Back to the Basics in 2011

When I came on staff with YWAM TJ, I moved to Mexico just knowing I wanted to love God and love people. Since then, its been a whirlwind year and a half of...
...changing houses
...changing ministries
...changing offices
...changing meal plans
...changing staff
...changing relationships
...changing schools
...changing health plans
...changing leadership roles
...etc!

Whoa, its been hard to keep my feet on the ground around here! Now that I'm starting off a new year and reaching the 1.5-year mark of my 2-year commitment with YWAM TJ, I think its time to get back to the basics...

...Love God.
...Love People.

Done. *sigh* I feel better already, how 'bout you? Sometimes we complicate things that are really meant to be so simple.

So, what does this look like in my every day life?

-Digging deep into God's Word for to learn more about his character and how I am to reflect that to a fallen world
-Walking closely in the calling that God has on my life
-Praying earnestly for more revelation about how make a change in my colonia (Antorcha), my city (Tijuana) and my country (Mexico)
-Taking time to enjoy the relationships I have and wonderful people I have around me
-Giving endless amounts of hugs to my kids in the colonia to let them know how much they are loved
-Lending a listening ear to the moms of my kids as they share their heartaches and struggles

And so much more. "Walk in love" is says in 2 John 1:6. I think it means moving forward in love, living out love as a lifestyle, act out of love for God and for others, let love be sprinkled everywhere you step.

It also says in Ephesians 5 to "Follow God's example and walk in the way of love." What was God's example for us? It was Jesus, who "gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2) Have you ever had someone go past you who was wearing so much perfume that their fragrance stayed with you long after they walked away? Maybe you turned around to see who it was? Maybe you stopped to ask them what perfume they're wearing.

I think that's how love is supposed to be - that after we've shared with someone out of love for them and love for God, the effect of that love lingers long after we're gone; that after we offer ourselves in self-sacrifice for someone else, they remember us and ask us what kind of love we have that makes us want to share it with others.

Will you go back to the basics with me in 2011, and simply "walk in love"? Maybe then we'll see the change we want to see in our homes, our relationships, our jobs, our ministries, our communities, and our world.

2011: Here I come! :)

Christmas in the States 2010

Road Trip anyone??

Day 1 of my vacation, I left from Tijuana at 8 am, crossed the border, flight got delayed in San Diego making me miss my connecting flight in Houston, got on a later flight and arrived in Charlotte at 10:45pm - whew!!! Check out this cutie that was there to greet me at the airport...

My niece Faith, 15 months

I knew it was gonna be a really fun week. My niece now walks, talks and get into everything!! I had so much fun taking care of her while my sister was at work. She also opened her first Christmas presents, and loved playing with the paper. We continued in the Christmas Spirit by taking her to see Santa, but she freaked out and barely got a picture with her on his lap. Later we went to the racetrack where they had a christmas lights show and had a great time there.

After 4 days in Charlotte, we took the looooong overnight drive to Chicago - 15 hours in the car with a baby and a big fat dog. But we survived, anda few short hours after arriving to Chicago we got back in the car to go to Milwaukee Wisconsin to go to a wedding.

I was the Nanny at the wedding and it was lots of fun! for the most part... I had my first experience of poop in the bathtub, which I will definitely never forget! While my sister got ready as a bridesmaid I took the baby with my brother-in-law to the pool! So nice after freezing in the cold Wisconsin air, to take a dip in the hot tub :)

Back in Chicago, it was great to see my family. Most of my days were spent running around catching up with people. And I got to visit my brand new cousin, Victoria, just 2 weeks old!!

We had new fun experiences with my niece, she loved looking at my mom's rotating Christmas tree, see all the ornaments, and watching Bentley run around in the snow. We made cookies too and she put on the sprinkles :)

Also it was so amazing to see my friends from IWU again! We have a tradition of all getting together on Christmas night, after all the family craziness is over to hang out and catch up. This year was no different. Oh my loves, how I miss you all...
So overall a great time catching up and seeing everyone. Far from the restful and relaxing vacation I needed, but what is Christmas for other than to spend with your crazy family, right? :)

"For unto us a child is born, to us a child is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6

Homes of Hope video

Recently, we've had a new family that's been coming to the Circulo Andante ministry in colonia Antorcha. Josefina and her 2 kids, Erik and Lupita, first walked about 4 miles to come to the Circulo when she heard about Homes of Hope. She was desperate to try to see if she had a chance through our minsitry to improve the lives of her children...
Now they have a new home, and Erik and Lupita are a fun addition to the Circulo! I love this family!

CLICK HERE to watch a video about Josefina and how her family's lives have changed by receiving a Homes of Hope house. It's very touching.

A Change of Heart: Last House build of 2010

I was so happy when I found out that my last house build of the year was going to be in colonia Antorcha, where I teach the Circulo Andante every week. "Alright!", I thought, "I'm gonna get to build for one of my adorable little kids!" And it was true, sort of - I mean, who wouldn't want to give this kid a new house?? Meet Daniel Angel, age 6. A typical mischevious little 1st grader, the smallest in his class. He makes everyone smile and always tries his best in class. He and his brother Ricardo, age 8, live with their Grandma, Martha. Ricardo is a big trouble-maker in my class, pushing and making fun of the other kids, not wanting to do any of our activities, and being forced even to come to Circulo by his Grandma Martha. While I was so happy they were getting a new house, I have to confess I wasn't very thrilled about the idea of having to deal with this "problem child" the whole weekend. Although the more time I spent with them and learned about their family, I have to say God definitely convicted me of my judgemental attitude and gave me a change of heart.


Here is Martha's house: a one room shack with blankets and sheets for walls where she lives with her 2 grandchildren. I had the honor of talking to Martha about her family and she shared with me that her daughter - the boys' mother - is currently in a drug rehab center in Ensenada. She bravely took up the task of being the boys' legal guardian and raising these 2 while their mother is rehabilitating. She said they don't get to go visit her very much and sadness and angry the boys feel from missing their mother comes out in their behavior. She called the oldest boy Ricardo "tremendo" - or terribly naughty - and I saw that come out in his rudeness and disrespect towards her several times throughout the weekend. It didn't help my feelings toward him either that he kept asking me when we were going to take him to buy all the free food and how many toys was he going to get (as if the brand new house wasn't enough!) I'm sure this is because he had seen a lot of other kids in the colonia get new houses full of furniture and toys and heard stories about the overloaded carts full of grocieres that the teams often buy the families. Although I had never met a child that was so presumptuous to ask "when" and "how much"! So much for the surprise.... Anway, I had a great time working alongside Martha to get her house built.

Gloria and I working with Martha inside the house

In addition to the team's hard work, we also had several more helping hands: the kids from the Circulo! We had about 20 kids come and help us paint, hammer, carry shingles and anything else they could do. I also had the pleasure of serving alongside some of the moms in the colonia that came out to be a part of this special blessing for Martha.

Brayan, Itai and Daniel Angel ready to hammer

Me working on painting with some of the kids from the Circulo

Karinn and Martin - 2 6th graders from the Circulo- working on painting inside

Jessica and her family received a Homes of Hope house several months ago. Now she came out with her kids to help out and to be a part of this amazing gift for another family!

The house dedication was an especially emotional time as Martha shared with the whole team about the boys' mother and her situation in the rehab center. She expressed that she was absolutely thrilled to be receiving a Homes of Hope house and that she hoped this new home would bring some stability and feeling of security to her two boys. Then each team member got to share what the experience meant to them and how grateful they were to be a part of giving Martha and her family this great blessing. One comment that I especially remember was from an older woman on the team. She said that as a grandma herself, she thought that Martha was very brave for taking on the responsibility to raise her grandsons. This brought Martha to tears, as I believe she never even thought twice about bringing the boys into her home to care for them, loving and courageous as she is.

Martha and her two boys with me translating for the team leaders at the dedication

A few weeks after the build, some of our YWAM staff took Martha and the boys to visit their mom at the rehab center in Ensenada. They said it was a glorious reunion full of love and happiness. Before they left, Martha showed me the letters that the boys wrote to their mom in regards to their new house: (see images and translation below). It broke my heart and brought me to tears (even still while I'm writing to you about it now!), just to see the tender heart of a child, no matter how tough their exterior may be...

Pretty mommy, mommy I miss you, Get better really soon, we need you. My mom (grandma) Martha and my brother and I love you. We really want you to come to my house so you can see it. Your son that loves you, Daniel

Mommy, I love you alot and I miss you. I want you to get better soon so that you can come back to my beautiful house. Please, I want you to come and live in my house with us so that you can take care of us. We love you alot. Do your best - your son that loves you asks you for this -Ricardo.

I thank God that he forgives us for our sinful hearts, judgemental and deceiving as they are (or at least mine is!) I'm thankful that I got another chance to see this boy in a different light, how amazing the love is between a mother and her sons. And I am SO happy that I got to be a part of this build and of bringing hope to Martha and her boys - a hope of a new life, together as a family.

"People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
~1 Samuel 16:7

P.S. This is our 3rd house that Abraham and I have built together!

Fall Newsletter

Here's an update on what I've been up to this fall in Tijuana... Mexican celebrations, a peace march in downtown Tijuana, a carnival in the colonia and more! Check it out!

Click on the image to make it bigger - enjoy!

A Morning Miracle in Tijuana

Some people say they don't believe in miracles. For example, how could Jesus have fed 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 fish? It's just not possible, you may think. Well let me share with you my experience yesterday at the Casa de los Pobres, the House of the Poor here in Tijuana, Mexico. It's something truly amazing, it really touched my heart, and it made me love more my life as a missionary in Mexico and my God who provides for the needs of his children.

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"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10
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6:01 a.m. - Alarm goes off and I pull myself out of bed, tired and not that happy but trusting the day will get better. Can't quite get my eyes to open enough to get my contacts in, so I decide I'll wear my glasses today.

6:47 a.m. - Leave from my house with April and Abraham to go feed the poor and hungry in Tijuana.

7:18 a.m. - Arrive at the Casa de los Pobres, the House of the Poor in downtown TJ. Several hundred people are already lined up outside, the line wrapped around the corner of the block, all waiting anxiously to receive a free hot breakfast.

Hundreds of men, women, and children have gathered - elderly, handicapped, single moms, school children, homeless - many that haven't eaten since the previous morning when they stood in this same line. We parked the car, and walked past the hungry people straight into the kitchen to get our work assignments. I thought getting up at 6 a.m. was rough - the women that volunteer here arrived at 5:00 a.m. to begin cooking.

7:31 a.m. Church service there ends and the head Mother comes in and puts us to work - Abraham will serve the oatmeal to the men and children, I will be in the upstairs dining room serving soup to the women, and April will happily wash dishes (where she doesn't have to speak much spanish).

Abraham and I in the kitchen

8 gallons of milk was used to make this huge pot of oatmeal, and they made 3 of these pots

7:40 am - A nun says a blessing over the food, recites the Lord's prayer and sings a hymn of thanksgiving over the loudspeaker in the patio.

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. " Psalm 107: 8-9

7:45 a.m. - Lines begin to form inside the kitchen. Women are sent to an upstairs dining room, men eat downstairs and on the patio and children at separate small tables near the kitchen. I serve each person a generous helping of squash & tomato soap, another woman gives a spoonful of beans, while another pours each person a bowl of oatmeal. Each one is handed 3 corn tortillas on their way to their seat.

8:30 a.m. I go downstairs to see how April is doing with the dishwashing. She asks me to translate something and the women tell her they are worried about her getting her shirt wet. She doesn't mind. From a distance I see Abraham scooping bowls of oatmeal to all the people in line. I smile and wave and he throws me a kiss, without missing a beat :)

8:37 a.m. I walk around the downstairs dining rooms, where the men and children are filling up their bellies with this hot meal. As I see the long line of people and watch them eat, I'm reminded of the story in the Bible of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The Casa de los pobres serves breakfast to over 1,000 hungry men, women, and children 5 days a week, Monday -Friday. That's over 5,000 a week - 25,000+ people a month! They receive no support from the government or money from the Catholic church - all of the food is donated and they trust God each day for provisions of food to feed all the hungry mouths that day. Now that IS a Miracle, right here in Tijuana!

8:40 a.m. A man named Alejandro asks me in perfect English to take his picture, then I head back upstairs to continue serving.

9:02 a.m. I look over the balcony and see a little girl, maybe 3, sitting on the ground, turning her styrofoam cup upside down over her spoon letting the very last drops of oatmeal that remain in her cup drip down onto the spoon. She licks the spoon and its gone. I think to myself, "what if that's all she eats for the rest of the day? How will her mother provide her with her next meal? Where will it come from? What if this is it until tomorrow morning?" I become very emotional and need a moment before returning inside to keep serving the food.

9:21 a.m. A woman with long braids passes through the line with a toddler strapped to her back in a wrap that makes me think that they are from southern Mexico or Central America. Many of the people that have come, the nuns tell me, come far from outside of the city. They walk for hours or save up all week to take a bus to come and eat and receive donations from this place. There are also a lot of immigrants that have come up from Central America, or people that have been deported from the States and have no where to go. I stop and think about how each person that goes through the line has a story, an individual story of grief and despair of how they got to this place. Some have literally traveled thousands of miles over time and crossed international borders to get there, others have wandered in after a long night of working the streets of the Zona Norte, and still there are those who have just reached the end of their rope and just needed to get up the courage and put aside their pride and accept that they need help. These are the people we serve and love here.

9:35 a.m. The upstairs line dies down a little and I decide to go downstairs to help, where they have run out of soup and have begun serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead with the beans and tortillas.

9:40 a.m. I am asked to move our car and when I do, I also take out the bags of donated clothes we brought to drop off here. A man helps my unload them and take them to a room where the sort the clothes, men/women/children. They tell me today is the women's turn and that after they eat, they line up again to be able to pick something out of the donations. I watch as women leave with big smiles on their faces carrying a pair of shoes or a sweater or a blanket for their baby. I remembered last Friday when we visited to drop off donations in the afternoon they were sorting mens clothes to give away. On the way out Abraham told me he saw a guy carrying away a pair of his pants he'd thrown in the donation back, saying they'd been just sitting in his drawer for about 2 years. He was so touched and happy when he heard the man say as he left, "Look at these jeans - they're almost new! And they're just my size!!"

9:49 a.m. A blind man moves to the front of the line and I help carry his food and oatmeal for him and help him find a seat in the still-crowded dining room.

9:55 a.m. I go over to the children's tables and sit down next to a little girl who's eating oatmeal. I ask her if she likes it and she smiles at me, shyly. I start talking to her and she shows me her coloring book, which I start reading to her.

10:04 a.m. A woman sits down next to me and tells me she's heard that we build houses for families in need. I tell her yes and ask her to tell me her story. She begins to explain about how she is living in a 'borrowed' house but that she has land, she just hasn't been able to build on it in 10 years because she doesn't have any money. She says she's desperate because the owner of the house where she's living with her husband, her daughter and her 3 grandchildren wants to kick them out and they have no where to go. I share with her a little about our Homes of Hope program and she gives me her number to get in contact with her and start the application process for a Homes of Hope house. She left a lot more calm than when she first sat down with me, with the hope that something better may be coming her way.

10:19 a.m. I go back to the kitchen to help serve food to the men who still are in line for breakfast. The women tell me these people are now in line for seconds. I put spoons in the oatmeal that Abraham scoops and PB&J sandwiches on a plate and then pass it to another woman who serves the beans.

10:25 a.m. I look over to the dish washers and see April still there smiling, washing dishes just as she was when she started 3 hours earlier. I go over to grab some more plates and bowls, and see that we're using the dishes just as fast as they can wash them. What an important job for this ministry!

10:31 a.m. Abraham scoops out the last bowl of oatmeal from the enormous pot. I see people still waiting in line to eat and get upset and tell him it's time to leave. I break down as we walk to the car through the patio, overrun with people in need - in need of food, water, clothes, shelter, medicine, and even more so, in need of the love of God and the hope of Jesus in their lives.

I was so touched by this precious ministry of mercy and compassion towards the poor and homeless of my city. I believe miracles happen every day there, as people get fed, clothed and filled with the love and compassion that comes from Jesus. May God receive all of the glory for the lives that are touched there.

Wow, what a great day to be a missionary!!! What a great day to serve God!!! And what a Great God we serve!!!

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"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind." Isaiah 58: 7:8

On Sale at the Border

About once a week, I have the joy of being one of the thousands of people that day to wait an hour or two in the border line to cross from Tijuana into the US. As an eternal tourist in Mexico, I enjoy spending my wait peering into the little shops on the side of the road, checking out what new products they have to sell me this time. Usually its pretty much the same stuff -ponchos, 'luchador' wrestling masks, banks shaped like donkeys, giant ceramic turtles, blankets with a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe, etc.

Recently though, a new product has become tragically common to sell at the border - young girls.

I invite you to read this article written by one of our YWAM staff and watch the video of what he saw during a recent border crossing. I will warn you though - it is disturbing, but it really did happen here in a very public place that I frequent each week (the border line). I don't put this up to shock anyone - everyone reading this I'm sure has heard all kinds of bad stuff that supposedly happens here in Tijuana. I only share this with you as a way of including you in what is happening around me. Like I said, I cross the border about once a week. To my recollection I've never seen anything like this, but perhaps its because I was too distracted by the ponchos and giant turtles...

"Selling Sex at the Border" Article
www.stepsofjustice.org