Day 4 - Kids Events in Mountain Villages

 

This morning came with a very early departure as we headed to a school in a mountain village. I set my alarm to keep up with my normal routine, but I only had time to get ready and complete my Bible-in-a-year reading plan. I had hoped to work through our mission trip journal as well, but I didn't read it until just before our evening debrief. The passage for today was Psalm 121, and I wish I had read it before we began our journey into the mountains. More on that in a moment.

Since we left before breakfast, we stopped at a local coffee and pastry shop for a quick cup of coffee and a snack to hold us over. Then we left Puerto Escondido and began making our way into the mountains.

As we drove, I found myself thinking back to a family vacation through the mountains of West Virginia. My mom would react to every sharp turn and steep drop-off. Whenever she saw the heights, she would let out a little scream and pull the map over her face. One time she pulled it up so quickly that she actually ripped the map with her nose. I thought it was hilarious back then (sorry, Mom!). But as I get older, I'm beginning to understand both my mom's feelings and Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 12:5: "They are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way..."

I didn't say anything to the team, and I tried not to grip the handle too tightly as we climbed, but I was definitely a little anxious. Psalm 121 would have been a great comfort in that moment. Thankfully, I did hold on to Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." That verse was a tremendous help.

I was relieved when we arrived safely at our first destination, Centro Educativo Victoria, a Christian school run by a fellow Ohioan. Nearly 80 children participated, and, by God's grace, our plans came together well.

 Jocsan served as our interpreter, and we began by introducing our team to the entire school. Josiah volunteered to share his testimony and did a fantastic job. The students especially enjoyed hearing that he had lived in China and Thailand. He shared how he had once focused on doing good in order to be accepted, but eventually reached a point where he no longer cared and wanted to live life his own way. Yet God did not leave him in his rebellion. Instead, God convicted him of his sin and called him to repentance. Now Josiah knows that salvation is not about doing good things, but about being in a right relationship with Jesus. Today, he continues to learn about God's love and serves Him because he loves Him. Great job, Josiah!

After the testimony, we played a large group game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed. We then divided the children into three age groups. Originally, we had planned for 30-minute stations, but because we arrived later than expected, we adjusted to 15-minute rotations. This worked fine for the games and music, but it made the craft—creating Gospel Bead bracelets—a bit more challenging.

Even so, it was so much fun to be part of this event and watch the children interact with our team. Collin, Ellie, and Timothy led several energetic games. The older groups especially loved the pool noodle cup game I learned from Craig Fullerton. Anna and Hannah taught the children "Jesus Loves Me" in English while Anna accompanied them on her ukulele. They even taught motions and dance moves! Will and Josiah led the bracelet craft, explaining the Gospel through the colors of the beads. They did an excellent job, and every child completed a bracelet. I also distributed Gospel tracts from Child Evangelism Fellowship that explained the meaning behind each color.

The event was both fun and exhausting! The school graciously provided tortas (sandwiches) for lunch, which we ate on the go as we packed up and traveled farther into the mountains for our second event.

Unlike the school, we had no idea how many children to expect. After another 25-minute drive on dirt roads—yes, still winding through mountain curves—we arrived early. A local church generously allowed us to use their building for the event.

We decided to follow the same basic program, but once I realized we had a smaller group, I suggested we keep everyone together rather than divide into stations. We also decided to team-teach the Gospel Beads presentation, with each team member explaining a different color while I handed out materials.

 When we began, we had 18 children. As the event continued, more children kept arriving a few at a time. We introduced ourselves, heard Josiah's testimony again, and had Anna lead the music. We then moved into games before making the bracelets.

By this point, more than 30 children had arrived, so we split them into age groups for the games. Collin, Ellie, Anna, and Timothy took the older children outside to play soccer. The rest of us tried to come up with an activity for the younger kids when Jocsan remembered that we had brought bubbles. He suggested blowing bubbles while the children tried to pop them with pool noodles. It turned out to be a huge success! Even some of the older children came back inside to join the fun.

 

The team did a wonderful job sharing the Gospel while making the bracelets. The children were adorable and eagerly awaited each bead. They listened attentively and were excited when we tied the finished bracelets onto their wrists. Many of them immediately began reading the Gospel tracts they received.

 

It was such a joy to spend time with these children. Later, Jocsan explained that many of them do not attend church, making it especially meaningful to know that Gospel seeds were planted in that community. Please pray that these children will trust in Jesus and carry the Good News home to their families.

We then began the journey back down the mountain. Praise the Lord, the drive down was far less nerve-wracking than the drive up! Everything went smoothly, and we arrived back in Puerto around dinner time. We stopped at a local restaurant for some delicious Mexican food, spent some time reflecting on the day, and now everyone is either relaxing in the pool or getting ready for bed.

Tomorrow, we are back at Casa Abba for another day of work!

Day 3 - Work Day at Casa Abba

This morning began with a beautiful sunrise and the sound of the ocean in the near distance. Sitting outside, reflecting on 1 Peter 4 while a gentle breeze flowed by, provided the perfect setting to reflect on God's goodness and write my first blog post. Peter's encouragement to love one another earnestly is so important for Christians in the Church, but it is also vital on mission teams. We are called to love one another in a way that covers "a multitude of sins." Or, as Paul writes, "Love bears all things" (1 Cor. 13:7). It's important to learn to let little things slide and not hold on to offenses that can create strife. Nobody is perfect, so learn to love imperfect people. Serve one another and use your gifts to bless others for God's glory.

Anna shared during our evening debrief how meaningful it has been to use her gifts on this trip. She almost didn't bring her ukulele, but at the last minute she thought, "Why not?" Tomorrow, she will use her ukulele and voice to teach children a song about Jesus, and on Sunday she will help lead worship at church. How cool it is to see God using her gifts to bless others during this trip!

This morning, we gathered as a team for devotions. Kayla and Jocsan shared the story of how God called them to begin Casa Abba Children's Home and ministry. They told us about stepping out in faith, trusting God to provide, how they acquired the property, and how construction began. After seeing the property last night, it was so good for the team to hear the story behind it all. It is an amazing testimony of God's faithfulness and their perseverance. Please continue to pray for them as their vision and ministry continue to grow.

When we arrived at the property, we split into two groups. The boys went with Jocsan to earn their PhDs—that is, to become Post Hole Diggers! They dug four holes for poles that will eventually hold solar-powered lights and bring illumination to the property. The boys worked hard in the hot sun! After lunch, they headed into town to pick up posts, concrete, and more paint. It's easy to take stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards for granted because things don't work quite the same here. The boys had to visit four different stores to gather supplies, and even then, they weren't able to bring everything back today. The posts had to be ordered and will be ready for our next visit.

 

The girls and I stayed behind with Kayla to paint the new office building. I spent much of the day on a ladder taping windows and doors while the girls got busy painting. They did an excellent job and never complained. Unfortunately, we ran out of paint, or they likely would have finished the entire building today. No worries—we'll finish it on our next trip.

 

After cleaning up the property and securing the tools, we headed back to Casa Jubilee for a delicious home-cooked meal featuring Vero's chicken fajitas. Amazing! Vero, Jocsan's mom, is preparing breakfasts and several dinners for us this week, and she takes such great care of us. Thank you, Vero!

This evening was a quieter one as we talked through our plans for tomorrow. We practiced making Gospel Bead bracelets and reviewed our roles for the kids event. It was encouraging to hear during our debrief how much the team was impacted by hearing Kayla and Jocsan's testimony before serving at the property today. It is such a blessing to be part of this ministry and to help create a future home for little boys and girls.

We also had the opportunity to watch the USA's World Cup match before heading to bed. Tomorrow comes early—we need to leave by 6:00 a.m. to make the hour-and-a-half drive to the village. Please pray for safe travels, strength and energy, and boldness as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus through games, songs, and crafts. We are excited to see what God will do!

Thanks for reading, and God bless.

Travel Days 1-2

 

Front: Anna Pamer, Josiah Baker, Hanna Pavkov, Timothy Pavkov

Back: Ellie & Collin Crist, Will Bondlow, Brad Horner 

   

Cousins traveling together! 

Philippians 2:3–4

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Good morning and welcome, readers!

This year began with a unique travel schedule as we had to fly to Dallas the evening before our flight to Puerto Escondido to make sure we didn't miss our connection. Praise God for providing a nice hotel with an airport shuttle, which made travel to and from the airport so easy. Our luggage was checked all the way through, so we only had our carry-on bags to manage. We made it through all the security checkpoints quickly and had plenty of time before boarding. The flights were uneventful (which is always a good thing!), and we made it through customs smoothly. Between the eight of us, we had more than 22 pieces of luggage, including checked bags, carry-ons, and personal items. Amazingly, they only checked our backpacks and waved us through quickly. Praise God!

It was such a joy to step out of the airport and see Kayla, Jocsan, and Zeke! After greeting the whole team, we loaded up the truck with luggage, piled into two vehicles, and headed to Dan's Café for lunch. Dan's Café has become a favorite spot for those of us returning. It offers authentic Mexican food, along with American options for those who may still be adjusting to the cuisine. Just a short walk away is a beautiful overlook of the Pacific Ocean.

After lunch, we headed to Casa Jubilee, our amazing accommodations for the week. The owners, a Christian couple from Washington State, built the home with the hope of using it for mission teams. They generously provide us with a discount that makes this wonderful place our home base. Having been on many mission trips, I've learned how important good food and a good night's sleep are so team members can focus their energy on the mission each day.

Once everyone got settled into their rooms, most of the team cooled off with a dip in the pool. We gathered later to talk through the week and begin planning for Friday's kids event in a mountain village. This is a completely new opportunity for us, as we will travel about an hour and a half into the mountains to host an event for up to 80 children. Please pray for us as we seek to use our gifts to bless these kids and share the Gospel with them!

 

Later, we headed into town because Jocsan and I had a meeting with a volleyball coach. He is starting a volleyball program in Puerto and is introducing new players to the sport. God's timing is wonderful! The coach has family coming in on Monday and had planned to cancel practice. Instead, he is going to stop by, introduce us, and then turn the entire practice over to our team. I'll have the opportunity to coach volleyball through an interpreter for the first time! One of our team members will also share a testimony and present the Gospel.

We also drove out to the Casa Abba property so the team could see the progress there. This is where I was reminded how much I enjoy having new members on the team—five of our eight are here for the first time. Taking a few moments to describe what the property looked like during our first year, and then seeing all that God has done since then, was a powerful reminder of His faithfulness. I couldn't believe how much had changed since last year! When we left, the foundation for the main house had just been completed and some of the holes had been filled in. In January, Woodland Deck Company—including Zoltan Csepe, Dan Pfeiffer, and David Keiper from Lakeside—built the walls. It is so exciting to see the room layouts taking shape and to hear the plans for the orphanage.

Just entering the main gate and seeing the walls for the first time

Jocsan sharing the vision

Walking the Property 

 

Seeing the building from down below

 

Please continue to pray for the construction of Casa Abba and for Kayla and Jocsan as they oversee this project. Their dream is to be working with children, not bricks. But this season requires building so they can one day welcome the children God will bring to them. Please pray for funding for the roof and for the continued work in the community.

On the way back to Casa Jubilee, we picked up some delicious tacos for dinner. This year, we did something completely new on a mission trip: we watched the Mexican national soccer team win their World Cup match! During the second half, after Mexico had gone up 3–0, we had our evening debrief and then called it a night.

Tomorrow, we head back to Casa Abba for a full day of work on the property.

 

Why I Want The Guardians To Continue To Win This Year

Pictured: Isaak, Skyler, Brendan, and Trevor

I’m a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. I remember watching the Indians and Browns at the old Municipal Stadium and the Cavs at the Richfield Coliseum. I ushered at Jacob’s Field the night the Indians clinched the division in 1995. I “witnessed” LeBron’s playoff runs and celebrated when the Cavs brought the championship home in 2016. I was in the stands the night Baker Mayfield made his debut. Cleveland sports moments have shaped so many memories for me—and I’ve always wanted our teams to succeed. But this year, I want it even more.

On August 22, the Guardians were just one game over .500, sitting 10.5 games behind Detroit. Playoffs felt out of reach, and honestly, I was losing interest. That same day, though, something happened that put baseball in perspective.

Four friends—Trevor, Brendan, Isaak, and Skyler—took a road trip to watch the game they love in a new stadium. Just weeks after graduating high school, their summer adventure turned tragic when a semi-truck struck their vehicle. In an instant, life changed forever.

Two of the boys, Isaak and Skyler, had grown up in my church and had recently joined us on a mission trip to Mexico. I still remember their hard work, kindness, and joy as they laid the foundation for an orphanage. Strong, vibrant, young men full of life, love for Jesus, and a desire to care for others. And then came the phone call: their mom, Abby, in tears, not knowing the condition of her sons—only that they were in different hospitals. Worry and fear welled up in my heart while I tried to maintain a steady voice to provide comfort to their mom. Together, we prayed desperately for their lives, for healing, and for God’s comfort.

In the hours and days that followed, reports trickled in. Isaak and Trevor were released quickly. Brendan spent a couple of days hospitalized before returning home. But Skyler faced the most serious injuries—broken bones, internal trauma, and bleeding in his brain. He was sedated, and the long, fearful wait began. Each day, updates gave us reason to hope, and I joined countless others praying and following his progress. You can read about his journey HERE.

So what does this have to do with the Guardians? The boys are devoted fans. As Skyler regained consciousness, his parents turned on Guardians games in his hospital room. He fixed his eyes on the screen, responding with expressions. Then, on September 2, something remarkable happened. His mom posted:

“We've been sitting watching the Guardians game with Skyler. The nurse asked Skyler if he was in any pain, and Skyler said, "The Guardians are losing!" (Hoarse, but very clear!)

What?!?!? Miracle!!

Of course, this is the first full communication he says! We are still in disbelief! I don't know what this means as far as what more communication will come, but he knows what's going on!”

Can you believe that? Not a word about his physical pain, but about the Guardians losing! It was so Skyler—letting his love for baseball overshadow his own suffering. And it was a miracle, a breakthrough moment that filled us with hope.

Since then, Skyler has continued to heal. He’s now back in Akron, close to returning home. And as his health improved, so did the Guardians’ fortunes. Since September 2, the team has gone 18–6, including a run of winning 17 of 19 games—erasing a 10.5 game deficit to take first place in the division.

I don’t believe God is concerned with the outcome of baseball games. But I do believe He provides reminders of hope in the small things. For Skyler, for his friends, for all of us watching—Guardians wins have been a source of encouragement and joy.

That’s why I want the Guardians to keep winning this year. Not just for standings or stats, but because their story is intertwined with the story of four young men who remind us to keep fighting, keep believing, and never give up. Baseball may be small in light of eternity, but it can still be a gift of joy in the middle of hardship.

Day 6 (July 16) – Casa Abba

 
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant…

Today’s devotional reminded us of the importance of being kind to one another as an act of love. 1 Corinthians 13, often called the “Love Chapter,” gets a lot of attention at weddings and marriage seminars—and rightly so! There’s plenty of truth in it for loving your spouse and family well. But originally, this chapter is about how to love fellow believers, especially when there are disagreements about spiritual gifts. We won’t dive into all of that now, but chapter 13 is showing us how to navigate differences within the church: by loving one another and choosing kindness.

Ephesians 4:32 echoes this: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Our kindness isn’t rooted in how people treat us; it’s rooted in the kindness and forgiveness Jesus has shown to us. So, how can you be kind to someone today?

This morning, Kayla Morales shared her testimony during our group devotionals. I love hearing Kayla share her story! She is such a sincere believer who genuinely desires everyone to know Jesus. (You can read what I wrote about her testimony from the first trip HERE.) Every time she shares how God has worked in her life, it impacts our team.

She talked about her life before Christ—looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places—and how she came to know Jesus at Skyview and was radically changed. She shared how she got connected to Lakeside Christian Church and our youth group, and how hard it was to follow God’s call to attend Word of Life Bible Institute and then move to Mexico for missions—especially when people close to her didn’t understand her calling. But God led her to Mexico, to Jocsan, and ultimately to Casa Abba.

As she spoke, a metaphor came to mind: life is like being in a boat at sea. Before Christ, we’re tossed to and fro, at the mercy of the waves and storms—hopeless and afraid. But in Christ, the sea is still the same, only now we’re tethered to the Anchor of our souls, who helps us navigate every storm.

Kayla has been such a blessing and an inspiration this week. She has cared for our group so well, and I’m deeply thankful for her!

This afternoon, we returned to Casa Abba to wrap up painting, move dirt, and build a roof over the well. I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.