WELCOME to the family, Claudia and Louis!

The last weekend of March, we had two incredible celebrations! Angels were singing and all of Heaven and Earth shouted with joy as our dear sister Claudia and our wonderful brother, Louis accepted Christ. Claudia is a junior and lives in Long Beach, and Louis is in 8th grade and living in Los Angeles. After small group at the Kung's home on Friday, March 27th, Wayne pulled the car over as he was taking the girls home where with support and encouragement from her freinds, Claudia prayed to Jesus. That very Sunday, after Wayne's teaching, Ronnie (Louis' older brother) asked about salvation and triggered questions from Louis. And once they stopped, Louis prayed the prayer to join his older brother in eternity under Christ! WHAT A MIRACLE!

Congratulations to Angel and Mikie!

Both Mikie Sword and Angel Rodriguez were baptized on February 1st, 2009 at our church home location! It was a very exciting and joyous occasion as they joined two amazing adults from our congregation who shared their special moment with all of us! Kati Nygren (Anna & Markus' mother) as well as our friend Leanne were baptized as well in what turned out to be a fantastic celebration at our church and up above! Seeing four servants baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit at our church home was simply an amazing moment! Let all the angels rejoice!

Missions Team Reunion & Supporter Party!

Hey everyone!

We’re going to throw a reunion dinner party on Saturday, January 31st from 5-8pm at the Journey Church location in our Fellowship hall! We’ll be having tacos for good memories and our own, Ericka Carranza will be creating a huge salad for us! We encourage you to invite your family and your supporters so we can show them all that we did, and share with them the journey in a memorable event together.

Party Agenda:
5pm – Meet and greet. Reconnect and fellowship
5:30pm – Opening prayer and Tacos & Salad for dinner!
6pm – Slide Show presentation
6:15pm – Worship songs and Special Thank You presentations
6:45 – Updates and follow up information
7pm – Closing prayer and then Free time, desert…etc.
8pm – Party shut down! Clean-up and good night! =)

This is a wonderful opportunity to thank our sponsors, donors, prayer warriors…etc. as well as sharing with your family and closest friends what you did, and what we still have yet to do!

Hopefully, with God’s blessing maybe we can even talk some of the Baja Bound team to join us!

Thanks everyone and God Bless! Please RSVP as you are able so we can try to prepare food and drinks accurately, as well as seating space.

JCC is located at the Tree of Life church in Redondo Beach.
2761 190th Street. By the corner of Inglewood and 190th.
· From 405 S exit Inglewood and take a right. Take a left on Armour (1 block north of 190th) and the JCC parking lot is there on your right.
· From SPBC – take Hawthorne north and a left on 190th. Park on 190th by church location before Inglewood, or take a right on Inglewood and then the 1st right on Armour. Then park in the back church parking lot.
If you would like to make any special Thank You’s to anyone in particular, please let me know! The team is yours, the journey is ours, and the mission is God’s. We are still serving one another, so please let me know if you would like to share anything in particular and we’ll make it happen! GOD BLESS YOU!

We're back and better than ever!

Hello Team,

Hope you’ve had some time to rest and reflect on the journey for which we just returned! There is definitely going to be some ongoing follow up, and Pastor John (“PJ”) and I are already talking about the next trip down this coming summer 2009. There is yet so much to do. So I want to encourage you for firstly, a job well done in representing Christ our Lord as best as we could, for the completion of the two homes with insulation and dry wall, plus the work at Agua Viva, the village and even Connie’s school… whew!

We also want to encourage everyone to stay in touch, spread the Word and continue being the best missionary 24/7 everywhere you are and with everything you do and say to anyone and everyone! Don’t ever forget that you are ALWAYS a missionary for Jesus!

So far, we have compiled 2 photo galleries and over 1000 shots for you… keep them coming in. Reply to me and send me any online photos. If you want to send me a CD, we’ll make it happen. There is so much yet to share with one another.

Justin and I will also be working together to set up a reunion party where we can invite our sponsors, break bread together once again, have fun and share photos, a slide show, and give you any follow up announcements for future trips and much, much more! Stay connected with one another in brotherly/sisterly love and share the Gospel at all times, using words when necessary!

I can honestly tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that there is no other people, place or time that I would have ever been a part of, than where we were together this past week. You bless me and teach me one and all. I am reminded very humbly, that throughout all the discourse that is the history of man; all the pain and suffering throughout the world; even the wars that have been fought nationally and even within our own hearts… that time and time again, the Lord our God has risen up heroes of faith from the ranks of those who have made themselves available. Even when we are not prepared or worthy, He calls us to stand up and fight against the evils of this world. Persons of every background, sex, age, size, strength, weakness and influence, as well as the humble, the crippled, the shy and the desperate, have been used by God to answer His calling. This calling is ours to turn despair into hope, defeat into victory, tragedy into celebration, and death into everlasting life. Boast in the Lord’s victory, dearest team, and be passionate and prayerful always. I love you all very much.

Your fellow servant,

Chris
310-877-3148
chris@youthjourney.org

Photo Galleries, updates, news, events… – www.YouthJourney.org
Youth Journey Blog – www.journeyyouth.blogspot.com
Baja Bound Ministries – www.BajaBound.org
Pastor John Rose – 619-540-1221 (bajabound10@cox.net)
Facebook Group Page for everyone on our trip - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67770679688&ref=mf

COMING SOON…
* A follow up mission’s trip near you…
* Ongoing updates and follow up with the Baja Bound team
* A lawsuit from Avon-Rent-A-Car (kidding… I hope!)

May God bless you all and keep you close… Amen.

Ready, Set, GO! Baja Bound Team is ready!

Hello Fellow Missionaries!

Update from Mexico – The words that kept coming up that Pastor John heard, were “Mui frio”… meaning “VERY COLD”. These families have no insulation, and know that we are coming soon. But we can’t be there soon enough. Pray for them. But note that especially at night, just like out here, it gets quite cold! In fact, did you all notice the rain that just hit us right after I told you how “beautiful” it would be in Mexico? Be prepared, but also, humble yourself in remembering what these families are struggling with, waiting for our help.

Everyone wear your MISSION’S T-SHIRTS and bracelets on Sunday!

REMINDER: “TODD”
T – THREE for any and all errands!
O – Observe everything, everywhere and everyone!
D – Don’t leave the group, and Don’t ever go anywhere at night!
D – Do have an adult escort to restrooms/errands, as one of the 3!

Copied in this email are Pastor John Rose and Ben Gaines. Ben will be personally responsible for our team once we meet them in San Diego! Please read and review this entire email. Our team is officially 63 total persons with 30 adults and 33 youths (under 18). Final roster is attached, with most adult phone numbers included. UPDATED Team/Van lists are below. Please note it in your own Mission’s Booklets.

PARENTS/COUPLES:
* Parents with younger children, or married couples – You have the option to stay at the church where we will be on Wednesday in the evenings. It’s about a 15 minute drive from where the masses are, but more private and probably a high chance of everyone getting a bed! Otherwise, you will be mixed in the guys and girl’s dorms, with beds given priority to the older gentlemen and ladies and of course, physical needs. There will be two Baja Bound staff staying there with 10 volunteers. However, if you prefer to stay together with us, that is fine as well. Please reply to this email right away if you want this option.
* Please be advised, that if for any reason, any youths need to be sent home, all parents will be notified to meet a BB Staff and myself in San Diego to pick up children. If it is one of the youths that are yours, then we will ask one of you to take them home or to help make such arrangements with grandparents…etc. Please remember that it would take a LOT, to be sent home, but also… please be prepared. My decisions in this matter, should it be called upon, will not be negotiable.

VAN DRIVERS – Separate email being sent to John, Lee, Brian, Dean, Wayne, David P./Wendy P., and Dave S., as well as Pastor Sunny who will be arriving Monday with Maryann and Julian.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH –
* 1st Meeting point is at JCC at 10am in the parking lot (2761 190th in Redondo Beach. Parking lot is on the Armour St. side of the building. Sign on 190th says South Bay Church of the Brethren, but we will have Journey Covenant Church signs up as well). Immediately after the service, come out and meet me by the vans. We will load up and leave VERY PROMPTLY at 10:30am. Hit the restrooms before you hop in. Carpool to this location if possible. Tree of Life has granted permission to leave cars there at the “far left” side for the week. If you choose to do this, please RSVP with me and provide car model and License plate# and contact info so we can leave it for Brenda from TOL. Limited space available for this option, so RSVP with me.
* 2nd Meeting point is at SBPC at 11am located at 2701 Plaza Del Amo in Torrance. You can park in the back all week long if you want to leave your car there. At this stop, we will pick up all SBPC members from our team, have one last bathroom break and hit the road PROMPTLY at 11:30am.
* Boxed lunches provided in each van with bottled waters. Inside each box, is a sheet of paper that will have a name of one of our team members that you will be encouraging all week via the notes. You’ll make/decorate a bag for them and write notes daily to this person!
* 2pm meeting at San Diego Gas & Go company. Directions will be provided in the vans for you. That will be our last stop in the US. We will hit restrooms and fill up gas tanks, meet with Pastor John, Ben and the Baja Bound staff, and leave by 2:30pm to cross the border.
* 2:30pm we head out of the USA. THERE WILL BE NO STOPS in Mexico until we arrive at location, which is about 88 miles south. We should arrive no later than 5pm, with the sun still out for dinner at the Children’s Home.

WHAT TO BRING:
1. BIBLES – You’ll need yours! Journals as well for yourself. Include a pen too.
2. MISSIONS BOOKLETS – Must carry it on you at ALL TIMES.
3. ONE BAG – Duffle/backpack sized. You hear me, Heather & Megan? =)
4. LONG PANTS – 2 pairs of jeans or 3 if you can fit them. Anything sturdy that can take a beating and has a couple of pockets.
5. TOWEL – Bring your own. Don’t be “that” guy…
6. SLEEPING BAG – Include a pillow for yourself!
7. PASSPORTS – Or your BC/ID combo. You will leave them in the vans at all times.
8. TOILETRIES – We have hot water and showers, so soap, shampoo, lotions, toothbrushes, your hair junk…etc.
9. WORK GLOVES – We will have some extra.
10. HARD SOLED SHOES – for the work sites if you have them. This protects you from stepping on a nail.
11. EXTRA CLOTHING – Socks, boxers, long sleeve T’s, T-shirts, RAIN jacket, PJ’s.
12. WARM CLOTHING – It’s cold at night, and like Todd reminded us, weather is not predictable. Be prepared for rain. Sweatshirts, ponchos (waterproof).
13. TOOLS – Can always be put to good use! I highly recommend keeping your own tools on you and never leaving them at a work site, even after a rotation. Lock it up in the van. Tools are expensive and we’d hate to lose anyone’s. Hammers, screwdrivers, saws…etc.
14. SNACKS – There will be plenty of food available, but if you want anything special, it’s up to you to bring it within the space of your ONE bag.

THINGS BEING BROUGHT FOR THE TEAM:
1. Extra work aprons (Will be at work sites)
2. Extra work gloves (Will be at work sites)
3. Extra water bottles and snacks for each van
4. Air mattress for girls room (full size)
5. Extra Mission’s booklets (limited – see Chris)
6. Paper and pens and brown sack-lunch sized bags for notes of encouragement.
7. Hand sanitizer bottles (in Vans)
8. Extra work hammers (Will be at work sites)
9. Sandwich lunches for our trip down to San Diego! (In Vans)
10. Extra folding chairs for our meetings (In Vans)
11. Toy and clothing donations to give away (In Vans)

TEAMS LISTS UPDATED!!! (your groups are your vans):
Also, there is an update on the van placements (sub-teams). Just to clarify, I had a couple misprints, switched a couple people, and replaced one person, and forgot one person…. Ugh. Be merciful, my friends… I have marked in bold/red people that have “new van homes”. =) Please note the corrected/updated and “FINAL” team lists on your Booklets:
1. Anna (Leader–Van=Romans), Megan (General–Van=Romans)
* Van (Romans/Chris – Site Coordinator): Aaron T., Heather, Julian, Kylie, Maryan, Emily, Joan, Josh
* Van (Hebrews/Lee): Taylor, Elliott, Kennedy, Samantha, Jerusalem, Valerie, Shalon, Lee, Pam, Pastor Sunny
* Van (Corinthians/Dean): Anthony, Jordan, Kyle, Dean, Wayne, Marguerite, Todd, Kati, Melodee
2. Matt (Leader–Van=Ephesians), Wydarius (General–Van=Galatians)
* Van (Galatians/Brian): Amy, Tiffany, Markus, Angel, Charles, Dave S., Brian, Trini, Ericka, Dorothy
* Van (Ephesians/John): Kristin, Kirstie, Natalia, Evan, Anton, Derrick, JJ, Pastor Jim, Annie, John, Karen
* Van (Philippians/Prewitt): Ashley, Mariah, Benny, Aaron W., Becky, Dave P., Wendy, Amy, Roland, Justin (Site Coordinator)

* Note that Pastor Sunny, Maryann and Julian will be arriving on Monday, December 29th. A Baja Bound Staff member will meet them at a specified location in San Diego at 2pm that day, and bring them down to us.

IN THE VANS:
* $20 US in rolls of quarters for toll roads
* $100 cash for gas fillips in San Diego
* Maps to each location (Provided by Baja Bound)
* Copies of all VBS Lessons (4 of them)
* Bag to hold all passports and ID’s
* Case of water and box of snacks and extra tools
* List of driver’s phone numbers along with Ben Gaines and Pastor John Rose

That’s it for now, team. You are a joy to serve! Merry Christmas to you all. I will see you all on Sunday.

God Bless,

Chris

Slabs of concrete (Foundations) have been laid in Mexico!

Team, we're on fire right now because the journey is becomming more and more real every day! Not just in our hearts as we prepare spiritually, mentally and physically for the trip, but also in the community we seek to serve in His name! Check out the photos from Baja Bound Ministries of the work in Mexico that has recently been completed in preparation for our efforts this winter! Go to www.youthjourney.org/missions.html and click on the icons for bigger photos!

As our team finalizes and prepares, let us always remember that all we do is for the glory of God and with His blessings and guidance.

Stay the course, be faithful always and keep the fire burning passionately in your hearts! Serve others in all you do, in preparation for the trip to come!

Youth "Bond Servant" Auction Results!

God truly blessed us this past Sunday as we hosted our first-ever Youth "Bond Servant" Auction in an effort to team up with our entire church family and congregation in raising funds for the mission's trip, while also serving others sacrificially and with all our hearts! Our beloved church family raised up in a huge way, and God's grace filled the church that day! The winners are listed below... Auction winners will be contacted by Chris or another member of the YJ team by phone, and arrangements for the youth will be coordinated for transportation and dates of service with the winning families together! OFFER NEVER EXPIRES! THANK YOU to everyone, but most of all, to our wonderful Savior, who made all things possible, and certainly made all things happen!

AUCTION RESULTS:
* Paul Jones & Vincent Morales were won by the Catalans
* Markus Nygren was won by the Catalans
* Derrick Howard was won by the Wiley's
* Kodi Hamff was won by the Wiley's
* Mike Bui was won by Al Kung
* Vincent & Mike Bui were won by Al Kung
* Akeera (Kiki) was won by Al Kung
* Jon was won by Al Kung
* Wydarius Spikes was won by Al Kung
* Bertha was won by Al Kung
* Ashley Prewitt was won by Carol Poon
* Brenton Moore & Jamaal DeRozen were won by Carl Hidalgo
* Derek Lawson (DLAW) was won by Jeff & Deanna Yost
* Marlin Drawhorn was won by the Uyematsu's
* Anna, Megan & Kylie Petty were won by the Cochran's
* Marie Velasquez was won by the Nygren's
* Kylie Petty was won by Chris (Yaay... go me!)
* Ilima Kung was won by Sarris
* Anton Drawhorn was won by Shelle Welty
* Tawanesha (Elmo) was won by Lee Macklin
* Champagne was won by Monica Thompson
* Samantha Duran was won by Heather McVickar
* Tina Sampay was won by Ken Smith
* Anna & Megan were won by Mo