Craig Johring

I have changed the place I share updates and stories. I now post stories on the front page of CraigJohring.com

This is my last post here. 

Jarah and Ann came to Mexico City in September to work with me. Yesterday they finished their 8 months in Mexico City. They have two weeks at home in Nebraska before leaving from Juneau, Alaska where they will spend the summer leading the Campus Cr. Summer Project.

 

Jarah and Ann lived in an apartment across from mine that we called the Tree House. They joined me each day in the Tracker went to endless meetings to work on transformation plans. On days when we were not traveling around the city, they were writing and designing, or serving around the city.

 

Jarah and Ann came to Mexico City at the perfect time. They helped bring definition and structure to our Revive organization, and they designed the website, logo, materials, and Revive t-shirt.

 

They listened to my stories, sometimes for hours when we were trapped in Mexico City traffic, and they introduced me to The Office, and then listened to more stories sparked by my wondering if the characters on The Office are based on people that I know.

 

The past eight months have been some of the most productive and most amazing times of moving forward in mission. My friends called Jarah and Ann the "angels" because they are so nice and always ready to help with every task. They did an amazing job, and this these past months have been so much fun.

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the past months I've been meeting with Lupillo to help start a shelter and rehab center to reach out to some of the poorest of the poor in Mexico City; the homeless, street kids, addicts, and handicapped. One of the goals we had was to find a computer to use for communication with donors and to work on the non-profit organization we are starting. 

 

During the week of Easter I introduced my sister-in-law Tina to Lupillo. Tina was touched to hear Lupillo's testimony of spending 13 years as an drug and alcohol addict, many times living on the street or in jail before Christ changed his life. Today he is helping others find the same hope and freedom. After meeting with Lupillo we made a stop at a Mexico City Best Buy where Tina purchased a computer for Lupillo. The computer is small and portable with all the features he needs. Lupillo was full of joy to receive the computer, and now is moving forward with the plans for the center.

 

Thank you Tina for impacting lives in Mexico City!

   

Today we connected 12 of the street kids we work with with a drop-in day shelter where street kids can come for food, a shower, or social activities.

 

Getting the kids to the shelter was challenging. First we had to convince the kids to go. Then we had to move 12 kids through the metro system without getting separated. People by the thousands stared as we moved through the metro. The smell of the kids and their drugs is pretty shocking if you are not accustomed to it. When the police were going to arrest the kids, we intervened to explained that we were on our way to a shelter. These kids are some of the poorest of the poor. They are outcasts with no future or hope. But they are human beings who matter to God.

 

When we arrived at the shelter Ann, Jarah, Kat, and I breathed a sigh of relief. We made it without losing anyone. Ann said remarked that moving the kids through the streets and metro was like herding cats.

 

At the shelter the kids checked their drug inhalants at the door (picture below). Some took a shower. Some received a haircut. Everyone sat down and ate a good meal.

 

Unless God touches the lives of these kids, the drugs and life on the street will take their lives. Some of the kids indicated they might return to the shelter. One boy wants to return tomorrow. The shelter is connected with Hovde House which is a Christian ministry. Hovde is one the 20 homes in the city for street kids and women who have been trafficked. If this kid makes a decision to be drug free, he could enter the home where he will have a whole new life.

 

These kids are never far from my thoughts, and my prayers. I pray these kids will  return to the shelter, and have the courage to face their fears and leave the street.

               

 

 

 

 

 

Luis Perez was a med student 12 years ago in Oaxaca when we started a Bible study in his department. I worked with Luis when I lived and worked in Oaxaca. The Bible study is still going today after all these years.

 

After 12 years of Medical school and training, Luis is now an Orthopedic Surgeon in Oaxaca.  Luis finished his education by attending a a year-long training program at the Shriner's Hospital in Mexico City. Nikki Jefferson, and I joined Luis and his family as he received his certification from Shriner's Hospital. Nikki was a student on the Summer Project 12 years ago and today lives in Mexico City.

         

There is a restaurant 6 hours south of Mexico City on the fringes of Oaxaca that serves steaks from Nebraska. The steak was world-class and amazing.

 

Oaxaca is known for having some of the greatest food in Mexico. From the tlayudas, to the tamales, to the late night mango pie that Dorothy made and served, during our time in Oaxaca we feasted on some of the greatest food of Mexico!

         

A great benefit of living in Mexico is the beaches. I've been telling Jarah and Ann all year about my favorite beach, a surfing beach on the coast of Oaxaca. We finally made it there.

 

Puerto Escondido was a dusty little surfing village the first time I went there with a Summer Project a number of years ago. It has progressively grown more modern and even cooler. Ann got up on her board on her first day of surfing. We had 3 amazing days and enjoyed every sundown and every second at the beach.

         

Neil Nellis has been a hero of mine for the past 14 years. We met when I was taking college students to Oaxaca, Mexico on mission trips. He was one of the first Bible translators to come from the USA to Mexico. He translated the Bible into one of the native languages of Mexico.

 

We were in Oaxaca and stayed with the Case's, my great friends and Neil's daughter. Mr. Nellis is going strong at the age of 94, continually working on an updated translation of the Bible, and publishing Bibles for an indigenous Church. We had such a great time connecting with with the Case's and Neil.

   

 

Chris was an all-star who came down to Mexico City to work with me during my time here with Crusade. Before coming to Mexico he completed an internship at the White House. Chris is back in Mexico City for the weekend with his fiancee. Today we visited the Pyramids and caught up. I think the world of Chris. The impact he made during his time here continues.

 
    

I was invited to a chairity fundraising event here in Mexico City. A photographer from a newspaper was there to take pictures for the VIP section of the important and famous people.  I don't fit in either category, but a week ago the photos were in the paper.  I spent that evening in the company of some really cool people who are making a difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor through their giving and helping.

 

At the conference in Houston that I attended over 2 1/2 million people from around the world who were seraching for God visited one of the websites being promoted. That is impressive, but what won me over is the results from the screen shot below of the countries visiting the sites:

 

This weekend I was in Houston to witness a piece of history. What would happen if ads were placed on search engines and websites to connect with the people searching on the internet for God. Here is an example of one of the 150 or so websites that were advertised:  Disaster.Godlife.com

 

Thousands of dollars were spent to advertise on Google. The results blew my mind. In two days 2 1/2 million people visited one of the advertised sites and and almost 30,000 people asked to be contacted over email.

 

I'm a skeptic of lives changed in isolation. It's easy to click on a website saying that you want to commit your life to God.  What I get excited about is when people are searching for answers and connect with a person, and are followed up. A relationship is established and mentoring takes place. That's really cool.

 

The organization doing this is called Global Media Outreach.  Anyone with a computer can be involved in following people up from around the world by visiting their website and fill out an application. Below are screen shots from the weekend.

 

I was in Houston for three days this weekend for a Global Media Outreach conference. Like me, Global Media broke off from Campus Cr sade to work under their own separate non-profit. They are using the internet for sharing the message of Jesus with people. We have a vision and plan for bringing the outreach and resources of this organization to Mexico and Latin America. If your heart is evangelism and discipleship, and you are looking for a place to plug into the lives of people right where you live, check out their website and fill out the application to become an Online Missionary. Thousands of people every day request follow-up through one of the over 100 websites the Global Media organization has on the internet. If you become an Online Missionary, the organization will connect you every day with people to follow up and potentially disciple over email.

 

 

Last night on the top floor of the tallest building in Latin America, the business leaders group that I'm a part of held its' bi-annual outreach. A group of friends and I  started this group 2 years ago. The turnout was good and the speaker who came from Canada did a great job. The president of Campus Cr sade of Canada (CCC) came with the speaker. This in turn resulted in some of the CCC staff from Puebla, Mexico driving into the city to attend our event. It was awesome to welcome these CCC guys I used to work with back into my world.

 

 

For three years it's been a goal to climb to the top of the Mexico City Angel of Independence. The top is only open for a few hours a week, on Saturdays and Sundays. On four separate occasions I've been turned away. On the most recent we waited for 2 hours and was next in line to go up when a group 12 protesters decided to start their protest at that very moment and they closed the Angel for the day.

 

Jonathan, a college student from Texas, has been here this week shadowing me in the work that I do during his Spring Break. This morning we had the greatest Oaxacan tamales in Mexico City that are sold one block north of the Angel of Independence. Then we climbed the Angel.

 

It was an amazing experience and worth the 3 year wait to see Mexico City from the top of the Angel.

This is the 2nd of 3 weeks where all or part of our Revive staff are hosting Spring Breakers in Mexico City. This week we have just one. Jonathan, a student from Tarleton, Texas is here this week. This is Jonathan's 3rd Spring Break trip to Mexico City to work with us. This year he's staying here at my place (Kamp Eduardo). Every evening so far we've finished the say with a visit to one of my favorite burger stands.

 

These kids don't have families. Most lived on the street. Most were on drugs. All have found a new life at one of the 20 Safe Houses in Mexico City who are rescuing kids from being trafficked, exploited, or abused.

 

Yesterday we held a birthday party for the kids celebrating their birthdays this month and last. The Wayne State College Spring Breakers were here and were a big hit with the kids.

 

These kids have captured our hearts and we cannot spend enough time with them. A highlight was seeing a kid at the Safe House who we met on the street two weeks ago and encoaurged him to leave the street.

       

Today we played the audio Bible for the community of drug-addicted, homeless street kids that we’ve adopted and love.  Almost instantly the kids dropped to their knees when whey heard the audio Bible in their language. They hardly moved while they listened to the first 10 chapters of Gospel of John.

 

We are working alongside of the organization Faith Comes by Hearing to put the dramitized audio Bible within arms-reach of people in Mexico in their own language. Faith Comes by Hearing has a cool listening divice called the Mini Proclaimer that we used today with the street kids.

 

It was so amazing to see these kids listen to the Bible today for the first time and witness the Word of God moving into their lives.

   

Valentine's Day at Kamp Eduardo

   

It is my joy to work with three of the most amazing leaders who have came to Mexico City to work with me. We all live on the same street. The girls have 2 apartments in the "Tree House" across the street from Kamp Eduardo where I live. It boggles my mind what these guys accomplish every day, and it blows me away how much fun every day is them here. 

 

Kat Returns To Mexico City

 

Kat finally is back in Mexico City! She rented an apartment, and is living on our street one floor down from Ann and Jarah. We've been waiting for here arrival expand our university initiatives.  I worked with Kat from 2006-2009 here in Mexico City. During her time in the USA she completed her Masters in International Development. She has returned with a vision, and passion for empowering students, and caring for the poorest of the poor. Kat is engaged to Oscar who she met on her first day on campus in 2006.

 

The pictures below are from the past October when I visited Kat and her family in Cape Cod. 

   

Thank You YWAM For Two Amazing 2 Years in Mexico City

 

Over this past year Youth With A Mission has brought 1050 short term missionaries to Mexico City from around the world. Their strategy was called "Megacities". They came from a multitude of countries. The majority I met were from Australia. Many fresh out of high school or college, however many were from other stages of life. Most came to serve in Mexico City for 2 1/2 months. They slept on the floors of churches and almost never rented hotel rooms. These guys are amazing.

 

The Megacities strategy ends at the end of February and the last wave of workers have finished their time here. For the past 2 years I have scheduled my calendar around serving YWAM and their strategy whenever they needed me.

 

The first call from Australia came over 2 years ago. I might have been the first person outside of their organization they talked to in Mexico. I was captivated by the vision and what I heard. The person calling from Australia told me that God had spoken to them so clearly they were to come to Mexico City that they would be in disobedience if they did not come here. From the very beginning they made it very clear to me that if they came to Mexico City for a year they would bring together and work alongside the Body of Christ in Mexico, including both Evangelicals and Catholics. It seemed like a dream that God called this organization to come to Mexico City.

 

During the past 2 years I helped by connecting pastors and leaders with the leaders of Megacities. Leaders came from Austraila to set up Megacities during the year leading up to the strategy. I spent countless days driving the leaders around the city to meetings, searching out venues for meeting, going meetings, picking up teams from the airport, etc. I loved every opportunity to serve these guys during the past 2 years.

 

In the end, Megacities played a great part in mobilizing churches to think outside of their walls and to be concerned about their neighbors. The teams who came and the leaders I had the opportunity to meet were amazing. For 2+ months they had no other job than to step into the lives of people in the city. Some of my favorite stories are from the teams who served day after day in the city dumps and were welcomed as insiders to serve and help the people living in the dumps.

 

Megacities fell short in their initial plans of bringing together and mobilizing the Body of Christ to work together, but they excelled in impacting the lives of the 1050 workers who came here from around the world, and they excelled in impacting the lives of tens of thousands of people they reached out to and served in the city during this past year. In addition, the hundreds of churches who participated in hosting or working alongside of the teams were blessed in great ways.

 

The pictures below are from a booklet summarizing the Megacities year in Mexico City.

   



 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 51 Floors Above Mexico City

 

Close to 2 years ago a group of 3 friends and I started a Christians in Business group. The group meets for breakfast once a month in a conference room on the top floor of the Torre Mayor, the tallest building in Latin America.

 

This past year we started a partnership with a Canadian business ministry called Priority Associates. Twice a year these Canadians fly south to Mexico City where we hold an event to invite friends and associates. Our last event was in November. The next outreach will take place on March 23rd. The venue of the top of the Torre Mayor overlooking the city is one of the coolest places to hold a meeting, and few turn down an invitation to come to an event in this location.

 

I'm working alongside of my friend Agustin who is has been my long-term mentor. Agustin is the National Director in Mexico for Priority Associates. One of the goals we have this coming year is to launch a parallel businessman's group made up of CEO's and Senior management from non-Evangelical backgrounds. 

   

Mexico National Prayer Network Gathers in Mexico City

 

A week ago church leaders from around the country of Mexico gathered to pray together. Jarah, Ann, and I are members of this group. The first meeting took place in November when the organizataion that puts on the National Day of Prayer came down from the USA.

 

Seeing these pastors and leaders come together is what we have dreamed and prayed for. I believe Mexico will be transformed and impacted as the Body of Christ comes together as one. (John 17)  Several hundred of these leaders have crossed donominational lines and are experiencing tremendous unity. This is a great start.

 

We have far to go. The pastors who bring to chofar's to these meetings have got to learn how play them on key, and this group of Christian leaders need to continue to invite the whole body of Christ to join with them, not just church leaders with a similar doctrine.

 

This past week I had meeting with a church leader where we began to plan for an  ecumentical meeting in October or November that bring together thousands of Christ-followers from Christian faiths/denominations to begin to work together.

 

 Mexico Human Trafficking

  

An international new agency reported on Human Trafficking on Mexico. The report spotlights a leader and one of the safe homes we are working with in Mexico City.

 

This video does a great job of sharing the horrors of human trafficking without re-exploiting the girls, or spotlighting one particular person or organization. There are twenty organizations in Mexico City similar to the safe home featured in the video. More safe houses need to be started as we seek to see slavery and human trafficked ended in Mexico.  Watch the video here.

Nebraska Campus Update

 

Brady Cone serves with Nebraska Cataltyic and coaches a number of college campuses in Nebraska. Brady's an amazing leader and is doing an amazing job. Recently Brady  was honored by having his story shared to all the campus staff within his national organization as a model for others to follow. Way to go Brady! I asked Brady if I  could share his story. Here it is:

 

"Chadron State College is a small school of 2500 students in rural northwest Nebraska. I serve on the Nebraska Catalytic team and CSC is my most distant college, being eight hours away. Many people think it is crazy that we are trying to reach a college that far away….but it works when God is at work there!
  
Last spring the group was about dead, with only 15 students involved. So in April I, along with a few of my fellow staff went to CSC to surface new leaders. In less than 24 hours on campus we surfaced and put together a new leadership team of 9 student leaders, each with a huge heart to see God move on their campus!
  
After one training retreat over the summer, I headed to Chadron for the first week of class to re-launch our ministry. Our FSK table netted over 200 contacts on the first day of classes, all of whom were followed up with in the next 48 hours. To our surprise, over 100 students showed up for the first weekly meeting! Having 12 other campuses to attend to, I handed the ministry over to the new leadership team and left at the end of the week.
   
A month later I headed back to Chadron to help the leaders with an event hosting 9/11 survivor Sujo John. The day of the event, my heart sank. So many students were sick with the flu, the school was canceling classes! We just knew no one was going to show up to hear Sujo. We prayed and turned it over to the Lord knowing His will would be done.
  
At the time of the event people started flooding the Ballroom to hear Sujo. We packed the largest room on campus with over 400 students! Sujo shared his story and explained how to begin a relationship with Jesus. Over 100 students made decisions for Christ! Over the next 3 weeks, a local pastor and the 9 student leaders personally followed up with over 200 students!
   
Wow! In 5 months we have gone from a dead group to a thriving movement with 100 new believers. Over 400 students have heard the Gospel and over 15 small group movements have started all over campus! And it's all happening on a campus eight hours away from the nearest staff! God is working in such miraculous ways to build His Kingdom and it is such a blessing to be a part of it!"

 

Kanagy In Mexico City

  

Ryan came with me to Alaska for the summer project in 2004. Today we met for lunch in Mexico City. Ryan is here on an Youth With A Mission project under the Megacities strategy. Ryan has been working with YWAM in Australia, and came to Mexico City on a 6 week missions project. Ryan is in on of the last waves of the 1000 Megacities volunteers who have came here from around the world during this past year.

 

We went out to lunch at restaurant named Wings. Apprently Ryan is not a big wings guy. He ordered nachos. It gave me great joy to connect with Rayn seven years after coming to Alaska, and see his growth, focus, and vision for the future. Way to go Ryan! 

 

200,000 Human Trafficking Victims In The USA

To get involved in the movement to end modern day slavery and human trafficking I recommend connecting with Not For Sale. In October I attended the Not For Sale Global Forum on Human Trafficking in California. Watch this CBS interview with the co-founder of Not For Sale to hear about the 200,000 people who have been trafficked in the USA: David Batstone interview

 

March 13, 2011 is Freedom Sunday sponsored by Not For Sale. As of right now over 1600 churches have signed up to participate. Sign up your church today at FreedomSunday.org.  We are promoting Freedom Sunday in Mexico and hope to have thousands of churches praying and sharing about modern day slavery on that day.

 

The Eagles at Kamp Ed Tormenting Ducks and Geese

 

We have 11 eagles at Kamp Ed this winter. Today the island in front of Kamp Ed was home to 200 geese and ducks. The eagles were constantly flying in low to torment the ducks and geese. The non-stop drama was fascinating. In the picture below three eagles have corralled the geese into a group as they sat nearby.

 

Many are not aware that eagles love to feast on migrating waterfoul. There's a guy in Blair who takes amazing pictures of eagles feeding on ducks, geese, and muskrats. Click on this link and check out his amazing eagle pictures:  ExtremeInstability.com  

 

Chilean Miners Changed Lives 

Here is a cool article on the changed lives of the men trapped in the Chlean mine. While in the mine the leader of George Phillips' team/country in Chile started communicating with the miners, and sent down spiritual resources. George and I worked together for several years in Nebraska before he moved to Chile. This past February George came up from Chile to Acapulco to marry his bride he met a number of years ago when George and I went to Acapulco to coach a group of university student leaders.

 

The person commicating with with the miners who who sent down the t-shirts the miners wore coming out the mine is married to Blanca. In 1996 I took a Summer Project to Xalapa, Mexico. One day during the summer in Xalapa we met Blanca while on an outreach to talk with students on a university campus. Blanca got involved with the Christ-centered student organization we started in Xalapa. Later she married Christian from Chile.

 

Way to go George, Blanca, and Christian! The t-shirts the miners wore coming out the mine were viewed by a billion people watching the live broadcast, and they've continued to spark countless conversations around the planet.

 

Check out this article called What These Miners Found on the changed lives of the miners.

Thanksgiving at Kamp Eduardo

My neighbors fixed my favorite food for an amazing Thanksgiving meal, but on the way home from spending time with street kids the 20 minute drived turned into 2 hours of being trapped in traffic. It was torture to wait----but we finally around around 8:00 p.m. Ann and Jarah baked an apple pie. Each person shared three things they are thankful for---and we had an amazing time.

 

Julie With Street Kids

Julie is a hero of Kamp Ed and now she is a hero at Kamp Eduardo.  For the past eight years Julie has invested a year teaching a 5th grade sunday school class. After a year in Julie's class, these kids come to Kamp Ed on a missions trip. Every year has been amazing. This fall the first group of 5th graders who came to Kamp Ed entered college and now these from 5th graders are making a great impact in college. That gives me great joy!

  

Over Thanksgiving Julie spent her dollars and time to bring Jared to Mexico City to serve the poorest of the poor. In each community the street kids absolutly loved her. Almost all of the street kids wanted their picture taken with her because they want copies of the picture so they can remember her. That's so cool. 

Jared Brought 73 Sweatshirts to Mexico City :

Over Thanksgiving break my friend Julie from Kearney came down and brought 16-year-old Jared to Mexico City to serve the poorest of the poor.

 

The nights are cold in Mexico City, and kids living on the street shared with me their need for sweatshirts to stay warm. Jared and his twin sister Calla shared the need through facebook and text messages. People dropped by sweatshirts. Jared's sister packed and organized the sweatshirts. Jared brought down 73 sweatshirts plus money to buy blankets. We gave the sweatshirts away in three communities of street kids on Thanksgiving Day, and later purchased 2 shopping carts full of blankets for the street kids.

 

Jared, amd Calla has been to Kamp Ed a number of times since when they came as 5th graders. Jared and his sister are amazing. It blows my mind to think that 16-year-olds from Kearney would take on a project like this to bring hope and comfort to kids living on the streets of Mexico City. The lives of these kids were touched by a 16-year-old who came to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

         





 

 

Thanksgiving Day with Homeless Street Kids

  

 

I had had my neighbor prepare amazing food from her kitchen. We loaded my Tracker up with the food, and 73 jackets on Thanksgiving morning to spend the day with homeless street kids. Our goal was to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We spent the day sharing food, jackets, and praying for kids in 3 homeless communities.

 

These kids have captured my heart, and at the same time they tear out my heart. As soon as they wake up on the street each day they begin inhaling a solvent cleaner that instantly gets them high. The chemicals ease their hunger pains but it destroys their bodies.  They are often sick. I prayed for a 17-year old with a painful tumor he has developed on his back. In the first community we visited kid named Juan who is my favorite was so sick that could not get up. These kids are not animals but human beings made in the image of God. Sadly, their life spans are at the most around five more years when they start inhaling chemicals and living on the street.

 

What tore out my heart on Thanksgiving Day was to hear these kids pray. Before the meal we circled up to pray. Spontaneously, one by one, these kids poured out their hearts to God. They did not pray for themselves. They prayed for the sick in their group, and prayed for the other kids living on the streets of Mexico City. They prayed for God to send these kids someone like us to help feed and care for them.

 

My hope is to someday see Christ-followers in Mexico City being the hands and feet of Jesus to the 20,000 street kids in the city. Why is no one helping these kids? I don't know how to mobilize people to join in, but I know how to mobilize my friends. These kids need food, blankets, jackets, and care. At least once or twice a week it is my goal to spend a day taking friends with me to serve the poorest of the poor on the streets of Mexico City.

                 

Nineteen Former Street Kids Celebrate Their Quinceañera (15th Birthday)

 

One Monday we celebrated the birthday's of 19 young women. All live in the home of one of the organizations we work with in Mexico City. All of these girls were homeless, sleeping on the street, and many were addicted to dangerous inhalants before making the choice to come off the street.

 

The Quinceañera is similar to a wedding. It's a day-long celebration starting with a church service. Girls in Mexico look forward to it their whole life. One of the benefactors of the home shared how this birthday party was doing the work of 20 psychiatrists in they ways these girls were being honored and believing they have great value.

 

These kids have stolen our hearts. They are living out the message of Jesus. The lost have been found.  These young women had no hope, but now they have a future. 

 

We had a blast connecting with the kids at the party. Without their birth fathers present, I danced with the girls in the place of their dads. That was cool.

             

Mexico Celebrates 100 Today

  

Today is the 100 anniversary of the Mexico Revolution. Peyton who came to Alaska with me twice and led the men's Foxtrot Project arrived yesterday. Along with Ann and Jarah, we celebrated with the greatest tacos in the world at Torito Feiz and Huequito, followed with churros and hot chocolate at El Muro-----and attended an amazing (but way to long) light show with over 100,000 of people packed wall to wall in the city center (the Zocolo).

 

Hopeless Kids in Mexico Can Have Hope

Yesterday we witnessed the gospel being played out. Kids in a hopeless situation now have hope. They graduated from an Operation Blessing training school.

 

In Mexico there are 7 million kids between the ages of 13-17 who have dropped out of school who have no jobs, and have little opportunity for getting a job. Many of these kids will live their lives in poverty as a result. I see it every day in my neighborhood in Mexico City. Kids fall behind in school and drop out. The schools are overcrowded. Only a third of the kids in my neighborhood who enter high school graduate. If 2/3rd of the kids did not drop of of school there would not be the teachers or space in the school. Generation Ni Ni is a label that mean these 7 million kids have no work and no education.

  

Without a high school diploma in Mexico you cannot even get a job pumping gas. Few opportunities exist for the uneducated.

 

My friend Scott is the national director of Operation Blessing. This organization is amazing. Scott has started a program for taking kids from Generation Ni Ni and teaching them a job skill.

 

Today Jarah, Ann, and I attended the graduation of the first Operation Blessing class of students who have went through a three month course to learn a job skill. Three of the kids who finished the 3-month course have jobs they will start tomorrow. This was the pilot program. Two more schools will open in January.

 

The school uses classrooms in churches for the courses. The graduation today took place at a church in Mexico City where the classes were held. The pastor from the church spoke at the graduation, and the students through taking classes at the church were connected to their local church. That rocks!

 

Students graduating today completed a 3-month course in manicure or electricity. They wore a cap and gowns to receive their diploma (reconocimiento). For the first time in their lives they were honored with a higher education dipolma. I was moved to see their parents. They came wearing their most formal attire, and were beaming with pride for their kids. It was the gospel lived out. Kids who had no hope now had hope. With their diploma and job skills these kids have the potential for getting a job.

 

Operation Blessing gave each of the graduates a gift. The guys graduating with an electrity degree received a tool kit with essential wiring tools. The women received a kit with the tools for doing manicures.

 

For those without jobs in their field, a course on micro finance will start this coming week to equip graduates to start their own business.

 

In January two more schools will open in churches. Many churches sit empty during the week. There is a church in every neighborhood in Mexico. Almost every one of the 7 million kids without an education or a job lives a few blocks from a church. If Operation Blessing has the resources they will open thousands of schools in churches to train students and change their lives, and these students will be connected with a local church in the process. This is amazing! 

Mexico City Street Kids

 

Today after church we took blankets and food to a group of 17 street kids. These kids are freezing at night, hungry during the day, and high on inhalants most the time. There are 20,000 kids living on the streets of Mexico City. The kids live in groups of small communities in parks, under bridges, in drainage pipes, and near metro stops. At a meeting this past week I met a lady who twice a week takes food and prayer to groups of street kids. I asked her to take me to the kids she is ministering to.

 

We bought two chickens, tortillas, and soda. I had 18 blankets in my Tracker that were remaining from blankets I bought from a gift to give to kids and moms in another community of homeless people. The temperature in Mexico City has dropped into 30's and 40's on many night and will continue from November through February. Most of the kids had only one blanket and are too cold to sleep at night.

 

My friend is like a mom to these kids. We gave each a blanket, fed them, prayed with each one, and ministered to their needs. When we arrived every one of the kids were sleeping on the concrete. When we woke them up they were not yet high on inhalants.

 

The group of 17 are like a family and watch out for each other. They were happy to receive a blanket and food. They shared how much it meant to them that we cared. I spent the afternoon sitting with them and hearing about their lives. I was moved to hear the 17-year old leader of the group say that no one but my friend ever spends time with them and cares for them. Two of the kids were very sick. We purchased medicine at a near-by pharmacy for them.

 

These kids are not animals, but human beings created by God. They have dreams of living in a home with a job and a family. But they are trapped in an endless cycle of alcohol and inhalants with no opportunity to leave the street. The average life-expectancy of a kid living on the street and inhaling a solvent cleaner is five years. My friend is raising funds to open a home for street kids where they can enter when they are ready to leave the street and have their lives transformed by Christ. In Mexico City there are 20 orphanages, homes for young kids, and shelters for women who have been trafficked, but no homes or government programs for older kids living on the street.

 

I'll go back next week. The kids asked if I could find then sweaters to wear in the evenings when it is cold. They asked if I could find a small tv they can plug in and watch soccer games. I have friends coming from Kearney over Thanksgiving. I will ask them to look for pull over sweaters and hoodies at Good Will or the Salvation Army to bring down. On Thanksgiving Day we will take the kids food and sweaters.  

 

There is another community of 50 street kids that my friend visits. A warm blanket costs six dollars here in Mexico City. I want to put together the funds to buy blankets to take these kids blankets this coming week.

 

I know I cannot help all 20,000 kids on the street but my calling is to work with university students, corporate leaders, organizations, and churches to bring transformation to Mexico City. During this coming year we will expand our college groups to more university campuses to be a part of mobilizing a generation of college students to step lives of people in Mexico City.

 

Millions of people living comfortably in Mexico City pass by the poorest of the poor each day and either look the other way, or do not know what to do. When the gospel is lived out in Mexico City there will still be the poor, but the poor will have people reaching out to them to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

 

In the pictures below where kids have their hand to their mouth, they are inhaling a solvent. Almost immediate after we woke the kids, they dipped napkins in a cleaner and began inhaling it.

It Never Does Not Rain in Southern California

 

When I arrived in LA one week ago it was raining. One week later it was still trying to rain. Today on my last day in CA the sun shone for the first time. This has been Alaska weather.

 

Despite the rain my time, my time CA has been amazing. After the Global Forum on Human Trafficking I had spent time with Milissa and her family, friends, and pastors. Melissa is coming to Mexico City to work with me. My commitment this year with those who come to Mexico City to work with me full time is to visit their home towns and speak on their behalf. Tomorrow I'm headed to Boston to visit Kat and meet with her family, friends, and church(s), before returning to Mexico City.

 

Here in CA I've had a blast seeing my brother and family, my aunt and uncle, my nephew and family, and spend time with amazing friends like Tworek.   
 

Melissa from Long Beach, CA

 

A commitment I have to my staff is that if they are coming to work with me, I will visit their hometown to meet their family, pastors, and friends to bring support and encourgement. Melissa is from Long Beach, and is coming to Mexico City to work with my organization full time. She has already logged two amazing years in Mexico City. I like who Melissa is and how she touches the lifes of everyone around her. Melissa has a really cool family, and amazing friends. I enjoyed being in California and meeting with her pastors, family and friends. Right now Melissa is working on her fund-raising and will arrive in Mexico City when this is completed.  Click here to follow Melissa or give to her ministry.

 

Slavery Found Me

I was not looking for it, but from the day I arrived in Mexico City four years ago I saw slavery around me. The 14 year old prositute standing alongside the street as I drove by. Who would ever think that a 14-year old girl would desire to sell herself 20-30 times a day. In one way or another she was tricked into coming to Mexico City and one day woke up in chains. Her story is told in 20,000 different ways by 20,000 different people in the country of Mexico each year.

 

The stories do not stop. Around the world some say there are 27 million living in slavery. These are human beings make in God's image who are owned. Many are kids.

 

On Wednesday I attended a gathering of leaders 300 leaders from Mexico City. The wife of the President of Mexico spoke and gave her support to seeing human trafficking ended in Mexico.  A movement to end human trafficking that was started by a friend in Mexico City is gaining momentum. After this meeting I flew to Los Angeles.

 

For the past two days I attended the Global Forum on Human Trafficking sponsored by Not For Sale. The meeting was unprecidented in its' scope where the leaders and organizations committed to ending human trafficking from the USA and the around the world came together to collaborate, connect, and resolve to change the world by seeing the 27 million people living in slavery freed within the coming 25 years. 

 

What struck me was the belief, the energy, the belief that this movement will grow to change the world.  The founder and director of Not For Sale will come to Mexico City in February. We are moving forward in developing the structure to see Christ-centered justice groups launched on university campues. Not since the early days of working under Bill Bright have I seen this sense of moementum, movement, and belief that God is going to move in powerful ways around the globe.

 
 

 

 

 

Jarah and Ann

 

It's so amazing having Jarah and Ann here. Both are from Nebraska, and both have been with me to Alaska. They live right on my street here in Mexico City and my neighbors love them. We are getting lots of projects started, and a few completed. I'm so blessed to have them here.

 

The picture below has Jarah and Ann standing in a typical Nebraska cornfield. But wait, when you zoom out you realize you are no longer in Nebraska.

 

What are the odds? 41 Degrees in Mexico City, Juneau, and Kamp Ed at the Exact Same Time     :

This morning the tempature is 41 degrees in Mexico City. What is amazing is the tempature at this very momement is exactly the same in Juneau Alaska, Kamp Ed, and Mexico City. That is amazing. Check out the picture of the screen shot that I took and posted below. The big difference is few buildings in Mexico City have furnaces. The cold months in Mexico  City are October, November, December, and January.

Does that make me crazy?       :

Four years ago as I prepared to move to Mexico City, Gnarles Barkely released the song Crazy. I started listening to the song because it seemed crazy that I was leaving Kamp Ed to live in the 2nd largest city in the world. When I arrived in Mexico City I played the song every day, and today it's sill my theme song four years later. 

 

This week I started my 5th year in Mexico City. My vision has grown and expanded. I've fallen for this city, the people, and the culture. What seemed crazy in coming to Mexico City to believe God for transforming this city and nation now does not seem so crazy at all. Others have joined in and it's happening. I'm constantly reminded that I'm not in control. And for a guy who loves the plains of Nebraska and the wilderness of Alaska, it's crazy to feel so much at home in Mexico City.

 

Click on the link to listen to the song! It's awesome.  Crazy by Gnarles Barkely

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Carson Johring Duckworth    :

Albert and Robin had a son and named him after me.  Carson Johring Duckworth.  I'm not sure there could be a greater honor.  Albert called tonight to share the amazing news.

 

My name is unique.  The name Johring is found only in my immediate family and a few distant relatives in Germany.  I am full of joy to have my name linked with the Duckworth's.

 

The legendary coach and Athletic Director of Nebraska, Tom Osborne, shares in his book Faith In The Game of the preacher his grandfather was named after.  Tom's grandfather carried the name of minister who impacted the life of his grandfather's father and over the years when someone would ask about his middle name, the story of where his name came from was shared and how this minister impacted their lives.

 

I met Albert when he was a freshman at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Albert joined Pi Kappa Alpha where I mentoring students and served as Chapter Adviser. One night Albert stopped by the the room of Tom Clements and Casey Foster where I was holding a Bible study. We had a conversation about knowing Christ.  Later that semester Albert attended an Authentic Manhood retreat I held at Timberlake Ranch Camp.  I was with Albert as he made a decision to follow Jesus.  Albert has never looked back.  Albert walked with God in college.  After college Albert joined the military and finished at the top of his class in flight school.

 

Today Albert lives with his family in Florida and is a flight instructor in the Navy.  While serving in the military, Albert is working part-time on a graduate degree in theology and involved with his church and the military ministry of the Navigators.  Each day he steps into the lives of the flight students in his classes.  Albert and his family are reaching out to recent immigrants from Iraq living in near-by community in Florida.  I'm intensely proud of Albert and Robin.

 

Earlier today I saw on Facebook that Albert and Robin had a son. I was excited but my eyes were shielded from his name until Albert called.  Albert has always dropped my first name and called me "Johring". I like that.  Albert shared the news of his son and his name.  That was emotional and amazing.  I am full of joy and intensely proud.

 

I called a few friends tonight to share the news of Carson Johring Duckworth, and wanted to share the awesome news here.

.

 

Human Trafficking Through Mexico     :

In both Mexico City and the USA, many have no idea that human trafficking exists in Mexico, and the USA.  The reality is that 20,000 are trafficked each year in Mexico. Their stories are heartbreaking and real. The Washington Post below article gives a glimpse of how trafficking happens. The story of the girl in this article is similar to the stories of the young women at the Camino a Casa Safe House where women are rescued and restored.

 

We have a dream to end human trafficking in Mexico and see this impact felt all over Latin America and the USA.  In the plan of seeing transformation take place in Mexico City, I believe the day will come when followers of Christ will step forward and care for the "least of them".

 

I am inspired by the word of Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994, "On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, "Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me." Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, "Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me." These will ask Him, "When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?" And Jesus will answer them, "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"

 

Here is the Washington Post Article:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/08/AR2010080801654.html

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The Amazing "Sleep Sound" Machine     :

 

The coolest gift arrived at Kamp Ed before returning to Mexico City. The Sleep Sound machine.

 

I love Mexico City, and I love the neighborhood that I live in. But the sounds from the street wear me out. 24-hours a day, there's never a time when I have to block out the sounds of barking dogs. People abuse their pets by housing their dogs on their rooftops for protection from burglars. The dogs bark without ceasing. Car alarms go off constantly, and vendors pass by constantly yelling at the top of their lungs. The worst is the gas salesmen selling propane gas. And numerous times a day vendors call out saying they will buy used furniture and appliances that people no longer want. Much of the time I deal with it, but I long for the silence of Kamp Ed or Alaska.

 

In June I met my friends, the Kirkpatrick's, at the beach. They had carried their Sleep Sound machine with them from Wisconsin. I was intrigued and shared my woes of trying to sleep or concentrate with the noises of Mexico City.

 

I returned to Mexico City with the Sleep Sound machine they sent. It's white noise. The noise of a fan. I can still hear the dogs barking, and the vendors who pass by, but the Sleep Sound machine drowns them out.  I love it, and have slept through the nights without waking since returning to Mexico City. Thank you Kirkpatrick's!

 
 
 

Mexico City Global Youth Outreach Conference    :

Tonight the 6-day Megacities Global Youth Outreach conference ended on a high note. We had planned for thousands but instead at the most had several hundred high school, and Megacities teams at the conference. From the beginning of planning for the year-long Megacities plan of the transformation of Mexico City I was captivated by the idea of bringing together high school youth for 6 day outreach conference. What if high school students developed a heart for reaching their city, nation, and gained a heart for going to the world?

 

The conference started with three days of outstanding speakers and seminars. Thursday and Friday were days of serving the city. Students were divided into teams. Today when they returned together their stories were amazing. For those who love stats----the numbers they reported were amazing. The teams prayed for the sick and the lame and saw witnessed healings before their eyes. They had thousands of conversations, and collectively reported having 921 people indicate a desire to invite Christ to be at the center of their lives. The YWAM training students and teams receive is amazing. As a result they have great faith that in every conversation God is going to use them to help people connect with Christ. That is awesome!

 

On Monday evening I'm headed back to Kamp Ed for the month of August. I am full of joy to have been a part of Global Youth Outreach, and seen God at work in and through the lives of high school students from Mexico City.

 
 
 

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 Two Weeks in Alaska    :

 

Two weeks of open time and a frequent flier free ticket were enough to take me to Alaska in July.  I've been in Mexico City for much of the summer.  In Alaska visited the 2010 Summer Project, reconnected with friends, and fished!

    

My time there was terrific!  I left deeply refreshed from time in the wilderness and encouraged from fellowship with friends.  

     

I fished almost every day. Being on the water was amazing. I love it and can never get enough.  I saw non-stop whales while on the water and had two humpback whales breech almost completely out of the water off my bow one day.

   

Highlights were fishing for shrimp with Shawn and bringing home over 250 pounds of cleaned shrimp. One day Debbie took me on the boat she works on up the Tracy Arm----that's been a dream of mine to go up the Tracy Arm fjord to the face of the Sawyer glaciers. I spent amazing time with my friends Steve and Janet who are living on an island this summer. Their family has captured my heart, and no matter how much time we have, it is never enough.

 

I left Alaska and came back to Mexico City where the wilderness now seems like a dream. I'll spent the year dreaming of going back to Alaska next summer----especially when I'm locked in the gridlock of Mexico  City traffic for hours. Next summer my plans are to spend more time in Alaska----I will take Mexican business and political leaders on an Alaskan adventure where I will build into their lives. Next summer I will also take friends who have supported my ministry by taking those who want to go to Alaska. 

 

Here a few highlight pictures from my two weeks in Alaska...

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Christianity Today Article Features Rosi From Mexico City   :

One of the leaders we are working alongside of in the fight of exploitation of children and human trafficking in Mexico has an article about her work in Christianity Today. 

Christian congresswoman fights exploitation of children in Mexico.

Kirkpatrick's in Mexico     :

This past week my great friends, the Kirkpatrick's came to Mexico for a vacation. We've been friends since the days when we both lived in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. They invited me to join them at the beach for a few days. After going non-stop for the past number of weeks with the groups I've hosted in Mexico City, time at the beach with the Kirkpatrick's were some of the most refreshing, life-giving, and encouraging days that I can imagine having.  It was so awesome to reconnect, have great conversations, and eat amazing food. I am full of joy!