To Mexico and Back [by Jonathan]

Our last night in Mexico, we sat on the roof of Youthfront’s dorms in Croc around a small fire pit (don’t worry, the roof was made of concrete). The fire was blazing and there was some meat cooking in a large skillet. Since we were about 30 feet up and the weather was perfect, we could see all the way to saddle mountain, the landmark of Monterrey.

All this provided a vivid contrast to the town below us, where we saw half built concrete homes, wood pallet fences, and trash laden dirt streets. We could hear dogs barking and people talking in Spanish. It was the perfect place to discuss our experiences in Mexcio.

As we discussed our weeks, what started out as revelations about poverty became very quickly a conversation about living an incarnational life. An incarnational life is one that patterns itself after what Jesus did. Jesus left all his rights and privileges and became like the ones he sought to save.

This is what Youthfront Croc staff are doing. They live next door to the people they are reaching. They are going to great lengths, leaving opportunities for good jobs with high salaries to become like the poor and reach the poor.

Pray for the YMI students as they continue to reflect on what it means for them personally to live an incarnational life; laying down their lives for the sake of God’s glory in all the world.

Grace and peace,

Illness — Pray that God would keep us healthy. Recently several of us have been sick with cold symptoms. It has made it difficult to be completely engaged in the program and in each other’s lives.

Family — Continue to pray for our family. We want to be good examples to the YMI students of a Godly, loving family. Pray that I (Jonathan) will know how to lovingly serve, lead, and provide for my family. Pray Amanda will demonstrate what it means to be Godly wife willing to daily sacrifice for the sake of her family.

YMI — (Youthfront Mission Institute) We are leaving for East Asia in 4 weeks. Pray that God would walk ahead of us in our traveling, preparing situations in which we enter into continual blessing. Pray we would experience the great love an joy of God so abundantly that it overflows to the people we meet. Pray for soft hearts, patience, and determination.

Croc

Here at the customs office, we spent several hours working through paperwork, getting visas, etc. Though it was one of the longest amounts of time I've ever spent getting into a country, we made it.44


A view of Croc from the top of one of the main staff buildings.


Abi loves Coca-cola!! Just kidding. We don't really let her have that stuff yet, but she sure liked sucking on the bottle


Peter, one of our YMI students, with a Mexican boy in a nearby park.


Ally loved hanging out with all the little girls. Language barriers were difficult, but sometimes a smile is enough.

We're off [by Amanda]

“This is going to be the best semester of my life!” David exclaimed on the first day of YMI (YouthFront Mission Institute). Most of you would imagine that this statement took place after Jonathan gave the details of our trip to Central Asia or after he announced that every Wednesday night would be movie night, but it was spoken after Jonathan informed the students of YMI that they were going to be part of our family, and that included helping feed Abi during our meals together throughout the semester.

After just 12 days of YMI, I think David has already fed Abi 3 or 4 times. Not only are the students feeding her, but they, play, change diapers, and carry her. Several of them even carried her in our Baby Bjorn while we were serving at Rock the Light (an area Christian festival that YouthFront helps sponsor). Today, some of the students had a dance party with Abi while I packed all of her things for Mexcio.

It has been so much fun for to see the “family” that has developed through the last few days. One of the main goals of YMI is to create a community where people can discover what their role is in God’s plan for the universe. We believe that creating a welcoming, honest, and committed family atmosphere will help them discover what that is.

Tomorrow, we leave for Mexico. Pray that our YMI family will continue to grow closer to one-another and closer to Christ as we serve in a different culture.

Septmeber Prayer Requests

Family — Pray that we would be an example in how we respond and love one another. Also, pray that we would find rest in the Lord and not in our circumstances. Pray that I (Amanda) would be able to laugh at the days to come and not be focused on the overwhelming details of each day.

YMI — (Youthfront Mission Institute) we are heading for Mexico tomorrow. Pray the Lord would protect us as we travel. Pray that we would be able to encourage and serve the fulltime YouthFront Staff in Mexico as well as the people the Lord puts in our paths. Continue to pray that the hearts of the students would become fully God’s, and that they would be obedient to the Lord as He directs their path. Finally, pray that the students would continue to be unified

One Week

The small calendar dial on my watch says “17.”

It’s hard to believe that exactly 7 days from tomorrow the first students of Youthfront Mission Institute will arrive!

The emotions within my soul (our souls) right now are rather tumultuous. On one hand, I am so excited for YMI to be here. There is a thrill in launching something new, and we are confident the experience could potentially be life altering for the students attending.

On the other hand, I am incredibly anxious and fearful. The fear of all the things which could go wrong and the tremendous amount of work that must still happen before the students arrive is very easily overwhelming.

What do I preach to myself in these moments of stressful anxiety and excitement? Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus;” and Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Ever since I was little, my parents would quote these verses to me and remind me to trust God in everything I do and turn over all my worries to Him. It’s amazing that these same verses still give me so much comfort and confidence today.

This week, as I think about YMI, I am reminded to trust God. Whatever the future holds, we can be confident that it is held by One who is absolutely sovereign. Nothing is without meaning; nothing is without purpose; and it will all be to His glory.

Pray for us, that we will walk confidently, diligently, and without fear towards whatever God has for us this semester. Pray that the glory of God’s grace would be magnificently known among us.

Grace and Peace to you.

On our newsletter I wrote that this was our first self-portrait. I was recently informed by my wife that we had one a while back... oops... This is a picture from our fun at the zoo in Minneapolis.


We set Abi up on the ledge to look at the lions through the glass.

August Prayer Requests

· Family — Make sure you check out our blog! We recently put up pictures and a short video of Abigail’s first try at eating solid food (more like mushy food), and some pictures of our recent trip to Minneapolis. They are so much fun! As YMI arrives, pray that we will be good parents for Abi while balancing our time with the students around us. Also, pray we would have hearts that find full satisfaction in the love of Christ and are unaffected by temptations to be people pleasing.

· Camp — The summer ended really well with the Cabin Leaders. I was amazed at how many people talked about how life changing their summers were. Pray, as they go back to school, that they’re hearts for ministering to people would remain active during the school year.

· YMI — (Youthfront Mission Institute) The beginning of the fall semester is only 1 week away! Pray for final mission trip details to come together, schedule finalization, a solid list of work projects, and local ministry opportunities. Pray that curriculum material would arrive and that it would be ready. Pray that our team would be unified, cooperative, and loving towards each other. Also, pray that our hearts would be resting firmly in the peace of God, ready and eager to pour our lives into students. Finally, pray that the last amount of support would come in for the students who will be attending.