YOU NEED TO HAVE A PASSPORT FOR THIS MISSION.  So start your passport process NOW.  Go to www.travel.state.gov to get started!

Downloads

A Parent Letter

Mission: Mexico Info and Registration Card

MCSM Medical Release Form

 Amor Participation Form

Packing List

Construction Foreman's Guide

 House Building Guide

Link to Amor Ministries

A map of our Campsite area

New!  Amor has sent us some info on the families we will be serving!  Here is family 1 and family 2.  This is exciting!

A list of everything you should have turned in, and an update on where you are with finances - click here. (updated Mar 16)

:: Important Dates ::

Feb 10: deadline to sign up

Feb 10: Training, 2-4pm @church.  Parents invited!!!

Feb 23: SHINE fundraiser

Feb 24: Training, 2-4pm @ church

Mar 9: Training, 2-4pm @ church

Mar 22: Packing & Prayer, 7pm @church (Easter service 6pm)

Mar 23-29: Mission Mexico

Apr 13: Mission for Life, 2-4pm @church

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MISISON: MEXICO 2008
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God has blessed us and called us once again to head to Mexico for an incredible opportunity to serve.  This year we will be building homes for families in need. Working with Amor ministries, will we head to Tijuana, Mexico, stay in a tent city, and even make our own food every day!  This is an incredible opportunity for students to grow in leadership, serve with hard work, and learn to make a difference.

The cost per student is $150. Each student is also responsible for raising $200 through letters of support and other fundraising. We will lead students through this process, and even make it fun!

Modesto Covenant Church:

209-527-4110

www.mcclife.net

mission: mexico March 23-29, 2008

:-:  MISSION LOG  :-:
Daily thoughts, prayers, pictures and videos!

Friday and Saturday - Days 6 + 7

    -- We made it across the border in just under an hour - praise God!  And we drove to Orange, where we are staying at River47 church.  After eating dinner, we went down to an outdoor mall called the Block.  The students got to have some fun, and we got to talk about the importance of how we spend our money, and using our money to serve God and grow the Kingdom.

    -- We spent Friday night reflecting on the power of serving God.  And we want to serve God ALL year, not just for one week.  We want God to be the ONLY ONE - not second place, and not just another thing in our busy lives.  We want to be fully devoted - and live a life that counts for Christ.

    -- It has been a great mission.  And now we come home to start our Mission to Modesto.

 

Video 6 - Break at the Beach

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Thursday - Day 5
    -- Last night was just fun!  We went to a taco stand - but this one was in downtown Rosarito.  We stayed together as a group, of course, but it was such a contrast for us - to be serving God and living in the dirt - and seeing people living in 15 story hotels and wasting their Spring Break with alcohol.  And we did have fun - but it was because we were excited for the work we were doing for Christ.  and we were just excited to be together.

    -- Today we are stuccoing the houses, and putting some last touches on the houses, too.  We are excited for today!  And we might even have time to get an hour at the beach.  And tonight we will draw close to Christ through communion.  AND this morning we asked students to consider listening to God - to see if He is calling you to full-time ministry - and God moved!  We had NINE students feel led to consider ministry as a career calling (we are all called to be servants for life).  Praise God!

Video 5 - campfire time

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Wednesday - Day 4
    -- How awesome is our God?  He is amazing!!!  Last night we got back to camp and had an incredible night of worship and Bible study.  Ellen Howell and Erik led the Bible study - and they did great!  And then we dove in for some sweet worship.  Then we were getting ready for bed, when a group from the next campsite came over - they had heard our worship and wanted to join in - so we stayed up and worshipped more, singing even louder.  So we were all to bed a bit late, but God in His wonder gave us even more strength for today!

    -- Today we worked on the roof - which can be messy!  We are pretty much done with it though.  The other thing we worked on is "wrapping" the house.  That means putting wire around the whole house, then tar paper, then chicken wire - all in preparation for stucco tomorrow.  Then we are done!  We can see the house taking shape, and it is exciting.  Plus, at one of our houses we got lunch made for us - it was a great connection with the family.  AND tonight we are having tacos!

Video 4 - up on the roof

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Tuesday - Day 3
    -- We all woke up sore and exhausted after yesterday - it was a long day!  But God gives us incredible strength - as we are learning by serving. 

    -- Today is the day we are building the walls and roof, and getting them up.  It is a great day, because we get to visually see some progress - and the frame of the house.  Today is also tie-dye Tuesday for some of the students - so when you look at the pictures, just know it was a bonding moment, and not a full fledged return to hippiedom.

    -- Please continue to pray for us as we work hard. Students are getting tired but keeping their attitudes strong and words encouraging.  We still have two days of hard work and a long road home.  Pray that God will continue to work on their hearts and grow them into servants for LIFE.

Video 3 - building walls

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Monday - Day 2
    -- Whoa!  A lot has happened today!  First, we got a little lost trying to meet up with Amor at Carl's Jr.  Then, we found out that we aren't staying between Tijuana and Tecate - but in the Amor camp in Rosarito!

    -- With all of that said, God has been great today!  We have been building the foundation on two houses for two great families.  The students are working hard and learning such great leadership skills.  Also, some people are swinging a hammer for the first time, and it is great to have them involved, too.  And our leaders are doing great.

    -- We had a great Chapel last night - talking about loving Jesus more than the pressure to quit or back down.  Pray for another great night for us tonight!

Video 2 - pouring cement is hard work!

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Sunday - Day 1
    -- It has been a great day of driving, and pretty uneventful.  We got in at around 6:30pm to San Diego, and we are looking forward to waking up at 6am tomorrow to pour concrete all day!!!  But God is good and He is already working in our group to stretch us and grow us.  We are getting ready for Chapel now, and praying for God to really get into students' minds and hearts - to challenge them to make a difference for their whole lives, not just a week.  Pray for us!

Video 1 - playing on the playground in San Diego

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Map of our Campsite Location:

 
View Larger Map

:-:  MISSION SCHEDULE  :-:

If at any time during the mission you have a question, please contact Pastor Scott first:  209-534-8036.  Thanks!

Sunday

    -- 8am: Meet at church.  We will pray, load you into cars, and drive!

    -- We will drive from Modesto to San Diego, staying the night at Clairemont Covenant Church.  You need to bring money for lunch and dinner on the road.  You can bring an iPod or DVD player, but NO headphones.

Monday

    -- 6:30am: Wake up early!  Read your Bible and grab a bite - it is time to work!  We will be meeting Amor at their headquarters at 7:30am, and driving over the border and right to our worksite.

    -- Day 1 is about pouring cement - with no mixer, just a wheelbarrow.  That is a lot of hard work!  But a good foundation is key to a house, and we are up to the task.

    -- After working all day on the foundation, we will head back to camp - and have to set up camp!  We will continue to work hard, eat some grub, then be encouraged by Jesus as we worship and learn from the good Word.

Tuesday

    -- A Typical Day: Wake up at 7am - get ready and eat.  Morning Devotions and Worship start at 7:45am.  At 8:30 we head off to our worksite and work from around 9am-5pm, with a break for lunch (and to play with the ninos!).  Then back to the campsite for dinner, and Chapel around the campfire.  Bedtime is 10pm.

    -- Day 2 is about framing the walls and ceiling.

Wednesday

    -- Day 3 is about Roofing and Wall prep.  This can be messy work!  (But it makes for the best pictures!)

    -- On Wednesday we will be heading to the Taco Stand!  So bring $ for this, depending on your appetite!  We will make sure we find a place that is ok for American gringos to eat at, and if you still don't want tacos, we'll find something for ya back at camp.

    -- Parents: this is also the day we will encourage students to call home.  If we can't get reception, we will find a way to call you!  (Probably on a pay phone).  Students can have cell phones with them, but please only call in an emergency, and if you call, please call Scott first.  Thanks!

Thursday

    -- Day 4 is about putting the stucco on the wall.  This is the end of the project but it can be very hard!

    -- This is also our last day with our family, and it can be a day of mixed emotions - happy because we have built a house for a familia in need, but sad because we are saying goodbye.

Friday

    -- We will sleep in a little this day!  Then breakfast and devos, then we head for the border.

    -- On Friday we will be driving to River47 Covenant Church, in Orange.

    -- We will be eating dinner at the church, and spending the night debriefing the mission experience.  Our hope is that students will take a heart for serving home - and live as a servant of Jesus Christ every day.

Saturday

    -- On Saturday we will leave Orange around 9:30am, and hope to arrive in Modesto around 4pm - tired but full of the joy that can only come from serving God!

    -- Don't forget Mission for Life - April 13 - for the whole team, all family and any supporters to see the power of a week of serving, and a call for students to make serving a style of life - not just a week.

Mexico 08 Wallpapers

:: MEXICO PREPARATION ::

(( past ))

TRAINING 1 - Feb 10

TO DO LIST FOR STUDENTS:

    -- Fill out the Amor Participant Form (due Feb 24)

    -- Complete Essay 1 Questions (due Feb 24)

    -- Start working on Team Assignments.  Click here to see Teams and To Do's.

    -- If you missed our support letter sending, you need to find a way to raise your $200 of support.  Want to send a support letter to family and friends?  You can download the letter we used here.  Remember, don't send it to anyone in the church, since we mailed it out to everyone already.

SHINE - Feb 23, 8am-1pm

    -- SHINE stands for "Serving Him In Numerous Endeavors"

    -- This is our time to serve our church family, especially some of the older folks in our church.  We will head out and serve for 2.5 hours.  Our church is serving and supporting us, we want to do the same - serving our home church before we ever leave.

    -- Eat breakfast before you come; we will provide lunch.

    -- This is an important part of Mission: Mexico.  YOU NEED TO BE THERE!

TRAINING 2 - Feb 24, 2-4pm

Watch videos for training 2

    -- Passport photos are due!

    -- Essay 1 questions and Amor Forms are due

    -- Complete Essay 2 Questions (due Mar 9)

    -- We will be spending part of the meeting focused on construction, part on the work we need to do in teams.  And praying, of course!

TRAINING 3 - March 9, 2-4pm

Watch Videos for Training 3

   -- Final payment is due - $100 (plus you need to have raised $200 of support. If you have not raised the support amount, you will need to make up the shortfall.  If this is a problem, just talk to Scott and we will work something out! :)

    -- You need to turn in any forms that are still missing. 

    -- We will be talking more about construction, going over packing lists, and spending lots of time in teams and prayer!

    -- Complete Essay 3 Questions (due Mar 22)

PALM SUNDAY SERVICE - Mar 16, 11am

    -- Make sure you are at church for our Palm Sunday service.  Our amazing church will be praying for us!

EASTER SERVICE / PACKING & PRAYER - Mar 22, 6pm

    -- Meet at church at 6pm to celebrate Easter with our church family

    -- Essay 3 Questions are due.

    -- Bring all your stuff that needs to be packed (the packing list is here).

    -- Bring all things that need to be packed for your ministry team

    -- After the service we will pack all of our stuff, then spend some serious time in prayer!  We will be done between 8:30 and 9pm.  Get some sleep!

    -- Eat dinner before you come!