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Remember, all the Mexico Mission 2010 Photos will be posted on following link:  http://www.upsideonline.org/worship/missions/genesis-diez-2010/photos/

Hey everyone!

This entire month all I’ve been looking forward to has been going home! I’m landing Mon night, so excited I can’t wait! But in terms of Genesis stuff, we had a party to celebrate the 10th year anniversary for Genesis on Nov 1st. It was a good turn out, a lot of our supporters and other organizations we work with came out too. We came out in the newspaper, so it was fun seeing that although they TOTALLY wrote all this wrong stuff about Genesis….saying that we help men that are in rehab for drugs and helping them get their lives back together and yada yada yada. Totally not true, we only work with kids….hahaahha!

Other than that, we’ve still been doing the after school program and we did a clothing drive as well for two separate communities. We just started a after school tutoring class on thursdays in Durango….we’re testing to see how things go and this past thursday it actually went pretty well. We just had another family commit 9 months to helping Genesis, the Sanders. They’re a couple Monti and Lisa with their two kids Daniel and Aundrea who are in high school. They”re all fluent in Spanish so it’s very helpful having them come along to the different things we’ve been doing, especially with the tutoring we started. They’re actually living across the street from us now, they moved into the old office we used to have. The new office is awesome, so much bigger and better…we’re all very happy with the change =)

Alrighties well I look forward to seeing most of you all! I hope I’ll be able to meet with a lot of you while I”m in nova, I’ll be there up until Feb so there’s plenty of time =)
Here are some prayer requests:
1) Safe travels, and that I not miss my connecting flight. I only have 45 mins to switch planes!
2) For my time at home, that it’ll be relaxing…. but at the same time that I wouldn’t lose sight of why I”m spending so much time there. (to work and save $$)
3) For my adjustment back to Mex in Feb, Steph will be gone and she was a HUGE plus to my stay here so I’ll definitely miss her.

That’s it you guys! See you all soon! Ciao~

Eunice

Hello yall!

I hope you guys are doing SWELL! This has been by far the most interesting month for me. At the end of my August update, I mentioned that I was making more of an effort to grow spiritually, joining a bible study and doing a separate small group with steph and also my own personal bible study time. Well I guess with my desire to grow more spiritually, and also my decision to make on staying or returning I felt a lot of spiritual attacks the entire month of September. It was just one thing after another, mainly with my body. It was definitely a very stressful month for me with all these things happening to my body, all the more since I’m in Mexico and not 100% fluent in Spanish and I don’t know any of the doctors here and yada yada yada. But regardless none of the things ended up being super serious so for that I’m thankful. =) The one thing that’s still ongoing right now is my back. It’s going to take some time to fully heal so please keep my back in prayer!

Other than that hahaha in terms of Genesis we’ve been focusing on our after school program in one of the communities that we’ve been working with. We basically have random activities for the kids that are very laid back, nothing super planned out. We’ve been doing mini skits, crafts and free time with board games and puzzles and so on. We’ve also been getting ready for our move and sorting through donations. I haven’t been able to do much b/c of my physical condition but I’m hoping I’ll be able to bounce back within the next week or so. The Genesis office is moving to the house that directly in front of the current office. The disabled children won’t be moving into the same house as the office anymore so me and Steph will be able to stay at the new office. Me and steph thought that we had to find a new place to live by Oct 1st which is today…but with all the changes that took place we’re good to stay at the office still. The disabled children will most likely be moving into a beach home, but that probably won’t be happening until the beginning of next year. The house they’re currently looking at needs some construction work so it’ll take a little time before anything starts happening.

I’ve made some new friends through the bible study that me and Steph joined at our church. It’s been really good to have other peers to connect with, and the small group that me and Steph are doing has been going really well too. I can honestly say that I’ve grown more spiritually this past month, even though my mishaps threw me off a little bit every week. I haven’t been able to fully start my own bible study yet, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to make that a weekly thing starting this month. One thing that God has been teaching me this past month has been complete surrenderance/peace. I would stress and panic over the different things that came up, and after praying about it I felt convicted to really trust in God, because He has everything in his hands and to completely surrender everything over to Him. And with that comes peace. Peace like a river! In the small group me and steph are doing, we just went over peace like a river, and how a river is always flowing and moving, full of life. Life gives you many unexpected things, but you can have security and tranquility through it all if you submit to God and fully trust in Him. So applicable in my life right now!

I’ll end with some prayer requests:
1. That I make the necessary changes in my life to get healthier and strengthen my back. (diet, exercise blah blah blah)
2. My decision on staying here or going home!
3. That I would continue to grow spiritually and seek God every single day.

That’s all you guys! Hope you guys all have a wonderful weekend! Miss yall! Ciao~

Eunice

Hey everybody!

It’s me again =) This past Saturday was our official last day of summer camp. It’s bittersweet for me, the summer schedule was really crazy so I’m relieved that I’ll be getting a break but I already miss the kids! The last week of summer camp was one of my favorites. We only had one group of ninos and amigos come in so the entire Genesis staff was able to work together our last week so that was cool. The kids arrived on Monday and Steph’s church Bethany came down from wed to sat and they brought their own vbs program down and the Genesis staff was actually integrated in a lot of that. It was nice that the staff had 2 days with just the kids, it gave us a chance to get to know them better since there were more of us working on one site with the ninos. The week was a bit chaotic though b/c none of the staff knew what Bethany’s vbs program was and they had us all included in their programming but it all worked out and the kids had an amazing time. Their theme was “Surf Camp” so we spent 2 days at the beach teaching the kids how to surf, boogy board and kayak. I got a chance to learn how to surf as well and one of the men from Bethany donated a wet suit to me and Steph =) Very thoughtful, I just might become a pro ^.~

I fell in love with the kids this past week, they’re from the casa hogar Rancho Milagro in Tecate. They used to be an all boys orphanage and 2 years ago they started taking in girls. They still have majority boys though, only 8 girls at that orphanage right now. The youngest were 4 and the oldest was 19 and he came kinda as a leader to help watch the kids. It was really neat seeing the older kids at the orphanage take leadership to help take care of the younger kids. We’ve had so many orphanages come in it’s hard to tell them all apart BUT I can say that each orphanage was very special in their own way…..even all the bad behaved kids hahahahah~ If anything I actually favored all the bad orphanages. Don’t ask me why…I just did hahahah!

With the end of August I’m coming up to my 10th month here, crazy….only 2 more months until my year here is up. With that said, there are going to be a few drastic changes here at Genesis. It’s always been a dream of Greg, Patti and Gaby to have one site for the office, staff housing, and for the disabled children. They’ve been searching for a place and they’ve come down to 2 options. One option is the house that’s directly in front of our current office, and the 2nd option is a beach home. Greg really wants the move to happen by Oct 1st, we don’t know if it’s going to happen by then or not but if you all could just keep Genesis in your prayers please I would super appreciate it =) Our disabled children have never all lived together before, and with them in the office we’ll need staff around the clock to watch them. So things with the disabled children staff will have to be worked out, and it’ll be a big change for everyone working at the office as well since the disabled children will be there from now on. I’m excited though with the changes, we’re definitely moving forward with ministry and making progress with different things. Change can be good as long as people are open minded through it all.

I still have yet to make a decision on staying here longer or returning back home. I’m going to have to make a decision very soon, so if you all could really keep me in your prayers through that because I feel so torn with the decision as of now. All I know is that I want to honor and glorify God with whatever it is I do, whether that’s in Mexico or the states.

I’ve been feeling spiritually hungry for the past month or so, and since I’ve been here I’ve been wanting to get plugged into something, anything to get fed. Steph and I just recently joined a bible study with our church but it’s all in spanish. I can understand about 60% of everything being said, but in terms of me speaking spanish it’s much more difficult. So it’ll be hard for me to participate, but I am understand and getting the gist of the bible study. So that’s been an answer to my prayers and I’m looking forward to learning and growing from that. Steph and I also decided to start our own bible study, just the two of us. Ann had sent me a bible study by Beth Moore before summer started and I haven’t had a chance to start on that and I thought now with summer all done it would be a great opportunity for me and Steph to go through the study together. If you guys could keep me and Steph in your prayers as well as we start the bible study we would super appreciate it! I think it’ll be a good way to start growing together spiritually on a different level, apart from serving together in ministry.

Alrighties friends, that’s about all that’s been going on =) If you guys have any prayer requests send them to me please! I miss you all! Take care, ciao!

Eunice

Hey everyone!

I totally meant to email yall last weekend but it totally slipped my mind. I had Sunday off so I was all focused on the different things I could do for fun and relaxation. Sorry! Well, summer camp is half way done, can’t believe it! It’s been a busy but fun month for me. It was really nice having my parents visit for a week, it was hard to say good bye though. The orphanage La Gloria that our church has been paired up with came last week and it was so neat seeing all the kids again. It had been 2 years since I’d seen them so they were all SO much bigger. There were a lot of new kids there too, about half the kids I knew weren’t at that orphanage anymore.

It’s been such a blessing for me to work with the staff members, they’re all so different and gifted in numerous ways so it’s cool to see how we all work together really well as a team. This past week Amanda had to fly home last minute b/c her grandma just passed away. Steph also went home last week b/c her sister got married on Sat (YAY!) So we were short 2 ppl and then Hapa had an emergency and had to be taken by ambulance to the states last sunday and he was out all week. So in total we were short 3 ppl, but we made it work! Greg put me in charge to take over Amanda’s role, and everyone just stepped it up a little bit and everything worked out fine. I was a bit stressed out at first, but I knew I could depend on the rest of the team and the fact that you all at home are consistently praying for me so I was comforted =)

Thank you guys sooo much for all the support you’ve given me so far. I know you all are praying for me and I can’t express how much I appreciate that. I know that there are missionaries out there that don’t have supporters, or have a hard time finding support but I’ve been so blessed having you all support me so willingly and openly. Muchas gracias!!!

Alrighties I wish I could share some more but I need to get ready for the ranch again. Please continue to keep me and the rest of the Genesis team in your prayers! A lot of us are starting to feel really tired b/c it is the halfway mark, we need to really rely on God for strength and energy.

Please pray for Amanda and her family and they’re coping with their loss. Also continue to pray for me and my decision on staying or returning. Please pray too that I continue to pray and seek God daily, and that with all I do I do it with a joyful heart.

Ok well I love you guys and I miss you all terribly! Ciao~

Eunice

They met early in the morn’ at 5:30am, but everyone was so awake, cheery and excited!

As one team, they were ready to share the love of Christ to the people DR!

(Special presentation by the team during Sunday service, singing "Alabare")

The team consists of 24 members–including 9 Upside students!  The oldest member is 75 years old, while the youngest member is 13!

They will be leading a Vacation Bible Study Camp for children,  do some construction and medical relief work.

Let’s pray for their safety, health and for them to effectively share God’s love to the people of DR!

Can’t wait to hear wonderful stories of your trip, mission team!

Hello my fans!

WOW it’s been super duper busy this past month. I’ve been getting everything prepped for summer camp, and we’re starting our first week this monday! So from this monday until the end of August I’ll be living at the ranch and just coming back home sat evening to sunday afternoon then it’s back to the ranch. With all the group cancellations this summer, it’s definitely going to be a challenge for the Genesis staff because we’re still going have two orphanages come every week regardless of the situation. It’s going to be challenging but I believe it’s going to be a GREAT and MEMORABLE summer for everybody =) We have a super strong team this year…the strongest that Genesis has had. Me, Steph, Ceci and Genaro have all done summer camps before so right now only Alejandro and Eric (he just came for the summer) are new to summer camp. Eric is staying until the end of summer and we’ll have a couple other people come stay to help for a couple weeks at a time. Please keep us all in your prayers!

My parents are going to be visiting me July 5th – July 10th! They’re going to be staying with me at the ranch to help me and the other Genesis staff members out. It’ll be great for them to see what I’m doing here. Please keep them in your prayers as well, the ranch isn’t the most easiest place to be living at for a whole week. =)

I took a mini vacation a couple weekends ago, I went to LA to visit a diaper buddy of mine and I stayed with her for the weekend. It was great, I ate a lot of really good food and I was able to stock up on my korean food as well. It was nice to sleep in a real bed and to be able to walk around her house without my shoes on hahahaha! She pampered me, thanks again Scarlett! =)

OH I need to tell you guys about one of our disabled children, Margarita. Her condition has worsened significantly over the past several months. The left side of her body is always tensed up and curled in, and because she’s so uncomfortable she’s been biting down on her bottom lip SUPER hard, it’s very hard to look at because it’s so swollen and bloody and the infection there is getting worse. Her brain is basically slowly dying. We took her to a doctor, and after examining her a couple times, and learning about what we do here at Genesis….he offered to do stem cell treatments on her for free. Anything stem cell related is very expensive, so we are so blessed to have a doctor who has a heart for our ministry and a huge heart for God as well. He’s asked us to keep in our prayers b/c he’s doing this for free it’s going to be very costly for him.

She’s already had 3 treatments and she’s shown some improvements. Please pray for our Margarita! It’s really sad to see how much she’s digressed. When I first met her she was able to walk and eat and go to the bathroom on her own. Now she can’t even sit up on her own, all her food has to be put through a blender and fed to her little by little and she has to use diapers now. We do know that Margarita and our other disabled child Manuelito are terminal, but if you all could please pray that God would ease them of their discomforts it would make such a difference in their lives….especially Margarita. we all hope and pray that the stem cells will help her progress a little bit.

So that’s what’s been going on recently =) Here are my personal prayer requests:

1. During the summer, I need to make more of an effort to stay connected to God. It’s hard to (from past experience) when your schedule is so go-go-go!
2. For the Genesis staff to not ever get burnt out, and that we would continually encourage and love one another.
3. Need to make a decision soon on staying or going back home! I need guidance!

That’s it! Send me an update on your lives too please! It helps me feel connected to home. I know you guys are all very busy, but a short 5 minute email won’t kill ya. I miss you all! Ciao~

Eunice

Hello everyone!

I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve updated yall but it’s only been a little over a month =) There isn’t TOO much to update you guys on so this email shouldn’t be tooo long ^.~

I went home the first week of May, and I had a wonderful time chillin with my familiy and friends. It was super refreshing to see a lot of you guys again, it made me very happy. I wish I could have stayed another week…..but next time I’m home I’ll be there for a couple weeks =)

So since I’ve come back from nova, we had a day event with a casa hogar Albergue Temporal on the 16th. The ninos there are placed in that home just temporarily while the government tries to figure out their home situation. Sometimes the kids go back to their parents and other times they get placed in a permament casa hogar. We had 4 americans come down from San Diego and we took the kids to the museum and to the Riviera, which is one of the oldest buildings in Ensenada, and we also took them by the big flag downtown and they played at the playground. It was a very chill, very fun day. Later that night I was able to go to a minor league baseball game! Somebody my friend Steph knows gave us 3 free tickets so Me, Steph and Alejandro went the game. On Sunday, Gaby was speaking for a little bit at a church in San Diego, and they were going to be giving us a chunk of their offering from the month of May so me Steph and Patti tagged along to support her. After church we just hung out in dfferent places in San Diego…..some girl time =)

And up until now me and steph have just been working around the office, getting different tasks done and we’re starting to prep for the summer. This summer the kids are getting out of school later b/c of the weeks they missed with the swine flu…but we’re still going to be starting camp at the end of June as planned, we’re just going to be working with migrants until the orphanages can come to the ranch and the migrants most likely won’t be staying on site at our ranch during those first few weeks. Our situation at Genesis financially has been super super tight, with all the groups cancelling b/c of the “violence” and now with the swine flu scare. We’re having to be very careful with what we spend our money on and we might even lose our office if things get worse….but we’re going to continue moving forward and trust that God has a plan. Amongst all the difficulties, we’ve had many many blessings and miracles over the past couple of months. We’ve had numerous food donations that’ll come in consistently until the end of the year, that’ll be a HUGE help with our summer program b/c we feed so many people. Right now with the food coming in that’s perishable, we’re giving it away as dispensas to those that need them b/c we won’t be needing it for another month….like the indigenous and other organizations nearby that work with the community and etc. On Tuesday me steph amanda and alejandro gave out 50 dispensas to the Durango community, and we’re going back today to give away about 20 more b/c we didn’t have enough to give to the entire community there. We’ve had 4 other ppl commit to staff the entire summer which will also be a tremendous help for the staff right now. God is definitely working for us and that’s all we need to keep moving forward. We’re still going to have 2 orphanages come every week regardless of there being amigos or not and so it’s going to be a lot harder on the staff but we know we just need to rely on Gods strength to keep us going. =)

So yeah that’s all that’s been going on so far, things will start picking up again real soon with all the prepping and summer camp starting soon. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers!

Specific prayer requests:
1. I got a root canal done here for $150 yesterday (WHOO HOO!) so please pray that I heal completely and that this is the absolute last time I have to deal with that wretched tooth.
2. That I continue seeking God through the slow times, the busy times the good and bad times too.
3. For the Genesis staff to stay strengthened throughout the summer and that we’ll continue to lift one another up.
4. I need to make a decision in the near future on staying here longer or going back home. I want to make that decision prayerfully so pray along with me!

That’s all yall! Miss you guys~ Take care ciao!

Eunice