We wanted to share with you some recent amazing changes in our life. God has been working at growing us to move us in a new direction and, although it is difficult at times, we can see His hand of guidance in our lives. We feel so blessed! We are so thankful for His continued grace and strength as we move forward.

In July, Beky went to an art sale to support our friends who are moving to Germany (please pray for them on their amazing journey).  As she was looking around an idea popped in her head. It contained so many moving parts, involved so many people and happened so quickly that we both know it was from God! Through much thought, prayer and wise counsel… Balboa Photography moved out of our house and is now a boutique studio!

In August, we signed a three year lease and have occupied a cute house with gardens and wonderful outside locations to photograph in!

You are invited to the

Balboa Photography Studio

Grand Opening

October 8, 2011

3pm-8pm

4011 Merrill Ave, Riverside 92506

We would love for you to visit us, take advantage of our fall specials and book your session!

A Special Thanks to Don and Evelyn Lee (Beky’s Parents), Rick Balboa (Daniel’s Dad), Kim Lukens, Clint DeGifford, Jason Bourbonnais (our contractor), Kendra Peterson (designer), Christine Miller (our amazing event planner), Rose Granbacka (artist), Davis Hake, and Todd Dreyer for their help in moving, fixing, designing and helping us create a beautiful, functioning studio!

Here is the Before… Come see what it looks like now!!  :)

Not only did we spend time learning about many of the students, praying for them and them praying for us but we also have had opportunities to give to them. Thru finances of fund raisings, thru computers that were donated and many of the men in our group have stepped up and have pledged financial support to students. It has been an amazing day.

And though I really wish I could say more. I am spent. Its 5:00 our time and I want to share more about the trip. But this is where I sign off on the trip. Tomorrow we have a debriefing and a sharing time.

For those of you who have watched this site during this week I thank you for your support. To the men that will later watch these as you return home, I have enjoyed the time with you and I am excited about next year. However I need to recharge. I don’t know how these other guys do it for one more week. Well my prayers and thoughts are with them.

As they say in Texas. Good night Yall and God Bless.

Oh and P.S. To find out more about going on a trip next year or to financially support Power please them on www.PowerMinistry.com

What was also cool about the day was how other organizational teams were converging at the same place and time. Hero Makers and another team that had several “season” veterans working on the pluming. Together we accomplished a lot.

The big story of today didn’t take place until we were going to the hotel after dinner.
On the way back the van number 6 went thru a yellow light. We thought nothing of it until the Mexican police pulled us over. We quickly found ourselves a bit worried. He asked for the drivers license. He shortly there after asked for us to go down to the police station. OMG we all about flipped. The shotgun of the van was thinking “TEAM” when he asked the officer if we could all get out and he just take the driver by himself. Cody you’re a champ. It was all fun and games until we realized how serious this was becoming. One of the guys shared with him in Spanish what we were doing and how we were going to missions around town. He asked the officer if he knew the Lord. He said yes. Took a moment to look at the faces of all us men and then said not to worry. He then asked if he could pray for us.

Yes, yes. Please do.

So to say the least it was an amazing day. Completing a HUGE project in one day and then this.

The dome church is always were we are at on Sunday morning. To bring blessings and to receive blessings. An amazing day for all of us, but we never know what to expect when God works.

We started off the day in a private classroom were we could spend together as a team and worship God. After we joined pastor Willie in the dome church were we the puppet team put on a brief show for the children. After we joined the band and Willie on stage were Doug spoke to the crowd. We sang a song in Spanish we had practiced, but this time it seemed so much more powerful as 2000 true Mexican voices (who knew what they were singing) sang to help us out. It was powerful. Even though I didn’t know what the words meant I could feel what they meant. After we had a brief message from Charlie Brown, Bogar Aguilar, and Dave Johnson.

Dave Johnson’s message seems to really stick with me. He talked about how on his first trip he spoke to one of the missionaries. Dave was touched and wanted to serve but couldn’t find were he felt he was the right fit. After he expressed this, the missionary explained to him that he already had a mission sent from God, a responsibility that was already set before him. He said that he needed to start serving at home. God had given him a responsibility to take care of his family. If he were to start there then God would give him more responsibilities. How can we serve out in the field if we neglect what we have already been given?

After church we were served food by the church and then broke into groups to prepare for the church festival. Bounce houses, soccer balls, candy, popcorn and the list goes on and on. The festival was a hit. Not only did it bring in local kids for some free stuff but it also served as an opportunity to share with the community about Christ.

I met few people that were visiting and others told stories of meeting people. I spoke to a man who was kicked out of prison in the US to return to Mexico. He happily came back after 10 years to be back with his family only to change his life. The most impactful story I heard was from my father who speaks Spanish. He met a young man about 22 years old named Jesus. When he was about 6 years old his parents abandoned him to the streets rummaging thru garbage cans fighting for food to survive. He said it made him strong and appreciative for what he now has. He now knows the Lord and has a loving relationship with Him. He is also a successful mechanic in the local community at his young age and gives God the glory. It’s not the story that I feel is the most strong point. It’s that fact that I see my father being a role model for the young adult men. This trip can be powerful for men if they just let it happen.

After leaving Laredo Stepping Stones early in the morning we headed out to Nuevo Laredo. There we ended up in Blanca Navidad. With 4 houses to construct, 1 demolition, and trusses to build we had another full day. Luckily 3 of the houses that were being built were all on the same street. Which made for a great experience. Its always hard for the first week crew to start the projects and then leave not seeing them finished. We try so had to have them complete but then it comes time to move on. And as a photographer I feel like I’m missing the final shots. But that’s part of the trip short of going 2 trips back to back. Oh well… We can rest in knowing that next week someone will finish the job on week 2 of the trip.

Again my father was on one of the job sites, which allowed for some insight into the story of the people. He grew up in a home that was similar to one of these “colonies” as a child, so to see his childhood first hand was an eye opener for me and an emotional time for him. It was like coming home for him. He says, “We grew up as children and never knew we were poor. There was always food on the table and all our basic needs were met. I didn’t know any different.” He continued on telling me that when he moved to California that “it was like moving into a mansion” even though in today’s standards his house was very small. He spent time speaking Spanish with the lady of the house. As we showed up you could see the excitement on her face. Even though these are the poorest of the poor she took time to clean her home and sweep the dirt out her doorless entryways. She got her best clothes on and put on her make up to be presentable for the men that would soon be building her a new home in one day. In Nuevo Laredo, The Power Ministry is a big deal.

Later after lunch we again separated into new groups. In addition to the continuing projects there were 2 new additions. A puppet show/ mini festival & a group of kids would be going to the zoo. I ended up doing the latter with 14 kids. I should specify that they were the colony kids. They were ages 6-15 and even though the cost to enter the zoo is equivalent to $1 US the have never been to the zoo. When we entered their faces lit up at the shear aw of the animals. Was the zoo big… well let’s just say it was like walking into the entryway of the San Diego zoo. Small in comparison but to someone who has never seen these animals up close this place was huge and amazing. It was well worth every effort to see them be kids in this world where they didn’t know what poor meant and have joy.

After a hardy BBQ chicken sandwich and tomato soup we all divided into new groups. One of which was to finish the pews for a completed church. It may not have seemed like much but God had greater plans for us.

The pastor of the church wanted to take his 3 year old son to the hospital since he had eaten something that didn’t sit well. He wanted to wait for us to arrive so he could greet us. We soon found out that he was sick & one of the men stepped up and asked if we could pray for his sick son. The pastor was grateful and felt blessed.

We continued on with our job of the afternoon with laughing and learing about others experiences. My favorite story was from my father, who was joining me in this job site. He told me of how earlier in the day he had gone into a prison (no Cameras allowed). He shared the experience of the security sytem there how it took forever to get in and once inside the inmates and them were all in one huge room. My father told me of how he met a young man that was terrified of being in there and truly wanted to change his life. He was hungry for the Lord as the guys shared with them hope.

It was exciting to see my father talk of his experience. As I grew up we were the typical father and son drama case. And even up to a few years ago we never spoke candidly. Today was a great day just to talk about something that we can relate.

We finished the pews and before we left the pastor of the mission came out and shared with us that his son was feeling better. We left feeling pretty jazzed.

We made our way back to the border after a little “scenic route” thru lower Acuna and then back up to the old town Acuna. We later ate at a local dinner with the Ehlers and said goodbyes as we headed out to Steppings Stones. Which again brings us to this late night writing at 4:00.

So Goodnight Yall.

We split up into several groups and headed to the border. The van I was on was headed to Acuna where we went to a site to build a small church. When we arrive the cement slab was complete and ready for us. Wood was in place and was taken care of by the watchful eye of the hired “security guard.” He watched and helped as we quickly put together the walls and trusses for the building. All the while the local school children were taking a recess break from school and another team was handing out rice and beans. The kids took interest in what we were doing and started to join in the festivities. They received toys and candy for learning short bible verses and for just being… well…. kids.

Once the walls and trusses were built we left the scene for a hardy lunch and a quick word of encouragement. We then broke out into new teams. The one I joined was the tour of Acuna. There you see the life style most people live in. As Pastor Pat explained, “This is the life these people know. It will probably never get better for most of them. Yet they still have hope that God is with them.” He says they are normal people, “They steal, lie, cheat, and hurt. They do all they things we do. They are just poor. They are people.”

We handed out Rice and Beans to those poor. Walking thru the mud as it rained we looked for homes in need. A man who had lost his job, a mom with her down syndrome child whom she called special, a man who had his leg amputated & his wife who has polio: These are the people we met. The hardest for me is seeing the young mother with two kids after her husband has left her living in a cardboard shack. We pray with her and give her hope. We hope to return one day with more than just words.

Later that evening we met up at a restaurant in old Acuna to eat dinner with the local pastors. We sat across from them learning about them and creating relationships that will be there when we return next year. As I look around I see many a familiar face. Pictures from the past return to me as I see faces I know. A Mariachi band was invited to play and get people excited. Then a Puppet show that kids and adults alike enjoyed. The puppets rocked out to some Hillsong United in Spanish. It was a treat!

We spent some time praying for the Pastors of Acuna. They were blessed and soon the Mexican pastors and their families stood up and took some time to pray for us men. The pray much more excited than we do in the US. Very strong and with excitement.

It was an amazing evening with much power and excitement.

Please enjoy the pictures…. but as there was a lot that happened so there are lots of pictures jam packed into this slideshow.

To look at them one by one, click the grid in the bottom right to view them at your own pace.

Good night,
DB

I love being a wedding photographer. It lets me peek into the lives of others and see a really exciting period in people’s lives. And for the majority of the time I talk exclusively to the brides. But every year I like to get a way with a bunch of guys/grooms, if you will allow me to say. A guy escape but with a purpose.

Every year for the past 10 years the Power Ministry has been headed out to the Texas/ Mexico border for 2 weeks to make an impact on the Mexican nationals on both the Mexico side and on the Texas side. They make a large impact thru so many different avenues. But instead of telling you all the different things they do I hope to show you thru the next 7 days.

Honestly I feel funny what people may say about this. Before my first trip I couldn’t image what this group could do in a week. But the impact is great.

Today is Day 1 – It’s been a long day of traveling from all over the US to Texas. Oh I forgot to mention that people are not from just California. Iowa, Washington, Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, Ohio, Texas, New York & Wisconsin are also players in this. When we first arrived we had a brief chance to see guys from past years and quickly catch up. From there we got a quick pep talk from Marty & Doug. Though many guys in the pictures look worried it was more like saving their energy for the long haul where they will bless others who are less fortunate. We got some dinner then headed to the mission across the border.

To me I see the guys as warriors. Some who have fought battles in the past and are ready to go. Others who are new to the battle line and have no idea what to expect. Either way this week will be exciting. One that will prove, like years past, to be an extremely WOW moment for both the Mexicans and us.

I hope you will join me on this journey as I show the story of these warriors over the next week.

Oh PS. Blogging from dial up so I’m gonna be doing slideshows only to save on bandwidth.