Fighting for Families
It’s Day 2 of your virtual mission trip! Yesterday, you got acquainted with our founders and our ministry. You saw the lay of the land in Mexico and began learning more about why we do what we do. Today, you will get a tour of both our La Mision and Camalu campuses, and you will hear the testimony of one of the kids who grew up in our children's center and found his forever family with Open Arms.
Travel Itinerary:
Day 2
- Watch “Forever Family”
- Watch "OA Impact in La Mision - Faviola's Story"
- Pray for children whose stories are similar to Antonio’s. Pray that God would meet them in miraculous ways.
- Live Event - 6:00 pm (PST): Growing Up in a Mexican Village with Abril Fonseca and Jairo Rangel
- Devotional: Reflect on how God is a defender to the defenseless
- Bonus Excursions: Enjoy an evening in Mexico at home!
Keep scrolling to find all your resources for Day 2 of your virtual journey!
Watch: Forever Family
Travel Notes: Meet Antonio. Antonio grew up in our children's center in La Mision. Hear his story and see how God brought him to a point in his life where he had to choose between going down the same broken path as his parents, or following Jesus. Celebrate the testimony of him choosing Jesus and finding his forever family at Open Arms.
Watch: OA Impact in la mision - Faviola’s Story
Travel Notes:
We at Open Arms are called to do the preventative work. Our mission is to provide the care and fill in the missing pieces needed before families get to the point of abandoning their children to orphanages, or before they are broken apart by substance abuse, poverty, and tragedy.
Hear the stories of a family that has been with Open Arms from the beginning. Hear their testimonies of where they were, and where God has delivered their family to through the years.
PRAY: Guided Prayer Experience
Travel Notes: Open Arms serves families and children who have similar stories to Antonio. All of the children in our care have experienced trauma or abandonment on some level. Many have suffered physical and sexual abuse, neglect, hunger, illness, abandonment, and exposure to illegal drug use and its many repercussions.
Our purpose and mission is to keep families together by providing children with a safe refuge during the day. Our goal is to keep children out of orphanages, off the streets, and out of the hands of predators; protect them from being trafficked; keep them out of dangerous and traumatic environments; keep them away from addiction; and bring them into the loving and open arms of Jesus Christ.
This is not only a physical battle but a spiritual battle as well. We want to invite you to join us in this battle by taking 10 minutes to intentionally pray for our children and staff. We encourage you to get into a quiet space and ask the Holy Spirit to give you his heart for the children and families of Baja California.
Pray for the following:
- Deep heart healing for children who have experienced trauma
- Restoration over broken families and broken relationships
- Freedom for those trapped in slavery and addiction
- Strength, godly wisdom, and immeasurable amounts of love for our staff and teachers
Live Event - 6:00 PM (PST)
Test your link at least 30 minutes before the conversation begins. The video conferencing program may ask you to download an update.
Join Conversation
- Live Event - 6:00 PM (PST): Growing Up in a Mexican Village with Abril Fonseca and Jairo Rangel. Abril and Jairo are both bilingual Mexican citizens that grew up in a typical Mexican families . Joins them as they share what it’s like to grow up in Baja and for Jairo in Oaxaca. Additionally, they will discuss God calling them into ministry and each of their unique sotries as they serve the Lord here in Camalu.
Devotional
Pull out your “Character and Nature of God” devotional journal and reflect on how God is a defender to the defenseless and a father to the fatherless.
Bonus Excursions
Enjoy an Evening in Mexico at Home
Make it family taco night and either make tacos at home or go and get some from your favorite taqueria. As you enjoy your taco feast, put on this playlist of our favorite songs to sing in our church, Iglesia Open Arms, and enjoy an evening of Spanish worship music!
Watch:
Learn how to make homemade tortillas and Mexcian salsa with your family.
RECIPES:
Tortilla Ingredients:
2 cups white flour
3 tbsp shortening
1 tsp salt
1/3 to 1/2 cup hot water
Salsa Ingredients:
1 can stewed tomatos
1 handful cilantro
2 ounces onion
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Salt to taste
Optional: canned chipotle peppers
Video Recipes:
Watch:
Experience Mexican folkloric dancing from the very best show we have ever seen in person or on video.
Here is a short video from Open Arms Church performing a typical folkloric dance on our Independence Day.
