Mexicali_history

      It all started way back in 1989 when Mike Bullard had just started
meeting with a small group of high school students at the church for a
weekly "talk about God" time. He connected with Chriss Peterson, the youth
pastor at St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church in Salinas, and our group was
invited to join their Mexcio Outreach team. By the end of that first trip, our
youth program was locked into place at Grace Lutheran Church, and a
tradition had begun. After a couple of years of going to Mexico with the St.
Ansgar's group, we headed off on our own, and a couple of years later we
made our first visit to Ejido Hidalgo. We have spent our spring break with the
people of Ejido Hidalgo ever since.
      That first trip in 1989 included Roger and Cheryll HIll and David and
Janice Phillips as staff members, and Heather Singh as a high school
student. The five of us have never missed a trip to Mexicali since. A few
years later, Dan Williams joined us as an additional staff member and has
been with us ever since. Over the years we have had nearly forty different
adult staff participate, and about 150 high school students, many of whom
came back for a second, third, or even fourth trip.
      What began for us as an effort to "go and do something for the people
in Mexico" has evolved into a truly loving relationship with the people of
EJido Hidalgo. We have been welcomed into their church family and have
developed deep and lasting bonds of friendship and true Christian love. We
anticipate many years to come in our shared ministry with the pastor,
families, and friends that we have come to cherish in the Mexicali Valley.