On the road

We're all packed, loaded, and said our goodbyes as we are on the road to Tecate headed to the boarder. Pray for an easy crossing and quick trip to the airport.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Leaders

I want every parent and Mexico team supporter to know how blessed we have been this week with the leaders on the trip. They sacrificed work, family and other things so these students could come and experience Rancho. I am so thankful for each one and the love of Jesus each modeled for us.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Worship right now

-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Campfire recap

With the reality setting in that we leave tomorrow, we ended our last night in Mexico around the campfire and talked through what God has taught each of us and what the obstacles are when we head home. Some great things were shared. It's amazing what God taught the students and leaders this week.
I had each team member take a rock from the Ranch to go home with them as a monument to what God did this week similar to what the Israelites did in the OT. They can look back at it later and remember what God did this week.

God is good.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Up the mountain

We took a climb up to the cross on the mountain above Rancho. What a great view.











-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

More daycare ministry pics

-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Daycare Ministry

We finished our "ministry times" with a visit up the hill to the daycare the Ranch runs. The plan is to move it down to the new buildings next month. We've been working in them this week for construction. Everyone did a great job playing and doing their ministry groups.








-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

More concrete pictures

-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

More concrete

This morning was spent making lots of concrete.











-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Fun at the beach!

We had a great rest day at the beach. Lots of fun, tacos and oppertunity to get mementos.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Student Viewpoint:Emilie

When we went on the trailer out into the streets of Mexico, we recruited people we didn't even know to come and watch the drama, play games, and laugh at puppets. These people also were able to come up and ask for prayer towards the end of the rally. Kayleigh and I had the opportunity to pray for a man who recently lost his mom. Watching his face as he asked for prayer was like watching a warrior admit defeat. His face became a mask filled with pain. His eyes filled with tears as we started praying and as others on our team started praying for those around us I began to feel Gods presence around our team. So many voices praying at once was so powerful and I'm not ashamed to say that by the time we were done, Kayleigh And I were both in tears. I learned that when life is hard, and when it feels like the end of the world, God is there for you. Whether it is through a mission team from another country or through a friend God will find a way to reach you and let you know he never leaves your side. Mexico has been awesome!






-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Student Viewpoint:Jenna

I amgoing through a lot of life changing experiences this week, but the biggest one was on Thursday when we went out on the trailer. I prayed for a little boy named Jose who was blind in one eye. We sat there and prayed for awhile and I could feel God shining down on us. After about 10 minutes we stopped to see how he was feeling. Nothing changed in his vision but it changed my spirtual life forever.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Vamos a la playa

Today is our day off and we are heading to the beach in rosarito after church at Rancho. The team has worked so hard this week and we are all looking forward to some down time on the beach. I'll try and post some pictures later.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Saturday ministry recap

We spent the afternoon and evening at a church in Tijuana that was very small an on a mountainside. It was a converted car port. We went out and invited people from the community but only 4 people showed up! The team was discouraged but did an amazing job and it turned out that this ministry time was such a learning experience for the team. At campfire we talked about how we could have given up or complained or had a bad attitude. But God gave us a termenous time with those he brought. It doesn't matter how many but how we serve.





-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Saturday catch up

I appologize about the lack of posts today. As the week goes on, my blogging stamina suffers at times! Also I've had a big chunk of students reciting their memory verse passage, James 1:2-27. I am so proud of them, many are amazed that they can do it. It's awesome to see them complete it. All the boys are done and just a couple of girls still to go.
The team responded well to the campfire discussion last night and I think we are getting past some of the distractions. Thank you for your prayers on this.
This mornng we had quite work day as we heard the story of Rancho from Jimmy, the director and son of founder steve horner. What an amazng recount of God's faithfulness and blessing. It gave the team an extra boost of energy to work hard today. With fun day tomorrow, we can leave it all on the field today.
Currently on a bus heading to ministry at a mission. Never been there before so excited to see another ministry in action. Pray for effective ministry and renued energy.
Also, we are all sad team US lost to Ghana. Mexico plays Sunday!


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Pastor Matt Notes

Today was our half way point for the trip and things have been going well. Everyone has been serving and working hard. Everyone is also tired and getting wore out. Tonight at campfire we had to have some discussion on distractions and team chemisty. As we go on during the week it's easy to start treating team members in ways that are not ok or allow yourself to be distracted from our team goals. So, we looked at our memory verse(James 1:2-27) and had some honest discussion and personal time with God to work through our issues.
Please pray for our group that we strive to serve God and others before ourselves.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Rancho Evening Service

Tonight we had the oppertunity do a children's program at Rancho while they have an adult church service that draws from the 20 planted churches they have started.









-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Leader Thoughts: Sarah

This is my third time visiting Rancho and the heart of these people never cease to amaze and humble me. They have so little yet they have so much. I still can't figure it out. As we drive through the streets of Tecate we see what appears to be a heartbreakingly poor city but when we speak with the people and hang out with the kids one will immediately see something completely different: a contentment and joy like youve never seen. And the cool thing about this trip is that this time I get to experience it all from the perspective of a leader. It is incredible to watch this team of junior high kids, half of which have never been this far away from the comfort of their own home and familiar surroundings. I have seen tears of humility, I've seen kids step up and take on new challenges like doing a drama or dancing with little kids in worship. To see them grow like this is just...amazing. I wish you all could be here to see what I am so blessed to witness but I am sure you will hear all about it when we return!

Bendiciones, Sarah W



-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Student Viewpoint: Triston

My time in mexico has been amazing. We have been putting all of our work in the meetings to use. This morning was my first time playing with Josh and the rest of the worship team, it went great! Last night we parked a trailer, used it as a stage, and had an outreach. It was a very powerful night praying for people. I prayed for a blind boy, and I am still praying that God will preform a miracle on him. This has been an awesome week, and God has shown his presence in so many ways.



-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Orphanage Kids

Today we have two ministry oppertunities. First is the kids who call Rancho home. There are about 40 kids here currently who have been abandoned, abused and given up on that are placed here by DIF (Mexico CPS). It's a joy to be with them and to show them Jesus love.









-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Ready for lunch!

-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Student Viewpoint: Brandon

So we got here on Tuesday and ever since we got here in Mexico I've always had something on my mind whether it is love for the kids, the dogs, the FOOD!!!!!!! So God has shown me that I need to focus on others more than myself because it feels a whole lot better when you know that someone is caring about you and you are caring for someone else! The kids are great and the food is ehhh but I have God to rely on for my fuel!!!!!



-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Morning Report

After a late night last night (we ate dinner after 10pm)


the worship band had a 6:30 breakfast do they could practice for leading worship at the morning meeting that all Rancho staff, students, and the other mission groups come to to start the day. God blessed their sacrifice of sleep and they ROCKED!





After worship we headed to work and got a reprieve from making concrete! Instead we dug footing for the foundation of a future concrete pad. We'll probably fill it tomorrow.





Next up, showers, lunch and a siesta!

- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Leader Thoughts:Tom

Our plane arrived and our first stop was baggage claim. Suitcases and duffle bags. Boxes and backpacks. These represent all the material baggage we brought along with us to Mexico. Many of us also brought other kinds of baggage with us. The kind of baggage that come with biases, preconceived ideas, and expectaions of how this trip was suposd to go. We also came with are normal attitudes and our notions of what constitutes a rich and full life. We have seen so many people that we would consider poor because they lack material things but truthfully they rich because of their commitment to their families, their friends, and their savior

When we head home next Tuesday, we will be sure to bring home all our suicases and duffle bags but hopefully we can leave the other kind of baggage behind.

God has blessed us through all the wonderful people we have met. Please join us in praying for them and our team.

Bless you all.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Trailer Recap

What an incredible night of ministry. It's so cool to drive a truck and trailer into a community, unpack a sound system and chairs and have a service!
Each ministry group ran tonight and did an awesome job.











Sulema, our Rancho host then shared the gospel and the crowd responded in a great way for salvation and prayer needs. Our kids prayed for them. Awesome!



God is good!

-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Evangelism Trailer

We are currently in a community about to start an evangelistic program. Pray for effectiveness and boldness.


-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.

Student Viewpoint: Hannah

I have had so much fun with the children. Coming here has made me realize how much we have back home. We have accses to pretty much whatever we want, while people here go somtimes days without food or water. Though having so little they seem so happy they have joy that you can't have unless your heart is in the right place. I wish I could have that kind of joy in my heart all the time too. These people are so kind to everyone, even visitors from a different culture and country. That is why I love ministering to these people so much. I love to see their smiles when you make them a balloon animalband show then I little of Gods love. It's such a blessing to be here and show people Gods love. I can not wait to see what God has in store me this week. I can't wait to see you all again I really miss you. See you soon! -Hannah




-- Pastor Matt and the Tecate Team.