Look for more photos tomorrow!

Peace,

Pastor Scott

Tuesday Photos

Here are some photos of today's work and fun. Enjoy!

Ensenada - 2014 Monday

Hey everyone! Sherese here... I want to tell you a little bit about my day.

This morning me, Emily Steinhauser, Becca Rodney, Pj Winters, and Allegra Wicker had the pleasure of going with a local Pastor (Pastor Reynaro-an Alliance Pastor) and 2 of the interns, Manuel and Bronya, to pray with a family that attends the church.

Pastor Reynaro goes and prays with families of his congregation almost everyday to build community.  He not only blesses families with prayer but also with food (rice, beans and bread) .  The families home that we went to had invited friends of theirs to join us.
Ironically, the brother of one of the men just so happened to be walking by and his brother invited him in.  Pastor Reynaro spoke to the families and said several times that there are no coincidences and that they all were their because God called them to be with us at that exact moment.

p.s. Manuel was translating.  I barely know a lick of spanish...haha

Pastor read from the gospel of  John and from Revelation.  His message was  1. to encourage the families and the marriages of the 2 couples and 2. to share the gospel with Benjamin- the brother.

What was cool was that he called upon 3 of us to give testimonies about our lives and our walk with God, to read scripture aloud, and to pray aloud for the families

Sidenote: oh, i need to back up a little bit to my personal devotion time.  So towards the end of my time with God I specifically asked of Him to stretch and pull me to do whatever He wants me to do.    
some of you might find this hard to believe but I hate public speaking.  It terrifies me.

ok, back to the story...

When I said that Pastor called on 3 of us, that would be me being one of them!  He looked right at me and said, you give your testimony You can't say NO ya know. haha and right away I remember my prayer earlier that morning... "Lord stretch and pull me..." I did it and lived! Imagine that..haha. Towards the end of our time we gathered around each family and prayed about their specific prayer requests.  And guess what happened...Pastor looks at me again and says "you pray." I'm like...ok God... I see what you're doing.

It was such an awesome time of prayer and listening to the families stories and also the passion that Pastor has for lost and weary souls.  Benjamin didn't seem as though he was ready to fully accept The Lord and Pastor wasn't going to force him of course, but you could definitely see Benjamin thinking and prayerfully God is working and pressing on his heart.  My prayer is that he would be able to see the love of Christ through his brother and the blessings that God is providing for him and his family and start to ask questions.

I am so amazed at how quickly God gives us the opportunities that we ask for.

Please keep praying that all would listen to God's voice - serving and loving...

For the team,
Sherese