I was asked to write the blog for the March Mexico trip. Why? I’m not sure. I wrote a little something for another blog about the trip (I know, I’m kind of a big deal) so I will try to come up with something new and exciting for you all to read! I will try to change the way you view possessions, poverty, and money. I will throw numbers your way showing how much money we all waste and how we could save 1 life if we just gave $2 everyday. I’m going to make you feel guilty and depressed and how poorly you spend what God has let you borrow. Aren’t you excited to read this?!

Just kidding, I’m not going to do that. A lot of people already do that. Yes, we are bad at spending money. Yes, the part of Mexico we went to was in a state of poverty I didn’t really think existed and it’s only a few hours away. The weird part, though, is that I never felt guilty when we were down there. I didn’t think about all the money I wasted on stupid stuff and then vow to never eat fast food again and instead give that money to the poor. I didn’t look at my clothes and realize how much money I wasted on them. For some reason, the guilt of how I spent my money didn’t come across my heart strings once.

If I had to say, I would say that the power of God was what I noticed most. I saw people with nothing, literally nothing, so happy. To me, that shows God’s power. The fact that He can reach down into someone’s life and take them out of the pain and sorrow that life gives them. He doesn’t leave a place. He doesn’t forget His children. He knows the pain of extreme poverty and suffering. They can relate to Him in a way I will never be able to because of how desperate they are. I don’t “need” God the same way they do. I need Him for wisdom and help in deciding who I am going to marry. They need Him for those things but they also need Him for food and shelter. They literally need to rely on Him for every aspect of life while I only really need Him for some things. I think I’m jealous.

I don’t have specific story to tell or an experience that I will remember forever. I just have a general feeling when I think about that trip and that feeling is joy. I saw how God will continue to rescue His children on a daily basis and give them what they need to survive. It makes me realize that He will do the same for me. He will give me whatever I need to survive, whether physical or spiritual. He is my Father who loves me dearly and will never leave. He is always walking beside me and carrying me when I can’t walk any longer.

In a port town in Mexico a group of people came to serve,

sharing the love of Jesus that all may claim to have heard.

Starting in the morning the group served many kids, with games and lessons and sandwiches being fed.

Of course the volunteers needed food, so tacos they ate,
you can see this below in the picture of (Australian accent) our mate.

We ate our food, our coke we drank,
then we were off to pack up bags at the food bank.

Each bag we packed had veggies, rice and beans, it had tortillas and tuna too!
With it came our love, and the message of grace too and hope through Jesus (who gave life to me and you)

We love all of our friends in Mexico, and their pets too. Each trip we celebrate with those of old, and we meet some new ones too!

After hour of distributing food, meeting families, and spending time in prayer,
we head to the fiesta, and with those we love it’s a celebration we share!

The Reyes family playes tunes, the kids kick the ball,
the ladies go off and chat, and a few grill food for them all.

The fiesta is a time of joy, just check out the smile of the above boy,
And music is a time of praise, thanking Jesus for all of our days!

Much like a family reunion, each month the party goes on,
always to be anticipated from the moment we’re gone.

And as much as the fiesta is about food and play,
there is always time for an encouraging word, and an opportunity to pray.

After we eat, the dancing get’s moving,
both Americans and Mexicans can be seen groovin’!

If you don’t believe that Love Walks servants can dance,
feast your eyes on the sprinkler by the one and only Can-dance

Sunday morning we attend church at Family of God,
then head to the pier to give the tacos a nod.

Another great trip, another great team,
will you be there in March…really you should, at least that’s how it seems.

Thanks to all our volunteers, and their heart to serve all their days,
Lord may you smile, and see it as praise!

P.S. It wouldn’t be a Mexico trip without a car getting stuck,
this beauty belongs to Bryan…next time we need a truck

After heading down to Mexico for almost three years now, I am faced with an entirely different perspective than that which I had on my first trips. To me now many things are known, understood, and fact, but I have discovered that there will always be the random uncertainties (aka God’s plans) during each trip. It’s these factors that seem to demonstrate God’s love and His plans for us while in Mexico.

One of my favorite parts during our trips to Mexico has always been food distribution. I think its because it is something that completely takes me out of my comfort zone. In the past, even less than a year ago, our food distribution looked something like this:

Love Walks: Hola! Como estas? (Hello, how are you?)

Family/Individual: Hola, bien, y tu? (Hi, good, you?)

Love Walks: Bien, gracias. Quieres comida? (Good, thank you. Do you want food?)

Family/Individual: Oh, si, si, gracias! (Oh yes, thank you!)

Love Walks: Dios le bediga! (God bless you!)

There was no real connection, and we didn’t know how to make the connection either. There were good conversations that were had, and relationships that were built, but they were few and far between. It wasn’t until last May that we began to pray with the families using the few Spanish speakers that we had on each trip. Since then, our approach to food distribution has changed, and we have recently started to create relationships.

In February, we had the opportunity to experience growth in our relationships with the people of Puerto Penasco. During food distribution on the December trip we had met a couple, Ismael and Lorena, who had started their own apostolic church with the assistance of a church in Phoenix. This month we had a chance to sit down and talk to the wife, as the husband was out of town. We learned much more about their vision, as well as what their lives look like on a regular basis.

We also spoke with a woman named Carmen. We had met her husband in September, and her in November and had shared the Word with her then. We didn’t get to talk with her as long this time, but she insisted we remember her name for next time, and also requested a larger print Bible as the one we had given her was hard for her to read. The last couple we talked with was Vicente and Evelina. Aaron, one of our translators, had actually built a relationship with this couple over summer, but hadn’t seen them much since. Their story is an awesome one, but too long to share here. Evelina is pregnant and due at the end of this month, so next month we are looking forward to meeting their baby.

We also met some new people this month and had a chance to talk with them, and we hope to be able to talk with them next month as well. Through all of these relationships, I know God is working and that He has a plan. I’m not completely sure what His plans are, but I know He is using us through all of these opportunities. Even if we just impact a few people over one weekend, they can then impact many people in Puerto Penasco over time while we are not there. I know God is always moving and that whatever He does, big or small, it will be awesome. I’m excited to see where God takes the relationships we’ve started, and watch as the opportunities that He has given us unfold.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I trust God. Do I do this well? Do I trust that He will answer my prayers? Do i trust that he is always with me? Do i trust that He loves and cares about me? do i trust that He will provide? Am i in tuned with the Holy Spirit? Or do I give him lip service and go my own way?

Jan 21 has been on the Love Walks schedule for some months, as our January trip. Since we have a trip every month, its generally posted on the website well in advance. I had it on my calendar and had rearranged my work schedule to be able to go. Each ministry is posted; kids, food distribution, construction, Fiesta. Shortly before each trip, the month’s devotions are posted, contact is made with our friends in Mexico, supplies are purchased.

This month was quite the same. Until….. Some information was made available to us and some strong prodding came from the Spirit. Through much prayer and discernment, it was decided that the January LW Mexico crew would not be going to Mexico. This was not a decision made lightly or as a result of fear. But in humility, obedience and surrender. We packed up the cars and drove North instead of South. We spent the weekend in submission to the Holy Spirit, in continual prayer Saturday from 6am till 6pm. There were sign-ups in 30-60 minute increments but this schedule did not last. The prayer room (ok, actually it was a shed) was filled with 3-5 people continually, no one staying less than an hour at a time. We were committed to pray for our neighbors; the people who live in Puerto Penasco; our brothers and sisters who deal with poverty and drug cartels, and the far reaching affects of those things. We prayed by name for those we know, and we prayed for those whose names we don’t know, including the people involved in the violence of gangs and drugs; we prayed for the government, and we prayed for LW and the other Americans who have ministries in mexico. After that we had a time of fellowship, Scripture study, worship, and communion.

Its funny, i prayed for a week prior that the weekend in Mexico would be Holy Spirit led. How little my faith proved to be when i was SO amazed at how God answered specifically; how He worked in each of us through the Holy Spirit.

I was blessed beyond measure to have been able to have these folks at my house. It was a blessing to me, a blessing to my husband, and a blessing to my church (we doubled the population of the church on Sunday!) I am excited to see how God continues to use LW and to see the way our hearts have changed as a result of having the privilege of spending this concentrated time with Him.

Scripture says we are not to be fearful. I believe that. It says too, that Satan prowls around like a hungry lion waiting to devour. Only through a close relationship with Christ are we even able to hear and discern His word apart from Satan’s schemes. It was not fear that kept us from Mexico this weekend – but we also would not be defiant in forging through with “our” ministry and “our” agenda when we heard His leading. I think that throughout our lives, sometimes we hear but don’t listen. Sometimes we listen but don’t heed. God’s ways don’t always make sense to us, nor do his plans always seem to fit ours. I don’t want to have an agenda and ask God to come along. Its way better to follow Him.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Those are our organizations core values. They are what we claim to hold in high priority when making decisions and creating the culture of Love Walks. They are words that carry an enormous amount of depth, and quite frankly, they aren’t the most exciting words. It’s not very often that you see an organization that markets it’s ministry with words like “obedience” or “humility”, but they are core to the heart of what we believe Christ called us to as believers. As pursuers of Christ, we allow Him to teach us what each of these words truly means. Throughout this past weekend, Love Walks and some of our volunteers learned some important lessons about each of these values.

As of Friday morning we were still planning on heading down to Mexico for our January trip. When we were just hours away from our departure, our focus was on taking care of last minute details for the ministry. Everything began to change when one of core volunteers contacted me (Chris) telling me how uneasy she felt about the trip. She had been in a place of unrest since the night before and had been in prayer that morning seeking God’s direction. This uneasiness was followed by news of a few scares in Rocky Point in the previous weeks. One was a shooting, upon which the suspects were arrested and the other turned out to be a hoax that had grown in the midst of the tension following the shooting.

The uneasiness of this particular persons heart, as well as wanting to be discerning of the situations in Rocky Point, led me into a time of prayer and thought. All the while, the trip was only a few hours away. During that time I felt like we were being called to do something different instead of our planned trip to Mexico. I felt that God was calling us to a time of prayer and worship of Him, which is what we fulfilled.

At this point it is important to make a distinction.

The reason we didn’t go to Mexico wasn’t a feeling of fear due to anything in Rocky Point (we felt confident having researched and prayed about the situations there that we could still go down). The reason we didn’t go is that I felt God asked us a simple question, “What do you hold higher- your plans to serve me, or, Me?” To be honest the question convicted me on the spot. Our organization talks about how important humility and obedience are, but then it is all to often that we never fully humble ourselves enough to hear how God is asking us to obey. It is so easy to do ‘God things’ and attach His name to it, but it is not so easy to remain in a posture of humility awaiting His direction.

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be established.” ( Proverbs 16:1-3 )

Our confession is this: There are many things that come from Love Walks ministry in Mexico, but none of it counts for anything outside of that which God is a part of; we can do nothing of value apart from Him.

As God called us to pray over the weekend instead of serve in more tangible ways, there was a part of us that had to be humbled and put into check. It was that voice inside us that said, “What about passing out food, building onto houses, teaching kids? What about serving!?” We had to ask ourselves, “Do we believe prayer is as important as the more tangible work we do?” It is a questions we should all ask because an honest answer helps reveal who we believe God to be.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but we didn’t go to Mexico. We instead traveled to Northern Arizona, and from 6:00 am Saturday morning to 6:00 pm that evening we prayed. People came in and out of our “prayer shed”. During this time, we worshiped God, we read from His word, and we lifted up the people and ministries of Rocky Point. We learned how little we are capable of and how much we need God.

So, how was January’s trip?

It was a journey. It was a humbling process. It was a step towards obedience. It was a beautiful site of the body of Christ uniting to serve in Rocky Point, even with some eight hours away.

Shirt Two

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Friday night (January 21st), starting at 7pm worship leaders from across the valley will be coming together in a unified voice to praise God!

A list of the bands is below as well as a link to the facebook invite.

It is a beautiful thing when we as believers rightfully lift up God higher than any other institution. Our praise goes to those organizing and facilitating this night and we hope that Christ will be glorified!

The band is the collaboration of Phoenix area worship leaders who led at the ONE retreat in 2010. Completely FREE and open to everyone.

Ryan Axtell – Cornerstone
CJ Bergmen – Mission
Matt GIbson – Red Mountain Community
Sean Johnson – Praxis (Redemption)
Krystofer James VanSlyke – independent
Jason Williams – Soma (Scottsdale Bible)
(and a couple guests)

More info here!

5) Love Walks Staff

In our organizations five year history, 2010 marked the first time that we had a staff. The emergence of this team added both consistency to our work, and a platform upon which we could begin building for the future. The small team has been vital to all that was accomplished in 2010! Take a moment to get to know each person by clicking here.

4) Benefit Dinner

On October 2nd over one hundred people came together for Love Walks first fundraising dinner. That night was more than just raising funds.

It was meant to both recognize and glorify all that God did, and what He continues to do through Love Walks. We were blown away by the support of those who attended, and by the amazing outpouring of volunteers without which we would have never been able to host the event!

3) Georgina

Georgina’s story is the story of so many that we have met in Mexico. In fact it is the story of so many of us as well. Georgina is one of the people we were blessed to be able to work with in 2010. After being connected to her by one of our ministry partners in Rocky Point we began to develop a relationship with Georgina and her daughters.

She explained to us that as a single mom struggling to provide for her children she was overwhelmed. Not knowing how she would be able to put food on the table and a roof over their heads she began to turn to God after the encouragement of a close friend. It was not too soon after that God blessed her with a home provided by a ministry that builds houses in Rocky Point. Then Love Walks was brought into the picture and we were able to continue in God blessing her and her girls through finishing the house (drywall, insulation, vents to keep it cooler in the summer etc.)

We have felt blessed that we were able to complete the construction necessary on her home, but the relationship that was built continues to be constructed. Georgina is a reminder of God’s faithfulness, His heart for the needy, and the greatest gift that He gave which was hope through His son Jesus Christ. We have learned so much from our relationship with Georgina. What a blessing!

2) Parents Trip

September of 2010 marked the first Love Walks Parents Trip. If you didn’t hear about it at the time you can probably deduce what it was from the title. Along with a group of our consistent volunteers, Love Walks was also accompanied by eleven adults who were friends, family or parents of our volunteers.

The new group brought both a fresh set of eyes to the ministry as well as an overwhelming amount of encouragement.

Seeing how God used this experience in the lives of both the volunteers and those we serve in Mexico, this is definitely something you can expect to see again in 2011!

1) You!

We can’t list things that we want to recognize in 2010 without listing you! The past year was a time in which we were blessed by so many people! Through the body of Christ working together our ministry was able to bless others. It is God first and foremost that allowed this to take place, and for that we are unbelievably greatful. Although without your involvement (your time, your donations, your heart), we would have very little to write on this page.

So we thank you! We continue to strive to be used by God to bring forth His Kingdom, to be a light to the world. We hope to have you a part of this journey with us, and we look back on your partnership fondly. We are humbled by your love!

Construction is underway and the border is finally being expanded! Those traveling between now and January may see delays, but in the long run this is good news.

Here is an article with more info:

Rocky Point Express

Want to join Love Walks on our December trip (17th-19th)? Click here to register!

Construction and Constructing

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:4)

With close to fifty  construction projects under our (tool) belts since 2005, we have a fair amount of experiences to draw from when reflecting on how God uses this ministry. Construction is perhaps the most tangible Love Walks ministry in Mexico because of its ability to reflect the physical impact that our organization and volunteers are making. Adversely, we sometimes look only at the roof that’s been fixed, the room that’s been added on, or the drywall that’s been put up and  we end up missing what God has been constructing (or wants to use us to construct).

It’s not the nails that last the test of eternity, but what they reflect. Each stroke of the paint brush and swing of the hammer brings with it the temptation to think that these acts by themselves are complete in their ability to bring glory to God. I have learned over the past five years that this is a sorely misunderstood stance. The physical labor done out of love is glorifying to God only as much as we use it to give Him glory. We must be bold in loving the person directly and not just through the acts of service. We cannot assume that our labor speaks for itself.

Service can be done as an outpouring of love from our hearts, motivated by the Spirit and given from God. On the other hand, it can be an action done in attempt to do what we think God wants from us by appeasing the ‘chore list’ of an always patrolling God, trying to earn His love and mercy.

So we must ask ourselves, “Why do we serve? Who do we serve?” God is trying to use all of us to build, not just with lumber and nails, but with a heart of humility and love. From this form of building, we will see a Kingdom that will truly last the tests of time, which in turn will show the completeness of his purpose revealed. For when service is an extension of His work in us, it does more than provide a home, it provides a kingdom.

In true fashion of God’s upside down kingdom, we must learn that building something that lasts may first mean letting go of the tools, and instead holding tight to your hand, knees on the ground, and ears open wide.