Back from Mexico

Well, we're back from Mexico. We arrived Monday around Midnight. We were gone for 10 days... I missed home, and my family but it was an incredible trip. We built 7 houses for some families with some incredible stories. It was sad to watch the immediate change when crossing the border and going from San Diego to Tijuana. It's one city divided by a border... on one side "the land of opportunity" on the other is poverty... divided by a line... It is always powerful to give and share our blessings in order to bless others. It changes us. It changed our youth. Numerous youth decided to follow Jesus for the first time, and many others came back to Him with a determination to follow him more closely in Calgary. Mission changes us, and brings us together.
It is interesting how we separate "church" and "missions" in North America... how we come together for the sake of coming together... But I have become more convinced that the community that God designed us for is a result of mission. Community for the sake of community eventually becomes shallow and dies... But when we share a common mission, people come together in community. And what if half of the point of missions is about us? It seems God has wired us that way. Blessing others is crucial part of God transforming us.
I'm excited for the life change that happened on this trip. But now the real work begins. Pray for me, and our leaders here at SunWest that we will follow up well with these Youth and that they would get connected in the busy life of Calgary.

MEXICO

So every spring break we head to Mexico for a Missions trip with our Youth... and spring break is almost here. We are leaving on Friday morning. We will be going down with about 115 people (84 being Youth). We go to Tijiuana Mexico which is just South of San Diego, CA. We are going to build 7 houses while we are there. This is very exicitng, but obviously this means things have been crazy busy. And I'm not that excited to leave my family for 10 days... but that's part of it all I guess. I am so excited about what God is going to do in the lives of these Youth. I always find it fascinating how Missions and Community walk hand in hand. Community is a result of mission. I can't wait to see the walls that the kids have put up come down and then to see them let Jesus into their lives, and let eachother into their lives.

Here is a glimpse of the chaos in this picture... This was our last meeting before we left.

As I sit here and write about missions I have Derek Webb playing in the background. So I'll leave you some lyrics of his, continuing in the spirit of missions:

Rich Young Ruler

(vs. 1)poverty is so hard to seewhen it's only on your tv and twenty miles across town

where we're all living so good that we moved out of Jesus' neighborhood

where he's hungry and not feeling so good from going through our trash

he says, more than just your cash and coin i want your time, i want your voice

i want the things you just can't give me

(vs. 2)so what must we do

here in the west we want to follow you

we speak the language and we keep all the rules

even a few we made up

come on and follow me,but sell your house, sell your suv, sell your stocks, sell your security

and give it to the poor

what is this, hey what's the deal i don't sleep around and i don't steal

i want the things you just can't give me

(bridge)because what you do to the least of these

my brother's, you have done it to me

because i want the things you just can't give me