This week at camp there is a group all the way from Atlanta, Georgia. They have divided their team in two in order to build 2 homes. Yesterday Brittany and I went with one of the house crews with the intention of playing with some of the kids at the site and connecting them with the group. We were expecting 4 or 5 kids but lets just say that the three bottles of bubbles and small pack of pipe cleaners was proving to be almost usless when we ended up with about 45 kids to play with. As we were playing games and running out of things for Simon to say, I turn to Melissa, one of the girls on the house crew and she tells me that she has some baloons, soccer balls and coloring sheets that we can use as well. And as she was collecting some of these items she simply states that she had been, "praying for kids."
Wow.
God definitely answered her prayer.
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"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven" as Ecclesiastes 3 tells us. In a way, May has been a somewhat ‘down-time’ for the staff here at EOC with only a few groups coming through the camp. However, our own building projects have kept everyone working hard in preparation for the busier summer period ahead. But, with some flexibility on our side and a gift from Valley Springs Presbyterian Church in Roseville CA, we had the opportunity to take off for a staff retreat, camping in San Felipe.
San Felipe is 3 hours drive south-east of Ensenada, and on the coast of the Sea of Cortez on the Eastern side of the Baja peninsula. San Felipe is growing into an American winter retreat spot, and is somewhat of an idyllic seaside Mexican town, with beautiful beaches, shopping and eating.
We pitched our tents at Campo San Felipe, literally on the beach, a block south of the tourist strip. Fifteen of us enjoyed a few lazy days in the sun, swimming in the warm Sea of Cortez water, taking a banana boat joy-ride, sharing good meals out (amazing shrimp!), enjoying some s’mores around a camp fire, playing some guitar, but most importantly being together.
I’m sure the trip will prove to be a memorable and valuable time for the staff here, especially as we embark together on the ministry work over the long and crazy summer season ahead. Thank you Valley Springs for helping to make the trip possible!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS.
PURPOSE – COMMUNITY – HOSPITALITY – OUTREACH
PURPOSE
As we reach the half-way point of 2007, we have an opportunity to see how we are realizing objectives we set at the beginning of the year. We focused on our purpose for ministry, development of staff leadership & team building, terminology & organizational structure, and ministry programs & systems.
After three months of preparation we entered into the busy spring season, which we have just completed (Feb 1 – Apr 30); with attendance of 1,400+ persons from 36 different groups, from the
COMMUNITY
Mardy & Brenda Barnes continue to grow quickly into valuable members of the EOC team. Mardy’s wisdom, skill, heart and mature spirit have allowed him to gain the respect and trust of the Outreach team (many of whom have been hurt through past leadership). He is a true example of walking the talk. He is a patient teacher, with attention to detail & quality. We are seeing real fruit in his work!
Brenda is a full of energy, passion, ideas, love, laughter and a heart for hospitality. She not only connects well with adults, but has become the “
Pastor Abraham Valdez has also become an incredibly valuable addition to the team. He is a crucial link between EOC and the local pastoral community. In addition he serves a pastoral role for our staff, leading many of our staff bible studies, and providing counsel through the continual reconciliation needed in a team of diverse individuals. His vision is being broadened through this process, and we continue to envision the building of more “canals” in this process of connecting teams & resources through YUGO to the
HOSPITALITY
From a mission team perspective, we continue to raise the quality of their experience (a crucial foundation for continued growth). We are continuing to communicate more effectively with teams prior to their arrival (thanks to the great job AJ does) and this directly relates to their perceived quality of outreach. Additionally, with higher quality meals, addition of video highlights in team chapels, and an overall attention to detail, this is having an affect on our expenses, and I continue to be attentive to operating within our current budget & pricing; although we are currently over-budget in a few key areas for year to date. I do not take this lightly, and with continued assistance from Bob, I am working towards the balance of building growth momentum versus going broke!
We are assessing the reality of what it costs to provide ministry at this level at our current pricing; and will address this further in the next update at the conclusion of the summer season.
OUTREACH
What fruit we are seeing! At this writing we have 26 pastors participating in the Home Program.; which is really becoming a vehicle for evangelism & discipleship. Of the 34 families receiving houses via this new program, 22 were not believers, but HAVE accepted Christ as their Savior, and are now attending church! We set a goal of ¾ of the houses being used for evangelism, yet a number of the pastors are exclusively selecting non believing families. Even connecting some of these families with other churches located closer to the home. The level of unity we are starting to see among the pastors is incredibly encouraging.
From the church teams’ perspective, I continue to receive very positive feedback. Groups are thankful the families are being followed up with, after they receive Jesus (and their house). Some how the tone is much more purposeful when a pastor arrives at EOC Monday morning, to meet the team and take them out to a family that he has selected. This direct relationship with a local pastor is also giving a higher percentage of teams an opportunity to participate in a local church service (something which was often discouraged before). The result is more groups becoming interested in other aspects of outreach in addition to home building.
The team is coming together, we are focused on the goals and excited to enter into the upcoming summer season. Knowing that when a team is prepared for service, in heart & mind; and we strategically connect them in the community, God shows up and miracles take place!
We are right in the middle of our Spring Break season. Over the course of four weeks, we will accommodate 720 guests, working with 18 local pastors, building 26 houses & ministering to hundreds of youth through VBS, Sports, Relief distributions & Feeding Programs.
At just the right time, God continues to provide all necessary resources. We recently welcomed Mardy & Brenda Barnes (Peoples Church, Fresno Ca) as full time missionaries. Mardy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our outreach ministry; Brenda is incredible gifted in providing hospitality and retail. She will operate our (yet to be constructed) store/coffee shop.
A highlight of this past winter season was the start of our new home program (read quarterly report posted March 20th) and seeing so many local pastors & churches joining together in unity.
Check back soon for new photos!
PURPOSE – COMMUNITY – HOSPITALITY – OUTREACH
INTRODUCTION
As the first quarter of 2007 started we took a look at the past in order to grow and ready ourselves for the future. We focused on our purpose for ministry, development of staff leadership & team building, terminology & organizational structure, and ministry programs & systems. *see EOC organizational chart
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Our community starts with our staff. Twenty one persons at the time of this writing, made up of Mexican, American, Canadian & Indian nations. We are coming together as a staff daily to pray with and for one another. We are studying God’s word together at regularly scheduled staff meetings and studies, and practicing Jesus’ example of going out two by two.
This EOC community extends out into
PROVIDING HOSPITALITY
We are seeing ourselves less as a camp and more as an outreach center. Part of outreach is providing the hospitality to short-term mission teams, additionally we are opening up our door to provide and practice hospitality to our local Mexican community. We are hosting dinners, luncheons & breakfasts for pastors, churches, children & youth groups; as well as to the poor in need.
FACILITATING OUTREACH
Our core ministry continues to be the connecting together of short-term North American mission teams with the local Mexican church & their communities. We are committed to become less visible as a ministry to the local community. What I mean by this statement is; in the past all ministry programs were “ours”, conceived, planned, coordinated and facilitated by “Campo de Suenos”. If you were in need, in the local community, you would make the trip to the gates of Campo de Suenos to submit your plea for help. (Home, food, blankets, clothes etc) In our present course of building a community of connected relationships with the local churches, we are equipping them to be the “local” outreach centers. In turn, as people in need go directly to the local church, we are becoming less visible.
We currently are working with some 50+ area pastors/ churches, coordinating all facets of outreach ministry through them & their churches. Now when a YUGO team enters a village for ministry, we are there at the invitation of the local pastor; participating in his local outreach ministry.
BY THE NUMBERS
During the months of November & December we hosted twelve groups (600+ people), constructed one church building, coordinated seven VBS/ Evangelistic programs, two medical clinics, distributed over 2,500 Christmas gifts (Project Joy), helped our brothers at Grace Children’s Home, and built seven homes. Untold numbers of lives were impacted and transformed from a physical & more importantly, Kingdom perspective.
A MILESTONE EVENING
January, although a quiet month from the perspective of not having any groups, may have been the most significant of the three months of this first quarter. On the evening of January 4th, we hosted an invitation only dinner, for ten select pastors and their wives. This evening officially commenced our new Homes for the Poor program, “HECHOS 2007”. What makes this year’s program different from years past is that these ten pastors (along with an additional ten pastors upcoming in February) will be the “frontline” connection for this program. They will select the families, provide volunteers for pouring the floor, introduce the building team to the family (first day of build) as well as be present for the home dedication by the building team (final day of build). This along with a commitment to continue in the all-important follow-up ministry (after the short-term team has returned home). Each participating pastor will receive four homes for the year 2007. This act of “giving away” of our ministry is crucial to fulfilling YUGO’s 2nd Goal [teaching Mexicans to win others to Christ & make disciples of them]. We continue to provide coordination, logistics and oversight to this area of the ministry, yet in the eyes of the local community, we (EOC) are becoming less visible as the place to go for help/ handouts. The local church is being equipped to minister to the spiritual needs as they also care for the physical needs of their community.
ON THE HORIZON
As we prepare to host our first spring teams of 2007, we continue to pray for the development of our leadership team and fortify strongholds. Some weaknesses remain; the EOC properties are in the names of multiple landowners (not affiliated with YUGO MX), local staff are in a “grey” area of employment and numerous EOC vehicles have outdated registrations. These are unacceptable liabilities, and are on the top of my priority list.
In the upcoming quarter we are expecting 1,200+ guests, constructing 33 homes, coordinating 10 community projects, numerous VBS/ Evangelistic outreaches and hosting a Mexican women’s weekend retreat. We pray that whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving all thanks to God the Father through him.
Scott C Wseter
Director