BajMission Blog

Progress in San Vicente... 31 Jan

2012-02-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Chris here.
Our 'little' Village of San Vicente is seeing rapid growth... well, it DOES sit on the Mex 1 'trnas-penninsular' highway, which is the ONLY route from Tijuana border all the way to the tip of Baja (in Los Cabos)...
10 yrs ago, a Pemex gas station went in. That has been a huge blessing to travelers (like us), AND supported a great deal of growth.
Last month, a 'Casa de Cambio' opened up, a place to exchange money. Local progress.
NOW, we have, right across from the Pemex, an OXXO. In Mexico, OXXO is like the corner 7-11... a 24/7 convenience store, and a great place to stop on a trip the a clean bathroom and a soda.
Welcome, OXXO, to San Vicente... progress, I guess...

Taffy Pull... pray!

2012-01-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Chris here... we're in the US, Lori is working thru a trail of doctors and diagnostic tests, getting ready for an up-coming surgery... we are also getting our annual financial reports out from 2011 (painful)... ahh, the taffy pull of 'life', 'business' and ministry... twists and turns and TIME...

(ps, pray for Lori...)

We Three Kings... San Vicente 6 Jan

2012-01-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here’s a story about ministry in Mexico, and how God can surprise you and make things happen to bring forth His wonderful Love.

We came to San Vicente this trip wanting to give out knitted hats in the work camp named Garcia. Both Lori and I have been to that camp in years past, and we know the people there are isolated (it’s over 10 miles out from the Village), there are a lot of kids, there’s significant spiritual-warfare there (chronic alcoholism and spousal abuse)… and it’s been really, really cold here this year.

Two other bits of background. First, Lori spends the entire year gathering hats from dozens of faithful women who knit and crochet these bits of love for the poor. We really, really want these ‘out and distributed’ during the cold season.

Second, people are not allowed to just walk into these work-camps, unless they want to chance taking a bullet. You have to go in with an invitation, or with somebody well known by the people of the camp.

So, when we arrived on Tuesday, we tried to connect with the ‘person of peace’ at the church for Camp Garcia. Her name is Azusena, and she is regularly involved in a feeding program and child evangelism afternoon at Garcia.

Well, we found out that Azusena was in Ensenada at the bedside of her sick mother.

Hmmm, we thought we were supposed to go to Garcia this trip. The roads out to Garcia are finally passable (the previous rains basically meant 4-wheeling only, way out of our capability). Hats are all packed and ready. Hmmm. What are You up to, Lord?

Thursday night, there was a knock on our door in our little rented shack. It’s Azusena, who just got back to San Vicente, and was told by her husband that ‘Lorena y Cris’ wanted to go to Garcia. Let’s go tomorrow! We had tea and biscuits, made plans and prayed.

Friday noon, we pack up the vehicle and head out.

We got to Garcia, and had a great time. Azusena led the kids in worship and a couple of Bible memory verses they have been working on. As all the parents watched and listened, she did a great little bit on the Three Kings and their gifts to Jesus.

Oh, yes. Today is the Feast of the Three Kings (Dia de los Tres Magos). In Mexican culture, gifts are not given at Christmas, they are given on Three Kings day. Today is a special day.
Just as we’re finishing the impromptu worship time, a little girl tells Azusena that she knew we were coming because she prayed the night before to Jesus, asking that somebody would come out to the Camp for Dia de los Tres Magos. She said the Lord told her that He was going to send somebody with gifts to celebrate. Azusena was quite excited that we were the answer to this little girl’s prayer.

Wow.

So, Lori kicks into high gear and we give away beautiful hand-made hats, and gloves scarves to everyone. The babies also get warm booties. After the usual chaos of the hat distribution to all (children and adults, 55 in all), gratitude is expressed, we hug and kiss (yes, we kiss in Mexico… on the cheek…) and head back as the sun is beginning to set. A great time, definitely what we hoped for.

We returned to the Village. I know I’m still in awe that we could be part of the answer to a little girl’s prayer. I know that little girl’s faith was greatly encouraged today. “We three kings…”

Thanks to all the people who pray and support us as missionaries to be here. Thanks to all those who make and send hats to be distributed.

You are all a part of the answer to that little girl’s prayer.

Your bro, Chris

Albina's Windows

2012-01-12T11:17:00.001-08:00

How exciting to see one of Albina's financial goals become a reality! For months the focus of her home-based sewing business has been to purchase some windows for their cement block home. For several visits she has had me put aside her earning. There isn't a bank in town, so she has had me keep aside her "extra" until she had enough to purchase 4 windows. Boy, does the extra light that they allow in made a difference. Albina has already sewed curtains for the new windows and is hoping to soon have enough funds to secure more windows.

Future Mex worship leaders

2011-12-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Slowly, slowly these gals are learning how to play guitar in San Vicente. During Lori's sewing class, we step outside and make a joyful NOISE to the Lord.
These three girls have been very faithful in learning the worship songs and chords. Yeah, they're a long way from cutting a record, but they're working hard!
Equipping the Saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians Ch 4),
Chris

Feliz Navidad 2011

2011-12-28T14:22:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful time celebrating Jesus birth with our friends in San Vicente. The Wed. before Christmas was a day filled with celebrating the holiday with our church family there. All the chairs were filled as a variety of dramas and music were shared in honor of our Savior. Tears filled my eyes as several young people responded to receive the "True Gift" as heartful worship filled the room. Afterwards, we joined in sharing our meal in a unique potluck type form. There were tamales, mole, posole, tostadas and lots of other yummy foods to enjoy. Best of all, spending time with our San Vicente family!

sewing Christmas gifts 2011

2011-12-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

As the "Giving Season" is upon us, I enjoy helping my sewing students to create handmade gifts for their families. This year I focused my energies on the young girls who were anxious to take advantage of their school vacation to make presents. Scarves, aprons, and decorations were whipped up in time to celebrate Christmas. Michelle (pictured with me) is one of our neighbors in San Vicente. As I was walking back from my first day of classes, she questioned about the minimum age of the sewing students, which is 10 years old. She told me that she would be turning "10" in Jan. So, the next morning, I invited her to join me for the day so that she could start her lessons. She was so excited to make a wool scarf for her Mom and a fabric Christmas tree to adore the inside of her home.

fleece outfits

2011-12-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

How thrilling to see the ladies who are involved in their own sewing micro enterprises finding orders in their local. As cold weather has set in, Albina and Yolanda have received requests to sew warm fleece outfits. The quality of the work they are doing is impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Each time I arrive in San Vicente, these ladies are anxious to learn new techniques or have questions how to proceed.

San Vicente winter: frozen mud, rains

2011-12-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

Just a slice of our life... frozen mud until mid-day, it thaws and tries to become a sentient life-form, night falls, it rains more, then it clears up, the sky is wide-open to outer space and it freezes again...
THAT's why we give away HATS out in the work camps... Crisbaj

When it's cold, we give hats away in the camps

2011-12-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

SO... down here in San Vicente, there are a couple of working 'farm camps' where field hands and their families live. They are miles from the town, and most live in trailers, small chapparell houses (like ours!) or concrete 'shelf' housing...
Being it's been SOO cold, and predicted to continue, we found a helpful 'person of peace' (thank you, Albina!) to take us around, and we supplied hats to around 100 people at multiple locations in Rancho Mesquitito... built alot of friendship, and prompted a couple of people to come into town for church the next day! It was especially good to get hats on those little heads...
,,,and yes, it was pretty cold the next night
Chris

Before Hats and After Hats... 9 Dec

2011-12-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Chris here
SINCE it was totally freezing here (reported well below 35 degrees F), we went to the San Vicente kindergarten and gave each student... and the staff.. nice warm HATS to wear... check out the before-and-after pics... and the one with Lori and helper Miriam with the Kinder staff... this was at 9am and it was still hovering around freezing here (YES, it gets really cold in Baja Mexico...)
Thanks to all those wonderful peeps who make and send hats thru the year... there's a lot of warmer heads here because of your love!
Chris

it's COLD in San Vicente!

2011-12-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Chris here, in San Vicente... brrrrrrrrr!
It got COLD lastnight, the puddles froze, and so did WE!
Here's a shot of Lori sitting in our 'house' trying to keep warm... that and lot's of warm tea, then off to the sleeping bags!!

Chris

San Vicente Sunsets

2011-12-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

7 Dec, Chris here.
We're in the US, getting ready for the next trip to San Vicente. We've had to delay a couple days because we both came back extremely sick the last trip, requiring antibios and more 'throat coat' tea than I could ever dream of.
We're finally mended enough to go back.
I found this sunset pic from the last set of pics shot on the last trip. The San Vicente sunsets can be pretty breath-taking!
We are in the throws of a very, VERY cold winter in this region. Record lows being set in San Diego AND Baja. We hope to get some hats out to needy kids in the next few weeks.

We sure hope our 'readers' are praying for us... protection from another respiratory infection, protection during our travels, ministry opportunities and 'God-moments'...

ready for the next bit, your bro, Chris

Living skills at the San Vicente house 29Nov

2011-11-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

BLOG 29 Nov

Living skills at the San Vicente house

San Vicente 28Nov
Hey! Chris here. Well, I’ve been stuck in our house for a few days… sick, fever, coughing colours, unable to be out in the community.

Lori’s been busy with her women’s groups, doing many different sewing projects and helping to launch ‘front room businesses’ in the homes of women.

Being all stuck ‘at home’, I thought I’d put up a little picture of some of the living skills to be able to ‘make it’ in our San Vicente house.

Actually, it’s a bit like rough-it camping (a necessary missionary skill):

^^Cannot drink the tap water, not purified.
^^Drink only water BOUGHT from a purification plant, blue bottles ‘only’. Water filter purity checked by gov’t monthly (posted results).
^^Water bottle in the corner, on a spicket-stand.
^^Only one sink with (only cold) running water. Wash hands frequently.
^^Toilet flushes to a drain field, no TP to be flushed down. TP in trash. Trash to refuse pit daily to be burned.
^^Two buckets full in shower stall to flush toilets after dark. Village water (comes from well pump) goes out at dark, back at dawn.
^^Shower in the shower house. Warm water only during the day, has a solar panel. May obtain some warm water in evening to help wash dishes.
^^No sink, use dishpans. Dash of bleach in the rinse water (be sure to have apron on! Splashes can make for clothing spots!). Dishes done immediately after meal to reduce critters from coming for the left-overs.
^^Hot water via ‘hotpot’ for coffee/tea. Coffee is ‘instant’… sit down and have a cup!
^^Cooking via two plug-in hot-plate burners. Make sure to ‘power-down’ other lights in the house when cooking, only one electrical circuit!
^^Portable tables and plastic chairs can’t hold too much weight. Fill soup to ¾ level to avoid spills when tables shake.
^^House has 4 electrical outlets, light socket in each room with pull-cord.
^^Close up the windows mid-day to hold in a bit of the heat: plywood ceiling is the roof (rolled tar-paper over that) and it’s going to be a clear night tonight, meaning no clouds to hold in the desert heat, will get close to freezing here in Nov by 2am.
^^Don’t let the door sit open, creatures (four-legged, six-legged, winged, stingers and teeth included) will be glad to visit.
^^Food stored in the pantry (canned), fresh in the portable cooler. We’re deciding about getting a refridge soon, needs to be big enough to detract from being robbed.
^^Break-ins and robberies are a game-sport here in the Village, with zero chance of recovery. Know that everything left in the house when unoccupied is at risk.
^^We’re enjoying the bed-frame/platform constructed for our inflatable Queen mattress. Looking at getting a real mattress down here. Sleeping bag as quilt, it’s cold!
^^Hey! Muddy boots at the door! Yep, walk anywhere outside and they get pretty caked up!
^^No walking off the sidewalks after dark. Lot’s of scorpions and rattle-snakes around.

Lori told me to add that it’s a bit better than rustic camping: we have a flush toilet indoors, so no trekking out into the cold outside for the honeypit house…

[I can see it now… some of you are soooo like“I wanna be there!”… others of you are, “No Way!”]

Gotta go, time for scrubbing up the pots and pans…

Your bro, Chris

Day of Giving Thanks (without Black Friday) in Mexico

2011-11-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

25 Nov
We celebrated a Day of Giving Thanks with the Naz church here on Wed nite... 3 1/2 hour service of families getting up and expressing gratitude to GOD for all HE has done in the last year. Then we all shared a turkey and dressing feast.

Yes, I miss the 'usual' Thanksgiving traditions in the US... cornocopea and images of pilgrims and East-coast indians sharing food...
BUT I will say celebrating a 'Day of Giving Thanks' without a million blaring 'Black Friday' ads trying to appeal to my base nature (buy, buy, buy, have, have, have, get, get, get...)...
NOT having any of that here in Mexico is WAY past refreshing!!

I'm glad to trade the Black Friday mud for muddy cow-paths to walk in... besides, scraping shoes has never been so fun!!

AND hearing the 'glory stories' from these grateful people is nothing less than inspiring.

Oh... in case you are wondering, the STUFFING the women of the church came up with may have been one of the top stuffings I have ever had... Lori agreed...

your bro, Chris

MudMudMud... 25Nov

2011-11-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

25Nov in San Vicente

OK, it's not as bad as the picture... but regular rain in Baja has meant all the cow-path roads here are mud-chutes... a little rain makes for alot of mud in the Village...

OK, WHERE is San Vicente (the Village we're working in)?

2011-11-15T20:57:00.001-08:00

Hey, y'all
Just had 2 recent conversations where the folks were having a hard time figuring out where the Village of San Vicente was located...
San Vicente is a village approx 130 miles south of the US-Mex border, directly south of San Diego CA (US) and Tijuana, Mexico.
It takes us about 3 1/2 to 4 hours to travel that distance because of having to drive through 2 major Mexican towns (Tijuana, Ensenada) AND travel over 3 mountain ranges.
San Vicente sits on the northern 'lip' of the San Quintin valley, also known as Mexico's 'vegetable basket'.
More to come...
Chris

Oh, to be living in Mexico again... 9Nov

2011-11-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all, Chris in the Village
Not much time, banging out a quick blog outside the Pastor's house after a stellar time of worship and adoration of our KING here at the Nazarene church. (Don't tell, but this Nazarene church makes most Vineyard churches look like they are asleep...)
We arrived at our new/rented place last night and settled in... YEAH! We're living in MEXICO again!!! My prayer time this morning was off the charts with JOY....

For the last few years, we've done alot of going back-and-forth, staying with alot of very kind people... but now we have a place of our own, and this is going to be a long-term are of relationships and ministry.

TOO COOL!

Pictures soon
your bro, CHRIS

Softening the wait

2011-11-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes communications just get mixed up. During the mobile dental clinic at la Clinica El Buen Pastor in San Vicente in October there was confusion that resulted in patients waiting for hours to be seen. As darkness fell so did the temperature. So, to soften the hearts of those waiting, I pulled out a bag of handmade hats and gloves. The kids received their head covering first and then I made sure there were enough for all the adults in the crowd. Yeah! one extra. Now that is cutting it close. Everyone was so appreciative. Thanks to all my hat makers out there.

A Pillowcase of Many Colors Oct 2011

2011-11-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

This young boy was so excited to join the sewing class. He quickly took to the sewing machine, after all he already has conquered the pedal skills by driving a car around town. No he doesn't have a license nor is he old enough to have one. Ni modo. (No bother). He had no problem choosing the fabric to make his first project, a pillowcase. He told me how much he loves the story of Joseph and how the colorful fabric reminded him of Joseph's coat of many colors. So, much fun was had that the next day he returned to sew another pillowcase for a friend.

Oct 2011 sewing blankets

2011-11-05T20:22:00.001-07:00

The temps are falling into the 40's during the nights in San Vicente. With the crispness of fall comes the need for more blankets on the beds. Most homes are made of wood or cement block but lack insulation and have no heat source. It's the perfect time of the year to add blanket making to the sewing class. Amelia (pictured with me) was thrilled to show off her new bed covering at the end of the week's class. It won't be long and night time temps will be in the low 30's, sometimes even the 20's. Buuuuurrrrrr! Time to cuddle under the new blankets.

MICHIGAN-OHIO PEEPS... THANKS!

2011-11-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

MICHIGAN-OHIO PEEPS... THANKS!
Just a word of thanks to all who came out to the Panera times, those who hosted me, those who fed and watered me (really well... I think I gained a few pounds in MI!)...
THANKS!
Chris

The Next Big Thing... 16Oct

2011-10-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

16Oct Chris in Lasalle, Michigan

I'm up in the midwest sharing with our partners, doing some teaching and connecting with family and friends.
Had a great time with the Saints of the Toldeo Vineyard... always a warm and wonderful group.
As I prepared for this morning's time, I've been really struck by the Lord in this area of Worship lately. I know that I have made the past mistake of reducing 'worship' to a fantastic time of music and demonstration of my gratitude to God in a church service.
I am totally convinced that somehow the 'next big thing' in the Church is NOT going to be a really cool song or adding lights and smoke to our church services...
It's going to be all about
<>the simplicity of worship: 12 stones, uncut by human hands to signify our regular lives as THE altar acceptable to God
<>the whole idea of 'song-service is worship' is going to be seriously re-adjusted to become a small percentage of what we KNOW to be our worship
<>worship is going to a total-life-before-God, everything-I-do, everything-we-do, 24/7 experience-the-Presence and God-is-in-the-HOUSE thing
<>worship is going to always be aware that the earth is FULL of the Glory of God, while at the same time we pray for the Glory of God to fill the darkness (and the hearts trapped in darkness)and we look forward to the full consumation of His Presence totally dispelling the darkness

The Next Big Thing... come Holy Spirit!!! Make it happen!!
Church... what do we have to do differently? How can our Praxis line up with the Presence?

Bajmission Baja and Beyond Update 17-18 Oct in MI

2011-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

HEY!
Those who are in SE Michigan... Chris is going to be in the Monroe area next week, and will be hosting a "Bajmission Baja and Beyond Update"
at
Panera Bread
393 N Telegraph Rd in Monroe, MI

Mon and Tues 17 and 18 Oct
6pm to 9pm

the advert:
"come see/hear/taste/touch a bit of what Latin American missionaries Chris and Lori have been up to!"

(taste and touch... hmmmm)
C'mon down!

Welcome to the House of Blessing in San Vicente

2011-10-05T21:08:00.001-07:00

4Oct
Great news, friends! The LORD opened up an opportunity for us to rent a house in San Vicente for us to stay in when we are down there, and there's room for us to conduct ministry out of the location...
I'm calling it "LA CASA DE BENDICION".. THE HOUSE OF BLESSING...
It's an older 30ftx20ft adobe-stucco house with the usual rural Mexican set-up. It does have a flush toilet, a single-tap shower and outside sink. There are a few electrical outlets. It was formerly a bunk-house for a Mexican Bible school that closed over a decade ago, and there are 3 little rooms with built-in bunks. It's a bit drafty, and we'll be fixing it up over the next few months... The house is close to the Carretera TransPeninsular Mex 1, and is in a 'Rancho' with a number of neighbors who all attend various churches in the Village.

But hey! We have a place!

Our Hearts Leap Coming Over the Hill

2011-10-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

4Oct
Just to show you the sight that makes our hearts leap for joy as we come out of the last mountain range and... there before us... San Vicente... our second home...

Chris

Training future worship musicians 4Oct

2011-10-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

4Oct Chris here, just back from San Vicente. See the pic... that's one of my star students, working hard to master the guitar.

This past 7-day trip, played over 20 hours of guitar.
Nope, wasn't just goofing off. That was a 20-hour investment in a group of future worship musicians, and leading congregational worship with the help of these newbies.

The Nazarene church of San Vicente has a congregation of about 150 people, and it's growing because people are coming to Jesus through the dedicated evangelism of the church-folk. The pastor asked me to help him with his new problem: needs a number of up-and-coming worship musicians to lead on Sundays, during the week, at the various conferences held, and the home meetings. He's asked me to teach them guitar and disciple them in leading people into the Presence of God. He's also asked me to 'infiltrate' the worship band and help them out.

Nice.

I've been holding 'classes and consultations' out at the picnic tables outside. This past week, 12 hours of 'open class' for the students. One guy came right form the fields, and was so dusty, I didn't recognize him at first!!
Then the rehearsals for Sunday night. Teaching new ways to pull a worship band together, all be on the same page, and then 'lift-off' with the congregation in the Presence of the Lord.

Sunday night, it was the first time I'd led worship in Latin America in over 5 years. I was so excited during tune-up, I could hardly contain the joy.
We started Sunday out with my 8 students and I leading a wonderful old Mexican worship song "Hay Una Fuente En Mi" (There's a Fountain In Me) together... wonderful! These students have only been playing guitar now for 3 months, and they got to be a part of leading. (After service, they were estatic; one student was crying for joy when she described it all to me...)

THEN we had the emmense joy of blasting off for a 45-minute worship set with a fantastic-sounding guitar (thank you, annonymous friend!), a totally singing-loudly-at-the-top-of-the-lungs congregation, and God showing up in power and presence.

Awesome can't even describe it.

I'm in awe at how God is teaching and energizing these students. Glad my guitar callouses are nice and tough in this season... fingers sore but very happy...

For the High Praise of God in ALL the earth!

Glocalization in San Vicente

2011-10-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

GLOCALIZATION; The new term for the car-crash of the local realities of the developed world (cell phones, technology) with the Global realities (lack of basic services, economic stratifications) in the Developing world.

Chris sitting here in San Vicente.

As usual, I'm trying to make sense of it all

Watched a street-vendor yesterday in San Vicente cooking her food-for-sale on a camping-styled woodfire and pan (like the picture), but talking loudly on her cell phone...

Lori working with one of her 'sewing women' in a house with a dirt floor and one electrical outlet (an extension cord), producing lovely (and glittery) purses for sale...

Sitting here on a high-speed wireless internet connection doing this Blog, but I had to shower last night via a 'sink-tap', since all the showers here are not working at the Church...

Running water for bathing/washing, but had to drive over and get my water bottle filled from the filtered water (safe to drink, says the monthly government letter posted next to the plant)...

Amazed by the stunning beauty of this village... well, then a truck barrels down the dirt road and the resulting cloud makes it hard to breathe for a few minutes...

Watching the trucks of tomatoes going north from the fields, to be sold at the markets for $1 for 2 lbs... and seeing the bus of field workers pull up, all dusty beyond recognition, a long, hot day in the sun picking... the resturuant next to the 'bus stop' adverts satelite TV and a Wifi internet for customers...

Seeing how hard life really is for the people of the Village...

simplicity, complexity, glocalization

More later... before the power browns out for the afternoon...

Chris

LIKE JACOB WRESTLING… 19 September

2011-09-19T22:02:00.001-07:00

Hey, friends! Chris here, we’re just back from San Vicente, lot’s of good things, lot’s of challenges…

Our ‘2 weeks per month down in San Vicente’ is in full swing… and our resolve to do that really got tested this last trip.

On a good day, the 130-mile trip from our house to the Village takes 3 ½ hours. The big-normal reasons are [1] getting thru Tijuana, then Ensenada/Mandedero and the snarled Mexican traffic, then [2] passing thru 3 mountain ranges, two low-level and one going from sea level to 4000 feet, then down.

Well, Wed the 14th was the ride to test our resolve… almost 6 hours, almost a dozen accidents… I now have a little idea what it felt like for Jacob to wrestle with the Angel in Genesis 32…

Started out with attempting to cross into Mexico at the San Ysidro border. Well, there was a major construction accident RIGHT THAT MOMENT. They closed the border for an hour. Then the snarled attempt to get thru. THEN the high-speed chase of some criminal into Mexico, with 10 San Diego police cruisers blasting by [we were the 10th car in line, the chase went right by us!]. THAT closed the border for another half hour.

Finally, into Mexico, to find the foolish criminal crashed into a road divider, and 50 Mexican cops with a closed ramp. SO into Tijuana proper… to find the major street to go south closed off… re-routed into the south part of the city… FINALLY on our way south, to Rosarito…

Then the stop at the ‘rest rooms’ station… what! Under construction? The next one… same thing… the last one before the long road to Ensenada… closed.

We’re starting to smell a plot here.

Got to Ensenada, found an open bathroom (yes!), got thru Ensenada OK, then up into the mountains towards San Vicente…

Well, the Mex government is doing construction on the ONLY road between Ensenada and Los Cabos (Mex 1). San Vicente sits right on the Mex 1. The construction is a good thing, this has been a narrow, barely-kept road for a long time, and a lot of truck traffic.
[Ref: the San Quintin valley, of which San Vicente sits on the northern rim, is ‘the vegetable basket’ of Mexico. If you are reading this and ever eaten a store-bought strawberry or store-bought strawberry jam in the US, 95% probability it came from the Valley].

Guess where the construction has finally reached? The narrow passes through the mountains. It’s now filled with gravel by-passes winding back-and-forth around the construction bits, up steep inclines, then down-hill. Huge semi-trucks (the ones that bring the vegetables and fruits out for market) riding right up our tail, impatient, 20 of us crunching thru the trails…

It took us SIX hours to get to San Vicente. Lori admitted that if she was driving, she would still be back in Tijuana crying.

Well, we struggled through. “I’m not letting go until YOU bless me, God!!”

We made it by Grace and Mercy and God’s exceptional Presence… and yes, He blessed us. Driving over the hill and seeing the Village… ahhh! Welcome sight!

Thanks for praying with us, you supporters and prayer warriors!!

[ps, the trip back was significantly better… ]

Some pics

2011-09-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

OK, a couple of pics... Lori and I in San Vicente (very nice, traditional Mexican church in background) AND one of the COOL ladies handbags one of Lori's 'women' are making for sale...
C

Living Mexican again

2011-09-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

6Sept Chris here, short report on our last trip to San Vicente.

We've begun to strike out into some new areas of ministry and work with the people of the village. Our HOPE is to have a rented facility in SVF by spring, so we spent some time looking into rental property there. That will probably mean a sparse house in a neighborhood, concrete floor, three running taps into the building (shower, toilet and one spicket) and moderately dependable electricity. There are some prospects...

This trip, we stayed at Iglesia Nazareno de San Vicente. We were blessed to stay in the 'cuna', the nursery. Tile floors, and a flush toilet in the bathroom. We camped out on inflatable mattresses. We ate 'camping meals' from our hotpot and cooler.

Pastor Jose Luis and Pastora Marta had us join them for some meals. Great times of fellowship.

We (me 75%, Lori 25%) gave the Wednesday night message. It was 'mission night', and Pastor asked us at 4pm to share. Big rule of Mexico mission work is you always have to be ready to preach a 30 minute message at ANY church service you attend as a missionary: I have some notes written in the front of my Bible, but that night was alot of 'fresh bread from the Word' I had dug out that morning in my devotions and reading of John Piper's "Let the Nations Be Glad!". Lori only did 25% because she had spent her day dealing with a rat situation (see previous blog)... and yes, all in Spanish!!!

About 75% of our week was totally in Spanish. Makes for easier week, not having to go back-and-forth and stay in one language most of the time.

Saturday, there was a wedding of a couple we know well. What a joy to see these two come together in holy matrimony. The 5pm wedding had the bride walking down the aisle at 615pm, and nobody was flustered. The wedding feast was 'birria de borrego' (goat cooked in a rich tomatoe and chile sause)... ohhhhhhh, what a feast!!

It was hot, so it took awhile to cool off after the sun set. Ahh, the smell of burning garbage as the sun sets in the west...

Lori did alot with her 'sewing women'. I continued to work on helping to build the music ministry and worship group, and had 9 guitar student lessons, and spent a great deal of time encouraging some worship leaders.

Not too many pictures this trip.

Back soon! Chris

Oh, rats! Got poop? Some San Vicente stories

2011-09-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, all! Chris here, just a few funny bits from our last week down in the Village (San Vicente Ferrer).

First, I helping out the Sunday worship band at Iglesia Nazareno San Vicente, playing bass guitar, and could NOT look out at the congregation... why?? Well, there was this kid in the front row, wearing a Tshirt that said "GOT POOP?"... !! It was probably donated from the US and he/his mom does not know what that means (common language-unaware problem)... but I wanted to break out and laugh...

That was the easy one... here's the tough bit.

Shortly after we arrived, Lori went down to the one mission Base to work on her sewing stuff and get ready for her women to come the next day. What does she find in the cabinet?? A dead rat that had been there a few days and was turning... well, it was not pretty! [NO, we did NOT take a picture... too gross...!!]. SO, we spent a bit cleaning that up/disposing of the remains/sorting thru items affected... and Lori spent the rest of the week dealing with the after-math! Many sewing supplies had to be thrown out...

[BTW, don't worry, we used full Bio-hazard techniques to deal with the issue]

We use a happy picture to lighten things up a bit.

You should be glad that SMELLS can't be posted (yet) on Blogs, because Lori thought out loud that y'all should get a whiff, just to know what she had to deal with.

Thought you would all dig that.

Chris

With Jesus at Pasadena Conference

2011-08-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

It says in Mark Ch. 6
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Chris here… we just returned from Pasadena and the 4-day conference marathon. Lori and I arrived Wed afternoon and immediately ‘jumped in the fray’... and it was a wild ride until we drove away Sat evening.

Amazing conference… the LORD showed up… a Mark 6 encounter…

The West Coast Healthcare Missions and Ministry Conference 2011 in Pasadena is the annual west-coast gathering of Christian missionaries and workers involved in health-care ministry. It’s a 4-day intensive gathering hosted by Fuller Seminary to present reports, research and innovative ideas, as well as ‘share good practices’ from the field. Relentlessly pulled together by the good Dr Peter Yorgin and his wonderful wife Lisa, this year it was 120 folks ‘from the trenches’ of healthcare work with the poor and marginalized.

Yes, I gave a lecture on best practices in nursing missions. That talk will result in a lot of work over the next year; a group of fellow nurse-mission people want to work together in ‘pounding out’ what we want to say from our ‘tribe’ related to such practices.

But way more than that happened. The best thing is to be WITH our fellow health-care missionaries and ministers. Healthcare ministry and working with the poor is hard. The conference is the rare opportunity for us to come together and be in the restorative Presence of the Lord together.

There were many God-Present moments. There were many words of encouragement from others working in the field. There were great and illuminating discussions about ‘how to do ministry better’. I could regularly see people with their heads bowed, praying together or for each other.

I could faintly see Jesus walking among us… He was the One speaking to us through it all.

We are better missionaries in the Lord’s fields for having come together. We are strengthened by ‘going aside with Jesus’ for a weekend.

FROM JOYFUL NOISE TO PLAYING SKILLFULLY

2011-08-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Chris in Chula Vista.
Just returned from our week in San Vicente, and a lot of good things. On our last trip down, Pastors Jose Luis and Marta asked me to jump into the music and worship areas of the church. One area would be to launch a church-wide effort of training a handful of guitarists to be a part of the worship music team.
It’s been 20 years, and never a group, but… I agreed.
Between trips, I found Spanish-based guitar teaching tools, and put together a solid lesson plan with a focus on practical guitar skills. Lot’s of graphic learning tools. I also cleaned up a Fender Squire to leave as a training guitar for those who may not have one right now.
I played at Wednesday service, and made the announcement of the first class. “This isn’t about just learning guitar, it’s to become a guitarist in Praise of our God”.We were hoping for 6 students, wanted to limit it to 8… and 14 people rushed up, asking to be in the class.
On class day, I wasn’t sure who would really show up… then all 14 were there! One church guitar, my loaner, and 3 other guitars… and 14 students!
Half of the folks… ages 12 to 52… had played some before, other half first-timers.
SO… by the end of the 90-minute lesson, they all learned 3 chords and were strumming “Hay Una Fuente En Mi” with reckless passion and excitement. It was a true Psalm-100-joyful-noise!!!
Each student was given a ‘first level packet’, and told how they could access the loaner guitar via the Pastors… they came Saturday, practiced and asked a lot.
I was also asked to give some teaching to the Youth about worship and praise… good stuff to put together with the practical lessons.
We’re off and running. I’m now praying for 3 or 4 playable, beginner-friendly guitars for the students who stick with it over the next few months (hint, hint…).
SO, just as Lori shows up in San Vicente and the sewing students are instantly at the door, looks like I’m moving that way with guitar…
I’ll let you know as this group progresses from Joyful Noise (current) to Playing Skillfully…
Your bro, Chris

Chili Rellenos Aug. 2011 by Lori

2011-08-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

The best parts of ministering cross culturally: friends and food. One of my favorite Mexican dishes is chili rellenos (stuffed peppers. Well, I've desired to learn how to make them, so, this week I asked Albina to swap student/teacher roles with me. She grinned ear-to-ear at the prospect of having Chris and I into her home for a meal. It may have took her twice as long with the "help" I gave her. Never the less it was a wonderful time of fellowship. Chris assures me that I need to practice making them, which is his way of saying that he likes them.

School Bags and Supplies, Aug. 2011 from Lori

2011-08-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

Aug. finds most of my regular sewing class participants working in the farm fields. But, the great thing about this time of year is that I can focus on the young people while they are out of school. This week's sewing class was filled with 13 preteens and teenagers anxious to sew book bags for their upcoming school year. Five beginning students including two boys kept the days rockin. How proud they were to show off they creations! Upon completion of their projects Chris and I blessed them with school supplies to add to their bags.

Preparing Well, July 2011 by Lori

2011-07-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

It's GREAT to see one's work paying off. For over two years I've been working with a group of teenage girls who desire to minister to children. There have been several teaching and prepping days as I've sought to instill in them Jesus' model of loving the "little ones". Last week, Alma, the group leader, voiced to us how the Lord had been speaking to her about "going the extra mile" when ministering by REALLY preparing well. So, the girls (by themselves) spent hours pulling together songs, making a memory verse game and creating crafts for outreaches into a migrant camp. How wonderful to tag along to see the fruit of their labor. Please pray for these young ladies as they grow in their ministry skills.

A Well Oiled Machine, July 2011

2011-07-20T14:03:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest challenges of the sewing ministry is keeping the machines in working order in a dry, dusty environment. So, about every 6 months all the machines need to be cleaned, oiled and adjusted. In preparation for the Aug. sewing week, I've spent a couple of days doing just that. Not fun, but it's like changing oil on your vehicle; either you do it when you should or regret it later. Now, it's time to move onto making samples for the class.

A Mash-up of Anniversaries: Bajmission, Marcos Witt

2011-07-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

18July, Chris in Chula Vista

Mushy warning: This blog may get real, REAL sappy… but here goes.

I’m sitting here, irritating the neighbors with loud worship music… Marcos Witt’s new CD celebrating his 25th year in worship ministry is blasting, lifting up the songs that the Lord gave Marcos as part of the most amazing cultural revolution in the Church of the last 50 years… the Latino worship movement… American churches have NO idea…

I’m gushing because this CD is a blast of memories for me of the goodness of God in our 20 years in Latin America, and my becoming a Latino Christian in my heart…

When God ‘called’ us to missions back in the 80’s, we were very involved in Christian music. Guitar player, concerts, recordings… So when God calls us to Mexico in 1991… it looked like I was going to have to give up the whole ‘music thing’ to serve.

Little did I know that God has a huge, HUGE sense of humor, and was opening the door for us to experience one of the most amazing worship movements of the last century on the planet from Ground Zero.

Our first week in Juarez, 1991, in the beat-up YWAM base, this guy bags on our door… “Hey, wanna go to Vino Nuevo for a worship concert with this guy called Marcos?” “Hey, sure” We had NO idea that we were entering history… that night was the live recording of Marcos Witt (and major choir, the ‘Te Exaltamos’ project) which went on to be one of the fundamental ‘must learn and know’ group of songs that the Lord was using to equip the Latino church with a new song and a new voice in worship. We were there, learning. I met this crazy guy Marcos that night; he spoke flawless Spanish and English… 100% consumed with worshipping God…
[I still joke that if you listen close, you can hear Lori and I and our daughters singing on that recording…]

We move to Tijuana in early 1992, and what church do we end up at? Same one a dozen pro musicians and recording/sound tekkies who tour/record/work with Marcos are a big part. They drew us in to their circle.

Iglesia Evangelica San Pablo became our home for a decade, and that circle of friends meant we (Lori + I + our kids) were very involved in the Latino worship world, centered around the worshipping community there. They are now all life-long friends. Yep, Marcos came through a bunch. There were ‘Noches de Celebracion con Marcos Witt y su Grupo’. Some of the band stayed at our house. We played music together. Lori crafted a huge, artsy ‘Jesus’ banner as a concert back-drop; it ended being taken around Mexico. I stage-managed events. We still help out at similar ‘Noches’… 22,000-people worshipping in the arena is quite something…

I am incredibly grateful to Marcos. He helped teach me Spanish. With each recording and new song, I had to learn new words, new phrases and new intonations. Sometimes it was ‘have to’, because the release of a Marcos Witt recording was a major event in the Latino church. We all had to learn every word and musical chord ‘by heart’, because those songs would become the ‘worship song vernacular’ wherever we would play or be the ‘lead worshippers’. Marcos also taught me a lot on leading Latinos into a place of worship.

I will never forget when we (the ‘Grupo de Alabanza’) were huddled around a boom-box, getting the first listen to the new song “Temprano Yo Te Buscare” (Early Will I Seek You)… Marcos had sent us a pre-release copy. We did that song every service for months… not because we were enamoured with the new ditty, but because every time we did the opening licks, the Holy Spirit would show up in power and do mighty things in the congregation… one of the services had all 650 people jammed in the church on their knees, hands in the air… that song went for about a half-hour… glorious!!

I was asked to lead part of the song-time in a village church on the coast of Columbia. I borrowed a guitar, and told the congregation that I would teach them a new song. Imagine my surprise when they all loudly joined in, knowing the song well. ‘How is this so?’ I wondered (a little humbled). This Marcos Witt song only came out a few months ago, and this is a verry remote village! After the service, as we ate empenadas, the pastor recounted how most of the congregation traveled over 12 hours by bus to the largest soccer stadium in the country last month for a night of worship with ‘Hermano Marcos’… then back… “we’ve been singing that song ever since.”

Somewhere along the way, I learned that worshipping the Lord as a Latino (context, culture, language, emotion, focus, style, intensity…) was a completely different experience than I knew as a Westerner. It began to spill into my private worship, into my guitar playing, into my thinking… and my acts of worship, both word and deed. Worshipping God became different, WAY more intense. Now, I’m part Latino, adopted by Jesus into the Latino community, and worship for me is forever different.

The songs coming from Marcos Witt became a major part of the soundtrack of my spiritual journey. I can’t even count the times I’ve been kneeling, praying, weeping, singing “Renuevame, Señor Jesus, ya no quiero ser igual…” (Renew me, Lord Jesus, I definitely don’t want to be the same anymore…).

I’ll never forget eating tacos with Marcos on a street-corner in Ensenada, talking ‘worship leader talk’, about how our private lives and devotions of worship will always be the watermark, and the public celebrations only (only!) flow from that… you only end up ministering what you are walking in… God is looking for sold-out worshippers…

Feliz aniversario, hermano Marcos. Gracias por todos de tus fuerzas en la musica… era un bendicion a mi, y miliones de nosotros. Thanks for being my teacher and example. Thanks for the songs, the passion, the focus, the willingness to ‘leave it all out on the field’ and that bushes burning with God-worship never run out of fuel.

You’ll have to forgive me, I want to sing along with the CD right here… Hermoso eres, mi Señor…

Tu hermanito, Cristoabal

Kingdom Gratitude 11July

2011-07-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Chris in San Vicente Ferrer, Mon 11 July AM

Sat, as we walked around San Vicente (to deliver something the Lord laid on my heart to a family), this other family we barely know from la Iglesia Nazareno invited us to dinner at their house...

Well, their house is a 12x12 room, a wood cooking shed and one water spicket outside the house! Of course we accepted (it's a dishonor to decine), and what a glorious time of fellowship! The husband, Francisco was gloriously saved from drug addiction a few years ago... we had a Holy Ghost meeting over hand-made tortilla and birria de res around a scrap-wood table!

I was humbled at how massively grateful he and his wife Floridina are to God for all His goodness, regardless of their struggles and having to work as tomatoe-pickers 6 days a week in the fields. The older daughter is working in the fields to make extra money to go on a missions trip with la Iglesia Nazareno in two weeks... imagine that!

Last night, my Kingdom gratitude was deepened for the amazing Grace and Mercy of God reaching into the Darkness of lives and pulling them out into Light, the Glorious light of Jesus!!

God is SOOOO good!!! The JOY of being 'in mission' with the Lord is getting to see what His Kingdom really means, outside the box of the Western context!

Gotta go, something else to do in the Village today..

your bro, Chris

20TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS ON BAJMISSION.COM

2011-07-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

bajmission.com... some great photos from our 20 years out

20th Anniversary Photos... tripping thru memories

2011-07-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

Chris in Chula Vista 4 July 2011

Hello, all! OK, little bit... Lori's BD is the 4th of July... little firecracker, she is...
For our '20th anniversary in mission service', we decided to do a little project and scan in a bunch of non-digital photos to show a bit of our 20-year journey.

BE SURE AND CHECK THEM OUT

What a trip thru the wires of memories!! SOOO many memories, so many people...

It made me think of taking our kids... then Ruth 10 and Hannah 5 years of age... to live in Mexico. Not just 'nice and safe Mexico', but first a really poor neighborhood next to the dump in Juarez (all the 'Juarez killings' were just starting then, in fall 1991) for 7 months, then to Tijuana and another poor region to live in. Initially, we were working in some really poor regions of TJ, like Grupo Mexico, then when the rains came and displaced 300 families, we worked with the TJ government to bring healthcare to those 300 families living in blue-tarp tents in Valle Verde... and our 2 kids with us all the time! At that same time, we began working in Tres de Octubre, one of TJ's hardest colonies to work in.

Our first trip 'home' to Michigan, I had no less than 2 'church leaders' and a number of 'concerned' church-members pull me aside and question what was going on: "it can't be God calling you, because those places are so aweful... taking your kids there? You are SOOO wrong for doing that... "

Seriously.

We continued on. We stayed keen to the security issues, especically for the kids.

(What turned out to be the hardest thing was the 9 times we were robbed, cleaned out twice. Always break-ins when we left the house, twice while at church. The stuff stolen from the kids was hard on them)

Of course, we did constant security assessments. We talked to our national partners/friends, and gave them blanket permission to tell us if we need to not go, or not to take our kids. They were taking their kids. They promised us to watch out for us. They did nothing less. There WERE a few times they advised us to change plans.. and we did.

Twenty years of in-your-face working in some of Baja's gnarliest places... yeah, a few tense moments, but NEVER anything unsafe.
Definitely, our two kids saw bits of the real world from the belly-up... and I think they are more grounded than many, many others...

In the mid 90's, Lori and I traveled to the midwest for the wedding of a close friend (kids were with grandparents in MI). At the reception, I ended up sitting next to a guy whose parents were missionaries in South Africa during the Apartied years. He told me a few stories from his childhood, about how growing up working with the poor, and being afforded a 'global perspective' in Africa has made all the difference in his life. He could see that I was a bit 'stewed' about all the difficulties of 'living foreign' and having our kids with us. He told me (prophetically), "never regret taking your kids out of the American comfort zone and living abroad... it makes them world citizens, and God will bless them."

That guy was totally right.

Seeing all those pictures with our kids, helping at outreaches and walking around in poor colonias on a regular basis... seeing what grounded kids they grew up to be, raising their own kids now...

I have found that when I respond to God's call, HE will 'sort' all the issues... including kids in foreign service

Last Minute June 2011

2011-06-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

So, much of Mexican culture seems last-minute to those of western heritage. Within minutes of our arrival to San Vicente we received an invite to the high school to see some dramas. Several of the teenagers that we work with would be preforming and they feel encouraged by our presence. So, after bringing in our stuff, off I went. It's wonderful how many people you can visit with at one of these community wide events.

Encouring God's Shepards in San Vicente... June 2011

2011-06-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

Hello, all! Lori and I just returned from 3 days in San Vicente, Baja Mexico, 90 minutes south of Ensenada, thru the mountains. We needed to connect with people after Lori’s inability to travel due to surgery.

How great it was to be in the Village; I actually got nostalgic at the smell of burning trash! Something about red dust in everything can be a blessing…

The Lord gave great grace to Lori in connecting with all her ‘ladies’ in their sewing cottage-industry-microenterprise stuff. I continued my community survey, exploring the very southern neighborhoods in this Village with +/- 4500 people, and made some interesting people-connections.

The real satisfying part of the trip was to sit with Pastor Jose Luis, listening to his stories of the last few weeks, and offer encouragement. Jose Luis and his precious esposa Marta have become padrinos for the people in this village. Padrino is a funny Mexican concept, which encompasses groomsman, duel opponent, financial sponsor/patron… but usually is more like adopted Grandparents for some extremely problematic children. In Mexico, where tele-novella is a way of life and more than drama TV, being padrinos is a full-time occupation

This week, Jose Luis and Marta were being padrinos to some very messy problems, and he needed to refresh his heart a bit, and gain some (more) encouragement from the Lord. We listened, and listened, and encouraged for quite some time. I prayed with him later. Little to add, he’s good, just needs encouragement.

Most pastors do, especially in Mexico. Being a Shepherd in San Vicente means trying to keep a rather stubborn and self-made bunch of sheep from running off cliffs. Shepherds get tired, they need encouragement. They need a cup of cool Kingdom water to keep pointing people and their problems to Jesus.

So, pray for Jose Luis and Marta. Pray for Lori and I to be great encouragement to them over the next year.

I can’t wait to be down in a few weeks and give them both big hugs and encouragement.

Your brother, Chris

Because you asked... Our Security and Safety in Baja...

2011-06-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

Some have asked…

FIRST, we will not be sending out ‘prayer request’ emails, Facebook notices, WWW site or blogs with specific dates of our travels. This is to ‘keep under the radar’.

We hope this means you will pray for us REGULARLY… ;-}

SECOND, yes, we keep very close tabs on the security and travel safety situation in Baja. Remember, we lived IN Mexico for 9 years, and now have accumulated 20 years of ‘working foreign’. We navigate differently than tourists. We also go different routes and to different places than tourists.
Between news venues and local reports (from BOTH US and Mex sources), we talk to our partners in Baja, and they keep us up-to-date.

THIRD… the ‘security and safety’ issues where we are working (three hours south of the Border) have remained the same for over a decade. I am far more concerned about being involved in a traffic accident than any ‘narco-violence’…

Isaiah 41 definitely speaks to me, that the only (ONLY!) safe place in the Universe is in the middle of the secure Hand of God… sounds good…

No te preocupes, amigo! Hermano Cris

Lord, It's Not What, But Who... a 20 yr reflection

2011-06-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

A PRAYERFUL REFLECTION
TWENTY YEARS SERVING THE LORD IN MISSIONS
JUNE 1991- JUNE 2011

LORD, IT’S NOT WHAT, BUT WHO

Lord, You called our family to serve You by going out in missions abroad.
You spoke to us about it for years, preparing, training, arranging.
It all came into focus in 1991 that it was time, and the people of Mexico.
Leaving our comfortable home, family and church in Michigan, we set out on what was supposed to be a one-year season of service.
First to Canada for training, then Mexico.
The Mexico stay changed from one year to nine years.
Then, stay in the region along the border in Southern Cal (a really strange place for 11 years).
Regular mission work in Baja. Ministry travel to many parts of Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Asia… even Africa.
This month, it’s now been twenty years.
Wow, that one-year season of service sure grew!

Thank You for Your tender mercies and abiding Presence, especially when far from home or in the middle of a long, hot ministry day
Thank You for all the wonderful people we’ve encountered in the strangest places.
Thank You for family, friends and ministry partners who continue to love us and pray for us long-distance, two decades out.
Thank You for bug nets, SPF 40, ORT, anti-malarials and the smell of DEET.
Thank You for providing coffee all around the world (oh, the coffee!).
Thank you for all the fellow travelers, the mission workers and outreachers, the national workers and leaders… what a bunch!
Thank You for the joy of worshipping with brothers and sisters in soooooo many cultures… and oh, such wonderful music!!

So, Lord, what is the legacy of the last twenty years?
No monuments. No pedestals. No big media blitz. No buildings with plaques.
Just hundreds of lives touched… touched by You… You!
Especially people with little resources, marginalized, difficult lives.
Touched through prayer, through healthcare ministry, by kind words and listening ears, by simple provisions, by hugs, laughs and relationship…
You were there, totally there.
Some people You touched quickly… yes, there have been miracles…
Many people You touched through the long-haul ministry of relationship and hard-work, helping them to overcome years of abandonment and marginalization (the slow-grow-miracle, deep roots).

Lord, the legacy is not what, but who.
Isn’t that what the Kingdom is all about?

Thank you that Your Presence is easily found in a family’s dirt-floor hut or a traffic-crazy street-corner.
Thank you that You really do show up where 2 or 3 are gathered in Your Name, even though we can’t speak each other’s dialect.
Thank you that you still break and bless and care for thousands… even when it’s us that end up broken and blessed.

Thanks for letting us work alongside You for the last 20 years.
Thanks for all the ministry partners You’ve placed us with, a part of every life touched… and help pay the bills.
Thanks for the churches that pray for us and help out.
Thanks for extending our family with two awesome son-in-laws and two awesome grandkids over these decades.

Thanks for it all.
What a ride!
What’s up for the next 20 years??

Your kid out working Your fields,
Chris

<<>>

Working thru suffering, bridges out and 2Cor1

2011-05-13T18:40:00.001-07:00

13May Chris in Chula Vista

Well, things have been tough these last few weeks. Lori had sinus surgery in late April, and it's mid-May and she's still having a hard time recovering. She's still suffering, and try to get a good night's sleep. I'm trying to keep up on all that needs doin'.

So, I've been meditating on suffering, 'cuz we're in the middle of it. I know that minds way greater than I have tried to unpack "why do we suffer?"... and "why?" comes up alot when in the middle of it.

I've been looking at 2Corinthians Ch 1, and how St Paul indicates that suffering will flow in our lives, but also the Comfort of God (v5: For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows) will flow... and overflow... into the lives of people afterword.

I remember how the bridge on the Mex 1 was washed out in that spring 2010 flood just north of San Vicente. Major suffering. Tough times...
... which resulted in the community pulling together, people figuring out how to make it together, building stronger community bonds AND a much better bridge built afterword (thanks to the Mex Govt) Tough times, good outcome.

I hate suffering. It's hard to see Lori suffering. Tough times. Yes, there's been some comfort, but still in the middle of it...

I'm looking at 2Cor Ch1, and the memories of the bridge washed out... looking for Comfort to flow... and trusting for a Glorious outcome through Jesus Christ...

pray for us, Chris

Albina's new purse designs

2011-04-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Chris wrote the highlights of the 9-day trip in a blog a few slots down. So, be sure and read on.

It was thrilling to see all that the ladies had accomplished in the two weeks since I was here in San Vicente. Yolanda, Erika, and Albina have been sewing diligently during my time away hoping to build some inventory of products to sell. They have received orders from neighbors and friends and are thinking up new sales avenues. Pictured is Albina with some of the new purse designs I've recently taught her.

San Vicente button mania

2011-04-25T14:50:00.001-07:00

One day of this past week, 15 children joined their 6 Moms as they worked on their sewing projects. Now that can add to the activity! So, I try to have things the kids can engage in like, puzzles, books, coloring sheets etc. This time around I pulled out the big tins of loose buttons and kept the little ones busy sort and matching up sets. Okay, so it didn't last all day, but it did keep them occupied for a time.

San Vicente church Easter play

2011-04-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

The wonderful celebration of our Savior's Resurrection is upon us and the church here in San Vicente is preparing for this year's drama. There's a need for lots of period costumes as they seek to review the days before Christ's death and Resurrection. So, this week's sewing class time was spent with over a dozen of the actors coming by to dig through fabric looking for just the right combination. Jenny (pictured) and her Mom were two of my new students for the week. Jenny's Mom was very apprehensive about using the sewing machine but was swayed into action by her need for a costume. Her first sit down before the machine had her trying to pump the peddle, but it wasn't too long before she was sewing up the seams of her outfit. It was encouraging to hear other students of mine cheering her on with statements like, "Don't worry that was how it was for us too". and "You'll get the hang of it, Lorena is a great teacher." I just received and email from missionary Lynne Johnson stating "I just heard today that the word on the street is the drama is really good and you should go on Sunday evening. Friday night there was standing room only and they expect way more people tonight."

SEEING THE CAPTIVES SET FREE IN SAN VICENTE

2011-04-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

April 2011

When the Kingdom of God breaks open in a locale, many people are liberated from the kingdom of darkness in their lives in significant ways. Jesus sets this out in Luke Chapter 4:

16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

We are seeing a tangible breaking open of the Kingdom of God in San Vicente. This past week, which would be a ‘landmark week’ in many places, seems to have been par for the Kingdom happenings in the Village.

<<>>
Lori went down last week for her ‘one week a month’, and I joined her on the end of that trip. Lori has been working consistently with the women of the Village for 3.5 years in sewing classes and economic development, and has made some strong connections with a number of women there. Many have come to Lori for prayer and advice, and Lori has networked with Pastora Marta in the Village in this area of ministry.

<<>>
Last week, we went to the funeral of Isidro, a Saint who lived in the Village and beloved by many. During the all-night funeral service (no kidding!), somewhere around 11pm, Isidro’s two sons responded and gave their lives to the Lord. They confessed how they had been resisting God, but couldn’t do so any longer. One of the sons is a well-known ‘narco-trafficante’ in the region.

As we found our way to our quarters (around midnight, the funeral was still going on), I was reflecting how Pastor Jose Luis had been telling me before the funeral that two major ‘narcos’ had come to the Lord in the last week there at the church. We laughed together at the ‘new problems’ of having former ‘narcos’ filling the church…

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Lori and I were walking to the church in the dark. The saints were rehearsing their “The Heavens Sing” Easter outreach music. Since we were needing to leave the next morning, Lori wanted to hear her ‘ladies’ singing their songs in rehersal.
We hear ‘Lorena! Lorena!’ in the distance, and see a woman running to catch us. It was a sewing student Lori had prayed and counseled with in times past. As we talked under the corner streetlight, she began to pour her heart out and expressed her deep need to return to the Lord in the midst of many trials and tribulations. After quite some time, we began to pray together, and minister to her as the Holy Spirit led. What amazing things the Lord did! By the end of our prayer, arms were lifted towards Heaven and God was praised for His wonderful liberation. We parted warmly and continued on to the church.

<<>>
At church, one of Lori’s ‘ladies’ told us how she is actively looking for a place we can stay at in the Village. “I saw a place, but somebody rented it the next day”, she related. “I’m going to keep looking. The Lord told me you belong here”, she explained.

<<>>
We are working out details to rent a place to stay at and minister out of in San Vicente. Carving out a local presence ‘in country’ is always a bit tough for any missionary.
It’s clear that the Lord is doing something special in San Vicente, and He’s calling us to be there for more.
We want to be where the Presence of the Lord is manifest, where people are being set free, where the blind see real light, where the time of God’s Favor is sung out at the top of our lungs… and we get to be a part of a Visitation.

Your brother, Chris

2011 Health Missions Ministry Conf Aug 18-20

2011-04-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends!

Well, looks like we're going to be involved in the annual national meeting of healthcare missions and ministry... and hope that if you have a calling to healthcare ministries, consider coming!

Thurs-Sat August 18-20 at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA
The 2011 West Coast Health Missions and Ministry Conf

Link (info, registration):

http://healthcaremissions.org

Besides all the speakers and workshops, the BEST thing is to be in the room with hundreds of people who have given their lives... and sacrificed lucrative professional practices for a humble quality of life... and served the Lord in healthcare missions all over the world.

San Vicente Ministry 2011... growth, new directions

2011-04-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

14Apr2011 Chris in Chula Vista

Hello, ministry friends!

Yesterday, Lori and I tripped to Ensenada, Baja Mexico for the 'monthly connect'.

This is where we are met by the kind and faithful missionaries from San Vicente to take Lori down for her 'monthly trip' to the village. The missionaries come up to Ensenada every week, a trip that takes 1 1/2 hours thru the mountains north. The trip from our house to Ensenada is 2 hours south.

This time, Lori heads down for ministry with her 'Pearls'; the 3 women doing micro-enterprise/cottage industry, a couple women who may be joining that project, and some teen girls Lori is helping to grow as young Women of the Lord through domestic skills and service to the work camps that surround San Vicente. Lori has seen steady, sure and progressive growth in all these areas. The local Pastor and his wife are very, VERY positive about how all that is helping these women and the life of the Congregation... they want us to move to the Village and grow these ministries...

SO, I drove the 2 hours back to our place, sad to be 'parted for a week from my sweetie'...

I will drive down to San Vicente in the middle of next week, spend a few days, then Lori and I will return to the US together.

We are actively praying and seeking the Lord to find some NEW DIRECTIONS that would allow us to spend more time in San Vic
ente, stay longer and facilitate the growth of the Lord's movement in the Village. THAT translates into FACILITIES (house, store-front shop, etc). While I'm down there next week, I will continue to explore the options open to us. This involves housing and location logistics (location, location, location!!). It's complicated in this robbery-prone region... how do we 'go back and forth and not have everything ripped out by thieves when we drive away' is a real concern.
There is a huge part of me that wants to just move to the Village and not have to do the 'translocation' back-and-forth, BUT there isn't the financial/logistical mission support for that...

SO, here we are, Lord... show us Your plan and Your path in all this!!

Chris

Digging deeper in San Vicente, Baja 6Apr

2011-04-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

6Apr
Finally found a space to blog about our trip to San Vicente.
Lori's blog tells what she was up to. Pray for her as she preps for a week trip down next week.
While Lori was busy with her gals, I spent a fair amount of time in prayer and prayer-walking the small business district of SV. I am pressing into the Lord for clarity regarding our next ministry growth step in SV, and God spoke some exciting things during those times! The business district will somehow be a part.
We also spent time with Pastor Jose Luis and his wife Pastora Marta, key leaders in SV + movers-and-shakers in their denomination (Nazarene). It appears he had a small heart attack a few weeks ago, and has been getting back his strength little-by-little. Plz pray for him... we sure did/are!!
I spoke with him at length regarding how I/we could help him in this season. Stay tuned for more on that..
One thing for sure: both Lori and I feel a great draw to San Vicente. We'd move down there right now, but we lack the support $ and logistics to make that happen right now. Lord, show us what to do!!!
Until then, down as much as possible...
your bro,
Chris

March Meaderings

2011-04-02T15:44:00.001-07:00

Had a wonderful time connecting with the people of San Vicente this past week. Celebrating a Sunday service with the saints, praising the Lord in Spanish, and catching up with friends. It doesn't get better than this.

I was able to meet with the three ladies that are currently taking their sewing skills to new heights by making items to sell. It was good to see that they have been working on purse projects even when I'm not around. Shows initiative! I was happy to spread around lots of encouragement while helping them work through struggles. Yolanda and Erika are having to rearrange things as both have had to move into smaller places in the last month. Albina used every opportunity of my visit to glean. She even swayed her daughter and sister to assist her in cutting fabric for her next batch of purses. We joked about how someday her sewing business will grow and she can hire family members to work for her. Her current goal is to sell enough so that they can get electricity into their home. Can't wait to see them all again in April.

24Mar11 Psalm

2011-03-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

Rough Seasons, God’s Goodness (24Mar11 Psalm)

Two things have I found about serving the Lord
Three things have proven true about walking with You, O God

Life consists of seasons
Each with it’s own wonders
Each with it’s own painful challenges

My heart will be tested severely
To see what is really there
Gold and silver endure fire

The only safe place is in the middle of the
Hand of the Lord Almighty
Grab on, Strength and Refuge are there

Selah

O, praise the Lord!
Praise Him, my weary soul!
Praise Him in this and all seasons
Of many difficulties

Trials and tribulations come, but look up!
The Creator God will see us safely walk through these walls
The sunrise of His Kingdom on the other side
Shining in our eyes

All who walk with You will be satisfied in Your Presence

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Real MIssionary Life chapter 2.18.2011

2011-02-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

18Feb2011
Hey, Chris here in Chula Vista.
Thought I'd share a slice of real missionary life. This may happen IN any kind of ministry work, but working trans-nationally and moving between borders ramps up the difficulties.
We've had to invest quite the time-chunk... and the $$ chunk... in securing a new ministry vehicle, and qualifying it to go between the USA and Mexico.
First, we had to find the type of vehicle that can survive the beatings in Mexico. Not easy. We came to a place where the old Jeep needed to be put to pasture.
We found a great Ford Escape.
Next came all the document hassles... finally got thru. Need to be sure those are all in order, any problems IN Mexico missing the documents... you don't want to know...
Then we needed to register the vehicle with Homeland Security. They decided that Feb meant vehicle service only 6-8am, get there early for a long line. SO, 5am down at the border. PTL, that went smooth, out by 8:30...
NOW working on the Bi-National insurance issue. If you take a US-registered vehicle into Mexico and there is a problem/accident, Mexico requires having a Mexico-based insurance entity... or it's JAIL! That's in addition to US-based insurance required by Calif.. more $$..
Lastly, working on the 55 things to 'prep' the vehicle for being in Mexico, where license-plate stealing and other forms of vehicle-messing are a Olympic-level sport...

All that to have a vehicle to go out and help people. Prep time, we call it here...

Oh, yeah, finally ready to head across, and it's going to POUR RAIN for the next 2 days, prohibitive to go out in the neighborhoods in Baja...

Thanks for tuning in to the latest chapter.

Your bro, Chris

The Mystical Body, ORS and Haiti Jan 19, 2011

2011-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

Jan 19, 2011 Chris in Chula Vista

I've been reading in ! Corinthians chapter 12 about the Body of Christ, and how the Church is mystically and wonderfully tied together for God's Glory. No rock stars, just the Great and Bright Morning Star... Jesus!

We each play a part, small and large. High-visability and low-visability. All important, all a puzzle-piece for a view of the Big Picture of God's Kingdom to the lost and hurting.

The 'anniversary' of the massive Haitian quake brought to mind the number of people we have trained or equipped to go to Haiti and do tangible health-care ministry and outreach over the last year. I've looked to GO to Haiti a number of ways, but they were either merely 'look-see' trips (and no real substantial work to be done) OR too cost-prohibitive in this funny $$$ season we find ourselves in (it's expensive to be missionaries and in-country!).

However, we've been steadily training and teaching people going to Haiti. Our favorite and 20-year project... easily-communicated Oral Rehydration Solution education for diarrheal death-prevention... received a great deal of interest BEFORE the Cholera outbreak. We trained a number of different people in different settings (see Lori's previous Blog). That includes email 'consults' with doctors and nurses involved with on-the-ground Haitian health-care operations.

Feedback is starting to come back to us, including "We taught lots of ORS in light of the cholera epidemic... Thanks for all you did to train the students."

SO, being a part of the Mystical Body, prepping those that are going TO Haiti... may the Lord receive all the Glory in this!

(pray for Haiti, it's going to be a long and complex road ahead...)

your bro, CHRIS

[ps: any interest in the basics of Oral Rehydration treatment, or to access materials developed for training ORS with the poor, contact me at chris@bajmission.com ]

ORT teaching in Hati

2011-01-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

Cholera Outbreak in Haiti!!!!!! Yikes!!!!! So, glad that we spent time focused on demonstrating how to make Oral Re hydration Therapy to the health care students during the 2-weeks of training that we did in Sept. We were also able to equip them with a full-color educational chart as well as handouts for outreach. After they spent over a month in Haiti, we received word from Lori Mathias, the schools director, "Haiti was great and exhausting. It was very fruitful and the students did a good job. We taught lots of ORS in light of the cholera epidemic. Thanks for all you did to train the students."

Dec. 3, 2010, "Anxious New Students"

2011-01-10T13:30:00.001-08:00

My sewing class has become a magnet for youngsters. Seems that nearly every month this past year has brought the birthday of children of my sewing ladies. It's now commonplace for the beginning of the sewing week to include a request from a little person. My birthday is coming up. I'm going to be "10"! When will you teach me to sew? Well, this month Rodolfo was anxious to start using the sewing machine. He was so excited to create his own Christmas stocking and then continued to sew ones for his whole family during the week. Many of the kids made stockings and other gifts for parents, siblings and friends.

"More School Uniforms"

2011-01-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

Thought you all would enjoy seeing more of the uniforms that the ladies have made. The kindergarten required new uniforms this year that included gingham fabrics. Albina sewed the vest for little Daniel while Yolanda made the apron and pleated red skirt for little Mia. Next school year the ladies hope to have perfected their skills so that they can get orders for school uniforms.

Nov. 30. 2010, "Erika's Purses"

2011-01-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Erika is the 3rd lady to take part in building her own small business through the sewing ministry. She has been creating some new designs of purses that are being well received by family and friends in both San Vicente and Ensenada. She is hoping that she can build the business to the point that it can support her and her three daughters. We've had some wonderful brainstorming sessions on how to move forward. Erika is also a wonderful worship leader and spends much of her time blessing the local church with her talents.

Nov. 29, 2010 "More Hats Away"

2011-01-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

Today was spent travelling from school to school giving out sacks full of hats. Wonderful FUN just before the holidays. As you can see from the pics winter has arrived and the kids are often bundled up even when they are inside of their classrooms. Cement block buildings just seem to stay cold even when the sun comes out. While making the rounds to give away hats, we're also setting up for more outreaches into schools that will take place in Feb.

Nov 12, 2010 Fire Breaks Out in San Vicente

2010-11-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

The air quality is horrible today as a brush fire has broken out on the hillsides outside of town. In Mexico firefighters save their precious resources to battle fires only if they are endangering a populated area. So, we'll just have to wait till it dies off on its own. In the meantime, I'm sneezing up a storm.

Nov 11, 2010 Teaching the Teachers

2010-11-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite parts of the school outreaches is getting the classroom teachers involved in a little drama. Some play the part of the little nutrition train who is trying to gather all the food group train cars while other teacher take on the role of the narrator. A roar of laughter rises up when the teacher puts on the conductor's hat. The interactive drama has each student participating as they put the foods into the correct car. Often times teacher ask for a copy of the script. I'll take that as a compliment.

Nov. 10, 2010 Lori Sitting Down on the Job

2010-11-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today, you'll catch me sitting down on the job. Yesterday, I managed to sprain my ankle while trying to play soccer with kids at the school. You see, I still think I'm a kid. Well I am a "Child of God." So, today I'm trying to keep my wrapped ankle and leg elevated and all the while teach health classes and give out hats. Yup, over 600 hats will be given to the school children after the "Carnivals of Health" throughout the week. Thanks to all those knitters and crocheters out there who help us to bless so many kids now that cold weather is upon us.

Nov, 9th, 2010 Bible School Guys

2010-11-15T17:47:00.000-08:00

There are 4 very special guys who are part of the school outreach team. Three of the guys pictured enjoyed the outreaches into the school that were put on in Feb. 2010, that they asked if they could join in again. It was awesome to see one of the young men, Celso, going from super shy with the kids in Feb. to teaching with gusto this time around. What was even more special was when I queried him about his testimony. Celso had left his home in Vera Cruz at just 12 yrs old. His search for something better took him to Tijuana where he tried to find work. Because of his young age, nobody would hire him. He said he would stand outside of grocery stores where people would supply him with bits of food and he slept in a govt. run facility. A young man befriended him and took him under wing and led him into drug use. Celso followed him to the San Quintin Valley where he began working as a field hand. He heard about Jesus our Savior through a film ministry that Mexican Medical Ministries puts on at the work camps. Celso told me that for three years he tried to leave the drug lifestyle but just couldn't seem to separate himself from the hold this man had on him. Then he was invited to join a Bible school in San Quintin where he could live on the school site. Well this past summer he graduated from that Bible school and is looking to return to start up a mission near where he grew up. The most touching part of the story came when he told me about a recent visit he had made to his hometown. Celso had not had any contact with his family since he left over 12 years ago. Well, after his graduation he hitched a ride home where he made contact with his mother. She didn't recognize her little boy and told Celso that she had thought he was dead. The mother in me can't imagine the sorrow his mother had been suffering and the JOY that must have leaped from her heart. Pray the Lord's path for Celso will be made clear to him.

Nov. 8, 2010 School Outreaches this week

2010-11-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Today starts a week filled with health fair outreaches to six elementary schools that we have never worked in. The "Carnival of Health" that I developed over a decade ago continues to be used as an excellent inroad into communities. Each school starts Monday mornings with a flag ceremony. Then the team rotates to every classroom to teach four different health themes followed by "Game Time!"

Giving Augustin a Chance. Oct, 2010

2010-10-28T10:15:00.001-07:00

Augustin, age 42, pictured with me here was one of the patients who came through the clinic this week. He tried his hardest not to be a patient with his response of "I'm just here waiting with my wife". After some heavy duty coaxing, he finally allowed me to check his blood sugar and blood presser while he "waited". Oh My!!!!! It was a good thing that he did too, as his blood sugar was over 350. For you non-medical people out there. This is SUPER HIGH and very DANGEROUS! Here before me was a young man who looked healthy, but clearing was in trouble. He told me his dad was a diabetic too. He was ushered in to see the Doctor and armed with this new information, given chance to make some major changes that can extend his life. Pray that he'll seek the follow-up care that is necessary.

Clinic Day, Oct 23, 2010

2010-10-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

A new mobile dental unit is a blessing for Dave and Lynne Johnson and their ministry with Mexican Medical Ministries. They've done a great job learning the ins and outs of meeting the dental needs from Ensenada to San Quintin, Mexico. When the "Mobile" dental/medical clinic is being utilized, I sometimes assist by checking blood sugars and blood presser of those waiting to be seen.

Children's Ministry in work camp

2010-10-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

New challenges have arisen with the children's ministry now that school has started up. Those taking on the leadership roles have started high school with school hours from 1:30pm-8pm result in many of the "Angles" not being available during ministry times. So, now it's time to GROW some new leaders. This week I worked with Betel to take on the mantel of group leader. She was streeeeetchhhhheddddd in a good way. In the two years that I've worked with her, she has blossomed from a shy 11 yr old to a more confident teenager. Whenever, she would ask me what to do, I'd respond "You're the boss".

School Uniforms

2010-10-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here is Daniel, Alvina's son who just started kindergarten. What's really cool is that Alvina sewed the school uniform that he is pictured in. One of the projects I'm working on with the 3 ladies who are part of the micro-enterprise in how to take advantage of the new school year by sewing both uniforms and book bags. Each school has a very unique uniform, so I've found it challenging to make the needed adjustments to meet the requirements. Each of the ladies were able to gather a few orders after sewing uniforms for their own children. In the coming months I'll be perfecting their skills in this area so that by the next school year they'll be up to full speed to take advantage of the business they can have.

Never Unpack the Suitcase... off again!! 18 Oct

2010-10-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, all!! Monday, 18 Oct, Chris in Chula Vista...

Well, the 'modern missionary' life means alot of different living skills, and the #1 is living out of a suitcase all the time.

Yes, 'the grand old days' of missions meant a sending Body (usually denomination) stood behind you fully, paid the bills and sent you to a country where you actually could live long-term... means unpack the suitcases, pull up a chair and redemptively start digging in to the lives of the people in the region.

Those days are long-gone.

Now, 'missionaries' have to scrape together financial support from multiple sources, sometimes from groups that don't like each other. Churches don't see the sending of long-term people as their primary 'mission' strategy, but have moved to the 'send short-term outreachers' model because their congregants like the one-time cross-cultural experience.

Besides questions of effectiveness of the 'short-termer' model, it definitely means that 'long term mission workers' live a life of running back-and-forth, many times because they need to straddle the worlds of 'working in missions' out in the Field (internationally), then step back into the USA to raise support and work various part-time jobs to be able to fund the endeavor. Church-based support has slipped significantly, and individual supporters are now hurting from the body-slam of the Econ Crisis.

What that translates to in our lives is that we never get to unpack our suitcases. Lori is now down in the San Vicente (Baja California Norte, Mexico) village for a week-and-a-half, and we are trying to strategize the next few trips down for the fall/winter, while figuring out how to pay the bills.

We would much rather be able to live in the village full-time, but the Mex gov't will not allow us to work in Mexico (and make a local wage), and the US-based support doesn't even come close to allow us to live 'foreign'... all of that in the face of a STRONG call from the Lord to work amongst those people in that region... ahhhh!

Guess we won't be unpacking our suitcases soon.

Hanging on, your bro Chris

Reachin' OUt in the TL of SF 25 Sept

2010-09-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, Friends! Chris here in San Francisco in the TL (Tenderloin, for all the non-SF'ers), cathin' up on some needed washing of clothes. I'm 2 weeks out from home, 1 more to go (we return to Chula Vista next weekend), and Lori is here, 1 week in...
Today (Saturday) the Urban Health Care School participated in a SF-TL-wide Community Health Fair. There were about 45+ agencies who had booths, and offered a number of free health info and health services.
As part of the Urban Health school, the students put together, all on their own, an educational booth to promote good HANDWASHING... and a number of associated activities to make it fun, informative and eye-catching. (The pictures up top show a bit...). One of the 'fun' parts was having children apply a 'glow-gel' to their hands, 'wash' their hands as they normally would... then see how much of the 'glow' is left in a black box... wow! The kids were amazed at how their hands could still be loaded with bacterias... !! Lori was there interacting with the Latina women, and talking to a number of the health workers at other booths for ideas on our own health outreach fairs.
I had two unique interactions. One was an elderly Samoan woman being pushed around in a wheelchair by her son, giving out Samoan candies to the workers. When I asked her son on how to say 'thank you ' in Samoan, and did so, her face lit up with the biggest smile and she pulled me down to kiss me on the cheek!
The other interaction was a group of Muslim children who came to the station. Not knowing if I should address the girls, I and the YWAM student did a group-fun thing for handwashing ed... and there was water flying everywhere! The two mothers (in their veils) were watching and laughing... it was fun. A few minutes later, as I was headed indoors on an errand, the mother called me over and asked if I would have my photo taken with their children... so a great 'everybody wash hands!' pose was struck...
One of the biggest rewards of doing public health fairs is the bridges of relationships built. The YWAM students spoke with many who live in the neighborhood here. With over 400 people coming thru the Fair, most came thru the Handwashing booth. Many knew about YWAM's presence in the SF TL, and their caring outreach...
A great outreach day...

Teaching at the Urban Healthcare School SF... Day 4

2010-09-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

23 Sept Chris here in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, CA...
Well, had to work my way thru the long line of over 100 elderly Chinese waiting for the YWAM base food distribution to start... and dodge the street people who were saying negative things to those in line... seems like there is a great deal of 'ethnic animosity' here...
SO, Day 4 of teaching in the YWAM School of Disaster Mgmnt and Urban Health Care. We're doing the Urban Health portion... when I say 'we, I mean both Lori and I. She taught on health educational methods and activities yesterday, and the students are currently making posters and activities for a public health fair here in the Tenderloin (one of the 'toughest' parts of SF) on Saturday. Time-consuming but valuable lessons in the process of doing urban healthcare education.
We've also started looking at the 'common health conditions' associated with urban healthcare ministries, both 'domestically' and 'internationally'... all focused on the situation of the poor, marginalized and those outside the reach of health-care delivery.
The trippy part of being here are the 100 'people who live in the street' (the new PC term for 'homeless')... the 100 who basically live in front of the SF YWAM base. Most of them with significant substance-abuse issues and mental health disorders, they are a constant presence and reminder of Jesus' heart for 'the least of these'.
SOOOO... will try to get some pics up soon... will be teaching all next week as well... will Blog more on the students next time
THANKS to all our praying peeps for the covering these two weeks.
Gotta go... can't think with the blasting boom-boxes and screeching police sirens as they bust a drug dealer...
Chris

Hard Row to hoe... 14 Sept

2010-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

14 Sept 2010 Chris in Monroe, MI...
Hey, friends!
Fourth day of a (short) visit to Monroe, where there are still many, many friends and lot's of family... it's been great connecting with everybody... and hard at the same time...
The 'mission life' led us to 9.5 yrs of life in Mexico, then 11 yrs as San Diego being our 'jump point' while running all over the place, back-and-forth in Baja Mex and a dozen other places...
which meant leaving family (most in Michigan) and life-long friends (mostly in midwest as well) and live a life of constant movement, which has made relationship-building a bit hard for us in S Cal (and S Cal people are intrinsically relationship-phobes)... so, I'm reminded today about what a Hard Roe it is to hoe in missions, leaving family and friends to live out of a suitcase or in distant places.
(insert sad face here)
your bro, Chris

Hangin' with the MI saints... 12 Sept

2010-09-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

12 Sept Chris writing in Monroe, MI...

Yeah, this town is where it all started for Lori and I... well, besides our being high-school sweethearts, getting married here, having 2 lovely daughters here and raising them in a pretty tight and loving community of family, friends and fellow travelers...

OK, this town was where the Lord birthed our Mission Call back in the late 1970's, honed it over the 1980's... then we were commissioned out of Redeemer church here in June of 1991... for what was supposed to be a 2-yr mission term, then return to this great town...

OK, that 2 yrs turned into 5 yrs that turned into... well, that was over 19 yrs ago. Ain't God funny??

SO I'm back here connecting with family and the majority of those that support and pray for us as mission workers. It's these guys who have made it possible for us to have served as long as we have...

Thanks 2 the Redeemer saints for such a warm welcome of fellowship and so many words of encouragement and love... I KNOW you guys stand with us in more ways than paying the bills!!

Some missionaries talk negatively about 'having to itinerate with supporting churches'... which is a bit of bunk to me... for me, it's more like telling the great GOD-stories of what we've been able, with the Grace and Provision of God, to do together towards the poor.... together as FRIENDS and FELLOW WORKERS...

[OK, let's not talk about the added benefit of enjoying a couple of White Castle hamburgers...] your bro, Chris

The set-up 27 Aug

2010-08-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone! Chris in Chula Vista
OK, Lori wrapped her 'half a summer in San Vicente', and is back in Chula Vista setting up her Fall ministry times in San Vicente.
I (Chris) am frantically preparing a 2-week course for Urban Health Care Workers I will be teaching at YWAM San Francisco at the end of September. My gig is to familiarize these workers with the common health-illness issues of adults and children they will be regularly seeing in urban health ministry.

This is THE SET-UP. This is a huge part of mission work and ministry. It's NOT glamourous... matter of fact, it's hard work with little fun. Try as we might, few people are willing to help in this bit... go on outreach, sure! Help with set-up... ummm...

Pray for us as we work hard in the ministry set-up.

your bro, Chris

Aug sewing week in San Vicente

2010-08-10T20:36:00.001-07:00

It's been a long week of twice a day sewing classes. Seventeen different students participated including 8 teenagers and 5 beginners. With the new school year quickly approaching backpacks and book totes were the focused projects. School uniforms were also tackled by the three ladies that are working their small businesses. What a challenge!!! Every school in Mexico creates a unique designed outfit to distinguish their students from other schools. It proved to be a big job to adjust and redesign pattern pieces to find "just the right" look. Albina pictured above tackled the sweat pants and sweat shirts. The 5 day class week was extended to 6 to continue to work with Albina so that she would not only have uniforms for her 4 children, but would also be prepared to sew uniforms that she could offer for sale.

It's Really about TWO smiles... from Chris

2010-08-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

8 Aug 2010
Pictured about: on the 1000 Smiles surgical outreach, Ensenada Mexico
Chris with Yolanda and Lydia, two fellow Hispanic Nurses... the intake/admission team
and
Chris managing Juliana post-op... look at that huge smile!

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Hello, friends!
Got back late last night from the marathon '1000 Smiles' surgical outreach in Ensenada.
1000 Smiles is a foundation, sponsored by the Rotary International that works with the Mexican Govt to provide cleft lip and palate surgeries to Mexican kids who would never be able to afford or have access to the long-term series of surgeries needed for the repair of that problem (usually 20+ surgeries over a 15 - 20 year period)
This was my second time on the team. It took alot to become fully credentialed with the Mex Sec of Health to officially be working in Mexico like this... and it is SO cool!
The outreach is 2 full days... Friday, packing and sterilizing and checking all the monitoring equipment, as well as all the pre-op checks of the kids for surgery the next day... Saturday, up at 5am and wrap up at 7pm... 12 full surgical cases, ages 4 months to 24 years old...
'Flexibility' is always the name of the game on a health-care outreach. Last time, I was in the Operating Rooms and Post-Anesthesia Recovery the whole day... this time, I worked the Admission/Intake and final pre-op review until the first kids were coming out of surgery, then the rest of my day in Post-Anesthesia Recovery (PACU)...

The cool part is that we recover the kids in PACU, then 'hand them out' (PACU is a super-clean area, have to 'scrub in' to be there) to the mom and Post-Op Observation nurse... and to see the tears of relief and joy and gratitude in the faces of the parents is huge. The problem of cleft lip/palate makes life very hard for the child and parents, and the repair truely improves the quality of life. It really is a 1000 smiles all around...

Doing intake/pre-op assess, one of the patients I cared for last outreach was back for 'another procedure' in her progress... and when she recognized me, she flashed this HUGE smile and gave me a great big hug... and when she smiled, I also saw the smile of God in there as well... what a wonderful moment!!

The smile of God seen in the smile of a kid is worth the work to be there!

A great outreach, planning on going back as regular as possible.
your brother, Chris

Field Trip

2010-07-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

A quick field trip on the way back from El Rosario to a ocean side seafood growing place. Not really sure what to call it. But, it was cool.

Health Fairs en El Rosario

2010-07-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

Two Health fairs were held during my time in El Rosario including one at the church and another at the local park. It was great seeing how the people from the San Vicente church had pulled together and the effectiveness in their communication of the health concepts introduced with the games. My responsibility was to talk with those whose blood sugar or blood pressure was elevated and direct to the next course of action. I also, assisted with checking vision for the possible need of reading glasses. About 100 came through during the 2 days. Found several blood sugars over 200.

Heart Tuggers

2010-07-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

There are always a few kids that turn into real "Heart Tuggers". As I minister in new places, like El Rosario, ineventably new friends appear. Josue Noe and Ana pictured with me proved to be my companions for the week. They liked snuggling up or holding my hand as we walked. If I got busy with translating or helping someone else with a craft, they were sure to seek me out. It was satisfying to reveiw the bible memory verses with them after class was done. Both hung around the church long after VBS being their moms were preparing meals for the team. Such sweet spirits!

July 29th, 2010 Vacation Bible Success

2010-07-30T15:59:00.001-07:00

I love working with kids! Both young ones and teenagers which this time has proven to be. The growth in the Angeles ability to minister has grown significantly during this year. The days of prep time have allowed them to be better prepared to minister to children. The timid voices of last year have given way to confidence. After VBS was complete, I queried Pastora Laura of the El Rosario church, about the event's attendance. She was pleased to announce that about 2/3 of the children who came were visitors to their church. Now that is a successful outreach into one's community.

July 28th, 2010 How Many Kids Can Fit Into A Pickup?

2010-07-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

One of the ladies from the church in El Rosario drove around the community picking up kids until her truck would hold no more. Amazing 10 children in the cab and 20 kids in the back. She lined them all up upon arrival to the VBS to count off so that she was sure to not forget anyone after the day's end.

Final Practice with the Angels July 26th, 2010

2010-07-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

Time to work out some of the kinks out of the puppetshows. Good thing as Grandma Puppet needed her glasses sewn in place, arm sticks needed to be added and a rehersal to be in sync with the music recording was needed. Nothing worse in a puppets show than all the puppet mouths moving when there is only one voice being heard.

July 27th, 2010 from El Rosario

2010-07-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

Time to decorate for this week's Vacation Bible School. We utilized the garden arch as a focal point for the daily puppet shows. The Mexican ladies busied themselves with creating tissue paper skirting and blowing up balloons. It's awesome how creatively they use inexpensive items to decorate. Mother Nature is rearranging some of what we put up with her gusts of winds that keep blowing through. The VBS is being held outside because the men of the church are enlarging the sanctuary by putting in a new roof on the back half. With the church property on a main drag this may be an advantage.

July 27th, 2010. I'm a Child of God

2010-07-30T14:48:00.001-07:00

Yes! I still like being a kid. I'm a child of God and sometimes I enjoy focusing on the "child" part. Thought you would enjoy this pic of Esther and myself on the tetter-totter.

July 26th, 2010 Traveling to El Rosario

2010-07-30T14:36:00.001-07:00

Up at 6am to be ready for a 8am departure from the church. Boy, did I pick the right van to travel in. Everyone pulled out the breakfast once we were out of town. There were burritos, tamales, and fruit that circulated around the van until everyone had had enough. Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!! The trick this week will be to NOT gain weight. The caravan of 6 vehicles carrying 51 team members,lugguage and building supplies didn't get far down the road before someone got a flat tire. Still it was a beautiful 4-hour ride travering the winding roads through the mountains with stretches that ran along the ocean.

July 25th from San Vicente, Sunday church

2010-07-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Left for Church at 9:45 this morning to join in on Sunday school at the church here in San Vicente that I attend when I'm in town. Mario gave an awesome teaching on the example we as adults need to be to our children. It was great to hear such a focus on the value of children especially when this upcoming week with be so directed to "these little ones" when I join forces with the church for the outreach farther south. The church service is directly after Sunday school. The church is packed today for worship and prayer time that last about 1- 1/2 hours. One of the kids is sitting on my lap until the children are released for the second half. It's getting pretty warm so the fans keep the air moving. Return from church about 2pm. Time to pack for the 4-day outreach to el Rosario, get a little down time and then return to church for the 2-hour evening service that starts about 6pm. Then there is a carne asada dinner after service. Return about 9pm.

Consult! Prepping those that GO...

2010-07-26T10:55:00.001-07:00

26 July Chris in San Diego

Huddling around a laptop at a local cafe with a couple of people who are still queasy from their first doses of anti-malarials, all one week pre-trip for a least-developed country internationally to do health-care outreach... this week, it's Haiti... two weeks ago, they were going to Tanzania...
My lecturing at San Diego nursing schools and 'adjunct faculty' work has brought me into the circle of students and faculty who are going on health outreach during breaks. They have found out that I've worked internationally, and are coming to me with questions and needing training/prep for healthcare work abroad.
Just the last few months, my "Cafe Consults" have prepped people for Haiti, Tanzania, Thailand, Mexico and some urban health-care work in the 'rough part' of San Diego and San Francisco. In the last decade, I've done "Consult!" for people going to 28 moderate-to-low development countries.

They always come back and communicate how spot-on and useful the training was, and how it made for an effective health outreach or educational effort.

What ususally happens is that pre-trip, the people begin to prepare to 'go do' something, and as they research that prep, they find out that 'everything in their experience' cannot help them for where they are going to work. Then they contact me. I'll create profiles of health needs and healthcare realities for where they are specifically going, then (usually over a tall decaf Americano) spend a couple hours teaching/training. Laptops in cafe's work great. Many times, we'll also do some acutal planning on how the health education or intervention will happen during their outreach.

Just thought y'all should know about this 'Consult!' work, since it's a regular and substantial bit of what we do missionally.

Sorry, gotta go, somebody is running off to Thailand to work with village kids, and they want some healthcare info for that...

your bro, Chris

still Learning Aug. 24, 2010

2010-07-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

Arrived in san Vicente Thur. evening to begin final prep for next week's outreach. The current team will include 37 people from the Nazarene Church here in SV, 9 people from Good News Community Church in Colorado, Dave and Lynne (missionary couple here in SV. and myself. Anyways, I've been busy pulling materials for the Health Fair and vacation Bible School. When I met with the Pastor's wife yesterday, I discovered that she had decided on different stories from what we had talked about before. Thus, much of the pre-trip prep I had made was in naught and needed to be restructured. If there is something that I STILL struggle with, it's feeling like I've wasted my time. Of course, nothing is EVER wasted in the "Kingdom". Relationships are ALWAYS more important than time! Hopefully, someday it will become more natural for me to shrug off these type of irritations. In the meantime, I'm being remolded into HIS image.
Lori

Hannah helps with VBS prep

2010-07-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sure glad I had my daughter, Hannah, help with preparing the flannelgraph figures for the upcoming Vacation Bible School in El Rosario, Mexico. Next week will include three days of ministry to children.Leadership has been divided between Pastor Marta and myself as we continue to train up teenage girls of the Nazarene church in San Vicente in reaching out to kids in the surrounding area. Pray for open hearts of little ones who will attend as well as stamina as weather reports say temps could be over 100 degrees.
Can't wait to report about the good things that will happen.
Lori

Seting up to Sell

2010-06-29T20:45:00.001-07:00

It's wonderful to hear Yolanda, Albina, and Erica as they strategize together on how to move ahead on their small sewing business. The ladies are working together as each bring different strengths to the micro enterprise. I discovered that one of the ladies is unable to make change, so the others are stepping in to help as they sell their items. At the end of my visit, I'm blessed as the ladies always pull me to the side for a time of prayer.

Birthday smash

2010-06-29T20:37:00.001-07:00

A Mexican Birthday tradition. After all have sung to you in celebration on your special day and you have blown out your candles, everyone begins chanting "mordida, mordida, mordida, which means "bite". The birthday person is then suppose to take a bite of their cake. At the same time several of those nearby "friends" push.

Children's Ministry During sewing week, June 2010

2010-06-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! What a difference in the ladies being able to concentrate on learning sewing skills!!!!!!!!!!! This week the sewing class students were treated to childcare for their little ones by a visiting church from Oregon. Two young ladies, Jackie and Susan kept the kids busy with crafts and games while Moms moved ahead with less skirt tugging.

Pulling together crafts June 19th, 2010

2010-06-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Pastor Marta, Ellie, Priscilla and I spent the day pulling together crafts and song sheets for the July outreaches that the "angles" will be doing. It always great to have FUN while working alongside of each other.

Prepping takes time June 2010

2010-06-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

There is endless amounts of prep that go into each outreach. I'm blessed to have Pat Jordan as my sidekick for prepping for the on-going sewing classes. Here we are at her house cutting out felt to be used to create little purses. It wonderful to have a seasoned seamstress to help make patterns and clean sewing machines.

Thanks,
Lori

The Summer Shuffle 21June

2010-06-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

Hey, new pic for 2010... wadda ya think?

Chris here, Monday June 21, I'm in the USA, Lori is in Mexico/San Vicente, and our new grand-daughter is in Oakland CA (smiles, smiles)... we'll get to see her in a few weeks...

The truth of missions is you have to give up alot... more than any non-missionary could ever imagine... like being around for all the births and birthdays and holidays and celebrations with all those close family and friends...
that's one of those things short-term missions can't give as a 'mission experience'... a long track record of missed family-n-friend celebrations...

Hey, we have officially completed 19 YEARS of mission service... we left Michigan in June of 1991... here's to the nomad lifestyle!!

18 June... too bad: no frequent flyer miles 4 San Vicente

2010-06-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

18 June Chris in Chula Vista

So begins summer 2010 for us...

Too bad the San Vicente trip doesn't have any frequent flyer miles for Lori to accrue... she would be able to vacation in Europe with all the miles she would get!
Yes, she's down there now, doing sewing ministry and discipleship of the teens and various things in her 'home away from home'... she'll be back-and-forth to SV all summer...

I'm minding the store, looking for a new vehicle (that we can afford... that's the problem...), doing house repairs...

AND working on 2 Urban Health Missions projects: [1] doing the 'preliminary footwork' for a NEW Urban Healthcare mission project for Refugees in south San Diego, and [2] building the 2-week seminar I'll be giving in San Francisco in September on caring for common adult and pediatric health issues found in Urban Health Care Missions... guess all that Clinical Nurse Specialist studying will help...

SO... anyone figures out how Lori can get Frequent Flyer miles... ??

your bro, Chris