For to me to live is Christ!

Well it was a rough night sleeping bunkbed style and a very thin mat with lots of snoring in sight last night.  I decided to take a cot and sleeping in the dining hall which worked until 4:30am when some brothers from New Jersey decided it was time to get up and start the coffee...

We started our church hopping later this morning by first visiting Renario's church for their service at 10am.  Miguel, a Peruvian pastor shared with us and his message was translated in English.  Through Glen we heard his incredible story of faith and how he came from the largest Quechan tribe.  It would be his father who came to faith and was the first pastor in his tribe.  He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and would not back down from preaching when told to do so. Miguel would watch as his father died a brutal death at the hands of the communists for his faith.  As he was dying, his last words to the men who killed him were, 'for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain'.  God would use Miguel's father to inspire him to serve God and he has already been spared death twice.  Once while being lined up in front of a firing squad, God miraculously made him drop down before he was shot and when the soldiers came to kill him again, they ran out of ammunition and he was allowed to go free. 

After we returned from church, we had a quick lunch and then went next door to Jamin's church.  It was passionate singing in worship followed by passionate preaching.  It was another powerful service as many people responed to the call of the message by coming forward for prayer with the theme of personal victory in their life.

We then were off on a tour to visit the many sites where the Ensenada Project works.  Cass led the tour as we visited all the communities where we left our mark last year.  It was neat to see an addition already built on one of the homes that we worked on last year.  We visited Ricardo's and Faustino's community and went to a great lookout where we snapped some pics.  After our time on the top of the local mountain, we gingerly took our Toyota Corolla rental down to the site where we will be building our homes. Brandon and Jon got to see the site where they will be working...a pig farm!!

We visited Fransciso's church...the place of the famous retaining wall last year and then caught up with Jon Romano's soccer team who won 2-1 in their semi final game.

We arrived at the mission house at 6pm for Tomasa's burrittos and the brave including myself smothered them in hot sauce.  Afterwards it was a meeting with Rick to go over the building plans for the 3 house builds.  Our team will be split up among the 3 sites with the group from LongHill.  We had a great time of worship later in the evening and two people on the team shared their testimonies.  Karen, who was here last year, but didn't want to be went through an incredible transformation as she shared how by going she was saved from a party where there was an electrical fire and where a friend broke her back in escaping.  She spoke of how God transformed her and how since then it has been an incredible journey.

Rick, Tim, Steve, Paul and I went back to the Romano's to kick back after a long day and I actually got a great night's rest as in wisdom I stayed there.

I can now confirm that Brandon, Jon and Nathan also slept well!

It is Monday morning and we are ready to head out to the work site.  It is cool here and overcast which all things considered maybe a great blessing in a very dust filled area.



With unfailing love you will lead this people whom you have ransomed.  You will guide them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells.  Exodus 15:13