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Visit the following link to learn more about our trip to Culiacan.
12/09
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Impressions about Culican
Class of 2009
I’ve sought out ghost writers to offer comments about their time in Culiacan. To aid their weary minds I gave them a topic to mull over; the topic is as follows: “How has God moved despite your fears?”
Michalene stated: “…I thought only of being kidnapped and all the frightening details that go along with that. The very first day we arrived I reflected on how smoothly and peacefully the traveling process took place. At that moment God spoke to me, overwhelming me with His intense love for me. He revealed to me His power-His great and supreme majestic power stating that He was in control.
Liz stated: “I realize that here God doesn’t allow people to loose their lives, he changes them. At one camp I was holding a little girl. She was cold, her hair matted with dirt. There were stains on her clothes, but I held her closely. I could feel her heart beating. I realized that this little girl is Jesus’ little princess. Culiacan isn’t the scary, murder, and drug infested place that had been described on-line.”
Sam stated: “Thanks to the Culican Project I have a better understanding of the power and gift of Jesus on the cross. I’ve seen Him heal sickness here and break the hearts of grown men. Never before have I seen so many grown men break down in tears because of the love for Jesus. I’m thankful that god has allowed me to be a part of this Project.
Ian stated: “God is good and the fear I had about Culiacan were not for myself but for the women on our team. The uncomfortable stares and cat-call whistles from some of the men in camp have been ignored and the Ventana girls have done well to ignore such behavior. I, on the other hand, have missed home but have recently hit my rhythm here and I am honored the way God has been using me.”
Mikeala: “I was discouraged early on because I felt I couldn’t anything useful; I was afraid I would be the only one who wasn’t seeing God work in miraculous ways. How foolish can I get? In the first week alone we saw hundreds of men, women, and children make decisions to follow Jesus. I have since had a verse given me (Matthew 5:14-16) the encouraged me to let my light shine brightly.”
Lydia: “I want to apologize [to my parents] for letting my concern for your safety, my fear of you leaving come between me and my service to God. This has always held me back; this has been the piece of the puzzle that has kept me from seeing the full glory of God completely. So I’m sending this to you today to tell you that I love you very much, but you are no longer in my hands, but Gods.”
Shannon: “I have to admit I didn’t exactly come to Culiacan with fear and trembling. Instead I brought along with me a well-rounded plethora of expectations, most of which God has turned upside down. I expected to be worked to the bone, but instead I’ve been challenged to socialize with hours of free time [with the Mexican nationals]. I expected to be amidst the first charge leading people to Christ, but instead I’ve been challenged to pray from the sidelines. I expected to be broken by what I saw in the camps, but instead I’ve been challenged to look inside myself and content with my own brokenness. God is tearing away all the things in my life that I have cleaved to for so long until all I have left is Jesus. It is painfully liberating.”
LeAnne: “Both safety and not being able to communicate were my two greatest fears. In coming to Culican God has shown me that safety isn’t a top priority and to let my actions speak louder than words.”
Jason: “I didn’t have a lot of fear prior to coming to Culiacan, but once I got here I was worried about the language barrier. God has erased that fear by giving me words to speak in Spanish and He has been telling me [through promptings] to be obedient in all circumstances. “
Rachel: “Despite my fears God is moving significantly. Before we came I had fears of the men in Culiacan, the drug trafficking, the police and a few more things. I was/am praying that God would take away my fears. As a group of us went shopping in the heart of downtown Culiacan (a city of about 2 million) I discovered that I was enjoying myself and not consumed with some of these fears. The fear no longer strangled my every step and I was walking in complete freedom. God has removed my fear and allowed me to work in camps with great courage.”
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Overview of Culiacan Trip
Culiacan is a mission trip within a mission trip.
Ventana Ministries partners with the local church body by joining some of their families to fly into Central Mexico for service to the migrant workers who pick tomatoes. In two weeks of ministering, you will experience a mission trip unlike any other you have taken … we guarantee it. God moves in ways that will increase your faith and humble you to your knees.
We believe this is a healthy model for para-church organizations (like Ventana Ministries) to join and fall under the direction and leadership of the local church in Mexico. Not only do we receive more of an authentic missions experience, but we get to serve without the stigma of being a dominate-white-group-from-the-States-that-thinks-they-have-all-the-answers. Sheesh .. that’s a long hyphenated sentence.
To learn more about this incredible opportunity that very few groups from the U.S. even have an opportunity to serve with visit www.bnmexico.comand click on link for Culiacan. Both Dave and Lynda are amazing people with whom you will blessed ministering with.
Please check back each February for updates regarding our trip.
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Below are some pictures of what we experience.
Pedro, our fearless leader, has led this trip for Iglesia Cristiana de Porvenir, four years in a row. He is a close, personal friend of Doug’s and always takes care of the Ventaneros. God has provided a GREAT man to lead our trip!
This is an example of where families of from Cental America will live for two to three months while picking tomatoes and vegetables for the Mexican supermarkets.
After a long, hard, and hot day of picking vegetables, the mothers go the local aquaduct to get water to cook with while their children float lazily in the river.
An example of what happens when two gals from the States wander into the campos to presen the Good News. The children flock while the mothers are grateful for a wholesome diversion. We pray for fruitful a VBS in each camp.
An example of our team leading songs during a VBS program. In some camps we visit, very few children might be with their parents. In others, we are overwhelmed with 200+ children all wanting our attention.
Our fearless leader, and a Ventanera from last year (Kristine) leading worship. Our students receive the added blessing of not only sharing the Good News with the unreached peoples of Mexico and Central America, but have an awesome experience of serving beside 50-70 other Mexican national believers.
New friendships. Life changing experiences. A new worldview. And tons of laughter.