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In the fall
of 2000, a group of individuals in
Whatcom
County
began planning their first mission trip to
Baja, Mexico
. They went with the hope of making
an impact on a poverty-stricken community by shining the light of Jesus into their
lives. No one suspected that this initial
trip would jumpstart a quest to form a permanent, functional ministry.
Yet in just a few short years; this small group has joined with several other
missions teams to successfully build several houses for poor families, as well as
a medical clinic to provide for the community's needs.
Later, the group came up with a principal focus for their ministry.
God placed upon the hearts of these people a dream to build an orphanage
for the children of the Baja. Through
the efforts of many people and the blessings of the Lord, their dream has expanded
and has become a reality.
Missions Network
International is a Christian, non-denominational, and non-profit outreach organization.
Headquartered in
Lynden, Washington
, Missions Network International (MNI) operates two distinctly different ministries
that co-exist to support each other,
Bethesda Mission and Mount of Olives Children's Village.
Since its inception
in September of 2000, the ministry has developed and established a mission's team
program that facilitates trips for mission groups to
Baja, Mexico
. As a part of this program, the ministry
operates a thirteen-bedroom lodge called Bethesda Mission. This facility houses
up to 48 people and is nestled at the top of a scenic valley in
Uruapan
overlooking the area God has called us to touch.
The lodge currently houses mission groups coming from
Canada
and the
United States
to provide services to the local Mexican people.
These services vary, including medical work,
Vacation Bible School
programs, house-building, medical clinics, and of course working on the orphanage
project. The vision for the mission
aspect of the ministry is vast, therefore; linking with other teams is vital. By using the Bethesda Mission for these
purposes, it helps support our needs for the orphanage costs as most teams that
come are working on the orphanage as their primary project.
It is our hope that Bethesda Mission quickly becomes known as the mission
teams' gateway to
Mexico
.
After a few years of the local officials watching the good work we were called
to do, they asked us to consider building an orphanage in the area. The issues of
poverty and children living in crisis situations made this an easy decision for
us. Much prayer and some miracles would have to happen for this to become a reality. God spoke, the miracles came and in
September 2005, Mount of Olives Children's Village was born.
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