Greetings from Baja, Mexico!!!

The Lord had done amazing things even before we left, and the work continues!!  We traveled for nearly 24 straight hours yesterday, and as many of you prayed, God gave us FAVOR at the border!!  Leading up to the border, God even gave us a rainbow to encourage us that His promises are true.  At the border, Bill from IDT had all of our baggage with the shoes buried deep underneath the mound of luggage, and the border agents let him go.  Then Cesar and Raul even prayed with the border agents - amazing!!

We attended service at a local Calvary Chapel this morning (Sunday) and then conducted our first "shoe outreach."  It was amazing to see the faces of the kids, and to realize how much God was blessing them with these shoes!!  Only our God.

Will post a few pix from today little later - more soon!  Please keep praying for us!!

Carol

Much has happened since our last post!!  We had a great chapel service last night with the missionaries here at IDT, and Pastor Raul really encouraged us in Matthew as we studied his walking on the water.  We also got to encourage the missionaries with all that God did with the shoes, the media, and most of all that THEIR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN!  GOD SEES THESE MISSIONARIES and chooses to use all sorts of things, even shoes, to encourage his servants!  Last night after chapel we also were able to bless the local orphans with shoes, and as we did, we heard one of them run to the home director, "LOOK!!  LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!"

We also wanted to tell you a really neat story from yesterday.  We got an ADORABLE pair of shoes on a baby girl, and the pastor's wife of the Calvary Chapel here, her name is Rita, told us the story of the little girl who got those shoes.  Her mother was sold at the age of 12 by her father (who is a witch).  This is sadly common in Triqui culture.  Rita explained that the one pair of shoes is probably the best thing she has ever experienced in her entire little life.  We pray that JESUS would be that best thing as she grows!!

Today many of us built furniture at the Dome, while Raul and Mike labored on the filtration system here at IDT.  If they can fix the system, it will save the missionaries nearly $200 a month.  Please pray!

Please also pray for one family in particular that we met today - the dad is a severe alcoholic.  We asked his kids how we could pray for them, and the little boy said, "That Dad wouldn't drink anymore."  Please pray for them, as the father is not open to the Gospel (we shared it with him).  We go back to them tomorrow with shoes.

Please continue to pray!  We love you all very much - and LOVE that you said you are ON THIS TRIP WITH US, as God worked in us all together and in prayer even before we left.

More soon!

Today was another full, and joyful day of ministry here in Baja.  The team finished building furniture and painting, and delivered beds, mattresses, and shelves to the Triqui community.  A family of 4 kids and parents live in one room and were sleeping on crates, and now they have beds and mattresses, praise Him!

Other members of our team delivered shoes as others conducted a shoe outreach to the children at the Triqui day care.  We loved this outreach because the kids were all sitting and listened as Eme shared what God did, and Mary translated for her.  The kids got and LOVED the shoes.  Marta, who oversees the school, taught the kids about prayer - she told them, "Like this little girl (Eme), you kids can see GOD do great things in your life too, when you trust him and pray!!"  Ruth Ann, the director there, was so encouraged by what God did in Old Bridge, and now here.  ONLY GOD could use shoes to bless so many, in so many walks of life, across the continent!

We also went to a migrant worker camp.  Guys, this was a REALLY REALLY rough place.  Dozens of people, living in tiny shacks.  THANK JESUS, four people received JESUS as Savior!  We also gave families shoes and food, and were able to pray throughout the area... 

Tomorrow Lord willing we get to encourage the missionaries by doing some projects around their houses, and we continue to seek ways to bless them and this community! 

More soon!!

Wednesday in Baja was such a joy because we got to serve the missionaries!  We spent most of the day at Steve and Kathy's house.  God used Raul to fix an electrical problem that two electricians couldn't fix, praise Him!  Part of our team took out another large tree and helped repair and paint a gate.  Still more of us tended to the garden and worked in their backyard, which we have truly come to see as our own.

God is truly knitting this team together - shoes, serving the missionaries, outreaches - all are secondary to the work God is doing in each of us.  Truly nothing like short-term missions to help us unplug from daily grind and distractions and hear from the lover of our souls!!

Please continue to pray for us to grow in Jesus, and to remain healthy!  I will try to update you all tonight about today's (Day 5) adventures.  We are going to the nursing home, and back to missionaries homes, so please keep praying!

More soon!!