#lhmex2019 - Saturday, March 23

the day at a glance:

4.00am - finally got settled.

11.30am - met for brunch.

2.00pm - team training

5.30pm - dinner

7.30pm - session

8.30pm - team time

The first day of these trips are always a little bit 'wonky.'  Everyone is all so exhausted from the days of travel.  Listening to the team tonight, a common theme of the happy moments of the last 24 hours, were the moments of finally being able to lay down in a bed.  Flat.  It was an absolute delight to see everyone this morning come out of their rooms and explore the YWAM base here south of Tijuana.  The sun was shining, palm trees swaying in the breeze.  Coffee was found. A volleyball game started.  Soccer was played.  A solid morning to recover.

After brunch, we met with both our teams (Trinity & LH) to begin some orientation and preparations for the ministry days ahead.  We heard a bunch of what life in Tijuana looks like for the locals.  It was neat to hear that many people in Mexico consider this area to be a place of hope, a place where jobs can be found, and where a chance to enter the USA can be found.  Our team got to hear that what we get to participate in here, is being a part of the realization of that hope - but a deeper hope - a hope that is found in the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Not just a city.  Not just a desire to enter the States.  Not just a job.

We broke off into our two teams to prepare some kids story ministry that we'll lead at separate orphanages tomorrow.  It was great to see our students step into those roles, rediscover stories in scripture, find their meaning, and develop a way to communicate scriptural truths to kids.

Dinner came and went, our first evening session was a great introduction to exploring our theme for the week, based in Isaiah 43:10 -

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord,

"and my servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

We'll spend a bunch of time looking at who we are, and who God is.  

Then we closed our evening as a team, by a fire that couldn't be lit, talking through the day.  

It's now 10.00pm, everyone is in their rooms, likely in the early stages of sleep.  It's been a long few days, and the days ahead are going to be jam packed.  

We thank you for your ongoing prayers.  For tomorrow, Sunday, can you pray for:

1. Open hearts as we attend a local church, and a spirit of understanding that we may be able to follow a long.

2. Compassionate hearts as we visit an orphanage.  They're really hard to visit, as the stories and lives of each kid are hard and ripe with pain.  We are only there for a few hours, but this is their home, and staff are there each and every day.  Pray that these few hours will be a blessing to the children and the staff.

Thanks & good night.

~ adam.

A few pics of our day:

^ Sunset this evening.  This really is a stunning campus.  It's such a privilege to call this home for a week.

^ Orientation & training this afternoon, led by Michelle.

^ A volley-ball pit.  It's a little scary with all the rebar, but it works. Many of us got a little unburnt in there.  *yes moms, we've now reminded everyone to get that sunscreen you packed for them all out of the bottoms of their bags and APPLY.