Pastor Goyo in the states

It was an immense privilege and blessing to take Pastor Goyo to the states with us for a three-week trip. Our itinerary was very eventful and busy, but we took advantage of every opportunity to see things and relax.

After flying in to LAX, we rented a vehicle and stayed three nights with Geña's sister and her husband in Perris, California. The first full day, we went to San Diego to officiate a bi-lingual Christian Boat Christening for a friend. It was the first time any of us had experienced this, but it was a special honor to do for our friend as we dedicated his boat to the Lord and officially named it.

 

 

After a meal with everyone in attendance, our friend took us for a walk downtown. And, to our amazement, we saw something we had never seen before...a car without a driver! There are a few large cities with these now, they're called Waymo cars. We rode in one for about 4 blocks and it was a lot of fun, especially to watch Goyo as he sat in the front seat with no driver during the whole drive.

The next day, Goyo had the privilege of speaking at Geña's sister's church.

Saturday we drove to Camarillo to visit our friend and Cofradia United Board Member, Francisco. We spent the day with him and his wife before heading out to Bakersfield for the night.

Sunday morning we both had the opportunity to share at Templo Calvario Bakersfield as we shared a report about the ministry and Goyo shared about his experiences this past year.

After lunch, we hopped in the rental minivan and headed to Woodland Park, Colorado, for a week-long Global Ministers' Conference at Charis Bible College where Emma is studying. It was a long 25 hours in the van as we decided to drive straight through only stopping to get gas, eat, and rest.   

"In and Out" just outside of Las Vegas

We arrived just a couple hours before the conference started which gave us time to shower, get a quick bite to eat, and wind down from the drive.

 

The conference was phenomenal! Each speaker had some very practical and applicable things to say to pastors.  There were testimonies of God's faithfulness, challenges to die to self, encouragement to be faithful in the little things, and recognizing that God has called us to feed his sheep. It doesn't matter the amount of people you're ministering to, what matters is what you're feeding them. 

We met pastors from all over the world: England, France, Kenya, the Middle East, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America. The atmosphere was filled with joy and comradery. I wished that all of our Cofradia United Pastors could have been there. I have already told them to start saving and get their visas in order to attend next year. That would be a blessing!

After the conference had ended, we took Emma out to eat with her friends and the next day we flew to Washington. 

Learning how to use chop-sticks

In Washington, we attended my home church, Gateway Poulsbo, and I showed Goyo around a little bit of the town I grew up in. And, I could not pass up on taking him to the famous Sluy's Bakery downtown Poulsbo!

The next day we relaxed at Lake Leland where my dad and I used to fish together. Goyo caught his first trout. He likes to fish, but has not used a fishing pole before. There are other ways people fish here in Mexico.

He got to spend a day with his brother who lives in Seattle and spent a couple days with Cofradia natives and members of our church here, Everardo and Rosa, who's children all live in the Seattle area as well.

Goyo and his brother Francisco

Finally, the last weekend was a pack-filled day attending the Men's Roundtable on Saturday morning, coffee with our friend Behzad, visiting the Mission Dispatch Director Ted and Linda Pampeyan at their home in Oak Harbor, then before we arrived in Anacortes for a dinner with the team from Christ the King Church who comes to build homes each year in Cofradía, we stopped briefly at the Deception Pass bridge. The next day we spoke at Hosanna Asamblea in Bellevue which was a blessing to be part of their missions month kick-off.

Leaving Port Townsend

Playing Ted's specially-made guitar

CTK Anacortes Team

Finally, we took my mom to breakfast on Monday and spent the rest of the day packing and preparing for our flight back to Mexico on Tuesday.

 

What an adventurous trip! Pastor Goyo was amazed at everyone's hospitality and the level of kindness in everyone. He said he never felt like a stranger. This trip was a mile-marker for him as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his life. What stood out most to him was the conference. They had headphones for Spanish-speakers as the whole conference was dubbed into Spanish. The content had a great impact on his life and he was blessed, blessed, blessed!

 

Thank you so much for those of you who were able to help out during this time. It was well worth it in every way! Your partnership means so much to all of us and we are very appreciative! Blessings to everyone!

 

Thanks again for partnering with us at Cofradía United

as we Raise Up Leaders in Rural Mexico!