Dear Team Ensenada Readers,

6 December
It is all true, the rumors. On Wednesday we had set out for adventure to see what the Lord had in store. A majority of the “Men” in our group of travelers ventured to “U-turn for Christ”, a drug rehab facility in Zorillo. It is a really interesting ministry consisting of 20 or more men who have had very unfavorable pasts, but the transformation of their lives through the power of Christ was visible. They spent the day just hanging out, hearing the men’s stories, and spending time in deep prayer with them. It was a blessed time that God truly anointed.

Meanwhile Phase 2 of “Building a Foundation” at Horizonte/Calvary Chapel Ranch, 5 men took the challenge to sweat and finish this foundation for a tool storage workmanship shed.

The ladies went to Casa de Paz (House of Peace), where they got to continue on with “weed pulling/therapy sessions” (within an orchard full of delicious oranges) and children’s ministry (Vacation Bible School). The children’s ministry consisted of arts and crafts, worship and dance, Bible messages, and play time. Also, half of the ladies had the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with special needs children (i.e. taking a stroll around the grounds, frolicking in the playground, etc.). Things are wrapping up here in Ensenada, but Lord willing, we’re going to finish strong.

7 December
Thursday started by cleaning the common areas of Horizonte Church. The church was getting ready for their dinner for the missionaries who serve throughout Baja. In the afternoon, the team split up into groups and did “prayer walks” to cover Ensenada and its people in prayer. The evening was devoted to a time of prayer, worship, and testimonies.

Our catering team was able to manage their budget so well that we had a surplus of money, which enabled us to bless the women and their children at Casa de Esperanza with $300 worth of beans, rice, diapers, and wipes.

8 December
On Friday, we went back to Casa de Paz, but this time including the men. This was our last ministry outreach in Ensenada where we had the opportunity to bless the children and staff by spending the day there playing, teaching, and eating. Through our stewardship, we were able to feed the 75 children with some finger licking good BBQ!

All of your prayers have been appreciated, and God has definitely moved through them. So please keep on praying!

• Safety on the road back to San Diego (Saturday, 12/9)


• Direction for plans after graduation


• For the class to not become complacent in our return to San Diego, but for us to apply what we’ve learned at Ensenada and to strive forward in our relationship with God

Gracias a Dios,
Team Ensenada

P.S. The Communication Team would like to extend our thanks for your continued support in prayer. See you all soon!...We missed you Abraham, Avis, & Kerri!!!

Sara's Testimony

"It was such a blessing to put our hands to work the first 2 days (11/27-28) of the trip at the Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope). It was cool to see the men be men and get all tough with the back breaking work of using a jack hammer, digging trenches, moving fences, and basically bonding (i.e. by seeing who could sweat the most, move the biggest shovel full of dirt, etc.). Then there were the ladies – asked to do the simple, yet expansive, task of clearing the land from weeds and grass. We sat down in different patches and proceeded to pull weeds, while life stories and testimonies poured out among other conversations. It was such a great time of deepening relationships and building new ones. There were great encouraging words given and frustrations and issues vented out. Let me just say how good it felt at times to whack at those weeds and ‘get it all out’."

Peter's Testimony

"The renewing of the Lord. This is what my last days have been. I’ve seen people who have been lost for years. In a prayer He (Jesus) has renewed them. The love of God has just poured into them and they have been made new. They have a new life as if the door has been opened. I myself have been renewed.
In my position as a spiritual leader, it has been my joyful pleasure to help my family along in this. Daily, I would look for people hurting and then I would seek to encourage them. Our ‘day off’ from service I thought would be a time for study.
Praise to the Lord for His ways are not our ways. Instead of studying, I fellowshipped with 3 family members. Three wonderful people who love God; I see Him in them. It as a great pleasure to sit and listen to their hearts as they spoke about what the Lord is doing in them. We shared worries and past experiences. We shared the freedom that Jesus Christ has for people with a homeless gentleman.

Throughout the day I looked for ways to serve them. What I didn’t realize is they were serving me. By the end of the day I was reminded of God’s promises, the freedoms of those promises, and that He chose me not the other way around.
What greater joy is there than to know that ‘The Creator’ chose me to know Him?"

Matt's Testimony

"On Sunday (12/3), we went to a local park near Horizonte Church for an outreach. I was playing catch with the children when a man in his twenties raised his hand and wanted to play. I soon went over to introduce myself to him. His name is Roberto and he happened to speak some English. There were 3 of his friends drinking liquor and smoking cigarettes. He didn’t seem like he belonged with this type of people. I could see his life and that I related to him a lot from my past. I began witnessing to him about all the awesome things God has done in my life. I encouraged him to live a better life through Jesus Christ and to help his friends with their struggles. I then began to explain how he could change his life, and when he has his own family, he could then raise his children in a loving environment. Tears began falling down his cheeks and he admitted he needed to make a change. I then prayed for him that God would help him make better decisions to allow him to grow in a deeper relationship with God. I invited him to attend the Wednesday night service at Horizonte and to have tacos with me afterwards. He gladly accepted and said he would be there.

On Wednesday (12/6), after doing a service project for a new Bible school at the Horizonte/Calvary Chapel Ranch, I began praying on the drive home that Roberto would make it to the Wednesday night service. I was upstairs when Robert S. came up and told me that Roberto was waiting down below. I greeted him downstairs and treated him to tacos at the nearby taco stand. We came back and began throwing the football. Twenty minutes before service, Roberto said he had to leave to meet a friend and he would be back for service. I insisted that he should stay, but he was very persistent. He left and I waited at the gate for 35 minutes praying that He would make it back for service. God spoke to me and reminded me that He is in control and I was trying to rob Him of His glory. I went to service and sat in the front row. Juan Domingo had us break up in groups and pray. I prayed that God would protect Roberto, bring him back to church someday, and come to the Lord. Ten minutes later, I looked back and there was Roberto clapping and singing!"

Kevin's Testimony

"Through all my years of playing soccer and training at the many different levels by the grace of God, I have never had so much fun playing soccer than with the Mexican kids on this trip."

Jane, Jen, Elise, Eleanor, Tres, & Matt H. Testimonial

"Last Friday (12/1), we got the chance to go to San Felipe (3 ½ hours away from Ensenada) for an outreach. When we arrived we split into groups of 5-6 and started praying, walking, and passing out flyers (regarding Saturday’s park outreach) to the families in the area. As our group (Jane, Jen, Elise, Eleanor, Tres, and Matt H.) was walking, we stumbled upon a few kids playing and working outside of their house (i.e. smashing cans for recycling). We ended up meeting their uncle (Francisco) and a family friend (Miguel). At that time, we began talking to them about Jesus and what was going on specifically in Francisco’s life. Francisco then began telling us about his nephew, Diego, who was blind, mentally disabled, and hard of hearing. Diego could comprehend very little and needed a lot of care because of prior defaults in medicine doctors gave to him when he was young.

Not surprisingly, a car pulled up with a woman a boy in the back seat. The boy was Diego and as his mother helped him out of the car, we decided to ask the family if we could pray for him. Diego was afraid, but once we calmly started speaking, praying, and holding his hands, he began smiling and swaying back and forth. Small bursts of joy came out of Diego as we continued to pray and eventually sing songs about Jesus to him. We asked God to heal him for His glory, but God had other plans. He did place peace in our souls, assuring us that Diego knew what we were saying when we spoke out his name, ‘Jesus te ama (Jesus loves you), Diego’. We believe that he and his family understood the love of the Lord. As we got up to return back to the church, we witnessed the beauty of God’s love emanating throughout the teary-eyed family."

Debbie's Testimony

"During worship Wednesday morning (12/6), God brought me to that sweet place of brokeness and surrender. As I was weeping, I just wanted to stay at the foot of His throne. I prayed for God to romance me and show Himself to me. I wasn’t going to get through on Tuesday without His divine strength. I told Him I needed a real hug full of love.
On our service project that day at an orphanage, Casa de Paz, a young boy about 8 years old held out his arms so wide for me to lift him off a bench seat he was on. As I lifted him up I held him and squeezed him tight and he was hugging me back. It brought such inner joy to my soul.

I later spent time with a mentally challenged girl named Lucina. She is a gentle, sweet, sweet girl. She smiles so big and genuine every time someone would talk to her. She touched m heart in a special way. My mother passed away 5 years ago, and she had Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. She couldn’t speak, but she would smile so big and so sweet. She was a gentle soul. It dawned on me that Lucina reminded me of my mother. I felt as though I was spending time with my mother.

As I was introducing her to my friends, the Holy Spirit created such a warm wave of love inside of me from my belly all the way up. It created full-blown tears. I knew God’s hand was in this. God had remained faithful and shown me His face, and He reminded me of the great rewards He is to those who diligently seek Him."

Beatriz's Testimony

"In San Felipe (12/2), I met an old woman in her late seventies. She prayed in our prayer circle with us at the basketball courts. Her name is Eloisa. She invited me along with 2 other people into her home that was down the block from the courts. Her home is one room made of block about 15’ x 10’. In the room was one little bed, a small table, and a few chairs. She was very poor, yet she had joy within her. Her smile was continuous and although she had no teeth she was beautiful. Eloisa loves Jesus and has a close relationship with Him. She blessed me very much because she reminded me that what we have on earth is temporary and that our focus should always be eternal."

Rachel's Testimony

"Since being here in Mexico, God’s really been showing me the importance of following after Him wherever He goes. The other day I read in Ruth about her love and loyalty to Naomi, specifically in Ruth 1:16-17 when she promises Naomi to go wherever she goes, and lodge where she lodges, her people will be Ruth’s people, and nothing but death can part them. It made me truly evaluate my commitment to God. Ruth had to sacrifice so much to follow Naomi–she wouldn’t see her family anymore, she was willing to give up marriage and children–all because of love. God’s shown me through the children here in Mexico and the different events, how incredible it is when we follow God with such commitment and loyalty and love. Being a clown, I’m constantly surrounded by children with smiling faces and grabby hands and I love it. That’s just one of the simple pleasures and gifts God has given me since being here. When I’m sitting there and a little girl jumps into my lap and hugs me, it’s indescribable. How could I not want to follow hard after such an amazing God?!"

Hola familia y amigos,

Monday was our Rest and Relaxation Day! Many students took the time to do service projects for a family friend, relax at the beach, visit La Bufadora and other tourist attractions, go horseback riding, and of course spend time with the Lord.

Tuesday, we drove out to the new Horizonte/Calvary Chapel Ranch's Bible College location. It was another beautiful day in Ensenada, with the sun overhead and dirt under our nails. We were able to do some yard work, dig a trench, and begin forming/building a foundation for a small storage facility.

Tomorrow, our team will be separating into smaller groups to serve back at the Bible College (to complete the foundation), U-turn (Men's rehab), and Casa de Paz (Orphanage).

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. We really do appreciate it, and we are definitely seeing how prayer is the greater work. :) So, please continue to pray for the team:

• Safety, guidance, and protection
• Sickness
• For the class to hear the Lord's voice and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit
• Favorable weather conditions
• Effectiveness with organizing outreaches
• Compassion for the Mexican people
• Personal quiet time
• Continued unity within the group

Dios te bendiga,
Team Ensenada

Robert's Testimony

"I thought it was very cool to see that God doesn’t need us to do anything. It is refreshing to know that He doesn’t need me and even more amazing to know that He wants me. God showed me last Thursday that it is a privilege to be used by Him."

Joe's Testimony

"We went to this park in a neighborhood called Zorillo. After the band played and one drama was performed, I was able to share the gospel. The Lord had been working on some 'gang bangers' who found their way into the park earlier. Many of us had noticed the 'leaders' of the neighborhood and were speaking with them through translators. Miguel and I were speaking with 3 young men from our class at that time. By the grace of God, these gangsters stayed and heard the gospel preached. The Lord led me to challenge them and the other men in the park to stand up for the women and children. The Lord led me to call them out on their lifestyles and the lack of leadership that existed within their community as a result of their choices. These men responded and eventually prayed with many of us. They went through the Bible with us for a short 30-minute overview of the truth God wanted them to read, study, share with their family and friends.

It was truly amazing to see God break many of these 'tough' guys who had such hard hearts. God spoke directly to them that day in so many ways. It blew my mind! Praise God for a day of peace at this park. The kids and men there told us the only reason that these people were in the park was because our class family had come to share the love of Jesus. These children were able to play in the park this day, unlike every other day when there is a large amount of violence present. We were told that this park was not a place where children can play safely, but we pray that since Christ Jesus came there powerfully that the park and this neighborhood would forever be changed. We pray that Jesus Christ will raise up amazing men and women to be powerful, spiritual leaders in that community so that it will forever be a place of hope with God as the centerpiece of life."

Aaron's Testimony

"Yesterday, we had an outreach in a small town outside of Ensenada. In a park out there, we played music and had clowns and face painting, etc. It was a very dark area and as the band was playing some local druggies & thugs were listening…they were deeply convicted. At 3:30pm the outreach moved to a nearby school. A few of us were locked outside the gates of the school with some of the neighborhood kids. We started playing soccer with them. I was a little rusty at soccer and fell a couple of times (once my hand landed in dog poop!). My friend suggested to preach to the kids so he grabbed the ball. As they gathered, I got to preach the gospel and impact these kids lives forever."

Hey Everybody!

Today we were blessed by being able to attend Sunday church service at Horizonte where Senior Pastor Juan Domingo taught Psalms 61-63. Afterwards we went to do an outreach at a local park a few blocks down the street. Planning on doing our normal routine outreach, but normality isn't exactly routine. When we got there, we saw that there was a gathering of a Mexican political party. The parties gathering was supposed to end at 1:00 P.M. but their festivities were still going on when we arrived. Lluvia and Rich went and talked to the leader of the party and asked if we could use their stage. He said that he didn't want anything about religion or God talked about so we could not use it. We all gathered up as a team and prayed and when Lluvia and Rich went back and talked to the man, God had moved in his heart to let us do one of our dramas and have the band play. Through the drama we were able to bring the gospel message afterwards in an explaination of the drama. When Matt Sauer was explaining the drama, he started sharing what God had done in his life and then we were asked to leave the stage. But even through the small part of God's Gospel that got through people where moved. At least 3-5 people came to know the Lord, and several Christians in the area were very much encouraged! So in all that was against us, God showed his favor, power and blessing over our group.

In moving into our free day tomorrow we would ask that you would pray for:

Safety in traveling

• Favorable weather conditions
  
• Ability to see God move in powerful & unexpected ways
  
• We will have genuine, personal quiet time
  
• Unity within the group
  
• People are really getting sick, please pray for God's healing

Blessings,
Team Ensenada

Jenn's Testimony

"Over a 3-day period, I grew in my attachment to the country-side battered women's shelter in Ensenada known as 'Casa de Esperanza'. I'm a person who often looks to get involved in "restoration projects" of all sorts. With Casa de Esperanza, our HSE 1 family served as Abba's hands, feet, and heart as we restored a field full of weeds and dry soil to a garden; restored a fence to its property line so that the shelter's lease could be renewed on the next day; restored love, hope, and pampering to the single moms and their sweet innocent, little ones. I experienced God's love and compassion flowing through me as I held a little baby, Angel, firmly against me. Wow, my heart is full of love for these people."

Hi, again from Ensenada...

Today, we traveled about an hour southeast of Horizonte to a rundown hangout for local gangs (Canyon de Monte Vista Park). When we first arrived, the park was relatively empty. So groups of 3 or 4 went out into the community to invite to our park outreach. During our time there, we had prayer walks, picked up trash, performances by the band & dramas, testimonies, face painting, and balloon animals by the clowns.

One of the groups that went out had ended up at a nearby elementary school. After speaking to the principal, we were invited to perform and speak for an hour with their 200 kids as some sort of an assembly. It was there at the school, where we were able to do dance and drama presentations as well as have Lluvia give the gospel and altar call. About 30-40 kids came forward to receive Christ (even as young as 3 or 4 years old!).

We still need your prayers!

• Safety (sickness & travel to San Felipe on Friday & Saturday)
• Favorable weather conditions
• Ability to see God move in powerful & unexpected ways
• Boldness to step out in different ministry opportunities
• Effectiveness with organizing outreaches
• God would allow us to have compassion for the Mexican people
• We will have genuine, personal quiet time
• Unity within the group

Jake's Testimony

Testimony #1
"God is faithful. I offered my car (God’s car) to be used for this Mexico ministry. When we arrived in Mexico, the car was running great, until we got right at the front door of the church. Then it broke down. I thought, 'No, the transmission!' So, I talked with the assistant pastor to see if he could get me a honest, local mechanic. I gave him the keys and all was now in God’s hands. All I needed to do was trust Him and not worry. I was thinking the cost would be hundreds of dollars as I entered the gate of the church the next day after an outreach. But God blessed me more than I ever thought would happen. The car was fixed, we found out we had no brakes the whole way to Ensenada…The pastor was amazed that we made it alive! The mechanic put in some screws and we were ready to go work for God and His mission. So ask and you shall receive."

Testimony #2
"We arrived at the deserted park in Zorillo. There was such a dark spirit, but we broke through that day. A hand full of gang members were really moved by us being there. I talked to a 16-year old boy with a cowboy hat resting on his head. At a glance, you would of thought he was 30. Sporting a rugged beard and glazed eyes. I wanted to tell him the Good News, but for some reason I couldn’t think of a way to break through the small talk. I asked God to fill me with the Spirit and He did. I showed him a little pebble and said, ‘This is your life, a speck’. Then I took a stick and drew a line about 20 feet long, rounding the diminishing basketball court. I told him afterwards that the pebble is where life begins. We had a 30-minute conversation after that, and then he went to talk to a gangster friend who just got saved. I knew that the few who were touched could eventually change that whole community."

Lluvia's testimony

"We have only been in Ensenada for two days and I can already see mighty works of God happening not only in our group but in the lives of the people we’ve had contact with.

Today was an amazing day, I started out by plowing the land, and I ended up praying in a small trailer where one of the women from the shelter lives with her four children in Casa de la Esperanza.

She is a beautiful woman in her early forties. She left her home, located in the very south of Mexico, a few months ago. She comes from an abusive marriage background.
I met her yesterday, but we did not get to talk until today. I was holding her daughter and while we were talking she invited me to her little place to show me a picture of her oldest daughter who is fifteen years old and lives in another state far from her. The woman knows the Lord so we were talking about His word and the promises He has for us. I got to share the testimony of my mom’s life, so that was encouraging for her since they are both single moms. She wants to one day have a house and be able to give education to her children. She was very open hearted to me and most of what I did was just listen and pray.At the end we both prayed together and the Spirit of God was there. My visit with her brought her much joy, and I look forward to seeing her tomorrow. Our Lord is good, He is faithful, He is a restorer of lives. Amen."

Hola Beloved,

Since we've been here in Ensenada, we've been able to help out at the Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) by doing service projects and Vacation Bible School. This place is a shelter for abused women and their children. Some of the service projects included digging trenches, clearing patches of weeds, creating a compost pile, etc. The women have been pampered with haircuts, manicures, and pedicures. We are also providing nursery services and Vacation Bible School for the children (6-12 y/o).

Please continue to pray for the Team:

• Safety (sickness & travel to San Felipe on Friday & Saturday)
• Favorable weather conditions (it has been overcast & a little rainy)
• Effectiveness with organizing outreaches God would allow us to see the needs of the Mexican people
• We will decrease in order for Him to increase in all that we do
• We will have genuine, personal quiet time
• Unity within the group

Also, be sure to check out the link to pictures on the side bar if you haven't already.

Blessings, Team Ensenada

Hi, family & friends!

Team Ensenada has made it safely across the Mexican Border & have arrived at the Horizonte Church (Calvary Chapel of Ensenada)! With dinner time approaching, we're all realizing just how exciting this opportunity is and what God will be doing the next couple of weeks.

But before we left San Diego, we gathered at La Jolla Shores around 1pm to sing praises to the LORD and witness our brothers and sisters -- Marty Miranda, Tres Pinkerton, Peter Mendez, Debbie Fowler, Brent Williams, Robert Smith, and Cortney Bennett -- get baptized by George Clerie (Director of HSE) and Sam Jacobs (HSE Team Leader). This special event was a great start to our practicum!

So please continue to pray for the Team:

• God would allow us to see the needs of the Mexican people
  
• We will decrease in order for Him to increase in all that we do
  
• We will have genuine, personal quiet time
  
• Safety (i.e. federales, travel around town, food poisoning, sickness)
  
• Unity within the group (i.e. we will be continually knit together in love)

Blessings,
Team Ensenada

Here we go!

HSE 1 is heading to Ensenada, Mexico From November 26th until December 9th.

First off, thank you for checking out this website and seeing how you can help, because we really do need your support. On the agenda for this two week trip is helping out at a orphanage providing: dances, music and friendly clowns all with the intention of showing Jesus’s love. Also Juan Domingo, a thriving international church planter, is building a new church in Ensenada and has asked us to help him in this venture. It will be a lot of physical labor such as digging, painting and building but rewarding.

All of our outreaches to the town are geared for excitement with great music entertainment followed up by a presentation of the gospel. The women in our group will team up with Casa de Esperanza (house of hope) ministering to battered moms with bible studies and the like. Our men have an opportunity to work with addicts in U Turn for Christ, a rehab center where men are trying to get off drugs and make Jesus Lord of their life. Our main goal is to personally grow in spreading the message of Jesus and watching it change hearts.

Now you can be a part of one of the most important aspects of the trip: PRAYER. Without it we could not go and our efforts would be fruitless. Please pray for our leaders, that stress and disunity would not destroy the work that is happening. For transportation, since we are taking our own vehicles, that there would be no damage. That we would grow personally and the Holy Spirit would go before and prepare a harvest. Unity, Unity and Unity. There is a chance for a huge harvest, it is up to you to help pray that God will give it to us.

If there is anything else you can think of please pray for it. We’ll be updating on a regular basis (internet permitting) to keep you informed.