Summer Update

‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked’.

‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’. Jesus of Nazareth

What a transformative year 2009 has been so far. As we started out, it appeared we would continue riding the wave of momentum & growth we had been experiencing for the past couple of years.

Yet as the state of our world changed, so would begin a re-shaping of ministry in Ensenada.

The first sign came as the global economy began to slow; not only did this have an affect on the teams coming to partner with us in Mexico, but it also was having an affect on the people & economy of Mexico.

Did you realize that on average, the 10 million immigrants in the United States send 10% of their salary to family in their home country. And this “remittance” makes up 50-80% of the income for the recipients. This amounted to $26 billion for 2007-2008.

How has the downturn in the US affected these families?

Then the reports of violence escalated in the media. No one will discount that there has been an increase of violence in Mexico over the past couple of years, which is fueled by the US appetite for illegal drugs. This demand for drugs in the US is the source of billions of dollars per year equipping the drug cartels. Additionally, 90% of weapons seized in Mexico have been traced to the US (gun sales are prohibited in Mexico).

How are we impacting the families of Mexico?

Then the Swine Flu! Crippling the local tourism industry in Baja California. All cruise ships were diverted (for a couple of months) from Ensenada to San Diego, which didn’t make much sense since there were a number of Swine Flu cases in San Diego but none in Ensenada!

What message are we sending to the families of Mexico?

The result of these events; 1,000 fewer people are coming to the EOC to minister to families in Enesenada. 37 families who were scheduled to receive a home in 2009 will not. Countless opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to a hungry, helpless & hopeless world are missed.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest IF we do not give up!

You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion

No one has ever seen God; BUT IF we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, AND for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

By now we are most of the way through our summer season. What an incredible season it has been. The fruit has been plentiful.

Those who have come have really known why. They have stepped out in faith, trusting God, and He has shown up! He has been seen in the communities of Ensenada.

Villages have witnessed the the love and person of Jesus as His body has come together to become his hand’s & feet.

The joy realized by those who have come has been profound. Transformative even.

But probably the most significant transformation we have witnessed this year is the growth & maturing of the local church in Mexico.

Pray with us for a continued softening of our heart’s & opening of our eye’s, as well as wisdom. We continue to seek first His Kingdom, and believe that as we are faithful, transformation will flourish in Mexico. We believe that along with the proclamation of Jesus’ gift of salvation, He brings compassion & justice.

But the race is not finished yet. Will you persevere with us? Will you consider offering part of yourself for this mission?

What are you willing to give for the sake of Jesus and His message, in Mexico?

Ana, Naomi & I were fortunate enough to fly from San Diego to Chicago for a week long visit with our dear friend and former intern Janell.  Along with enjoying the sites in Chicago (which Ana stated is now her favorite US city), we spent 26 hours in the car visiting relatives in Nebraska & South Dakota.

Enjoy a few photos from the trip.  (This was our first flight as a family; great going, "vomit comet" returning:)  Continued thanks to Rhonda for lending us her dvd player so Naomi could enjoy Dora the Explorer in flight!

Walking by faith

I have to admit I have been feeling a bit down lately.  I have previously expressed some of the difficulties we have been experiencing this year (in the ministry), and my tendency to carry this burden.

Additionally our personal support has been falling.  [Mind you we have never been at a point where our core group has felt like we have had an adequate cushion]  Back in April I stated to our core group that Ana, Naomi & I could get by on less; so starting this month we are receiving about 40% of what we have been regularly receiving to cover our living & travel expenses.  Which should be just enough to cover our food & Naomi’s expenses.  Our insurance is already paid (just last month we paid for the whole year up front in order to receive a discount) so we should be fine.

When I compare ourselves to many of the people we are here to help, I can’t help but feel overly blessed.  We have a roof over our heads, we have access to clean water (hot water too) & food on the table.

Yet I still struggle with doubt and listening to my human nature.  I still worry.  And unfortunately it shows.

And although I still get side-tracked with having a pitty-party, God still is good.  He still shows up, and still let’s me know he has called us to be with him here.

Case in point:

Yesterday was the monthly pastor’s prayer meeting here at EOC.  This is a gathering that pastor Abraham started last year.  Normally anywhere from 10 - 30 pastors will come.  They pray with & for one another, for the city, national leaders etc.  

I was home with Ana & Naomi around 6:30pm when Abraham knocked on the door, he said it was important that I go with him because the pastors wanted to pray for me (as the Director of EOC), the EOC staff & all YUGO teams that will come this year.

Not only were they wanting to pray for me, they were wanting to demonstrate their desire to take action as the body of Christ.  They had taken an offering, and wanted to bless us, and plant a seed of partnership with us.

THIS WAS HUGE!

Abraham & I have been praying for this for two years.  That the local church would grow from a position of receiving to a position of giving.

I was stunned at God’s timing and how he allowed this to unfold. How this happens while I am walking through a valley, doing a lousy job of trusting him.  He is still with us, though!

This is what I read yesterday morning with our staff:

God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith.  But if you are,  you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you.  (Oswald Chambers)

Oh, how I want to live a life of faith.  Trusting in His ways.  Willing to give up my rights.

Its so easy to say I trust in God when life is easy.  But when it gets difficult, even dark; do I really trust him?  Do I really live by faith?  

Maybe this summer I will learn how to walk the talk.

Thanks to all of you who pray for us.  We love you.

Scott

2009 Avia Wildflower Triathlon

So, you may have heard me tell stories of my first (Spint distance, mountain bike) Triathlon, five years ago.  Well last weekend Ana, Naomi & I drove north to Lake San Antonio (near Paso Robles, Ca) to camp in the rain (in leaky tents no less) so I could subject my less than conditioned body to another round of 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile (hilly) mountain bike, and 2 mile run (or walk in my case).

Enjoy the photo's of the weekend.

By the way, it's always great to return to an area where my family spent many of our summers growing up (we had a house at nearby Lake Nacimiento), I remember visiting the Bee Rock store for some Sasparilla after being on the lake.

This weekend inspired me to not wait another five years until the next Triathlon.  Ana said, "imagine how well you could do if you actually trained for it!"

Naomi's morning exercise

Spring Update

Spring Highlights:

We traveled as a family to visit friends in Tehachapi, Bakersfield, Fresno & Mexicali.  I (Scott) spoke at a Transformation Conference; visited churches in Fresno, Roseville & Memphis.  

We (EOC staff) hosted 21 Teams from 5 Canadian provinces & 4 US states (495 people) and built 30 houses (thanks go to our special guest staff during the Easter weeks: Mitch Caton, Bruce Wessels, Josh Weibe, Darrel & Rhonda Hewko).  

It has been a wonderful time of being with people of many nations who share a love for Jesus, their neighbor (who often is from a neighboring country), and being together in community.

This continues to be a year of focus: Why are we here? Who are we here for? What are we doing?  We keep coming back to the principle of people not programs.  We are here to Mobilize, Reach & Equip people.  We minister to Children, Families, Pastors, Communities & Teams.  We utilize various programs to be with one another, but we are here for people!

When it gets tough, when the road is long, we are able to persevere for the person.  We are keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, trying to walk the message we speak.  But I will tell you its not easy.

We have had two of our precious national staff leave over the past few months, due to the fact that they need a better source of income for their families.  That's hard.  Even though we are able to offer our national staff a decent wage (by Mexico standard), its not enough.  Our national staff earn around $3.75 an hour.  You might be shocked by that, but realize that 10,000,000 people in Mexico live on less that $2.00 a day & the national minimum wage is just $6.00 per DAY.  Not per hour, PER DAY.

So you can imagine that while there is a slowdown in the US economy, and we may have to make difficult choices as American's & Canadian's, there are people being affected whose lives were in a fragile state before this crisis started.  How many of us need to chose between which of our kids goes without eating today?  With our cancellations due to the Economy & media hype about violence, we have 35 families in our program waiting to receive houses, but likely won't this year.  Yes, countless more also need houses, but these are the families who were already selected, but as teams have cancelled, we have had to inform them that the situation has changed.

Imagine the position of the local pastor we are "Equipping".  After he has selected a family to receive a house, and we have approved them and filmed the interview.  Now we, along with the pastor have to return with the news of change.

Can you imagine this?  This is where we are this year.  Please keep us in your prayers.

I can tell you I need your prayers.  I can say that it is not easy living by faith.  Not knowing if people like you will continue to support us & our work.  Its not easy to focus my attention on the people who need it most; my family, my staff & the forgotten people of Mexico, when I am not sure how we will have enough to keep going.  

Please pray that we, that I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.

May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.  Consider him who endured such opposition, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12