Day 2 Pics

Sunday, Day 2 - The Lord's Day in Ensenada

Good worship and good food.  Our first full day here was filled with both...and more.

Our first contact with the little ones here at the City of Children was high-five-ing them as they marched proudly to church.  There's a glow to that innocent kind of call to worship that sets you immediately at ease.  And, instead of sackcloth and ashes, our worship was garbed in t-shirts etched with Sharpies and reminders of God's love.  Raising our praise in English and Spanish, there was a wonder and oneness in worship that was simply wonderful and wonderful because it was so simple.  No grand exegesis of scripture, just an amazing fulfilling of scripture that calls us to be of one heart.

Then we left communion of one sort to enjoy another as we all gathered around the table for fine homemade Mexican fare prepared by the ladies of the City of Children.  For those of us who have been here before, this is a much anticipated meal -- zesty salsa, gracious gobs of guacamole, perfectly prepared rice, soft warm corn tortillas rolled as tacos and, for the daring...a hot pepper.  John Risse proved he truly has a bit of fire in the belly by putting away an awe-inspiring four hot peppers.  How he was able to down that and still keep it down during his turn at jump rope is one of a growing number of miraculous moments here in Mexico.

Sharing praise and food and fun, we're becoming a very special congregation...or is that coagulation (again, this is one of the things you need to ask someone on the trip and then enjoy the story).  Also an occasional truck salute provided an interesting accompaniment to our service.

Anyway, from this foundation of friendship (worship), a few of us traveled to another foundation that will serve to build closer relations among all of us here.  We went to check on the foundation for the house we will build during the week.  The house consists of two rooms.  In total, it's about 10.5 feet by 24 or 25 feet.   A couple and their two children will call it home.  But right now it's just a concrete slap in the dirt.  But like most things shared here in Mexico this is a foundation for a story.  Five years ago, within minutes of being informed by email that it would cost $600 to pay for the foundation of the very first house North Blvd raised in Mexico, someone visited Skid and offered the surplus of their tax return to help with the Mexico mission trip.  That timely gift paid for the first foundation of the first house and these same donors have literally paved the way for our service by providing for a total of five foundations now.  Our donors have asked that they remain anonymous.  But, we're sorry to tell them that they can't...God knows who they are.  We thank them of their generosity and the fact that not only does God know who they are but they obviously know who He is.

Then after dinner we all gathered at the gym where Captain America and his Mexican counterpart whipped up the crowd into a competitive frenzy.  The chicas won round one and so Katie donned the world champion belt...and for a time our borderline border war was eased.  And then there was the much-awaited opening skit...much-awaited because no one was quite sure if Skid and Jeff would finish it before it opened.  The skit opened with more questions than answers, more intrigue than revelation...for the moment.  Four kids are locked in the Ensenada Museum of World History with Special Emphasis on Mexico, America and the Bible.  They've found a note inscribed with the promise that something special would happen precisely at 10:10 p.m. (ten minutes after the museum closed!).  We built to this moment with a greedy museum owner that implores his patrons not to touch anything because breaking any of the objects of great value in his collection would render them worthless.  Our locked in teens are almost caught by a "keyed-up" security guard named Mo, played by Joe Mayes.  We're not sure who Mo/Joe modeled his character after -- Charlie Chaplin or Frank Poncherello.  But just as we all counted down to 10:10, the skit ended "to be continued tomorrow," leaving us to savor the anticipation and, for many of us, the burn of hot peppers that still simmered in our stomachs.

To cool our curiosity and perhaps lighten the lingering burn, we ended up the day with Elder-served ice cream.  There's nothing quite like ice cream served by an elder.  It's a lesson you can lick.

Then to bed...because tomorrow is a full work day.  Some will get up early to begin raising the walls of the house we're building.  Some will go to the Smart and Final to buy food to distribute and raise people's spirits.  Some will begin framing t-shirts from the different groups coming to serve in Mexico and so raise a cotton-polyester blend monument to the power of this place and its people to bring us together.  Three different tasks all working together to fashion a beautiful mosaico of service.

Speaking of service, the Festival of Sharing hat was awarded to Lindsey Lee for her willingness to help out and pitch in in a pinch.

Time for me to catch a few winks.  Until tomorrow and 10:10 a.m.  Oh, by the way, 10:10 is our reference to John 10:10.  That's the verse we're exploring this week, along with a Bible character --  the woman at the well.  But more about that later..and so, again, until then...10:10.

A Few Pics from Day 1

Saturday, Day 1 - We're Here!

Well, we all arrived at the same place and so did all of our baggage.  And that's 61 people changing planes and with one minor flight delay.  So it's really quite a blessing.  It's interesting... when  you're dedicating time to do something for God, your senses and heart seem more open to the little things that just might be Him giving you the thumbs up...like your bag showing up.  

So Day 1 was pretty much about getting here.  It was also a real blessing to wisk across the border.  We've had trips where we all got off the bus at the border, lugged our baggage out, stood in line, and had some of of our bags searched.  It's quite an ordeal and delay.  This time, however, the Mexican border police just stepped on the bus, looked around, and waved us on.  I wonder what he saw?  A bunch of Americans all wearing the same shirt.  Surely not a family reunion (but in a way it is)?  He's probably seen enough of this sort of thing to know it's a church group on a mission trip.  I hope it made him feel good.  About God, His people, teenagers and our country.

So we drove on through Tijuana then to the Pacific Coast and down the Baja peninsula to Ensenada and the City of Children where Ricardo greeted us and we began unloading and setting up supplies and dorms and kitchen for the week ahead.

After a brief orientation that included important information like -- "No candy, gum and grass" and "Do your business paperwork respectful of those who will come after."  (Please ask someone you know on the trip what those two phrases refer to.  It's sure to be an instant ice breaker.)

In the evening, we spent some time with the older Mexican teens.  Tomorrow we'll spend time with little ones.  We ended the evening with praise.  And this, I must confess, is my favorite moment each day.  In the cool of the evening after a good day of doing something good and feeling good and tired, we sit on the porch of the American dining hall with the lights out and the moon above us and sing together.  We are in a distant place but so close to God and each other.  This is the moment for me.  And I'm lucky because it's an every day happening here.   What makes the moment so special are the many moments leading up to it.  It is a nice apostrophe to my day.

Then Skid asked us to share how we saw God's spirit greet us today.

Some of the answers -- "How smooth the trip was," "I was worried about being here for the first time and being with kids who don't speak our language but it was pretty normal just hanging around," "People asking about our shirts" (nearly everyone was asked as we traveled where we were going and what we were doing -- what a great opening to give Him the glory -- time for t-shirt testimony).

Skid encouraged us that God will speak to us this week.  And it's easier to hear Him here without our day-to-day life's distractions.  We just have to pay attention to what He is telling us.  

The Festival of Sharing Hat (a cheesy orange hat bought at a yard sale and emblazoned with the words "Festival of Sharing" on it) was awarded to Brennan Alexander for being quick to volunteer and jump in and get things done.  This is an award that will be passed around during the week.

And then to bed to the distant sounds of trucks on the highway a radio playing in the plant next door and Randy's snoring three buildings away.

Can't wait to see what God is doing tomorrow.

Until then.  10:10

We're off (something you've probably always suspected)

Above -- Nervous traveler and sunrise at the airport.

I wonder how many of us didn't sleep last night?  Because of anticipation, last minute packing or for fear of sleeping through a 3:30 a.m. alarm.  

Then there is the airport ballet -- that complicated dance of passenger, baggage and the metal objects that may be hidden on your person.  I can't help but wonder if Homeland Security will raise an eyebrow over the 50 lbs of a thick liquid substance in my suitcase that is suspiciously marked Tempra paint?  Who travels with that much Tempra paint?  An elementary school teacher going on a weeklong craft binge?  

But it appears we've all made our flights.  Our group is spread over three flights headed to three different cities with about 122 checked bags that must make transfers and meet us in San Diego.  A lot could go wrong.  But we trust whatever comes our way in our travel between here and there that God will be a part of the adventure.  Of course, such trust is easy when you haven't arrived in Mexico without your luggage and been forced to wear the same olive drab Mosaic t-shirt for a week.

All of this to say, we hope everyone is praying for our safe arrival, our bags' safe arrival ...and that both bags and owners arrive in pretty much the same place at the same time.  We also hope you'll cover us in prayer all week as we hope to glorify God in Mexico.  You'll be in our prayers, too.  Because the truth of it is, we're all on a mission and all foreigners in a strange land.

P.S.  Our reports won't always be so prompt.  This one is being posted at the Nashville airport!  Most will come at the end of each day or early in the morning.

Till then.  10:10  

Time to Make a Break for the Better

On Saturday, July 12, 2008, 61 members of the North Boulevard Church of Christ Youth Group (NBYG) will take to the air.  Ah, no, we're not being translated.  Well, maybe in a way we are.  We're winging our way to Ensenada, Mexico and the City of Children for a week-long mission trip.  

We're not exactly sure who will receive the greater blessing, those we serve in Mexico or those in Mexico who serve us.  We only know that because the battle has already been won, we've already gained far more than we could ever give.  

A critic could point out that we are just a bunch of broken people.  And they'd be right.  But we invite you to watch with us and see what God does with all of the pieces when we leave it to Him to put them together.

This site is a chance for us to give our friends and families (and, yes, even critics) a glimpse of our week -- just a few of the highlights.  It's also a chance for those who follow us from home to post their wishes, observations and prayers and to become, through words, a part of the wonderful Mosaico [Spanish for Mosaic] that God is fashioning from our broken lives.   In truth, there are many people outside of the group traveling to Mexico who are already part of the Mosaico because of their many contributions of love, encouragement, prayers, care in raising us and generosity in providing the resources to make our travel possible.  We thank you.

So come on, post away and get things started.  We'll be sure and report back all the good news here in Mexico.  

[We probably don't even need to point this out.  But, just in case.  Please note the editorial policy for this website -- This is not a place to post a harangue against God, His Son, Christianity or anyone else walking the Earth for that matter.  This is meant as a celebration of what God is doing in our lives.  Any posts counter to that purpose will be removed.  We're sorry if something in your life has left you hurting and mad at God.  If we can help, let us know.  Address any inquiries to nelson_eddy@yahoo.com]