Naco Mission Trip Day 5

Well our final day in Naco is coming to a close. There is so much to share and so much to praise God for. No words can express exactly what God has done on this trip. Our hearts have been moved in such a way, that we will never be the same. God has answered so many prayers, big and small. He is so faithful to us. God is able to do more then we could imagine or hope for.

The devil had tried many ways to discourage us from coming. We were told by so many people to not come to Naco. 'It's too dangerous' and 'There is so much violence there!' All of us were told these things. In the airport, a random lady told us that we were crazy for coming to Arizona. To alleviate the fears, the most dangerous thing we've come into contact with was probably a couple of jalapenos from Tim's garden. There was no violence, riots, gang wars, or even grumpy stares. We've been treated like family from everyone we've met. Even the border guards have been fun.

I don't say this to make people think there is nothing going on around the Mexico border. The El Paso border is rather violent currently. Be in prayer for the area. That is hundreds of miles away from here. Even eating in Mexico twice, it has been a wonderful experience.

I write that to say this: if we had not come. If we had not counted the cost, and came on faith anyway, despite fears, this week would never of happened. If this week had not happened we never would have made such wonderful friends. We would not have had some of the most intimate worship times in my memory. If we had not come, we never would have been blessed by these people. If we had not come, the children of the villages would not have come together to play. If we had not come, they the children would not have come. And if those children had not come, EIGHT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED. Eight children, now are part of the family of God. Eight children came to play soccer and toss a frisbee, now eight children will forever be with God.

What is that worth? How 'dangerous' is too dangerous when it comes to the souls of the lost? Blessedly, we did not have to struggle with those worries this trip. Yet it is the question all Christians must deal with. I love the comfort of my own home and life. It's safe. Yet God's command to go and make disciples must override my desire to be comfortable. If you find yourself reading this blog, would you be willing to go if you felt God leading you out of your comfort zone? I pray you would would desire to see all people come to know the One who loved us enough to die. I pray, I would love Him enough to die to myself.

Thank you for your prayers. Know that God has been so faithful.

Naco Mission Trip Day 4

I had been waiting for last night to happen all week. In fact we had been praying for last night for some weeks now. We discussed with Pastor Tim what he wanted us to do here in Naco, one of the main things he asked for was for us to do a service on Wednesday night. So we have been in prayer, hoping people would come out and that God would use our meager gifts to make a difference. Our prayers were heard.

While we worked hard yesterday, digging up bamboo, mowing, digging up weeds, etc. We were focused on what God might do at the service. At first it seemed that not too many people were going to show up, but we've also discovered time is a little more fluid down here, starting times don't exactly mean you start right then, but sometime around then. But the church ended up being full by the end of the service.

A group of young boys started off the service, they are from Cuahtamoc, and lead worship at the church there. It was only in Spanish, but it was so good! They played a couple songs we knew the English version of, and the last song they did was one where basically everyone did a dance. It was so fun and freeing, to not be too proud or embarrassed to dance for the Lord. Basically, all the people for Cuahtamoc went to the front of the church and led in the dance. When we get the video uploaded I'll post, as you do not want to miss it.

We then took a break, got our instruments set up. I (Brett), then moved to preach with Mario who translated for me into Spanish. I can honestly say, I was more nervous walking up to preach then I have ever been before. I so wanted to be used by God, but the last thing I wanted was the words to be of and from me. I preached out of Psalm 62:5-8, and asked them two question spaced through out the message: What do you hope in? And, why do you not trust God? I brought out Romans 8:37-39, nothing can separate you from God, so why trust in anything else?

I gave the invitation and our group moved up to lead in the invitation and more worship. Hannah sang Revelation Song and Hosanna, which if you know the songs and what they say about God, will break your heart if you mean what you sing. If you make those songs a prayer unto the Lord, you will feel God's presence, and we did. Jordan then took lead for From the Inside Out, How He Loves, and The Stand. God is always present, but God was moving in our midst powerfully. Some came to alter to pray, some people who mainly spoke Spanish were praising God despite not knowing what we were singing! They just knew God was working, so the only to do was to give Him praise for it.

We were touched and changed by God that night. I end with a section of the lyrics from one of the songs last night, I had been praying for these words to be true in us:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Naco Mission Trip Day 3

So I thought today I would upload some of my favorite pictures of the trip so far. We had an awesome day yet again. We learned some bible verses in Spanish, played soccer in the rain, ate some delicious pizza, got the van searched twice (wasn't a big deal if you've ever crossed the border), and finished with another time of worship and prayer. But please be in prayer today, the big service is tonight at 6:30, thats 8:30 central time. But till then here are some of my favorites.

Naco Mission Trip Day 2

My apologies for the late post. It is morning of our third day, and we are beginning to get up and prepare for our second day into Mexico.

Yesterday was by all accounts amazing, for a few different reasons. God answered a major prayer request with a passport issue. By God's grace and mercy, we have gotten it worked out, and our whole team got to go into Mexico (and come back) without issues.

Secondly, the rain. That's right, rain. In the desert. In July. It's actually something like monsoon season out here. And it POURS the rain, as often as it wants, and it wants to pour everywhere. Yesterday it rained all over the place, except the two villages we were at! At the second village we finished up and drove to the main road a few hundred yards away to find that it had rained so hard it had washed debris out onto the road and covered the road up with standing water. Yet barely a drop had fallen in the village.

The children were amazing at the villages of Cautahmec and Zaragoza (which I destroyed the spelling of). These children have already touched our hearts and we have such a burden to see God move and work in their lives. Please pray as we return to be Christ to them, loving them unconditionally. We sang with them, played games, and taught some Bible to them. We return to do it all over again today, in about 30 minutes actually.

Finally we have had some of the most moving and authentic times of prayer and worship together. Each night we gather together and have a devotional time. Each person leads it one night, and speak whatever is on their heart. Sunday night we ended up having worship for around an hour. Last night we each took time and genuinely prayed for each other. These times have been so sweet our to souls. God is alive and he is moving here in Naco. Please continue to pray for us, as we have far to go before this trip is through, and we cannot wait to see all God has in store.

In case you've been wanting some pictures follow these links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=1509990018&aid=67121&s=0&hash=7811effb0ea2e4b8464cef431479dffd

Jordan has been taking and uploading pictures to Facebook for us.

Also here are some videos!

http://www.youtube.com/user/jdatnip21

Naco Mission Trip Day 1

Hello everyone back home,

we've successfully made our way to Naco, Arizona. We've survived full flights, the Houston airport, and the long drive to Naco. Allow me to say, it is breath taking out here. The hills, the mountains, colors, and even the distant rainstorm is a beautiful reminder of the creativity and work of our Lord. It's easy to forget how vastly different, yet wonderful, the places that God created.

I can also say with no exaggeration, we love it here. All of us. We already adore the people. So far we've made it to Naco, and this morning we had the privilege, and I do mean privilege, of worshipping with Naco Baptist Church. Our group hung out and taught the students during the bible study hour, and we played one song during church. Which was 'How He Loves'.

I was truly moved by the authentic worship, humble prayers, and fellowship that took place this morning. The presence of the Lord was tangible as we sang out in Spanish and English. During prayer time, the people lifted their prayers out loud. I was moved when I after the prayer time was over, and the next worship song had begun, I noticed multiple people still on their knees in prayer.

I believe this is the heart of the people of Naco, there are lost here. Many who need Christ. Many who are focused on fun and pleasing only themselves. There are hurting people. Lost people. But as we discovered, God is already at work here. Setting the hearts of his children ablaze with passion and love. We are honored and blessed to come along side the people of God here.

We ask that everyone would be in prayer for us this week, especially on Wednesday night. We are leading the service here, it's labeled a youth service, and I (Brett) will be preaching and we all will be leading in worship. We are asking God to do amazing things and change many lives that night.

Much more to come!