Tuesday Porch Renovation Crew -- Time Continues to Pass Quickly...Will They Make It?

 

For the first time since we arrived on Saturday afternoon, Melissa Skidmore is visably worried. She hears the clock ticking. There’s only three days left to finish the project. The crew has extended it’s day and won’t let the notion that they might not finish enter their mind. But. Melissa is worried. It is an ambitious project and she and the girls want it to be perfect. Not for themselves. But for the teen girls here at the home. They want it to be perfect and ready to enjoy. But for now, the clock is ticking. How many trips to Home Depot in Ensenada will be required? How many late nights? Will it all come together. The suspense is building. Extreme Makeover has nothing on this show. Stay tuned. It looks like it’s going to get interesting. Lord knows.

 

Well...apparently they weren't that busy renovating the porch...

We've Just Crossed the Boarder and Are Back in the U.S.A.

 

We've returned. But hopefully we've left a few of the things that we want to change about ourselves behind. We're returning home but hopefully not to the things that distract us from our true selves, our real mission and the God who is the only hope of purpose and meaning in this life. The week doesn't really have to end. We can extend it another 51 weeks...if not longer.

I'm still putting together the story of this week, day by day, project by project. It didn't get it all written this week and so I'll continue to write and post pictures through the weekend. See you soon. Lord willing.

Tuesday Puppet Crew -- The Kids Continue to Pull the Strings to Our Hearts

 

The tunes of the songs during the puppet show are familiar. They’re from our childhood. “The B-I-B-L-E,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “I'm in the Lord’s Army.” But the words are in Spanish. It’s fun to see the beginnings of faith. The wonder in the telling of the old, old stories as much of these stories as you can tell to small children with puppets. David doesn’t sever Goliath’s head in victory. The puppet just let’s his head fall back in death. We simplify the story to make it palatable and understandable for the child’s mind. It makes you wonder how much God has simplified the story of our salvation and the working of God’s grace? How much has He dumbed it down for our benefit? And how wondrous will be that day when we are able to fully perceive and appreciate the full measure and depth of his love for us. For now we are children and hold on to the stories crafted for our earthly understanding. He plays out the stories for our benefit much as we play out the stories today and this week for the hope and benefit of these children. We pray the seeds that are planted this week, take root and grow toward eternity. Lord knows.  

David defeats Goliath.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Morning -- Another Day with the Peewees.

 

One of the scriptures this morning had a typo in it that made us laugh. Not out of disrespect but because it was oddly appropriate and it underscored our joy in spending time with the ninos each day.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and pewee as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Did you do that on purpose interns? Was it another of God’s High Fives?  Stay tuned because today we are filled with all joy for the little peewee people that will fill the day and give us hope. Today’s posts will be filled with lots of pictures of the children here. They are the heart of our mission and though we perform much of the same tasks day after day and we’ve gotten into a kind of routine, the children provide all of the variety we need. No two smiles or hugs or wonder in their eyes as they look toward our teens, no moment with them is ever the same. Each moment is precious in and of itself.

Help us to see, oh, Lord, that if we truly look at life through your eyes that this is always true. Every, every moment is a gift and contains its own wonder. It’s Tuesday morning at the City of Children, we’re watching the Son rise with the Sun. Can’t wait to see what God’s going to do next. Lord knows.

Daisy Skidmore saw these clouds this morning and said, "Look, it's Andy's wallpaper." Just another day with the good Lord smiling down on us.

Monday -- Reflections at the End of the Day

As we end today, Monday casts a long shadow on the concrete as we end the day together as a team lifting each other, the children here and our loved ones at home in prayer.

Sunday was a full day but somehow Monday was even fuller. Our work crew days have begun and for the next three days -- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday -- you'll see our various teams at work -- Puppet Crew, City of Children Crew, Porch Remodel Crew, Food Crew, House Building Crew, Skit Crew. There's so much going on that its impossible to photograph everything and tell the entire story. Some of the most important moments you won't see pictured see here because of their personal and confessional nature -- the devotional classes for the mamas led by Cindy Patton, the devotional for the papas led by Jeff McClain, the testimonies that Perry Patton, MacKenzie Lewis, Rebeca Martinez (a college student from Hondorus who you may not know, her family's mission in Hondoras was supported by North Boulevard for many years) and Mark Blackmon will be bravely sharing with the other American and Mexican teens. Teens sharing and encouraging teens not to give up or given in as they are subject to the same battles of peer pressure, cultural influence, personal doubt and loneliness, and trying to follow and hear the voice of God in a world filled with distraction and unbelief. You won't find any pictures of any of this here. But the impact will be felt eternally. When we get home, ask a teen that you know on the trip what happened here, what they experience, when and where they came face to face with God, what they learned and what they hope to do with what they've experienced? Join in the story that you've helped support and help us keep the spirit of this trip alive for 51 more weeks for us and you by asking those questions. Our team isn't just the people assembled here. You share in our work and you have your own work and struggles and deep desires to see God at home. We hope this blog and our teens stories when you see them will make you feel how important you are to this work and how you are an extended and essential member of our team. Your sacrifices, your prayers, your support, your stepping in to fill a job while we're away are felt and honored. You are apart of our days and prayers here. On this earth we may be separated but in the spiritual world we are always one. Lord knows.

Good night from the City of Children, the more to see and share tomorrow. God bless you. For He has certainly blessed us with your care and prayers for this trip.

 

 

Skid enjoys what he calls a "God High-Five." When something happens that underscores our trip and just may be God smiling down on us. Here we discover that the TVs at the Ensenada Walmart are all showing Toy Story.

Another God High-Five. Those of you who know Toy Story will understand. Those who don't -- ask a teen when we get back.

Baja Mission's Pilar points out to our team the Trump Hotel being constructed in Ensenada. No...he's not really building a hotel here. But our teen's don't know that and Pilar is so convincing when she tells a story. And, no, the field we just passed is not filled with marijuana. And, no, the white paint on the bottom of the palm trees is not there to keep the squirrels who are all color-blind and can't see white from climbing the trees. And, no, they don't lower the Mexican flag on Thursday in Ensenada so that the tourists can sign it.... You get the idea. But it's amazing how many of teens didn't! Well, it's actually very sweet that so many of our teens have such trusting hearts.

We've discovered that apparently Gluten in Mexico is so looked down upon that it's now considered a sin.

What's left over of a local Mexican apple pie after the men at the papas devotional got a hold of it.

 

 

 

Grant Countess is awarded the Joe Mayes Hat for his service on Monday (and his popularity among the Mexican teen girls...he was actually signing autographs!)

The adults are off the reservation, sneaking away to Taqueria El Flamazo for a little taco time.

Team translator Sawyer models a little of Flamazo's deliciousness. One of the cooks there recognizes him from his two summers in Ensenada...figures.