Mexico Trip

Just got back from Mexico where I spent the last week doing outreaches in different towns in Baja. It wasn't a part of Cross Your Heart but I really wanted to share it with everyone, and maybe CYH can be more involved in the future. It was an amazing trip, so much to tell that it would be much too long of a blog post, so I'll try to do it in pictures. This is the edited down group of pictures:

Day1: 3am left San Diego and arrived at La Posada 1 (the church plant in Rosarito) around 4am.


Sunrise on the road through Baja.

Stopped for breakfast burritos (Christina and Miguel from Rosarito).


The bus. In all there were 14 of us. 7 from San Diego, 3 from Washington and 4 from Rosarito.


Pastor Jay with Victor (our driver, translator and all around guide).

Bathroom break.

Long bus ride...

Pastor Dave from Washington.

Dave's son - Dave 2, and Lisa also from Washington.

Permanent fixture behind a military checkpoint we were stopped at.

Stopped by the military but at least we got our passports stamped.

We arrive in Vizcaino and unloaded at Hotel Oliva.


Then we headed over to La Posada 2 (the church plant there). They just finished the main building earlier this year.

All the kids want their pictures taken.

The kids classroom, not finished yet.



Um, fresh fish tacos.

Sunset, a beautiful end to a very long day.

Worship.

Gary and Carrie run things in La Posada (I think Carrie was trying to tell me something when I took this, oops).



After a worship and a service from pastor Jay, we stopped a little restaurant. Us drinking Manzanna soda (apple soda) my favorite drink in Mexico.

Beans... yummmm.


Papas Rellenas (Mexican stuffed potatoes). It's a baked potato with butter, cheese, meat, corn and all the other good extras you want. Sooo good.


Day 2: On our way back to La Posada before heading to Santa Rosalia.

Sunrise.

Coffee, looks like this isn't Paty's first cup.

Churriso and egg burritos.

The trees in front of where Gary and Carrie live.

One of their dogs, he has such cool eyes.



They recycle wood for building.

Some of the shoes that were donated for us to give out.

Loading up the trailer with clothing, food and supplies.


On the road to Santa Rosalia.

Volcanic rock cliff.

Dormant volcano.


Not sure what body fluids, but we almost needed it for the next part of the drive.

This road is called "Cuesta del infierno" (Highway to Hell). It's a very steep, very narrow highway down a rocky cliff that drops down into the Sea of Cortez. It's, at the same time, freaky and beautiful.



Victor is a pro at driving this road.




Our first glimps of the Sea of Cortez.


Pulling in to Santa Rosalia. A hurricane tore through this area eariler this summer, and the destruction is still very visible.

Victor tells us that there used to be a gas station here.

We arrive at our hotel. It was a beautiful hotel overlooking the Sea.


After unloading the at the hotel we went to the harbor at Santa Rosalia to set up for the first outreach.
More evidence of the damage.


The plaza.



We painted faces and played games with the local kids.


Hot dogs!


We put on a skit.

Ezekiel, pastor of the church here in Santa Rosalia.


Dave gave the mesage.


It was very successful, and many people came forward!


Giving clothes to the mothers.

Then we served the food.
I was the ketchup and mustard man.


Mustasa?!



After the outreach we went to pastor Ezekiel's church.




Shrimp tacos, yummm.

Cow's head soup, and I mean every part of the cow's head...

Fellowship after dinner.


Day 3: Sunset looking out from the hotel patio.

The next outreach in Palo Verde, just south of Santa Rosalia.

Behind the plaza, an abandoned basketball court and playground.



The girls setting out all the clothing and supplies.







Pastor Tacho from Vizcaino.





Another amazing turnout.

Giving out toys to the kids.


Random free standing wall, complete with light and window.

After Palo Verde we had service at Pastor Fredie's church in San Burno.



After service we got on a boat and went over the the island of San Marcos (a small mining island just across from San Burno).

On the boat ride over we encountered some whale sharks, they got so close to the boat we could have touched them, it was amazing.



Check out this video Dave took of the shark.






The kids on San Marcos.

Burgers this time, ummm.




Sunset.

Another great turnout.


Day 4: Christina and Miguel from Rosarito ready to go.

First we went to pray over a mens home that pastor Ezekiel started to help recovering addicts. It was up on a hill in Sanata Rosalia.




After that we had some time to walk through the town and get lunch. Found a little cart selling seafood, some of the best and freshest seafood I've ever had.


Victor and I back in San Burno.

More frech seafood.

The local Catholic church.

Photoshoping yourself in with Jesus?

We had a little time to check out the beach before the outreach begain.





The plaza in San Burno.




Another awesome outreach.

The kids from Vizcaino... and Chester.

Pastor Ezekiel's daughter wouldn't let Kim go.

Day 5: San Ignacio.
This awesome little town in the middle of the desert has a natural spring creating an oasis.

Jelacio and Gary.


Of course the first thing we had to do was get lunch. This is my fish, shrip and clam platter.


Cathloic mission built in the late 1600's.



The town center.

The Lagoon.

Jelacio and I were the only ones who actually walked down to the lake. It was a long walk so we took a nap while waiting for the bus to come back.

A cowboy.

After leaving San Ignacio we went to the little town of Bonfil and set up for our last outreach.

Chester and I started a game of frisbee with the kids.

More face painting, by now they getting really good!





Paty gave her testimony.


After the outreach... more food at the church in Bonfil. Fish machaca and hand made tortillas.




Day 6: The last 2 days we got to relax a little on the Pacific side of Baja in a little beach outpost called Camp Rene.


Sea shells everywhere.

The locals.


The beach strechs for miles and miles with no one in sight.



Fresh clams, pick out of the sand right in front of our camping area.

Delicious steamed clams.
Clam ceviche (raw clams with lime juice and salsa).
Our humble dewelings.


The sand dunes on the way to the beach.


Sand dollars are everywhere.

Another local, the coyote.

Whale rib bone. This area of Baja is where the whales come to give birth in the winter.

It happened to be Kims Birthday so Victor's brother Daniel made her a cake out of sweet rolls and frosting.

And of course were in Mexico so we had to have a pinata.

Dave found a friend.

Day 7: our last "non-traviling" day, more time to hang out on the beach.

The water was so beautiful and you could walk out forever and only be up to you knees.

Found a huge clam.

This guy wanted to spar with me, but I'm a lover not a fighter.


Later that afternoon we all went down to the water to baptize Lisa.





One last shot of the amazing beach before packing up to head home.

Day 8: I didn't really take any pictures as we left at 3am to head home. Needless to say I slept most of the way back.

In all it was an abosultely amazing trip. Telling people the truth about God, Jesus and His love is something truley pure which can only bring joy. I know my eyes were opened and I gained wisdom, strength and great friendships. I encourge anyone who gets the opportunity to do something like this to not hesitate and get out there!