A Letter From My New Friend Justin...

Dear Ventana,

Where do I begin? What do I say? How do I say it? Well I’ll start by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! My time at Ventana Ministries was undoubtedly the most paramount time in my life thus far. I went into my mission trip with the idea that I would be helping or changing the lives of others less fortunate. However, I quickly learned that it was not the less fortunate people who were getting helped, because they were already happy and content, but it was me who had an awakening in my life. I had many a good talk with the Ventanaro's and many of the staff members at Ventana. All of which had a major impact on my perspective of the Christian faith. I have a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I use in my day-to-day life that helps me not loose sight of the greater picture in my life. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” That very quote was personified within myself as I searched my soul to accept Christianity as my faith. My eyes in a sense were opened to what the bible calls the “truth.” I have so much more to learn and discover about my own relation with God. I will come to the Ventana family for any questions I may have, but O also urge you to ask me questions!!! I will answer:) I found myself on Saturday sitting in the van waiting to leave with tears running down my cheeks. I felt as though I was leaving something that I was not ready to leave but most of all that my heart did not want to leave. I write to you all today Monday the 23rd with that same feeling of heartache. I can not thank you all so much for helping me but most of all I can't express the respect, love and hope that I have for all of you. You all have a gift. You were all brought to Ventana not just because your common love and faith in God, but because God has assembled one of the most amazing group of people in a small town in Baja California. Porvenir, Mexico.

Love
Justin Velazquez.
Please forward to all Ventanaro's and Ventana staff.

Week 2

Well, we just finished our first Camp Ventana. It was only a weekend long, but it was still tiring. It was cool getting to know the kids from Temecula Creek Christian Church. I was in charge of painting a mural in the nursery. We got most of it done but us Ventaneros are going to have to finish it. I think the highlight of my week would be hanging out with a local teen named Tatan. Sam, Ian, and I are becoming really close with him. He is like our brotha! :) It is so weird how time flies by. We have 12 days before our Culiacan trip. I am very excited, but right after that we have a week long Camp Ventana. I hope that we aren't exhausted. So, we have enforced the no sarcasm rule. Our punishment? 20 push ups a comment. It sucked at first, but now I have just been doing push ups for fun...and I have cut out the sarcasm. I am having a really good time here in El Porvenir. Well, that's all I have for this week. I should have more next week. I love and miss you all. Peace out!

La Primera Semana en Mexico

WOW!!! It is so fun. So, what have we done you might ask? On Wednesday, we left for Tijuana for a Culture Immersion Seminar. We met the staff from Baja Bible and they are pretty cool. We stayed in a castle, castillo en Espanol. I learned a lot about the culture I am going to be living in for the next 5 months. I think the best part so far has been meeting the local teens in El Porvenir. Us guys went to a youth conference our first night back from Tijuana with a group of the teenage guys and it was a lot of fun. It was hard understanding the service, it was entirely in Spanish. That's the night I got my nickname. Cunado! It means brother-in-law. The guys here are awesome. they are very inviting. We played soccer with them on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. Today, we went to Casa de Gabriel and met the kids we will be spending time with for the next 5 months. They are great. I will put pictures up soon. Casa de Gabriel is an orphange that have disabilities. It is going to be an amazing experience. Oh yeah, one more thing. Last night we were told some new rules for this term. No sarcasm, no asking why, and no being late. I like all the rules but it is going to be hard for me with the sarcasm. Their purpose is so we dont tear eachother down. I agree, please be praying that my heart can be softened so I can see how sarcasm can hurt others. Also, please be in prayer for Tetan, a local teenage boy, that is wanting to go to Culiacan with us. He needs the money and I know God will provide. I want to say hello to my sister, Emily. She is getting married in 4 months. Pray that her stresses are eased. I love you sis! I will post again next week. Love you all!

PS- The picture is Michaelene and I in Tijuana...on a donkey! haha!

The Night Before Mexico...

Well, here it is, the night before I leave. It has been a very stressful weekend. Last minute homework, last minute packing, and last minute goodbyes! It started Friday when I had my shared birthday party with my friend Elizabeth. Unfortunatley, I was hit with food poisoning that morning, so I was very out of it the whole day. On Saturday, and today, I finished up my homework. I read the rest of a book called, The Mexicans. It was pretty good. I didn't start packing until 3pm today, but I soon found out that I had lost the list that told me what I had already sent down. I finished up packing at about 9:30pm, right after I went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for my early birthday dinner. After I packed I went to Applebee's to see some friends for one last time. Wow... this is really happening. Keep me in your prayers, and I will do the same. I plan on updating this everytime time I get internet. I love you all and will for sure see you all in June! Peace out!