If you are interested in one of the trips for 2010, click the link to NLHM, download the application form and turn it in to the church office. You may also contact Fred Scarlett if you need more information. 2010 Trip Four - Oct 27 - Nov 1 Leadership Retreat Missions Global Ministry Team is gathering donations of hotel-type travel size toiletries for the Central Mexico Mission. The small soaps, shampoos, etc., will be included in gift bags to be given to participants of the Health Fairs in 2010. Donations may be left near the globe on the west side of the Commons during the month of October.

Some years ago the missions team desired to develop a intentionally routine, adult short-term missions program. We developed the five following criteria: Affordable Open to everyone of all abilities of West Side Baptist Church Connection to the Yakima Valley via the Spanish language Develop a relationship by returning to the same area Partner with New Life Hispanic Ministries (NLHM) Initially, we were mostly focused on points one and two and the likely destination seemed to be Mexico, which would also include point number three. Through the support of NLHM, we proceeded to develop a short-term program for adults. W have never lost sight of our goal to return to the same area and in the end, the relationship we developed during the last few years has become the primary, purposeful reason for the program. The evangelical Christian church in Mexico is oppressed. Nearly 97% of all inhabitants of Central Mexico practice a very orthodox style of Catholicism that includes near worship of the Virgin Mary. Our mission is to support the growing evangelical church in Central Mexico. The church is not passive. They are very active and evangelistic, but they need our help. They need us to pray for them, to encourage and come alongside them, to educate them and to just love them. They are lonely. So our short-term missions program is to support the local church of believers in the Central Highlands of Mexico. Our program is facilitated and directed by NLHM located here in Yakima and with their missionaries located in Arandas. As the program develops we will continue to take responsibility for more and more of the process and perhaps even add additional trips. But for now we will focus on four trips per year – one in each season. Additionally, in an effort to tie Central Washington to Central Mexico, we continue to try to include area churches to join us in the effort. The demographic of Central Washington contains many of Mexican heritage and many of these have family in Central Mexico. It is vitally important for us to form better relationships with our neighbors.