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March 24, 2025

Here is a summary of our time in Mexico

For those who like stats, as a team we accomplished...
  • Painting one large fellowship room
  • Painting a medium-sized room where all the Sunday school kids gather
  • Painting 3 Sunday school rooms
  • Painting several walls of the outside Hacienda, including a guest house
  • 19 cubic square meters of cement to pour into a 2000 square feet building inside
  • 12 cubic square meters of cement to pour into a 1000 square feet patio
  • 10 shutters cut, stained, assembled and hung with headers
  • 39 decorative tiles and glued into place
  • a whole of direct shovelled and moved with wheelbarrows
  • A total of 512 human work hours.
We are tired!  Saturday was a well-deserved break at the beach in San Carlos.  Hearing the waves and having some tasty sea dishes were welcomed.
We head out early tomorrow morning to cross the border into the United States and drive to Phoenix.  Please pray for a seamless crossing into the States.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.  We couldn't have done it without you!

March 16, 2025

Saturday started early with being at the Calgary airport by 5:30 am. All of us got through security and customs without a hitch. The flight was uneventful and all our luggage arrived with us.

The missionaries, Wade and Adele, met us with the mission van and off we went. 
The first stop was in Grande Casa to the famous "In-and-Out" fastfood hamburger place. 
On the way from Phoenix to Hermosillo, there are several military stops. These military men can appear very stern dressed in black and carrying very big weapons. When Wade said that the van contained 7 Canadians, the guard smiled and waved us on. At Kilometer 21, we stopped to get a visa to enter the country. The guard let us all go in at the same time rather than one by one.  The customs officer appeared friendly and allowed for the payment of the visas as one payment rather than one by one. He appeared quite delighted that he could stamp out Canadian passports.
The Lord was in these small details. It is important for us not to lose sight of even the small events in the workings of God.
Usually, the trip from Phoenix to Hermosillo takes about 6 hours. When we finally arrived, we were shown our sleeping quarters. Back in the van to go to the city square where there were vendors selling items, food trucks, and music. Yes, we were hungry!! 
We were introduced to Mexican hotdogs. Similar to something we would eat, but the hotdogs were wrapped in bacon and all kinds of toppings: onions, shredded cabbage, salsas, and sauces. After being up for such a great length of time, bed was looking pretty good.
Sunday: We had fish tacos for breakfast. Again, toppings included the cabbage, onions, different kinds of salsas and of course lime.
Some of us stopped at Caffeino for coffee. 
The people of the church are warm and friendly. As Pastor Paris prayed--Lord, they don't know English and we don't know Spanish but we know Jesus Christ. He is shared among the cultures.
After church we had a Carne Asada at the location where some work is being done by the team. We had true Mexican tacos. Perfecto! Again, despite some language incompatibilities, we managed to talk with quite a few people.
Tomorrow is a new day with tasks to do with a servant heart.

March 15, 2025

6:30 pm (7:30 pm for us)

We arrived safely in Hermosillo, settled into our rooms and meet with the missionaries to go over instructions for the week. 

It was a long day of travelling, yet we still headed out to experience the Mexican culture downtown. 

Arrived back at the church to get settled into the rooms for the night.

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6:30 am

At the airport ready to head out.

 

March 12th 2025

We are a few days away!  Most of us have already started to set aside items to be packed.    Wood products are often not used in buildings because of the termites.  Cement work and steel studs are what is required for these building projects.  We have already sent down the money that will be used to purchase building supplies and materials including paint.

Weather predictions show it will be in the low 30's for the week.  We aren't used to that!  Pray that we will be wise about working in the heat and making sure that we drink lots of water!
Thanks for journeying with us.

March 6th 2025

Our Westjet app says that we leave in 10 days!  It seems so surreal and yet the mounting "to-do" list is very real.

Our Team: 
Josh is the youth pastor at Mount Olive. In addition to the experience of being on a mission trip, this trip is also about Paris training him to be in charge of his team of youth for a future mission trip.
Nicole is the interim Children's Director at Mount Olive.  She has been on mission trips before and wanted to add to her experiences.
Hudson is a missionary kid and wants to give back in his own way.
Taryn is working at the local coffee shop here in town and also attends Mount Olive.  She felt that God wanted her to move beyond her comfort zone and experience missions.
Those are the young ones on the team.  Now, we move on to the more *ahem* vintage-era people.
Leslie has been to Mexico before and wanted an opportunity to help with the building projects using her skills.
Rob is eager to try his new-found love of Spanish as well as connect with some people that he met through the missionaries.
Paris and I have been to Hermosillo before and felt the urge to help in some tangible ways with the building projects.
Where we are going:
We are going to Hermosillo, Mexico which is in the Sonora desert.  It is directly south of Phoenix.  We fly directly from Calgary to Phoenix on Saturday, March 15 where we will be picked up by the missionaries.  They will drive us across the border where we will get our Mexican visas and then on to Hermosillo.  On Sunday, March 23 we will drive from Hermosillo across the US border and into Phoenix.  We fly out from Phoenix on Monday, March 24.
What we will be doing:
We will be helping out with Iglesia Evangelica Libre Arbol de Vida.  It is an Evangelical Free Church plant from 1995. Over the years, it has grown and developed many types of ministries to serve its surrounding neighbourhood.  There is also the Hacienda Los Arboles Retreat Center where the church can host potlucks and baptisms.  This Retreat Centre will also be available to other surrounding churches from other denominations.
Specifically, we will be helping with the cement work on patios and sidewalks along with painting the walls.  
Our Schedule:
  • breakfast at 7:30
  • leave by 8:00 to the Hacienda (work site)
  • return by 4:30
  • Monday night--help put together the food hampers to help those in need
  • Tuesday night--will have some time to see the area as well as head up the local mountain to view the city
  • Wednesday night--help out with the children's ministry at the church
  • Thursday night--the young half of the team will attend a young adult event; while the older half of the team will be visiting with some of the missionaries and church staff
  • Friday night--visiting some of the church families
  • Saturday--a well-earned day at the San Carlos beach
What to pray for:
  • that we will be efficient with our packing
  • that we get all our paperwork in order so there are no troubles at borders
  • that we can cross the border smoothly
  • that we will gel as a team and work together with a servant attitude
  • for strength to keep up with this vigorous schedule!