Thank You Dave and Jane Crum

This Sunday, the 29th of March, the mission "Agua Viva" held a farewell party for the Crum family. The Crums, Missionaries with the Orthadox Presbyetrian Church, have served in Tijuana for more than 25 years. They will now be working for the OPC in giving direction to mission works in the western US.

Dave and Jane were part of the leadership team at Agua Viva until January of this year. We, along with all those at the mission will miss the Crums! We also wish them well in their new ministry.
Dave preached the sermon,

and led music!

Anciano Israel Ponce and Scott presented the Crums with a certificate of appreciation, with signatures from the members at "Agua Viva" on the matt.

Pastor Armando Ponce, pastor of the mother church Cristo Arca de Salvacion, and three elders were also present at the service. They had a time of prayer for the Crums at the end of the service.

We also enjoyed a meal, carne asada,

and deep fried chicken!

Everything was delicious.

Thanks again Dave, Jane and family for your years of service in Tijuana!

Sewing Class

Marcia has started a ladies' sewing class and Bible study at Agua Viva.

The ladies from the church are excited to learn how to sew.

Only one has ever used a sewing machine before!

There are five teenage girls in the class as well, so the dynamics are different. We have invited women from the community, and many seem interested, but none have come. Please pray that the ladies at church will continue to invite friends, and that they will actually attend. Pray as well for the ladies as we are learning to be "Women of Excelence"

"Prince of Peace" Storefronts

For years the churches in Tijuana have had a plan on the back burner to build small storefronts on the "Prince of Peace" property. This year they decided to act, and each of the churches and congregations raised money for the project.

Together they were able to pay for the excavation, the footings,

and the eight pilars that will support the roof. These five storefronts are located on the main road in Altiplano. Some of the rent income from the properties will go towards the purchase of new properties for missions in Tijuana. We have also received help from churches in the US to keep going with the project. Later this summer we have a work group from Washington who plan to help pour the roof. It is our hope that this comercial building will be a blessing to many.

Half-way House

The drug and alcohol rehab center "Forjando Nuevos Destinos" is starting a new ministry; a half-way house for men who have graduated from the center, but are not quite ready for life on the outside. They are planning a half-way house to hold about 25 men. These men will receive more indepth discipleship training, and will have the opportunity to learn a trade like electricity, welding, cement masonry, etc.

The men from the center are working at the site, they have cleared away an old building,

built a wall,

and poured the foundation for the new two story building.

A group from 3rd Christian Reformed Church of Denver will be helping us to frame the building later this month. We are excited about this new ministry. Please pray for Carlos and his leadership team, and the mother church "Cristo Arca de Salvación".

Alex and Suity's Wedding

Wednesday the 25th of February we had the priveledge of witnessing the wedding of Alex Suarez and his "Sweety" Suity.

Alex is a member at the Emanuel Church, Son of Cupertino and Angelina. We have known Alex since he was a child.

The wedding took place at a local government office. The room they have for weddings fits 8 people max (squished). When the official saw all of the people there for this wedding, he led us outside to a gazebo where the ceremony was performed. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for an impromptu outdoor wedding!

The reception was at Cupertino and Angelina's home, delicious Birria (Mexican Stew). We then enjoyed a double-purpose cake!(the 25th of February is also Suity's birthday). Please pray for this young couple as they begin their new Christian home.

Thank you Calvary CRC

A big thank you for the 8 men who came and helped at the Rehab center.

The bathroom was tiled,

the roof over the third section was poured,

many new bunk beds and storage boxes were made,

and good food was eaten!

On Friday we had a thanksgiving service with the guys from the Rehab center. Lee and Derek gave their testimonies as well as several men from the center. We prayed for each other.

The celebration ended with a meal of Carne Asada! The group was a blessing to Carlos, his leadership team, and the men at the rehab center, and they in turn were a blessing to the group from Calvary.

Calvary CRC

On Saturday the 7th of February the team of 8 men from Calvary CRC arived in "sunny" San Diego.

On Sunday they worshipped at the Cristo Arca De Salvacion church in the morning, and with the guys at the rehab center in Terrazas at night.

Monday morning brought more rain, yes it does sometimes rain in Tijuana, and mud!

Despite the cold and rain, the men began working on various projects at the rehab center. Lee led the tile crew in the bathrooom.

Several men began making bunk beds for the new dormatories.

They learned how to tie the rebar together for the second floor.

and then they engineered a ramp for the cement pour that is taking place today, Wednesday.

Thanks to Derek for the photos! for more pictures and the group's view of the experience go to their blog at http://calvarytrips.blogspot.com/

Testimony

Antonio was born in the city of Obregon, in the state of Sonora, Mexico. He is now 40 years old, years in which he has had many struggles and difficulties, but most recently he has found happiness.

His difficult and critical times began when he was 8 years old; he began to smoke cigarettes while in third grade. Within three years he progressed to smoking marijuana. Soon Antonio got lost in the world of drugs and dropped out of school.

At the age of 16 Antonio met a teenage girl who became the mother of his four children. One of his greatest sadness is that he is still estranged from his wife and children because of his former drug addictions.

When Antonio was 29 he was sentenced to 6 months in prison in Tijuana for violent theft, again a result of his drug habit. During the ten years after his release from prison he lived on the street, rejected by his family, neighbors, and society at large. He suffered much during these years, yet God had mercy on him.

Over a year ago, God reached out and led Antonio to the “Forjando Nuevos Destinos” rehabilitation center in Terrazas del Valle, Tijuana. He is now drug free and continues to live at the center as a graduate, thanks to God’s power and Antonio’s salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. Through the study of His Word, God has powerfully changed Antonio’s life. Since arriving at the rehab center he has learned to live each day in relationship with God. He is grateful that now he has the opportunity to serve others at the rehab center. Anthony is part of the leadership team at the center, and helps the new arrivals begin their rehabilitation. He also works as a school “bus driver”, using one of the center’s vehicles to chauffeur a group of children to school.

In January of this year, Antonio, along with 5 other men from the rehab center, enrolled at the Bible Institute here in Tijuana. His desire is to continue to grow and learn so he will be better equipped to serve others.

Answer to Prayer

Sunday, the 28th of December, the Reformed Bible Institute of Tijuana opened for it's third year of classes. We have been praying for new students to attend, and God answered the prayer with 12 new students! Five of the new students are men from the rehab center, Carlos the director of the rehab will also be attending. In all there are 7 men and 5 women who began classes today!

Pray for these new students as they take this new step in their spiritual lives. Pray also for the returning second year students, and the two students continuing their studies at the seminary in Mexico City.

The two graduates from August (shown receiving a graduation gift) are active in their churches, one is working as an obrero at a mission.




Pray also for the pastors, missionaries and elders who teach at the institute along with their many other duties.
photos by Andrea Baschal