The Power of Prayer

Today, my morning started out a little differently than the previous ones this week. Last night, Grace, Courtney, Kayla, Elise, Hannah Halleckson and I decided it would be fun to sleep outside on the trampoline here at Casa Buena. We brought out all our blankets and pillows...the whole shabang. Needless to say, I didn't get the best night's sleep. Haha. But it was super fun to lay out under the stars and have some girl time in MEXICO! Anyway, after literally jumping out of bed, we headed off to the Ranch. We usually start right in on the work, but this morning, Peter took us up on the mountain behind the ranch and shared his testimony. It was extremely moving and made today's labor much more meaningful,  knowing the story behind what brought the Gatto family here to LaPaz. Along with our entire team, a man named John was with us on that mountain. He checked in to Casa Buena last night and had asked if he could come to work with us. He was awesome to work with and it was great getting to know him a little bit. Today was Meagan Gatto's 16th birthday, so while she and her mom were out celebrating, we got everything ready for her surprise party this afternoon. It was a great oppertunity to serve the Gattos in this way, when they are constantly taking time to serve everyone around them. After all was in order for the party, we went back to Casa Buena for lunch, devotionals, and pool time. One of my favorite parts of this entire trip has been our small group discussion groups after devos. Doing this has allowed me to become closer with some of the girls I didn't know as well before, and also provides a daily support group where I know I will be lifted up and encouraged. In my group, we've been talking a lot about the power and importance of prayer. It's really had an impact on me and I can honestly say I am a changed person because of  it. Over the course of the past week, I've been praying a lot more. And it's not even like I feel obligated to, but I WANT to! I feel intimately connected with God in a way that I've never experienced before. He is truly transforming me and teaching me the importance and benefit of spending time with Him. I'm so thankful to be in Mexico, and am blessed to be able to serve here. Thank you all so much for your prayers for our team...we feel them daily and need them!
Aubrey Martin

Walking on Sunshine

Today was an all around great day! The work at the ranch was difficult at some times due to the four blisters on my hands!! But it was a huge blessing that I was put on the lunch crew so a few of us went and made lunch for the rest of the team. Tonight at the VBS at Marqus de Leon, I could completely see God moving through so many people and in so many different ways. Nataile, Delaney, Josh, Tommy, and Hannah Halleckson all shared their testimonies and there was hardly a dry eye at the park. I was so proud of each person because of their boldness and their willingness to speak and tell their stories. I definately felt moved from seeing the love of God filling each person that was touched by their stories. God has also been moving in my own life in a few ways. Recently, I have been praying to ask God for His boldness and His confidence to allow me to reach out to the children at Marqus de Leon. Tonight, I was walking around the park and a kid came up to me and wanted to have a piggy back ride. Of course I said yes and he jumped up on my back and we ran around the park. Hannah Russell joined me and we completely connected with these two boys. We were able to run around and goof with them by sliding down the slide and running all over the park. By the end of the night, we didn't want to leave the two boys. We can't wait to return tomorrow to play with them and reach out to them once again. God answered my prayer comletely and I could totally feel His presence tonight at Marqus de Leon! God has been changing the lives of everyone whether they are participating in the VBS, or a part of our team. 

Grace

VBS Testimony

At the beginning of my trip to Mexico, I started off way more nervous than I usually am for trips. Knowing absolutely no Spanish at all made me terrified. Everyone else on the trip kept talking about how it doesn't matter if you can't talk to the kids at the VBS in Marcos deLeon, you can spread God's love by a smile on your face or by just kicking a deflated soccer ball around in a circle. This made no sense to me. How was I supposed to "communicate" with these village kids if I can't speak Spanish?! I prayed for a while with my missions trip small group that God would wipe away the nerves that I had for the camp. I definitely felt like my prayers weren't being heard at all and that God refused to listen to me. I wouldn't be able to connect with the kids of the VBS and that was that. Tuesday night, one of the girls on our team came up with an idea to get to know some of the older middle school girls who didn't want to participate in the activities we had set up for them. We thought making bracelets would engage them for sure! Right as we began to connect with the girls just by a few words of our horrible Spanish, some string and scissors, one of the leaders came up to me and asked if I would be willing to share my testimony with the girls we had been sitting by. My first reaction was I'm not prepared for this at all. I didn't even know what to say. I felt a calling to share my testimony before even going on the trip. I just didn't expect to be put on the spot with no idea what I wanted to say to these girls. I began my testimony a little shaky but I did my best explaining to the Marcos deLeon girls how my relationship with God had progressed through the experiences I'd gone through with family situations. I'd never shared my testimony in a group like this before and while talking I felt like God's words were literally flowing from my mouth. After the tears had stopped and I finished my story I felt a sense of relief. All the nerves I had felt before about not knowing Spanish and being worried that God's love would never reach these kids. God provided me with an opportunity that changed my missions trip to Mexico and I'm beyond thankful for that.

Elise Almer

Improving Spanish Skills

Today was a great day! We woke up nice and early and most of us went to the Ranch while others stayed and prepared for VBS. I went to the Ranch where we continued our work from Saturday. My group has been tasked as landscapers and we have done a lot of clearing of brush, dead trees, stumps, and branchs. To do this we use axes, pickaxes, and machettes! (don't worry I haven't chopped mine or anyone elses limbs off yet!)  I can speak for the team when I say that we are getting work done faster than expected. After coming home for lunch we had time to relax shower and hit the pool and the trampoline! We headed out for Marcus de Leon to do the VBS at around 6:00 and ended at 8:40. This was an instresting and incredible expirince! I did really well in Spanish in school both years but at the first words they said I totally forgot even the basic first year spanish phrases, but even still I was able to (painstakenly) communicate with the children and play soccer with them as well. Going into the VBS I thought two things: 1, that I was good at spanish and 2, that I was good at soccer. None of those turned out to be true but hey, I got a whole week to practice! I have had a great expirience so far and am looking foreward to the rest of the week as well as to the possibility of interning here next year!
Hasta luego,
Josh Granger

After a wondeful 6 AM wakeup, we headed off to the Ranch where our team began our mission to dig out a 5,000 litre water tank. It was a slow, strenous process to take something out of the the ground that wasn't meant to be dug up. Layers of cement and dirt soon fell to our pickaxes and shovels. We didn't manage to completely dig it up and take it out though, hopefully tomorrow we'll see that big blue tank lifted and moved. 

While eating dinner at a restaurant, Katerina got a nice surprise for her birthday. A mariachi band serenaded us for a while, one even took Hannah Halleckson's water bottle and used it as a guitar slide! After a several hour break, we left for VBS at Marcus de Leon. There we played futbol, listened to Mama Jane capture the kids with her Bible stories, and made some crafts. They also loved us pushing them on this spinny-playground thingy which never got old, even after two and a half hours! We can't wait to have some more fun times and spread the gospel with the kids again tomorrow.
Nos Vemos!
Tommy Mallow and Tyler Gabriele

A Fresca Fiesta Day

Today we walked to church in the extreme Mexican heat! :) It was kind of a sturggle because I can't walk and take a drink at the same time so I showed up with a couple orange gatorade stains! I was super excited to meet all the people at the church I think I scared a few just by smiling too wide! Anyways, church was awesome even though all I basically understood was amen and hola...(I'm in Spanish 4 woops!)
Oh well, it was a good effort. Anywho, today was awesome we got to rest, which really meant pool time and extreme trampoline jumping with members from a local youth group! :) About 15 other kids from our group got to go to the local village and pass out flyers for the vacation bible school we will be doing for the rest of the week. They just came back and it sounds like they had an awesome expierence and im pumped to go for myself! We also just got some giant Frescas (which is like the Mexican Sprite, but more delicious!) Thats pretty much been the day so far! Off to a great start!
Audios!
Courtney Connor

I love God's perfect plan in bringing this team together! What a great team we have.  They have gone above and beyond in serving each other and the Gatto family.  We started Sunday by going to church at La Paz de Cristo and ended it with a group going out the neighborhood we'll be doing VBS in and going door to door inviting kids to come join us.  The team is all looking forward to another morning and afternoon of work tomorrow.  Each student has been placed in small teams and given various projects around the Ranch.  They are starting to see the vision that God has for the Ranch and how GEBC has had a hand in every part of its development.  It has been very cool to see them get invested in various activies and be the hands and feet of God in just a short period of time.  After the work projects at the Ranch we will return home for an afternoon of rest and devotionals and will prepare for our night of VBS in the community. 
Thank you for all of your continued prayers.  We are thankful the team has remained healthy and hydrated in these first few days. 

Prayer Requests:

• Continued positive attitude and unity of the team.
• Continued heath for EVERYONE!

We will update again soon!!
Erin

Day #1

Greetings and salutations!
After a safe arrival in Los Cabos and a magnificent van ride through the mountains, we arrived just in La Paz just in time to receive room assignments and eat delicious tacos.  The rumors are true, they are more delicious than anything Chicago-land has attempted to create.  Extra thanks go to all of the parents who saved us by driving our crew to O'Hare at four in the morning!
"La Paz, Day Numero Uno" started early this morning.  Actually, the rooster got started first, then our day started.  After a delicious breakfast of assorted breads, fruits, and cereals, we collected our work gear and lots of water and headed towards the El Camino Ranch.  Upon arrival, we walked around the grounds as Peter Gatto described everything that needed to be done.  Shortly thereafter, we split into groups and began work.  My team, composed of many awesome "hombres", started in the garden.  Once you've gardened in Mexico, anything else is a breeze.  From there, our group leader Frank led us to a water pipe in need of some adjustment.  We dug a trench, broke up bricks, cut pipe, modified connectors, and ultimately convinced running water to end up in the horse's agua bucket.  That bucket holds a lot of water. 
After drinking more water, it was about noon'ish and we prepared to rest.  However, because the Lord was in our team chemistry, we wanted to keep working, even in the Mexican sun!  So, we drank more water, grabbed our picks and shovels and began the arduous task of removing a palm tree stump from the rock-like dirt.  As we dug out the roots, the tree began to loosen, and soon we took turns kicking the stump.  When it was at its weakest, a crew of our football players tackled the tree and took it down to the ground.  Then Frank hooked it up to his van, and pulled it away.  Success.
Lunch, the pool, and devotions followed during the hot hours of the day.  We're currently working our way through Acts, and are learning many new, fascinating things about how to work better in a Christian group.  Then, we met the youth group of La Paz De Christo (the church we're working with), played "icebreaking" games, and proceeded to eat together.  Nothing brings together people more than food and fellowship!  After the "carne" had settled a bit, we had a time of worship en espanol y en inglas, culminating in three students sharing their testimonies. Great, powerful stories our friends, new and old, have!
As we prepare for bed, we have tomorrow to look forward to.  We will be attending La Paz de Christo at the 11AM service and then enjoying the rest of the day with the Gatto family and excellent Christian fellowship. 
Thus, bedtime has arrived!  Buenos noches, Joshua Heise

1 Month away!

We have a fantastic team ready to serve with the Gatto family in La Paz, Mexico for 8 days in mid July.  There are currently 27 students and 6 adult leaders heading down.  Please pray for team unity and spiritual preparation as we eagerly anticipate this trip!  We will be updating this blog for all of our followers and supporters back home, so be sure to check in and join us on our trip!