Cypress Church Volunteers Build Home for Needy Family

Early this summer a team of volunteers from Cypress Church travelled on a six day mission trip to serve disadvantaged residents in the Ensenada, Mexico area. There were ten Orange County residents in the group from three different families. The mission trip was led by Dan Punkay and Justin McElderry. Other participants included Lori, Andrew and Natalie Punkay; Suzanne, Eliana, Vivian and Cael McElderry; and Tom Frank. All age groups from elementary school to adults were represented.

This is the sixth year that volunteers from Cypress Church have partnered with YUGO Ministries to assist the community of Lomas Bonitas. This neighborhood is located in the mountains on the edge of Ensenada.

The community of Lomas Bonitas is unique in that the residents are immigrants from southern Mexico. There is no running water or natural gas service. The local wage is about $6.00 for a full day of labor. The roads are dirt and in very poor condition. While the parents are working, local pastors Juan and Karina Ambrocio provide programs for the children in town.

Most families do not own homes, but live in one room structures provided for them by the local church, “Centro Cristiano Jehova Jire,” and Yugo Ministries. This year the Cypress Church team partnered with a family of three who were in need, helping them build a small home, complete with a full roof. The family’s previous home was particle board with a tarp over the top. In addition to building, the volunteers also assisted with a neighborhood feeding center for children.

Andrew Punkay gave the Wednesday evening sermon in Spanish at “Centro Cristiano Jehova Jire.” When asked to describe the focus of this trip, Cypress Church Associate Pastor Takeshi Takazawa stated: “This ministry effort is specially designed for volunteers to work together as a family unit to serve people in need and develop relationships.”

Yugo Ministries has been taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Mexico since 1964. They train and host youth, adult and family teams from the U.S. and Canada to work in cross-cultural evangelistic, construction, and mercy ministry efforts.

Cypress Church partners with missions organizations around the globe to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ to the world with actions as well as words. This summer other teams from the Cypress area have traveled to Ecuador, India and New Orleans to assist needy individuals and families.

Information about global mission opportunities is available at (714) 952-3001 or email: info@cypresschurch.net. The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Worship services are held on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible studies and activities for all ages are available. The church website is located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption (Top) #1: Families from Cypress Church working alongside their counterparts in Lomas Bonitas, Mexico to build a new home.

Photo Caption #2: Ten Orange County residents ranging from grade school age to adults assisted local residents and YUGO Ministries in Mexico this summer.

Photo Caption #3: A needy family in Mexico has moved from a living under a tarp to a new home as a result of volunteers from Cypress Church serving others in the Name of Jesus.

Tonny Okello and Mary Akor are 2012 Cypress 10K Winners

City of Cypress Announces 2012 5K &10K Run/Walk Winners:

The 31st Annual Cypress 5K & 10K Run/Walk was held on Saturday, July 28th and attracted 1734 participants from 16 states, 262 more than last year. The weather was perfect and the flat and fast course attracted many talented runners.

The City would like to thank the numerous volunteers who, year after year, help to make this an amazing event. Special thanks also goes out to our sponsors, who helped make the Run a great success!

Media Sponsor: JACK FM; News Enterprise & Event News 

Principal Sponsor: Bandai Foundation; Runner’s High

Gold: American Rentals; Golden Spoon; Manhattan Beachwear; Mitsubishi Motors; Southland Credit

Union; Yamaha Motor Corporation

Silver: Crystal Geyser Water; Dr. Jeff Roth from Healthcare Partners – Race Doctor; Residence Inn Cypress/Los Alamitos

Bronze: Value Options

We would also like to congratulate this year’s winners:

5K Race - Men

Place - Athlete Name -                               Finish Time
1 Sean Brosnan -                                         14:43
2 Juan Valencia, South Gate -                      16:16
3 Juan Morales, Huntington Beach -             16:19

5K Race - Women

Place - Athlete Name -                               Finish Time
12 Ashlee Powers, Newport Beach -           17:36
23 Whitney Tawney, Long Beach -              18:22
27 Kendall Bruton, Long Beach -                 18:30

10K Race - Men

Place - Athlete Name -                               Finish Time
1 Tonny Okello, Culver City -                      29:32
2 Christian Hesch, North Hollywood -         29:39
3 Jordan Chipangama, Flagstaff, AZ -          29:44

10K Race - Women

Place - Athlete Name -                               Finish Time
11  Mary Akor, Hawthorne -                       33:55
12 Natasha Labeaud, San Diego -               34:06
16  Tanya Zeferjahn, San Clemente -           35:09

For more race results please go to:  http://www.cypressrec.com

For more information, please call Cypress Recreation & Community Services at
(714) 229-6780.

The above information was released by Jenni Worsham of the City of Cypress, Recreation and Community Services Department.

Information about the Cypress Community Festival is available at: http://www.cypressfestival.com/

Photo credit: Create and Capture Photography: http://www.createandcapturephotography.com/

Photo Caption #1: The winning Cypress 10K men’s runner for 2012 was Tonny Okello of Culver City.

Photo Caption #2: The Cypress 10K women’s winner for 2012 was Mary Akor of Hawthorne.

 Photo Caption #3: The 2012 men’s winner of the Cypress 5K race was Sean Brosnan.

Photo Caption #4:  Ashlee Powers of Newport Beach won the 31st annual women’s Cypress 5K race.

Free Fat Chili and a Model T Fire Truck Take Top Honors at 2012 Cypress Festival

Make the Chili and they will come - They came! Hundreds and hundreds of chili tastin’ folks arrived at the 32nd Cypress Community Festival held Saturday, July 28th at Oak Knoll Park.

It was a typical California sunny day and the temps were hot at the chili cookoff event. Starting at 12 noon, Taster’s choice ballots were sold for $4 that included a pencil, ballot, plastic spoon, and a taster’s choice judge ribbon and button.

According to Brian Sunley, chili cookoff Chair, over 1,500 taster’s choice ballots were sold. And there were 30 chili-making cooks registered and 11 salsa makers entered that made up this year’ s cookoff.
Around 4:30 p.m. the chili cookoff awards presentation started with the taster’s choice 1st prize going to Free Fat Chili. The 2nd prize went to C&C Chili. Third prize was given to Uncle Ron’s. The best chili by an attorney went to Ernie Nishii.

The best decorated booth award was presented to Blazin’ Bail Bonds and they also won for the best chili by a rookie. The best chili by a high school booster was given to Cypress High School Football. The best chili made for the fun of it award was given to the Class of ’81. And the best salsa award went to Krazy Kelly.

Many people also enjoyed checking out the numerous classic cars and vehicles that made up the 17th Annual Car Show. Close to 100 vehicles were featured and admired. The Best of Show award was won by Carl Laski, owner of a 1917 Model T Fire Truck. And the Sponsor’s Choice award was given to Pat Sulferino, owner of a 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe. Complete Festival information is available at: http://www.cypressfestival.com.

Photo Caption (Top) #1: Free Fat Chili was awarded the “Tasters Choice” at the 2012 Cypress Community Festival

Photo Caption #2: Best of Show award in the 2012 Cypress Car Show was won by Carl Laski’s 1917 Model T Fire Truck.

Photo Caption #3: A 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe owned by Pat Sulferino received the Sponsor’s Choice award at the Cypress Festival Car Show on Saturday July 28.