confession is the doorway to freedom

If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness

1 John 1:9

Great message from Aaron Graham at The District Church on"The Power of Confession" here

freedom

Perhaps in tune with Memorial Day week, freedom is on my mind today. Here in Mexico, I do not have many of the same freedoms as I do at home.  One freedom that I have often taken for granted is one of familiarity. I made it my goal the first day I was here to always have a list of good things that out weigh the bad/different ones of living in a new place. And just when the negative thoughts start rushing into my mind about how I don't know my way around, frustrations with broken spanish conversations, etc.- Jesus reminds me of all the freedoms I DO have:

I do have the freedom to study the Bible and worship God here. 

I do have the freedom to choose joy despite any circumstance. 

I do have the freedom to show love which transcends all communication barriers.

I do have the freedom to learn and grow from this awesome community.

What a blessing!!

This has been an amazing week spending time with the group from Granny White Church of Christ.  I have been quite reminiscent about my first trips to Baja with this same group.  These students have been overflowing with love and laughter this week with the kids here at City of Children and working with the Colonia 89 church.  They have been busy bees and managed to build the biggest house Baja has ever built!  I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go out on all the home visits with them delivering food, singing and praying with various church members and their families. What a blessing it is to witness their servant hearts and sharing the abundance that God has given them. 

Please pray for their safe travel back home to Nashville tomorrow! 

roadtrip

Recognize each day as a gift from God and  give thanks for each blessing that comes perfectly wrapped up in it.

This is what our brothers and sisters here teach me everyday.  Yesterday we had a great day of fellowship at a few of the Baja churches.  We hit the road about 4 a.m. with 2 trucks, a trailer, 4 people and a dog and went winding through the mountains watching the sunrise through the clouds. 

We delivered tables, chairs, doors, and computers for the new classrooms in Papalote and were energized by a breakfast of chorizo, eggs, beans, tortillas, coffee and great conversation with Alfonso and Angie.  They remind me that God often provides for us even before we ask or know we are in need. They are wonderful ministers to the community and are true selfless servants of the Lord.  Please pray for continued growth of the church there as they celebrate one year in the building in June.

We also delivered computers to San Quintin and chatted with Pino, Gloria and their new puppy Timón. They are doing well and are looking forward to the groups visiting this summer.

Lastly, we stopped in San Vicente to drop off more computers and enjoyed jamaica (hibiscus) juice and homemade flan on the porch alongside of: watermelon, corn and squash growing in the garden, 5 baby turkeys exploring, 4 dogs barking, sun shining, wind blowing, roses blooming and goats babbling.  We had a great visit with Antonio, Nelly and the girls and are so thankful for their work. 

What are these computers for? Most of the preachers and their families live on the same property as the churches and are on the job 24/7. These computers will mainly be used by the neighborhood kids to do their homework after school as many do not have internet access at home.

Thankfully, we had a safe journey home and even got to see 3 cowboys lassoing an escaped donkey... good stuff. Have a great weekend! 

let love grow

 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

A few things you may not know about Baja Missions:

- We have a sustainable agriculture program thanks to the expertise of our team member, Christian Husband, and the support of Healing Hands International.

-There are 3 gardens at the City of Children and one at each of the churches all watered by rain catchment systems to best utilize the 10 inches of rain this area gets per year.

-Much of the land on the peninsula is used for farming (mostly by corporate giants (i.e. Driscoll's) ).  Many of the church members make a living working in the fields, but they rarely benefit from the harvest making an average of $10 per week and are often unable to provide a nutritious diet for their families.

-By using the resources God has given us and trusting in His provision, this creates another opportunity to share the bounty of his blessings with others! 

Today we planted some watermelon and tomatoes! Please pray for the growth of this food ministry and to be good stewards of these resources..first the bread, then the Bread of Life!

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other." John 15:16-17

learning to be light

A prayer from Oscar Romero:

"The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. 

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies behind us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith,
no confessions brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness,
no program accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

That is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.”

balloon fights and birthday parties

Hooray! The fires have settled; the heat is gone and what better way to celebrate than with a water balloon fight. Thanks to the Murrieta Church of Christ in California, we had a fun Saturday of games and fellowship at City of Children.

Sunday was also one for the books attending my first Mexican birthday party. Happy 13th to Esteban! Ain't no party like a ceviche, fish tacos, paletas, and ice cream party. Delicioso! 

I am so thankful for everyone's warm and inviting sprits. I am now cruising in a pickup truck and learning to drive (here). It is always an adventure in Baja. 

Please pray for the groups preparing to come visit.  We are excited for a busy summer! 

Hello West Coast!

Well, I made the big move yesterday! I had a great ride to the edge of America and landed smoothly in good ole sunny San Diego.  And man was it sunny... and hot.  (Thanks to Misha and Christian for fetching me).  We stopped at In-N-Out for a burger (but mostly the air conditioning) and scurried on across the border. 

Unfortunately, this heat is a little too intense for the desert terrain as there were multiple brush fire outbreaks around Ensenada.  Below is a photo from my friend Ivonne of a fire at the Pemex plant (their gasoline company- scary!).  This is in Sauzal not far from the City of Children.  Kids were dismissed from schools early yesterday in attempts to get everyone home safely.

Please pray for all those affected by this situation as the temperatures continue to rise today.  I am so thankful for safe travel and to be settled with my host family.  I appreciate your prayers, support and words of encouragement for this new adventure.  It would not be possible without you all! 

Dios les bendiga! 

Baja here I come!

Hello friends!

Thank you for your support in this endeavor.

This time next week, I will be packed up and moving to Baja California for a year. I am extremely humbled to join the Baja Missions team and am looking forward to being a part of the great work that takes place among the 12 churches and at the City of Children Orphanage.

While preparing to go, I am constantly reminded of one of my favorite parts about being a Christian which is that we get to share life with our brothers and sisters all across the world and celebrate the common bond we have in Jesus.

I know most people tend to fizzle out of their blog after about 12 posts or so, but I hope to use this as a means to share what God is doing in Baja and the things He is teaching us along the way.

I am so appreciative of your prayers and encouragement. The fun has only begun!

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10