June 21-28, 2008
  
Team 8 was a group from Resurrection Lutheran church in Spring Texas, near Houston.  We had a great mix of young teens to the wise in age, an incredible group of individuals who did well in all aspects of the trip. They were dedicated, hard workers and gave 110% in everything.  We did two days of wheelchair distribution where we sat a total of 27 recipients in wheelchairs. I truly felt that we were able to give the best possible wheelchair to every person that came in.  It was a very satisfying feeling to know that we did it right, a success!

In addition to the wheelchair distributions, we worked at two early morning feeding centers for children on their way to school. The team did a few well received evangelistic drama skits and served many children a loving breakfast. 

We were also able to bring 49 bags of beans and rice into a land fill community, going door to door passing out the meals.  It was an opportunity to truly bless the people in this community. They have little hope living in the dump and our presence was warmly received.
     
The hardest part of the week was digging a foundation for a new church being built in a very poor community in the center of Mazatlan.  This church was going to be a real light of hope for a very hurting group of people.  Pastor Miguel has a real heart for helping the people gain hope for the future. Without hope they have nothing to live for. This church building will be a community center that will be able to spread hope to every home in the community.  
     
In 2003 this same church was in Mazatlan and helped build a church in another poor community on the outskirts of Mazatlan.  We revisited this church and Pastor Daniel held a special Wednesday evening service for his congregation to meet the people that had helped him get started.  It was a wonderful, emotional, event.  We heard many stories of hope and new life in the community that had came through Pastor Daniel and his new church. This experience reminded me that our work today does not end tomorrow, but continues to grow and expand.  With every wheelchair we change a life, that will then change a community, and that changed community will change countries, and changed countries will change the world. 

I thank you all for your prayers and support to make trips like this possible.  If you want to come with us anytime, please contact us and we will customize a trip just for you, your church, community group, family, or friends.

-Jeff Musgrave, Team 8 Leader

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