Week Four In Mexico

Another amazing week. We even got pulled over at the military check point to get the van searched for drugs. So much fun. The team was a little concerned but they quickly realized that it was OK. We even got two of the unarmed guys to pose for a picture with us. I got to work with a Native American team this week. They were so great. They practiced nailing and sawing before they came down. I have never heard of that. Even though the group was half the size of the other groups I have been building with; they finished the house in two days! They were very hard working and used to the heat (their reservation is in Arizona). I really liked getting to know them. When they first called the base to apply for building they said they really wanted to build a house but they didn't have the money. Later that same day someone called to say that they wanted to donate money to build a house and that they wanted it to be a Native American team. So cool. The family we built for was: Antionio, Sara, Jesus (15), Ailian (10), Alondra (15 Mo). Antionio makes $40 a week working in a factory. They have to pay $160 a month on the plot of land they bought. At the dedication it is usually the mom that starts crying first. This time it was Antionio. That is when everyone lost it. It was his turn to speak and he was having trouble getting his composure to speak. To have a Mexican man show that much emotion was very powerful. I'm sure it must be frustrating trying to provide for his family and to be given a house was overwhelming.

Week Three in Mexico

Another busy week down. This week was slightly less crazy because there were only two builds going on instead of five like the last two weeks. This meant that we had four staff on the house I was helping on. The team was really great. They were from a church in New Jersey. They had a lot of energy and really worked hard and very well together. The family was nice. There was Miguel, his wife Maria and their three kids Ulises (8), Angela (3) and Miguel (18 Mo.). I was a little sick on Sunday so I didn't get to go to church with the team. I got to do some stuff around the base though. Although it was a little strange being here with no one else around. We got the house finished in two days so we had a dedication party on the Tuesday. This was the first house I have done, as staff, that the team purchased furnishings for the house. Table with four chairs, plates and silverware, bunk beds, a range with a propane tank, towels and throw rugs. When we went to the build site on Tuesday, we told the family that they needed to go and help pick out a pinata for the party. After they left we set up everything in the house so it would be a complete surprise. When they got back we had the dedication which the whole neighborhood turned out for. When they went into the house Maria was so overwhelmed and was sobbing for about five minutes. Lots of people were crying. It was an amazing time. We went to a water park here in TJ for our day off. It was fun but I got sunburned.

Week Two in Mexico

This week was cooler fortunately. The team I was working with was almost all HS age with about 6 leaders that had some construction experience. Needless to say this week was a much easier build than last week. We finished in two days with time to dedicate on the second day. We went back there on the third day for evangelism and had about five people make a decision. The team was so funny. They had a redneck theme for their trip and had all adopted redneck names. They gave me one too; Jethro. The family we built for was Roberto and his wife Maria. They have five kids: Karla 11, Alexis 9, Janet 6, Michel 4 and Cecilia 1. They were living in a very small house with a dirt floor and scraps of wood for walls. Because the plot of land was small, that house had to be demolished to make room for the new house. As a result the kids stayed with their grandmother and the parents slept in their car for 10 days. They were so happy at the dedication.

Week One In Mexico

What a busy week! Thursday is the "day off" at the base. I came down last Thursday all ready for some building. Since it was the day off they had planned a fun day in San Diego on the water. I was really chomping at the bit to get started but it was a nice day with everyone.
Friday is the day that teams arrive for the week. When they get here they have spent a week at the base in Los Angeles doing missions work and getting trained in evangelism. Saturday is the first build day. This past week we had five separate teams building houses. This made it very hectic. Last year there were 30 summer staff; this year there are 7. Understaffed. Sunday each of the teams goes to a different local church to help put on a special service for the people there. Monday and Tuesday are the second and third build days. Wednesday the teams eat breakfast and go home. Thursday the staff gets things back in order and it all starts again.
I discovered just how difficult it can be to try and keep a group of J.H. and H.S. age youth motivated to build a house in 104 degree heat. SOOO sweaty. I didn't know I could sweat so much. I went through 3 liters each build day and sweated it all. It was so worth it. My team was from a Korean church in New Jersey. We built the house for a single mom, Maritza, and her two boys Ruben (8) and Jesus (6). She makes $80 a week and has to pay $150 a month for the land. It was such a blessing to be able to give her a house. The three of them worked very hard right along side us. Maritza even made food and drinks for us. I felt bad about that since I knew it could be a financial burden on her but I also knew that it was something she wanted to do and that we just had to appreciate her hospitality. At the house dedication she and Jesus were crying and I got all choked up too. It was very emotional. I can't wait until the new teams get here; the base is too quiet. I am anxious to meet the next family that I have the privilege to help build for. Until then it is time to wash clothes and get my tools ready.

Vegas and Zion

I just got back from a really great week. One of my best friends is a youth pastor in Santa Barbara and I had the privilege of going with him and his youth group to Las Vegas where we helped with a feed the homeless ministry and then to Zion NP for some fun and spiritual growth in God's country. For feeding the homeless, we prepared donated food and set up an area where they could eat and listen to a message about God. The 105 degree heat did not seem to matter as we worked to get ready and presented the gospel message to the 100 or so people that showed up. We had about five people that made a decision that day and our group was also very touched by the experience. We went to a local YMCA afterwards to swim and cool off. That night we went to a viewpoint above the city to pray for all of the people that have gotten deceived by the wickedness there. We left for Zion the next day. It was Sunday morning and in lieu of church we listened to a book on tape called The Martyr's Song. It was a really powerful and emotional story. It very poignantly reminds believers what is really important in this life; that this is merely a precursor to something much more wonderful. Everyone on the trip seemed to be impacted by it and I would recommend reading it. When we got to Zion I helped guide half of our group down a nearby slot-canyon. The next day we took the other half down and then all of us went to the Narrows. It was such a blessing to spend time in such a beautiful place with such great friends. God's fingerprints are defiantly all over places like Zion. It was a long drive back to Santa Barbara and one of the vans had it's alternator fail. We were able to make it almost all the way back on battery power though. It is aways hard saying goodbye at the end of a trip like this one, but this was especially difficult since I won't see most of these wonderful friends for about a year. On my three hour drive to Bakersfield I had adequate time to think about that. I thought back to The Martyr's Song. It is comforting to realize that as believers we don't have to say "goodbye" we just have to say "see you later" with the comfort that we get to spend all eternity in each other's company. For now it is time to focus on reaching out to other people. Today I reorganize and pack up for my two months in Mexico which starts tomorrow.

Time

I got to spend the few days with friends. It was great. So much of our lives seem to be spent racing from one event to another. From movie to dinner to a birthday to whatever... It was refreshing to just spend time. No events or agenda but just enjoying each other's company. Today I'm up in Bakersfield tomorrow I'm off to Santa Barbara.

Day 2

Well my car is completely full and I am officially homeless. The packing up went smoothly and I was able to sell almost everything I wanted to. I really thank God for that. I would start stressing-out that there would be stuff left over at the end but I just prayed about it and He really took care of it. I have had lots of questions about my itinerary. Here it is so far: June 22-26 I will be helping with a youth trip (a good friend of mine is a youth pastor); June 28 - August 24 I will be in Mexico at the YWAM base doing whatever they most need done; September 1 to May 24 I will be in Norway at the YWAM base in ENGAVÅGEN. Why Norway? To work for YWAM long-term a person has to attend one of YWAM's "Discipleship Training Schools" or DTS for short. I chose this DTS because they incorporate outdoor excursions into the teaching. What will I do after that? Whatever God wants me to.