We´ve arrived!

Hello family and friends,

Team 10 is officially all together and in Culiacan, at Hotel Santa Fe II (though not all of the luggage is...)!

Our trip was wonderfully uneventful, though we are missing two suitcases. After settling in at the hotel we went out to eat at a favorite local restaurant and had Papas Locas, or Crazy Potatos, with Pastor David, Marco, Jorge, and other church leaders.

Our team from the US consists of 26 people, from different places in Minnesota, Missouri, and California. 20 of us will be spending most of our time in the area of Progreso, 2 will be with Manrique`s church and in Cofradia, and the other 4 will be with their sister church here.

We closed our evening in traditional style, up on the roof of the hotel, to debrief the day and discuss tomorrow`s plans. Thanks to a handy Ipod and speakers, we sang along to the song "God of This City" by Chris Tomlin. The song talks of the great things yet to be done in the city. North Haven Church has partnered with Emmanuel Baptist in Culiacan, helping them to serve the people here, since the summer of 2000, which is why we call ourselves Team 10 this year. We have seen wonderful transformation of people`s lives, of communities, and of the city. But "greater things have yet to be done here." The people of Emmanuel Baptist, and now several other partner churches, are still loving on and serving their city, 10 years later. We are still coming, 10 years later, and we are all still praying and working for God`s transformation for the people here.

It is our prayer for Culiacan, but it is also our prayer for our homes in the US. As we pray for God`s Kingdom to come, for God to bring "peace to the restless," as the song says, we can think of the beautiful things happening in our cities because of people doing God`s work. We can think of the people, communities, and systems that still need God`s transformation. But we don`t sing this song just for our own cities or for Culiacan alone. We can proclaim that "greater things have yet to come" for Haiti, for Colombia, for Palestine, and so many other cities. God`s kingdom and God`s work transforms lives and communities.

God, continue to expand our eyes and understanding of your work here, at home, and around the globe. May we see how you are transforming lives, communities, and systems to be just, loving, and righteous in the model of Christ. Show us our parts in your story of redemption, and give us the strength and courage to follow you.

After some much needed sleep, we will be eating breakfast in the hotel once again and heading to Emmanuel Baptist for church in the morning, and to Progreso for a worship service in the evening. Please pray for our 2 missing suitcases to return to us quickly and easily.

Blessings on you family and friends!

Elise Probasco for the team