I got a call from Adam earlier this evening but the connection was terrible. He said he would call back later but I’m getting ready to go to bed and he hasn’t called yet. I will update in the morning if he does end up calling tonight. Sorry I don’t have any news for you…

This morning the team went to church. It was a 3 1/2 hour long service. The sermons was a “Father’s Day Sermon” as Adam put it. The team sang two songs- How Deep the Father’s Love was one of them. I couldn’t understand the other one he named. He said that he received a snickers bar for being a dad. I wasn’t at church in Jacksonville today-what did Doug give out? No one got anything at church here in South Carolina. They also did some sword drills and reciting of Bible verses that the pastor gave them chocolate for. Sounds like a good time to me!

After church the team went to Christo Rey. A lot of people go there to pay penance for their sins. It is so sad that the gift of life is FREE and so many people miss it completley. The team got to divide into groups at pray at the statue. Adam said it was a great time.

When we talked the team had just had dinner and was getting ready to have a meeting. After their meeting they were going to go up onto the mountain by camp and have a time of worship and watch the sunset. I think the team was excited about this. Adam said that everyone is healthy- and got a great nights sleep last night.

Tomorrow morning the team starts construction on the camp. In the afternoon they will invite kids from the town to come for camp. I know that a lot of the team that was returning from last year were really excited to reconnect with the kids they met last year. We can pray for continued growth in those relationships, and for the new kids and new team members- that they would develop those as well. I know the team wants the kids to experience the love of Jesus through their interactions!

The sermon here in South Carolina today was on Pslam 1. The pastor asked the question- “What is it that you delight in?” “What is it that influences you?” I am so encouraged that so many high schoolers delight in the Lord and let HIS word influence their lives. This trip is proof of that to me.

I hope that each of you had a wonderful, restful Sunday! I hope those of you that celebrated Father’s Day had an enjoyable one! Adam sent a “Happy Father’s Day” from the team back to the Dads! This is Adam’s second Father’s Day as a dad- and it is his second Father’s Day in Mexico with your children- who I know he cares for  and loves as his children as well. I am so thankful and grateful for a father to my child that loves the Lord more than us- and wants to sanctify us with the Word. I am thankful that he seeks the Lord in the decisions he makes for our family. I am thankful for his faithfulness to us and to the Lord. I am so blessed that he desires to use his life to expand God’s kingdom in high school and college students in Jacksonville, FL, and in all the world in whatever way God wants to use him. Hope you all have a wonderful night…

Adam called tonight and said their day went really well. They started off their day with breakfast and quiet time.  Then they took 3 hours to do the prayer walks. They did an hour in each spot: 1. the camp 2. the village and 3. on top of a mountain overlooking Guanajuato. He said the students did a really good job with it- and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Then they had lunch and their cultural training. After that they just had some time to hang out. They were going to have their first debreifing time tonight. I know last year these were really powerful and beneficial times. Pray that this year would be the same!

Tomorrow the plan is to attend church (in the village I believe) and then head to Christo Rey. They went to this place last year as well. I remember hearing last year about how much of an impact it had on the students and leaders. So many people come to the statue for worship- and it was heart breaking for the team to see how lost these people are. Pray that their hearts would be broken for the people- and their need for the Gospel. Tomorrow night the team will head up to a little mountain outside of camp to watch the sunset, and have a time of worship I believe.

Adam says that everyone is “healthy, happy, and having a great time.”

I drove to North Carolina today to visit with my family while Adam is gone. This was the first time I’ve traveled this far with Matthew by myself since he has enjoyed moving around. I also traveled with our dog Annie for the first time ever! Both did a wonderful job- Matthew didn’t whine ONCE! Much thanks to the friends who let us borrow their DVD player for the car. With Veggie Tales and an endless supply of animal crackers Matthew was satisfied.

I did miss Adam a lot though traveling alone! It was a good time for me to pray in solid blocks of time for the team. I was listening to the Passion CD from this past year as I drove. The songs speak so much truth- and are so encouraging to me. I’m so thankful for God’s purpose- and that is all about Himself. I’m also so very thankful for a husband who wants that to be his purpose as well- and is willing to sacrafice to see that goal met- not just to talk about it. Putting action to his words. I am a blessed girl. I am also very very thankful and grateful for you parents who have let your children go to obey God’s command to go into all the world. I’m beginning to understand how hard that is as Matthew grows up. But I pray every single day that I would leave Matthew in the center of God’s hand because that is so much safer than what my arms can protect him from. I pray all the time that Matthew will be a world changer for Jesus- no matter what cost that will be to me. I can’t imagine a higher calling for my son. Thank you so much for setting aside fear and concern and letting your children be DOERS of the word. You will have blessings in Heaven for this. Thank you so much.

Adam asked for prayer for the things they will be doing today. They will be doing a prayer walk through the town and camp in preparation for their time there. They did this to close out their time last year and it was a powerful thing for everyone. I know God wants to make His name more famous among the individual people our team will come in contact with. Be praying prayers towards that end-because it is the only thing that matters. HIS glory is the goal. I am praying that the team will experience fruit of that in a powerful way!

The team will also be receiving cultural training from a RUF (Reformed University Fellowship-a Presbyterian college ministry) guy that is there right now. Pray that this education will make our team more effective in their work.

The other thing the team will be doing is preparing for their time of ministry.

I will keep you updated as I get information. I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday. Please also remember in prayer our Bahamas and Ukraine trips as they also leave this weekend.

The 2nd team is landed and on the bus. They are on their way back to camp. Adam said he will call me when they get back. I hope everyone feels more at ease now and can sleep peacefully. I will post later if there is more to update.

Just a quick note to say the 1st team is at camp safely! The flight went well Adam said. I’ll update again when I get a call about the 2nd team.

Mexico 2011 Flight Itinerary

Group A (19 people):

June 17

AA 323                  depart JAX 7:25a              arrive DFW 8:55a

AA 3275                depart DFW 9:50a            arrive BJX 12:10p

June 27

 AA 3286               depart BJX 1:00p              arrive DFW 3:30p

AA 574                  depart DFW 6:45p            arrive JAX 10:05p

Group B (19 people):

June 17

AA 1147               depart JAX 2:35p              arrive DFW 4:15p

AA 3285                depart DFW 5:30p            arrive BJX 7:50p

June 27

AA 3340               depart BJX 6:20a               arrive DFW 8:50a

AA 310                  depart DFW 10:30a          arrive JAX 1:50p

DEW PONG TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A 6:30 START TIME AND A 10:00 END TIME!

Here is the 2011 Dew Pong Outreach Sign Up Sheet.  Turn in ASAP.  It goes from 5-9 in the Shop and is free.  Just bring your own Dew!

2011 Dew Pong Sign Up