Good morning,

   Sorry there were no updates the last few days, we
tried to et out of Tijuana early the other day and had
no internet access at last nights motel...

   Our last full day in Mexico was spent doing
laundry, packing and getting a used tire in one of the
5 used tire shops within 4 km of the Outreach Center
in the morning and out to see the other ministries in
the area.

   We went to a new orphanage where one couple and a
few staff are looking after 27 kids in a very "Homey"
atmosphere. It was a really nice newly built place
with some very dedicated staff. They have a vision to
plant a church there as well to reach the very poor
neighbourhood around them.
   That morning I was reading in the english
newspaper for the area that "another" child had died
of electrocution in the area. It turns out that
impoverished people will hook up wires to the power
poles in a neighbourhood and run them to their houses.
So sometimes a child will encounter the wires in or
around the houses and get electrocuted. It happens
once a month in the neighbourhood of Rosarito. While
we were at the orphanage I noticed a couple dozen
wires coming off of the main power pole line and going
in a number of ddirections. Some folks had put up
makeshift "poles" to run their wires along the street-
others just ran them on or under the ground. Some I
saw had several parts that had been connected together
and covered with electrical tape. A tragedy waiting to
happen... The orpahanage is the only place there that
legitimately gets power, the rest of th eneighbourhood
siphons it off... Power is extremely expensive- It can
run up to $60-$70.00 / month for basic power. and at
$1.00/ hour as a good factory wage, most poor folks
can't afford it...

  The second place we went to was the Ensenada
Outreach Center about 1 1/2 hours south of Tijuana. It
was an incredible drive down the ocean with views over
the oceanside cliffs. We stopped at one beach to let
the boys run and feel the big winds and see up close
the 6-8 foot waves crashing offshore. It was like a
sandblaster though...

  At Ensenada we got a chance to speak briefly with
the directors. they run a 160 bed facility on 2 or 3
properties. They lead teams into the outlying villages
for ministry with the Native Indian people who live
and work in the factory-Farm fields. They build
roughly 100 homes /year there and have planted several
churches and also run a kindergarten and feeding
program for the children. It is quite a place and
quite a ministry.

   The next day found us crossing "La Linea" ( border
). What a contrast. To get into Mexico is a formality
to get into the US is a 40 minute + wait with a list
of questions. We made it through fine and the Customs
dude was even friendly- that wa sa surprise...!!

    We are finished the 2nd of 3 days journey and the
van is holding up well. The weather has been great and
except for about 20  miles of high elevation driving
with caked Ice on the roads on the Idaho / Montana
border. The inevitable traffic Jams in Las Vegas have
been about the only other driving snag yet. Tomorrow
is Canada and, Lord Willing, Home.

     Thank you so much for your prayers, please
continue on as we travel one more day and as we begin
looking for our support team that God is going to be
putting together for us.

      God bless and Keep you all~!

Mike, Shar and boys in Butte Montana ( pronounced Bee-
yute)!!