Viva!

Imagine 75,000 people, passionate about their country, 10,000 flags waiving in the air, patriotic music playing in the background, building a crescendo until the entire crowd screams at the top of their lungs, "Viva Mexico!" That is what we experienced last night as we took part in Mexican Independence festivities in Tijauana. This amazing combination of sites and sounds was then followed by a fireworks display rivaling Red White and Boom in Columbus. This was el grito, or the cry for independence that traditionally begins the Independence day. We likened it to a combination of New Years, 4th of July, and Mardi Gras. It was amazing.

The team all arrived safely yesterday with little delay or complication. Martin and Phil almost missed a flight in Newark, but God intervened and the airline pulled the tunnel back to the terminal for them. I (Jon) arrived at 11:00 PST, and Jack and Rosa Churchill picked me up and brought me to home base, their house just south of San Diego near the border. Kurt Miller and Tony Webb are also on our team for this trip. We have all started to bond and develop team work and strategies for future work together.

Last night, we drove to Tijuana and met with 2 pastors from churches there. They and their families accompanied us to the celebration. We greatly enjoyed spending time with them, getting to know them, and encouraging them in the Lord. Martin and Jos are working hard there in secular jobs as well as in the ministry. Pray for them and their families as they blaze new trails in Tijuana building churches there.

Today we leave for San Luis Rio Colorado (SLRC), where we will be giving a dinner celebration for the local pastors and their familes. We'll spend the night there and participate in the local church service. Kurt is preaching tomorrow, and I get to help with A/V duties. We'll return tomorrow night to home base. Monday is our busiest day as we'll be heading to Tecate and Baja California.

Pray for safety for us. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people we meet. Pray for our health, as we'll be out of control of food over the next few days. Pray for Kurt as he prepares for the message in SLRC tomorrow. Pray that the people we minister to tonight will feel the love of God through us.

For God so loved the world, that He sent is only Son, so that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16