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Greetings from Guadalajara! I've been thinking for the last few weeks about what words I can use to sum up or describe what the summer has been like for me. We often have teams come up with one sentence that could give a glimpse of what their time here meant to them or what they learned. I think for me my one sentence describing the summer would be ‘I saw God bring change'. Allow me to expand on that....

Changes happened on many different levels.

The RETO church looks quite different after a construction team visited from Visalia, CA here in late June. Old cement torn out, dirt levelled off and suddenly there is a beautiful new multi use sports court. I am excited for the new possibilities (weekly kids clubs, open sports times, movie nights) to use this court to reach out into the community. Pray that God would use these opportunities to open doors and build relationships with our neighbours.

Hosting teams back to back (and overlapping) from early July until mid August brought a change in schedule and in the pace of life. While it was exhausting, it was also very rewarding. I saw God bring change in the lives of many short term participants who spent time here in GDL this summer. Here are a few examples of their 1 sentence summaries: "I learned to look for Jesus more", "I redefined my relationship with God" and "It was a great lesson in continuing to learn the call to love and serve."

The teams that we hosted helped out with 2 week long day camps, an English camp, a sports camp, social ministries such as a prison visit, visits to an indigenous camp, time spent encouraging men at a rehabilitation centre, evangelism in parks, prayer walks, and youth ministry. I believe that changes happened in many lives throughout these interactions even though I don't know of all the changes - pray with me that God would grow the seeds that were planted this summer. Chuiy and Lorena who attended the English camp have been faithfully attending church since the camp ended - God is bringing change into their lives and hearts!

Eight of the youth here in GDL had the opportunity to join the visiting teams this summer and participating in almost everything the visiting team was doing - allowing both the Mexicans and the Canadians to appreciate and learn more from each others' culture. I have seen change in terms of commitment to God and in understanding their own gifts. They were blessed and encouraged to see young people from another culture serving God and seeking to know God better.

It was a great treat and change of pace to take a week of holidays with Sandra and 3 Mexican friends at the end of August. We spent a week of rest in a very peaceful and beautiful setting out in Mazatlan - about 6 hours away from Guadalajara. I came back very much refreshed and excited about this next season of life and work.

Not all change is easy. A dear friend of mine lost her husband in a car accident this summer. In a world full of change, it is comforting to know that God is constant and that He is the one that holds all of our tomorrows.

So what will the fall look like you ask? Pray for the changes that are on the horizon:

...a new TREK team to arrive late October - we are in the midst of searching for host homes and planning ministry schedule

.... the dream of a training centre is moving forward!!! PRAY and DREAM with us as we begin to scout out the city to find land - more to come about this in my next letter.

Thanks so much for your continued support! I am blessed to have such a great group of people who cheer me on, make phone calls, give financially, send letters, and pray for me! You are a HUGE blessing in my life!

Jen