Day 3

Day 3

Today was indeed a day that humbled me. We started off our day making our paper bag lunches and some other students and I made lunches for some of the Spectrum Staff. After breakfast was done and the lunches packed we started off on our adventure quest to the Bath House. On the way I ways semi nervous as this is the first time I have been on this trip and hopefully shall not be my last, even as a senior this year. At the Bath House I was on water detail, meaning I sat on a bucket and had my hand in the water barrel to make sure the temperature of the water was Just right for all of the little guys. As I waited for the water levels to lower I was able to sit and observe the other students work with the kids and interact with each other in cool ways. It was amazing to see Dylan and Payton working at the bathing station washing the kids with little hoses coming out of the water barrels. They squirted the kids with the water and were spraying them and the kids were just enjoying the water and having fun as little kids often do of any nationality. After the bathhouse the seniors and juniors got the opportunity to go to an area called Zona Norte, as Joel Marlette called it the Red Light District of Mexico. While there we went to a local shelter and fed the men who were staying there. It was a great blessing to serve to these men who knew very little or no English at all. Just to fed them and hear their thanks made it all worthwhile. Whilst in Zona Norte we took a walk around the block with the Spectrum Staff surrounding us. As we walked around we got a look at poverty in extremes I have never seen… or really dreamed of before. As we walked we saw people who…weren’t very modest in their attire because of their...Profession. It was an eye opener and just really humbled me and just had put the fact into my heard that these people are definitely people that need all of the love they can receive. I am glad and blessed to be here to help with what we can. We shall keep you all updated as we go. Keep everyone in your prayers not just us, but all of us.

Alec Neal.

               So today was a pretty packed day. We started out by going down to the market. There were so many different things to see, and not enough time. The vendors seem to read your profile and put a price according to what they see. After the market, we headed down to the bathhouses. It was very humbling. At one point I cleaned the boys feet. It wasn’t that it was disgusting, but the fact that cleaning feet is seen as a terrible job. It was fun though. Tickling the boys feet, talking with them, and just putting a smile on their face. When the bathing was all done, we had the opportunity to play soccer with some of the kids. Being terrible at soccer, I just ran around the field, and chased a little boy around. I didn’t know his name, but just being able to play with him was a blessing. At one point I caught him, and just picked him up and ran all over the field with him. It’s like I didn’t care what people thought, and that nothing else mattered except me and him. Later on the upperclassmen had the chance to go down to the “red-light district.” It was basically the “San Francisco” of Tijajuana. It was hard to see how people live their lives there. On the streets, in the clubs. It’s a terrible thing to see, but these are the people that need to hear the word the most. When we were in the mission, it brought back memories of my times in Portland and the early years of Mission Solano. Even down tot the smell. Still more to do, and such little time…

Joel Marlette

Day 2: Entry by Makinzie Thomas

First full day in Mexico.  Here's the details...

Today we helped build a house.  We woke up early, got ready, and headed over to the building site. We built the second story on the house. The house was on top of a hill so we thought it was going to be really hard to get wood and supplies up to the house. We made an assembly line and we actually got everything up to the house pretty quick. It is amazing what teamwork can do! Once we got everything up there we started on the second story! Most of us moved dirt. It was really tiring! A few people worked on the actual house and at the end of the day we got a lot done! At the house there were a few kids. It was so fun playing with them! They were so helpful and giving! A little boy I didn’t even know offered me and a whole bunch of other people some cheez-it’s when he only had a little bit of them! All together today was a success! When we arrived back, we had some fantastic spaghetti and just hung out. Today was a great day and we got a lot done!

Kinizie Thomas

Day One: Entries by Mitchell and Nina

Here's a little recap of Day 1 in Mexico from the perspective of two High Life students; Mitchell and Nina

3/29/11

               Today is the beginning of our epic journey to the wonderful land of Mexico.  Since it was the first day, I will be brief. So we had a super long van ride, and we had various food stops along the way;  I enjoyed sleeping for the duration of most of it.  When we got to the border, I thought that it was going to be all super securitied up, but actually, most people were just cruising right along in.  Once we got in, it was a total culture shock.  All of the roadways were hectic and crazy, in the distance I saw a huge Mexican flag.  We went along some twists and turns then ended up at our place.  Once we got out, everybody immediately started to help unloading and getting everything organized. I was impressed at how cooperative everybody was and also at the speed of us getting everything done.  Afterwards, we just hung out for a while, changing clothes and hanging out. Then we all went to go get something to eat at a place called Super Taco.  I thought that since I took Spanish for three years that I would know what to say and that I would understand everybody, but once I sat down and had to order, I had no idea what to say.  I ended up getting some amazing tacos though, and Dylan gave me half of his torta (totally getting that next time)   now everyone is getting ready for a good night sleep and a busy night of working and helping build a house.

-Mitchell Duke

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3.29.11-Day 1

Today was definitely a long day for the whole team! We got to the church at 4:30am this to get ready to leave for Tijuana, Mexico! The drive went by decently fast, at least for me and it was really fun getting to know everyone and spending time with each other!

When we got to the border, it all went smoothly for the most part and before we knew it we were unpacking everything and getting settled into the Spectrum Dorm.  The minute we crossed the border, all of the culture shock totally hit me.  This is my second time on this trip, but it is still really eye-opening.  Today I noticed a lot of people on the streets begging, or doing simple things to try to work for money. We even saw a guy juggling fire! I don’t remember seeing that many people like that last year, but it was really crazy seeing things like that and it was really sad. It was eye-opening for me just seeing how much I take for granted and how I don’t have to sit on the streets all day in order to get their food. I have so much compared to them.

We went to Super Taco today! It was SO goooooood! Seriously, you don’t even know how good it is! I had a “cabeza torta.” “Cabeza” is supposedly made out of the meat around the head of skull, but whatever it is, it was absolutely delicious!

I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the trip so much and I am so excited for what God is going to do in all of our lives! I am just so stoked to be here and it is such a blessing!

Thank you so much for all your prayers!

-Nesrine (Nina) Majzoub :]

On the Road!

The team is currently on the road and headed to Mexico!
Please keep each of them in your prayers.


Today:  Traveling...should be crossing the border around 3:30pm
Tomorrow, 3/30:  The PCC team will be working construction on a home for one of the Spectrum Ministries Staff
Thursday, 3/31:  Bath House Day.  High Life students will be helping out  by providing a clean bath, clean clothes, and lice treatment for children in need in one of the poorer neighborhoods of Tijuana.  They will also get lots of time to hang out and play games with the kids.  Pray that each of the children will feel the love of Jesus through our students.

TEAM MEMBERS: [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
ABBY, BRE, ALEC, BRENT, TATUM, HAILEY, RON, KINZIE,
CHEYENNE, HEIDI, PAYTON, RON, JUSTIN, STEPHANIE, TONY,
KARL, RACHEL, LINDA, TAMMY, VERONICA, LESLIE, SHELBY, RACHEL,
NINA, DYLAN, JACOB, MATT, MICHAEL, MITCHELL,
TAYLOR, ZACH, BRAD, MARK, BRIAN

Preparing our Hearts for Mexico

Below is a description of what the team is doing in preparation for our time in Mexico... entry by Rachel Williams

The Mexico team has been very busy lately getting ready for the trip! The whole team is reading a devotional book called A Call to Die. It is a daily devotional with a section to read, questions, Bible passages to read, memory verses, and a journal. Every day for 40 days the students and staff have completed one devotional. We also have another plain journal to fill out and write down verses, notes, highlights of our day, prayers, and observations of what God is teaching us. Every student is assigned a staff member and must call their leader everyday to talk about the reading. Every 10 days the leader switches students. As part of the book, every person is fasting from something that is getting in the way of their relationship with God for these 40 days.  Every student also has a prayer partner each week, another student, who they are responsible for contacting a couple times each week and pray for them. The students have chosen a scripture verse that they will be memorizing. Every person on the team also has a prayer partner outside of the team that they email and ask for prayer. The team has weekly meetings to connect with each other and prepare. The team helped out with the Missions Conference and recently held a bake sale to raise money for the trip. Prayer cards with pictures of each member of the team and as a whole were passed out on Sunday to encourage the congregation to pray for the team as well.  
-Rachel Williams; junior, Armijo HS


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You might be thinking that this is a lot of preparation; and you're right.  It is. The exciting thing is to see the students step up to the challenge and fulfill all of their commitments for the trip on top of their regular responsibilities to family, sports teams, jobs and school.  Please pray with us that God uses this preparation of fasting from the world and feasting on the Word to work in each of their lives to grow them in the Lord and equip them to serve others now, in Mexico and in the future.  

Mexico Bound!

We have 21 youth and children and 12 adults from Parkway Community Church in this years Mexico Missions Team.  We depart on March 29th for our annual trip to Tijuana, Mexico, serving with Spectrum Ministries.  Our time will include building a second floor of a home of a man who serves with Spectrum, bathing kids, distributing food, clothing and medical supplies to several different neighborhoods, playing with and feeding some orphans at a few orphanages and ministering to some inmates at a local Juvinele Hall. We also have an opportunity to attend a church service while we will be in Mexico. Thank you for your support in lifting our team up in prayer.

Work, Play and Worship

These last few days have been full of lots of activity.  We finished off working on the school property Saturday by moving loads and loads of sand and rocks to be used for the final beams and floor.  There is still some work to be done on the building but the tough part is finished.  The workers in Shandia are all set to make some significant progress next week.  We are all excited to see the school open by summer or sooner!  Saturday afternoon we were able to visit Jim Elliot's home.  A gentleman who lived in Shandia during Elliot's day gave us a tour and shared stories of his life with us.  What a great experience.  From there we headed to the beach to prepare a bonfire, swim in the river, and play with some of the community children.  That evening we were able to have a bonfire down by the river with the youth group.  We sang worship songs in English, Spanish and Quichua.  Finally we treated the youth to s'mores.  They had never had  s'mores and absolutely LOVED them.  We couldn't get those marshmallows toasted fast enough!  Sunday we all attended church together.  Again, we worshiped in Spanish and Quichua.  Alisa and Tim shared their testimonies and Pastor Dan preached.  What a joy to go to church and hear singing and preaching in 3 languages!  A few of us led Sunday school with the kiddos.  After church services part of our team took the kids out for some play time together.  Gina and I (Rachel) had an amazing opportunity to interview two older members of the community who lived in Shandia when Jim Elliot was there.  They shared about how they came to know Christ as a result of God working through Elliot and several other missionaries.  One woman, Carmela, shared through tears about the day the community learned of Jim Elliot's death.  She also wept over the youth of her community and her deep desire to have them walk closely with Jesus. It was a beautiful time and I am so thankful for the experience.  

The girls moving sand and rocks.  Even little Lucy got a work out!

Brianna playing soccer with the kids at the beach

Ronal, one of the kids in the community, came down to the beach with us to make sand castles

The Wedding!

Today was an awesome day!  We attended a wedding of a dear friend.  Here's the backstory:  Several years ago a team from Parkway was working at a church in a community in the jungle called El Capricho.  The pastor's son (named Higineo) and Karl worked side by side in a construction project.  Despite some major cultural differences and a total language barrier the two became fast friends.  At the end of our time in Capricho Karl asked if Jake could translate a conversation.  Karl really felt like the Lord wanted him to gently and lovingly challenge his hermano (brother) in Christ.  He basically challenged Higineo to step up and take care of his kids and girlfriend; encouraging him to be a leader and marry his girlfriend.  It was a really meaningful conversation with tears, but well received.  Higineo later told Pastor Juan Carlos that when Karl returned he would get married.  Fast forward 4 years.  Pastor Juan Carlos told Higineo that Hermano Karlitos would be visiting... and today we celebrated the wedding of Higineo and Gicela.  It was a simple civil service with a judge in town with a formal church wedding to follow later this year.  Gina and I (Rachel) bought some flowers for the bride and I was able to snap a few photos of the ceremony.  After the ceremony Higineo and Gicela invited us out to dinner.  We had a wonderful time visiting with them...thank you Gina for translating!  The two invited us back for the formal wedding in December and asked if we would serve as padrinos in the wedding.  (Kind of like attendants)  The wedding will be a  somewhat traditional jungle wedding and they told Karl he would have to wear a loin cloth and carry a spear.  That was a joke but there will be some traditional dress with painting on the face and body.  We (Wurzbach Family) are planning on returning at the end of December for Christmas/New Years with our sister-in-law's family.  Higineo and Gicela told us to let them know the dates we will be in Ecuador so they could set a date for their church wedding.  We felt very honored!  Today reminded me of how wonderful our God is.  Despite language barriers and cultural differences He creates friendships based on the one thing we have in common...a relationship with Christ. 

Jumprope, Machetes and Sunburns

Today we worked on the foundation of the school.  We hauled rocks and moved sand as cement was being mixed and poured.  Tomorrow we hope to finish the foundation and start on the walls.  Very exciting to see this happen! The kids were troopers. They moved buckets and wheelbarrows full of rocks and sand with the rest of us. The sun was very strong and there are a few sunburned gringos but everyone is healthy and happy.  In the afternoon we played with the kiddos of the community and broke out the jump ropes.  They loved it!  Highlight for Daniel: Getting his machete and had some fun chopping his way through the jungle. 

Here's a picture of our team after breakfast at Paulina's house.  PCC Leaven director, Paulina Polk, is from Quito and her mom graciously hosted us all for a wonderful breakfast.  Paulina's mom, aunt and brother also are in this picture.  What an amazing family!  We were so blessed by their hospitality.  We also were able to skype with Paulina (and Janelle, Tim's wife) and pray together for our time, all via skype.  Great start to the trip.  Tomorrow...the jungle!!!

Today the team went down to colonial Quito.  You really get a feel for the people, the culture and the history of the city traveling down to this area of town. One of our stops was a beautiful cathedral; the Basilica.  The church is gorgeous but has parts that are not finished.  One section allows you to climb very steep stairs to the top and overlook the city.  Here is Dan and Daniel making the trek down.

Gearing Up for Ecuador

On February 13th a Parkway Community Church team of 9 will be heading to Ecuador. We will have the great opportunity to be working in Shandia, a small village on the edge of the Amazon jungle.  Here we will be working on the property that Parkway has helped purchase.  We are partnering with the community to help construct a building that will be used as a school site and training center for those looking for Biblical education. Shandia will serve as a place where those believers living in la oriente (jungle region) can come, refresh, receive training and head back to their communities to share the Gospel with their people.  The PCC team will be getting the property ready by clearing land, laying foundation and starting the actual construction of the first building.  Our afternoons will be filled with fun activities for the children of Shandia, along with Bible lessons. We will also have the opportunity to participate in their youth night and Sunday services. Please pray for safety, relationships with the people of Shandia to continue to grow and for God's name to be glorified.  Check back in for photos and posts during the trip.  
-Rachel, for Karl, Tatum, Hailey, Dan, Alisa, Brianna, Daniel and Tim

What Does our Garbage have to do with Ecuador?

On our first trip to Ecuador our team was introduced to a ministry site at the Quito city dump.  Here people would rummage through the garbage for recyclable items to collect and sell for money.  You need to realize that plumbing issues are such that toilet paper cannot be flushed and is, therefore,  placed in the trash...eventually ending up at the dump.  As you may have guessed, digging through the dump in Quito is not the most glamourous job. Since then, our girls have saved our cans and bottles, taking them to the recycling center every few months and set aside the money they receive for the families working in the Quito dump.  On this trip we are able to bring $92.  Not a lot of money here, but it goes a long way in Quito.  Doing this has been a great reminder to be thankful and also an opportunity to give back to others.  Would you consider saving your recycling money for a cause such as this?
-Rachel, for Tatum and Hailey Wurzbach


Although ministry at the city dump is not the focus of our current trip, we are excited to be a part of it in a small way.  For ways you be a part of giving and serving in Quito visit the Extreme Response website.


Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Luggage, Luggage and more Luggage

And more to come.  Yep, we are bringing the max amount of luggage allowed.  Not only do we have our own travel necessities but we are bringing things for two of our PCC missionaries who now live in Quito.  When they headed south many of their personal items were left behind because of shipping restrictions.  In this stack of suitcases you'll find 3 kitchen aid mixers!  Long story, but there will be some very happy bakers in Quito as of this weekend.  :)