Getting Ready to Head Home

 

We just finished packing up and saying goodbye. So, we are starting to head out! See you all soon!

Our Last Sala

 

On Friday morning, we had the privilege along with the team from Washington to put on Sala (the morning chapel with all the staff and the houses before the rest of the day gets started). All week, we had been so very blessed to hear the kids from different houses on different days give testimonies of praise to the Lord and to what He had done in their lives during their recent time away at a Christian camp for youth. As with kids anywhere you go, some had much to say and were very open and vulnerable with what God had showed them and was teaching them, while others had very little to say. But, for those that did share, it was such a huge 

blessing and challenge to hear about some of their personal stories and how God had brought the anger and pain from their past to the surface for them to face. Then many of them shared how God opened their eyes through different sessions at camp and/or different people both from the camp and FFHM to how much He does love them and wants to heal the hurt and help them forgive and rise above their past and be able to move forward!
 So when our time came to be able to share with them and with the staff of the ministry, we wanted to be a blessing and to continue to proclaim our thanks to God for his amazing love and our thanks to the kids and staff that had blessed us far more this week than we could've ever blessed them!! Some of our team was able to lead in worship, while others were able to share testimonies of how much the week had meant, how impacted they were, and how much they were going to miss everyone when we go home. God has worked in many ways this week, and we hope to be able to share with all of you when we come back!! Even though we need to come back home, we will be carrying FFHM, the ministry and the people, in our hearts as we return!

Thursday in Baja!

 

A few words the kids had to say about today: "exciting," "impactful," and "memorable."   Being our last full day in Baja, many of the team went into today with a renewed purpose and desire to really make today count! From the beginning to the end, most of the students worked hard, served hard, and played hard ;)

This morning we had one more chance to be a blessing serving around the base in jobs like chopping veggies in the kitchen, sorting clothes in the donation center, weeding a grown over area by the staff mobile homes, and cleaning windows for other staff. 

After lunch, we had a little chance to rest and hang out with each other and some of the kids down here before going out on another Child Evangelism Outreach. Once again, we split up in three groups and ventured out to three different parts of the community to hold a quick missionary club. The students were 

able to help round up the children from each place, play with the kids to get them excited for what was to come, help them listen to a Bible story and try to learn a verse from a teacher, and then help hand out spoonfuls of peanut butter and cups of milk. Most if not all of the students would say these outreaches were one of their favorite times of the week. Getting to love and serve these little ones while encouraging them to learn about Jesus and His love for them was such an immense blessing and joy!

Since tonight was our last night here, we went out for tacos once again to our favorite place, Tacos El Poblano! We have built up quite a relationship with those who work there, and we were able to to develop those even further, well enjoying some great 

food at the same time! After a lot of tacos and a lot of pictures, we headed back to base where we were able to have a special hangout with the older boys who live here from House Seven.

The kids were able to circle around a fire pit, sing worship, and share with each other back and forth with the help of Señor Brache. It was a special time of celebrating the friendships that have grown during our time here and celebrating what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do!

Thank you for your prayers for us! It will be hard tomorrow to say goodbye and to leave this wonderful place where God is doing so much!

Day Three!

 

Today has been very full! The team was able to serve both this morning and this afternoon  on base in multiple ways including helping out with Jugamos on their last day of soccer camp, cleaning out the visitor center where we are staying along   with another group from Washington, weeding, cleaning out and organizing tents used recently, and anchoring shelves for a new inventory room for the gift shop here on base.

 

Even though we had to say goodbye to our friends from Heritage who were running Jugamos, we were excited to get to go to the Bible school on campus for a chicken dinner fundraiser for their mission trip this summer. 

Then we had the privilege to go to a midweek church service at the church that is right next to the ministry base. Right now we are going to go on a quick adventure to ice cream, a team debrief, then hopefully to bed! The kids have a lot of energy right now, but they are going to be even more tired tomorrow. They've been working hard! 

 

Day Two!

 

This morning, we were a bit tired but excited for a full day here at the mission! The first timers were able to go on a tour of the whole facility and see their onsite ministries! Meanwhile, the returners were able to help out  with some jobs around base.

 

After lunch, the team split up in three groups and went out for child evangelism in the surrounding communities. The students were given a chance to play with the kids that would come out from the neighborhoods, help them listen to a Bible story, and then give them a snack of peanut butter and milk.

Tonight with Jugamos, we were able to go cheer on a team of older boys from here at FFHM at one of their soccer games, They did such a great job and won their game 5 to 3! After grabbing tacos for dinner, we made it back to the base for a team debrief. Now it's time for bed! Goodnight, everyone!

 

First Day in Baja

 

 

Our first day here at Foundation for His Ministry in Vicente Guerrero has been very eventful! After working this afternoon either with Jugamos and their soccer camp for the kids or with various maintenance jobs around the base, the team enjoyed a quick dinner before being able to go hang out with some of the kids in their homes tonight. The team was able to bless the "house parents" by giving them a night off and babysitting the boys and girls! Not only were they able to be a blessing by taking some of the different toys and things they had brought for the children to enjoy, but they were also blessed beyond measure with this special time playing with and getting to know some of the kids the ministry here serves!

 

Our kids are going to be pretty tired tonight, but they may still be up for a quick trip for tacos and/or ice cream to celebrate a really great day! 

 

  

We Have Arrived!!

 

We arrived just in time for lunch, got our stuff in our rooms, and are excited to get going!! After a quick orientation to the mission, we will be able to help out around the base. And, many of the kids will even be able to help out friends from Heritage today with their soccer camp, Jugamos!!

Team Baja 2017!

 

After pausing for a few minutes to grab breakfast at McDonalds, we're headed to the border!! Thank you all for your prayers and support! We'll check in again once we get to FFHM in Vicente Guerrero!