My birthday party... with 400 guests!

It just so happens that this year I got to share my birthday with over 400 guests that arrived at the YWAM base in Tijuana to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our organization. We were privileged to have the founders of Youth With A Mission, Loren and Darlene Cunningham, join us to celebrate 50 years of God's faithfulness in this mission. You can click on the link below to read the official report of our event:

YWAM's 50th Anniversary Celebration in Tijuana, Mexico

Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM)

One thing that really touched me during one of the worship times was that they ran through a slideshow featuring the flags of every country on earth. It just so happens that someone from YWAM has also set foot in each and every one of those countries! We had the chance to pray over all the nations of the world, and it was a very moving experience. I specifically focused on praying for my nation (that's Mexico now!) and just got this feeling the God has not forgot about us. Amongst all the violence and poverty, God has not given up on this nation. Now I've heard some pretty mean stuff spoken about Mexico- that it's full of drug dealers, murderers, prostitutes, robbers, etc.... But to be honest, I gave up my life in the States because I believe that this is a country that can be redeemed. There is a lot of GOOD here, although that's not always what makes the headlines. As more and more people turn towards God in their desperate situations, lives are redeemed and changed. In the Bible, there is a man named Job and he lost everything in life that was important to him. He had nothing left in his life, and yet he still said "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25) We have to believe that something better is still to come, in our lives and in our nation. The Lord has not given up on Mexico - and neither have I!

What a wonderful birthday I had as I was reignited with passion for this nation and these people. I'm 26 now, and I've been loving living in Mexico and serving God here for 15 months now. And I believe greater things are yet to come!