a week to go!

goodness time sure is weird... speeding along at break neck paces some days and slower than molasses in January on others! My days are snails pace it seems and yet I can't believe we are here at this time already!

We've read so many books and learned so many things n our walk with God in preparation for this journey, we have a basic knowledge of Spanish (which we will get to try out in Mexico City for 13 hours on a layover before we have our final flight to Mazatlan! I think we are as ready as we will ever be!
SO...
We are one week away from leaving for Mazatlan (we should be in Toronto waiting for our connecting flight this time next Monday!) and we are ready and yet there is still so much for us to do! (packing being the biggest I think!)There are still some appointments we need to go to, a bit of shopping still to do, a fridge to clean out (meaning meals), laundry, house cleaning and I know there is still farm stuff to get done by Friday!  I know it will all get done and that there is no sense worrying about it (not that I am worrying per se...) just typical travel concerns of forgetting something or not packing or overpacking. Until this afternoon we had a few concerns over the finalities of things with YWAM but they were all sorted today ... see not worrying!
All in Gods time, right!?

Here are a few prayer requests for this coming week:

~ Protection  (not just for our travels and time in Mazatlan but for family at home) of our minds and hearts

~ To see what God is putting on our hearts when meeting with the people of Mazatlan and those at YWAM

~ Open hearts (ourselves and others) to the leading of the Holy Spirit as he sees fit

~ Prayers for the unknown as we embark on this God adventure

These are pretty general prayers it seems, but the power of prayer is amazing and we know how important fervent prayers are! 

I have a feeling this next week (and beyond) Philippians 4:6-7 will be not only on my arm (it is a tattoo) but on my heart:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

With this said, please know that we truly thank you for your prayers and concerns and it does give such peace to be going to Mexico with your prayers before us! 

Please drop a line (comment box or email) if you have any questions! 

Until next week our friends!!

Blessings to you!

a note from Dennis!

Mazatlan mission trip December 29 2018 to Jan5 2019

God is good all the time……… I truly believed before we left for Mazatlan that the Lord was asking me to go on this trip. I was not sure why as I have never had the desire to go on a mission trip, and no desire to go to Mexico. While in Mexico I found out what Jesus meant when He said that He came so that we could have life more abundantly. It is such an amazing feeling to know that you are right where God wants you to be doing exactly what He wants you to do. We built a home for a wonderful woman, gave out bibles to people excited to receive the word of God, helped feed underprivileged children, and fellowshipped with the wonderful staff at YWAM. We heard so many amazing God stories as we went about our trip, from a guy that literally search the world for truth only to find it was the word of God then dedicating his life to spreading the word, another fellow who was addicted to drugs went to Mexico to work in a coffee shop found Jesus and now is living his life with his wife and family spreading the gospel , a young couple who invited people into their home in an attempt to be able to get up earlier in the morning before work which has turned into a wonderful ministry where people can come into their home and spend time worshipping our Lord and diving into His word early in the morning.

I  have a God story to tell:

 After leaving a young couples house before breakfast where Jodi and I had just spent time worshiping and reading God’s word, I felt I should go out to the beach to watch the waves for a bit before breakfast. It was there that I met a man searching for Jesus, he came up to me and asked if I was a Christian. I said that I was and he started asking questions. He spoke enough English that we were able to communicate and I was able to share Jesus with him for about a half hour and then I was able to pray for him before we parted ways. He had come to Mazatlan to celebrate New Years and lived in Mexico  on the border between Mexico and Texas. The fact that God brought me all the way from Manitoba to Mexico to share the love of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross with someone on a beach who was searching for Jesus just blows my mind. GOD IS SO AMAZING!!!

I also met a man named Joshua, while at YWAM, who has a heart for the rural people outside Mazatlan in the farming/ranching areas. This interested me greatly and hoping that God will open doors for him and us to reach these areas with the gospel through agriculture. Since we have been home both Jodi and I feel that God will call us back to Mexico in some form to continue His work there. We are busy learning Spanish so as to better communicate, diving into God’s word so that He can teach us what we need to know to go back and do His work, and praying that He will open the doors for us to go back.

I am so thankful for everyone who supported us both in prayer and financially, thank you so much for obeying our Lord and making it possible for us to go on this trip. It is amazing what can be accomplished for His kingdom when His people just say yes Lord and obey His command.

And all the time God is good.

God bless

Dennis 

Mazatlan Mission Trip!!

Well, we have been back for about 3 weeks now (and we yearn to be back in Mazatlan doing Gods work!) .... and to say the least... the trip was amazing!!

We built a home, we distributed 154 bibles, we fed children supper one night! We walked around Mazatlan, taking in the sights, the foods and the people!

It was most definitely a God journey... no better way to describe it! I was waiting to post photos of the trip until we had shared the trip with our church and a few other people ( and we still have any people to share with!!) but I thought I would get this quick (5 minute) video of the highlights on our trip up for y'all to see!

A few highlights I will tell you about:

The lady we built the home for!! She was the loveliest lady you would ever want to meet! She was not only kind but extremely generous! She made us meals and every morning she would serve us cafe leche... mmmmmm cafe leche... she helped us with whatever and whenever she could - she worked many, many hours after her regular day job to pay for these treats for us! Her favourite colour is purple, so that  is why it is purple! (houses in Mazatlan are so beautifully colourful!)

We met many wonderful people while distributing bibles in a poorer colonia (neighbourhood). The people were so welcoming to not only talk with us and allow us to pray for them, but we were told they have been   waiting for the bibles we had. These bibles were PDT (La Biblia: La Palabra de Dios para Todos- which translates; The Word of God for all) and the versions they had were too complicated to read! it was so amazing to take the time to talk with people and pray over them! I will admit it was a bit scary at first and praying through a translator took a bit of getting used too, but it was a definite highlight for me!

The night at the Feeding Distribution Centre  (soup kitchen) was great too! We fed about 60 kids (there is usually 70!) This program is run by a local man (Roman) and his wife and 2 volunteers. Roman works in an autonomy shop and felt that God was telling him to feed the hungry. So two evenings a week and one breakfast he feeds the children of the local Colonia (neighbourhood) with food that is mostly donated by a local lady who runs a bakery or a restaurant. The kids there were so excited to. have some newcomers and soccer balls (and Dennis' beard lol)!! After they ate, the soccer balls came out and it was outside to play with them and to play a piggyback game!

There is so much to say about our trip, and although the Inuit have 150 words for snow, I can't seem to find the right words to convey this trip. We loved it so much and are praying that we will have the opportunity to go back again but hopefully for a bit longer, doing Gods work!

Please take a few minutes to check out the video and the photos to catch a glimpse into our week in the beautiful city!  If you are any questions, don't hesitate to ask or if you want to get together to here more of the mission trip, just drop me a comment or even a phone call!!

Thank you all so much for your prayers, messages, texts, calls, donations! You made our trip that much better by being involved!!

El amor de Dios nunca falla!!! 💕🤗💕

Hopefully, we will have another God adventure to share again soon!!



Blessings,



Dennis, Jodi & Hannah

A note from Hannah!

Some of you may know that last year I did my DTS with YWAM in Mazatlán Mexico. For me that was a life changing experience. That was where I started a more intimate relationship with Jesus, I made lifelong friends, where I found myself, impacted others life, and had my own life impacted as well. Now, I have the amazing opportunity to lead a team of 15 people (from the Grace Baptist Church) back to that place. 

During our time there, we will be working with a team called Homes of Hope. We will be building a house for a family in need down there. That will take us about three days to build, and then we will be doing other ministries around the city. As a leader for this team I do have many responsibilities, but I am very excited about this. I get to lead a team back to a place that I am pleased to call home to go back and do God’s work. I am excited to see how God will use me in every way that he can, for Him to use us as a team, and as individuals. I know that God can do amazing things, and has amazing things planned for this team. Each member of the team has a special gift, and I am excited to see how God will use them during our days there. 

I have always had a huge heart to help and serve people and have always wanted to go on a mission’s trip to love on people and help those in need. When I got back from Mexico I just had a strong feeling to go back and take a team with me, to serve a family there in need. At first, I did not know if this was just a feeling I had, because I had always wanted to do a mission’s trip, or if it was God putting this desire on my heart. I brought it before my youth pastor and we started planning a little bit of it, organizing a few things, and seeing who all would be interested in going. Once things started to fall into place I knew that it wasn’t just a desire in my heart, that it was God who has leading me to lead a team. After many months of planning and prepping for this trip, I am excited to see what God has in store during the time down in Mexico.

Mazatlan, Mexico... YWAM (where we will be staying)
 is about a 5 minute walk from this beach 

Our Mazatlan family!!!

http://www.ywamhomesofhope.org

We received an email yesterday with a bit of info and background on our family in Mazatlan that we are building house for! It was so thrilling to read and learn a little about them! I don't know if we are allowed to share that information, so I won't, but I will say this; they are a family of 7 and Dennis, Hannah and I are so eager to meet them! 
As we are putting the final preparations in gear for our trip, I pray that you will all pray for this beautiful family with us and our mission team! My heart is brimming for them and I can not wait to meet them and see where God has moved in their lives! 
There is still time to donate if you are feeling lead to do so via our GoFund Me page! 
We want to say a big thank you everyone who has texted, sent well wishes and love during this first ever time on missions! We didn't (and still don't) know what to expect of it all, but so far seeing how God our Father works is so exhilarating and breathless that it is just a huge blessing! Thank you again to those who have donated money and time to our efforts! We are truly blessed! 

And just like that....

... prayers are answered!! Mountains were moved!!


The house is paid for and so is the furniture!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is good, all the time!

You can still donate and the money would to the team,  as there are still travel expenses that you can help with for the team and as always we need your prayers!

Faith CAN move mountains!

With only 19 days left until we begin to make our way to Mazatlan, Mexico, I can't help but be grateful for all that we have, all the people we have already encountered and all the prayers and blessings that have been bestowed on not only Dennis, Hannah and I, but on our whole team as well!
God's love has been literally shining through when we least expect it ... and all I can say is God is good!

Our auction has come and gone and was a success! I think all prizes have been delivered or picked up. We still are just shy of the cost of the house and it would be a wonderfully, beautiful blessing to be able to furnish for the family as well! So we leave it all in His hands (because like a business owner said to us when he was donating an auction prize "His hands are way bigger than ours!" -- Can I get an AMEN!!) and FAITH can move mountains! If you are feeling lead to help us to achieve this goal, you can use the GoFund Me page or contact me and I will help you out with it! (either way you will receive a tax receipt!)

Dennis and I are busy with the typical Christmas busyness and working to get things in order n the farm for us to be away. (Joshua and Dana will be looking after things for us, as well as their own farm). Dennis and I also finished a morning devotion in YouVersion that is to help us to prepare our hearts for our mission trip. It was an eye opener for us, with things you typically don't think about when getting ready! Since this is our first mission, we are a bit nervous but so excited to see what God has in store of our team and for us as individuals!

Hannah is working hard at studying the last week as she goes into her last week of exams before the Christmas break, so she is a tad stressed. We are always praying for our girl (and al our children of course), and we are excited for her to be back at YWAM and hopefully seeing some of her friends!

This journey has me thinking (and I pray, growing) more of my relationship with Christ. I see Him more each day in all sorts of unexpected places. I love my morning time with Him each day and I try to find joy in His wondrous creation daily... in the snow, the hoar frost, the cattle, the sunrises and sunsets, in my family and our little farm. I pray that I will see people (not just in Mexico but here at home too) through His eyes and find more GRACE and MERCY and COMPASSION in my heart for His sons and daughters; to find ways to share His love for them and to spread the gospel and not be afraid to do so.

I pray that each of you are having a wonderful Christmas season and you are enjoying His many rich blessings -- because it's all about Him, right!?

Thank you all once again for your prayers and love and blessings! We truly appreciate and thank our Father for each and every one of you!!

The adventures in getting ready to go...

So!!! We are now 35 days from leaving for Mazatlan! (EEEEKK!) and we have been quite busy with our fundraisers!
The Bigger & Better auction took a change in plans: we have been set up at 2 local malls and have had a rainbow auction with the amazingly generous prizes that were donated by local businesses from Dauphin, Ste.Rose, Riding Mountain, Neepawa and Minnedosa! There are prizes that are ranging from hats and travel mugs to two cases of frozen chickens to local artisan work and electronic accessories to very generous gift cards to local car dealerships! The surprise donation was from Ruff's in Dauphin who donated a brand new rocker recliner!! So we decided to have a silent auction with it!

Ste Rose Mall set up... we were a bit squishy
 but a great day was had!

The Recliner is on site to try out too!!
(I highly recommend it!)

This was the set up at Dauphin Place Mall
when Hannah and other team members were
sharing our mission trip plans

 We are still working on removing envelopes from the "house" which when all envelopes are gone we will officially have the money for the supplies for the house!! We are also hoping to raise funds to purchase furniture for the family as well -- to make their new house a home - this will be an extra $1600USD approximately.


The tables will be set up this Saturday at the Dauphin Place Mall and on Sunday at Grace Baptist Church during our Grey Cup party! Tickets for the rainbow auction or 4 for $5 or 10 for $10 ... or you can try your luck to bid on the fantastically comfy rocker recliner!
If you would like to make a donation you can visit our GoFund me page and receive a tax receipt for it!

Our next fundraiser is this Sunday at Grace Baptist Church! We are having a Grey Cup Party. There is no set charge for tickets, a donation at your discretion, and not only will we be cheering on either the Ottawa Red Blacks (go RED BLACKS!!!) or the Calgary Stampeders but there will be all you can eat Mexican food (tacos, nachos, beans, rice and drinks). Come on out and have a fun night of fellowship, food and fun! Even if you don't follow or like football, come out and bring a game or two, sit and visit and enjoy some food!! Doors will be open at 5:15!

Dennis and I have been enjoying preparing for the mission trip in a way we never expected. God has asked us both to step out of our comfort zones and amazingly enough we survived! We have spoke to many people in regards to the trip (both believers and non believers) and the questions we have been asked and we were able to answer (thank YOU God!) have really helped us to prepare our hearts! We have encountered some people who are not in favour of away from home mission trips and I feel that our responses were ones that left the people with a better understanding of our trip, missions and hopefully God.  Before this trip I know I probably would have been a bit more shy inn y responses but God seems to have filled my heart (and mouth) with words to share AND not shy away with those words! With this being said I am sure there are many more times I could have said something and didn't, so I am praying for the Holy Spirit to work more in me on it!

The days are counting down and with Christmas and life roaring as well, I ask for prayer not only for our trip, but for our hearts to be softened through the hustle and bustle towards those who are here at home in our community. I pray that my eyes will be opened to where God wants me to speak up or serve. I ask for your prayers in this as well!

Thank you so much for all the prayers and donations of prizes, funds and time that you have all bestowed to us for this mission trip so far! Please know that we count ourselves very blessed with your friendships and love!

other help needed:

Would you like to do a bit extra along with praying!? We have learned we are able to take clothing and things to Mexico to share with the people there!










Hannah noticed that when she was in Mazatlan last year that they love soccer! So we want to take some balls (deflated of course) and so we will also need a few pumps to blow them up (and leave them) again once there.
A few other ideas of things we would like to take are clothing, personal hygiene items, shoes - all for men, women and children, school supplies. basically things you would put into an Operation Christmas Child box.
There is not much there in Mazatlan for these items (or else we would take down money to purchase in that area to aid in their economy).

If you are wanting to help in this area let us know! I will make arrangements for pick up!

God is GOOD!

WOW! 

just WOW! 

Jodi, Pastor Brad & Dennis - just getting set up

Our first fundraiser went pretty good - considering the cool day, the short notice and the fact that we kinda sorta knew what we were doing!

We had the local Co-op in Dauphin help us out by letting us set up in front of the grocery store, they gave us a tent to use, a BBQ {with propane}, a $50.00 dollar gift card to help us get started and they ran a tab for us all afternoon as we needed supplies!

We sold burgers, hot dogs, drinks and chips - and we made OVER $500.00!! I think we were all pleasantly surprised about it!

The Envelope Donation House

We also had the "envelope house" up for people to by an envelope! The envelopes are numbered 1-176 ... the numbers are dollar amounts ... and you pick, add amount you are donating, write your name, address and phone number on the outside (you can get a tax donation receipt) and drop it in the donation box! {Easy, peasy, lemon, squeezy!} As the envelopes are removed there is a painting of a house underneath that is revealed! we had a few envelopes as well head into the donation box!

Close to the end of the day 

All in all, I think, our first fundraiser was pretty good!

Thank YOU to the Dauphin Co-op for all your help, advice and contributions to our efforts,  to those from  mission team who took time help on the day and before hand, those who stopped by for lunch, snack, for support or even just to see what we were doing! We truly appreciate you all!

Also, thank you to the people who have given us {the Ginter's} a financial donation towards our trip and who have been added to our prayer team!! We love and appreciate you all!



IF you are wanting to join our prayer team, please keep coming back to see what our prayer requests are, OR you can email, call or text us! You can read more about Homes of Hope and what they are all about and what they are doing by clicking on the link in the top left corner! 

at the end of the day :)

IF you are wanting to support us as a team or as a family you can click on the link for the Go Fund Me page (top left corner) for a tax receipt or you can contact either Dennis, Hannah or I for how to help us reach our personal goal of $4500 to get us to Mazatlan!