Well, its only been a couple years since we've added anything to this site. But since Anne is bossing us around, telling us to use it, maybe we should....

Hmmm, how to sum up two years of activity in one entry?...

I guess with a quick overview: The last entry was from 2003, which was my last year of traveling back and forth between Mexicali and Washington to work. In 2004 I started working full-time at a civil engineering office in Yuma, AZ which is about 50 miles away from Mexicali. In October of 2004 we bought a house here in Yuma and moved out of Mexicali. This made Julie happy because its a cool house with a swimming pool, big yard and a nice neighborhood, and she doesn't have to get stared at every time she goes outside, like always used to happen in Mexicali. So we drive over to M-town every Wednesday night, Sunday and other days as needed. Julie is taking classes online from Dallas Baptist University (and getting amazingly good scores on everything she does!), finishing off her bachelors degree in psychology.

In June of last year we planted a new church in Mexicali. Its called Iglesia Cristiana 'El Camino' (The Way Christian Church) and has been rewarding, fun, challenging, frustrating, tiring, etc. just like any other church plant is, I suppose. We've seen some really cool things happen, but we're in transition mode again as the building we've been renting is soon to be too expensive for us to stay in. So after just getting air-conditioning installed, and a kitchen put in, and lots of painting and repairs done, now we have to move. We're hoping to find some property that we can buy and then build what we want on it.

We usually have 5 or 6 groups come down each year and do work projects and outreach events, etc. The past few (including one from TFC - awesome group, once they finally got here!!!) have stayed at the church building, now that we don't live over there. Cornwall Church always has 2 or 3 groups each year, and Sunrise Baptist sent a group this year, too. 

Justin Gudde lived down here from last October (2004) thru July of this year. He lived with a family in Mexicali and helped us out at the church, etc. And then Shelly Hemming came in February and has been living mostly with us, but sometime in Mexicali, and teaching classes and leading a girls youth group and lots of other stuff. Sadly, she's returning to WA in December, so soon it will just be Julie and I again. At least Ruby and Boyd will still keep us entertained.

So there you go. Next time I'll find some fun pictures to include. Hopefully this will get Anne of my back for awhile...

Well I guess it's probably about time to update this a little. I know so many of you have been waiting breathlessly for an update. Yeah, right....

We're in Washington on our summer break from the scorching Mexicali heat. Julie's being quite the farmer this year, zippin' around on the tractor, hacking away at waaaay overgrown blueberry bushes and bossing around those Widman, Warren and Gudde kids. Dave's doing the refinery work bit, as usual.

We've gotten to enjoy some pretty cool things so far this summer - a visit to David Jeremiah's Shadow Mountain church in San Diego (we got to hear Tim Lahaye speak), a 3-day worship conference at Saddleback Church in L.A. (listened to people such as Rick Warren, Darlene Zschech, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Tommy Walker, Mercy Me), and a 3-day leadership conference in Delta, B.C. put on by Willow Creek out of Chicago (great speakers such as Andy Stanley, Erwin McManus and Bill Hybels). The last one we went to with 75 other Cornwall church people. Great conference, great time with the Cornwall gang. So now we're all pumped up and ready to go put what we've learned into action in Mexicali!

We're still up in Washington for about 3 more weeks, so give us a shout if you're up in this area too. Email to mexicalioc@hotmail.com

As some of you know, we have been going through a really rough time in our church.  Things are still difficult, but nothing compared to our latest prayer need.  A little boy, Andy, who is 1 1/2 years old is in the hospital on a respirator.  He has been having seizures over the past 2-3 months.  He went to the hospital on 6/5 because he wasn't breathing.  Now his brain is swelling and if they don't see impovements by Tuesday 6/17, they will take him off of the respirator.  He is even more special to us because he is the little brother of our pastor's wife, Marisol.  Praying for a miracle down here.  Also, that Jesus will reveal himself to her non-Chrisitan parents.