Day 6, Coming Home

Frozen window at 5am.


Cleaning the window sills.


Taking out trash.


Attacking dirt with marksman-like precision.


Most of us, just before leaving.

This morning we were all up at 5am, packing the trailer, van and Suburban and cleaning the bathrooms, dining area and kitchen. We said our goodbyes ("say your hugs") and began our journey home.

The Tecate Highway is not a straight road. Maps lie. I truly believe that the over-arching question on the minds of the highway engineers was not "How can we do this well?" but "How can we induce motion sickness most effectively?" After about 5 minutes on the road I was ready to go back and live in Mexico. Thanks be to Ann O's ginger cookies, that settled as wretched a stomach as mine.

We reached a military checkpoint after about 20 minutes and were asked to exit the vehicles by men with serious camo and more serious machine guns. They proceeded to inspect our vehicles and some of the bags and within 5 minutes we were clear to go.

We entered Tecate about 1.5 hrs later and only had a 30 minute wait at the border. As the birth certificates were being passed out we realized that Eric had left his in his bag - packed in the trailer - and we couldn't find Kirk's. I was glad at this point that I promised to bring only most of the kids back. Thankfully they simply waived us through after checking Steve and Sara's documents. Unfortunately they made Ted take apart the trailer so they could inspect what we had. After another 20 minutes we were all on our way.

We made it home around 7:30 and everyone proceeded to do their part to clean vehicle, dishes and take apart the trailer, move luggage and clean out the bins and ice chests.

Thank you parents for allowing your children to be a part of this trip. We witnessed the Lord doing some amazing things in their hearts and with their attitudes. Some of the adults at the camp were so blessed by seeing your kids being so willing to volunteer for the things that needed to be done throughout the week.

We can't wait to go back.

In Him,
Jason

Day 5

Today was our last full day...and was it full!

We spent the morning picking up the mission grounds, setting up the trampoline and preparing for the ninos y ninas from the village arriving for lunch.

We had sandwiches and chips, facepainting and taught them "spoons" and some cup slapping game that is beyond my understanding.

We finished off the night with worship at Andy and Monica's house.

Tonight we are loading up the trailer and should be off by 7am and arriving between 5pm and 7pm in Fresno.

When we arrive there will be a lot of work with unloading and cleaning the vehicles. Please be prepared to pick your children up a half an hour AFTER we arrive. If parents show up when we arrive it will slow things down.

See you all soon! Pray for our return trip.

Jason

Day 4 - New Years Eve

We are about to go up to the church to begin the New Years Eve festivities. The girls and some of the boys will be playing games and doing crafts with the local kids while the rest of the boys pass out the food in the community. Later we have a pinata planned with authentic Mexican Food cooked over a wood fire and some fireworks. None of our kids will be lighting them, FYI.

Since we will be gone until after midnight this will be our post for today.

Buenos Dias!

Jason

Day 3

Today we finished the digging work on Fidela's house, filled in the gulley on the road approaching the church, did some crude drainage digging, organized the church's crafts and supplies and started digging out Margerita's house.

After we were done for the day, both Margarita and Fidela fed us. I'm continually amazed at the hospitality of the people here in this community. As hard as we try we still haven't been able to out-give the Lord.

Tonight we played pictionary and had our last big Bible study together with the other groups staying here. Brother Ivy translated for me (usually its Andy from the mission) and we had a lot of fun as we taught the Word of God together.

That's all for now. Keep praying for us and that we could be used of the Lord to reach the hearts of the children here in this community. Tomorrow we will be going house to house to give out the rice and potatoes we packaged yesterday.

In Him,

Jason

Monday, Day 2

Cold morning. Very, very cold.


Getting to know each other with frilly name tags.


Filling in a washed away road.


Digging out the side and back of Sister Fidela's house. The guys in the foreground are digging out the side. The guys up on the stairs in back are digging out the back of the house.


The dirt was being loaded into the truck to be dumped into the washed out road.



This is perfectly legal in Mexico. In fact, some of the locals were making fun of us because we didn't have MORE people crammed in there.


The ride back. Yes, we are all wearing seat-belts...invisible seat-belts.

The local Ensenada churches were not able to come but last night and today we have received about 20 additional students and adult leaders. Today we split into seperate teams and tackled some of the needs here at the mission, at the church and also a local family whose house was inundated with mud from the recent rains.

Here at the mission we painted over graffiti in the river bed, cleaned up the facility and re-routed some drainage from the road.

At the church the girls packed beans, rice and potatoes to give to the local families here in the valley.

At the flooded house we began work on digging out a buried retaining wall at the back of the house and removing all the mud and trash from the side of the house to improve drainage.

We are having unbelievable fellowship with the other folks visiting here. God is amazing.

Right now, most of the kids are playing soccer, Olivia is making t-shirts, Sara is getting accupuncture for her shoulder (its working), Mrs Cooksey is getting dinner ready, Mr Spalding is doing nothing (Jason's orders) and I am blogging. God is good.

Jason

p.s. the picture ulpoading is not working so we'll post pictures when we get back.

December 28, 2008 - Day 1

Leaving from church


Last stop before the border


Girl's dorm



We made it!! No problemos! I'll post more (with pictures) tomorrow after we are all settled in.

Thank you so much for all your prayers.

Jason