Posts Tagged ‘Interns’

The church group with Jesus and his family with the completed home in the background

The church group with Jesus and his family with the completed home in the background

A New Home for the Doctor

One of the highlights this week was witnessing the completion and dedication of the home-built for a doctor that ministers with my friend, Daniel Nuñez and Lo Mejor del Trigo.

It may be a little corny, but you could say a new home is just what the doctor ordered! 😉

The Value of Interns

Our summer intern, Nicole Silva worked with the church from Ohio that came down to build the house. One of the positives for us when we have summer interns is that it enables us to extend our reach. Nicole is gaining some valuable ministry experience and she is helping us to further our relationship with our ministry partners.

Dawn and I enjoy being able to work with interns. We like the opportunity it gives us to build into their lives and to give them new experiences in ministry. Our hope is that these experiences will have a life lasting impact.

One of our hopes and prayers is for the Lord to grow our intern program over the years.

Nicole wasn’t able to be involved in building the home for the doctor for the whole week, but she was able to help them. She met some people from a different place, and ministered alongside them. She also touched the lives of some of the Mexican children that showed up while they were working on the project.

Joy in Medical Missions
Jesus and Dulce and their family inside their new home

Jesus and Dulce and their family inside their new home

What a joy to see the smile on the faces of the families that are in need that we build homes for. The awesome thing about this particular build is that Jesus is a doctor and he plans on helping Lo Mejor del Trigo with their outreach in the community. There are many needs the people have, and often they are unable to pay for the medical attention that they need.

You might remember last week we held a large medical clinic with a number of doctors, nurses and dentists coming down from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. I loved playing a part of that outreach. Many people come into the church through medical ministries.

We pray that this ministry will grow. I’m in conversation with two other churches right now that have an interest in bringing down medical professionals to minister in Tijuana.

One of the benefits about having Jesus and his family in a community near El Niño is that they will be continually connecting with the people. They will be able to love and minister to the people. Jesus’ wife, is named, Dulce, which means sweet. We pray that the sweetest of Christ and the gospel will emanate from this family and their ministry to the people.

Pray with the us that the Lord will continue to increase our borders as the gospel goes forth!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Emily with Edgardo Avila pastor of the Spanish church

Emily with Edgardo Avila pastor of the Spanish church

Our intern, Emily Gryder has served with us since July 7th. She will be leaving this coming Friday. The Lord has used her to connect with many of the Hispanics that we are working with. We are so encouraged by how Emily has served.

We started the summer with our first intern, Zach Lutz. Zach did a great job as well, and he opened the door for many of the things that Emily is now doing.

Zach and Emily started up a weekly VBS for neighborhood kids in City Heights. Emily has kept that going with an after school kids club.

Another area where Emily has really helped us is with our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. She has been our main teacher over the last several months. Oliva, who I wrote about in a recent post, came to Christ through Emily opening the door with ESL classes, and then inviting Oliva to the Spanish service.

Emily has also befriended and discipled, Hilary, one of the youth in the church.

She’s had numerous experiences such as building a home for the homeless, building a church, feeding the poor, etc. You can catch up on more of Emily’s exploits on her blog: Chosen by Grace.

Emily with Oliva and Elizabeth

Emily with Oliva and Elizabeth

I’m amazed that Emily has been able to do so much at her young age. She’s still a teenager herself.

Dawn and I believe in the importance of building into young people, and giving them opportunities to serve in missions. Their time on the border gives them a broad and unique experience.

We do give thanks for Emily, who’s been living with us since mid-September. When Emily first came Ray and Michele Call spent a lot of time with Zach and Emily. We are grateful for all the time and energy they gave to both of our interns. We are also thankful for Tom and Debbie Steller, who provided housing for Emily until we arrived.

Join us in thanking the Lord for Emily, and praying for her as she heads back to her family in North Carolina. Pray also that the Lord raises up more workers as we work to see a renewed San Diego-Tijuana border.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Dave, Zach and Ray

Dave, Zach and Ray

Dawn and I have enjoyed getting to know two of our interns over the last week. Zach Lutz, a student from Moody in Chicago, and Lindsay Anne Dransfield a student from the University of Maryland in Baltimore are with us.

Zach has done a great job plugging in, and helping where needed. One of the major ministries he’s involved in is leading a Bible Study with a Hispanic small group in Escondido. This is quite an accomplishment, since Zach is still learning Spanish. Today is Zach’s birthday! He’s the big 21! Happy Birthday, Zach.

We are going into Mexico today, and we will be with the Spanish church tonight, so we celebrated Zach’s big day on July 4th. The Call family made a cake, and we had a wonderful time celebrating independence day and Zach’s birthday on the same day!

Dawn with Lindsay Anne

Dawn with Lindsay Anne

Lindsay Anne is only with us for a few days. She is a photo journalist. While she is with us we have her taking a lot of pictures and video of the city, and people.

As an added bonus, a friend from Colorado Springs, Scott Kracht has been visiting us.

On Saturday Lindsay Anne leaves and Emily Gryder joins us. Emily is coming out from North Carolina.

I love the youth, energy and curiosity these young adults bring with them. It’s unbelievable that our interns are all about the same age as our kids. Actually, David, our oldest is a little older than all of them. But of course, we aren’t getting older just our kids are! 😉

Today we will go into Tijuana and Rosarito to meet with pastor Leo Nevarez. My prayer is that we can encourage him and his wife, Gloria. I’m also hoping to introduce him to a ministry that builds houses for impoverished people. This ministry isn’t too far from his church, so it could be a great opportunity for the church to reach out in love to the people in this community. I believe by bringing these two ministries together that the Lord could greatly bless each of them. I pray they will also be a blessing to the community!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Emily Gryder

Emily Gryder one of our summer interns

Last week I introduced one of our interns, Zach Lutz. The Lord has blessed us with two other interns, Emily Gryder and David Diaso Jr. Today I’d like to highlight Emily.

We give thanks to the Lord for giving us such amazing interns. It is surprising in some ways that we already have a growing internship ministry, since our team is still young. We are thrilled that we can build into their lives. As they serve the Lord will use them to touch the lives of people they meet and minister to on the border.

Emily Gryder is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is the oldest of one brother, and two sisters. She is presently majoring in Spanish and minoring in Biology at UNC Chapel Hill. The Lord has given her a love for missions, and given her opportunities to go to the Dominican Republic with her youth group. Emily has a long time boyfriend, named David.

One of the ministries that she has enjoyed is children’s ministry. She’s been involved in outreach to children and tutoring elementary students.

Emily recently wrote about her experience in missions, and her opportunity to serve with BEAMM.

“As some of you my know, I have loved missions for a long time. This was first kindled at a young age and grew dramatically during two short-term missions trips to the Dominican Republic in 2008 and 2010. I am writing to let you know about another exciting opportunity that I have and to invite you to partner with me in it.”

We are glad that the Lord is working in Emily’s heart, and preparing her for the chance to minister with us this summer and fall. She brings excitement and energy to our team. You can learn more about Emily and her journey through her blog: egryder.blogspot.com. She will be with us from July 7th till November 30th.

We believe that our interns are an answer to our prayers. Join us in prayer that Zach, Emily and David will have an outstanding experience with us. Continue to ask the Lord of the Harvest to raise up laborers to work in and reap the harvest.

Have big dreams and don't live on the safe side!

Dream Big - don't live on the safe side! Come check out BEAMM San Diego - Tijuana

Speaking of the need for workers. This Thursday, April 12th, I will be at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis presenting our ministry to the seminary students. Pray that it goes well, and that the Lord would work in calling some to join us on our journey on mission with Jesus to serve on the border.

Ray Call and I would also appreciate your prayers for the ESL (English as a Second Language) launch this Friday, April 13th. Ray has been working hard with our friends at Harbor to promote and invite students. We are anxiously awaiting what the Lord will do through this outreach.

Thanks so much for praying for us, and for our growing team.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Zach Lutz with Margarita Diaz

Zach Lutz with Margarita Diaz

This summer we will have at least two interns and probably three. It thrills us that young people who love the Lord, and desire to grow are coming to minister with us. Our three interns are Zach Lutz, Emily Gryder and our son, David Diaso Jr.

Today I’d like to highlight Zach. He grew up in Spring Hill, Kansas near Kansas City. I guess that means he’ll be rooting for Kansas in the NCAA championship game tonight. He is the oldest of three brothers and one sister.

Zach is a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He is majoring in Historical Theology/Biblical Theology. God has given Zach a love for Spanish and the Hispanic culture. Further proof of that is that he’s in love with Margarita, a Puerto Rican young lady who is studying at Wheaton College which is near Moody. Actually, I had a hard time finding any pictures of Zach without Margarita on his Facebook page.

Zach hopes to minister through training and educating pastors when he graduates. By the way Zach, we have needs for someone to work with us to train and educate church leaders in San Diego – Tijuana!

He has gone on short-term missions projects before. He loves to help wherever he can. This includes construction, soccer and sports outreach, interacting with families and sharing his faith.

The colors of TJ in a market in Tijuana

The colors of TJ in a market in Tijuana

Our vision and prayer for our internship program is that we can build into the life of young people, who are preparing themselves to serve the Lord. We would like to see them grow in their ministry skills, but also in their spiritual maturity through their time with us. Our hope is that the Lord would use their experience with us to infect them forever with a love for missions and serving people. They will bring energy to our ministry on the border, which God can use to open up new doors. In God’s rich grace we pray that some of them will return to serve with us, or decide to serve in other mission fields.

We appreciate your prayers for our interns. Zach will be with us from May 23rd through August 18th. I will highlight Emily Gryder in my next post. Please pray that they will be able to raise all their funds as they prepare for the internship.

If you or someone you know is interested in a missions internship with BEAMM San Diego – Tijuana sent me a note. We’d love to see our internship program grow. God can use it to move  our work forward on the border, as well as to build into the lives of young people.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

Dave at Liberty Church

Dawn and I had a great time at Liberty Church in Owings Mills, Maryland, this past Sunday. Liberty is a great name, as we think of the liberty that we have in Christ! This church supported our ministry when we were in Mexico City. It’s thrilling to connect with them again! Thank you, Jesus.

It was a great encouragement to worship with them, and to share about what God is doing on the border. They expressed interest and enthusiasm about our ministry.

While at the church we met a college student who would like to explore a possible internship with us. Dawn and I got to know her better over dinner  and she has a neat heart for the Lord. She would be a wonderful addition to our team. Pray with us that the Lord will lead and guide her as she prays about and considers the possibility of working with us after she graduates.

Dawn and I are praying for the Lord to raise up many interns. Young workers that we can build into. We’d love to see them grow, and gain ministry experience with us. We would love for them to be thrust out into the mission field, including BEAMM San Diego – Tijuana, for long and short-term service. O Lord, hear our prayer!

We do have two interns that are already committed to working with us this summer, Zach Lutz. He is a student from Moody in Chicago. Our son, David is ministering with our partner, Harbor Mid-City. This summer we will put them to work to help us as we launch our BEAMM ministries.

Another huge need we have now is for somebody to head up our mercy ministries. There are so many needs and opportunities on the border – ESL, medical, food and clothing distribution, job training, etc. We need a person called by the Lord that can head this ministry up. This will enable us to mobilize friends to get involved in reaching out in the love of Christ to meet some of the physical and spiritual needs.

Dave & Dawn - with you on the journey!

Wow! I just received an email as I was writing this from a friend who has been considering working with us. She said  she has a strong interest in working with our team this summer. Thank you, Jesus! It’s possible that she could help us with mercy ministries. Could this be our answer to prayer for someone to lead mercy ministries? Stay tuned!.

We pray that liberty will ring on the border, and that the captives will be set free. Isaiah 61 speaks of proclaiming the gospel to the poor, and setting the captives free. That passage describes our hearts’ desire to see the gospel so fill the border that those living in San Diego and Tijuana are transformed in every way, socially, culturally and spiritually. Join us in prayer for a movement of the God’s Spirit on the border!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org