Some of you might remember the television show "The Love Boat" that aired in the 70s.Its setting was a large cruise ship, and each episode revolved around love stories between various passengers.Well, on Wednesday, March 8, a different kind of Love Boat docked in Cabo San Lucas.On this particular cruise there were 35 American Baptists that were interested in the mission work taking place in Southern Baja, Mexico.And they came not to show eros love, but to demonstrate agape love to their Mexican brothers and sisters in Christ.

We met this group of people, who hailed from ABC churches across the U.S., at about 11am in the morning.They were led by former missionaries to Costa Rica, Jim and Sara Wiegner.Jim now serves as the Development Officer for International Ministries.As the cruise traveled through Mexico, he and Sara were sharing stories about the ABC work in various areas, and also connecting the tour with ABC missionaries.Cabo San Lucas was their first port.

We loaded all 35 on an air-conditioned tour bus, arranged by one of our Mexican colleagues who works for a tour company, and set off for San Jose.San Jose is about a 45 minute drive from Cabo and is where there are two Baptist churches that belong to the convention with whom we partner (Getsemani & El Buen Pastor).As we drove across town, David narrated stories about our work in Southern Baja and Adrian, a bilingual member of El Buen Pastor, would intersperse with cultural facts and points of interest along our route.

Eventually we pulled off the coastal highway which had passed by countless resort hotels, and entered into the poor barrios of San Jose.Five years ago, many of these neighborhoods did not exist.Emigrants have flooded to this area from Southern Mainland Mexico as people have sought work in the tourist industries.Adrian told us that a maid in a hotel could potentially earn $400 USD a month, and someone in construction up to $800 a month.Since the minimum wage in Mexico is about $4 a day, these types of incomes are astronomical for most families.Most pastors are blessed if they can earn $200 a month.We work with 3 pastors who earn less than $100 a month.

Pastor Marcos Rodas converted to Christianity as an adult and later heard the call to be a minister.He is now the pastor of El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd) in a neighborhood that sprang up 3 years ago.The homes in this area are mostly one or two rooms of cement block.The church is an assortment of cement block, plywood, and metal sheeting for the roof.In an area designed for maybe 75 people, they are cramming about 120 each Sunday for worship.Therefore, they have a dream to build a new worship center.

The church had the vision to purchase land early on in the dream stage.They have just finished paying off that debt.An architect has drawn up plans for their new church.Now they are accumulating the funds.They have estimated a cost of $45,000 USD for the building materials.Pastor Marcos shared with us that the men of the church plan to volunteer the labor as they have many construction workers, masons, plumbers, etc.He said the men will volunteer time on their days off to complete the effort which will take about 1-2 years.At this time, the church has saved around $7000 USD towards their new church.

As Pastor Marcos shared his testimony and the vision of the church with us, we were struck by his humility and sincerity.When asked how we could assist them, he said, "Please pray for us.While this may seem like a huge undertaking, nothing is too big for God to accomplish!"Before we boarded the bus to return to Los Cabos, we asked all the pastors and Mexican leaders to gather, and then the missionaries and cruisers circled around them and anointed them in prayer.From the moment that the tour bus had parked in front of this tiny church, neighbors had come out to see what was going on—some had even climbed on their roofs and were peering down into the church courtyard!As we prayed together, Americans and Mexicans, I couldn't help but marvel at the unusual spectacle we made . . . and what a testimony to the power of God's redeeming love we were hopefully modeling to these neighbors.My prayer was that some would come to the church and ask, "What were all those gringos doing here today"

On the way back to Cabo, the group took a love offering for El Buen Pastor.That spontaneous response raised over $600!Then, as we were eating lunch, one man approached David and said that he would be sending a donation of $10,000 towards this project.And others said that they were going home to talk to their churches and mission boards as well.If you have never experienced this type of generosity, I can't even begin to describe how it impacts you.Pastor Marcos did not have words.It was simply overwhelming.As one person commented, "At home I usually feel financially poor.But here, I realize how rich I really am."

After taking the group to a buffet lunch, we drove them back to the dock.When one woman hugged us goodbye, she told us, "This is going to be the best day of the entire trip!"Just 12 words.But I was so encouraged.Sometimes as a missionary you wonder if you're making a difference.If efforts to share God's love is even getting through all the barriers and politics of another culture.But this day it did.God showed up in a big way.Couldn't miss him!And as we waved to all 35 people heading back to their cruise ship, it truly did feel like we had been visited by The Love Boat.