Friday, February 28, 2020

Missions trips:

We have just all arrived back safe and sound from our missions trips to Vancouver and Mexico. We all had an amazing time and learned so much, God has moved in some amazing ways in the lives of our students over the past 2 weeks. 


On the Vancouver trip we were able to serve alongside a variety of established ministries on the downtown eastside of Vancouver. We served at New Beginnings Church doing work projects around the property helping with their church events and working with their after school program for at-risk kids in the indigenous community. 

We volunteered with Union Gospel Mission for a day learning about what is going on in the downtown eastside, and how to be a part of showing compassion to the marginalized. 

We were able to spend a week of our time in Vancouver at a mission downtown called Potters Place located in the hub of the homeless area in Vancouver where we ran two church services every day as well as prepped and served meals after each service. 


While we were at Potters Place each student was given the opportunity to share their testimony and a sermon they all did an amazing job sharing the Gospel from the mic. 



We were able to get out in the afternoons to do some street ministry handing out food to people on the street, chatting with them, hearing stories from them, inviting them to our services at Potters Place, and praying for them. It was amazing to see how bold our students were in these times each afternoon, stepping out to patiently and lovingly pray, or chat with people on the street. 


 After our time at Potters Place we finished the last few days of our trip back at New Beginnings Church working with their after school program as well as helping with their Sunday services.



We had an absolutely amazing time in Vancouver, we experienced God do some absolutely amazing things through the ministries that we were apart of during our time there. We are excited to be back reunited with the Mexico team back at Camp Qwanoes now. 



Continue reading to hear about the Mexico trip. 



The Mexico team partnered with Northernlight Ministries to serve alongside long-term missionaries that were settled in El Papalote.


We arrived in El Papalote after a long couple of flights and a 7 hour drive down the coast of Mexico. The next morning we toured around the area learning about the culture, landscapes, the typical life of a Mexican, and more. In the afternoon we began our construction project.


 As you can see in these pictures we worked on and finished all the metal framing and set up all the trusses for the roofing along with a roof for some of the apartments on Dwight and Sarah's property for incoming missionaries.


This construction project was a medical centre that we helped build throughout the entire time that we were there. We had four students as construction leaders leading our group. By the end, it will be a medical center able to provide jobs and health care for the locals around El Papalote. In less than two weeks we had accomplished a huge portion of this building that will soon be finished by other missionaries coming in after us.


Within the first week we also had a couple students lead a Valentines day ministry that provided a meal, cupcakes, games, and service for married couples around the town. This was a great break for many of the couples as they work very hard for their families.


On the first Sunday, we held a children's event at Nuevaera Church. The day before we walked around the town and invited the kids to the church. We cooked a pancake breakfast and played a few fun games with them along with a kid's church service. This was very impactful as most children start working or taking care of their siblings at even 3-8 years old. It was a time for kids to be kids again.



During the half way mark of our trip, our students ministred at the dump. Those who live there can only find food or water by digging through the empty bottles and trash on the ground. It was an extremely impactful experience for both us and those we met as we prayed for them, got to know them, and provide food and water for them.

We also held a youth night back at the Oasis. A few students shared their testimonies and another lead a short sermon. They cooked hotdogs over a camp fire and played volley ball late into the night.


We also had the opportunity to climb a volcano while we were there and explored a nearby beach.



Our last children's event was held on the last sunday we were there. After church we simply held a campfire event again and ate a mexican hotdog lunch together with the whole church.

This is just scratching the surface of what happened in Mexico. Our team experienced very hard, challenging, and uplifting, exciting moments together. We also grew so close as a team with the Holy Spirit and Mexicans. The type of relationships we built there were longlasting. They had taught us so much that we will never forget. So we say to you, as we learned from them... "Dios le bendiga" (God bless you).

Prayer requests:
- For the students to be able to process and share well what they have experienced
- For the students to take what they have experienced and let that impact their daily lives in the way they follow Jesus.
-  Prayer for one of our students James who tore a ligament in his ankle during the Mexico trip.
care about school.
- Motivation for the students in their classes and studies.




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