Mexico Report Service

For all of you who faithfully followed and prayed for the team, I invite you out to South Church next Sunday night at 6pm to hear about the trip. We will be sharing in the evening service with music, pictures, and personal testimonies as to how God was at work both through the team in the the lives of the team members.

Thank you so much for your prayerful support during the week. There is no doubt in my mind, the trip was great and successful and that was because of your prayers. Continue to pray for the team members as they process through this past week. Many are working through how and where God would have them to serve Him.

Don't forget for those interested in the trip the plan at this point is to go again in 2010.

Save the date November 20 - 27, 2010

Mexico Team Returns to Michigan

Well we had an uneventful journey home. Some caught up on sleep, others colored their coloring books while still others had conversations.
Overall another incredible year, God was so good in faithfully providing and working in and through the team.

If you would like to hear more of the specifics then come next Sunday evening when the team will be sharing about the trip.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and I hope that you will be touched by the experiences of the team this year.

Praise God for his faithfulness.

- Erik Hultquist

Almost home

Well, we're sitting in the airport, almost ready to return to Michigan. Everyone on the team is excited to go home, but we're all tired too. The trip was amazing! We all learned so much and never want to forget our experiences. Being back in the States, we can see the stark contrast between materialistic America and relationship-oriented Mexico. One of the hardest things about leaving is just seeing how much we have that we take for granted while the people in Mexico have so little but seem so content and grateful. I seriously hope that we can learn to be content with what we have, and that we will be intentional with our lives. God really worked this week and showed His power. I will never forget what He taught me.
God bless!

-Courtney Myers

Jesus, Thank You

Jesus, Thank You

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend,
The agonies of Calvary.
You, the Perfect Holy One, crushed your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me.

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

By Your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near,
Your enemy made your friend.
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace,
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end.

Lover of my soul, I want to live for you

Your blood has washed away my sin,
Jesus, thank You.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied,
Jesus, thank You.
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table,
Jesus, thank You.

This has been one of the many great songs that we have had the opportunity to sign and to ponder afresh. Oh the love that was shown us, oh the joy that is ours.

How shall we respond?

Loving the Least of These

Today we had the opportunity to tangibly love on God's children. A group of about 20 of us went to an orphanage in Tijuana that provides a home to both boys and girls under age 12. Though our Spanglish abilities vary, we were all able to communicate love to these children. We came with a hot dog lunch and toys for them which they were so excited about; but they gave us so much more back with their smiles and joy. Some wanted to play and spent the afternoon on our shoulders, playing futbol (soccer), or coloring with us. Others just wanted to be held. Cliff Beckett spent most of the day just holding and loving on a young boy named Alex who has downs syndrome. It was clear that one of the reasons God brought Cliff on this trip was to wrap his arms around Alex for the afternoon. The highlight of my experience was holding the little babies at the orphanage. One little boy was on my lap during lunch time and I fed him a hot dog bun and cookie bite by bite. He fussed like little ones do when I wiped his hands and face when he was done. I also held onto little Analu and covered her with kisses while we were there. She's the tiniest little thing, with the longest eyelashes you've ever seen. It broke my heart to leave there knowing tomorrow there may be no one to wipe their face or provide the kisses. My prayer is that God would provide families to love all these little babies. But more than that, my prayer is that these babies would learn of God's unconditional love for them as their heavenly Father.

It definitely made me thankful for all the ways God has blessed me with family, but I'm most thankful to be called a child of His.

Happy Thanksgiving!
~Diane Durow

Tues Build Day

Pepto-Bismol pink isn’t not what you would think of a typical house color, but it’s pretty common in Mexico. This is my first time coming on this trip and it’s so amazing to me how much of a difference we can make in someone’s life just by sacrificing five or six hours to build them a house and spend time with them. Today we worked at a site by the bottom of a mountain, building a house for a woman named Kenya and her family. There was an adorable little boy there whose name was Nathaniel. I loved seeing how much joy we brought him just by talking to him and giving him attention. Not only has the building been rewarding for the families, but it really brings us together as a group. I have made so many new friends and I’ve had so much fun. I am so excited to see what God is going to do during the rest of the trip and when we go back home.
- Angela Krause

Climbing Cerro

Every year it is one of my favorite parts of the trip is to climb up Cerro. ( a hill or mountain, depending on where you come from) We got up at 5:15am and left the dorms by 5:30. 28 of us started up the hill, immediately several paces were established as we start the arduous task of walking up Cerro. The incline would very but at its steepest point would be around a 50 degree incline. The best part was that it did not matter whether you were a turtle or a hare all 28 crested the top. Around 6:30 we were greeted by the sunrise and then the wind picked up. This wind always seems to cut our time shorter but we were able to get a great view of TJ. For many this is there first expansive view of the the city.

As we neared the bottom on our way down we came across a man by the name of Saul. Saul is a Mexican guy who was born in TJ and then moved to LA, CA. Two years ago he was deported back and because of drug and alcohol addictions he was put in to a rehab center, Oh and we know this because he spoke english fluently. Saul had been waiting for us at the bottom of the mountain ever since he saw our group going up. He started talking to us and asking us what we were doing down here in TJ. After sharing with him about the house building at Caravan he asked us if we would like to come to his church. He told us we could rest our feet as we could sit on their benches and then he asked if we would come to pray with him. His church was called "living water". On down Cerro we continued until we arrived at their church. There we found a one room church we were able to go in and pray with Saul for ten min. It was so neat to be able to hear Saul pray for his church and how thankful he was for God's faithfulness in his life, and how excited and encouraged he was by our willingness to pray with him.
We then headed back to the dorms and were greeted by a wonderful breakfast that Cliff and Ruth and prepared. A breakfast of burritos with potatoes eggs cheese and chorizo is a hearty breakfast for some hungry climbers.
A new word was invented today was several asked what our plan for the day was. Culturing - this is the process of experiencing and learning of another culture.
-Erik Hultquist

Travel Day and First Day in Mexico

11.22.09
Hola from Tijuana, Mexico! It’s great to be back down here and we had a great time getting here. Not only did we get to sleep in the night before our flight (5:00 am!), but we got to share multiple times with people we met on our way down why we were traveling to Mexico. The main reason we were able to do that was because we were all wearing our bright green shirts, with the word “worship” written in Hebrew on them. I met some people from Holland (the country, not Michigan) and found out they had a daughter who used to live in Mexico, and now is a Spanish/English translator in the USA, and a son who graduated from a seminary in Grand Rapids. We also were greeted with “Shalom” a couple of times because we had some people think that we were Jewish. It’s cool how people feel more comfortable talking to you knowing you are with a large group.
After we had spent some time at the ocean in San Diego on Saturday, we left for Tijuana. It is surprising to me the stark contrast between the U.S. and Mexico when you cross the border. The land is different, the houses are different, and the culture is very different. Last year at this time I didn’t know what to think of the Mexican culture, but coming from the perspective of having been here before, I know that God doesn’t see a different culture. He sees eternal souls with eternal destinations, and he wants us to know him. I guess for me it sometimes takes getting out of my comfort zone to fully remember this.
I’m glad that you are thinking of us and praying for us. I would also ask that you pray for God to work in our lives and change us from the inside out. Also pray that I can avoid the really large potholes while driving (they’re everywhere!). We’ll see you all soon, and thanks again for your prayers.
Also to my wife Kristin; I love you sweetie!
- Jeremy Foco


11.22.09
So I’m kind of a pro at this trip now….. haha. This is my fourth year, but the amazing thing is how much it changes each year. I always think that I’m going to know exactly what to expect and any curveballs the trip might throw at me, but God always has other plans. This trip is just starting but, I can tell that God has something special planned for me and everyone on this trip. New relationships are beginning already and I am excited to see how God is going to unify this group. It is definitely cool to be able to keep everyone back home involved like this. We appreciate your prayers and we miss you! I will probably have something more interesting to say after we do some building, but until then take care everyone!

Jordan Mears

South Church 2009 Mexico Trip

We are 35 hours away from a prayer meeting which will officially start this years Mexico Trip.
South Church has had church members going to Mexico since 2000. It was in 2003 that I first want to Tijuana to build houses. Jim and Martha Bowden were at the time leading the teams that would go down. Jim helped to mentor me in the trip and allowed me to co lead with him in 2005. It was in 2006 that I took over the trips. Knowing the incredible impact that these trips had on my life I have longed to pass that same experience on to as many people as I can. When we go to Mexico we partner with a ministry that operates in TJ ( Tijuana, Mexico) called Mexico Caravan Ministries ( aka MCM). They have a great balance of physically helping the Mexican people with houses, but primarily their focus is to teach and mobilize people with regards to missions.

We traditionally go over the week of Thanksgiving. During that time we will be building houses, working with an orphanage, and working with a portable bath house ministry ( spectrum ministries) .

This will be my eight team to be involved with going to TJ. South Church has seen over 150 people go to Mexico over the years. I know that there are many lives that have been touch and changed forever because of the trip and specifically how God was at work in their life. There are always more stories than can ever be told and you can never really understand what it is like with out going, but I do hope this year through sharing on this blog we might better communicate some of the thoughts and reflections of the team.

Be praying for the team as we go November 20th - 28th.

South's 2009 Mexico Team

Beckett, Chad

Beckett, Clifford

Cruz, Priscilla

Denyes, Kendra Deshaw, Taylor

Durow, Diane

Durow, Jeffrey

Everett, Jamie

Foco, Jeremy

Feuss, Daniel

Hansen, Alyson

Hultquist, Bethany

Hultquist, Erik

Hultquist, Ruth

Krause, Angela

Lauterbach, Luke

Mears, Jordan

Mears, Katie

Mears, Kelly

Mills, Calvin

Mills, Emily

Myers, Paul

Myers, Courtney

Neuenschwander, Joshua

Peterson, Curtis

Risch, Callie

Scarantino, Nicholas

Shaw, Aubrey

Shaw, Shawna

Wieland, Autumn