Saturday, May 31, 2008
Choices
I feel like I am in a new place in life. You know how there are significant moments in your life when you know that you are moving on to a new place or a new chapter in your life? Like graduation, college, marriage, a new job, or children etc. And then there are times that you all of a sudden look back and realize that you are in a new place, not because of one specific thing or happening, but because of the small choices you are making everyday. It's like your life has shifted to a new place without you even really noticing. This kind of slow shifting can take you to a good place, or to a not so good place depending on the choices you adn I make. I have been on a journey over the past 3 months of my life. A journey to figure out who I am as a person and who I am in Christ. This journey has not been easy, or even fun for that matter, but it's been a journey that was needed and that I am learning to enjoy. I am amazed at how much I am learning and how much I am growing. Making good choices is not always easy and can at times be very lonely. But when I look back and see how making right choices in the small every day decisions have affected where I am at today, it truly makes it all worth it. I am so excited for the future and so excited to see who God will bring in to my life and where He is going to take me. For now though, I will continue to make right choices daily. Not just when it's easy, or when it feels right, but when I don't feel like it, or when I want to just give up. This is when the choices that might seem little today will affect yours and my tomorrow more that you can even imagine.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Missing Mexico....Again.
Well, I am back again from a 4 day YWAM (youth with a mission) home build trip to Tijuana, Mexico. This past weekend was a weekend of reflection and God reminding me of what I've known since 7th grade what I am born to do...help people. 12 years ago, the summer after my 7th grade year I first went to Mexico and stayed in an orphanage. The children I met on that trip 12 years ago I still remember, a little boy named Giovanni that fell asleep in my arms every day of that trip. The children in Mexico stole a part of my heart that first time I visited and each time I go back, the dirty faces of the beautiful children of Mexico is what draws me back each time. So once again, I ventured across the Mexico border for the 5th time...but definately not for the last time.
Day 1&2: We arrived on the base around 12 midnight on friday night and had to unpack in the rain...yes the rain. We finally were in bed by 12:30, but awoke at 2AM to no power and to an alarm of someone from the other team (from texas) and again at 5:40 because Texas is 2 hours ahead. We all thought for sure there must be a valid reason they were awake, but there wasn't. :)This is the morning I fell out of my bed...go figure and I have a HUGE bruise to prove it. So, we had breakfast and loaded up the van with overcast skies and still--rain.
The ride to the home build site was quite an experience. The huge hills we had to go up and down and over were pretty scary. The rain caused the dirt roads to become mud. It was pretty
much like driving in snow, but it was mud. We all were praying and I knew that we had to get there to build the house for the family. The family was a family of 6. They had been living with extended family in the house above the build site, with 7 other people. 13 people were living in a dirt floor small shack. Needless to say, we finally made it to the concrete slab and the pile of material and started to build a house that would be a new home for this beautiful family. We were told that the family had dug out the piece of land that the slab was poured on, wow. We had the privilige to have a guy named Don on our team (he headed up the team on my first home build last May) This was Don's 82nd home build since 2001. He works for a school district in San Diego and comes over on weekends to do a home build. His little extra touches like flower boxed, the overhang over the door and all the things I'm missing make the home have character and just really cool. We hammered, painted, sawed, and hauled material for about 7 hours and then went back to the base. I was amazed at how much the family helped. I painted a lot, but I was in awe of all the painting that cousins, neighbors and the family did themselves.
The first night we go the local taco stand (amazing food) I had to send some pictures out, so I went a little later with Matt, Mitch, and Loran. We had a great time laughing, and trying to order. From there we went to the coffee shop on the beach and checked out the tables w/ handmade jewelry and stuff for sale. I LOVE this part of the trip. It's so relaxing to watch the sunset and just hangout on the beach. Then I went with Matt and Mitch and watch UFC while they played pool. I was exhausted and couldn't wait to sleep, but not before going to get ice cream with Deanna, Vic, Frank, and Tayler. :)
Day 3 - This is the best day. We get to finish up that last part of the house and my personal favorite---decorate!! Matt helped me hang up all the wall stuff which was cool. We got the furninshings package for the family, so not only do they get a house, but a stove, bed, bedding, table, kitchen stuff and ALL the extra stuff we all brought to bless the family. I don't really know how else to explain the feeling during the dedication ceremony other than just a heavy feeling. All these emotions of happiness, yet feeling sad because I know I will probably not ever see them again, and yet a true joy inside because I just had a part in literally changing the lives of the 4 children and their 2 parents. It is honestly the best feeling in the world to build a home for a family. I would reccomend this to anyone and everyone that I know. To step out of your life for a weekend, pay $700 and go build a house for a family. This is my third home and I can't wait to go do it again.
So...I am now back home - took a hot shower this morning, was able to flush my toilet paper, brush my teeth with tap water, and yet I still wish I was in Mexico. I found myself several times today thinking about how the kids in Mexico don't know any different than living on a dirt floor, not having a shower, not having a normal toilet and yet I complain about not having my red bull, having to wake up early or having to take a cold shower (yes, 2 cold showers were all mine in Mexico :)Each time I go to Mexico, I'm reminded of what's really important and once again get perspective.
The first night I got to Mexico, I was praying as I was trying to fall asleep. I prayed that God would show me something new this weekend for my life and what He has for me. And He so did. I know that Mexico will always have a place in my life and specifically working with YWAM. I don't know in what capacity or what it will even look like, but I know that it will be awesome. I've known since that first trip to Mexico in 7th grade that I would come back. I know that God has me where I am at right now in my life to shape me and mold me. It has been a really, really long 3 months, but God is SO faithful and I am so grateful for where I am at in my life right now. I just turned 26 last week and I feel like it's just the beginning.
So, in conclusion...if you are reading my first blog ever and want to comment go ahead, but I want to challenge you to go on a Home Build trip to Mexico. It has changed my life and I know it's changed the lives of everyone that went this past weekend. You will not regret it at all.
Mexico...May 2009...Are you in??
Day 1&2: We arrived on the base around 12 midnight on friday night and had to unpack in the rain...yes the rain. We finally were in bed by 12:30, but awoke at 2AM to no power and to an alarm of someone from the other team (from texas) and again at 5:40 because Texas is 2 hours ahead. We all thought for sure there must be a valid reason they were awake, but there wasn't. :)This is the morning I fell out of my bed...go figure and I have a HUGE bruise to prove it. So, we had breakfast and loaded up the van with overcast skies and still--rain.
The ride to the home build site was quite an experience. The huge hills we had to go up and down and over were pretty scary. The rain caused the dirt roads to become mud. It was pretty
much like driving in snow, but it was mud. We all were praying and I knew that we had to get there to build the house for the family. The family was a family of 6. They had been living with extended family in the house above the build site, with 7 other people. 13 people were living in a dirt floor small shack. Needless to say, we finally made it to the concrete slab and the pile of material and started to build a house that would be a new home for this beautiful family. We were told that the family had dug out the piece of land that the slab was poured on, wow. We had the privilige to have a guy named Don on our team (he headed up the team on my first home build last May) This was Don's 82nd home build since 2001. He works for a school district in San Diego and comes over on weekends to do a home build. His little extra touches like flower boxed, the overhang over the door and all the things I'm missing make the home have character and just really cool. We hammered, painted, sawed, and hauled material for about 7 hours and then went back to the base. I was amazed at how much the family helped. I painted a lot, but I was in awe of all the painting that cousins, neighbors and the family did themselves.The first night we go the local taco stand (amazing food) I had to send some pictures out, so I went a little later with Matt, Mitch, and Loran. We had a great time laughing, and trying to order. From there we went to the coffee shop on the beach and checked out the tables w/ handmade jewelry and stuff for sale. I LOVE this part of the trip. It's so relaxing to watch the sunset and just hangout on the beach. Then I went with Matt and Mitch and watch UFC while they played pool. I was exhausted and couldn't wait to sleep, but not before going to get ice cream with Deanna, Vic, Frank, and Tayler. :)
Day 3 - This is the best day. We get to finish up that last part of the house and my personal favorite---decorate!! Matt helped me hang up all the wall stuff which was cool. We got the furninshings package for the family, so not only do they get a house, but a stove, bed, bedding, table, kitchen stuff and ALL the extra stuff we all brought to bless the family. I don't really know how else to explain the feeling during the dedication ceremony other than just a heavy feeling. All these emotions of happiness, yet feeling sad because I know I will probably not ever see them again, and yet a true joy inside because I just had a part in literally changing the lives of the 4 children and their 2 parents. It is honestly the best feeling in the world to build a home for a family. I would reccomend this to anyone and everyone that I know. To step out of your life for a weekend, pay $700 and go build a house for a family. This is my third home and I can't wait to go do it again.
So...I am now back home - took a hot shower this morning, was able to flush my toilet paper, brush my teeth with tap water, and yet I still wish I was in Mexico. I found myself several times today thinking about how the kids in Mexico don't know any different than living on a dirt floor, not having a shower, not having a normal toilet and yet I complain about not having my red bull, having to wake up early or having to take a cold shower (yes, 2 cold showers were all mine in Mexico :)Each time I go to Mexico, I'm reminded of what's really important and once again get perspective.
The first night I got to Mexico, I was praying as I was trying to fall asleep. I prayed that God would show me something new this weekend for my life and what He has for me. And He so did. I know that Mexico will always have a place in my life and specifically working with YWAM. I don't know in what capacity or what it will even look like, but I know that it will be awesome. I've known since that first trip to Mexico in 7th grade that I would come back. I know that God has me where I am at right now in my life to shape me and mold me. It has been a really, really long 3 months, but God is SO faithful and I am so grateful for where I am at in my life right now. I just turned 26 last week and I feel like it's just the beginning.
So, in conclusion...if you are reading my first blog ever and want to comment go ahead, but I want to challenge you to go on a Home Build trip to Mexico. It has changed my life and I know it's changed the lives of everyone that went this past weekend. You will not regret it at all.
Mexico...May 2009...Are you in??
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