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Monday, March 16, 2009
FLYING TO CANCUN
After just five hours of sleep I jumped out of bed on Sunday, March 15 at 5am to pack and get a ride to Amor's headquarters in San Diego. From there I joined three other of our staff to drive to the Tjiuana airport. I always like getting to airports early, preferring the more relaxed venue since airport security and the likes can be at best unpredictable. Flying from Tijuana is a unique experience but mostly not unlike another Mexican international airports. Security is a bit more relaxed than in the US. No need yet to remove shoes, don't need to take out the laptop, and you can put all your 3 ounce and under fluids in a clear plastic bag but its not necessary. Even the security personal smile quite frequently, especially when you talk to them.
If you have never flown a Mexican airlines it really is quite a pleasant experience. We actually are served a morning breakfast in the air rather the familiar peanuts. I especially like the rich Mexican coffee that is regularly served. Sorry Starbucks, on Mexicana airlines you just get beat every time.
Our flight took us to the Mexico City airport that in years past I used to dread. No air conditioning loud, and hard to figure out things... elementary things. Like, where's my gate, is it on time, etc.
Not anymore. Its air conditioned, there's a Subway and a Carl's Jr. We boarded our flight around 4pm and landed in cloudy and soon dark Cancun.
Our flight from Tijuana to Cancun was a delight. Great service, no hitches. We drove through the 15 mile hotel zone that is full of world class hotels and resorts. At night its a feast for the eyes. Palm lined streets, golf courses, it looks like a first class US resort city.
We stayed downtown at Amor benefactor, Gilberto's apartment. Downtown Cancun, a separate community for the Cancun Hotel Zone has over 700 thousand residents. Armor has built just 12 homes in Cancun having temporarily ceasing our operations here in 2001.
We are now actively involved in undertaking our ministry here by facilitating short term missions to build our Amor Cancun Campus.
If you have never flown a Mexican airlines it really is quite a pleasant experience. We actually are served a morning breakfast in the air rather the familiar peanuts. I especially like the rich Mexican coffee that is regularly served. Sorry Starbucks, on Mexicana airlines you just get beat every time.
Our flight took us to the Mexico City airport that in years past I used to dread. No air conditioning loud, and hard to figure out things... elementary things. Like, where's my gate, is it on time, etc.
Not anymore. Its air conditioned, there's a Subway and a Carl's Jr. We boarded our flight around 4pm and landed in cloudy and soon dark Cancun.
Our flight from Tijuana to Cancun was a delight. Great service, no hitches. We drove through the 15 mile hotel zone that is full of world class hotels and resorts. At night its a feast for the eyes. Palm lined streets, golf courses, it looks like a first class US resort city.
We stayed downtown at Amor benefactor, Gilberto's apartment. Downtown Cancun, a separate community for the Cancun Hotel Zone has over 700 thousand residents. Armor has built just 12 homes in Cancun having temporarily ceasing our operations here in 2001.
We are now actively involved in undertaking our ministry here by facilitating short term missions to build our Amor Cancun Campus.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
JORDAN LEADS TRIP TO MEXICO
My son Jordan is in Tijuana, Mexico with a group of college friends building a home for a very needy family. I spent the morning preparing the site with him and his friends as we leveled the site and prepared the form for the cement. By late morning we were pouring cement by hand for the floor of the home. Nothing could make a dad more proud! What an incredible group of friends he brought who worked so hard to make a difference for a family and are changing their lives forever.
Friday, February 13, 2009
AMOR SOUTH AFRICA VIDEOS DOWNLOAD SITE
We recently launched a web page to enable anyone to download our most recent videos of South Africa. Its as simple as selecting the video, right clicking it, and saving it on your computer. You can then view, show it, enjoy it any time you want. There is even a "mobile" version for you to use on your smart cell phone, like a Blackberry or iPhone. Go to: http://mumbles.amorhq.net/africa/ or just click the photo below to go directly to the download site:
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
LIVE REPORT FROM PUERTO PENASCO, MEXICO
Amor Ministries was in Puerto Penasco, Mexico over Veterans Day weekend. Amor's very own Jon Wilson was there on hand to personally report on the progress made to eradicate the conditions of poverty for the poorest of the poor.
Here are some of the statistics of this weekends project in Puerto Penasco:
1,782 participants (from 26 different groups) accomplished the following in 4 days:
A family in Puerto Penasco represents the typical conditions of poverty we see there.
Click the photo below or the podcast logo below to hear this 9 minute interview:
Jon Wilson on the way to Puerto Penasco, Mexico
Here are some of the statistics of this weekends project in Puerto Penasco:
1,782 participants (from 26 different groups) accomplished the following in 4 days:
- 47 homes built
- 1 church built
- 1 rehab. center built
A family in Puerto Penasco represents the typical conditions of poverty we see there.
Click the photo below or the podcast logo below to hear this 9 minute interview:
Jon Wilson on the way to Puerto Penasco, Mexico
FUN ON SOUTH AFRICA'S RAINBOW FM 90.7 RADIO
Across the "pond" as they say in the UK was where Amor's Steve and Forrest were for this early morning South Africa radio broadcast. The "pond" being the Altantic Ocean of course. I called into the radio station so we could do a brief interview on how things are developing with Amor in South Africa this week. The highlight of the show was hearing Forrest do the traffic news and Steve doing the weather, in Johannesburg of course. Its a really entertaining interview. The broadcast length is just 16 minutes. Click the podcast logo below to go to the interview:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN SING IN AMOR CLASSROOM
I got to talk with Steve Horrex this morning who is in Johannesburg, South Africa today and he just sent me a video of adorable children singing in one of the classrooms that Amor built with the United Kingdom team last March. Its just barely a minute long but you need to watch it to the end because the end is best part!
Monday, November 10, 2008
STEVE AND FORREST VISIT AMOR SOUTH AFRICA PROJECTS
DAY 1- SOUTH AFRICA
Steve and Forrest from Amor Ministries sent some amazing photographs today as they traveled throughout Johannesburg doing the work required to set up things for our April 2009 mission trips. I think their pictures tell the story:
Driving through the "townships" on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
The poverty seems to go off into the horizon forever.
The South Africa grasslands surrounds the never ending squatter camps.
The dirt floored homes made from metal siding, pieces of spare wood, and anything than can be used to build some sort of shelter. Its in these conditions that seventy-seven percent of South Africa's children live in an environment without access to proper toilet facilities, electricity and piped water as well.
One of the five homes that Amor built with the youth and adults from the United Kingdom last March, 2008. The five homes soon became classrooms for the orphans at Ebenezer Care Center and for children from the surrounding township. Notice the nice addition of brick pillars being built at the front of the classroom? They are being built by the homeless adults who have now found a home at Ebenzer.
Bathrooms under construction between two classrooms built by Amor last March.
Its exciting to see the inhabitants of Ebenzer Care Center taking such ownership and interest in continuing to build on what Amor and the UK youth started.
Music plays such an important part in the lives of the children of South Africa. A photo opportunity becomes another reason to clap hands and sing a wonderful song. This is just one of the five classrooms Amor recently built.
What a great sight seeing little children doing their school work in a well constructed, happily decorated classroom. Education and the love of God are the greatest hope we can share.
The three little buddies love their school. Doesn't it show on their faces!!!
The colorful tables and chairs brighten up the classrooms and the lives of these now fortunate children.
Amor's Forrest Fowler more than enjoys the special time he gets to spend with the children of South Africa.
Steve and Forrest from Amor Ministries sent some amazing photographs today as they traveled throughout Johannesburg doing the work required to set up things for our April 2009 mission trips. I think their pictures tell the story:
Driving through the "townships" on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
The poverty seems to go off into the horizon forever.
The South Africa grasslands surrounds the never ending squatter camps.
The dirt floored homes made from metal siding, pieces of spare wood, and anything than can be used to build some sort of shelter. Its in these conditions that seventy-seven percent of South Africa's children live in an environment without access to proper toilet facilities, electricity and piped water as well.
One of the five homes that Amor built with the youth and adults from the United Kingdom last March, 2008. The five homes soon became classrooms for the orphans at Ebenezer Care Center and for children from the surrounding township. Notice the nice addition of brick pillars being built at the front of the classroom? They are being built by the homeless adults who have now found a home at Ebenzer.
Bathrooms under construction between two classrooms built by Amor last March.
Its exciting to see the inhabitants of Ebenzer Care Center taking such ownership and interest in continuing to build on what Amor and the UK youth started.
Music plays such an important part in the lives of the children of South Africa. A photo opportunity becomes another reason to clap hands and sing a wonderful song. This is just one of the five classrooms Amor recently built.
What a great sight seeing little children doing their school work in a well constructed, happily decorated classroom. Education and the love of God are the greatest hope we can share.
The three little buddies love their school. Doesn't it show on their faces!!!
The colorful tables and chairs brighten up the classrooms and the lives of these now fortunate children.
Amor's Forrest Fowler more than enjoys the special time he gets to spend with the children of South Africa.
AMOR ADVANCE TEAM ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Steve Horrex and Forrest Fowler from the Amor South Africa Advance Team arrived in Johannesburg Sunday night. Steve writes, "We made it here safely and here is the first picture from our dinner meeting that Rainbow FM 90.7 station manager Humphrey Birkenstock hosted. We have made our plans for the week we are here in Johannesburg and now it's all in God's Hands. We are scheduled to be on Rainbow FM 90.7 this Tuesday morning so make sure you're listening-
Steve Horrex".
From left- Humphrey Birkenstock, Steve Horrex,
Forrest Fowler, and Arnie Hicks.
Is that "Monkey Gland Steak" I see on their dinner plates? Or maybe "Kudu" or "Eland"?
KUDU? or ELAND?
It was this morning, which was this evening for Steve, when he shared how his first day on the ground in Johannesburg went. When you listen to the Podcast below he'll tell you about the surprise weather and some interesting developments in the huge housing need for the poor in South Africa. Its one of the shortest podcasts we have ever done, barely 5 minutes. Consider this just a preview of things to come this week as we communicate with Steve this week in South Africa. Tonight at 8:50 PST, Nov. 10, 2008, Steve will be doing a live radio interview from the Rainbow FM 90.7 studios. I hope to record this interview and email it to you tomorrow with lots of pictures they took today. For now, click the Amor Podcast Logo below and enjoy listening to Steve in South Africa.
Steve Horrex".
From left- Humphrey Birkenstock, Steve Horrex,
Forrest Fowler, and Arnie Hicks.
Is that "Monkey Gland Steak" I see on their dinner plates? Or maybe "Kudu" or "Eland"?
KUDU? or ELAND?It was this morning, which was this evening for Steve, when he shared how his first day on the ground in Johannesburg went. When you listen to the Podcast below he'll tell you about the surprise weather and some interesting developments in the huge housing need for the poor in South Africa. Its one of the shortest podcasts we have ever done, barely 5 minutes. Consider this just a preview of things to come this week as we communicate with Steve this week in South Africa. Tonight at 8:50 PST, Nov. 10, 2008, Steve will be doing a live radio interview from the Rainbow FM 90.7 studios. I hope to record this interview and email it to you tomorrow with lots of pictures they took today. For now, click the Amor Podcast Logo below and enjoy listening to Steve in South Africa.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
OFF TO AFRICA
I talked with Steve Horrex, Amor's VP for Global Expansion, and he and Amor's Forrest Fowler, are on a plane this morning for Johannesburg, South Africa. They are the advance team and will be spending a week working out the logistics for our April 2009 missions teams from the UK. At present we have 150 missionary participants scheduled to work over the course of two weeks of work in Johannesburg (75 each week).
No doubt their 19 hours of flying time (some 23 hours from San Diego to Johannesburg) will give them plenty of time to think of what they have to get accomplished in a weeks time.
No doubt their 19 hours of flying time (some 23 hours from San Diego to Johannesburg) will give them plenty of time to think of what they have to get accomplished in a weeks time.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
PASTOR DIAZ- LIVE RADIO INTERVIEW
I helped facilitate a live interview with Pastor Lou Diaz from the home of Dan Irving in Chico, California. Pastor Lou Diaz has been on mission trips with Amor for the last three years and is working with Dan to send the first Amor US missions team to South Africa in June 2009. Recently Pastor Lou ran 26.2 miles in the Chicago Marathon to help raise funds for water projects in Africa.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW ON RAINBOW FM'S WEBSITE CLICK THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT OF PASTOR LOU DIAZ
Pastor Lou Diaz Running in the Chicago Marathon
Rainbow FM 90.7 of Johannesburg, South Africa aired this broadcast live from their studios in Johannesburg while Pastor Lou and Dan talked from Dan's home through his computer over the internet via Skype.
CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO HEAR THE ACTUAL LIVE INTERVIEW!
Actual Live Studio Cam Photo Taken During Pastor Lou Diaz's Interview
To listen to live internet audio streaming of Rainbow FM 90.7 go to www.rainbowfm.co.za and click the "Streaming Audio" button. Or go directly to the streaming audio at http://rainbowfm.netdynamix.co.za.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW ON RAINBOW FM'S WEBSITE CLICK THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT OF PASTOR LOU DIAZ
Pastor Lou Diaz Running in the Chicago Marathon
Rainbow FM 90.7 of Johannesburg, South Africa aired this broadcast live from their studios in Johannesburg while Pastor Lou and Dan talked from Dan's home through his computer over the internet via Skype.
CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO HEAR THE ACTUAL LIVE INTERVIEW!
Actual Live Studio Cam Photo Taken During Pastor Lou Diaz's Interview
To listen to live internet audio streaming of Rainbow FM 90.7 go to www.rainbowfm.co.za and click the "Streaming Audio" button. Or go directly to the streaming audio at http://rainbowfm.netdynamix.co.za.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
IN THE JUNGLE
Don't ask me where I am....some where in the Yucatan jungles looking for workers to continue cutting out the road to the Cancun campus with machettes.
Posted on SpotJots near:
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
ENTRANCE TO AMOR CANCUN CAMPUS
I am standing at the NE corner of the Cancun Campus. This is where the entrance to the Campus will be. I am standing in jungle as I write this on my Blackberry with a jungle pond not but a meter to my left. Did I mention that the mosquitos are following me? OK, some of them are on me!
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