Senior Missions Blog Archive
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19
SPAIN MISSIONS TRIP (2025)
DAY 0
Spain, here we come!
We’re about to board the plane! The team is excited for our journey and the adventure that lies ahead. Thank you to everyone who supported us and got us to this point.
We are grateful for our families and friends who came to send us off at the airport and for Mr. A who prayed over us before departing.
Tomorrow will be a full day of travel from Toronto, transiting through Portugal, and then on to Spain.
Flying out,
Team Spain
DAY 1
We have landed in Portugal and by God’s grace, though our flight arrived more than an hour late, we made it on time to the bus that will take us to Santiago de Compostela.
It was a joy for the team to read the many airplane letters written to us from hundreds of PCA students and enjoyed the many treats and snacks generously given to us. Thank you!
We have a 3.5 hour bus ride ahead. The team is in good spirits.
*Update* This afternoon, after meeting our local hosts at the Bus Terminal, we made our way through the historic streets of Santiago to our accommodations and settled in. We were given a few hours to rest and recuperate, which was much needed after many hours of travel.
Following the Spanish custom of late and lengthy meals, at 8:00 the team went to a local restaurant to enjoy delicious tapas, a wide range of dishes that are served many at a time, family style, and meant to be enjoyed in small portions. We tried staples such as Spanish tortilla, croquetas, and fried calamari, all while getting to know our hosts a bit better and learning more about each other. During a quick debrief, we reflected on God's goodness and protection over each step of our journey today. We look forward to getting a good night's sleep tonight as our bodies recover from the long day and work to adjust to the time change.
Please pray for a restful night and renewed strength for tomorrow. Please pray for good weather as we explore the city, and that the forecasted rain wouldn't complicate our plans. Please also pray that we would be continually reminded of the reason why we are in Spain - that while the sights are exciting, the time with each other is fun, and the food is abundant and appetizing, we remain focused on our mission to spread God's word to those we meet and be an encouragement to the missionaries living here.
6 hours ahead we are off to bed.
~ Team Spain
DAY 2
Hola from Spain!
Today was our first full day in Santiago, which began with us making breakfast at our accommodations. Be it Markham or Santiago, scrambled eggs, toast, and yogurt are always a great way to start the day. However, it becomes even better with juicy Spanish oranges added in! As we adjust to the time change, the slower-paced Spanish lifestyle has served us well. Most places don't open until 10:00, so we also don't get moving out of the house until then either! We have discovered that rain is an unpredictable, but constant, part of life in the city. No good outfit is complete without an umbrella, unless you are one of us who happened to forget to pack one (thank goodness for corner stores)! Our first walk through the rain today was to the church that One Collective partners with. There, we received an orientation and overview of the many ministries that exist in Santiago under the Apotheca umbrella (no pun intended), such as A Horta da Avoa, a shop for local farmers' produce and artisanal goods, Voces Mujeres, an outreach program for vulnerable women, and Pilgrim House, a place for pilgrims to find rest and debrief their journeys. We learned a lot about the many layers of local history, which helped us contextualize why there is so much resistance to and rejection of the church. We better understand the desire of the Apotheca team to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they partner with locals, be they believers, questioners, or rejectors of the Christian faith, and walk alongside them through their trials and triumphs. The team also discussed how we can be catalysts for change in our own communities back home.
For lunch, we went to A Horta de Avoa for sandwiches, chips, and freshly baked carrot cake. As we made our way through the city, we marvelled at the sights of the towering cathedral, old buildings, beautiful parks, and ever-present seashell icons, a symbol of the Camino. We explored a few grocery stores to gather groceries for our Sunday dinner before returning to our housing for a bit of down time. The afternoon siesta is another aspect of Spanish life that we are striving to respect and enjoy. While we are all eager to be on the go, filling our days with as many things as possible, we are also trying to be open to what God may be trying to teach us through intentional moments of rest and reflection. Taking advantage of a sunny afternoon, we went to a local park for a bit of frisbee, acapella worship, and a lot of sharing. While here, we are reading through the book of James. In today's discussion, we talked about how we may better be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (vs 19), both while in Spain as well as in Canada. We are being challenged to not "merely listen to the word", but rather to "do what it says" (vs 22). Our day closed with a yummy dinner of doner kebabs and a walk home in the light rain.
Through our walks and meals, we have been connecting with the local missionaries and learning about their personal stories, testimonies, and struggles. One of our teams' goals is to be a blessing to those who are doing God's work in Santiago. Fellowship with other Christians is something they don't get a lot of, so they find it uplifting. Please pray that God uses us to encourage the missionaries in ways that are meaningful and life-giving to them. Please pray for us to set aside our own expectations and attune our ears to hearing God's voice throughout the day, especially during the moments of rest that have been carefully built into our schedule. Additionally, we appreciate your continued prayers for our health and safety, especially with the rainy weather.
A little bit damp,
Team Spain
Day 3
Our team is slowly becoming breakfast-making masters. Parents, feel free to take advantage of their growing culinary skills upon our return, as long as you keep it to eggs and toast! Our first stop today was another local park where we met up with Raul and Delma, two missionaries that One Collective partners with in the city. Though it was windy and cold, we were blessed to hear their testimonies and see how God has moved in their lives, both in Spain and abroad. From Raul, we were reminded that God can turn even the "fleas" of your life into something beautiful. From Delma, we were challenged to listen for God's calling in our lives, even though it may lead us to places we never imagined for ourselves. We enjoyed spending time with them and learning from their experiences and openness to share.
Please pray for Raul and his ministry with the local church, as well as his initiatives towards creating community for immigrants in Santiago, that the people would be open to receiving God's word and that those who now live here would find the fellowship they seek. Please pray for Delma as she plans for her upcoming mission to Colombia's Amazon region to minister to children living within the guerilla group FARC, that she would be kept safe and that her years of childrens' ministry would enable her to reach this vulnerable group.
We enjoyed a lunch in the park of Spanish empanadas, salad, olives, grapes, and Basque cheesecake. We all agree that we will happily endure the rain for such delicious food! Our afternoon activities began with a walk to the Cathedral of Santiago, where we were able to go inside and explore. It is hard to describe the intricate details and impressive architecture, but we certainly understand how this site can be an impactful visit for a pilgrim finishing their Camino walk. Upon heading back outside, we were greeted by a very welcome sight - the sun! The next few hours were spent in glorious sunshine as we were led in a guided tour through the many squares of old town and up several notable streets, learning history and cultural context along the way. The tour ended at the perfect spot for our team - a playground! Though we may currently be missionaries, we are all still just kids longing to swing and slide and zip-line. Our childlike joy continued as we indulged in some gelato and wandered through the streets surrounding our accommodations, finding souvenirs and building community with each other. Afterwards, everyone was ready for a little siesta. Before leaving for dinner later in the evening, we again talked about our desire to uplift the Santiago One Collective team and their partners through participating in their ministries, but also through listening to their stories and being present with them. After our supper of pork, potatoes, and salad, we were able to catch the sunset on the Cathedral and take some photos to help us remember our day of learning and togetherness.
Though we are out of school at the moment, we are students of Santiago, soaking up as much knowledge and insight as we can to better understand the locals, the pilgrims, and the missionaries. Identifying the details of the buildings and hearing the rich stories they tell of centuries of Spaniards better equips us. Witnessing strangers-turned-friends arrive at the foot of the Cathedral, exclaiming with joy that they finally made it, better equips us. Laughing and joking with those who have followed the call to serve the lost that God so loves better equips us. Our team is being filled to the brim with rest and community and context. We can only conclude that God is preparing us to pour it out into this city so that we may minister effectively and purposefully.
Please pray for our continued health as the changing temperatures and long days of walking confuse our bodies and tire us out. Please pray that we may continue to be intentional in our conversations and actions with others, both on our team, in One Collective, and otherwise. Please pray for the church service that we will be attending tomorrow and for the worship that we will be leading in Spanish.
Graciñas,
["Thank you" in Gallego, a local language]
Team Spain
Day 4
*Special student edition*
What’s up chat! We back at it again!! This is the yearly Issac and Nathan takeover. After our boring breakfast of eggs and bread, we went to one of the, if not only, protestant churches in the city. We had the privilege of leading the Spanish worship songs, and listened carefully as the folks of the church discussed what it means to build up one another as a body of Christ according to Romans 15. Of course it was all in Spanish, so we didn’t understand everything that was going on, but we had some translation to help us out. After service, we had the opportunity to eat snacks and get to know others at the church.
For lunch, we split off into our small groups and had the chance to explore the city and try to order some food. This was the perfect opportunity to practice our Spanish with locals and really eat! Nathan ate a whole platter of seafood meant for two, by himself. I, Issac, ate octopus and clams, and then finished Hannah’s and Steven’s leftovers. This lunch was a top three meal we’ve eaten since we’ve been here. During our eating time, we were also mentally, physically, and spiritually preparing ourselves for the street evangelism that we were about to do.
To do the street evangelism, we wandered around the squares and streets surrounding the Cathedral of St. James, looking for people to talk to, with the goal of planting the seeds of the gospel and hearing their stories. For many of us, this was our first time walking up to strangers and trying to talk to them about our faith. It was a scary but encouraging experience. Many of us actually wished we could’ve done this all day. There were many good and fruitful conversations that came out of it. In the days leading up to this, we have been constantly praying for the people here, that they would open up their hearts and be willing to hear and have conversations with us. We hoped that we’d be able to leave a lasting impact in their lives by planting seeds of faith. Another thing we have been constantly praying for was boldness, not through our own strength, but through God’s. After this time of street evangelism, I’d say that our prayers were answered. This was great preparation for when we start to walk the Camino on Tuesday.
We all were sad to go back to our humble abodes and leave evangelising. We shared and reflected on our own experiences, and even though there were many of us that hadn’t done this type of ministry before, every single person found it was a worthwhile time. Kaeden, on the guitar, led us in a time of worship with the song “Mighty to Save”. This song summarised our experiences and why we are here in Spain.
Today’s supper plan was that the guys cook for the girls, and the girls cook for the guys. The girls held Issac hostage at their place to prepare for children’s ministry tomorrow, so the rest of the guys had to cook without him. But, as soon as the boys got back home, we became a world class culinary school, with Juan Pedro as head chef guiding our every step towards making a Michelin star level seafood pasta. Here’s a detailed description of the main dish by head chef JP: “It’s seafood pasta.” The appetizer was a very well prepared plate of charcuterie named “Kaeden’s meat”. Our salad was a very well prepared salad called “A Salad”. Our dessert was called “Damian’s Disappointing Dessert”. The boys were clearly better at making dinner than the girls. As Issac was held hostage, watching the girls cook, he can report that they made an amuse-bouche, “Abi’s Appy’s”, a charcuterie board filled with local Spanish delicacies. They also made an appetizer called “Misia’s Not-So-Garlic Garlic Bread”. Their main course was Hannah and Dora’s “Salad with Fire Vinagrette” and Jessie’s specialty: “4-Burner Pasta and Meatballs with a Side of Tears”. The girls prepared special and totally homemade (not) vanilla flan for dessert, and we ate all of them even though we were only supposed to eat nine of them but we just had to mix one into Coke and see how it tasted - “Honestly, like, it was amazing”.
Thank you for your prayers so far. Please pray for good sleep for us tonight so we can be ready for a busy day of children’s ministry, store remodeling, and Camino preparation tomorrow. Especially pray for the team members who will be leading stories and activities with the kids, and for great weather tomorrow since our ministry site is outside.
Ready for Gordon Ramsey,
Team Spain
Day 5
Thank you, supporters, for praying for the weather. The sun was out all day today, which the locals are saying is a rare occurrence. Not only did the clear skies make it possible for us to engage in our ministries but it also helped us to enjoy the city and day’s experience so much more. Praise God for giving us this gift!
We began our morning by gathering at a park. We sang some worship songs and then discussed insights from our devotional reading of James chapter 2. One observation from the group was that verse 19 says, “Even the demons believe - and shudder!“, which led us to ask the question: How do we develop faith that goes beyond just believing? A meaningful discussion then emerged about faith and action. May we continue to digest these words from James.
We took a break from our usual eggs and toast (and from cooking - yay!) and devoured some freshly baked empanadas for breakfast before splitting up into two groups for the day’s ministry activities - children’s ministry and Apotheca remodelling.
The children's ministry team set up their activities and waited for the kids to arrive. The event was due to begin at 11:30, which in Spanish time could be anytime from 11:30-12:30. Luckily, we had no trouble keeping ourselves busy with shoe basketball, object lesson practice, and chatting with the One Collective team. Unfortunately, by the time the food arrived, no children or other family members had shown up, which likely meant that no one would be coming. We learned that an unfortunate incident had happened to one of the most involved families, and that there must have been some other issue going on to prevent the rest of the people from arriving. While we were disheartened, we kept our spirits high and decided to have Abby do her competition hangman verse game, and for Misia and Issac to go through the storyboard painting with us as if we were kids. Delma, the One Collective partner that we met the other day, was also there and she really enjoyed watching the activities that we had prepared. She asked if she could take the completed painting with her to use as both an outreach tool for her upcoming missions and as an example to teach others about how to do children's ministry well. We are grateful that God turned our disappointment into joy, and that He used the moment as an opportunity to reach children in ways that we couldn't have imagined and to train leaders for ministry. He truly is good! We were able to leave the food, treats, and craft materials with Sybille to distribute in the community. Afterwards, we had time to go back to the squares surrounding the Cathedral and participate in more street evangelism. We had many meaningful conversations and felt even more confident in approaching people, listening to their stories, and sometimes having the chance to share about our own journeys in life and faith.
The Apotheca team served at their general/convenience store, which is closing and being converted into a new ministry site. We were asked to help clean, organize and build as they remodel the space. The hope is that it will become a gathering place for people to work and hang out. Some of our students wiped (very) dusty walls, windows and furniture. They really made every effort to clean things thoroughly and even wiped some spots twice or even three times. Other students used their carpentry skills to repurpose furniture and build/paint a new store sign. Though the work may have ended up a little crooked, Dusty, the lead carpenter, was very gracious in commending them for their efforts. The students had such a good attitude, even with the not-so-glamorous tasks, and they joyfully served the local missionaries in this very tangible way. On our way back to the apartment, as we passed the Cathedral courtyard, the team was eager to engage in more conversations with pilgrims. We are so impressed by their initiative and enthusiasm.
We will be experiencing the Camino tomorrow and during our visit to the Pilgrim’s House, another branch of the Apotheca initiative, we were provided with orientation training about the walk. The Pilgrim’s House exists as a Welcome Centre for pilgrims entering the city as they reach their final destination. Thousands of pilgrims pass through the House each year. The staff help to meet some of their physical needs, like providing them with a place to rest or do laundry and make available to them methods of process their spiritual and emotional growth.
We would appreciate your prayer for the following items regarding our Camino experience tomorrow:
- rain-free weather
- endurance to walk the 19 km uneven trail, especially for those with previous knee and ankle injuries
- opportunities to meet and listen to the stories of other pilgrims
- boldness to offer to pray with them and wisdom to know when to direct the conversation toward spiritual things
- moments of self-reflection and conversation with God while on the journey
We are excited for the journey ahead. Anticipating sore feet but grateful for the opportunity,
Team Spain
Day 6
The Camino de Santiago. In English, the way of Saint James. It is a network of trails stemming from the surrounding countries of Portugal and France, which all lead to the cathedral of Saint James. History tells us that the apostle James walked to the end of the known world, Spain, spreading the good news. While he died along the way, his bones were carried and buried in the city of Santiago. The route that he took became a pilgrimage for other followers of Christ, which, through the passing of time, expanded into the network of paths and roads it is today. It is the stuff of legends, bucket lists, and Hollywood movies. For some, it is a way to prove their devotion to God or complete penance. For others, it is a step in the process of grieving a loved one. For us, it was a time of reflection, connection, and community.
After a hearty breakfast - fresh omlettes for the girls, microwaved leftover seafood pasta for the boys - the team took a bus to O Pedrouzo, a city just under 20 kilometres from the Cathedral. Our only way back was to take the Camino by foot. While there were those of us dreading this walk, some were wishing to be dropped off even further away (though they may have changed their minds as the day went on). Armed with snacks, water, and sunscreen, some with walking poles, all with iconic Camino shells dangling from our backpacks, we set out, trusting the vibrant yellow arrows to guide us. We also made sure to bring along the beautiful bracelets and bookmarks made by the sending team to give to people we encountered, either along the Camino or in the square at the end. We began with a few kilometres of silent solo time before splitting into our small groups until lunchtime. Like true Spaniards, we lingered at lunch for several hours, enjoying the rest and shade as well as the paella, croquetas, sandwiches, and patatas bravas. Afterwards, our groups separated into preference of pace, one pack taking a commanding lead, while the other two groups decided to take their walk a bit slower. There were not many other pilgrims that we passed along the way, though we did trade turns overtaking and being overtaken by a family from Poland all throughout the day. Eventually, nearing 7:00 pm, we made our triumphant arrival into the Praza do Obradoiro together, running, leaping, and yelling with joy at finishing our small part of the Camino.
Each team member had a different experience today. It is best to let you read about it in their own words (one sentence each):
Dora: Another day appreciating God’s creation and it was surprisingly easier than I thought…I actually enjoyed it! :) 10/10
Abby: I enjoyed the experience and I realized that I enjoy silence.
Steven: I loved strengthening bonds and pushing past limits.
Nathan: Despite the knees hurting and sun blazing down, there is so much joy in walking through God’s creation.
Damian: Although I can't feel my legs after the walk, I deepened my bond with many of my friends and became more trusting in the LORD.
Alex: Being on this Camino gave me time to reflect on my relationship with the Lord and appreciate his creation.
Issac: A hot and tiring time for me to take in all of God’s creations
Misia: A rollercoaster emotionally, spiritually, and of course physically, but my feet are surprisingly fine and clear skies all the way :)
Sammi: My knees are very worn out, but I thoroughly enjoyed having the time to grow my relationships with my teammates and with God.
JP: Walking through creation can be difficult, but it really makes you think about the creator in an amazing way.
Isaac: OH BUBBA! I had fun walking in crocs, but most importantly it was a great experience to build my relationship with Christ and friends!
Kaeden: The trees, the sky, the river, the air, the food, the people, the talking, everything that happened in this camino made this a memorable experience.
Jessie: Burnt and numb, but I loved collecting stamps and seals along the way – shout out God for all the wonderful things we’ve seen and experienced! :P
Hannah: Though disappointed that we weren’t able to have any conversations with pilgrims, I am thankful for the opportunity to grow in my relationships with my teammates and reflect on the faithfulness of God, who is our camino (the way)!
Mrs. Bennett: "God is a genius artist" - His creation and His people are beautiful and profound.
Mrs. Tam: Even though my knees have been acting up on our daily walks around the city, God was so gracious to me and allowed me to experience the camino with no pain today and I got to enjoy very meaningful conversations with my fellow pilgrims.
Mr. Chung - “Working through how to bring back the balance of Spain to Canada”
Buen camino, supporters. May your walk in life and in faith always be good.
Tomorrow, the guys will be helping with Farmer’s Basket to assemble and delivery fresh produce to the community while the ladies will learn about Voces Mujeres, a ministry aimed to reach vulnerable women. Please pray that the team will recover well physically as they rest tonight and will be ready to service and learn from these ministry partners.
Los peregrinos [The pilgrims],
Team Spain
Day 7
It is hard to believe that a week has passed since we left Canada. It feels both much longer and much shorter at the same time.
This morning after breakfast the boys and the girls went to separate activities, learning about and getting a taste of two of Apotheca's ministries. The girls went to the church to meet with Megan, the current leader of Voces Mujeres, a group for women. She led us through our own session, mirroring what a group time with the ladies would be. We enjoyed chatting, deeper conversation, prayer, crafting, and some snacking. During our time together, we learned more about some deep-rooted issues of machismo and domestic violence that occur in Spain and why it can be hard for women to escape such difficult situations. Together, we talked about how we can be sisters in Christ that support other women, both in small and big ways. After a time of prayer, Eva, a missionary partner with Apotheca, taught us how to make pipe cleaner flowers. While the craft was simple, the time of bonding and being together was sweet. We talked about life, sang some Disney songs, and made beautiful (and not-so-beautiful) little bouquets. This is the point of Voces Mujeres - to provide a safe space for women, both those with obvious needs as well as those without them, to commune with others, maybe learn more about Christ, and make something with their hands. One of the more elaborate handicrafts that the women make together is Spanish olive oil soap, which is sold to support the ministry. We all made sure to place our orders today!
The boys, on the other hand, partnered with the farmer's basket ministry. During our stay here in Santiago, our team has had a chance to experience a taste of paradise from fresh fruits and veggies sourced from local Spanish farms. It has been a real treat! Apotheca purchases items from local farmers to sell in their store and to make food baskets, which are both purchased online and donated to families that are in need. This morning, we got to make baskets of these amazing fruits and veggies to distribute to the community. The baskets are not just a way to support the local store, but they also give smaller farmers a chance to sell their produce. Many of the big supermarkets have put produce shops out of business, so these baskets are a great way for One Collective to connect with the community and the farmers, as well as generate business in a different way. Some of us also had the chance to go out and complete the deliveries of the finished products, meeting new people and seeing how wide the reach of this ministry is.
After a sandwich lunch, the team had time to do some souvenir shopping in the city. By now, we all feel as though we know our little corner of Santiago well, even though we may not quite look like locals. Some of the boys decided that they would try their hand at busking on the street, not for money, but just for fun. They played the guitar and sang worship songs, even attracting several people to stop and talk about their music. The buskers ended up having the opportunity to pray for one of the pilgrims that engaged with them. It is wonderful to see how eager this team is to point others to God, using their personal free time to reach out to others and plant seeds.
Our evening began with a Camino debrief facilitated by Pilgrim House staff. We were able to reflect on and process our walks, sharing with each other how our experiences were and thinking of ways that we can bring things that we learned back with us to Canada. We discussed topics such as the value of meeting with God in His beautiful creation and the struggle to find times of rest in our busy lives of schoolwork, extra-curriculars, and familial responsibilities. We better understand how valuable this place can be for pilgrims finishing their Camino walks, and how unique a ministry it is. Upon finishing our dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, the team indulged in churros with hot chocolate sauce before walking to the nearby park for our debrief. Mr. Chung led us in a discussion about James 3, reminding us how powerful our tongues can be, both for edification and for harm. We completed a group encouragement activity, each taking a turn to build up another team member. Though we were timid and unsure at first, we opened up to each other in a special way, using a Camino walking stick to help us gain courage to speak the truth in love. Tears were shed, hugs were shared, and everyone's spirits were lifted. While the students could have continued on sharing for many more hours, we all eventually made our way to bed feeling more bonded and grateful for the opportunity to share.
Please pray for use as we enter our final full day in Santiago tomorrow. Pray for the farmers that we will be visiting and for the worship night that we will be leading. Please also pray for the connections that have been formed between the team members and the growth that they are experiencing together. God is moving in our hearts in different ways, but pray that in these next few days, we would all be quick to listen and quick to use our words to uplift one another.
Encouraged,
Team Spain
Day 8
Hello everyone!! Welcome to the one and only Jessie (Yethica) and Misia (Mitha) take-over! To make our last full day in Santiago de Compostela memorable, the girls were up bright and early to watch the sunrise rising over the cathedral (we were freezing but it was worth it :p), while the guys were taping towels to their washing machine. These jawns decided that putting dish soap AND a tide-pod in the machine was a good idea. It was not. After that fiasco, the guys left their chaos and gallivanted into our apartment stomping up the stairs. It was time for the team to head out to meet Dusty and his team at the park! We were going to a local family farm!! Oh bubba!
In comparison to Canada at the moment, it was BLAZING hot when we arrived at the farm… but we were able to meet Teresa and her parents. They’ve been running this farm for decades!! Through the helpful guidance of Dusty and Ms. Bennett’s translations, we were able to learn about so much of the farm’s history. We listened to Teresa explain how they planted and tied tomato seedlings, the struggles it took to maintain crops and how to grow and pluck lettuce leaves, as well as HUGE bok-choy. Some members even tried digging up spinach plants. Teresa's mother even said that she saw potential in Issac and JP. Many were contemplating staying and becoming farmers! Hannah, Abi, and Alex even learned how to properly water the plants! The family then showed us their family home and all their chickens! Nathan Fung thoroughly enjoyed clucking at the chickens, and JP was drooling at the mouth, foreseeing KFC. In the end, the team members carried crates full of fresh produce to eat and to bring back to Apotheca and help make their farmers baskets. Ironically, after we returned to the city and the church, a lunch of rotisserie chicken and the freshly picked lettuce awaited us.
After a long fulfilling feast, the worship team began prepping for worship later in the day while the rest of the team were either messing around on the drums, or deeply passed out on the couches after a long morning. The whole team and all of the One Collective staff came to worship with us and do a last debrief together. We sang songs together, and one verse that stood out to Misia was in Firm Foundation: “I’ve still got joy in chaos, I’ve got peace that makes no sense”, and this is just reminding us that God is with us through every circumstance! Knowing that we can still find peace and happiness in serving the Lord amidst tough times is very important.
After worship, Dusty led us to reflect on our expectations and experiences after a week of being in Spain. We ended the debrief with a thank you by giving the One Collective staff goodies from Canada that you can’t find in Spain. After the debrief we walked to one of two McDonalds in Santiago. Did you know that European McDonalds is GREEN!! The team enjoyed a triple-cheeseburger (or a quintuple) combo and some even ordered extra menu items that we wouldn’t be able to find in Canada. We were all super duper stuffed. We ended the night wandering in groups around Old town and ended up in the cathedral square where we individually reflected on our experiences in this city and prayed over the people and city of Santiago de Compostela one final time. And that’s our day! Wonder if the guys ever fixed their washing machine… Jessie and Misia signing out
Please pray for safe travel tomorrow as we take a bus to Porto. Please also pray for the health of the team members as we are all tired and feeling the weight of processing different emotions.
Day 9
Olá de Porto, Portugal!
The team has officially left Spain and started our debrief day and a half in Porto before flying back on Sunday. Alongside breakfast, our morning was kept busy with final packing and cleaning. Afterwards, we walked through the city streets one last time before boarding a coach bus and driving to Porto, most of us taking the opportunity to catch up on some sleep. Upon arriving at the bus terminal, we grabbed some sandwiches, pastries, and fruit cups for lunch before venturing into the subway system. The final leg of our journey was a short walk from the subway station which took us to our hotel. We were all glad to drop off our bags and rest for a while!
In today's debrief, we dove into several topics to help us process and reflect on our experiences. We remembered the sounds, tastes, and sights of Santiago, each sharing special glimpses and memories of our days there. It was a time of joy to recap the many things that transpired and to relive moments from each others' perspectives. We also talked through unmet expectations, frustrations, and disappointments that we may be feeling as our time in Spain is over. We recognize that while we do our best to be flexible and just serve God joyfully as best we can, we also walked into this experience with expectations, both our own and others'. Though the trip was different from what many of us were picturing, we all know that God has been at work and we feel that it has been edifying for us, for the One Collective team, and for the city of Santiago. We will continue to discuss and process our thoughts together and we eagerly anticipate sharing with you what we have witnessed and felt God doing. Very fittingly, our devotion on James 4 reminded us to submit ourselves to God, and to hold loosely to our plans, instead saying, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that" (vs. 15).
Dinner tonight was traditional Portuguese food such as octopus risotto, sea bass, and cod croquettes. We enjoyed experiencing new foods and good conversation. Our final activity for the day was to wander through a bit of old town in search of the iconic pasteis de nata, Portuguese custard tarts. We are happy to report that we found some and we are happier to report that they did not last long! While walking, the team enjoyed seeing the mix of modern and historic on every street and had fun spending time in community with one another.
Please pray for our conversations and our times of reflection, that we may continue to be open with one another and that we may support each other along the way. Please pray for our time of exploring Porto tomorrow, that we may have good weather, and for our safety. Finally, please pray that we may not feel the weight of expectation from ourselves or from others, and that we may instead focus on building God's kingdom wherever and however we can.
Processing,
Team Spain
Day 10
Our last full day in Europe has been blessed with wonderful weather - yet another sign of God's faithfulness and provision towards us, in things big and small. Mrs. Tam prepared a wonderful day of sightseeing and exploring the city, ensuring that we see many of the top attractions while not feeling overwhelmed or getting too tired. Our first stop was a large market full of fruit stalls, pastry stands, meats, cheeses, veggies, and so many other goodies. We split off to find breakfast and all were able to hunt down something good like fruit salad, meat pies, and eclairs - perfect fuel for the day of walking ahead.
There are many places to visit in Porto, and while we could not get to them all, we did manage to hit some of the best. We ate chicken nuggets at the world's prettiest McDonald's. We marvelled at the intricacy of the famous blue and white tiled buildings. We soaked in the sun and the spray of the water under the bridge and along the harbourfront. Perhaps the most amazing visit today was a totally unexpected one as we managed to run into a group from Markham which included two PCA Grandparent Eagles from Markham! Eagles nation is going global!
For lunch, we went into small groups along the waterfront, with many team members deciding to go to yet another market, this one filled with Poke bowls, pasta dishes, sweets and treats, and typical Portuguese dishes such as the Francesinhas sandwich. While deciding was hard, it seemed like any choice was a good one. While out and about, we stopped for debrief to plan for upcoming sharing and reviewed James 5. We reflected on the instruction given to "be patient and stand firm" (vs. 8 ), even in suffering or times of hardship. Back at our hotel later, we spent some time in John 15 talking about what it means to abide in Christ and how we may bear good fruit upon our return to Canada. We know that it will come in different forms, some more obvious or quicker than others, but we believe that we are all capable of being God's fruit bearers.
Our final dinner together was an unexpected treat as we went to a Portuguese churrasqueira which specializes in meat in many forms. Plates were filled with ribs, chicken, steak, veal, sausage, pork chops, fish, and more! We enjoyed good conversation and reflection on special moments from our time together. Many talks continued further into the night as team members process the whole experience and continue to build community with each other. Please pray for our times of reflecting and processing, and that we may live out our desires to abide in Christ. Pray for good rest tonight for the long day ahead. Of course, please pray for safe, smooth travels from the hotel to the airport and from the airport to Toronto Pearson. We are so thankful for your prayers until now and we feel well supported and loved.
Abiding,
Team Spain
Home!
Dear Supporters,
After an early wake-up call and an adventurous journey (I’ll let you ask the team about it), we are now home with our loved ones.
Thank you for coming long side us for the last 11 days and for praying for us throughout. We hope that these posts have given you a glimpse into our experience in Spain.
Please lift up the team in prayer as they continue to process their experience while reintegrating back at school and home. May God cause the seeds planted in their hearts to grow.
Muchos gracias,
Team Spain
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
Journey with Us!
Read about our students’ previous experience in our blog.
MAY 2024 BLOG
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PCA has been sending grade 12 students to Mexico since 2001 to build houses with Mexican Caravan Ministries. To date we have built over 35 homes in Tijuana.
This May, we will be building 6 small houses for underprivileged families in Tijuana in partnership with Mexico Caravan Ministries. -
Mexican Caravan Ministries (MCM) was started in 1984 when a missionary, David Burdette, was approached to help a young mother in need. She had acquired a piece of land, but was going to lose the land if she did not construct a house on it. Dave was able to enlist the help of a youth group from San Diego to help construct a small home for this young mother. And thus the idea for MCM was born.
MCM facilities the construction of small 12x12 shelters for those who don’t have adequate shelter. They host teams that come to help build the shelters and minister to the locals in the area. All materials are purchased on the local market.
For more information on MCM, visit: Mexico Caravan Ministries. -
As Christians, our service to others is always a response to God’s act of service to us through the death of Jesus on the cross. We love others because He first loved us. Our grad trip seeks to highlight this reality by providing an opportunity for our students to discover the joy of serving those in need.
PCA and Mexico Caravan Ministries (MCM) have had a long partnership together. Since 2001, we have sent teams of students to Mexico to work with and learn from MCM. We have found that the greatest benefit of the ministry of MCM has been for graduating students. This is due to the fact that MCM provides very meaningful and challenging teaching to students about their personal involvement in world missions and evangelism–aspects of Christian discipleship which are central to PCA’s philosophy.
We did not want to neglect the reality that our students are also social beings–not just spiritual. Therefore, along with the service aspect of the grad trip, they will also be provided with opportunities for bonding, reflection and celebration during their time in San Diego.
Because this is a graduation trip, students cover the cost of their own travel and expenses. The only component they fundraise for is the cost of the building material they need to build the 6 small houses. -
Dear parents,
By God’s grace, we have safely arrived at the dorms of Mexico Caravan Ministries. The students are starting to get tired. It’s been a long day of travel and the three hour time difference is beginning to catch up.
After a brief orientation session, the team loaded the trucks with materials for the builds tomorrow. They are worked well together and are now having some free time. We will head out to their first Mexican taco stand for dinner soon.
We are thankful for you, our families, and pray that all the mom’s had a nice Mother’s Day today.
Blessings,
Team Mexico -
Dear parents,
Our day began at 6:30 AM with a full morning.
Students said they were pleasantly surprised at how well they slept last night. We did personal devotions at 7AM, had a simple breakfast at 7:30 and then started our morning session at 8AM. This will be our schedule for the entirety of our time at MCM.
During the morning session, we had the privilege of spending time in worship and then hearing from Brooks Buzer, the president of Radius International, a missionary training school here in Tijuana. Brooks shared about his incredible journey as a missionary to an unreached people group in Papa New Guinea. He outlined four reasons why people become missionaries and challenged our students to allow God to use them in missions during the years of their youth. He left the students with much to ponder and digest.
We loaded our trucks with tools and headed with our teams to our two worksites. The MCM interns patiently guided us in building our first structures. For many students, this was their first time hammering, sawing and putting material together. The work was tiring but they thoroughly enjoyed the process. Before raising the roof, we stopped for lunch, which is generally provided to us from the Mexican family receiving the structure. This lunch will often cost them more than a week’s worth of wages and we enjoyed every bite.
The afternoon was spent painting and nailing down tar paper on the roof and after praying with the families and giving them a housewarming gift, we headed back to the MCM dorms. Since it was such a warm day today, the students got treated to some
Mexican popsicles and ice cream, which was much appreciated.
We are heading out to dinner now and the students are looking forward to some more authentic tacos. We have been so well fed thus far.
Everyone is healthy and happy. We can hear their laughter throughout the building.
Gratefully,
Team Mexico -
An update written by some of the students:
Dear Parents,
After consuming some cereal with milk and/or toast with jam with a side of bananas and sliced oranges, we headed to the meeting room to hear from Eddie Passmore. Eddie is the senior director of MCM, who has faithfully served here for more than 21 years.
Eddie shared about three keys ways to live like Jesus and encouraged us to have the passion that Jesus had for the lost and to be like Jesus’ disciples, who dropped everything to follow him. We pray that our students will take these points to heart.
Next, we went on to build our next set of houses. In general the teams were more familiar with what they needed to do and progress was much quicker today. One team was even an hour ahead of where they were at lunch time yesterday. The students are certainly gaining confidence in their skills and familiarity of what to do next.
We ate at the dorms tonight and had roasted chickens with tortilla wraps and salsa chips. The students enjoyed their meal. To end the night, we met with the MCM interns and listened to their testimonies.
Tired,
Team Mexico -
An update written by some of the students:
Hola,
Today the green team beat the purple team. (this is definitely biased). In all seriousness, the last day of building was amazing. We started off with a great breakfast, devotional time, worship, and a speaker, and we were quickly off to the build site. The interns had to leave earlier, so we were all working really hard so that we didn’t have to do anything on our own (because that’s when it all goes wrong…). It was extremely rewarding to finish off tacking the roofs all by ourselves with no help by the experts (well, we think we’re experts at this point). Then the highlight of the day: the showers!!!! We raced to make it in time, and finally got to soak in boiling hot water and wash off the last three days of hard work.
We’re heading off to dinner now. Adios!
Team Mexico -
Dear Parents,
We attended our last morning session with Spencer, the director of MCM, recapping all of the messages the group heard this week about following Jesus and reaching the lost for Christ. He ended by asking us: What part will you play in global missions?
After a one hour drive, we arrived at Casa Hogar, an orphanage where we would spend the day. The students quickly connected with the children there through sports, bracelet making and simply playing together. Our goal for the day was to love on them so that they can experience Jesus love for them. We made and provided them with a simple lunch of hot dogs, watermelon and snacks. Though what we were able to bring was so little, the children were grateful.
One last ice cream stop seemed appropriate for our last day of service in Mexico. The students thoroughly enjoyed the unique flavours.
After spending some time tidying up and packing for our departure tomorrow, we debriefed in our teams and had a very meaningful time sharing about the many thoughts that we are processing resulting from our experiences in Mexico and at MCM.
The students have been thankful for the opportunity to serve in such unique ways here in Tijuana. The experience has been, as one student put it, very satisfying, especially on the days when at the end of the afternoon they can see the product of labour in the form of a tangible shelter.
Please pray that these young people will continue to allow the Spirit to stir their hearts towards Jesus.
Team Mexico -
Dear Parents,
By God’s grace, we are settled in at our hotel in San Diego and the students are finishing their small group debriefing and starting to get ready for bed.
Our day began with our usual routine of wake up, devotions and then breakfast. Except today, it was followed with cleaning the MCM dorms before heading out to cross the US border.
The wait at the border was unusually short and we were back in San Diego much earlier than expected.
Thankful,
Daisy -
Dear Parents,
I apologize the late night messages. We have had many full days and I often don’t have a chance to get to writing these update until the students are settled in their rooms at 10PM.
The students had a wonderful day of celebrating the end of their grad trip together by exploring the San Diego Safari Park, where they got to ride a tram through an African safari and visit animals from around the world. Next, they enjoyed chicken burgers from
Chick-Fil-A as we headed to the La Jolla Cove beach. They spend time playing in the sand and stepping into the cold ocean water.
After cleaning themselves up, we headed to a fancy restaurant, on the water, for their final grad dinner. It was the perfect way to cap off our week away.
We will be flying home tomorrow morning. Please remember to check on the flight status before heading to the airport and budget some time for us to pick up to our luggage. See you soon!
Satisfied,
Team Mexico
BOSTON 2023
Thank you to all who supported our 2023 Boston Missions Team! It is through your financial generosity and prayers that our team was able to share the Gospel to the diverse communities of Boston. To God be the glory!
Read about our journey and view the picture gallery below
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Friday, February 23rd, 2023
Thank you for supporting our 2023 Boston Missions Team!
See 2023 Boston Missions for pictures
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Saturday, April 15th, 2023
Thank you to our families and to Mr. A for making the trip to the airport and praying a blessing over our team before we boarded our flight.
Thank you to everyone back home who are faithfully praying for our time of ministry in Boston. We will update you regularly. -
Sunday, April 16th, 2023
Dear Supporters,
We are in Boston!
By God’s grace, our air travel and border crossing went very smoothly. We met our host Eric, from Open Air Campaigners, and we are now settled at the church in Weymouth, where we will be training and staying. The team spent the evening practicing their stories and songs. Everyone is happy, healthy and excited for the week ahead.
Thank you to the many PCA students who wrote us encouragement notes and for your continued prayers. We ask you to pray for us as our team begins ministry training and launches our week-long Kid’s Camp on Monday. The forecast is calling for rain in the early afternoon but we pray that God will blow the rain clouds away so that we can still gather with the children outdoors.
Blessings,
Boston Missions Team -
Monday, April 17th, 2023
Dear Supporters,
Today was our first day of ministry in Boston. The morning was spent training with our host from Open Air Campaigners, Eric. We shared our testimonies of God’s saving grace. It was so encouraging to hear of God’s goodness to our students and those we are ministering with in Boston. We have been learning that God is the Great Missionary who has been seeking a people for his glory and he will not let his word return void, even if it seems like we are having no impact. Through a shared testimony of a brother named Pat we were reminded God’s Word will bring his salvation. Pat shared about how during his time in the military he had a Christian roommate who was sharing the gospel with another roommate. Pat pretended not to be interested but God was actually using his Word to bring him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. A short time later Pat came to believe in Christ’s saving work and has been serving as a youth minister for the last 44 years in Boston. Whether here in Boston or home in Toronto we are called to share the story of God’s salvation. Our host Eric was also encouraged by the student testimonies and was really excited by their transparency and willingness to share the spiritual struggles we face in our walk with the Lord. Let me share two brief stories of God’s further goodness to us today.
First, the weather was cool, cloudy and rainy this morning. We left our homebase, First Baptist Church, to invite the children in the neighbourhood to a kids camp at 4pm. Due to the weather, most people were inside. We gathered in the park where the camp would begin and prayed for God to keep back the rain and bring children so we could minister to them. God answered our prayers. The rain held off and the turn out for the first day despite the clouds was really great. Second, our team did an amazing job of moving from training to actual ministry. All members of the team were so welcoming and engaging with the children. A young boy named Xander was crying and was lovingly cared for by our team with motherly love. We sang, played games and taught the children how Noah found grace. After supper we headed to our new home to prepare for the next day. Pray that more children would come tomorrow and we would continue to share with joy God’s saving grace through the sharing of the Tower of Babel.
Blessings,
Boston Missions Team -
Tuesday, April 18th, 2023
Dear Partners in Ministry,
Thank you to the PCA community for your continued prayers and love for us. Today, after receiving training and instructions from Eric in the morning, we had our first experience doing street evangelism on the Northeastern University campus in Boston. We prayed for divine appointments and the opportunity to speak with students about faith and the gospel. In two teams we spread out and handed out tracks, some copies of John’s Gospel, and a few Bibles. It was encouraging to see our students step out of their comfort zone, despite their nervousness, to engage others in conversations about Jesus. Some of us had some very interesting discussions with Muslims, atheists, former Christians, non-believers, Jews and local high school students from Boston. We each came away thankful for the experience and a little more at ease with how to participate in street evangelism. We pray that God would cause the seeds planted today to grow.
After a quick lunch at an oceanfront park, we headed back to Weymouth to set up for our daily kid’s camp. Yesterday, we had encouraged the kids to return with new friends, and some of them did! Each day at kid’s camp, our students take turns to lead a game of hangman to teach the children a new memory verse and we present an engaging object lesson that compliments the Bible story for the day. Today’s story was about the Tower of Babel and how God’s plan cannot be stopped. As you can see in the photos, we ended our time together with a game of PieFace today which caused outbursts of laughter from everyone!
Please pray for us as we do more street evangelism tomorrow morning in downtown Boston and continue our kid’s club in the afternoon. God has been so gracious and our students are happy and healthy.
Blessings,
Boston Missions Team -
Wednesday, April 19th, 2023
Dear Friends,
We began the morning with a devotion from our host Eric, who reminded us that God himself, as we seek him, fills us with joy. It was truly a busy but joyful day as we went to downtown Boston to do street evangelism. We were downtown meeting the Bostonians and the weather was cold. One of our hosts was wearing a toque! While serving near Boston Commons we had another amazing morning handing out tracks and having conversations. It was encouraging to see our students continue to step out of their comfort zone. We also learned how to engage with people by observing our OAC hosts Eric and Chris. A few of us had lengthy conversations with people walking by. May God bring his saving grace to these individuals and use the literature that points to Jesus Christ to draw them to his grace. After warming up with a hot lunch we experienced Boston rush hour traffic as we headed to our kid’s club. We had fewer children today, perhaps because of the colder temperature, but it was so exciting to see the children bonding with our students who continued to exceed in loving the children. Today’s story was about Abram and how “he believed in the Lord” to keep His promise despite Abram’s circumstances. We finished up with a competitive game of tug of war that enticed some middle school boys to join in.
Tonight we had the privilege of meeting some of the leaders of Gracepoint Ministries, a church plant serving the many college students in Boston. They provided us with pizza and bubble tea and had four of their church mentors share testimonies with our students. It was a meaningful time of fellowship and encouragement. We hung out for a while playing ping pong and some musical instruments.
Please continue to pray for us as we head out for our final day of street evangelism on the Boston University campus. Pray that the college students will be willing to engage in meaningful conversations and that our students will be bold in approaching them. Pray also that the children who missed kid’s camp today will return tomorrow.
Blessings,
Boston Missions Team -
Thursday, April 20th, 2023
Dear Supporters,This morning our devotion focused on the imperatives set out in Matthew 28:19 – 20: go; make disciples of all nations; baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and teach to obey all that Jesus commanded us. We pray that God will bless not only our proclaiming of the Good News, but also the work of the local church here in Tampa as they will continue the work of teaching to obey all that Jesus commanded.
Our team spent time at the University of South Florida with the purpose of engaging students with the Gospel. At times, the Gospel was shared in “open air” using sketch board evangelism by Eric, Richard, and Andrew. Throughout, tracts and DVDs of the life of Jesus were handed out by the rest of the team. At first, the thought of approaching students on the campus and engaging them in Gospel conversation was daunting, but by the grace of God our team was blessed with many opportunities to do so! Some of the university students were very open to hearing the Gospel and some were even open to being prayed for! Please pray for these students.
We had a wonderful afternoon at Kids’ Camp during which the message of God’s judgement and mercy towards the sin of Adam and Eve was shared. We have been so encouraged throughout the week by the faithfulness of many of the children in attending each Kids’ Club each day, bringing their homework, and even memorizing the Bible verses. Tomorrow will be our final day with these children whom we have come to love dearly. We pray that tomorrow, all the children will come so they can hear the message of how Jesus died for our sins through the story of Cain and Abel.
In the evening, our team had the privilege of joining in a potluck dinner and Wednesday Night Worship of Calvary Church, the church we have been staying at. It was truly a time of refreshing to be able to sing praises to God and pray with the church. Our team was so blessed to also be included in being prayed for by the church.
As we head into our final days of ministry here in Tampa, please pray for us. May God give ears to hear and eyes to see to the people whom we will encounter.
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Friday, April 21st, 2023
Dear Supporters,
It’s hard to believe that today was our final full day in Boston and we will be heading home tomorrow. Our morning began with a time of devotion, sharing and prayer. We studied the example of Apostle Paul and his experiences in Acts 17 to help us reflect on our time of ministry in Boston, the ways our spirits have been stirred by God and how we will continue to respond to His call when we return home. We then spent time praying for each child who would be attending the Kids camp later that afternoon by name.
In the morning we went sightseeing in Boston. We visited D.L. Moody’s Memorial and a few historical sites on the Freedom Trail including the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre and Faneuil Hall. We had lunch at Quincy Market where students had the opportunity to buy some souvenirs and try local Boston food like clam chowda!. After lunch we took a guided tour of the historic Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox and the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball.
At our final Kids Camp in the afternoon, through the sharing of songs, the object lesson and the story of the “Sacrifice of Isaac”, our students shared how God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac that day on the mountain, but God did something even greater for us when He gave his only son to be our substitute so that we could be saved. Our team then spent time reviewing the gospel presentation one-on-one with each camper and many of our students had the opportunity to lead the children through prayers to invite Jesus into their hearts. Praise the Lord!! God is Good! On an interesting note, many of the younger campers who attended most of the week did not attend. Instead we had a number of older students who were able to hear, understand and respond to the Gospel message join us for the first time. We are reminded that God has a purpose and a plan for each of us and it is He who has the power to save.
After a nice dinner at a local seafood restaurant, we returned back to our homebase to rest and pack. Tomorrow we will spend time in the morning debriefing the week and packing up before we head to the airport at 1pm. Thank you for your support and prayers this week! We will see you soon!
In Christ,
Boston Missions Team -
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023
Dear Supporters,
Today is our final day in Boston! God has been so good and so gracious. This morning some students made pancakes and we enjoyed some home made Maple Syrup from a US host from New Hampshire. After our final debrief and prayer we packed up and had one final meeting with Eric and shared our thanksgiving for him and his ministry. It was so encouraging to hear our students share with Eric how they have been encouraged and grown this past week, strengthened in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are about to board our plane. Our flight is on time and we look forward to landing in Toronto around 6pm tonight.
Please pray for our final stretch of the journey and we may continue to be stirred to testify of God’s amazing grace to us in Jesus Christ. May we keep sharing the love of Jesus as we head to our home mission in Toronto at PCA. We are so proud of our students who received praises from Eric and many other Americans for their teamwork and care for one another and those we ministered to.
Thank you for journeying with us,
Boston Missions Team
“We love because He first loved us.”