**CLICK BELOW FOR LETTER FOR BAJA CA TRIP ON 1/14-1/15
Pastor Kevin Ibanez joined Pastor Art Valadez and Chaplain Jim Coyle on a missions exploration trip to Mexico. Kevin filed this report:
"As we drove into the dusty little town of Erendira, Baja California, little did we know what lied ahead of us. It had been a pleasant 2-hour ride down from Ensenada full of good conversations. We arrived at this small fishing village, a town of about 3,000 souls, with no stop lights and one cell phone tower. The main road into town was paved; all the other roads in town were unpaved and full of potholes and ruts, which made getting from one side of town to another feel like we were on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. Brother Tony led us across the dry riverbed into the "barrio" of Erendira. This was the tougher side of town, where he and Brother Carlos have been doing the majority of their missionary work in this community. The housing in this community was even more ramshackled than what we saw in the town of Erendira proper.
We arrived at a small house, no more than 800 square feet in size, and were welcomed warmly by the homeowners. The unfinished 
floors, lack of indoor plumbing, and "character building" outhouse in the yard were reminders to me and the rest of our group of how truly "rich" and blessed we are to live in the USA. Yes, despite the physical poverty, the host family exuded spiritual wealth, as they were so gracious and friendly. As Pastor Art Valadez was about to lead us in an impromptu Bible study, Brother Tony pointed out some cabinets that were in the modest kitchen of the house. Tony said that these cabinets were the cabinets that were in what is now the Chapel at Sunrise Mission and that he had brought them down to bless this famly a few months back. As I got closer and took a picture of these ugly brown cabinets, which I'm sure was ticketed to go to the local landfill, I realized how sovereign God is. I remember using these cabinets to store stuff for our children and youth during the years I was the youth pastor at what is now Sunrise Mission, and thought, "Wow, God here they are, these old cabinets, being recycled to bless this family and as this family hosts Bible studies and other gatherings, they will be used to further Your kingdom here in Erendira."
What a great reminder of how our generous and sacrificial giving can affect people beyond our scope of understanding and can be used to further God's kingdom for generations to come. I'm almost positive that the members of what was then Grace Community Church of Rialto installed these cabinets at least 30-40 years ago. I'm also definitely sure that never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that the cabinets they gave sacrifically would someday be in a family's kitchen in Baja, CA furthering God's kingdom and blessing a fellow Christian family as they strive to reach their community for Christ."
Pastor Kevin Ibanez