As this year comes to an end, we’d like to take the opportunity to wrap up by sharing just a few of the many things that have gone on in YWAM Pachuca’s ministry in 2009. Thank God, we have been able to see His hand moving through the ministry, staff and volunteers, and were able to experience and share His love and greatness with thousands in this past year that has flown by!

We kicked the year off with various groups; a DTS from YWAM Denver, a Short Term Outreach group from YWAM Madison, and an Ensenada DTS all came in the first two months of the year, and thankfully we had a good number of staff helping at the time as well, with the return of 3 DTS students from the previous year. Receiving teams always helps us grow and advance in the ministry, and their presence often opens up new doors of opportunity to share God. With these three teams in particular, we were able to reach out to the lost on the streets of Mexico, students in public schools in the villages and towns within the Huasteca and Pachuca, and serve the local church and community in the nearby town Actopan. It was a full number of weeks and a great way to start off the year, which has allowed for us to continue sharing God’s love and truth in these same areas.

After sending all the visiting teams off, we as a staff loaded up the van and headed out to join in ministry with the YWAM Mazatlán base in February. Each year, at the time of what’s known as “Carnaval” (perhaps best thought of on the scale of Mardi-Gras), the YWAM base has an intentional focus on evangelism, intercession and service to the thousands who flood the streets for the activities. We were able to participate in a variety of ministry opportunities, dividing ourselves up and joining the prayer team, witnessing in a free beauty salon, serving in a free café, going out on the streets to evangelize, and reaching youth through skate ministry. This was also an intense time of ministry that we were blessed to be a part of; we plan to continue to serve in years to come, until God’s light takes over all the darkness of this event.

As we moved on into Spring Break time, the swine flu scare was picking up speed, and really shook the country up in a way, and also paralyzed it in a sense. There were many cancellations, and much of the time was spent seeking God for even the smallest of things that could be done to show how much bigger He is than the circumstances around. We did have one group join us during this time, which was a DTS from Panama.

As we moved closer to summer, things were still not “normal” as we knew it to be, however, God continued to work, and we received a team from the YWAM base in Perth Australia – a combined school of worship. This was precedence to the MegaCities ministry that will take place in Mexico City in 2010, which will be a year-long focus, joining local ministries and churches together to see transformation take place in the city, state, and eventually entire country.

As we continued to seek God’s guidance in the ministry, we were able to receive one more team from the YWAM base in Tecate, who was really able to get into the street ministry in Mexico City and impact the young people’s lives.

The “Urban Challenge” motivated us as a staff as well, and shot us right into the busiest, most planned, deepest, most challenging and at the same time rewarding times of YWAM ministry – the DTS! This year we drew near to the heart of YWAM Pachuca and ran an Arts-focused DTS. In addition to the regular DTS classes, we also offered arts training (dramas, music, puppets, clowns, dance and choreography, and children’s ministry). By this time, we had a bit of change in the staff, but were able to have 5 full-time members staffing this 13-student DTS, with students from Canada, the US, and Mexico. God, as with last year, most definitely blessed us with incredible teachers who spoke right into the hearts of the students, and motivated them to change for the better and go forward in their walk with God. Many were challenged and encouraged by discovering their true identity in Christ, coming to know God on a deeper, more intimate level, and seeing the need in the world around them. We were able to put the teachings into practice and touch an estimated10,000 people in several parts of Mexico, including Pachuca and surrounding towns, the mountainous regions of the Huasteca in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí, Mexico City, and Cancún and Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo. We were amazed at seeing God’s provision during the whole DTS, and especially when on outreach; God truly protected us from harm, provided food and shelter, allowed us to connect with newfound members of the Body of Christ, and enjoy each place He led us to.

And so, having shared all that, we want to thank each one we were allowed to share our heart with this past year. Thank you to all those who support us as a ministry and staff; we hope to continue to be a part of each other’s lives and share in this great journey.

As we gear up for next year, there’s a bit of change in the wind. As we send off two of our current Pachuca staff members along with a team of new additions to Mexico City, we continue to ask for your prayers for guidance, as it’s no small thing to go up against many of the giants of the City. During this time, we will be supporting the MegaCities ministry while furthering current ministry, and thousands of youth and teams will be sent into the city next year as a part of this effort.

The base will continue to run in Pachuca, although with a few changes as God calls us back to the heart of discipleship. We foresee a lot of partnership in helping with local youth groups, following up with the “Urban Challenge,” and continuing to extend God’s kingdom here in the area. There is also a music project in the works, led by Ricardo, which will form a worship team and record. We hope to run another DTS in the summer, and trust that God will provide the necessary staff and students. Please join us as we seek God in this new phase of YWAM Pachuca.

We truly appreciate you and wish you could be here to see the awesome wonders God daily does in our midst with your own eyes.

With love in Christ,