Scott & Jamie Durham

In Other News...

2012-01-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

So, what do you think?

47 YWAMers. 3 Homes. 1 Day.

2011-12-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

This week we have the privilege of hosting YWAM's Global Leadership Form at our Tijuana campus. This group of YWAMers from all over the world serve as the leadership team for this international ministry. And, in true YWAM San Diego/Baja style, the first thing they did was build a house!

Well, make that three homes in one day, actually.

It began with the sound of power saws and hammers. Regional leaders and international coordinators were carrying sheets of plywood and dipping brushes into containers of paint. The 47 attendees, who had come from countries as far away as Zambia, South Korea and India, had dedicated their first day to building three homes for the poor in Tijuana, Mexico.

The night before, at an opening dinner, Sean Lambert, leader of YWAM’s Homes of Hope ministry, had explained how 3,800 people a month come to this border city looking for work. Many of them struggle to survive through the cold, rainy winter in shacks made of wooden pallets and bits of tin. In 21 years, YWAM’s Homes of Hope program has now built 3,500 homes for people like this.

At one building site, Alma shyly held her one-year-old baby and looked on with excitement as YWAMers clad in yellow tee shirts bustled around to build her new home. “I’m looking forward to having a safe place for my kids,” she said. “This is going to be my future.”

Why would YWAM’s senior leaders spend one whole day of their six-day annual meeting to pound nails together? Steve Goode, ambassador for YWAM mercy ministries, paused for a moment, hammer in hand, to answer this question. “Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by poverty, unless you just do one thing. Because when you do one thing together, I guarantee you that everybody who is doing this one thing is going to go do another thing. That’s multiplication.”

At the end of the day, as the sun set beyond the hills, Alma wiped a tear from her cheek as she received the keys to her new home. The paint was still wet on the red trim around her front door as she walked inside. She discovered a table set for four, a new stove, and a bed complete with a stuffed animal for her four-year-old son Angel.

To Alma and her family, Edwin Filles, from South Africa, said, “I think the blessing for me has been working together. What really touched me was how you got involved. And I think the most special was to share a meal with you. Muchas gracias!”

As the YWAM bus took the weary YWAM leaders up the hill, they passed two more homes standing where in the morning there had only been cement slabs.

Thanks to YWAM Life and David Donaldson for content and photos.

Zona Norte

2011-11-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

Literally, it means 'The North Zone,' or the part of Tijuana right up next to the border. What you'll find there - homeless, prostitutes, street kids, drug addicts...

...and YWAM.

For over a year YWAM has had a consistent presence in this area of Tijuana. On Wednesdays, we set up a mobile soup kitchen at a city park where many homeless and drug addicts live. We provide a meal, share the Gospel in creative ways, and always finish with a time of prayer.

Often we'll walk through the area, praying for the people we see and against the evil that has a hold in this area of town.

On Mondays, we go to a different park in the same neighborhood. We play games with the kids, teach them Bible stories, and do arts and crafts.

Something we have been doing for the last few weeks is prophesying over one kid per week. We ask God how He would like to encourage that child, and then share with them. There have been some incredible talks with those kids as we speak God's truth over their lives. There are visible changes in them when they come back the next week - they know we're on their side and care for them. Some of these kids are children of the prostitutes or sex workers that we minister to on Wednesdays. Our heart is to reach the whole family with the love of Christ.

Thanks to Giezi & Amanda Niño and Jodie MacLean for the inspiration and photos for this blog.

Cambodia

2011-10-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Finally! Pictures from Scott's trip to Cambodia in August. We are so thankful for the people who gave generously to make this trip possible. Scott was able to meet with many organizations who minister to and provide rescue for victims of slave and sex trafficking. It was an intense two weeks, full of emotional and physical challenges. Enjoy these photos from his trip.

One of the many temples in Phnom Penh

Scott went to this market every morning to buy breakfast.

A Vacation Bible School that Scott and his team helped with one day. These kids were jumping and singing and dancing, hence the fuzzy picture.

Read the first sentence of this sign carefully - it helps explain why sex trafficking is such a problem in Cambodia.

Yum - tarantulas! And no, Scott did not eat it (he'd tried it last time he was in Cambodia).

Many of the team's meals were at restaurants like this one. These businesses help rescue people out of the slave and sex trade by training them to work as chefs and waiter.

Downtown Phnom Penh - the view from the YWAM campus.

Scott was able to help build a home for a family living in extreme poverty. It was not something his team had planned on doing. Another group of missionaries were leaving just as Scott's team arrived, and they had wanted to build a home but couldn't. Then, within a few days, the money was raised, a family selected, and Scott was able to help make this house a reality.

Everything was cut by hand tools the first day. The team took an offering that night and were able to purchase a skill saw to help speed things up for the rest of the build.

Houses are built on a platform to help avoid flooding during the rainy season.

This rickshaw was the team's 'tool van' for the week. Notice the building supplies balanced on top?

The floor is laid.

Walls going up.

Just as the house was being completed, it started to downpour.

The house dedication ceremony was held inside this small tarp structure. It was so hot in there!

Sharing with the family who received the home.

Around the World and Back Again

2011-09-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, Scott went to Cambodia.

Yes, Jamie and Hunter went to Washington State.

But for now, you get pictures of Kona, Hawaii.

It's tough to keep track of this family of world travelers!

gorgeous view from our hotel

it's a jungle out there!

'i wonder what's down there?'

these beauties were everywhere

surprisingly enough, we also saw license plates from oregon and washington.
that must have been a tough drive.

our reason for being here - a university of the nations conference
hosted by the ywam kona campus.

every morning began with a group bible study on the book of colossians.

each flag represents a nationality currently on staff at ywam kona.

there were over 30 flags!

hunter wants 'more' of something...

...maybe more of these cool dudes?

yes, they smelled amazing.

and yes, they tasted amazing.

digging for treasures.

it took awhile for him to figure out how to walk on the sand.
he got it eventually.

our little surfer dude.

headin' to the water.

a beautiful way to finish our time in hawaii

Over a month of traveling and we are so glad to be back home. We plan on staying in Mexico for most of the rest of the year, doing what we love and loving what we do here on the YWAM Tijuana del Mar campus.

the times, they are a changin'...

2011-08-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

No, not that song.

It's our life.

Over the past six weeks, there has been a lot of change. Which means a lot of growth, adjustment, flexibility, confusion, and opportunity.

Yes. It's our life.

We are excited to see two families from our YWAM community pioneer a new YWAM base and ministry. That change has brought about some major transitions in our day to day life. One of those families were the leaders of our Tijuana campus, the other family oversaw the operations and resource development of the whole San Diego/Baja base. Oh, and the couple that led our Ensenada campus? Yeah, they're also transitioning to a new role within our ministry.

People respond to change differently. Scott embraces it and runs with it. Jamie sits back, evaluates, and then tentatively moves forward. Hunter, well, he's pretty much oblivious to it. Together, we've been challenged over the past six weeks. To face some fears. To embrace the community around us. To encourage others to step forward and lead.

welcome to leadership

We are humbled and honored to serve on the Tijuana campus leadership team for this season, sharing times of prayer and discussion about what the future holds for our community. Really, what that means is a lot of meetings with a group of us looking at each other saying, "Um, what do we do now? Pray? Ok!" The Lord has directed us to focus on the core - our relationship with Him and the primary callings that He's given this ministry. It's brought up a lot of opportunities for growth, some very difficult conversations, and some amazing freedom amongst the staff we serve with.

It's amazing the things that you learn when you're in the midst of a season of change.

Take this paraphrased story from the book of Mark:

Jesus did a lot of preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. Once, the crowds got so big he had to get on a boat, go out on the lake, and preach from there since there was no more room to stand on the shore. Imagine the 12 disciples, sitting there, soaking in all this incredible truth. Then Jesus says, "Let's go over there," pointing to the other side of the lake. The 13 of them get in the boat, start to sail, and then - BAM - a storm. The 12 freak out. The One sleeps...until the 12 wake Him up, desperate for help. Jesus does His thing, the storm goes away, and the disciples freak out again (in a good way).

So here's the thought:

What was it that Jesus wanted to teach the disciples in the storm

that they couldn't learn on the shore?

Lately it feels like we've found ourselves in a storm. Wondering what we are learning, what Jesus is teaching us. And trying not to freak out.

Change.

We're pretty sure it's a good thing.

Because we can...

2011-06-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

....as parents, brag as much as we want about our son's FIRST STEPS!

'Why not?'

2011-06-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Los Pelicanos - delicious!

Last night we took a couple out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Rosarito. This couple are YWAMers from another base, visiting Tijuana for a week. We met them for the first time a few days ago but when the chance came to spend an evening together, we thought, 'Why not?'

Dinner was delicious. The conversation - back and forth, telling stories of the early days of YWAM and sharing our journeys around the world and back. Hunter provided entertainment for us and nourishment for the birds that feasted on the crumbs he dropped over the edge of his highchair. All in all, a great night out with new friends.

On the way home, the wife casually mentioned that they had some groceries left over from their week here and wondered if we would like them. Not ones to turn down free food, we said, 'Why not?', thinking it would be a few slices of bread and maybe a bit of milk.

Boy, were we wrong! Bag after bag were filled with groceries from their room, and it took two people to carry all that goodness out to our car. Of course we said thank you, but - wow - what else could you say?

Now, here's where it gets good.

When we got home and started unpacking, the significance of what just happened began to hit us.

There was a carton of eggs - Hunter's favorite breakfast and, easily, he eats at least a dozen in a week. In another bag, two types of cheeses that Jamie has been wanting to buy but couldn't quite justify spending those few extra dollars. Then we pulled out some canned salmon, one of Scott's favorite protein-packed snacks. Oh, and a bag of mini apples? Yup, Hunter just discovered how to eat apples a loves them...and they are just his size! A stick of butter - which we just ran out of this weekend. And it went on and on and on and on.

We were not down to our last tortilla and wondering how we were going to find food for tomorrow. This was not a George Mueller type situation. It was as if God, knowing the desires of our hearts (the unspoken, almost unthought ones), looked around, shrugged his shoulders, and said,

'Why not?'

"What happens next?"

2011-06-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

We hear that question all the time. In our Homes of Hope ministry, groups come for a few days, build a home for a family, and then leave. But what do we do with the families after we build them a house?

Here is one family's story.

Everyday Tuesday and Thursday our staff pass by a certain neighborhood to pick up kids for our after school program, Circulo Andante. This family's kids started coming after we built their home a few months ago. The first day they came, their oldest daughter was in a great deal of pain with an ear infection. When our staff asked her if she wanted to go to the doctor she said no. She had never been to a doctor. Finally, after the pain was too much to bear, she visited the doctor. The infection was bad but the doctor's prescription brought her back to complete health.

A couple weeks later we found that her brother Luise was unable to read. He is old enough to be in fifth grade, but can’t even recognize the alphabet. Our staff from Circulo Andante created a personalized plan to help Luise learn to read.

Yesterday, as the YWAM vans drove up to the house to pick up the kids, Luise started jumping up and down shouting to his siblings, “They are here! They are here! It’s time to go!”

We love the people that we build for. Our desire is not to simply build houses, but to show and demonstrate God’s love in every area of life - physical wellness, educational transformation, and beyond.

That is what happens next.

thanks to our good friend Andrea for the story that inspired this post.

Our Home

2011-06-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our new home in Tijuana. Exactly how you would find it on a typical day in our lives...toys, diapers, unmade beds and all.

welcome to our house

(those flowers were only .99!)

hunter's play area. he loves to eat the dirt

the side of the house - our clothes line and veggie/herb garden

can you spot hunter?

where jamie spends most of her days.

scott's experiment in trying to grow a lawn. not too bad, so far.

the other side of the house. pure randomness.

heading upstairs

the view of downstairs

upstairs - office/library/craft room/random stuff

upstairs - hunter's room

upstairs - your room when you come to visit

upstairs - your bathroom when you come to visit

upstairs - master bedroom

our view from the two oceanside balconies

master closet

master bedroom

We love it. Hunter destroys it on a daily basis. It's quickly become our home.

March Madness

2011-04-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

And no, we're not referring to the college basketball tournament that happens this time each year (even though we are big sports fans and loved seeing Butler make a run at it!).

We're talking about the last month of our lives.

Our feelings. Exactly.

March was C.R.A.Z.Y.

Actually, it started in the middle of February when our Tijuana del Mar campus hosted our yearly 'Baja and Beyond' fundraising event. Friends of the ministry attended the weekend event, building three homes and pledging $200,000 to the future development of the ministry. Scott worked night and day, along with the rest of the Tijuana staff, to prepare for the weekend. It is something totally different from what we do every day so it was a nice change of pace...but we were glad to slow down a bit when it was over.

But wait...nope...slowing down wasn't in the plans for us! Sometime during the blur of what was the end of February, we decided it was time to MOVE TO A NEW HOUSE! Months of Hunter sleeping in the kitchen and having the coffee pot on our bedside table finally got to us. Plus Hunter was getting more and more mobile and we simply needed more space.

The house hunt began! To cut it short, we saw over half a dozen homes in about a week, weighing the pros and cons. We finally decided on this one and by the time it was all said and done, we had literally THREE DAYS to move.

New house. A camera. Sunset. Enough said.

Moving day came. And it rained. Not just sprinkle-mist-drip-drop. It was open-the-sky-and-buckets-pour-down deluge. So everything (and everyone!) got a nice shower while we packed, moved, shifted, and drove stuff from one house to the next. (Side note: we are still sifting through boxes...over a month later.)

Final moments at our old house.

A few days of relative normalcy followed, which gave us a bit of time to settle in to the new place and figure out how everything was going to fit. Hunter discovered stairs and doors (neither of which we had inside our other house), which provided nonstop entertainment for him.

Moving Day = new things for Hunter to crawl on!

Packing Day

2011-02-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

Pack 'Em Up & Move 'Em Out!

2011-02-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

Yup, that's right. It's MOVING DAY!!!

We've found a new house to rent and are incredibly excited to move in over the weekend. It's only a mile south of where we currently live in Tijuana and we can't wait to make it our home.

Our new home

Of course, that's basically an impossible task, being that we got the keys to the new house today and have a total of four cardboard boxes accumulated to pack and store an entire house-FULL stuff. Should be interesting!

It was definitely one of those 'there-is-no-way-this-will-work-out-unless-God-does-a-miracle' deals. The minute we walked into the house we both knew that it was 'the one.' And then we saw the rental price.

Yikes.

So we prayed. And prayed. And prayed some more. And offered the price that we felt we should offer.

And were...

So we prayed again. And prayed some more. And offered a new price, not much higher than what we originally offered, and waited to be denied again.

BUT...

God did a miracle and we got the house.

These two keys mean it's for REAL!

So if you're in the area any time soon, we've got a place for you to stay. And if you're in the area, say, Saturday or Sunday, we should could use a few helping hands as we pack 'em up and move 'em out.

Live From Egypt!

2011-02-16T09:24:00.001-08:00

Join us at 10 AM PST this morning to hear first-hand stories of the recent events in Egypt. We will be interviewing the YWAM Egypt’s leader and join together with other YWAM campuses in prayer for the future of this nation.

Live video by Ustream

The New Normal

2011-01-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

We sat down to dinner last night and casually introduced ourselves to the people at our table.

"Where are you guys from?" we asked.

"Oh, we're the outreach team from Manitoba."

We looked at each other...um, we have an outreach team from Manitoba?!?!

Welcome to the New Normal.

Not even five years ago, we could count the number of full-time staff at our Tijuana campus on two hands. Keep track of visiting teams and house builds with Post-It notes. And outreach teams? Maybe once a year.

Fast forward to this weekend and we have:

a Discipleship Training School of twenty students from around five countries.
a Children at Risk School of about a dozen students, and staff from three countries.
the afore-mentioned outreach team from Manitoba, Canada, with a focus on justice ministries.
a group of 100 friends and church members from Southern California building four homes.
not to mention the full time and short term staff, which is pushing 40+ people.

Oh, and on Monday another local house building ministry is arriving for a three day conference.

Scott made a comment the other day about how we've overbooked one of the rooms on campus this week. Between this three-day conference, the training schools, and a weekly course on the history of missions, it seems that we're bursting at the seams for space.

Our new meeting hall filled to capacity!

Didn't we just move on to this campus?!?!

We can sit back and look at the numbers and say, "Wow, look at how many people are here! This is great!" But it's not about the numbers so much. It's about a number...

...the one kid in Zona Norte who may not have to work the streets tonight because she got a cup of hot soup from our team of staff.

...the one boy who's attended Circulo Andante for the past two years and can finally read with confidence.

...the one father who weeps with gratitude as he realizes his family will be safe at night in their new home.

...the one teenager who looks forwards to Friday more than any other day because he knows our Juvy Ministry Team is coming to visit him behind bars.

It's about the one.

So this New Normal? It's still new to us. It probably will be for a long time, since things tend to change around here quite often. But it's so worth it.

Now, off to get to know these guys from Manitoba a bit better...

it can only get better from here...

2010-12-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

...and by here, we mean in Cottonwood, CA, sitting on the side of the road in our broken-down car at 6:45 AM on a Saturday morning.

Yup, the middle of nowhere. This is where we were!

Ugh.

Yup, not the greatest way to start our trip to Washington. It was about 12 hours into our drive north and our car suddenly went kaput. Thankfully we have some amazing friends who live in a town just south of our unplanned stop and they took five hours out of their weekend to rescue us.

By this point, all we could do was wait.

After towing the car to our friend's house, arranging for a mechanic, moving our luggage, renting a car, driving to the rental place, moving all our luggage again, and lots of hugs, we were finally on the road again.

We arrived in Washington nine hours later. A night at Jamie's parent's house and then over the mountain to Scott's family the next day.

Ahhhh....finally.

Things are looking up.

Early mornings are best spent by the Christmas tree.

It's amazing how a dusting of snow makes anything beautiful.

Graduation Day!

2010-12-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

Can you tell we're excited to graduate?!?!

Time to toss your cap in the air and shout for joy - graduation day is here!

Okay, well...no caps or gowns will be present, but there will be lots of celebrating as the Leadership Training School graduates today. Scott will be one of those graduates, pulling a 90.5% as his final grade (even though he is missing from the school photo above...thus is the life of a staff/student). Awesome!

We are excited but also feeling the bittersweet emotions of the end of this season. Having so many nations on campus, so many kids running around, so many languages around the dinner table...these past few months have definitely broke the mold of what 'normal' is here at Tijuana del Mar.

You can join us in the graduation celebration by watching it via live stream today! Click here at 3:30 PM PST to watch the festivities (technology willing).

But...it only gets more exciting from here! Tomorrow night we will take off on a 15+ hour road trip to Washington State for three weeks with family and friends over the holidays. We're driving through the night so Hunter can sleep (and so we don't have to entertain him for so many hours) and are hoping to be somewhere in Oregon by the time he wakes up on Saturday morning. Pray for clear roads and good weather...and then, once we arrive, lots of snow!

Scott Makes Hunter Laugh

2010-11-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

Who knew a sneeze would be so funny?

Summer Has Arrived!!! (In November?)

2010-11-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

This week's weather in Tijuana has been straight out of the desert.

We haven't dipped below 90°F (32°C) during the daytime. All.Week.Long.

Yikes.

Although it has been GREAT weather to suntan, dry clothes on the clothesline, or melt asphalt, it's not so great for little 7 month old boys who kinda get cranky when they're hot.

So, what to do?

Here are a few ideas...

Oh, that smile!

Splash, splash, splash.

Can you see the little drop of water hanging off his hair?

Hunter didn't quite understand why he couldn't grab the water.

After 30 minutes of splish-splash, Hunter was all wet and all done.

First Impressions

2010-10-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

There are some incredibly talented photographers on staff with us in Tijuana. This summer they hosted some more incredibly talented photographers from around the world...and pointed-and-shooted their way around America's Most Famously Notorious City (ie: Tijuana).

This book was compiled of their 'first impressions' of their time here. All proceeds from the sale of the book go directly to our Homes of Hope program. If you'd like to support families in need of a home...and see some beautiful images of a city that we have grown to love as our own...check out 'Tijuana - First Impressions.' You might see some things you recognize, some things that surprise you, and some things that may change your impression of Tijuana, too.

YWAM San Diego/Baja 50th Anniversary Celebration

2010-09-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

A two minute video about YWAM's 50th Anniversary Event at our Tijuana campus.

A Bit of Us

2010-09-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

As usual, a lot is going on with us these days. To save you from a long, boring entry filled with "and then we did this...and then we did this...and then we did this...", we've condensed our lives into four chunks - one for each of us.

Enjoy!

SCOTT
Back to school! Scott begins his Leadership Training School today on our Tijuana campus. There are around 90 students from over 40 countries accepted for the school, but many of them are still waiting on their Mexican visas to be processed so they can travel to Tijuana. Nevertheless, there are around 50 students on campus today to mark the beginning of this three month training.

Scott was out the door by 7:15 AM this morning (which is why Hunter is still in his pajamas in this picture). See that backpack on his shoulders? It was part of his Birthday Surprise, and contains the laptop and iPod that he received. Those gifts have been SUCH A BLESSING to him over the past six weeks as he prepared for this school.

JAMIE
Our kitchen was filled with lots and lots of these over the past few weeks:

Mmmm...double chocolate peanut butter brownies. YUM! But they weren't alone. Jamie baked cream cheese danishes, banana muffins, cheese straws, and orange biscotti to fill our counters and fridge to overflowing. Luckily (for our waistlines) we didn't eat these dozens of pastries all by ourselves. YWAM's 50th Anniversary brought hundreds of guests to the Tijuana campus and our coffee shop opened just in time to sell these yummy treats along with delicious barista creations. To read more about the event, check out the official report here (which Jamie just happened to write!).

HUNTER
Remember this little guy?

Fast forward six months, and he's THIS little guy:

Amazing, huh?

CHANGA

No, we have not forgotten about our mutt.

Changa is the best dog. Ever. End of discussion.

Unless you ask the four squirrels she has...er...well...killed over the past month. Yup, our dog has become an ardent defender of our freedom and liberty against the invasion of squirrels. Or at least that's what she would say if you asked her.

So that's a bit of 'us' as of late. For those who want the long, boring version...sorry, we don't do boring.

Happy 200th Birthday, México!

2010-09-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

In two days, Mexico is gonna party like it's 2010.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Mexico's Independence and the 100th anniversary of the Revolution. Need we say more?

Independence Day will begin with the "Grito" at midnight on the morning of Thursday, September 16th. The day will continue with celebrations across the country, but none as big as the one planned for Mexico City...which our Tijuana DTS outreach team will just happen to arrive in time to attend! What a party that is going to be.

Join with us in celebrating the freedom of this country that we have grown to love.

¡Viva Mexico!

There Must Be More

2010-09-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to be affected. You're there, in the community, seeing the poverty, watching the families struggle to survive.

You realize how much you have. And how much they don't. The immediate response is to give. Something. Now. And then come back later and give more.

Does a response mean it is the right response? This interview from a 30 year veteran in an international Christian ministry might cause you to pause and think again.

"One of the greatest lessons I learned during my career has to do with the importance of the process of development. Typically what happens with organizations [including local churches] is that they go into an impoverished community, see problems, and have an immediate idea of what needs to be done. These organizations typically have lots of resources (at least in the eyes of the community), and they feel the need--often with good intentions--to solve problems. So they design a project, find funding, and essentially do the project. Later on, they try to develop local leaders to take over the project so they can move on to other communities.

"What I found in practice, however, is that this doesn't work well. What works better is just the opposite. First, develop local leaders. Encourage them to do small projects with their own resources. This helps them build confidence and learn how to work together in harmony in the community. As they gain practice in that process, then it may be appropriate to bring in outside resources." Randy Hoag, former president of Food for the Hungry

Yes, there is a place for generosity.

Yes, there is a place for emergency assistance.

Yes, the church must be in the middle of disaster zones, responding in love and compassion.

But there must be more.

Where We Are Not

2010-09-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

YWAM - where we are, where we will GO from YWAM Kona on Vimeo.

Once Every Fifty Years

2010-09-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

In 2010 we celebrate...

A life-changing vision.

A world-changing movement.

Knowing God and His everlasting faithfulness, goodness, power and love.

Making Him known in all nations, all tongues, all peoples

We celebrate 50 years of Youth With a Mission.

The YWAM Tijuana del Mar campus will be abuzz with people, music, teaching, worship, prayer, laughter...anything that can be used to celebrate, it'll be here! On Sunday afternoon, September 5th, we will welcome over 400 people to our campus to host one of YWAM's 50th Anniversary Celebrations for the North America and Caribbean regions. Guests have already begun to arrive and the preparations for these three days of rejoicing have been months in the making.

It's not often that one is a part of such a significant milestone. It's also special to note that the founders of YWAM, Loren and Darlene Cunningham, will be on site with us to share these few days together. They have set aside this year to travel the globe and celebrate all that God has done over the past five decades through this ministry. We look forward to hearing from them, and other YWAM leaders, about God's faithfulness to us in the past and promises for the future.

To find out more about YWAM's half-century celebration, you can go to http://www.ywam50.com.

If you want to see some amazing photos (and enter a bit of a time warp), check out the YWAM's image gallery here.

Fifty years and counting!

How Rich are You?

2010-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world. Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here's your chance to find out: http://www.globalrichlist.com.

Hunter Laughs

2010-08-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

Our little guy figured out how to laugh. Isn't he cute?

Hunter Rolls Over

2010-08-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hunter rolls over...this time, without any help from Changa.

Ben and Katie - one year later

2010-08-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

On Thursday August 27, 2009, Ben and Katie Rye were struck by a truck at high speed while on their way to dinner together. Since that time they have both fought through difficult recovery - physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. Ben remains in an intense rehab program to regain the full use of his entire body. Katie is by his side every day, his biggest cheerleader and strongest warrior. She has made a complete recovery from her injuries while Ben continues to make strides every day in his journey to full healing.

It is now one year later and we continue to pray for Ben's complete recovery. We know that God can heal him (and will heal him!) so we trust in His timing. Katie is a YWAMer from years ago (she did her DTS in Hawaii and outreach to South East Asia) and Jamie grew up with her in Olympia, going to the same church and sharing homeschooling adventures.

Please join with us in prayer today as we mark the one year anniversary of their accident...and look to this year for complete healing for them in every way.

Please visit Ben and Katie's blog for their complete story, or click here for specific prayer requests.

Happy 5 Month Birthday, Hunter!

2010-08-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

...a very happy five months, indeed. We love you, Hunter!

A Mosquito in the Room

2010-08-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending a night in a closed room with a mosquito."

African Proverb

This is the story of a young man from Boston named Edward Kimball.

Edward taught Sunday School at his church because he felt called to invest himself in the lives of young boys and men. To get to know his students better, he would often visit them during the week where they lived or worked.

One Sunday a challenging teenager showed up to his class. The boy was seventeen, a bit rough hewn, poorly educated, and prone to outbursts of anger and profanity. Edward thought about how he might reach this boy and one day decided to visit him at the shoe store where he worked for his uncle. Kimball passed by the store once, trying to get up the courage to speak to the boy. What would he say, he wondered, and how would he be received?

Finally, he entered and found the boy in the back, wrapping shoes and putting them on the shelves. Edward went to him, simply put his hand on the young man's shoulder, and mumbled some words about Christ's love for him. And apparently his timing was just right, because right there in the shoe store, the boy was moved to commit his life to Christ. His name was Dwight L. Moody, and he became the most successful evangelist of the nineteenth century, preaching to an estimated one hundred million people during his lifetime and traveling perhaps a million miles - before the time of radio, television, and air travel!

But the story gets better.

Moody himself, in 1879, was instrumental in the conversion of another young man, F.B. Meyer, who also grew up to become a minister. Meyer subsequently mentored J.W. Chapman and led him to Christ. Chapman also became a pastor and evangelist and started an outreach ministry to professional baseball players. One of the players he met, Billy Sunday, became Chapman's assistant and advance man for many of evangelistic meetings.

In time, Sunday, having learned the art of preaching from Chapman, started to hold his own evangelistic meetings. One of his revivals, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the 1920s, was so successful that an associate of his named Mordecai Ham...was asked to come back to Charlotte a few years later to hold a second series of evangelistic meetings.

On one of the final nights, when Ham was preaching, a gangly teenager came forward and responded to his call to 'give your life to Christ." His name was Billy Graham.

Edward Kimball may have thought of himself as too small to make a difference. God saw him as a mosquito in the room.

content borrowed from The Hole in our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, pg 262.

Scott's Birthday Surprise - the video!

2010-08-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Check out the surprise of the year...

The Center of the Center of the Center

2010-08-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

There is a map hanging on the kitchen wall. Usually a map this size is of a country, continent, or of the entire world. This map, however, is of just one city.

Mexico City.

There is a hand drawn arrow pointing to an intersection of two roads. Someone has written “Our Home!” by the arrow and circled these crossroads. That point shows where we lived for our week in Mexico City. One small drop in the middle of a huge ocean, so to speak.

Even one glance at this map can give you a good idea at how BIG this city really is. There are over a dozen zones, all divided by colored lines and named after famous people, locations, or events in Mexico’s history. Trying to actually use this map is somewhat pointless; the streets are so compact and close together that reading their names is almost impossible.

“Our Home!” was located steps from the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City’s culture and history. The Zocalo is located at the center of Cuauhtémoc, which is the zone located at the center of Mexico City. And Mexico City is the center of its nation, Mexico. And Mexico is often seen as the center of Latin America’s influence on the world.

The center of the center of the center of the center.

Hmm.

The significance?

Good question.

Our outreach days were held in the zone called Gustavo A. Madero. This zone is the most populated zone in all of Mexico City – another ‘center,’ so to speak. It is also the home to the Basílica de Guadalupe, the largest Catholic church in Mexico and a place of pilgrimage for Latin American Catholics from around the world. This zone is where the story of Guadalupe’s miraculous appearance in a vision to Juan Diego supposedly took place over 200 years ago. It can be compared with Jerusalem or Salt Lake City - the most important place in the entire religion. Yet another ‘center.’

Seems to be a theme.

Again, the significance? We’re not sure. It’s more of a realization that our week in Mexico City might mean a little more than what we originally thought.

Kids are an Excuse for Everything

2010-07-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Last night was not a good night.

Hunter was up at 2:30 AM, whining, squirming. The only thing that would calm him down was sleeping in my arms. He hasn't done that since he was three days old. As I propped myself up in the corner of our roofless warehouse bedroom with pillows all around me and watched him sleep, I wondered, "Is this going to be one of those stories I tell one day as my 'back in the day when I first was in missions...' heritage?" It got a smile out of me around 4:45 AM.

Needless to say Hunter and I weren't going anywhere this morning. Unfortunately we missed out on the final Day of Compassion outreach, but Scott was able to go (more about that later). I was a bit bummed, wondering how this whole family thing was going to work with this whole missions thing. Can I have one and the other? Or will the kids always be the 'excuse' that trumps everything else?

After lunch Hunter and I were sitting downstairs and a few guys walked into the warehouse. Two of them came over and asked if I spoke Spanish (to their surprise, I said yes) and if I had time to chat with them. One of the guys' names was Humberto. He had come across one of the Days of Compassion teams near the local metro stop earlier that day. They explained what they were doing and where they were staying, and Humberto decided to pay us a visit.

He's a funny looking guy...to be honest. Skinny, cross-eyed, a bit of a speech impediment. My first impression was someone who might have a hard time holding a conversation. However, an hour and a half later, I was proved very, very wrong.

Humberto is a born-again Christian. He wants Mexico to change. He knows about the pain of her history, the explorers, the injustices, the corruption. Growing up in the Catholic church, he questioned what he was taught against the Bible that he read. He saw deception and didn't like it. Through a family tragedy he came to know the Lord when he was in his teens. Now he shares, "I don't want to waste any more time. There are signs everywhere that Jesus is coming soon!"

I asked him, "What do you think will be the thing that will change Mexico?" He said,

"Being able to love your neighbor without expecting anything in return."

Wow.

So today, my kid was an excuse. To stay home and chat with Humberto. To invite him to our final day of the GYO tomorrow. To hear his story and hear his heart.

I guess sometimes excuses are a good thing.

Jamie

Days of Compassion - Day 1

2010-07-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

We headed to Gustavo A. Madero, the zone in Mexico City with the highest population density and home to the Basílica de Guadalupe, the largest Catholic Church in Mexico. Arriving at 9 AM, we met up with the other GYO participants and started out with prayer and worship. A few hours of 2by2 evangelism, then an open air in front of the City Delegation.

Miraculously we were given permission to use a performance stage set up right in front of the Delegation, so in the afternoon we gave two more open air events there. A few people got saved, we were able to pray for two people to be healed, and invited a lot of people back to Friday's events at the same stage. It was a long, hot day, but a lot of fun!

It was AMAZING to see the youth from Mexico City step up and go for it during our times of ministry. They talked and prayed with SO many people. It was awesome. As the day went on, they became more and more excited and bold about sharing. THAT'S why we do what we do...to see these youth grab a hold of what they can do with God.

Day Three in Mexico City

2010-07-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Three nights in and we FINALLY got a good night's sleep. Hunter beat us, though, at almost 11 hours straight - 8:30 PM to 7 AM. Let's just say that time zone changes, living with two YWAM outreach teams, trying to figure out the metro system, how to hail a taxi without getting run over, dodging the nightly rainstorms, and living in the downtown of the busiest city in Mexico can make settling down for the evening a bit of a challenge.

Sleep or no sleep, our time in Mexico City has been great so far. Here are a few more pictures of what's been going on with the Global Youth Outreach...and a few funny moments from us as a family as well.

We've Arrived!

2010-07-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of our first 24 hours in Mexico City. The plane flight went great (Hunter was a champ!) and we were able to sleep in until around 10:30 AM local time, which helped with the time change and travel.

Tomorrow starts the Global Youth Outreach. We will be helping with translation and leading a team of local youth during the Days of Compassion, a city-wide outreach towards the end of the week.

Changa and the Squirrel

2010-07-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

What happens when Changa has a free afternoon on our patio.

"Hey, you look familiar. Have we met?"

2010-06-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

Five in Five

2010-06-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you've got five minutes to spare then you've got time to read this post!

Here are Five Current Events in our lives right now...written in under Five Minutes (yes, we are timing ourselves).

Ready...set...go!

1. Our Little Man.

He's not so little anymore! Hunter is approaching 3 months old and is a whopping 9+ pounds. Yikes. He's cooing, smiling, almost holding his head up on his own, and next week we'll start him on his summer weight-lifting rountine. Ha! He loves watching sports with Dad and hanging out all day with Mom. What a fun kid.

2. Mexico City in July. Check out your snail mail for more info on this (if you don't get anything from us soon, let us know and we'll send something your way). We're heading to Mexico City at the end of July for this and it's gonna be awesome.

3. Back on the Build Site. Memorial Day weekend was our first time as a family to build a home together. We had a blast with New Life Church from Renton, Washington. If you haven't seen the video, then check it out.

4. When Plans Change. The other morning Scott had a change of plans that worked out to the best. Some meetings were cancelled so he found himself at his desk, working away. One of our staff members popped in and asked if had a second to spare. She led him to the conference room, where she explained that one of our security guards (who she had been talking with) wanted to give his life to the Lord! She asked Scott to pray with him and they all shared in that special moment. Pretty neat, huh?

5. DTS is back! Today marks the beginning of the summer Discipleship Training School here at YWAM San Diego/Baja. It will be held at our Tijuana campus, which makes us super happy. Four of the DTS staff were students in the school that we led in the fall of 2008, which makes us even more super happy. There are around a dozen students from around the world. We are looking forward to getting to know them more through out the next few months.

Phew...we did it! Okay, so it was a bit more than five minutes. But hey, not bad, huh?

Global Youth Outreach - Mexico City 2010

2010-06-08T19:20:00.001-07:00

For one week in July, Mexico City won't know what hit it.

We're planning on being there to see it all.

...and he slept through it all.

2010-06-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Evolution of Naptime

2010-05-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

The beginning.

The middle.

The end.

Ideas have Consequences

2010-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, they do.

This phrase - 'ideas have consequences' - is the starting point of this book by Darrow Miller, one of our modern heroes in missions. His writing on worldview, poverty, and community development have rocked our world and ruined us for the ordinary.

And this week, he's here!

We have the privilege of having Darrow Miller, live and in person, at our Tijuana campus this week. He is teaching to local pastors, YWAM students and staff, and visitors on topics such as community transformation, discipling cultures, the Great Commission...it's been amazing.

Scott is helping to get the teachings to stream live online. It's neat to think that his effort is making it possible for hundreds of people around the world to listen to what Darrow is sharing. Jamie and Hunter are sitting in on the teachings when they can...but are completely enjoying Scott's work that allows them to be at home and listen live online!

If you'd like to check out what we're learning, click here. Darrow will be teaching live from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM until Friday, May 7th, and after that time the videos will be available for download at the same website. It's great stuff...challenging...thought-provoking...convicting...and life changing. We encourage you to check it out to get a taste of our life this week.

Some things never go out of style

2010-04-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

The music may be outdated.

The fashion has come, gone, come, and gone again.

And the hair. Talk about a disco time machine.

Style-wise, it's definitely not on the latest catwalk.

But the message.

The

message

timeless

Happy Easter

Rise & Shine

2010-04-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

There's no better way to start your morning.

One Week Later

2010-04-02T09:01:00.001-07:00

One week. Pure bliss.

Welcome Home - Hunter Elijah Durham

2010-03-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

Watch out world - he's here!

Hunter Elijah Durham

March 26, 2010

2:28 AM

6 lbs, 5 oz

We are excited, tired, proud...and really, really in love.

Baby Durham Update

2010-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's 2:00 pm Thusday afternoon. Sitting at the hospital for a couple hours now waiting for little Hunter Elijah Durham to make his entrance.

Since you probably don't want to know all the details of the labor process this far, we'll just say that Jamie and Baby are doing GREAT!

Three Minutes on the Sidewalk

2010-03-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

My first clue should have been the group of people lingering on the sidewalk. There weren’t many – maybe five in total – but I strolled right past them and up to the front door. After all, it was almost 2 PM and my appointment was at 2 PM on the dot. I swung my arm forward, grabbed the metal door handle, and gave a quick tug.

Ka-thunk.

A small case of minor whiplash later, I realized the door was locked…thus the group of people waiting on the sidewalk outside. A quick check of my watch revealed that it was almost 2 PM…1:57 to be exact.

Welcome to the world of government efficiency where 2 PM means ‘2 PM-and-not-a-minute-sooner-because-then-break-time-would-be-cut-short-thank-you-very-much.’

Three minutes.

I sidled away from the door and kept my eyes down, hoping that someone else might offer a repeat performance of my attempt at a grand entrance so that I wouldn’t be the last fool standing. A patch of concrete about ten feet from the door looked good so I leaned against the wall and waited.

Two minutes.

A glance around the meager crowd gathered on the sidewalk didn’t reveal much. An elderly man in a jean jacket and worn baseball cap. A mother trying to entertain her toddler son with an offer of crackers and juice. A middle age lady sitting on the curb. A young couple who might pass for high school students except for the tell-tale bump under the young lady’s shirt. I tried to catch her gaze to share a moment of solidarity but she was furiously typing away on her cell phone, eyes glued to the screen. Actually, everyone seemed to be completely engrossed in their own world, all occupying the same patch of sidewalk and here for the same purpose but completely isolated at the same time.

How strange, I thought. There must be something for these people to talk about since they’re all here for the same program and have been here before (made obvious by their ability to wait until 2 PM, unlike yours truly). Then I realized something about where I was standing and who I was standing with. A group of people coming to ask for help from a free government program. Just being here could be seen as a failure in some sense, in some way, in some area of life. There must be a battle against shame and disappointment to merely show up on this patch of concrete. How tragic, I thought. And how depressing for people to be ashamed of the reality of their lives.

One minute.

Well, here I am, standing with the same group. Waiting for the same assistance. Occupying the same patch of concrete. Am I ashamed? Am I disappointed? Am I admitting failure? Up to this point my thoughts were more along the reality of my situation and how this assistance will greatly help my family. I was confident in the fact that I qualified (supremely overqualified, actually) and was ready to provide any proof needed to back up that claim.

A whisper of wisdom surfaced on the edge my mind...‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourself.’ Humility – honesty in who I really am. Confident in my circumstance. Bold in time of need and plenty, not hiding or pretending. Instead of demanding, be sincere. There needs to be no shame in humility. On the contrary, humility allows a life of confidence and purpose. Being humble is not the same as being ashamed. Humility inspires belief, faith, assurance, and hope. A far cry from shame, disappointment, and failure.

A soft metallic click and this band of strangers stands up straighter, shuffling closer to the door. It’s unlocked from the inside and swings open, welcoming us with a rush of air-conditioned comfort.

2 PM.

Jamie

Pray for Chile

2010-03-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

A first hand report from the earthquake zone in Chile:

March 4, 2010:

“The tragedy that we've been facing is constituted by three elements: 1 first earthquake, 2 the seaquake, 3 the burglary.

“The army went out to the streets and the peace was restored. They called out a curfew and this has allowed a better security. It also allowed the people in charge of reestablishing electricity, water, telephones, etc. to work better. The fire fighters could also work more calmly.

“Today there are 799 deaths, these are just the ones from the earthquake, They still need to count the ones from the seaquake because nobody knows exactly how many there are. They are waiting for 7 to 8 days to pass, because this is the time that the ocean will take to return the bodies. We have to add to this, all the missing people that were left under the bridge and buried in the mud.

“Here we (YWAM Chile) are preparing a plan of action to reach the places of most need. We are sending scouting teams and talking with the mayors and pastors from the different affected places. To give you an idea, there are close to 2 million people that will be left without a house. The depression is huge.

“From Monday the 8th we will start to send the first teams to help remove the debris. We also need specialized teams: Those in the area of health, rescuing and construction. Also tools, generators of electricity to be able to work. There are many people that already started to take food to the most needy places…in other cities and towns 25-30 minutes or even up to 2 hours of distance there's no electricity, or water or food or places to stay.

“The first phase is to supply food, water and medical attention. The second phase, that's the one we want to start now, is to remove the debris. In a third phase we'll have to help in the construction of houses, but for that we need teams of constructors and a lot of money, so we are enabling a bank account:

“For donations from any part of the world they have to be in the name of ''Juventud con una mision'' in the bank Credito e Inversiones, dollar account number 11064404, the swift code is CREDCLRM and the rooting code is the same. When a person sends their donations through the bank from any country they'll ask for these codes.

“You can check our web page www.jucumchile.cl where we are updating information constantly.”

For photos and more information, visit: http://www.ywamsandiegobaja.org/articles.aspx?id=27705&menu=Resources

Changa and the Mouse

2010-02-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Watch what happens when a dog believes she really can make a contribution to the world. And yes...half an hour after recording this video, Changa is still 'on the hunt.'

It's more than just...

2010-02-12T06:43:00.001-08:00

It’s more than just chocolates and flowers and hearts and oversized stuffed animals.

It’s more than just a three day weekend to honor past US presidents.

It’s more than just a group, a house build, or a lot of work.

It’s a lot more.

This weekend stands alone among all the other weekends that we’ve been involved with in ministry here in Mexico. Some things are the same – packing coolers for lunches on build sites, cleaning vans for airport pickups, digging out the “staff” shirt to wear when the groups arrive. What makes this weekend different has to do a bit about the past and a bit about the future.

The past – celebrating the life of an amazing ten year old girl who lived every moment with purpose and meaning. We love you, Olivia Ray, and we’re so excited to spend this weekend with your family. You beat us to heaven but we bet we’ll have just as much fun as you’re having there…down here this weekend!

The future – sharing about where God is taking this ministry with over 100 guests. Presenting opportunities to partner with us as we head into the adventure together. New faces, new names, but the same vision to see transformation in the Baja California region of Mexico and beyond. It’s a huge event with a simple message – God’s doing something great…come be a part of it.

It’s a lot more. Much more than just this. Good thing we’ll have eternity one day to realize just how much more it really is.

Laundry on the Line

2010-01-30T12:56:00.001-08:00

The first of many, many, loads of Baby Durham laundry. Thanks to the Baja California weather, line-drying is still possible at the end of January.

At least it only takes one clothespin to hang them!

Onesies - all that Baby Durham will wear for the first months of his life.

How to be in 230 places at once

2010-01-27T09:46:00.001-08:00

We're used to living between two countries. That's nothing new - the border crossings, bilingual communication, and situations that are just plain humorous.

Last week, though, we had a chance to be in 230 places at once.

Scott managed over a dozen YWAM bases that were connected via video conferencing (see picture above) and, at the same time, hundreds more logged in online to see a live update from Port Au Prince, Haiti.

We listened as the YWAM director, Terry, shared with enthusiasm how he has seen miraculous rescues from destroyed buildings by YWAM teams who had arrived days earlier. He was in good spirits but asked for lots of help - from long term staff to daily prayer.

Today we have the chance to listen in LIVE at 1 PM PST to another update from Terry and his team in Haiti. In the few days that have passed between these two connections, YWAM San Diego/Baja has sent a team of six staff to work with Terry in the rescue operations.

If you would like to join this update, go to www.linkupamericas.com at 1 PM. We'll meet you there.

Haiti Update - "a spirit of despair...the power of the love of God."

2010-01-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

Another report from Haiti by YWAM director Terry Snow:

"Today (January 14) we focused on staging points to host teams, connect with the US Embassy, and develop the infrastructure needed to assist in a positive way. We have located two potential staging points and we are appreciative to our very large Youth With A Mission family worldwide.

"Saturday we will see a YWAM team from D.R. (bordering nation) drive in with supplies. We have two other teams...that will be here Sunday. One team will be building a home in the St. Marc area the other will be setting up for medical relief.

"We have begun to make arrangements for getting a hold of finances. Please understand that all the banking systems have collapsed due to communications and the main offices destroyed in the capital. Hopefully tomorrow we will see our Haitian bank begin to open or release some funds for our use. We are finding other ways to obtain funds as well. YWAM International is receiving funds from around the world at a internet link https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.

"The Haitian government is not functioning and we have a team working to try and find a way to get the port of St. Marc opened for humanitarian supplies. Our YWAM base has 3 acres of land that we could make available to park containers for unloading, organizing and then shipping on to PAP.

"We have placed a call to YWAM volunteers to come and assist in administrative ways to help in organization of the many teams that have already written ready to come. As mentioned we have currently found two staging points that could provide housing for these teams. We have a possibility of up to 10 additional places as well.

"Airplanes were seen flying in and the US Embassy was still very packed with people trying to leave. The smell of dead bodies is growing stronger and there seemed to be a spirit of despair crying out through out the city.

"This is our time to demonstrate the power of the love of God. There is a deep stirring within many Haitians, especially amongst our staff. Our Haitian staff are proclaiming it is time for change!"

Praying for Haiti

2010-01-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

News reports are stunning. The numbers of dead and injured are overwhelming. The earthquake that devastated the country of Haiti this week has captured the hearts and compassion of the world. Here is a first hand report and prayer requests from YWAM Haiti's national director, Terry Snow:

"Dead lay in the streets, possibilities of mass burial sights talked about on the radio. People wandering the streets, city parks now filled with people camping out in them. The situation is worst than dreamed!

"Yesterday we sent an investigative team to Port-au-Prince (PAP) to take a first hand look at the situation. I will not easily forget what Rodney Gephart and Wayne Snow said when they had returned; 'The situation is worse than it has appeared on TV!' My heart sank and instead of crying I felt a numbness come over me as they began telling me of the dead, the buildings that had collapsed and then to hear that they could not find any information on who is doing what as far as cordinated efforts for immediate response and longterm recovery.

"Our Leadership Team went late into the night trying to assemble all the data and strategies on how to begin with assisting the victims of the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Praying for strength and wisdom from God! We know He has a plan. We have seen him take us through many floods and other situations that were greater than we could bear in the past and by GOD's grace, mercy and power we will see this through! How ummeasurable is His love! Nothing is impossible concerning Him!"

Some immediate prayer requests:

Establish communication hub- focus (connect with US Embassy, cordinate with any known releief teams, communicate with volunteer teams and individuals that are emailing)
Establish routes to recieve and send aid (money, supplies and volunteers)
Check out and establish staging points to house and feed volunteers (probably need portable housing)
Immediate response - look for opportunities to run street soup kitchens (use street vendors to make hot meals to give to anyone who needs them, buy purified water for distribution)
Prepare for security concerns (at first the people were stunned, now they will be starving!)

Please consider helping at this time with a donation to help the surviving families in Haiti. And keep praying.

Good night, Tijuana

2010-01-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Our nightly view as we walk from the YWAM campus to our house.

Celebrating Christmas in Tijuana

2009-12-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

During this 'posada,' or Christmas Party, six of the construction workers gave their hearts to the Lord. Merry Christmas indeed.

This Weekend's Build...a bit different

2009-12-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

It's nothing new for us to be involved in building homes each weekend. Paint, wood, tools, drywall...and a few hours later, the house is built.

This past weekend, though, it was a bit different. Take a look.

Our building materials were a bit different...licorice, gum balls, gummy bears, M&Ms. Yum.

We closely inspected the materials to ensure their quality. They were delicious.

Some of our 'builders' had never 'built' before, so we gave a bit of instruction as we started.

Soon , they were totally confident.

Each 'builder' picked the materials she wanted to use...

...and the houses began to take shape.

At the end of the day, we had built eleven houses. Wow!

It was a fun afternoon to celebrate the Christmas season with the kids from the YWAM Tijuana campus. They went home with houses covered in candy and bellies full of sugar. Merry Christmas!

Kids and sugar - a great combo!

2009-11-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

Candy, carnival games, songs, and free cupcakes - what more could a kid want on Halloween? Here are some pictures of our "Operation Light" outreach to the community of Antorcha this October 31st. Over 100 people from the community attended and we had a blast!

Prepping the Lollipop Tree

Unpacking at the community patio

A good ol' game of 'chase'

Dancing with the kids...and some parents

How many gumballs?

Some of the 100's of homemade cupcakes we gave away...

...at the Cake Walk!

A beautiful sunset as the staff performed a drama

Ah...candy

For more photos of our evening in Operation Light, click here.

Baby Durham Press Conference

2009-11-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

Some Q & A with...or about...little Baby Durham.

Priorities - lessons from a four year old

2009-10-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

Our nephew Trenton is four years old. His world consists of one thing – trains. Well, ‘Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends,’ to be exact. And he taught us a little lesson about priorities last week.

His dad (Scott’s brother) was explaining to Trenton that he was going to have a new cousin soon. The conversation went something like this:

Dad: “Trenton, did you know that Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie are going to have a baby soon?”

Trenton: “Yes.”

Dad: “When the baby is born, just you and I are going to take a trip to visit your new cousin and Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie in San Diego.”

Trenton: “…and the Thomas Store, right?”

Note: due to previous trips by his family members to San Diego, Trenton understands that in San Diego there is a toy store completely dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. And he really, really wants to go there.

Dad: “Well, we can go to the Thomas Store but we are really going to visit Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie and see your new cousin.”

Trenton: “But I want to go to the Thomas Store.”

Dad: “We can go visit the Thomas Store, Trenton, but we are going to spend most of our time with Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie.”

Good job Dad…really trying to get your point across.

Trenton (after quietly thinking for a few moments): “Okay. How about we go see Uncle Scott and Aunt Jamie for five minutes…and THEN we go to the Thomas Store!”

Lesson: when you see a way way to make your dreams a reality, don’t let anything (not even your new cousin) get in the way.

We can’t wait for those five minutes, Trenton.

'Burning Salsa'

2009-10-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest translation blunders ever...

Pray for the Ray Family

2009-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends, John and Jane Ray, are mourning the loss of their youngest daughter, Olivia. She was killed on Saturday, October 3, while crossing the street near her house. Olivia was ten years old.

The Rays have been a part of YWAM for over twenty years, and have raised four daughters while serving God all over the world. Our hearts are breaking for them, asking the tough questions while trying to grasp at the hope in the reality of heaven.

Please pray for them.

To encourage them, click here.

To support them, click here.

To see a memorial of Olivia’s life, click here.

Olivia will be celebrated on Thursday, October 7, near her hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Thank you for standing with them in prayer in the darkest of times.

Gatorade to the Rescue!

2009-09-12T11:27:00.001-07:00

Say the word ‘missionary’ and what comes to mind? Handing out food to people on the street? Learning a native language in the middle of the jungle? Traveling through foreign and exotic countries?

How about buckling cartons of Gatorade into the seats of an airplane on the runway of Ensenada’s military airport?

However strange it may sound, it’s true.

We found ourselves in this interesting situation by means of responding to the crisis of Hurricane Jimena. This tropical storm recently devastated a large portion of the Baja California Sur peninsula and many of the cities that it affected were places that we stayed and ministered in this winter on outreach. One report mentioned that 35,000 people are now homeless due to the storm. Tragedy is always heartbreaking, but it reaches another level when it’s people and places that you are connected to.

As a ministry we immediately started strategizing about what we could do to help. Send a team of builders? Mobilize clean up groups? In just a few hours connections started forming with other networks and organizations that were also planning relief efforts. One of the first opportunities was to send a shipment of Gatorade (that we had received as a donation earlier in the year) to Baja California Sur via an organization named Flying Samaritans. A plane was landing at Ensenada’s military airport on September 5^th and if we were there with the Gatorade, they’d transport it the rest of the way.

Now, our September 5^th was originally planned as a lazy, relaxing day off. A phone call at 7:45 in the morning quickly changed our plans. In the matter of a few minutes we found ourselves on the road to Ensenada, pulling a trailer full of over 1,4000 bottles of Gatorade en route to the airport. A quick stop at the YWAM Ensenada campus to pick up another staff member and we made it to the airport with time to spare.

It’s not every day that a truck driven by foreigners that is loaded with cartons of Gatorade pulls into the military airport in Ensenada. Its must have been a sight for the soldiers to see us turn into their driveway.

We waited for the Flying Samaritan’s plane, conversing with the customs official and lieutenant on duty. They were a little puzzled at first – Gatorade? From where? And it’s being flown to where? And are you guys going? Well, who’s taking it then? It took awhile to straighten out the story but finally, with no importation taxes, we were able to drive the truck onto the runway and meet the arriving plane.

Over 80 cases of Gatorade were loaded onto the plane, tucked into every empty corner we could find. The two pilots (one of which happened to be the president of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team!) sweated right along side us as we carried box after box of bottles up the steps into the plane.

Sure, it’s unconventional. Whoever heard of a plane full of Gatorade being part of a disaster relief effort? Seeing an opportunity and finding a way to help – maybe that’s what a missionary does.

Ten Thankful Things

2009-08-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

A short list of the many things we are thankful for...and a cute appearance by Changa too.

"Sorry we were late…we were interrupted by a miracle"

2009-07-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

What is the difference between a coincidence and a miracle? Maybe it has to do with three countries, six months, and a random trip to the bank.

The house building group we worked with this past weekend wanted to stop by the bank to pick up some cash for a surprise grocery trip with the family we were building for that day. Before we headed to the build site, we made a short side trip to the bank. We were in a bit of a hurry because we had to get to the build site for the day but thought the trip wouldn’t take that long.

While we waited for the team to get their cash, a beat-up truck turned into the parking lot of the bank and a lady tumbled out of it, running towards us and yelling our names. She was smiling, crying, and laughing all at once. She embraced us in a hug andher story poured out.

“I have prayed for so long to see you again! We were shopping today and saw the white vans and we thought that maybe our team was back that built our house. Then we saw you and…” Emotion overwhelmed her as she ran out of words. Then more tears and more hugs, and all this time we are thinking, “Who is this lady?”

Suddenly it clicked – we had led the house building team six months ago that built for this family. The memories started filling our minds of the kindness, generosity, and hospitality that this family had extended to the building team. Now, it’s not all that strange to run into families that we have built for. After all, we build in the same areas of the city and often families that receive homes refer their neighbors and we end up building next door to houses that we had worked on only months before.

But this time it was different.

It wasn’t just any family. Or any group that was waiting at the bank when they pulled up.

This group was their group. The same company that formed the building team six months ago for this family was the same company that sent the group that stood before us, waiting for the ATM to spit out their money. There were different people and new faces, but it was their group.

As we explained this amazing circumstance to the team, the lady and her husband (who had joined us from the truck) watched us with huge smiles on their faces. When the team finally understood who this man and woman were and what it meant for them to see their team again, the sidewalk in front of the bank became a joyous family reunion.

We spent the next fifteen minutes letting Max and Juana, the husband and wife, share about the past six months and how the ministry of this same group had changed their life. The front room of their new house is now the community's only store. "We were blessed with so much," Max said, "we had to bless others."

At every meal, for five months, this family of five had gathered and prayed for the group that built their house and asked that God would bless and protect them. They kept their house spotless in the chance that the group ever came back, they could see how wonderfully they cherish their new home. Juana had twice dreamt that the group had returned to visit but when she woke up and told her daughters, they said that it would never happen.

“Now my daughters are not going to believe it when I tell them that you’re finally here!” Juana shouted and clapped her hands as the team laughed and wiped tears from their eyes. Then she turned to us and said, “Oh, you have to come over. You have to come see the house and see the girls. You have to come and I’ll make lunch for the group!” The intense emotion in her voice needed no translation – we had a lunch date!

A quick trip to the bank had turned into a forty-five minute rendezvous for dreams-come-true. When we finally arrived at the build site for the day, we profusely apologized to that family for showing up so late…and then explained what had happened. The team gave their all, finished the house, shopped for groceries, and a family was blessed with a new home. Then we hopped in the car and drove to meet up with our miracle.

Oh, and this miracle was the best tasting miracle we’ve ever had. Wow, does Juana know how to cook!

Youth Street - international debut

2009-07-18T13:54:00.001-07:00

A place where kids can belong. Youth Street is a ministry of Youth With A Mission, started in Australia and today (July 18, 2009) is its international launch! At the YWAM Tijuana del Mar campus, around 100 kids showed up for an afternoon of skateboarding, graffiti, billiards, air hockey, food, concerts, and prizes. It's simply a few hours of fun in a safe environment for youth. Good times!

Lead Me By the Right Road

2009-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

My Lord God, I have no idea where I'm going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following Your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please You

does in fact please You.

And I hope I have that desire

in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything

apart from that desire

And I know that if I do this,

You will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust You

Always

Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for You are ever with me,

and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

See for yourself...

2009-07-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

...what we're doing/look like/is going on at the YWAM Tijuana del Mar campus in July 2009.

A few kids & a few hours

2009-07-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

A few hours a week can make a big difference to a handful of kids. Circulo Andante, or Walking Circle, is a reading and math club run by the staff at YWAM Tijuana del Mar. Two afternoons a week they set up in a community and offer brief lessons on the basics - vowels, subtraction, prefixes - in three grade levels to the kids that live there. This ministry was created and is staffed by recent DTS grads (which makes us so proud!). We volunteer with them when our schedule permits.

The community where the Circle has been working for the past six weeks has received many Homes of Hope houses. It provides another connect point for us with the families and kids that were blessed with homes. Here are some recent images from an afternoon together.

Arriving early means a sticker next to your name on the attendance chart.

Excited that she could find her own name on the chart.

We led the house build that gave this girl and her family a home in April. She and her older sister are regular attendees to the Circle.

"There are three rules in the Circle..."

A Canadian teaching Spanish in Mexico to kidnergartners.

When you know the answer, you let EVERYONE know it!

The YWAM staff are great at including the parents in the lessons as well.

The staff to kid ratio is great.

Loving story time.

The Circle

The Other Side

2009-06-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting conversation the other day with an old man. He had been on kidney dialysis for eight years. His sickness was terminal and he knew it. He was a husband to one, a father for many, and a grandfather of even more. His family had lived on their land for 30 years, had built a house, store, and a livelihood. One of his daughters had been sick with cancer for five years and was living in their home with them along with her three kids (one of which has autism). It was one of those situations that punches you in the gut and rattles your brain and leaves you with no way to make any sense of it.

We talked for a while. I heard about his opinion on the Mexican health care system. He asked me about my family. I asked him if he was still able to work. He said no, but he had a very small pension that barely covered the basic needs. Then he looked me in the eyes and said the following:

“But..well…if I was over there, I would get more, you know.”

With a shrug of his shoulders and a slow toss of his head, he motioned to the horizon where we could barely make out the skyline of San Diego. He didn’t even mention the actual name of the city. It was like an unspoken code. He knew that I knew what he meant. He waited, expectantly, for me to confirm what he just stated.

Immediately something rose up inside me, wanting to shout, “No, it’s not better over there! Don’t think that just because it’s somewhere you’ve never been and something you’ve only heard about, that it’s better!” But I didn’t say that. I actually can’t recall how I responded. But I do remember how I felt: a tragic sadness that this man had lost hope in his own country.

The way that people in Tijuana refer to the United States is interesting. It’s called “the other side.” When someone is crossing the border to the USA, they’ll say, “I’m going to the other side.” It needs no explanation – everyone knows what it means. If family members live in San Diego, they live “on the other side.” The words themselves create a division just as obvious as the steel and barb-wired structure that separates these bordering countries. The funny thing is, though, that someone in San Diego wouldn’t refer to Mexico or Tijuana as “the other side.” It’s simply its real name – Mexico or Tijuana.

There’s a history behind that phrase that runs far, deep, wide, and long. Too much to understand or explore without a lot of listening, watching, and learning. But I don’t like the fact that, on one level or another, I’m a part of “the other side.” Even after living in Mexico for the better part of seven years I still have a national connection to the United States. I’m a citizen and most likely will always be. I am not saying that I don’t want to be American. On the other hand, I’m blessed to have the history and connection to that country.

I just don’t like that feeling that stirred inside me during that moment of silence with this old man. Like I had to defend something, fight for someone, prove that all hope is not lost for Mexico. And at the same time that I was hopeless, because I’m still a part of the other side and really have no idea what it’s like to simply be a part of Mexico.

Then the old man asked me, “Why are you here in Mexico?” As if it was a foolish decision. I looked him square in the eye and said:

“Because I believe that Mexico can be transformed.”

Jamie

Glimpses of our life in Tijuana

2009-05-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of new things for us so far in 2009. We decided to go with the flow and try something new: The Durham’s e-newsletter!

Below is our e-newsletter for Spring 2009. Click on each image to enlarge it and make it more readable. You’ll find photos, stories, and the latest news from our life as missionaries in Tijuana. Feel free to print off a copy and share it with a friend or post it on your fridge (where most missionaries seem to end up).

We would love to hear your feedback, thoughts, and comments. We love communicating what God’s doing and what we’re doing in Tijuana and beyond.

...and they survive dog attacks, too

2009-05-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

We learned something else about nasturtiums - they seem to be immune to dog attacks.

Over the past few weeks since we've planted the nasturtium seeds in their poor soil, our dog Changa (and her friend Eva, at times) have successfully uprooted them at least four times. In violent fashion. After some harsh words to the dogs, we replanted them each time and hoped for the best.

Maybe their planting instructions need to be amended: "Also survives violent attacks by canines." There are about a dozen sprouts poking their green heads through the soil, defying the odds and finding a way to grow. Wow.

Night out in Coronado

2009-05-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Good food - Coronado Brewery. Great friends - we love Felicia and Erica! Beautiful city - even though we don't live there, San Diego can be a nice place to visit.

Grows Well in Poor Soil: Lessons from the Nasturtium

2009-05-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

It is so easy to blame everyone else for our problems. “If only she would be nicer…or he stopped acting that way…or they changed their attitude…then I would be happy and content.” We strike a defensive stance, one hand on the hip and the other with a finger pointed at all the reasons why our lives are miserable. Until those things change, we declare, there is nothing we can do. Change the environment, change the person.

Well, take a lesson from a flower. A flower named nasturtium.

We purchased some this weekend to plant in our front patio. They are colorful, full, and tend to grow quickly so we figured they would be a good fit for our small area. We gathered the gardening tools from their storage places, lugged over a bag of potting soil, and tried to keep our dog from joining in the fun. We checked the instructions on the seed packet to see what we should do to ma

ke this piece of dirt the best piece of dirt ever for growing nasturtiums. Imagine our surprise when we read the first set of instructions: “Grows well in poor soil.”

Really? Here is a living organism that thrives in the worst of situations. The rest of the planting instructions went on to explain that if the seeds are sowed in good soil, a lot of foliage and greenery will grow but very few flowers will bloom. Instead of holding out for the best environment, the nasturtium has adapted to do its best when planted in places where other plants would keel over and die.

So what about us? Do we grow well in “poor soil?” Or do we prefer an environment that’s easier for us to handle but could cause us to grow a whole lot with very little to show for it. By all means we should soak in the good times, the days and weeks and years of good relationships and environments. Seeking out the worst situations to dwell in isn’t healthy, but knowing that we can still grow when we find ourselves in those times can give us hope.

What can we learn from the nasturtium? That our environment doesn’t determine our fruitfulness. That we can succeed without having the best surroundings. That we don’t have to hold out for everyone else to change in order to get on with our lives. We can change, grow, adapt, and thrive even if we’re planted in poor soil.

The Sounds of Silence (there are none)

2009-04-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sharing an office space with fifteen other people in one half of a canvas circus tent is one thing. Sharing it also with a worship band, screaming teenagers, drama practice, and 'mail call' is quite another.

The past few weeks have been full of Mission Adventures teams here at the Tijuana del Mar campus. Our all purpose "tent" serves as the dining, meeting, and worship hall for the groups, as well as the office and storage spaces for the full time YWAM staff. For the first few weeks we were working with the teams on a daily basis so we were in and out with them all day. This week, however, we're focusing on other areas of ministry...and REALLY praying for patience.

It can get old really fast - the noise, the shouting, the constant band practice, the announcements, the reggatone background music that's played all day long. Blending that environment with productivity in the workplace can create a headache bigger than, well, just a really big headache. The other day we were on a phone call and had to strain to hear the voice of the other person on the line. What can you say? "Sorry, I'll call you back when this round of drama practice is over in 45 minutes?" It's actually quite hilarious, in a sense that it's almost surreal. We have forgotten how much NOISE students can make, and how their noise making ability seems to increase counter-exponentially based on their size. Those little dudes can scream!

So it's either join in and make noise and push aside the work that requires intense concentration. Or sit at the desk and try to concentrate with the loudspeakers blaring. Or move locations to somewhere else on the property and try to find some quiet (not an easy thing to do when the rest of the campus is a working construction site).

Somewhere inside us, even though we knew better, we thought that this whole "move to a new campus" and "re-pioneering" season would be exciting and adventurous and fun and...dare we say...easy? After all, we've been in missions for almost seven years, spent countless hours learning and reading and researching what it means to lead/be apostolic/pioneer, we're bilingual, flexible, adaptable, and developing young leaders is one of our passions.

Funny how all that goes out the window when the music from the other end of the room gets turned up a little too loud and you have to shout to understand the guy in the desk next to you.

It's bigger than being able to write emails without accidentally dictating the lyrics of the worship song that 60 youth are singing along to fifteen feet away from you. It's more that loud music and dance moves and kitchen prep. Isn't this the stuff that makes up those great stories that we hear seasoned missionaries tell? "I remember when we first moved onto the campus, we were doing EVERYTHING out of this one tent." And we think, "Oh, a tent. How daring. How exciting. Living on the edge for Jesus!"

We just weren't expecting that edge to be so darn noisy.

What does it LOOK like?

2009-03-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Words can only say so much. That's why God created cameras! Or maybe it was that guy Kodak...

We have some incredible photographers on staff here in YWAM San Diego/Baja. They do a great job of capturing the images of what this ministry is all about. If you'd like to check out some of the MANY images they've compiled, go to www.flickr.com/photos/ywamsdbaja.

There are categories on the right hand side of the page that organize the different ministries or events that go on throughout the organization.

For photos from our recent outreach down the Baja California peninsula, click on www.flickr.com/photos/ywamsdbaja/sets/72157615456582207.

This website is updated on a fairly regular basis so if you prefer photos over words, surf on over every once and awhile and see what's new.

The Greatest Gift

2009-03-19T21:02:00.001-07:00

This photo says it all.

Our five year old cousin wrote this letter and, with some help, sent it to us this week. Enclosed was her generous gift...of fourteen cents.

Faith is a miracle in herself. Her parents prayed and tried for years to get pregnant and after many miracles, she was born.

She's connecting the dots in ways that many of us still struggle with on a day to day basis. She learned something, applied it to her life, and put it into action without a second thought about what it would cost her. And, to not overlook the fact that she is only five, she has parents who encourage her and give her space to do just that.

We read this note and counted out the five little coins that were sealed in a ziploc baggie. We wondered how "much" this money really meant to her. In most cases we could care less about fourteen cents. In this case, it meant the world.

One Voice - worship across the nations

2009-03-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

In three hours we traveled around the world.

Through technology, music, and a lot of hard work, we participated in a One Voice worship event this week along with the rest of the YWAM San Diego/Baja personnel. How it actually all worked is way over our heads, but the result was awesome.

The meeting hall transformed into a cyber-worship session. Songs were sung in Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and tribal languages.

As a ministry we paused to seek God for new ideas, ways, thoughts, and methods for now and the future.

The woman in blue is one of only 200 people in the world from her tribe in Brazil. She is a pastor in her village, which has only had the Gospel in their culture since the middle of the 20th century. She led out in prayer for oppressed women of the world.

It was like a small glimpse of heaven - nations, tribes and tongues. Plus it was just a lot of fun.

The Great Divide

2009-02-25T08:25:00.000-08:00

There tends to be a big gap. Huge.

Between who we want to be and who we really are.

And not the stuff of "I want to lose weight" or "I'd like to be nice to my cat."

But the glaring defects that appear when our lives are held up to the truth. We squint as the light shines through and realize that there are too many cracks to count.

Maybe I'm just speaking for me but the valley sure does seem big.

I'm standing on one side, looking across at who/what I should be/act while surrounded by who/what I am/do. And I'm toeing the edge, wondering what it would take to bridge this great divide...and wondering if I'm not too careful if I may slip and fall.

Right now the answers don't work. I've tried building a bridge out of spirituality, obedience, good Christian life, walking in the Spirit, my own best efforts, the advice of others, being an example. I get about half way and everything collapses. I know there's got to be a way but how?

I know I'm supposed to be patient. And forgiving. Not keeping a record of all the things people do to offend me. Assuming the best. Self-controlled. All of them wave at me from the far side of the valley, almost in a taunting fashion...wondering how much longer they'll have to wait around for me before they can get on with their lives.

Right now I'm on this side. The side with all the questions, guilt, and fear. I'll probably be here for awhile. Am I okay with that? I guess so.

As long as I can still see the other side.

Jamie

San Fran in the Spring

2009-02-22T20:35:00.001-08:00

To get away for a few days, we drove up the coast to San Francisco to spend some time together. We had a chance to visit some family and see this beautiful bay city.

First we traveled to Healdsburg, a city about an hour north of San Francisco. It's close to "wine country" so the views were beautiful.

Scott's aunt generously opened her house to us. It was our haven for a day!

Entering the city from the 101 took us over the Golden Gate bridge. We drove to a lookout to snap some photos before we crossed (and paid a $6 toll!).

Some of the sights of the Wharf and downtown San Francisco:

Our "new" Home Sweet Home

2009-02-15T22:17:00.000-08:00

Check out our new place - we're really excited to move. Great location (blocks from the new YWAM Tijuana campus), great price (basically the same as what we pay now) and great roommate (that's the blessing of marriage).

Home Again

2009-02-11T14:58:00.001-08:00

This is pretty much how we felt:

...after eight weeks of this:

... we were ready for this:

...and were so thankful for this:

... a reminder of all God's promises for us.

In a few days this current DTS student body will graduate and finish this chapter in their lives. We are excited for a few weeks of rest and reflection. Many of these students are considering serving with YWAM in the future here in Tijuana. We'll see a lot more of them for sure!

God-Acts

2009-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:00

One girl among many. This little lady was one of about 300 people that our DTS team was able to help feed this week. The church that we're working with in La Paz oversees three feeding centers throughout the city. Along with sharing the message of God's hope, we gave them something to fill their bellies too.

James says it best...

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?

For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

God-acts. Like a cup of juice and a sandwich for a little girl.

Whale Watching

2009-01-26T13:18:00.000-08:00

Absolutely terrified and totally awe-inspired. We were able to take a whale watching trip while in San Carlos last week. This time of year (winter) is when gray whales swim to warmer waters to mate and give birth. We thought maybe we'd see one or two in our hour long trip in the Bahia Magdelena.

Instead we ended up in the midst of about 30 whales swimming into the bay from the Pacific Ocean. Unbelievable! And yes, we were this close.

A Father's Heart

2009-01-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

What stood out was the pink. She was dressed from head to toe in the bubble-gum color that brings to mind fairy tales and princesses. She and her brother watched intensely as the YWAM Tijuana DTS presented puppets, dramas, songs, and a few other funny sketches in the church parking lot off the main boulevard in Loreto, Baja California Sur. Out for an afternoon walk with their grandfather, they noticed the activity in front of the church and decided to see what was going on. Once in awhile a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, but most of the time she seemed to be concentrating on the show going on in front of her.

At the end of the presentation most of the other kids ran to scoop up the balloon animals, free candy, and push themselves to the front of the face painting line. Not this girl. She stayed put in her chair until some of the DTS students walked up to her, smiling and offering a hug. As they talked, she shared that her father had just died and she and her brother were now living with their grandfather. The students asked the girl if they could pray for her and she nodded okay.

Finally this pretty-in-pink little girl felt the love she had heard about in the songs and dramas. The tears came slow at first, but then the sobs started to wrack her little body. It’s hard to understand tragedy at any age, but the sobs and sniffles coming from this child made it seem almost unbearable.

After a few minutes the tears began to subside and the girl lifted her head and wiped her eyes. The prayers quie

ted and some of the students stepped away to give her a bit of room. Then one of our students, on outreach with his wife and 1.5 year old daughter, gently placed his hand on her shoulder. He leaned over, brushing away her hair from her face with a tender gesture of fatherly love. With words of love and h

ealing, he spoke the Father’s Heart to this princess in pink. He encouraged her, told her she would be okay, that God loves her and so do we. Slowly the sniffles stopped and she started to nod, agreeing with what he was saying. The tears were still on her cheeks but the smile had returned to her face.

What stands out is the heart. The heart God has for His children, the ones that are hurting and lost and need Him. One afternoon in Loreto, a little girl in pink saw His heart and felt the love of her Father.

Taking a Break

2009-01-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a new theory: people don’t like to take time off.

What? Really?

Oh yes, for sure.

In the days off that we’ve had on this DTS outreach so far, there hasn’t been a single one yet where everyone on the team actually takes time OFF. A student will volunteer to organize a work project at the church, or someone else will offer to head up evangelism in the park. Clothes are washed, emails are sent, errands are run. We get stuff done on days off…right?

“…a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.”

Hmm..dedicate our rest to the Lord. We sing songs about dedicating our lives, our hands, our hearts, our work to the Lord. But our rest?

Can taking a break bring God just as much glory as a work project at a church or evangelism in the park?

Therein lies the question.

You know you're in small town Mexico when...

2008-12-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

…people recognize your dog before they recognize you.

…you can leave you doors unlocked and belongings on the front patio and not worry about them disappearing.

…the only sound that wakes you up at night is the bells tolling from the 300 year old mission church.

…the same people you met at the store are the same ones you met at church, and at the plaza, and at the neighbor’s house.

…people say “Go to the store,” they literally mean the store, as in the only one in town.

…all the receipts in your pocket are hand written on lined paper.

Yes, the Tijuana DTS has definitely arrived in small-town Mexico.

For more about the outreach so far, click here.

Vicente Guerrero and San Ignacio - photos

2008-12-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

A few images of the outreach so far:

A Christmas Surprise

2008-12-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

Rain, fog, and wind – a gloomy outlook to an exciting day. After a week of local ministry in Tijuana (including ministering at a prison, orphanage, rehab center, and local church), the DTS departed the Playas campus to begin their outreach down the Baja California peninsula.

December in the Baja California peninsula is often rainy, foggy, and windy, but this day was worst than most. At times the fog was so thick that the taillights of the cars ahead disappeared into the mist. Eventually the clouds went away but the rain stayed, all they way through the evening until arriving in Vicente Guerreo, the first stop on this trip. Four hours on the road and the team was ready for a good night’s sleep.

In Vicente Guerreo the DTS is staying at a house off the main road through town. This house belongs to the family of one of the students in the school. The mother of the house commented to the DTS staff that she wanted to make something special for the students for Christmas. She and her husband were planning on traveling to the house (they live in another city) to decorate and leave some food for Christmas dinner in the refrigerator. It was a surprise to the students so the staff didn’t say a word.

Imagine the shock when the students walked through the door and saw not just decorations, but two tables full of fruit, candy, snacks, nuts, chocolate, and chips. The kitchen counter was stacked high with bags of groceries, the fridge was full of pies, tubs of marinated chicken, and fresh vegetables. On the floor was a basket full of bags of pretzels and chips.

And, to the screaming delight of everyone, the living room held a fully decorated, freshly cut Christmas tree complete with an ornament for each student to take home.

Running from room to room, the students shrieked and shouted about each wall hanging or stuffed animal or stocking that was hung to bring the Christmas spirit. For a group of young people expecting to forgo the Christmas festivities this year, this house suddenly became the heart of the season.

So Christmas will be fun, for sure. Not just because of the decorations and the tree. All the trimmings are another reminder of the faithfulness of the Lord to care for each of their needs. Two weeks ago this school wasn’t even sure where their outreach would be, let alone if there would be one at all. Then God provided miraculously to fund the outreach, and now He’s gifted them with a home for Christmas.