Project Mexico: Tijuana 2022

This summer we were able to support Shawn Abraham and his missions trip to Mexico with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) with the middle school and high school students he serves as part of Youth for Christ here in the Northwest Suburbs. Take a moment and read his update.

Thank you, Redemption!

I was super blessed to have the opportunity to serve at the YWAM base in Tijuana, Mexico, with the organization, Youth for Christ. It was so amazing to be able to go on a mission trip with my middle and high school students and some of their families. I saw the Lord move in their hearts just like He did in mine. We were able to partner with ministries on the YWAM base like Ilumina and Homes of Hope. When we arrived in Mexico we were able to serve at the local  church. While some of our pastors preached, I was able to serve with the youth, spending time getting to know the kids. We played games and did crafts. Some of them started to open up, telling me about their lives, doing their best to speak English. The Lord was intentional in my time with these kids. Our teams also did a prayer walk and evangelism on the beach. On one of the days, the adults also did a prayer walk around the red-light district in the area. We witnessed a lot of brokenness, but was able to share the hope of Jesus with some we encountered. I am very thankful and blessed for this opportunity and thankful to Redemption Bible Church in supporting me on this mission trip. 

Homes of Hope

We were able to work with Homes of Hope or Casas de Esperanza. It is a global movement that has been steadily gaining life-changing traction in impacting the lives of families in poverty since 1990. To date over 100,000 individuals have volunteered building nearly 6,000 homes for the needy in 21 different countries. What a blessing to make a home on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Our team was blessed to be able to impact two  families by building and gifting two homes in two days! God definitely provided the strength, resources, and provision to accomplish this. The families get to receive a home and a shopping trip. It is such a humbling experience to work so hard on a project, knowing this is such a gift to others. Additionally, you get to build and connect with the families while working alongside them. It is exciting to pray over the house with the family knowing that they will make this house their home.

House of Miracles

In this photo our team was blessed to be the first team standing on this land. Illumina, a ministry organization we partnered with, is looking at purchasing the land for a vision, to which they are trusting in God’s provisions for finances and much more. They want to build an orphanage and also dedicate it as a home for women who have been rescued from trafficking. They want to dedicate each floor of the building standing behind us to the seven spheres of society so they can give the people the care and education they need. This would be called The House of Miracles (Casa de Milagros). I want to invite you to pray for the project and for God’s provision. I know this place will one day be a miracle to many lives.

Alamare

Alamare is also known as "cardboard town" because of poverty. Even though their living situations are poor, their hearts are not. This was my first time coming to Alamare and I was blown away. Most of my team was cleaning and fixing the land. (A fire had just come through the past week and burned down 9 homes!) Some team members were able to go to the local church and work with the kids and youth. They did story time, played games, soccer, and built friendships. I was able to listen to the pastor of the church and how she took in two kids that didn't have a home. She has such a huge, generous heart. These people may not have a lot physically, but spiritually they have the Lord in their hearts in a big way.

Alberge

This was a Church where many refugee families were housed. They traveled with only whatever they could carry. They came from all over Mexico, Central America, Hati, and other places. During our time there, we were able to distribute our care packages filled with toiletries, coloring books of the gospel, crayons, candy, pillow cases, toys, etc. We were able to love on the kids, play with them, and hear their family’s stories.