Easter Sunday

Resurrection Day is always a special time of remembrance. In Mexico churches typically have a sunrise service, directed by the women in the church, as the women were the first to hear the good news of Christ's resurrection. People wear white to remember Jesus in his glorified body. "Agua Viva" celebrated Easter with the traditional sunrise service, complete with special musical participations.

We then had breakfast together, followed by the worship service.

In this service we accepted

two women as members, one, Brenda, by baptism

the other, Alejandra, transfered her membership. We also celebrated the baptism of Alejandra's daughter, Imelda.

We concluded the celebration with the Lord's supper.

Thanks Oak Harbor CRC

Thank you Oak Harbor CRC, team 2011.

Store Fronts at "Principe de Paz"

The group from Oak Harbor also helped to paint the five store fronts at the "Prince of Peace" church. The stores are almost ready to rent out! The money raised will help to purchase property for more missions in Tijuana.

New Kitchen for Agua Viva

This spring a group from Oak Harbor CRC, (Oak Harbor WA) helped with building a kitchen for the "Agua Viva" Mission. This will be a great help as we have a potluck dinner the last Sunday of each month, as well as on several holidays. The kitchen was temporarily in one of the classrooms. The ladies are very excited to have a "real" kitchen. They showed their appreciation by providing dinner for the group one evening.

Thank you Denver Adults

Thank you Denver Adults for another job well done!

Denver Adults in San Quintin

This past week the adult team from 3rd CRC, Denver was with us in San Quintin, BC to help build the sanctuary building for the new mission "Cristo Vive" (Christ Lives). We arrived Monday at about noon. The team got started right away with making trusses and walls. By Thursday the building was framed, wired, and the shingles were on!

The group also decided to help a neighbor family with a home. Two families had been living in a temporary home made of old plastic and hose from the local greenhouses.

The team also helped to close holes and add support to the roof of another neighbor's home.

Mission Cristo Vive, San Quintin, Baja California

One of the Reformed Presbyterian congregations, “Cristo Vive” (Christ Lives) has been led to start a new mission in the town of San Quintin, Baja California, about four and a half hours south of Tijuana. San Quintin is an agricultural area that grows strawberries, tomatoes and other vegetables. There is a great need in this area for churches. There is also a need to help train other local pastors, and a Timothy Leadership Training is being planned for later this year.

Members from the “Cristo Vive” congregation have made numerous mission trips to San Quintin. They recently made the down payment for a property there. On March 18^th, men from “Cristo Vive”, the rehab center, and others went to San Quintin to pour the foundation for the first building on the new property.

Duncan Christian School

This week the senior class from Duncan Christian School in Duncan, British Colombia, have been with us on their class Mission trip. They have been busy pouring cement at the Agua Viva Mission in the mornings,

painting the new second story dormitories and meeting room at the rehab center in the afternoon,

and holding open air VBS programs for the children in the evening. We have enjoyed getting to know these great kids, and their teacher/chaperons!

Noche Mexicana

On the 15th of September, Mexico celebrated 200 years since their declaration of Independence. At the Agua Viva Mission we celebrated this historic event with a Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night).

We invited families from the community to celebrate with us, and many came.

We had lots of good food,

special music,

costumes,

dramas by the guys at the rehab center,

a short message from Scott, and of course the famous "Grito" (yell) to honor those who began the fight for independence.

On the 16th, the Prince of Peace church also celebrated. Check out Pastor Isaac and Ruth!

Thank you 3rd CRC, Denver Youth!

Thank you for all of your hard work this week, you served ferociously!

Friday morning a bit after 7, the group had a final prayer and said their good-bye's

note the message in the window!

Then they loaded up the buses for the BEACH

Pray for their safe travel home on Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday

Thursday was even hotter, over 101 degrees! We still had 175 kids and 20 mothers attend VBS.

At the closing the students in each class that applied themselves the most were presented with a children's Bible and prize.

The mothers that learned all 4 verses were also presented with a Bible.

In the afternoon, the group poured a cement pad at "Agua Viva" It was HOT, HARD work, but they did a great job.

The basketball hoop was finally finished and used!

In the evening we worshiped with the men at the Rehab center, and the "Dios Altisimo Mission"