Past trips

View the impact of past missions trips to Ensenada, Mexico.

Read about Valley Creek youth

In 2026, two members of the Valley Creek youth group, Jadelin and Elliot, volunteered in Mexico for the first time. Jadelin went with her parents and grandparents, and Elliot went with his dad and grandfather.

Both shared how eye-opening it was to cross over from San Diego into Tijuana and see people living in extreme poverty.

Jadelin really enjoyed painting the house with her grandma and practicing Spanish words with the local children. Elliot formed an immediate friendship with Alexander, whose family was receiving the new home. The two played soccer, painted, and shared special moments together.

Both Jadelin and Elliot even climbed onto the roof and shingled the new house. It was a memorable experience seeing twelve-year-olds and seventy-two-year-olds working side by side up there.

The Lord changed both Elliot and Jadelin for the better through this experience, and both are excited to return to Ensenada in 2027.

John

Read about Damien

The boy in the picture is named Damien. He is a local boy who lives up in the hillside, about the same age as my sons, and we formed a special relationship that week. He was not getting a new house those days — his neighbors were.

Unlike most of the children in the neighborhood, Damien was not able to attend school. His family was too poor to pay for the uniforms, books and administrative fees. So at age eight, he would walk thirty minutes into town and wash cars for the chance to earn five or ten dollars a day.

It broke my heart when he said, “My friend goes to school, I can’t.” “My friend has a bike, I don’t have one.”

So, in conjunction with the lead missionary, I went to Walmart and bought Damien a new bicycle. The tires weren’t even properly inflated. He didn’t care. He was delighted.

That day the bus of volunteers was driving past the finished house, and we saw Damien flying down the dirt road in all his glory. HONK! HONK! HONK! The bus driver cheered for him, and so did the whole team. It was the greatest experience of the trip for many onboard.

That day, Damien knew that God loved him and that he was special. It was not the original purpose of the trip, but it is an experience that will never leave me. I look forward to seeing Damien on his bike again.

John