Friends in Ministry

We had friends here for the last 2 weeks of January. We had a good time doing some sightseeing with them, doing some fun stuff, showing them a cross cultural experience and involving them in Ministry too.






Irvin, Mari and Leah Penner started in Ministry with a bang as we went out together to a "Spectrum Ministry" outreach. We went to one of Tijuana poorest urban colonias. Most of the folks in this area do not have running water so Spectrum Ministries goes out to the communities every few weeks with a team of Mexicans and Americans to bath the kids in hot water showers. After we got done setting up the canvas tents that would be our shower houses, Mari and Leah began working in the girls tents fixing the newly washed hair of the girls as they came through. Before that they had a lice check, treatment if necessary, a shower and then got to pick out nice new to them clothes and a treat/toy. After they were done, the parents picked out some food before they went home.

In the boys tent Irv got put to work right away washing the feet of the boys before they had their shower. I helped towel them off before they also picked out some clothes and went for a haircut.

It was a real eye opener to begin a week of culture shock and ministry!

As I was nursing a severe toothache, Shar took the penners down to an orphanage that we work with to meet the folks and hang out with the kids. The next week we went over to the US and purchased over $700.00 in groceries for the orphanage. Before they had come down, Leah (11) had organized a group of her friends to have a piano recital and coffee house fundraiser to provide forthe needs of the orphanage. They raised over $1000 CDN.




A few days later, we were able to purchase medicine, groceries and leave a cash donation as well so that they could purchase meat or anything else that they needed int he coming days.










After we handed out the groceries, Victor and Gabby (orphanage parents) invited us in to pray. I struggled to translate Irvs prayer and then Gabby prayed for us and thanked God for the provisions of their needs. Then the children all gathered around us and in a group prayer they all laid hands on the Penners and I and prayed for us- thanking God for His provision and praying for their protection and that He would double His blessings on all those who gave to help them out. It was a moving, tear-jerking moment as we stood there praying in two languages to a common Heavenly Father, understanding that we were all uniquely family- brothers and sisters in Jesus.

They spent a few days doing touristy-things in San Diego, blessing us by taking us out to SeaWorld with them!!











I took them out to see the Colonias where we work. It was after 3 days of rain so we struggled in the mud-bog, but had a good time playing in the dirt! We were again moved at the sight of extreme poverty. I was reminded of the need to pray for the families of this community as most have ramshackle homes and after 3 days of incessant, cold rain- sickness is not often far behind.






Afterwards, they still felt that the time at the orphanage was the best part of the trip. They hope to be able to come down next year as well and spend more time serving at the Vision B orphanage in Tijuana...

If you are interested in a Vacation with a Mission- let us know and we will help you facilitate a life-changing experience for you and your family!