On the Field

Costa Rica Impact Team : July 4-12

Update July 11:

• As the team winded up their week the last two days were focusing on  time spent with the local missionaries as well as YWAM members.
• Small group discussions about the time they had this week in fellowship together and how it really increases their faith and always encourages them to take another step forward and to always be thinking about who and where they can disciple next.
• A sweet time of team bonding at the adventure park as well as an evening at the beach was the perfect ending to a long week of doing God’s work.
• Monday the team made it back and are filled with God stories. Just ask them!

PAST UPDATES:

Update July 9:

• The team encountered a local man who had spent 17 years in prison and had been released in the past year.  He found Jesus while he was in prison.  His girlfriend and family now refuse to see him, however God ordained the meeting between the group, allowing them to love on, minister to and pray for the man.  Reminding him that our Father God still loves us, longs to be in relationship with us and that we are not forgotten. Pray this man continues is faithful walk with Jesus.
• One of the YWAM leaders who has been training with CrossBridge for several years now, led the final discipleship session.  He currently is the assistant pastor at a local church and will be stepping into the head pastor position next year! Pray God guides the path of this leader as he steps into his new role.
• Today God showed up again in Yoga.  The location, the arrangements, the instructor and the translator were all moved to tears.  The women were in tears, testimonies were shared and 4 women in the group raised their hand when asked if they wanted to accept Jesus into their heart.  The Spirit was clearly present, so much to the point that the instructor had to clarify that what was happening was not coming from her.  The gym location provides and ideal place for gatherings.  The translator that was present had not been out of her home since COVID hit.  This was her FIRST outing.  Translating for yoga is NOT easy!  Listening to the team it was clear that the four fields was in full display during yoga. Some heard the gospel for the first time, others are believers and have the desire to learn to disciple, and some are taking their “next step to the right” in ministry. By the end of the session, the owner of the gym was planning to have scripture painting and written all over the gym walls.  Please join us in prayer that the ministry can be carried on at this new place we would like to call a House of Peace.
• The CrossBridge team decided to make a donation to the Rainbow Feeding Center in Liberia.  The Center is run by Rocio, who has been a part of Impacto since day one.  CrossBridge has been blessed to be a part of serving at and providing for this center.  Several trips ago, our team gifted them with a window to enclose the feeding area, as well as a refrigerator.  Rocio serves the children of Liberia food on Saturdays out of her home.  It is also where VBS was held this year.

Update July 8:

• VBS went very well. A team member was able to bring the gospel presentation to the table and 3 children accepted Jesus Christ. Praise God! The team was prepared well during training before the trip and the result has been fruitful.  The team has been very intentional in bringing explicit gospel presentations, both during Bible distribution as well as at VBS. Pray for these children to continue to get to know Jesus.
• During discipleship training, one of our local leaders spoke on Romans 12 and then small groups broke out to model what D-Groups look like and how to reproduce. Reports are coming in that Jesus showed up big time, allowing the groups to dive deep, speaking on gifts and being part of the body as well as renewing our minds and rebuking the lies.
• Yoga once again has proven to be a powerful tool to reach the lost and hurting.  Specifically the women of Liberia.  God continues to open doors through the practice of yoga.

Update July 7:

• During Bible distribution Wednesday morning, we had one person accept Jesus.  Pray for this person to continually pursue and obediently walk with Jesus.
• The same morning, the team passed a corner store and encountered two followers of Christ.  One of them asked for a Bible, there was much prayer and conversation.  Several Bibles were left with them and the team taught the bridge diagram.  The two individuals specifically asked for the team to pray for the neighborhood.  The team is praying that this may be a potential HOUSE OF PEACE.  Pray that they successfully share what they have learnt to many others and that the God establishes this House of Peace in this neighborhood.
• Another encounter with a woman who had been through great suffering accompanied by medical issues received prayer and the team saw an immediate change in her spirit, as if a weight had been lifted off of her.
• The team has encountered other local missionaries who share the same vision as Crossbridge, therefore establishing relationships and working alongside them only makes the mission more powerful!  What a blessing it is to walk with others with the same desire to expand the kingdom of God.

Update July 5:

• The team arrived and was met by locals from Liberia. Many eager to serve during the week of this long awaited Impacto.
• This week the emphasis is more on being than doing.  Modeling out what it looks like to be like Jesus.  How He walked, talked and served others. Empathy.
• First day of Bible distribution and both groups with CBCC team members ministered to as well as shared the gospel with locals door to door.
  Two salvations reported.  The team is opening up and the various gifts and talents are being put on display.  Some normal fears have crept in, however the team’s leadership is solid and such situations always give room for more prayer, ministry and growth as well as team bonding.
• The younger members of the team are also stepping up and into the role of making disciples and spreading the good news.  Most homes visited have had sustained conversations and the team leader  believes to have possibly located a HOUSE OF PEACE.  The family was welcoming families into their home and asked to be taught the Discovery Bible study principles…and so the team did so!
• Conversations amongst the missionaries today were transformational in the sense that it lent a chance to see different perspectives of what sharing the gospel can look like for each one of us. Taking what has been taught in the classroom and applying it to our own lives as well as those whom we encounter. Doing so, actively and effectively.
• Already God showing up and revealing how HE sends us off to other places so that we may reflect upon how we are doing things in our own backyard.
• Disciple training started out slow with a small turnout.   Scheduling and Covid may be complicating the chance of people arriving to all events.  It is an opportunity for the team to individualize training and go deeper with each new future disciple maker in attendance.
• God is on the move in Liberia! Pura Vida

Updated July 4

The team is on their way to Costa Rica. Pray that all the travel plans fall into place and they reach their destination smoothly.

Updated:

The team is praying and gathering their prayer partners. They will soon be meeting together to get to know each other, pray for the church team they are partnering with and learn more about the mission field they are going to.  They will be attending a Kindle to learn how to share the gospel and participate in a local outreach.

How you can be praying:

• The spiritual preparation and development of team members
• Fundraising and the provision of financial support
• Flexibility and smoothness in travel
• The safety and health of everyone traveling

Middle East Epicenter Impact Team : June 16-27

Final Update June 27 - Day 10, wow what a day!

• Doug and Sherri: Met young girl from Ethiopia who trusts Jesus and has a five year old son back home. She just found out she needs to have surgery in her left ear and is scared. She was almost in tears when we found her. We prayed for healing and comfort for her and will fix her up with community. We also had dinner with a friend of mine's cousin. Prayer for healing for our new young friend.
• Jeaninne and friend: Met up with a friend that Jeaninne has been going back and seeing and loving on him now for several days. They enjoyed a meal together, shared time talking about the different cultures and beliefs.
• Other friends met us today and introduced us to another friend from Ghana. One friend expressed feeling “elevated, not with the same mentality, because he knows now that he matters. He has been walking different since our first encounter!” Praise!!
• Julia got to pour into a young lady from America who is looking for community here. Pray for connection and roots to grow deep.
• Becky, Hunter, Mandy and Lilly spent some time together and some time with our driver friend. Then while Becky and Hunter ventured out to meet a friend and her daughter, Mandy and Lilly ventured out to meet a friend they met at the beginning of the week who follows Jesus but is not in community. This woman is super excited to get connected and Lilly led her very first DBS!
• Please continue to lift us up for our last day. I think we all want to say our “see you laters” and just celebrate all that has been done this week!
• All covid tests came back negative too.

Thank you for your continued prayers while the team were sharing the love of Jesus.  Please continue to pray as you feel led for each of these connections made and for the Lord to nurture and grow the seeds that were planted.  The team arrived back safe late in the evening June 29th.

PAST UPDATES

Update June 26 - Day 9

• Our taxi friend from earlier this week was open to us interceding. He also opened up and shared about how the day we requested a taxi, he had actually turned the app off. He decided to turn it on when our request came through. He decided to come to the hotel and see how we treated him. He said if we had not been very nice he would have declined taking us. When we all said hello! with smiles and kindness, he decided he’d take us. He also opened up and shared about his health concerns and that his mother had recently died. He told us all today that looking at all our faces, he felt like we were family. We were able to show the love of Jesus, share a word and asked for healing. What a blessing to be a part of the body. Please pray for visions and dreams and another opportunity to share.
• Doug and Sherri update: We met up with a new friend and went to the frame building that separates the old from the new city and he took us all over the city. We discussed a lot about our different faiths. He is very intelligent and reflective, so really praying our interaction makes him think. All in all, we had a wonderful day with our new friend. Please pray truths would be realized and accepted.
• Our study with a new friend went really well today. We will be able to get him connected locally. Please pray for connections to be made and roots established.
• Becky and Hunter: Went back and found a friend they had met but weren’t able to find her on WhatsApp. They were able to pray and pour into her. Please pray healing for her sister.
• John had his final group and did a hand off! Please pray the group continues to flourish and grow!
• Julia and Jeaninne were invited to a church here. Julia connected with a lady who is ready to make a move. Please pray for connection to the local group here.
• Julia, Mandy and Lilly spent the evening with the single mom they met early in the week. We got to love on her and her two kids. Julia and the 14 year old daughter have really connected - this girl is really drawn to Julia’s kindness and love. It was so sweet to watch. There’s clearly a lot of pain for this family so we are praying for peace and just that they would feel the love of the one who loves best.
• Thank you for your continued support and prayers. As we get close to coming home, please continue to pray for our safety, all covid tests to be negative and that these last couple of days would be fruitful.

Update June 24 - Day 7

• Doug and Sherri had quite a day with an Iranian friend. They were able to read through Genesis 1-2 and share about the first animal sacrifices and how Jesus paid it all. Please pray as this woman travels back to her home, she would continue to seek the truth and that her relationship with Sherri would also continue.
• Jeaninne, Mandy, and Lilly went back to a jewelry kiosk where Jeaninne met a man who seems to have many questions. Mandy was able to share some of her story through the jewelry he made for us and also was able to pray a blessing over one of his coworkers. We laughed a ton and it felt like we had all been friends for years. Please pray for an opportunity for us to meet tomorrow night for dinner and share more.
• Julia met a woman who was really struggling. Julia prayed over her and it was such a blessing! The woman asked Julia to join her this afternoon at her home church. Please pray for relationships to be built and guidance for next steps for this woman.
• Hunter and Becky met up with our sweet friend from the beginning of the week. Hunter was able to share even more of his story and was able to learn more about this man opening up a huge opportunity to share the love of Jesus with him. Please pray that this relationship would continue in some format where this man would truly grasp the truth.
• John met with a few men yesterday to share more about the truth and will go back out to the work camp area for one more DBS. Please pray this group would establish deep roots.
• Please continue to pray that eyes would be opened and truth revealed and accepted.

Update June 23 - Day 5 & 6

• You can take the man out of Uganda but you can’t take the love for Uganda out of the man. John continues to teach and encourage the Ugandan men here in MEE. Please pray for continued guidance and a seamless handoff.
• Doug and Sherri met and sat with a local for a few hours talking about everything including the differences and similarities of their faiths. Many seeds planted and truths revealed. Please pray eyes are opened and truths received.
• At a park, Sherri met a family from the Ivory Coast.  They were a Biologist and a Radiologist.  We just talked about the medical aspects administered in their country, children and just general conversation and were able to provide travel blessings for them.
• Our youngest traveler Lilly had her first break through in outreach.  One of the pictures above shows a little something special, how perfect is that? Please pray for continued boldness and stepping out in faith.
• Please pray for us to follow up with a POP from Zimbabwe.
• Hunter and Becky continue to love and encourage a friend they met a few days ago. Sharing stories and life and love. He opened up about past pains. Pray he would see where the source of their love they have for him comes from and that another opportunity would arise to go deeper.
• Jeaninne has met so many people and made friends with a couple here. She’s sharing so much with so many.  Pray for the truth that she is sharing lands on fertile ground.
• Julia had an adventure with a friend that is here long term. They spent quite a bit of time loving on a man who is a fellow traveler. He shared that if they hadn’t met, he would have spent his evening alone and doing things that would not be life giving. Pray he holds on to the love they poured out and know the source from where it came.
• Mandy met a woman who said she had never been spoken to much less hugged by a white woman. She was open to being blessed. Pray this be the first of many times she feels loved by the one who loves her most.
• Julia, Mandy and Lilly had a driver that was very talkative. He enjoyed their company so much he asked to take them to all the different places they needed for the night. At the end of the evening, he was open to blessings. Please pray he felt the love of the one who loves best.
• Thank you for your continued prayers!

Update June 21 - Day 4

• John and the guys continued to build their relationship in the group of guys at the work camp.
• A few of us ladies met up with one of the women we met from Morocco the other day. Julia had the opportunity to bless her 14 year old daughter. Her daughter is such a ray of sunshine! Her mom has had a rough road…there is definitely a lot of shame in this culture. Please pray for walls / chains to be broken and truth and love to be received, and another opportunity to love on this family.
• Another group headed in a different direction to a stricter area- that felt more oppressive. We are truly learning on this trip that our entire purpose is to love people. Our goal is to love like Him. People were very suppressed and made very little eye-contact. It was very sad and a little scary. Sherri offered to help someone carry her bags as she was older and had a walker. She felt very thankful and her heart was so appreciative. Doug met two men, one from Zimbabwe and the other from Gana. One use to lead a home church but it was shut down. They have watchers and were going door to door disallowing home churches. Both had wanted to be hooked up to a group here and the man from Zimbabwe is willing to lead a group. Hopefully we will be able to help them meet up with others. While Doug was sharing with the fella from Gana, the head security guard was watching Doug, as conversion is against the law. Thanking God for His protection! And that conversion is not up to us but Him! This is hard but we will continue to love and show support.
• Pray that our love will continue to overflow and we continue to be brave and courageous in His name.

Update June 20 - Day 3

• John met his Ugandan friend from the train and he brought his friends! More to come on this story…
• One of the two ladies we met yesterday, we saw again and we met a new lady who works with them. She’s Catholic and was open to us praying for her. She’s here alone and was so appreciative of our prayer. We hope to meet with her when she’s not at work.
• We also returned to see our friends at the Turkish restaurant to continue to build that relationship.
• Tonight we spent the evening at a beach and while we expected to see many people, we only saw a few BUT it allowed for us to pray for our waiter, share the bridge and do a DBS with him.
• Jeaninne and Julia met a man who was having what seemed to be an anxiety attack. He was pacing from side to side like a “lion in a cage.” I asked him to sit and do breathing exercises. Julia brought water. His wife showed up and she asked if she could sit with them. He calmed down and explained he experiences those episodes every day, and that the doctors can’t find what it is. She asked him if he wanted to be healed. We shared about Jesus' power he said he wanted to be healed. We prayed for him. Please pray we will meet next Sunday on their day off.
• Jeaninne met a worker who asked what her tattoo meant. She explained about her husband’s miraculous healing from a stroke. His boss was listening and expressed interest in learning about her “many secrets”. Please pray for dreams and visions so he can’t wonder or question where is this coming from.
• We ended our night sharing with a Buddhist and praying for him and his family who are back home in Bangladesh.
• Please continue to pray for the people we have connected with, that follow up would happen and people would be open to the good news.

Update June 19 - Day 2

• We met many people from so many places! We truly are in a melting pot! Another day of treasure hunting and finding treasures!
• So many people come here for work. And unfortunately so many have to leave their families behind.
• We met a man from Pakistan and two from India. They shared about their faith and we shared about our faith in Jesus. We talked a lot about healings in Jesus name and one said they had seen healings happen in India and believed. We hope to meet up again soon to talk more.
• Met a man whose wife and 2 year old son are still in Brazil. He truly misses his family. We prayed for him and will be able to set him up with a local group here. He had tears in his eyes when we prayed for him. It was an honor to encourage him spiritually.
• At dinner we met a very hospitable gentleman who treated us to Turkish tea and coffee! We had the opportunity to pray a blessing over him, his family and his country.
• Two women stopped us after dinner and invited us to sit with them and talk. We shared about our families and hope to meet up again Monday. Please pray they respond to the invitation.
• We met a Ugandan man on the train and hope to meet him later in the week and connect him to a community of believers.
• Everyone is so friendly here. Please pray we continue to find people of peace and open doors. And those that we have connected with will be available to meet later in the week.

Update June 18 - Day 1

• The flight here proved to be filled with several encounters! Doug sat next to a man from Nigeria. He shared he was a preacher and that Jesus saved him from completing suicide a few years ago. This gentleman has a heart for sharing the good news and outreach within his community. He asked Doug if he was a preacher. Doug just told him he likes to share his faith. Doug was able to share several strategies to help this man in his outreach!
• John connected with a young college student and Jeaninne engaged in a beautiful conversation with a father / daughter.
• Hunter and Becky got to share the good news with 3 stewardesses along with the bridge illustration. Pray that the seeds of truth will grow into salvation.
• After resting for a bit, we enjoyed meeting our friends from the states. Had a wonderful time of prayer, worship and lunch.
• We set off to the mall for a scavenger hunt and found so many treasures! The people are friendly and interested in talking to us. We met a woman from Zimbabwe who helped us find our way around and in the process we learned she is here alone and looking for community. She gave us her contact information and we’ve invited her for coffee. Please pray she will join us this week and be able to make some new friends.
• We visited with a couple who was shopping. Both gave us their phone numbers so we can get together during our stay. Pray that they too will come to know the truth.
• We ended our day with our new friends from the states and a delicious dinner.
• Prayers for more conversations and encounters to come tomorrow.

Update June 16:

The team is heading to the airport and about to embark on an adventure for God's Kingdom!  Please pray for safe travels over the next day and a successful connecting flight.  Pray for the base team in the Middle East who are ready to welcome them.

How you can pray:

• Travel mercies to the ME location.
• Outreach adventures along the way - for them to be the hands and feet of Jesus all on the way
• For easy transition through Jet-lag and stamina along the way.

Update June 14:

It has been a whirlwind week with the Ugandan borders closing a week ago.  The team pivoted very quickly to now going to the Middle East.  All training has been redone to focus on the new area they are going to and logistics have been changed.

How you can be praying:

• Please pray for the team as they become accustomed to the idea of this new location which is very different from Uganda.
• Please pray that all the logistics fall into place during this 11th hour and that the trip there is without issue.
• Please pray for God to go before them to open doors for fruitful conversations.

Update May 17:

The team is gearing up by packing and preparing physically.  They have attended several training meetings, are walking through a prayer guide and will be attending the June 5th Kindle to refresh their gospel sharing skills.

Ten days prior to leaving they will be participating in a fast to prepare their hearts and minds for the mission.  They will also be putting to memory the commands of Christ stories.  Read them along with us:

Mark 5:1-20
Mark 1:16-20
Luke 7:36-50
Acts 8:26-40
Acts 2:37-47

How you can be praying:

Please pray for the churches in Uganda that we will be working with.  They are:

• Ebenezer Baptist Church - Pastor Mazune Fred
• Generation Church, Namatala - Pastor Charo Philipo
• Son Light International Church - Pastor Dongo Stephen
• Joosaranga Light Church, Bumasiky - Pastor Paul Pati
• Mugiti Jami Prayer Center - Pastor Were Wilberforce
• Hill Baptist Church, Konta - Pastor Mugoya Fredrick
• Jami Prayer Center, Kamokol - Pastor Kelebro Stephen and Pastor Jenninah Joy Kalebbo

Reynosa Impact Team

Click here for upcoming Reynosa outreach dates

Come back in October to receive updates for our November 2021 outreach.

Kindle Teams head out into San Antonio and surrounding areas almost every month.

Click here for upcoming Kindle outreach dates

May 1st Testimonies:

Jeaninne Valle
It is always amazing!! I saw God work in my heart and attitude towards the weather. So blessed! And I am glad our leadership set the example to pursue to do God’s will!

I saw how God has worked in my life in the past few years regarding the LGBT community, which made it possible for me to ask for forgiveness to these young women and shared God’s heart for them when they disclosed that they have been rejected and unwelcome by the body of Christ because of their life style.

Participate in Kindle to step into the supernatural! Because we are able to decrease to allow God increase in a more tangible way and to see His handy work through us for others’ benefit. It’s NOT about us, but about other’s eternal life or death decision

Lorna Carr
Wow, it was a whirlwind on Saturday but absolutely perfect. Everything was professionally executed and full of love for Jesus and and His heart for the lost. I was sure a call would come in the morning saying today's kindle was canceled due to rain. But no call came. Driving the church I thought "Man these people are serious about sharing the gospel!".

On the drive back to the church after walking in the rain and knocking on doors, I shared with my team "I think I am getting addicted to sharing the gospel!".