As a part of the 2015 Transform Our World Conference in San Jose, CA, we traveled north to Redding, CA for an optional visit to a well-known Bethel Church pastored by Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. After the opening dinner, we were instructed to leave our tables, form circles, and pray individually for each person seated at our table. Neil and Lee were two of the people who were at our table, and during that prayer time, their hearts were connected to ours. Later on while still in Redding, Neil asked that if they were able to travel to the US again for the TOW Conference in 2017, would it work for them to travel back with us to Los Cabos after the close of the conference. It did and so they did. They returned to the US in 2017 for the conference and flew back with us to Los Cabos for a 10-day visit. During the 10 days they spent with us in 2017, Neil and Lee developed a burden to help us with our vision of the transformation of Los Cabos.
One of the possible projects they were interested in seeing established in Los Cabos was the start of a Christian leadership academy (in addition to basic education from public schools), utilizing Transform Cambodia as a model. After returning to Australia after their visit with us in 2017−with Los Cabos in mind−Neil flew to Cambodia to talk to the founders of Transform Cambodia (https://vimeo.com/15589876) to see if the founders of the trust that supports the work in Cambodia would consider expanding their mission to Los Cabos. Although this may or may not come to fruition, Neil still has the vision for the first Transform Cambodia prototype in Los Cabos; dedicated to training powerful, pure, Christian leaders for Mexico’s future. Neil and Lee returned once again to Los Cabos this last October, after a 36-hour flight from their home in western Australia.
For eight full days, they imparted to, ministered to, and prayed over brothers and sisters in Christ in the Los Cabos area, as well as prayed over the geographic area itself. The first day of action included the Sunday morning service at Cabo English Church, our traditional Sunday chicken dinner with Pastor Michael and his wife, Laura, at Pollo de Oro, and, for Lee, a special appearance at my Sunday evening prayer class. I had prepared the class ahead of time to be ready to receive personal prayer from a special guest from Australia. The Holy Spirit blessed us with His presence and it was a memorable experience for everyone present; as well as an opportunity for Lee to be coaxed out of her comfort zone.
The next day, Neil traveled to San Jose with Pastor Carlos, Richard, and myself for the 8:00 a.m., Monday morning patriotic ceremony in the town square in front of the Municipal Palace. After the ceremony, the Lord brought attention to the four of us in a unique way. Our current mayor, who was elected just one year ago, had introduced the singing of the Baja California Sur state anthem to the patriotic ceremony several weeks before. We soon found out that almost no one in the government or crowd knew the words to this song. Richard−as the statesman of the family−made a point of talking to the mayor’s secretary in order to get a copy of the anthem, and after that time faithfully carried the copy of the words in his portfolio each Monday morning. When the time came to sing the state anthem during the Monday morning program with Neil, Richard and I were familiar enough with the tune that we sang with gusto (even if we didn’t pronounce all the words exactly right). Our efforts were noticed that morning! As soon as the crowd was dismissed, La Presidente led her entourage of reporters−including a TV camera−over to our little group. She very graciously took time to come over to Richard and I to thank us for caring enough about her state to work on learning the state anthem. I’m sharing this here because Neil, along with Pastor Carlos, Richard and myself, was on live footage in Los Cabos, MX.
After the ceremony, the four of us went to our favorite “meeting” breakfast restaurant where Neil pulled out his plans and research ideas for the location of a Christian leadership academy, as well as the layout of the Quinta Real property (that I often make reference to). The financing is not there at this point, but Neil is faithfully doing the groundwork for possible presentations in the days ahead. With Lee joining us later in the day, we proceeded to the Quinta Real property for prayer and discussion of what God’s plans for that land could include.
This is the end of the first part of Neil and Lee’s ‘missionary journey’ to Los Cabos. Part II is yet to come!