Santa Fe Christian Schools

Santa Fe Christian Schools is back for another year of partnership and ministry, ready to serve alongside several different local churches and nonprofits here in Tucson! 

Our team of 111 had about a 7 hour drive to get here today, and arrived a little after 5pm where we settled in to our lodging site for the week, met the PPM staff, and had a pizza dinner from a local shop. Then, we listened to Pastor Sean of Westside Church of God share a word of encouragement as we start our week. Some of our groups will get the privilege to serve in a variety of ways at his church this week, and we can’t wait. Each day we’ll be breaking up into several smaller groups to head throughout Tucson to assist in encouraging and building up the local church in whatever way we can this, and we can’t wait to share more! We’d appreciate your prayers for a great night of rest tonight so we are energized for tomorrow, as well as for boldness in stepping out of our comfort zones and being open to the ways the Holy Spirit is going to move. God is doing amazing things in and through the church in Tucson and we can’t wait to be a part of it! 

(Pictures to come tomorrow)

Endearingly known as Alice Vail Junior Jail. Our team was able to help out by moving 67 desks, 24 large tables, and 100 chairs out of the classroom to be replaced by whiteboard tables for the students to enjoy when they get back from spring break. After all the work was done we took time to pray over the school and the students who attend there. 

Group 5 spent Monday morning serving at GAP Kitchen, doing various projects such as prepping salads, sandwiches, and cleaning numerous parts of the kitchen and coolers. This is a ministry that finds ways to provide many resources to the elderly, at risk youth, foster families, and other individuals with different identified needs within the Tucson community. We had a great time serving! 

We were at Hope City Church this morning and helped to organize blessing bags for the homeless outreach.  We are so glad to be part of the Tucson community and be able to spread love and kindness through organizing the blessing bags.

Today we got to serve a local pastor and his church by doing some handy work around the church! It was amazing hearing about how the church started and how they got their name! We had an amazing time!

We where at Hope City Church this morning and help to organize blessing Bags for the homeless outreach, we are so glad to be part of Tucson community and be able to spread love and kindness through organizing the blessing Bags 

Today we got to serve a local pastor and his church by doing some handy work around the church! It was amazing hearing about how the church started and how they got their name! We had an amazing time!

We were at Hope City Church this morning and helped to organize blessing bags for the homeless outreach. We are so glad to be part of the Tucson community and be able to spread love and kindness through organizing the blessing bags 

This morning we served at Goshen Church and Community Center helping with Spring cleaning.  Goshen Church takes in refugees from Africa that come to America with nothing more than a passport and visa.  Our tasks ranged from pulling weeds to pruning trees and bushes as well as weed whacking.

The first part of the afternoon we served at New Creation with founders Doris, her husband Dave and their volunteers organizing donated fabrics and tearing rolls of fabrics into smaller parts for the purpose of making bags for the refugees and the less fortunate. New Creation makes the bags by training refugees how to make bags by teaching them the trade including operating sewing machines, as well as how to fix them.

We thank God for guiding us throughout the day. We went out in the community at Armory Park and Transit Center Santa Rita Park to spend time and listen to the incredible stories of the  homeless people, and how they survive the difficult situations in their lives 

Today we helped out at GAP ministries. We helped sort food for 40 different ministries that get supplies from GAP. Most ministries that get supplies from GAP minister to foster care families. We pray that His love is felt through every ministry that receives supplies from GAP. 

We got to paint rocks and write different verses and other uplifting quotes on them. Then we got to go deliver the rocks to the local police station. They even allowed us to place them in their courtyard. We were told that the rocks are amazing reminders to the police officers. They go look at the rocks when they are having a hard day on the job. We got to pray over the precinct and cops. Thank you, TPD, for all your hard work! 

Today our group went to help beautify the outside area at Goshen International. We met a family of refugees who worked along side us. It was so interesting to hear their stories.  They also made us some donuts and sang to us in both English and Swahili. 

This morning we were so blessed to be part of creating a safe learning environment for students at Alice Middle school. We helped organize furniture and learning materials and it made us realize how togetherness is the key to success and every child attaining a right to a safe learning environment. 

What  an amazing time serving alongside awesome  community volunteers; hearing their faith stories while  sorting donations to supply foster group homes and community distribution warehouse needed supplies.  

This morning we served with Pastor Sergio of Nueva Esperanza Church.  Due to the winds, we couldn’t use weed spray so we raked what we could and pulled the rest by hand.  We also trimmed all the bushes and pruned a large tree.  Augustus and Pastor Sergio climbed into the tree to cut the branches and the only way to get the branches down to the ground for disposal was to toss them out over the top of the tree where those on the ground would carry them to the dump pile.

This afternoon we served with Pastor Adam at Friendship Community Church. Our first task was to clear and reorganize two storage sheds to make room for 30 beds which we unloaded from a trailer and moved to one of the sheds. We completed that task in short order, which led to our second task of more pruning. And although we were all pruned out from the morning task, we reminded each other who we were serving to help us push through.  This pruning task was more difficult as the branches had very large thorns and it was nearly impossible to not get pricked or scratched.  To help minimize contact with the thorns we used tarps to place the branches on where two people would then carry the tarp of branches to the dump pile (photo).

This morning we served at the Food Bank. Tasks included sorting rotten peppers from good ones, distributing produce and filing carts with basic food items. It was individually fulfilling being able to help provide for those who don't have access to basic food necessities.

This morning we were so blessed to serve at Nueva Esperanza church.  We were able to clean and trim the tree branches. We ensured everything at the church was organized, and neat and so this made us so proud because we got to use our energy for the benefit of the church and the community at large.

This afternoon we served Pastor Vance and Life Bridge Church.  One of their ministries is providing a day center for people with special needs. While the guys were serving with physical labor shoveling gravel into wheel barrels and filling potholes in the driveway, the girls spent the afternoon loving on the folks who attend the day center. Walking into the day center was an overwhelming positive atmosphere filled with bright smiles and lots of laughter. It was no doubt one of the most heartwarming experience of the week.

Today we are enjoying one of the most beautiful spots that Tucson has to offer, Gates Pass. We hiked up to the top and got to see all sorts of cacti along the way, including the cholla, or the jumping cactus! Don't worry, we kept our distance. We were blown away at Gods intricate detail in the creation we saw here in the Arizona desert. 

We are hitting the bowling alley for a few hours of fun before we hop on the bus and begin our trek back to San Diego. It's been an incredible week of ministry here in Tucson and we are grateful for the opportunity to have met so many people and heard their stories. What a joy to serve alongside the local church. 

Thanks for coming, Santa Fe! Until next time!