Team Pics

I couldnt find Nina's mexico pic. So here is this one.

Day 5- Nesrine (Nina)

Today, like everyday, was amazing! This whole trip in general has been such a huge blessing for us all to let the LORD break us, use us, and lead us. We got to go to this huge hill with a cross on the top and it was awesome. It was so amazing to just fellowship, worship, and seek God's face up there. I could really feel God's presence today, and in the whole trip in general. I wish all of you could somehow experience what we have this week, because it was quite life changing and awesome. Just having God work through us to spread His love here and having Him open our hearts was incredible. I think it is going to be pretty weird going back home, at least for me. I'm really going to miss Tijuana and all the people here, but at the same time, I'm praying that God will fill me up with a passion to serve Him everywhere I go. I'm praying that God will continue to fill us up with His amazing and unfathomable love and that we will not lose sight of what we have experienced here. God's love is amazing and He has blessed us all so much. I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of this trip, and I'm already excited to go next year, if it is God's Will.

much love,

Nesrine (Nina)

Day 5 - Adrian Lozoya

today was a real passionate day for us and our journey with God. we woke up early headed out to one of the guys in charge of spectrum house. hung out for a while pulling weeds. then hiked up a huge mountain,had horrible plants and bushes that would cut you up. we also had to carry a rock that represented a sin we have that we want to leave behind on the mountain top. once on the mountain we shared encouragement to one another and took communion we sung songs of worship and said what our sin was that the rock represented. sang more songs of worship prayed and then we hiked down the mountain, i got some more scrapes and cuts. we spent about three hours on that hill top. it was all for God.

Day 4 - Jacob Phan

day four in the mexican prisons today i met a rat who has been stealing my bread while i am sleeping. he made good company and good dinner. just kidding about the rat. i woke up to tonys stupid ring tone and went to prepare for the bath house. we went to the market where i ate fish tacos. too bad it was the last of my money. hee hee. then we set off for the bath house where there were families lined up already. the kids were very happy and thankful for being washed even if it was with cold water that was dirty after the first kid and hearing scott thomas trying to talk to the kids. we had to tell him the same word like ninety times and it was so they could stand up and leave.WOW. jota ka (means jk in spanish scott) then we handed out food to the families. it was very sad because this food would not even be enough for two days at my house. it was also sad telling the women that we had ran out of food. but it was amazing seeing Von running around at eighty being a light to the kids and myself. then we headed off to dinner after schooling the locals in soccer thanks to justin flavel. since i ran out of money i just took some food from the kitchen thats why im in prison. at dinner i talked with aaron who is the director of spectrum ministries. i found out that our back rounds are very similar having good christian parents playing rugby and having a serving heart. we talked for a long time it really showed how much he had given up to follow Jesus. we then went back to dorms where we listened to aaron speak about spectrum and what they do. then we chillaxed till our meeting where talked about our highlights and crazy love. if i hear any comments of my grammar they WILL BE DELETED. love you mom dad and thats it. just kidding sydney too.

Day 4 - Heidi

Hey today was totally fun at the bath house. All of the little girls were sooooo greatful for just getting their feet and hair washed. It struck a chord in my heart because i usually take a hot shower every day or every other day for like 30 minutes and these girls haven't had a bath in like three weeks. These girls were willing to stand in the hot sun for like an hour or two just to get their hair and feet washed, and they had a smile on their face the entire time. It was so cool to see how God is working in the lives' of the men and women in Spectrum ministries. These men and women are literally willing to do anything for these kids and that is just the coolest thing to see. Well that is pretty much it. btw mom i lost your camera sorry :-(

Day 3-Jacob Maul

Today in Mexico we went to the orphanages and it hit me hard how much I take for granted. I met this kid in the second orphanage his name was Ryan he was showing me his bed and how he had more blankets then everybody else and it showed me how much we don't notice the small things he was excited about the necessities and we don't even think about those things. Ryan and I believe was a very content kid he loves God he told me and he love playing with the Americans, he also told me that he LOVES chips he would eat any kind of chips i gave him. I also got this kid his name was Jesus i was helping him stay focused and eat his burger but he was so happy and we couldn't sit still and he was playing with the other kids instead of eating his lunch.

After the orphanage we went to the trenches and got to give food to the people down deep in the trenches and visit them see how they live. The people that we visited had tiny houses the size of a shed and there was at least four people in each house and then it made me feel bad about having so much and it made me feel like I wanted to give it to them and trade lives with them for a while just for them to see what it is like to live how they live.

Day 3- Cheyenne Moscoso

Zach and Nina playing soccer with some of the boys at the orphanage.

Jazzi with a girl from the orphanage

Rachelle with some of the girls in their room

Some of the girls helping prepare food to serve to the kids

Today was just amazing! We went tot the market today. We went shopping and ate fish tacos, it was amazing too! After the market, we went to the first orphanage and the people were just awesome. I get to hang out with the kids and share God's love to them. The kids were really sweet and I just love hanging out with them. After the first orphanage we went to our second one. It was different because most of the kids were just so young and the place was kind of unorganized than the first one. But it's amazing how God's love was just overflowing and it was just really cool to get to hang out with the kids even though they didn't talk that much, we were able to unite with them by God's love for each and everyone of us. When we went to the trenches it was just so humbling and when I saw that they were so content with everything that they have even though they didn't have everything. I think it encourages me to be more content with what I have and not to be selfish. I just thank God for showing me how His love is just unfailing and true.

Day2-Carly Donohue

Today was AMAZING!!! I could really feels God's presence while we were working on the house. There were soo many people who I was encouraged by it just made me want to work even harder. Like some of the people from the team were shoveling dirt and a couple of kids from the house that we were building came to help us shovel and it was just an encouraging moment for me. So far this trip and God are changing my life in so many ways that I wouldn't even expect. This such an eye opening experience for me and I can't wait to see what the Lord has for me for the rest of the week so then I can share this life changing experience with the people at my school, my neighborhood, and in life.

Just keep praying for me that God will show is Love and Beauty to me and that I will remember before I get up in the morning is to always think of Micah 6:8 which says "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord has required of you? Love justice, do kindness, and walk humbly with Him." Just keep praying that before I get each morning here and at home that this verse will come to my mind. THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!!

Day 2, trampoline day- Jared Rohrer

Today was a blast!

A quick recount of the day, we got up at 7ish (bleh), then we all ate and got loaded into the vans and shipped off to our site where we proceeded to build not one but TWO houses during that day!! Praise God! During the building we all got a lot closer, some of us got to hang out with the kids and get to know them by playing with the little kids toys with them, and playing soccer with the older ones.

Me Zach and justin (Flavel that is) got together with about 7 of the kids in the neighborhood and played (more like got schooled in) soccer with them for about an hour and a half! Seeing the families faces and how grateful they were after we were all finished was so rewarding. Just knowing that we got to minister and show them Gods grace is what this is all about.

Afterwards we got back here and had some super taco ( the best thing ever...but better). And after that we got to get in depth with each other and learn about what we all learned throughout the day, we did this thing where we all said a word that described the day for us.

Here are the names of the people and the words they said.

Adrian Lozoya-fellowship

Breanne "the shadow" Williams- testing

Carly "Weapon X" Donohue- eye opening

Cheyenne Moscoso- Blessed

Courtney Maul- Worthwhile

Dylan "Mexico" Rohrer- Unique

Heidi Jourgenson- Different

Jacob Maul- Work

Jacob "squeaks" Phan- Draining

Jared "Scorpion" Rohrer- Witness

Jazzi "Poka-dot-dot" Lindsay- entertainment

John "asbestus" Miller- Fun

Juleah Kenny- Blessed

Lexi Wilson- Humbling

Mary Lindsay- Overwhelming

Morgan Jandreau- Thankful

Nina Majzoub- Blessed

Payton "Rocket" Thomas- Humbling

Rachelle Balella- Grounding

Tim "Doc" Moscoso- Fun

Zach "Rose" Schubert- Fun

Cliff Maul- Poverty

Jennifer Maul- Blessed

Ryan Maul- blessed

Justin Nunes- Grateful

Stephanie Nunes- Emotional

Justin "Yellow ninja" Flavel- Great

Linda Barngraff- Humbling

Maribel Lozoya- United

Scott Wilson- awe

Tony "bubbles" Tiemann- Fire

Today was eye opening for everyone and we can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the week.

This is Jared Rohrer, signing off.

Thank You-Rafael Lopez

Dear Friends and Parents, I want to thank you for having faith in the staff at Parkway Community Church for sending your kids with them, because I know that the media has portrayed the border town of Tijuana as a very violent place to be, due to the drug cartels. I thank God for putting in your hearts, the courage to send your kids here and for having faith in God that your kids will be safe here in the Spectrum Dorms. Our faith lies on Jesus Christ who is the rock.

may His face shine upon you all and may His blessings fill you to overflowing,

Spectrum Ministries.

To Him be the Glory!

Gracias

-Rafa.

Day 1 of Mexico Experience- John Miller

We met at the church at early o'clock, and I was immediately reassured in my decision to come on this trip. If not for anything else, I love these people.

The bus ride up was not very eventful. There was a lot of very loud singing, and dancing, and sleeping, and laughing. We listened to Crazy Love chapter 7 on the audiotape, which I thought was a nice method. I felt like we all opened up and shared what was significant in the chapter, and it's very reaffirming to know that I am not going through this journey alone. Many of my peers are struggling with similar things and we are all learning together.

Breakfast and lunch were standard for these trips--nothing terrible unordinary to report.

When we got to Mexico (this is my first time here), I got really excited to be here. I thanked God for this opportunity, and I hope that I continue to pray for His will constantly throughout the rest of the trip.

Dinner was a lot of fun. Some of the Spanglish was hilarious, like "six tacos and dos drinks." I had a taco with tongue.

We did some worship, and I felt like we gave the worship up to God. Then we discussed the journals we did today (about obsessions), and a lot of people seemed to open up, which was refreshing and comforting. Finally we got ready for bed.

I'm feeling overwhelmed with gratefulness with what God has given me and motivation to apply what I'm learning to my everyday life. I pray that He will change our hearts and actions.

Day 1 of Mexico Experience- Lexi Willson

At 5:30 this morning, our Mexico team departed to Tijuana, Mexico with heavy hearts ready to serve our God. There are a few memorable moments from this trip I would like to share with you all...

--At around 7:30 this morning one of our vans' tires blew up as we were driving on the freeway. Tony had to drop all of us that were in his van off at a nearby Starbucks so he could attend to the blown up tire. The tire was fixed, and within the next hour we were on the road.

--As we reached the border, two of our vans were stopped by border control. After we stopped, they proceeded to go to the back of the van, open the door and check things out. After that, they asked the driver of the car questions such as, what are you doing in Mexico and how many people are present in the car. After the questions were answered, we continued on with our journey Tijuana!

--This is my first year in Mexico, so I experienced my first taco at Super Taco. Some of the students thought it would be funny to play a "freshman" joke on me. Before I was going to pay, I was told that I could not pay in dollar bills and I was supposed to exchange my dollar bills for pesos when we were getting our insurance before we reached the border. Because this is my first time in Mexico, I did not know any better and believed them wholeheartedly. They had me going for maybe 5 minutes when suddenly they all started bursting out in laughter and I realized that I had just been tricked. Nevertheless, it was a very fun time and I felt very welcomed.

We thank you all for your prayers and support during the preparation of this trip! We just ask you to please to continue to pray for us throughout the week for our safety, to be as selfless as possible, and for us to having serving hearts, and to help spread the good Word of Jesus Christ!