Thursday, July 23, 2009


Hello Everyone,

We have continued to be amazed and inspired by all that we have witnessed this past week. From working with kids to painting and painting and painting, God has continued to bring us out of our comfort zones and equip us with patience, strength, and joy to complete our tasks.

Every night we have had the opportunity to listen as Joel (Sunshine Director) has challenged and stretched us to look beyond preconceptions of the inner city and fully open our hearts to the people we have been able to serve. Today, we had the opportunity to put these lessons into action as we handed out bagged lunches in the downtown Chicago area. We heard the stories of many homeless people as we showed them God's love through a sandwich, chips, fruit, and conversation. Through this experience we learned that even the outcasts of society are important as they were created in the image of God.

The picture you see was taken at the Sunshine Gospel Ministries summer day camp. Students working in this program were able to reach out to kids through drama, crafts, games, music, pudding (it's a good story) and dodge ball. The lesson for the kids was based on one way to serve. The lesson focused on Jesus washing His disciple's feet. Not only have we been able to help the kids, but they have taught us that the gifts of time and love and truly caring about others can go a long way.

We look forward to a day at the beach with the kids for the Peace and Sunshine Blast groups and more manual labor for the Yes! group. These will be followed by some sight-seeing downtown and then a hotel stay before the ride back home.

And for now, well, we're enjoying talking and packing and playing a good game of Apple, Apple Open, Open. We can't wait to share with you all the many things that we have learned through this experience.

His Clay,

Chicago Missions Team

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Love you God and Live Humbly


Hello Everyone,

There is something to be said about being surrounded by concrete. It brings forth the desire to play basketball, hopscotch, Four Square and a plethora of other games involving concrete. While being in the city the last few days it is becoming apparent that our group is capitalizing on these activities with the people of the Woodlawn Community and experiencing fellowship through the common ground of competition.

In the past two days the three groups have given out groceries, alongside the Chicago Food Bank, helped run three different youth outreach programs, and have begun helping Chicago Embassy Church restore a park beginning the process of community beautification. It has been a privilege to work alongside the Woodlawn as we are both discovering how much the urban world has to offer to the suburban community and vice versa.

We will be updating again soon, but in the mean time enjoy some of these pictures of our escapes so far in the city.

His Clay,

Chicago Missions Team

Monday, July 20, 2009

Shalom = City Renewal

Hello Everyone,

We just finished with our first official day with Sunshine Gospel Ministries, and it is apparent that with only 5 hours of sleep 9 hours of ministry can be draining. However, I think God purposefully planned our exhaustion so that we would be in a physical state of readiness for the Holy Spirit to move and teach us new things. Tonight, while Joel taught us our first lesson it was apparent that the LORD was starting to open the eyes of the entire team.

Joel taught on the concept of "Shalom". The Traditional understanding of "Shalom" is "Peace". However, the Jewish concept of Shalom goes further than our modern understanding of peace. It touches on three aspects of peace that ascertain to our daily lives. The concept of "Shalom" is an intense peace with God. This is the kind of satisfaction that you might find when you connecting really well with someone who is your best friend. "Shalom" encourages us that we have this same connection with God on a daily basis. The second understanding of "Shalom" is to have a peace with with people. Not just your kind of people, but people from every tribe, tongue and nation. Lastly, the third concept of "Shalom" is to have a peace with your environment. This is not being comfortable with where God has placed you, but desiring to do more with where you are. This is a calling to bring the God of the Universe into prevalence in your community. This can be done by beautifying a particular eye sore in your neighborhood or making the building of your church a desirable place to be: a place that communicates "Shalom".

The group is really excited about exploring what it means to participate in bringing "Shalom" to the inner city of Chicago, but also to the ever diversifying community that is Woodbury.

His Clay,

Chicago Missions Team

Sunday, July 19, 2009

12:31 AM

Hello Everyone,

What a beautiful day to travel to Chicago. Our group pulled into Chi-city a little after 6pm. Upon arrival our group met up with Joel Hammernick, the director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Joel was gracious enough to invite us into his home for a spaghetti and meatball dinner and, after 7 hours on the road it was a welcome treat to have a hot meal waiting and ready!

Quickly after dinner our group was introduced to Hixson Presbyterian Church from Chattanooga Tennessee. During our orientation to Sunshine's ministries we learned that we will be collaborating with Hixson in three specified programs. Our combined group of 26 will be divided among these three ministries for the entire week while we develop new relationships and friendships. The first cohort is made of Breana Schulenburg, Laura Nygren, Becky Markowski, and Emily Erickson. They will be working with "Summer Blast", a youth outreach in the Woodlawn Community. The second cohort will be Adam Niva, Derrick Erickson, Dan Boal and Chris Schulenburg. We will be working with "Peace", a Sr. High outreach that is part of "Summer Blast". Our last cohort will be Kayla M, Kayla Mo, Sam Strand and Fran Weess. They will be working with "Yes". A ministry that is closely associated with sunshine who is need of some volunteer for the week.

After our morning outreach events we will regroup in the evenings and go on a mission excursion to the Pacific Garden Mission on Monday, and Various other outreach's throughout the week.

Well, thats all for tonight or should I say this morning!!

His Clay

Chicago Missions Team

Chicago Team Departs!

The Woodbury Community Church Chicago Mission Team departed today after the first service for a week long mission trip to the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago. Please be in prayer for the team as they minister throughout the week. Team members include (from left to right)Adam Niva, Chris Schulenburg, Laura Nygren, Fran Weess, Samantha Strand, Kayla Pearl, Kayla Moechnig, Emily Erickson, Cherrill Erickson, Becky Markowski, Breanna Schulenburg, Derrick Erickson, and Youth Pastor, Dan Boal.

Pray that God would keep the team safe, that He would teach them about urban life, ministry, and the people that make up the Woodlawn neighborhood, that the team would be a blessing wherever they go, that they would have a spirit of unity, and that God would be glorified throughout the entire trip.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Chicago Mission Trip Announcement

Sunshine Gospel Ministries Trip! July 19th-25th

Hello Everyone,
My palms are sweaty with the anticipation of taking our youth into the inner city of Chicago, and my former stomping grounds. Nothing can be as life transforming as making a connection with the impoverished who dwell in our own back-yards. It is eye-opening, compelling and at times a little frightening to realize that whether you are in the suburbs or in the inner city you are just a few steps away from being in the shoes of the helpless, homeless, and hurting. This is why I am so excited to be working alongside Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Sunshine as been an established inner city mission for over 100years, with long standing relationships and a real time tested passion to be the hands and feet of Christ in the Woodlawn Community of Chicago.
This summer the youth of Woodbury Community church will be partnering with Sunshine to run a morning vbs/day camp for inner city children. They will receive urban ministry training from a variety urban leaders and staff members from Sunshine. In the evenings we will be visiting and helping a plethora of different inner city ministries such as the Pui Tak Center, Pacific Garden Mission, South East Friendship Center and Breakthrough Urban Ministries.
In order to attend this trip each student will have to fill out an application that will be due by May 17th 2009. At the time they submit their application a $50 dollar deposit will be required. This deposit will be non-refundable once students are selected to go on the trip. Along with the successful completion of the application there will be six pre-trip training sessions that student will be required to attend. These sessions will deal with inner city training, support raising and developing and finding prayer partners.
The cost of this trip will be $450 per student. It will include travel, a t-shirt, room board and food. While the cost may seem steep we trust that God will work in such a way that each student will have means above and beyond what they expecting. So please, join with us in prayer as we begin to seek the renewal of the city along with Sunshine Gospel Ministries.

-- Dan Boal, Youth Pastor

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Highlight Video

Here is our highlight video from the 2009 Woodbury Community Church Ensenada Mexico Mission Trip.


2009 Woodbury Community Church Ensenada Mexico Mission Trip Highlight Video from Brian Schulenburg on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Mexico Report Back on Sunday, March 1st at 6:00 PM

The 2009 Ensenada Mexico Mission Trip Team will give a report back about the trip tomorrow night, March 1st at 6:00 PM at Wooddbury Community Church. Hope you can make it. Each member of the team will share about his or her experiences in Mexico and then we'll show a slide show/video from the trip.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Saturday -- What a Day . . .

Hello again! This is Lauren. So this morning we had breakfast and went to the site bright and early. When we got there I got to help Caroline explain about her family to the mother of the Lopez family- she loved that! Then I was on painting duty again. Breanna and I were “touching up” all morning. Then we started to bring in the furniture. We built the two bunk beds and set out all the new toys, silverware, crafts, and food. Then I started to work on the sign for the front of the house- it said “Familia Gaynor-Lopez.” Then came the reveal! Yay! We took a picture with the family, then said thank you’s and gave them a framed copy of the picture (technology is amazing- new just printed it on site), a Bible, Cami and Mel’s cross pillows, and the key. Then they went in to see their new house- they loved it! Once they had had a chance to see everything, everyone piled in and we said a prayer to dedicate the building to God. We learned that when the house is dedicated, the family remembers- and they know they have a new start. To finish the day we went shopping in downtown Ensenada. It’s been a very good experience.

Hi, this is Joel. Mexico is a fun place. I hope you all can come to see all the wonderful things I’ve seen. It took us three days to build a 24 x something house. I put up shingles, trim, a wall, and I put the door together. There are many dogs running around free, and I feel bad for them.

This is Rachel. Well since I’m dictating to Brian I’ll make this extra long. We had a great day today. And, we were very excited to give the keys to the house to the family. Ummmmm It was great to see the look on their faces when they let us into their new home. This is hard I don’t have anything composed, and he’s typing that right now, so now this is going to get posted. But, we did have a great day and it was also nice to take a shower and get clean at the end of the day. And, I enjoyed having fellowship with our fellow mission trip people at the end of the day. I really enjoyed that we met up at Starbucks in Ensenada at the end of the night. It was like a beacon of hope in the midst of Mardi Gras madness. And, as if some unspoken force was drawing us all there Karen, Tom and I [who were avoiding the Darth Vader policemen – you had to be there, I know]were walking down the street and I commented, “Wouldn’t it be funny if everyone else was sitting inside of Starbucks when we got there?” It has been a great week, and, I’m very thankful to all of those who made it possible for us to be here through their prayer and financial support, and I also want to thank the YWAM staff for their hospitality and friendliness, especially our local host Luis who has handed over driving privileges to Tom Nelson who now drives like an Ensenada local.

Hello Everyone back home! It’s Breanna again. And, I can hardly believe that four days have gone by so fast. The entire time that we have had the privilege of being in Ensenada, I have been astounded by the humility of the people, the love that they have in their hearts and the incredible ways that God reveals Himself each and every day. Today was the final day of working on the house and as I finished my third day of painting, touching up little fingerprints and trim, I found myself thinking about all of you back home and I began to pray for many of you. Thank you so much for your support that has helped us be able to do this good work in Ensenada. The joy on the family’s face as their keys were inserted into the door and they beheld their home for the first time was an expression and feeling beyond any price. The sound of the children’s laughter and screaming as they saw all of the toys purchased in their new room and as they sorted through drawers filled with coloring books and cars and beach balls made my heart overflow. It is impossible to adequately describe the incredible experience that we have had during this time in Ensenada. Thank you for your prayers and your support we have seen God use both for His glory during our time here. I can’t wait to come home and tell you all about it. But, it’s still going to be hard to leave. Adios! Hasta Manana! (See you tomorrow).

Hey everyone, it’s Brian. Thank you so much for following our 2009 Woodbury Community Church Ensenada, Mexico Mission Trip Blog. This has really been a wonderful week of ministry. I’m so proud of my teammates, and the way that God worked through each one of them. One of my favorite parts of a mission trip is being able to meet the local missionaries. I’ve been so impressed with YWAM’s local Ensenada team. They run a top notch operation. God is using this ministry to make a phenomenal difference in the poorer neighborhoods of Ensenada. Luis, our local host shared his testimony with our team tonight. He was married at 15 years old and had a child at 16. He and his young bride came to America, and did quite well – owning three homes in Los Angeles. After 15 years of marriage they divorced, and when they did he hit rock bottom. He began to drink heavily and waste all of his money. Within a year he moved to Wyoming and had a good job working for Chevron. He then moved to Las Vegas where he built a couple of casinos, including Mandalay Bay. It was in sin city where Luis was introduced to God. Ten years ago he made a commitment to Jesus Christ, and his life has never been the same. This man, a senior citizen, who used to make $2500 a week eventually enrolled in YWAM’s Discipleship Training School. This is a three month intensive discipleship program that is usually attended by teenagers and twentysomethings. He has spent the last two years at the YWAM base in Ensenada and hopes to begin a DTS in South Africa in the next year. What a joy to hear his story and see how God has worked in his life.

I had a chance to share Christ with a young man for a couple of hours today. Please pray for him. He is so close to making a commitment to give his life to Christ, but is really struggling to get past some issues he has with God.

We leave Ensenada tomorrow and look forward to coming back home. We won’t post anymore pictures because we want to save some surprises for our Mission Trip Report next Sunday, March 1st at 6:00 PM at WCC. Hope to see you there. And, as I sign off a big thank you to Darlene Wendlandt, who planned much of our trip and was unable to join us. She was a huge blessing to us. Thank you too to Tom Nelson and Ken Mosner who led our team devotional times and to Carolyn Benson who served as our team accountant. We have been blessed with an awesome group.

Our Last Day Is About To Start

In just a couple of minutes we'll be eating breakfast and from there we will load onto our vans for one more day of ministry here in Mexico. It's been a good few days. I'm amazed at how quickly the home for the Lopez family has gone up. It's so cool to see the joy on their faces and the pride in their eyes as they watch their home go up.

Last night our entire team went to Wal Mart in Ensendada to purchase several items for the family. We were able to purchase them food, bedding, toys, and more. We also purchased a second bunk bed from YWAM. It's going to be great to see how they feel as their home is completed and fully furnished.

Please continue to keep our safety and strength in your prayers. If all goes well we will probably finish the home around noon today.

We asked you to pray for so many things before the trip began, and I truly feel like God has answered all of those prayers. We have seen no hint of the danger that the papers have been talking about, we have felt safe everywhere we have traveled, we have seen wonderful team unity and God has protected us on the job site. Please pray for an awesome finish to the trip and that God would keep our eyes open to what He wants us to see and learn today.


Most interesting ice cream flavor accidently ordered last night: Tequila (by Tom)
Number of times our A Builders name has been mispronounced (it's Josue, pronounced Ho-Sway): at least 4 that I can think of (Jose, Jesus, Josuela, Consue)
Most common form of communication with our family: Smiling

Friday, February 20, 2009

Ken's Updated Taco Tally

Ken - 8
Tom - 6
Brian - 4 1/2
Lauren - 4
Rachel - 2 3/4
Breanna - 2
Gail - 1
Karen - 1
Greg - 1
Joel - 1
Carolyn - 1 pickup line, No Tacos! - She passed on tonight's trip because she didn't want to add any more pickup lines from her suitor to her ongoing tally.
Tom - Passed tonight because of Acid Reflux brought on by Taco Overindulgence.

We Love Ice Cream

Friday Pictures and a Message from Lauren

Hello! It's Lauren. Last night we went on my first taco run- and that was awesome! There is a blue stand and a red stand, and my favorite is the red. In a few minutes I'm going on my second run. Oh, by the way, when we were walking back from the run, Caroline caught someone's eye- He thought she was very beautiful! This morning we had an awesome breakfast and then were off to the building site! Most of the day I was painting, and painting, and painting. But I thought it was really fun to help translate a little- I got to help Mel and Cami explain that they wanted to play soccer :) The house is almost done, so tomorrow we will finish and furnish it. Tonight after dinner we went to Walmart and went crazy shopping for the family- Breanna, Cami, Mel, and I found a lot of fun toys (coloring books, bubbles, and cars, etc.) Ok well I have to go. What time is it? Taco Time!