Supper at Heins

Hey guys, just for all the missions trip people to know...there will be supper at the Hein residense tonite at 5. All missions trip people invited. Be there

some pics....

On our way home....

Hey all!
Reporting from Albequerque now. Ya we are on our way, it seems to be going by very fast. Today we left at 630, and arrived at albequerque somewhere around 10. We had a chance to hit the Mexican markets imbetween to do some last minute Mexican bartering. Got some pretty good deals. Everywhere the girls went they were referred to as 'barbies'. Anyways, ya were all just busy talking about all the good times and how awesome God is on the way home. We really love this little building that this church is letting us sleep in and tomorrow were going to get going early again... with a 28 hour drive ahead of us (including breaks and such) after that. WAHOO~ ya, we enjoy the drives actually, good bonding time, lots of sleeping time, countryside, its very nice. and the van is running beautifully. Mark and Rosalie are our heroes. Their generosity is key to the ministry that happened in Mexico. God Bless you guys at home. We miss you all!

The team

Garganchuous Goodbyes

Hello all,
We are at the final evening of our missions trip. Today we were at the pastors house, went to the beach and went out for a final meal with Brenda in the evening. A few of us woke up at 515 to go climb a really big mountain in the area so we are all very tired. Right now we are in process of cleaning up, getting packed and getting ready to head home at 6AM tomorrow morning...Yes sir! Anyways, It was just another awesome day serving God, and seeing him in new ways. we were very blessed to talk to the pastor today and bless him with prayer. Alot of the kids are saying, i don't want to go home, and "Andy, leave me here tomorrow". So its really neat to see. Im absolutely sure i speak for the whole group when i say we all had a life changing experience out here. It was phenominal, and you will hear the stories when we come back. Until next time, keep fit and have fun!

Message from Fred
Thank you for your prayers. You were a blessing to the people in this area. My prayer is, that God will bless the churches here so that they can lift high the name of Jesus. I am glad, Icould go along on this rip. God has touched our lives. Good night!

Amazing Grace

Buenos Dias,
Heres another report for ya'll. Sorry the pictures havent been uploading properly here....guess its just something you'll have to look forward to for sunday!
Heres the down low on our day today:
645- Breakfast
715- Deep sea fishing (almost everyone caught a fish, Carlie caught a small shark)
Afternoon- Painted and prayed blessings over Junior High School
630- Crate church service (Its called crate church because its made of crates...)

Ya, it was just another awesome day, it seems we get surprised each time with an even better day. Today we had the opportunity to take it easy in the morning, and then in the afternoon we went hard and painted the junior high and prayed for it...and then the church service which we did in the evening at the crate church. Tonight Alicia and Carlie shared their testimonies, we sang spanish and english songs, performed two skits, and Freddy preached. After was a time of prayer. The service was just so awesome, the church there blesses us with prayer and we blessed them with prayer. It was a very fulfilling time. We came home and had a praise and worship time and now we are all (but me) sleeping peacefully. The plan tomorrow morning at 515 to wake up and climb the twin peaks (the big mountain in the area, it has two peaks....hence the name), so were actually just climbing one peak, in case you were wondering, watch the sunrise and be home for 800 for breakfast. We had a really awesome day and could really feel your prayers today, and witnessed them being answered. It has really felt like we have been a blessing to the Mexicans here. Only one more day (of scheduled ministry in Mexico) left. Pray that we would go hard to the end, and for safety in travel on the way home. See you all soon,
Andy

Message from Kerri
Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour!
We serve a mighty God who works beyond our imagination. We had the opportunity again tonight to join fellow believers in Christ at a local church in the community in which we are staying. It is such a blessing to see our extended family worshipping God with an overwhelming love for Him. Our cultures may be very different but our love is truly one in the Spirit.
Thank you for your continued prayers, they are being answered in more ways than you know. We will have MUCH to tell. Blessings from San Carlos, Mexico! Gloria a Dios!
PS Hi my beloved, I will be home soon! <><

Message from Stephanie
Hi Everyone! We've been having a great time here in Mexico. Getting to know each other better, working, and having a lot of fun in it all. This afternoon we went to a junior high school just down the street to do some painting. It was kind of fun, actually, especially when we talked to the Mom of one of the students there and learned what it really meant to them. This evening we went to our third church service here, which was pretty amazing. God is so good!

Message from Corina
Hello Canada!!! Wow has Mexico been amazing. The heat has been hot, but the wind, shade, and water cool. The people have been open even though I can't personally talk to most of them. Thank God for Fred. He has been a huge asset to our team as a translator. Today as Steph said, we went to the local Junior High School and painted it, and prayed over it. Again, as Steph said, we also went to the local church this evening and it was absolutely incredible. Going there reinforced what I had read in a book once. God doesn't really care about the building that you worship in. He cares about the worshipping. That church consists of about 20 people, and wooden pallets and cardboard for a building, but they are on FIRE for God. It made me really excited. Tomorrow we will finish working with the pastor that you so faithfully helped support!!! I'm looking pretty forward to that. We have grown into a small family as we bond together, and I look forward to more opportunities to continue bonding. Your prayers HAVE been answered, but keep praying. We do have sooo much to tell.
PS: Mom, Dad, I love you and I miss you lotses and lotses. I will be home Sunday.

Roofs and Rabbits

Hello my dear friends,
surprisingly, we are tired again. But all for good! What an amazing day. Heres a look at what we did today:
6AM: Devotions on mountain overlooking San Carlos
8AM: Packed food hampers
9AM: Went to pastors to work (made forms, got rid of plaster on walls, rebar work...)
2PM: Lunch (Birthday cake :)
3.5PM: Delivered food hampers (invited people to evening service)
4PM: Break
7PM: Service (we sang songs, did dramas, testimonies, and sermon)
9PM: Went out for supper, ice cream
11PM: Home for bed

We have pretty busy schedules but were really enjoying it. It seems at the services we go to we get comments about how red we are. We had an awesome time of devotions today on the hill, and we were really blessed to go to the pastors house today, to attend his church and to meet his family...We sent our churchs greetings and blessings to them, they were so grateful for us. It was overwhelming. Well, without further to do, let me introduce you to a few of my good friends on the trip who will share about their time on the trip......

JUUUUUUUUUULIA!!!!
Wow! What an amazing 3 days. BUsy busy, busy but fun fun fun. I loved hiking on Sunday, the beautiful mountains were so amazing. My eyes have been opened so much on this trip! Last nigh at the orphanage was so amazing the children were so kind and open. They were all so happy and well behaved, it hurt to tink that they had no parents but everyone there showed so much love to them, it's not hard they are gorgeous children. The work is awesome, i've loved being able to do some really physical work and know that i'm really helping people. The people here are so happy and kind they are always happy to see us and greet us. It amazes me that some of them have so little compared to us but are still so happy. this morning on the mountain was so great for me! It was great to be able to see all of San Carlos and see all of the mountains, and the ocean, as our group sat there and all did our devotions i felt that we were so united in our purpose for this trip. I have also really felt the love of God here. For me it's amazing to see all of the beautiful landscape and the wondeful people. This has happened way to fast! I can't believe that we only have 2 more days here. I love this place so much. I thank you all for your prayers they help like you ouldn't believe.

AliciAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Hi everybody at home!! No, I don't really miss you, at least not yet! This trip is coming to an end waaaaaaaay too fast. I don't even know where to start. I am just amazed at how much my devotions have come alive for me this week. Every morning I've come outside, just to read my Bible and spend some time with God. This morning we went up on a hill just about three blocks from Brenda's place, and did our devotions up there. That was amazing! I just felt God so close. It was awesome. The orphanage yesterday was also really cool. Those kids were sooooo sweet! I've just really felt God's presence during this week, and have been blessed by growing a lot closer to our team. Luv you all a lot, and thank you sooooo much for praying for me. God bless!

CaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaRLiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiE!!!!
Man, I am having the time of my life! Wow, what a trip, I am so pumped to be here, and the time coming to go home is coming way too fast. So far the highlight of my week is the orphanage...probably what most people say. But those kids were absolutely a blessing to my life. They showed me so much love, and I am so grateful for what they did in my life. Devotions have been going great this week. Today we headed up to a mountain, and looked over San Carlos. It was absolutely gorgeous, and totally showed how beautiful God is. Devotions have been focusing on the love of God and loving one another. It has been really challenging to myself personally. Just to let you all know that I am as red as a tomato apparently. At least that is what the pastor said to me today. That is pretty much what everyone says to me that sees me. Thanks for all your prayers...they are very much appreciated, and I am having a rockin' awesome time!

Building 'n' Burns

Buenos Nachus,
What an awesome day. We are very wiped and pumped, here is a layout of what we did today:
6:00 AM- personal devos
7:15 AM- group devos
8:00 AM- breakfast
9:00 AM- Left for Indepencia (built roof on guys house, played soccer, made bracelets, hung out with local youth)
3:00 PM- Had service/gave out clothes and hygenical to community (after going around town and spreading the word what was going on...)
5:00 PM- went to local orphanage, had supper, did service, played with kids
8:40 PM- got home, and got ready for bed...

Ya, it was just phenominal, we had some awesome group devos as we went through 1 John 2, and got to fulfill the mandate where it says 'live as Jesus did'. Fred Hein had the opportunity of leading a child (one of the kids who we built the roof for, it was his house) to Christ!!! He was so encouraging to watch him explain salvation to person after person. He's been such a huge blessing. The kids do so well as they were just plunged straight into third world ministry today, and they just pounded through the day. I was so impressed with their energy. Its hard to say a highlight cuz we did so much today. We are also all very burnt. Its hard to say who got it the worse...cuz were all somewhat red. Right now tomorrow is looking like going to the pastors house who we fundraised for and get it ready to pour the concrete. Also to do food hampers in a poor village. Just going to houses and giving a hamper of food. We also might hit up a beach and a resteraunt tomorrow....

We thank you all for your prayers, We are all having so much fun out here. I'm looking forward to coming home and telling everyone what God is doing in Mexico because its absolutely phenominal.

Andy <><

Mexican Sunday

Hola!

We are finally here at Mexico. All safe. We were warmly welcomed by our hosts Brenda Rushton, and Ryan Thiessen Saturday evening. We did some Mexican market shopping at Nogales, AZ and arrived at San Carlos at 7 o clock ish. We are 2 hours behind you guys at home. Our accomodations are so awesome!! The food here is fantastic, and the beds and showers and facilities and wow, its just such a nice little mexican home away from home. The kids and ourselves have had no trouble adapting. We have eaten some very Mexican meals already and its been so good. Lots of tortias, burritos, etc. The weather here is very hot, but bearable. Kind of the best temperature you can ask for, and it cools down that we wear pants in the evening. Were learning lots about Mexico, and so much about what God is doing in this is area. It is so amazing to see and hear about Gods movement in this area and in this ministry.

Wow, what a sunday. I think we all finished the day very pumped. We started the day off with us going to a local Mexican Pentecostal church. It was quite the service, very high energy. The people were so welcoming and made us feel nice and comfortable, they even worship with some of the same songs we do so we had a powerful time worshipping with them. They also had a group of dancers at the front and the music was so loud, it was thumpin in that town! At this church, after the worship was done, we took over the service: First introducing us, and what were doing and why were here, an english song, a skit, Carlie sharing her testimony, two Spanish songs, and then Kerri gave the message. Everyone did an awesome job! i was so impressed and the church was very grateful. It was such an awesome time and it was cool to bless that church and encourage them in that way.

After, we came home to catch the end of the Canada-China curling game, it gave us pride in our home and native land as Jennifer Jones to the gold. And alot of the day today was more relaxed as we can't do working projects on Sunday. So we went hiking in the oasis close by in the afternoon, followed by hitting up the beach. It was cool to see some sights. We had a good time bonding and having some good times and also learning lots as we hung out with our host Ryan Thiessen from Winkler, MB. He is working for Brenda down here and has done alot of hosting with our group. We learned alot about the culture and area. Things like suicides in the area, the mass amount of partying and substance abuse, the catholic movement in the area (to the extent that there are shrines for Mary in alot of places..), history of Brenda's ministry, etc.

We have been having some really awesome devotion time as we wake up to personal devotions followed by group devotions. We are going through 1 John and its really causing us to ask questions and challenge us in our faith. Tomorrow is 1 John 2. The plan for tomorrow (flexibility is key, but a tentative plan) is to go build a roof for a local family's house (it's so tiny and made of tin but they have no roof so we will be doing that) in the morning, doing some sort of food distribution in the afternoon, and for supper/evening we will be visiting the local orphanage, doing a mini service and playing with the kids. pretty intense day... so prayers for tomorrow would be fantastic, for unity, effectiveness, for us to be a shining example of Jesus.

Thank you all for your prayers, we are thinking about you at home, and can't wait to tell you about all of our stories.

The CSY Mexican Mission team

PS all you youth back at home, were thinking about you and praying for you, have an awesome spring break!

All safe in Albequerque!

Gooday all!

Well, it is....friday evening, and we are safe here at a church in albequerque. Albequerque Christian Fellowship church let us use there youth house to sleep in. It is very unique surroundings. The driving went awesome, we've been shifting between us leaders so it isn't too bad for sleep. And when we got here we were zonked. So were just about to go to bed, and then we will rise up at 430, to start our new day, so we can be at the border at a little after noon, and at Brendas by supper time....Its been alot of fun seeing new country, hanging out in the van, and filling up with gas. We took the liberty of naming our GPS unit Clair. We programmed her at Crystal City to go to Albequerque, and never even looked at a map, just followed what Clair said. Thanks Gorchinskis! Thank you all for your prayers, we'll keep you posted!!!

(Rest stop: New Mexico) (Big city driving: Denver, CO) (New landscape)

Thursday March 27th

Hello everybody,

Welcome to the blog that will keep you posted on our trip while we are out here. Our status right now is.....ready and waiting. So today is the day we are to leave, this is the day where the rubber meets the road, literally. So we are very excited to get going we just have to pack up and were basically ready to go, our events for today is going to consist of: driving. all night. So you can pray for safety and that God will bless our trip in that way. Hope you all enjoy this blog. Hopefully we will be able to update daily.