Photos of Mexico



It took only the first team for someone to say that I need a Mexican boyfriend. They then shared their opinion with the local Mexican pastors which got them all excited. After I took this picture, I erased the message...I wasn't brave/foolish enough to drive around with it.



We had a pinata for the 4th of July!

Every Thursday night, we take the groups to the beach to play in the water and sand, and to see the sunset.







Fishing boats. I love this picture...the dusky colors, the waves, etc.



Friends of mine and interns: Rachel and Josue



Migrant workers

There are three Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) pastors in the city where I'm living. One of the churches is located in the heart of agricultural fields: asparagus, squash, corn, etc. This church's congregation consists largely of migrant workers. People who have traveled for days, with their family, to come up to the Ensenada region for a better life. However, this better life often means working sunrise to sunset (5am? to 8pm?) either 6 or 7 days a week. Their families live in, what we would call, shacks: buildings that look like they'd top over if a strong wind or rain ever came through. Moreover, I was told that they receive minimum wage which according to another webpage is $57.46 pesos/day, which is approximate $4.25/day.

In most families, both parents work this schedule, leaving the children to fend for themselves. In my first week here, I had the privilege of babysitting a 2 month old baby girl, just so that her 7 year old sister could play soccer with the other kids. Seeing 7 or 8 year olds toting around their 2 year old siblings is not uncommon. They have the responsibility of caring for them while their parents are working. It's a bit shocking to see from our North American point of view. And yet God cares for each of these kids. He is the protector and champion of children. He is the father to the fatherless, which these kids essentially are for a large percentage of their day.

One good thing about this migrant community is that they genuinely desire to take care of each other. In some ways, it has a "it takes a village to raise a child" feel to it...they would support and defend each other. However, with most of the adults gone, the children are vulnerable. One such 14 year old girl was raped two years ago when she was home alone and is now the parent of a 2 year old...a child raising a child.

These children have woven their way into the heart of this one pastor. His small church has at least 75 children (and approximately 30 adults). He desires to have them know God, through regular Sunday school lessons. He also desires to start a before-school and after-school program to teach them English, help them with school-work and provide them a safe place to be while their parents are not home. And the more time I spend out at Pastor Reynerio's church, the more my heart is being tied to these children and this community. In fact, not knowing Pastor's Reynerio's before and after school desires, I mentioned last week to a coworker that an after school program is needed for the same reasons listed above. My friend Rachel turned to me after I said this and told me excitedly that this is what Pastor Reynerio has wanted.

I'm not sure what lies in my future in regards to this ministry. However I will continue to pray about this ministry potential and for the well-being and growth of these children.

A great story

There are a few Bible stories that ignite my mind and heart, more than others; ones that really get me thinking and make me want to teach about them or at least share about them with others. Stories that continually teach me about who Jesus is or how I should live.

I know I already touched on this particular story before but it's so good that, in my opinion, it deserves another post!

This particular story is located a couple places in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John): Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5: 21-43, and Luke 8:40-56. It's the story of Jarius' daughter and the old woman.  May I briefly recount the story to you?

Jesus crosses a sea, only to be met by a synagogue leader named Jarius, who requests that Jesus come quickly to heal his daughter. The daughter is very ill and near death. Jesus agrees to come heal the daughter and the whole entourage starts immediately walking throug the crowds...no time to waste.

And yet in the midst of that, an old woman is present who had been hemmoraging for 12 years! (Ladies, let's all have a moment of silence to sympathize with this poor woman.) She had visited many doctors, which had taken much of her money, hadn't help, and left her feeling like a medical guinea pig. Plus, over the years, her health had only grown worse. But she sees Jesus and thinks "if I could just touch his robe, maybe I'll be healed." After all, what had she to lose? So she reaches out, touches His robe and finds herself immediately and knowingly healed. But then Jesus immediately stops and asks, despite the pressing crowds, who it was that touched Him. This woman fearfully steps forward and Jesus shares a moment validating and blessing her.

Once that is finished, the entourage starts their journey again. However they are quickly met by a servant of Jarius' who sadly informs them all that Jarius' daughter has already died. Jesus quickly assures Jarius to "only believe" and they continue on their way. Then when they get to the house, Jesus heals the daughter, who immediately get up and starts walking. Amazing!

There are so many little things about this story that I love:

• Jesus is willing to heal anyone, from little girls to old women
• Jesus is willing to heal anyone, from high-offical's daughters to societial "rejects"
• Jesus allows for an interruption, even when He is on a set assignment. He doesn't allow for this "to do" list to become more important than meeting the needs of people who cross His path, even though it means His plans are interrupted.
• Jesus takes the time to speak and show loving compassion to this destitute old woman, who probably felt rejected, bruised in her body and soul, and alone.
• Jesus sees impossible situations as opportunities for God to be glorified through miraculous healings.
• Jesus invited others to be a part of His ministry, like His disciples.

I am challenged, in this story, to be more like Jesus in my actions. I guess that is why it always seems to get me excited and thinking.

My first conversation

For the last week, I've been having good conversations with various Americanos but when it came to the Mexicans, it was mainly "hola, como estas"...which means hi, how are you? After that I would get lost when they'd start rattling off in Spanish. Of course I could occasionally pick up a word or two or three but really couldn't communicate anything other than how my health was.

But yesterday, I got to have an actual conversation!
Our cook's name is Leyda, who is a gem. She pronunciates very clear and speaks slowly for those of us who are not yet novices. This was incredibly helpful as I was able to understand more of what was being said!

We started our conversation talking about coffee and then it moved to whether or not I like Ensenada and the weather in western Washington. We also talked about where she is previously from (Mexicali). Then she talked about how I can understand Spanish if someone speaks slowly and lastly about how I will learn Spanish, in short time, like my fellow coworker Brian.

I was pretty giddy after having a real conversation (still am)!
It's definitely hard feeling very limited in what I can say and understand. Plus, I won't be starting language training until September...so I have the whole summer to be a bit lost, although I'm sure even before then there'll be improvements.

Anyhow, thought I'd share this little highlight with you all.
Happy Sunday!

Crossing the border

I am here. In Mexico.

My dad and I left Monday morning (if 2am constitutes as morning) and made stops in Redding, Modesto, Ontario and then Ensenada. We arrived here on Thursday but not after having my first interesting border crossing experience. How appropriate that my very first entry would be so interesting and time consuming!

We decided to pull into the "declare items" lane since my friend (and now co-worker) Brian was driving a trailer full of my stuff which would surely be inspected anyways. The guards had Brian and I write an itemized list of what was in my car and in the trailer and then they looked it over. My car and itemized list were immediately approved for exit ("Salida") but then the guard asked Brian for the registration for the trailer. Brian didn't have that paperwork with him...the guard proceed to tell us that we'd need to return to California to get the registration forms. By this time, it was already 5:30pm which means that any DMV (dept of motor vehicles) office would be closed, not to mention that even if we found an open one, California's vehicle licensing offices are notorious for long multiple-hour waits. It was at this point that we started praying that he'd just let us through.

He called this supervisor and talked for about 5 minutes before telling us that we can go on (thank you Jesus!) but next time we must have the paperwork! However we must first pay $800 pesos before leaving. And we must get a tourist visa for me as well. So we tromped around, paying the amount, filling out the paperwork and finally about 25 minutes later we were good to go.

So Brian drives his truck/trailer through the final guard stations, gets cleared to go and heads out. Then I follow up to the guard station, give the lady my "salida" document only for to tell me that I need a certain green form before I can leave. So I had to pull over, walk back to some office, and get this green form, all on my own limited Spanish comprehension...and who knows where Brian is. About 10 minutes later, I finally have the green form and am cleared to leave! Thankfully, Brian was waiting for me just outside the border and thus began out two hour trek down to Ensenada.

The first two teams arrive tonight. One from Bellingham, Washington and another from Toccoa Falls, Georgia. Thus begins the 6am-9pm daily schedule. On the schedule this week is a bit of construction, two Vacation Bible School programs, visiting an orphanage/girls home/boys home, and a special program for youth and for women.