Greetings!
Just wanted share a couple of updates...
The media and the U.S. State Department have been very effective in their campaign to promote their agenda regarding the "violence" in Mexico. We certainly cannot blame anyone one bit for fear and concerns about sending a bunch of teenagers and families into what amounts to a lot of "unknowns". Unfortunately, however, we have had to cancel the outreaches in Acuña for this summer. We started out the year with several interested teams. Some who had come in years past and a couple of new ones. We did still have one team who wanted to come regardless. Located in Dallas, TX, they are much closer to the border and have connections in Acuña so they weren't concerned about safety for their team. They know it is as safe in Acuna as it is in most any city in the U.S. The violence in Mexico is limited to a short list of specific areas of Mexico which does not include Acuna. Fortunately, the Dallas team understands our situation. We wouldn't be good stewards of our ministry resources setting up a mobile outreach for just the one team. Much of the expense of the outreach is the same regardless of how many come.
I changed my plans and will be going to Tijuana, Mexico, July 11-17 to preach in the daily chapel services for a YUGO outreach at our Tijuana Outreach Center. The boys and I will also be returning to Mexicali over the Christmas break as we have for the last several years.
We are heartbroken that we won't be able to minister together as a family this summer in Mexico. However, we also know that God's plans are always the best - whether we understand them at the time or not and He IS still in charge. This is actually His ministry and we know we don't have the the authority or right to question His ministry plans.
I am also preaching for the youth week at our home-church church camp each night July 5-8. I am very excited about these ministry opportunities to reach out and have an impact in the lives of youth! God is good and faithful and bringing messages to my heart deliver. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to spend a lot of time in the pulpit over the next couple of weeks.
Here is a link for a blog article I ran across this morning about the long-term benefits of short-term missions. It's a short read, take a look when you get a couple minutes:
http://nathanshoultz.wol.org/blog/shoultz/shortTerm
¡Que Dios te acompañe por siempre!
God be with you forever!
Chris Canote
Outreach Director/Mobilizer
YUGO Ministries
Interim Pastor
Harrisburg Baptist Church
http://www.yugo.org
http://www.thecanotefamily.com
http://twitter.com/canotechris
http://twitter.com/YUGOMinistries
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