23 Hours....

Two teams are going, one team is coming back—oh, wait, that's the movie version (d'oh!). Seriously, we have two great teams traveling together to Aguascalientes, Mexico tomorrow, and we couldn't be more excited!

GenONE, the High School ministry at Pathway, is fielding a team of ten teens and two adults. GenONE is prepared to reach the children of Dulce Refugio through games, crafts, VBS, and acts of service that may or may not include pouring concrete and laying pavers, but which are guaranteed to get them very, very dirty!

The family missions team, checking in with two more teens and seven more adults, will focus on practical tasks supporting the construction of the Boys' Dorm, which will provide a home for 100 boys when it is complete.

Aguascalientes is located on the High Plains, about 350 miles north of Mexico City. Its population is around 800,000 and is nowhere near any of the tourist areas…this is the REAL Mexico. Many have asked about safety; much of what we hear in the US is overblown by the media. Dulce Refugio has been host to many many teams from the US and Canada, and while petty crime (pickpocketing, etc) is not uncommon (as in many urban areas), the city is otherwise very safe.

The city's altitude is about 6,000 feet, which is a bit higher than Denver. We've been told that it's very hot and very dry, and that dehydration and sunburn will be our biggest concerns. Fortunately, the folks who run Dulce Refugio have hosted many teams, and they are already coaching us how to stay healthy!

The culture in Mexico is very different from the US. It's much more laid-back and is highly centered around relationships. People take priority, and schedules will always take a backseat just to spend time connecting with others. We've also learned that chivalry is a very big part of the culture, and that food and showing hospitality is the cornerstone of the people there.

We are really looking forward to learning more about the culture in Aguascalientes and to meeting the children of Dulce Refugio. We hope to learn and grow during our time there, and we expect to be changed as much as the lives we hope to impact. We thank you for your prayers for smooth travel and safe arrival in Aguascalientes, and for the Lord to provide each of us with clear focus on Him and on His children.

We thank the Lord for using us as His hands and feet!