Camacho Chronicles

News

2011-09-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:20).

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you so much to those who were praying for the Evangelistic Outreach last month. We had a great three days of services, ministry to the community, and fellowship. Although we had very few visitors in our services, we had several people from the congregation who gave of their time to be here for all three services. They were the ones most blessed by the Lord. Since then, we have begun to see more spiritual growth & commitment among them. We are excited to see what God will do in their lives.

Just a few weeks after the outreach, we presented our first members of the church. We have a total of seven members now, with a few more to be presented after our first baptismal service. On September 4, we will hold our Sunday service at the beach, where three (possibly more) people will be baptized. We are looking forward to this time of rejoicing and fellowship together. Thank you for your continued prayers for the growth of the people of San Vicente.

Daniel continues to teach music classes every Friday. As I sit here typing, I can hear the vocal exercises of the young girls that come for voice lessons. There are several new guitar, bass, piano, and drum students, also. We are seeing these young people with an excitement to learn an instrument in the hopes of someday using it to worship the Lord. Jonathan, as well, loves to hang out with Daniel as he gives lessons, watching for an opportunity to play the instruments himself, or just enjoying listening to the music and hanging out with the kids. On those days when he has to stay inside with me, I usually have to calm a crying fit, as he would much prefer to be in the midst of the lessons.

One of Jonathan’s favorite activities these days is “helping” to wash dishes. He loves to get up on the step ladder and attempt to rinse the dishes as one of us washes them. He has to help clean the sink afterward, as well. Of course, water gets everywhere & he always has to have a dry shirt afterwards, but he loves to help. He enjoys watching Daniel as he works on a construction project, too, or watering the plants. One day after church he turned on the outside faucet and was watering the plants all by himself! He definitely keeps us busy!

As for myself, I am mostly just trying to survive the heat of the summer while pregnant. I am also learning more about home canning. I have already canned some tomatoes, and am now working on jams with quince, peaches, figs, and whatever other produce we are being given. We are blessed to have a never-ending supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, and soon, peaches.

We thank you, again, for being part of our lives. We are so pleased that you allow us into your homes and lives. Thank you for your prayers and faithful giving. May God bless each and every one of you.

In Christ,

Daniel, Angela & Jonathan Camacho

Praises:

~God did wonderful things in people’s lives during the Evangelistic Outreach

~Angela’s pregnancy continues to go well; the next member of the Camacho family is another boy!

Prayer:

~We are planning a few projects here; that the congregation would get involved to raise the funds

~Continued faithfulness & growth among those young people learning an instrument

Firsts

2011-08-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

In August & September we will celebrate some firsts here at Templo Elim. In August, we presented our first members. There are only five right now, but they are very faithful & looking forward to working alongside us.

We will also have our first baptisms this Sunday, September 4. Three people will take the step to publicly announce their faith. They will also become members, giving us a total of seven. We are excited to be able to start working with them to form leaders.

We also had our first "experience" in the fields. Last Monday, while visiting Daniel's aunt & uncle in San Quintin (1 1/2 hrs south), we were invited to go onion picking. When a field is well-picked and almost ready to be plowed & harvested again, the owners allow anyone to pick the leftovers for their own use. We went with Daniel's cousin & his family (nine of us), and together we picked three large sacks of onions in an hour and a half. It was a good opportunity for us to experience a little of what the workers here do on a daily basis. Even Jonathan walked with us, looking for onions. He was excited every time he found a "cebolla", even if it was a rotten one, throw away by someone else. We were glad for the chance to bring onions back to share with those who so often share of their harvests with us.

Needs List

2010-12-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

In our last newsletter, we mentioned that there are several items that we need, either personally or for the church. Here is a more complete list for those that would like to help. We will try to keep this list updated as we receive items or have a need for something else. You can donate by sending us the item(s) listed, or by sending a check to help with the cost of purchasing that item. If you send a check, please include a note stating what you would like it to go towards.

All donations and checks may be sent to:

Daniel & Angela Camacho
YUGO Ministries
301 W. 28th St.
Suite L
National City, CA 91950

Needed:
~laptop computer
~projector
~CD player
~vehicle (our van is almost to 200,000 miles!)
~paint (interior & exterior)
~insulation

Thanks & God bless!

Evangelistic Outreach

2010-10-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday & Saturday, October 22 & 23, we will be having an evangelistic outreach here at the church. We have several other churches that are coming from Ensenada to help out with the music, kids' program, etc. We ask for your help in praying for this event, that many people will come and that their hearts will be touched. This is the event we have been praying for since we came here and we want it to be completely covered in prayer so that everything goes well. We have been planning for this for quite some time and next week we hope to go door-to-door inviting people to come. Again, please pray with us for this important event. Thanks so much!

Paint

2010-09-25T17:24:00.003-07:00

Thank you to those who gave a little extra this past month to help repair the church. We were able to purchase paint for the inside and it looks so much better! We are still working on repairing other things and we hope to have it ready for an evangelistic campaign we will be having in mid-October. Watch soon for pictures!

Pictures of the church

2010-07-28T17:08:00.003-07:00

Top:

The church as we received it.

Middle:

After being painted.

Bottom:

After fixing the roof.

Inside the church

A closer look...

Templo Elim

2010-07-28T16:51:00.002-07:00

As most of you know, the church we are pastoring was abandoned and in bad shape when we received it. We did lots of work on the parsonage before moving in, thanks to a donation that we received for that purpose. However, the church building itself needs many repairs and there is not much money to do it. We have a very small congregation made up of people that earn a living working in the fields. Although our offerings are usually very small, we have managed to make a few repairs. We painted the outside and repaired part of the roof that had fallen due to the high winds and rain last year. There is still a lot of work to be done inside. Because of this, we are not currently holding services in the church. We are meeting in the fellowship hall, designed to be used for classrooms and the office. Our goal is to be in the large bldg in September. We ask your help to be able to accomplish this goal. We promise to use all the funds that are donated through this site in August, for the repairs on the church. Below is a list of what we need so that you can have an idea of how this money will be spent. Also, please take a look at the pictures of the church to see what will be done. Thank you for your support. God bless!

8 Curtain rods

2 (5 gallon) paint buckets

Sign w/ church name & services

3 Outside doors (1 double)

Wood to repair the altar

No Cast!

2010-07-28T16:48:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, July 27, after 6 ½ weeks, Jonathan got his cast removed! The doctor said that everything looks great and she gave us the okay to allow him to start using his hand. He is not quite sure what to do with it right now and sometimes just looks at it like, "What happened?" He doesn't use it much yet, but we know that it's just a matter of time. He has a large scab on his pinky finger, a lot of dead skin, and some swelling in the other fingers, but he will quickly heal. Praise God! We thank you for your continued prayers as we wait for him to heal completely.

The Shriner’s Saga Continues

2010-06-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

Thursday, June 24, we had another appointment at Shriner's Hospital to have Jonathan's cast changed. The doctor wanted to see how his fingers were healing before putting on another cast. After waiting 4 ½ hrs, we finally were called in. The minute his cast was removed, we knew something was wrong. The finger looked bad (we could see part of the bone), it smelled, and we could tell it was infected. The doctor confirmed that it was not healing correctly – the skin grafts had not taken and it was infected, as we suspected. The doctor decided that another surgery was needed, and right away. She said that he would be first thing the next morning. So, the hospital made up a room for us (all the others were full) and we prepared to spend the night again.

First thing Friday morning he went into surgery again and it lasted about 1 ½ hrs. Afterward, the doctor came and spoke with me. She said that everything had gone well. After cleaning up the finger, they discovered a piece of skin that had grafted, but that they hadn't seen the day before. (Coincidence?) That meant that they had less skin to re-graft. They were able to take more skin from the same place on the outside of his hand, avoiding making another scar. One of the other blessings was that they did not have to cut down the finger because of the bone showing and the infection.

Once again, Jonathan quickly became his active self, showing no signs of just having had major surgery. He soon became eager to move around and we had to restrain him because of the i.v. and the cast on his arm. We passed the day waiting again until they released us about 7:30 that evening to go home.

Thanks for your prayers during this difficult week. Please continue to pray for Jonathan's hand to heal well; with the skin grafts taking and that there will be no infection and no more problems. We return again in two weeks for another checkup and cast change. We are being reminded constantly that our God is in control of every situation.

"And we know that in all things God works together for good; to those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Jonathan’s Operation

2010-06-18T19:56:00.002-07:00

Monday, June 7, 2010

We arrived at Shriner's Hospital on Monday shortly before our 10:00 a.m. appt. We found a parking space on the street and went inside. Since Jonathan's surgery had been rescheduled only the day before, he was not on anyone's list. They also couldn't find his chart from our previous appt, so we had to wait. As we waited we checked into accommodations for Daniel. Only one of us was allowed to stay in the hospital with Jonathan, so we needed a place close by for Daniel. The hospital could get us specialized rates at some of the nearby hotels, but the cheapest one was $75/night! We opted for a room at the Ronald McDonald House for $25.

Finally, about 2:00 p.m., they had his bed & chart ready and we able to get settled in the room. We were in a room with two young girls, about 6-7 years old. Both were to be operated on by the same doctor, due to both having hand problems. We introduced ourselves to them and their parents and discovered that one family was from Tijuana and the other from Ensenada! Shortly after, different hospital workers came by to introduce themselves. Several nurses came to check on us and make sure that we had everything we needed. Only lady, in charge of the entertainment, came to tell us that we could check out books or toys for Jonathan during our stay. The doctor's assistant came later that evening to let us know the procedure for the following day's surgery and answer any questions. The hospital's policy to operate on the youngest patients first made Jonathan the first scheduled surgery for his doctor the next day. He couldn't have any food after midnight and no liquids after 3:00 a.m.

After giving Jonathan dinner and a bath with the special soap they left us, Daniel had to leave. Visiting hours ended at 7:00 and that meant he was headed over to his room for the night. But, he would be back early the next day.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

We were woken up several times during the night as the nurses came to check on Jonathan, take his blood pressure, or bring his last drink of juice. At 6:30 a.m. a doctor showed up to draw blood, in case of an emergency during the operation. Our brave little boy didn't even cry when they took blood! Around 7:00, Daniel showed up, and shortly after, the doctors came to wheel Jonathan away to the pre-op room. We waited with him as they made the final checks and prepared him for surgery. About 7:50, they took him and we were left on our own to pray and wait.

Around three hours later, about 11:00 a.m, we got the call that Jonathan was done in surgery. The doctor's assistant came out and told us that everything went well. They were able to separate the pinky finger from the ring finger. They also straightened the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. They had to take a small piece of bone out of the pinky finger to straighten it, but there were no problems. The only question is if they will separate the middle and ring fingers later. While they were separating the fingers, they saw that those three fingers don't have many ligaments, so separating the other two fingers may cause him to lose what movement he has in them. Please pray with us that they can separate them with full movement. We serve a great God!

Soon after, we were allowed in to see him. He was just waking up from the anesthesia and had an I.V. and other tubes still in him. He started to cry as soon as I picked him up – he was hungry! We struggled to get him to drink the juice we brought him, but soon he was feeling better and fell asleep. After about an hour in the post-op room, he was taken back to his room, where they continued to monitor his vitals. He continued to drink juice and had some jell-o and soon was sitting up trying to play. Around dinnertime, they removed the I.V. and blood pressure cuff and he able to get out of the crib to eat. A little later, we had a visit from Daniel's aunt and that evening we received many phone calls inquiring about his health. Still feeling the effects of the pain medication, he slept very soundly that night.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Having slept well the night before, and not being disturbed by the nurses checking up on him, Jonathan was up early the next day. The nurses were quite surprised that he had not received any more pain medication, especially when he was as active as ever. The doctor came in to check on him once more and gave the okay to go home as soon as we were ready. Around 8:30, we received all his paperwork and his medications and were released to leave. Daniel arrived shortly after to help load up the car and we were on our way.

We made good time, stopping in San Diego to run some errands and take a break before crossing the border. We arrived in Ensenada about 7:30 p.m., and decided to stay the night there and head home in the morning. We were able to visit friends and family and make contact with many who asked about Jonathan's surgery. After staying the night with friends, we arrived home on Thursday, June 10.

Thank you to each one of you who has been praying for this surgery. We head back up to L.A. on Thursday to change the cast and see how the hand is healing. Jonathan is playing and acting like nothing happened and gets enjoyment out of hitting mom or dad with the cast. It apparently hurts us more than it does him!

Jonathan's surgery Update

2010-06-08T19:45:00.003-07:00

The surgery went well. It lasted 3 hours. They separated the ring & pinky fingers on his left hand & straightened all 3 fingers. They had to take a small skin graft from the side of his hand. He will be released tomorrow, Wendesday. He has a cast on the left hand & arm. It will be removed in 2 weeks, to be replaced by another one to last 4 weeks. All went well, praise God! Thanks so much for your prayers!

Jonathan's surgery!

2010-06-06T18:29:00.003-07:00

Hello! Just a quick note to let you all know that Jonathan's surgery has been bumped up to this Tuesday, June 8. We don't know what time, but please be praying and watch for updates as soon as possible. Thanks for your prayers! God bless!

Small town

2010-04-20T11:53:00.002-07:00

San Vicente is a small town with about 5,000 people. We are learning to adjust to life without some of the things we are used to. Here are a few examples:

There is only one traffic light and it is on the only paved road, which is the main highway of Baja California.
There is no bank, no credit cards or checks accepted. Everything is cash only. We have to withdraw money from the bank in Ensenada and hope that we don't need more than we expect.
We signed up to get a phone/internet line, but there are 8 people ahead of us. Each person has to wait until another line gets cancelled before they will put in a new line.
No appt. necessary to see the dr. If you need an appt., you go early in the morning, wait hours in line, only to find out that there is no medicine available. If you have the money to purchase it, then the next question is - Does the pharmacy have it?
You have to pay someone to take the trash to the dump or you have to take it yourself.
The middle school and high school are in the same bldg, one meets in the morning, the other in the afternoon.
And the worst of all - there is no ice cream! :(

June 25, 2010

2010-04-10T15:48:00.003-07:00

This is the date for Jonathan's first surgery! He will be operated on at Shriner's Hospitals for Children in L.A. He will be admitted on Thursday, the 24rd, and should go home on Sat, the 26th. Everything will be completely free! Please keep praying and we will continue to keep you informed.

Universal Infantil

2010-03-24T11:07:00.003-07:00

Saturday, March 20, we had our first day of "Universal Infantil" (Kids' Universe). We had a group of six youth from Bethania that came to play and sing with the kids. Daniel went out Saturday morning to invite some children, and when the group arrived, they went around inviting more. We had a total of 13 kids by the time they all arrived. We just had a time of playing games and singing together, but the kids seemed to enjoy it, and Daniel was sure tired after playing several hours in the hot sun!

Next Saturday, the youth will bring a Carnival of games, with candy prizes. Then, the following week, we will have a more structure program, with a time for bible lessons, crafts, dramas, and much more. Please pray with us for the kids of San Vicente.

Lucero

2010-02-20T19:19:00.002-08:00

Recently, a friend of Daniel’s from the University called us. She wanted to get together with us and “catch up”. After the new year, we had tried several times, but it just hadn’t worked out for us to get together. So this time, she called on a day that Daniel just happened to have off and we met for lunch at a Chinese buffet. When we met, she had so much to tell us – the best of all was that she had recently become a Christian! We were so excited to hear her share her testimony. She shared how her brother came to Christ first and one by one, from oldest to youngest, the rest of the siblings followed. They had invited her to services and she would go, finding excuses to tag along, until finally she accepted the best gift ever – that of salvation! Our hearts were filled with joy to know that the seeds that Daniel planted throughout his years at the University had finally taken root! Please pray with us for Lucero, that her faith will continue to grow.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (2 Cor. 3:6-7).

Rain, rain, go away...

2010-01-21T12:05:00.002-08:00

It is raining today in Ensenada. But, the problem is not just the rain. It is very windy, too. We have a river instead of a street and we would need a boat just to leave the house. We needed the rain, but not this much! Our neighbor tried to leave in his truck and got stuck in a hole in the street/river. Daniel went out early to help another neighbor dig a trench to divert the water away from her house and so it would not flow to ours. So, we'll be inside all day, maybe tomorrow, too, since it is supposed to keep raining all day.

Latest on Jonathan

2010-01-11T10:49:00.002-08:00

Happy New Year! As we start this new year, we are going through lots of changes. We will be pastoring a church in San Vicente, about one hour from here in Ensenada. We hope to move the first part of February and begin our new adventure there. We will keep you updated as to all that is going on.

As for Jonathan, he is now 6 months old and growing all the time. We love watching him change and learn new things. We were blessed to have his first doctor's appt. for his hand last week, free of charge. We saw an orthopaedic surgeon, who specializes in hands. He looked at the x-rays, which we had taken the week before, and saw that two of the three bones are fused together and will have to be separated. However, the dr said that it is not a difficult operation. He will, however, need to have two surgeries. They cannot work on both sides of the same finger at the same time because of the loss of blood. He could risk losing his finger. They will do the first operation in about three months, and the second 4-6 months later. The doctor said that it is better to operate while he is so little because he can heal better and his brain still has time to learn the movements that his hand should make.

The dr also said that he will have to straighten the fingers and do a skin graft. The other possible problem is that Jonathan only has two bones in each finger, and there should be three. He is missing the outer bone on each finger. However, the doctor said that there is stil the possibility that it could grow. Please pray with us that God will add the bones after the surgery is done.

Thank you for continuing to pray. It looks like the doctor we saw will refer us to a free hospital, but we have yet to know the details. We ask for your prayers as we go through this process and for quick healing. Watch for more information soon.

God bless!

2009-10-13T13:07:00.001-07:00

October 2009

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2).

Dear Family & Friends,

As we write this, Jonathan is almost 12 weeks old and we are learning more every day about being parents. Last month we mentioned his syndaticilia, or the birth defect that he has. We have consulted several pediatricians and we have received the name of a specialist that we hope will be able to see him soon. It appears that they won’t be able to operate until he is older, but we want to be able to get on a waiting list. We ask that you please keep this in your prayers.
In July, we had a visit from Angela’s parents. They were excited to meet their first grandchild, and we enjoyed having their help with the baby and around the house. It was a good visit and lots of photos were taken to be shown to friends and family in the States. Angela has been busy at home with the baby, but hopefully we will soon be able to post some of the pictures and video on our blog.
Angela recently returned to her work at EOC. Scott graciously took over the burden of the bookkeeping for the past couple of months to allow her time with the baby. The summer is now over and the groups have gone, but there is still work to be done. This season 74 houses were built for needy families. It is a lower number than in years past, due to the number of groups that cancelled, but we thank God for every group that came and allowed a family to receive a house.
Although we are not currently part of the children’s ministry at church, Daniel had the opportunity to participate in their camp last month. This year, they stayed in cabins at a local campground that is on the river and has two swimming pools. Daniel was part of a “Walk with Jesus”. He was Jesus and led the kids on a walk through his life. As they walked the dirt roads, they saw Jesus baptized in the river, heal the sick, feed the multitude, and perform other miracles. Daniel enjoyed participating and the kids greatly enjoyed seeing the Bible come to life.
Daniel now has another new job. He was recently voted in as the regional secretary/treasurer for the Assemblies of God pastors.
Thank you for being a part of our ministry. Your prayers are an important part of our lives. God bless you!

In Christ,

Daniel & Angela Camacho

Praises:
-Jonathan is growing well and has started to gain strength in his neck and head. He frequently blesses us with a smile.
-Daniel was able to participate in the children’s camp

Prayers:
-Guidance as we continue the search for a doctor to operate on Jonathan’s hand
-The transaction as Angela returns to work at the Camp

2009-06-13T14:33:00.001-07:00

I’m sorry that it’s been so long since we’ve updated our blog. We know that you all want to hear how things are going and how things are with the baby. So, we will do our best to keep you informed, especially as the baby arrives and a new adventure begins.

First, the baby is scheduled to arrive July 8. That’s less than a month away! We have most of the basic furniture and things ready for his birth. We have been blessed with lots of clothes. Two other YUGO missionaries recently gave birth to boys, so we are getting clothes passed down from them as their babies grow quickly. Other things have been loaned or given to us, so we have what is most necessary to welcome our son. However, there are still other things we could use or would like to have. If you would like to support us in this area, please visit our baby registry at www.walmart.com.

As for the birth of the baby, he will be born here in Mexico. We have received a good recommendation from one of the other women that recently gave birth. So, we will be using the same hospital and doctor that attended her. It is a private hospital and Daniel will be present for the birth of his son. The doctor has said that, so far, everything looks good for a natural birth, but we ask your prayers in these last weeks that all continues as such.

After the birth of the baby, we will register him here in Mexico first. Then, we will register his birth in the States as a birth abroad and then be able to apply for a US passport, which will give him dual citizenship. We are already working on the paperwork necessary for both these registrations.

Things at the church are going well. We just finished the “40 Days of Purpose” campaign. Over 100 people attended each week and 102 were present for at least 5 of the 6 sessions. We thank God for the great turnout and the excitement of the people! Now we are starting the next phase – small groups. About 20 people have agreed to open their homes to present the same campaign to their friends, family, and neighbors.

As part of the campaign, we presented the different departments within the church to encourage people to get involved. The response was great. Just in the music department, we had a number of people sign up to be a part of a new chorus that will be starting, learn to play an instrument, or learn the art of running the sound system. Many people were excited to be able to find a place to serve within the church family. Thank you for your prayers for this activity!

Violence & Crisis

2009-03-21T13:55:00.004-08:00

Spring has officially arrived and the groups are starting to come to EOC. This year, though, there is a different tone, at least for us as staff. We have been receiving notices of groups cancelling their summer trips to come down and partner with a local church. And it´s not just a few - as of now, the number has reached almost 20. The reason? Well, there are two - the reports of violence here in Mexico, and the financial crisis. We´d like you to know that we are aware of both, but our goals and vision of our ministry here has not changed.

We know that many of you have seen the reports of increased violence that has resulted in alerts being sent to caution anyone considering crossing the border. Although most of these reports are of occurences in Tijuana, there is also an increase in the amount of violence here in Ensenada. Part of it is a result of living in a large city - the same as any large city in the U.S. - some is a result of living in the end times, and some does result from the increase in drug trafficking in Tijuana. We have seen this increase manifested in more cars being stolen, more people being assaulted for money, and more patrol cars all over the city. However, we thank God that neither us nor anyone we know has been harmed and we have not been directly affected by any of the violence. We believe that the dangers of living here in Ensenada are the same as any other large city all over the world, but we also know that God is the one who watches over us, no matter where we are.

As for the financial situation, we have noticed it here, as well. The prices continue to steadily rise, while the amount of money we have stays the same. We know that all our supporters are facing the same situation and we understand that it is not always possible to give to our ministry and provide for your families at the same time. However, we have noticed that in those months when one or two of our regular supporters are not able to give, God always provides through someone else. Sometimes that someone is one we think the least likely to give! So, no the circumstances, God is always faithful. Even in this time as we plan for the baby, we are never lacking for food, clothing, and even those extras that God loves to give us.

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." (Luke 12:27, 28).

We thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support. Remember that God is the one who provides for us, be we are thankful that you allow Him to use you. We ask for your continued prayers in these times of uncertainty. God bless!

2009-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I´m in the fifth month now & have started to feel the baby kicking & moving. We went to the doctor on Monday, February 16, and everything continues to look good. We were able to see the baby much more clearly - it even appeared to be sucking it´s thumb! However, it still did not change position enough to let us see if it is a he or a she. We will have to wait another month to see...

We also had our first service with the youth on Sunday. We had a great time! Since it was the first service of the year, we planned some special events. The biggest was our version of "Family Feud", or as we called it, "50 Christians Said". Since it was the day after Valentine´s Day, we also had an invited speaker who shared on choosing and being good friends. There was, of course, other games, snacks, and a lot of laughter. Now, on to the next event!

2009-01-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

Angela´s pregnancy is now in the fourth month and everything is going well. She is able to participate in almost all normal activities now & has enjoyed returning to work & church. It appears that the baby is growing well & there are no more indications of complications. Thanks for your prayers!

As for our work at the church, we will be returning to the Youth Ministries this year. We are still helping out quite a bit with the kids for now, until the new leader is fully adjusted & familiar with the new programs. But, our main focus will, once again, be the youth. We are looking forward to being with the youth again, but we will miss the children. We are forming a team of seven young people & one other couple that will be working with us. We ask for your prayers as we try to make a difference in the lives of these youth & help them to desire a fuller relationship with God.

Daniel is now using his psychology degree. He is giving therapy & has several regular patients. God is blessing him & using him greatly in this agree.

Watch for new pictures soon!

Big News!

2008-12-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's been way too long! Many of you have heard our latest news - we're expecting a baby! Due to some minor complications, Angela has been on bed rest for the past month and so we haven't had a chance to update our blog lately. But, we hope to let you know how things are going especially as the months pass till the baby comes. So far, everything looks good. I am about 2 1/2 months along; the due date is July 8. Please keep checking for the latest updates and pictures.

Kids Service

2008-10-31T09:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long! Wednesday night we had a children's service at church. It went very well! We focused on our new program, Awana Club, to give the parents an idea of what their children are doing on Sundays. We started with the ceremony, which consists of the Awana theme song, the pledge to the Christian flag, the pledge to the Bible, and a prayer. Then we played some of the games that we play with the kids, but we invited the parents to play with their son/daughter. It was a lot of fun! We sang several kids songs and a number of kids sang a special song or said a Scripture verse. We had a group perform a drama and the choir sang two songs. Our "sermon" was a drama that we prepared with the kids from the choir. It was based on the Fall of Adam & Eve. We also presented some of the prizes to the kids that completed their first Awana book. All in all, it was a fun evening. I think that the parents enjoyed seeing their kids participate and getting a better idea of the Awana Club. Thanks for your prayers!

Daniel's Graduation

2008-09-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well, he finally did it! Daniel's graduation ceremony was Tuesday evening. The first event was the presentation of the diplomas, and since Camacho is at the beginning of the alphabet, he was among the first to receive his papers. Then we sat through the speeches until he was presented with honorable mention for his grade on the test they took earlier in the year. About half received honorable mention and he was in the upper 25 percentage of that half. After the ceremony, we went out for dinner with his family, a couple of close friends, and the pastor & his wife. All in all, it was a good evening. Now, he has to wait for his temporary papers (about a month) that he will use until the official diploma arrives (usually about 10-12 months!). Thanks for praying!

Disneyland!

2008-09-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Our latest adventure – Disneyland! We received three free passes and used them on Tuesday. We took Daniel’s sister, Lizbeth, and went for the entire day. We stayed overnight with Daniel’s aunt, who lives about a mile from Disney, and got to the park just as it opened at 10:00. This was the first time that either of us had been to Disney and we loved it. Since it is the off-season, and mid-week, at that, there weren’t many people. The longest we had to wait in line was about 20 minutes and most were less. Our passes also allowed us to skip the line on some rides, so then we didn’t have any wait! We were able to go on quite a few of the rides at least once and a couple twice. We got soaking wet, had our picture taken with Mickey Mouse, and rode the monorail train. We arrived home late, tired, and still a little wet. All in all, it was a wonderful day.

Visit to the Rocky Mountains

2008-09-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

We just returned from vacation! We had a wonderful two weeks visiting family & friends. We attended the wedding of a friend from college. It was a beautiful ceremony & reception. It was nice to visit with friends that we haven´t seen since last year.

While visiting my parents, in Waterford, WI, we were able to spend time with my brother, Jon, & his wife, Marissa. They recently moved to the area and so we had more time with them then we ever have. We loved having them close by to come and join us for games or disk golf in the evenings. It was a pleasure for us to see them. It was nice to be able to see my older brother, Jeremy, once during our visit as well.

The highlight of our trip was our visit to the Rocky Mts and Glacier National Park. Once again, we traveled by train, but this time was much different. My parents were with us and we spent most of the 24 hr trip playing games, reading, eating, or sleeping. It went by quickly. We were met by my grandmother, who lives in Montana, and spent a week at her farm. During that visit, we took a 2-day trip to the mountains and stayed overnight at my grandma´s cabin in Hungry Horse, MT, on the western side of Glacier National Park. We drove through the park on the Going to the Sun Hwy, stopping frequently to view the sites, go for a walk, or take pictures. Even though it was rainy and cold for part of the trip, the view was incredible. It had been many years since I had been up there and the first time for Daniel.

During our visit with my grandmother, we also spent some time with my Uncle Mark. One of his hobbies is making pens and we enjoyed spending time in his shop, making our own. Thanks Uncle Mark for taking the time to show us!

Chihuahua Diary

2008-08-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Chihuahua was great! Here is a condensed daily report:

Sunday, July 27 – We left our house around 4 a.m. to pick up other team members and meet at the church. After loading all our bags in and on top of the vehicles, we headed to Mexicali, a three-hour drive from Ensenada. Most of the drive went uneventfully, with most people sleeping (except the drivers, of course!)

After unloading the vehicles, we received instructions from the head pastor of the Mexicali church and reloaded everything onto the two tour buses. Then, we headed out for the 17-hour drive. We spent all day on the bus, with only occasional stops for gas, bathroom (one bus didn’t have a bathroom), and food. After spending the night attempting to sleep, we arrived in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, at about 3 a.m. Monday morning.

Monday, July 28 – We continued our journey by train. The first several hours were uneventful, allowing us time to rest. (Finally!) Then, the sights began! It was beautiful! About 4 p.m., we made a stop and were allowed to get off the train. We had a strict 15 minutes to take pictures and order gorditas (thick tortillas stuffed with beans and shredded beef) made with black corn flour, before taking off again. The rest of the trip passed quickly and we arrived in Creel, Chihuahua at about 7 p.m. We enjoyed a shower and sit-down meal for the first time in two days.

Tuesday, July 29 – In the morning, we met together to form groups to invite people to the evening rally & children’s program. We had a good response; the people were very open and many showed interest in attending. After lunch, our group (from Ensenada) had a short time to rest or see the town before we had to head to the church for the children’s program. This was the first children’s program to be held (by any of the churches), so we weren’t sure what kind of response we would get. We were surprised, pleased, and excited to have close to 70 kids show up! Many mothers came with their children and several were asking about the church and its services. The pastors were very encouraged, as well. Praise God!

Wednesday, July 30 – Tuesday evening, after the service, the local pastor, Gonzalo, asked that a group of us go with him in the morning to pray over the city at several of the highest locations. So, early Wednesday, Daniel and a large number of the team, went with the pastor to pray. A while later, as I was getting ready in our hotel room, I heard many voices yelling and the words “Glory to God!”. Shortly after, the group returned, and I asked Daniel if they had yelled from one of the locations. He said that yes, they had yelled “Glory to God” several times, with the women echoing “Hallelujah”. I told him that I heard them and we rejoiced that the sound was heard by many. What a witness to the town!

Thursday, July 31 – Once again, we packed our things early and loaded them on two large buses, for the two hour ride to Napuchis, Chihuahua. After arriving, Daniel & I found out that we were the only church that had come prepared with a complete program! Two other churches offered their help and the few resources that they had – puppets, candy, and clowns. So, we found ourselves in charge of almost 200 kids for the next day and a half!

Friday, August 1 – Our classes with the kids went well. We did not have enough materials, but divided up the kids by ages, so we managed to make it stretch and everyone had something to do. We divided the older kids into four teams for games (It’s impossible to play one game with 150 kids) and the younger kids were playing with a large parachute. We were having fun running and playing when, all of a sudden, it started to rain! We didn’t have an indoor site (everywhere was occupied by a class), so we sent the kids back to the big tent with their parents. So much for that class!

Saturday, August 2 – This was the final day of the festival. We had one last class with the kids, which was more of a party than anything. We played, ate candy, and colored.

After lunch, we headed out again to return to Creel.

Sunday, August 3 – The train was scheduled to leave from Creel at 11:15 a.m., but we arrived at the station by 9:00. Since we were such a large group (close to 80 people), we wanted to make sure that our place together on the train was secure. We enjoyed the train ride, visiting with friends, old & new, playing games, and sleeping. Once again, we had our quick, 15 minute stop, but this time we knew what we wanted. We jumped off, bought our gorditas, ate, and were back on the train with time to spare.

Monday, August 4 – Another day of uneventful traveling. We stopped more often at various military checkpoints (very common here in Mexico), restaurants, and gas stations. Although the breaks were nice, it made our arrival in Mexicali at about 9 p.m. We quickly unloaded the buses, loaded the vehicles, and headed toward Ensenada. Because we had to drop several people off, it was almost 1:00 Tuesday morning before we finally made it home. How good it was to sleep in our own bed again! Praise God for the new friends made, the lives saved, and the experiences we will never forget. Thanks for reading our adventure! Please see the pictures to enjoy more of our story.

Finally!

2008-08-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

We now have a blog! We want to let you know what´s happening with us.
Look for updates soon!