Wow, I know I have said it before, but we are so blessed! We just got back to the States after an amazing week in Ensenada, Mexico. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that supported us and our team to make this trip possible and to everyone that was involved in planning. It was amazing serving with the other families from Boise and that the kids were able to be involved. Sometimes we don’t see or notice all the people and things that God arranges for us before we actually get to that step as he guides our steps.
A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? Proverbs 20:24
This was an incredible trip and there is so much I could write about, but I will try to keep it short and give some of the highlights. One of the most amazing things that happened was we (the whole team and some leadership help) were able to build a house for a young family in just 2 days! These houses can change so many things for the families that receive them from better health to completely breaking the cycle of poverty. The father of the family said he was already a believer, but when we were done said he is receiving God’s love even more everyday now!
We were able to serve with two different child care facilities; one that is also a church and brings in kids that would be otherwise be left alone all day and feeds them The other was a daycare and orphanage that also brings kids in and feeds them and cleans them, but also has 24 orphans that live there full time. Of course these two places were our favorite places to visit. We asked all the kids what their favorite food was and the overwhelming answer was pizza, and we were able to buy them all pizza for dinner that night! The kids on our team also did a drama about Daniel and the lion’s den in Spanish!
It was also great to see some of the other ministries that the Ensenada base is using to reach into the community. Our favorite was the old school bus that has been converted to house a sewing ministry for the women living in the colonies to teach them a skill. The bus also is used to teach the kids in the community about computers. Please pray for this ministry, Hope Zone, as they have a vision to grow and purchase some land and establish a more permanent location in the community.
This was a great reminder of how blessed we are to be in the United States, and to remember that even when we don’t think we have enough God has truly blessed us. Probably the thing that sticks out to me the most is how much different life in Baja is even though it is so close to the US. There is a Wal-Mart in Ensenada, but the family we built the house for has never been to it because it’s too expensive. Can you imagine not ever being in a Wal-Mart your whole life? Please pray for the Ensenada community and that God’s light would continue to grow and shine there.