January 4
An Adventurous Day!
Today was a day full of adventure. We landed in San Diego, and were surprised at how warm it was after the frigid temps back home. We were all pretty tired when we arrived, but In-N-Out Burger has a way of reviving souls. There were some terrifying pigeons, that enjoyed In-N-Out as much as we did! We hopped in the vans with our hosts Mike and Cathy, and headed straight to the California-Mexico Border. Once Leah saw the giant Mexican flag, she was hit with the reality of going into a country and not knowing any of the language! But she persevered! We gave her no time to adjust and went straight to the market and split up (in teams with leaders!) to buy produce for the orphanage we will visit tomorrow. The market was huge and vibrant and we got incredible deals! Emily C. (and all of our amazing spanish speakers) were forced to use our incredible Spanish skills to buy the food and ask for receipts.
We unloaded the boxes and crates of food at our accomodations for the next three days. We are thankful how spacious and clean it is, with "American" flushing toilets, and wool blankets and a safe gated surrounding. We met the hospitable staff, unpacked, and our leaders discussed our plans for the next few days, and some cultural differences to be aware of as we enter this time.
Then we each found our own little corners at the "base," and settled in for some quiet reflection time with our prayer rocks, Bibles and journals. After coffee and hot chocolate, we were blessed with chef Amalia's taco soup, salad, and cupcakes for dessert.
We prepped for tomorrow's two ministries at the orphanage, and at a feeding program in town. We then loaded in the 15 passenger van and took the bumpy road to the church, 'Templo Sion.' The Lord spoke through the worship and teaching time, even if we had a language barrier. The pastor was amazing and translated while he preached. He was energetic, engaging, and hilarious. Three of our very own students and staff even went up to share a bit. We were all amazed at how time flew, despite how tired we were, because of the passionate energy and amazing singing. The Spirit of the Lord was at work and we were welcomed as family.
We headed back to shower and rest up for tomorrow...and hope you enjoy browsing through the photos!
Today was a day full of adventure. We landed in San Diego, and were surprised at how warm it was after the frigid temps back home. We were all pretty tired when we arrived, but In-N-Out Burger has a way of reviving souls. There were some terrifying pigeons, that enjoyed In-N-Out as much as we did! We hopped in the vans with our hosts Mike and Cathy, and headed straight to the California-Mexico Border. Once Leah saw the giant Mexican flag, she was hit with the reality of going into a country and not knowing any of the language! But she persevered! We gave her no time to adjust and went straight to the market and split up (in teams with leaders!) to buy produce for the orphanage we will visit tomorrow. The market was huge and vibrant and we got incredible deals! Emily C. (and all of our amazing spanish speakers) were forced to use our incredible Spanish skills to buy the food and ask for receipts.
We unloaded the boxes and crates of food at our accomodations for the next three days. We are thankful how spacious and clean it is, with "American" flushing toilets, and wool blankets and a safe gated surrounding. We met the hospitable staff, unpacked, and our leaders discussed our plans for the next few days, and some cultural differences to be aware of as we enter this time.
Then we each found our own little corners at the "base," and settled in for some quiet reflection time with our prayer rocks, Bibles and journals. After coffee and hot chocolate, we were blessed with chef Amalia's taco soup, salad, and cupcakes for dessert.
We prepped for tomorrow's two ministries at the orphanage, and at a feeding program in town. We then loaded in the 15 passenger van and took the bumpy road to the church, 'Templo Sion.' The Lord spoke through the worship and teaching time, even if we had a language barrier. The pastor was amazing and translated while he preached. He was energetic, engaging, and hilarious. Three of our very own students and staff even went up to share a bit. We were all amazed at how time flew, despite how tired we were, because of the passionate energy and amazing singing. The Spirit of the Lord was at work and we were welcomed as family.
We headed back to shower and rest up for tomorrow...and hope you enjoy browsing through the photos!
January 5
Serve
We woke up this morning for a 7:30am breakfast delight of pancakes, sausages, yogurt, peaches, cupcakes, and of course, refried beans. We then went over our skit of David and Goliath and found last minute props! We loaded up in the van and headed to the orphanage. The ride there was like a roller coaster with all the ruts and holes from the washed away roads, but we made it without any serious concussions. ;) The orphanage is quite large, like a complex of yellow apartment homes.
Brady played the part of Goliath, and Marky was David. Pancho (a.k.a. Mr. Padilla) was King Saul, and we acted out the story from 1 Samuel about overcoming the enemy with God's strength and taking care of His people. The kids loved to hear the story, and then colored pictures of David and Goliath, played with the props, played tag, blew bubbles, and hugged us like crazy. We took turns going to hold the babies and youngsters indoors while it rained outside (though the rain didn't stop the kids from playing tag!). We had to leave as the kids were getting ready for school, but we went to another orphanage, more similar to a foster home, on the way. The people who run it followed God's call to serve the people of Tijuana, and moved from Las Vegas to do so.
At lunch, Peyton dared to venture out of her tastebud comfort zone into the spicy new world. She consumed foods she had never tried before in her life such as: tacos, guacamole, and Horchata at Pollo Feliz (the Happy Chicken). Peyton was the Christopher Columbus of Flavortown. Others followed in her courageous footsteps, eating grilled jalapeños and rice. The food was delicious and it was light years better than the unauthentic Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme.
After lunch, we ventured into the sketchiest area in all of TJ. Thankfully we had multiple leaders who were well trained and familiar with the people of the area, so we were safe the entire time. The twelve of us split into smaller groups to reach out to people and invite them for free food and fellowship. Mike, one of our guides and directors during our time in TJ, greeted the small crowd with the story of the woman caught in adultery presented before Jesus for judgement. Jesus responded to her accusers, "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." Mike then reminded us all that we are equals and that God doesn't bring condemnation, but calls us to be diligent servants to Him. We distributed hot dogs, hot coffee, and orange slices to everyone who came to us. There was an essense of gratefulness, tinged with desperation, surrounding the crowd. Our hearts were overwhlemed by the needs of a variety of people... Hatian refugees, drug addicts, struggling mothers and fathers, prostitutes, mentally ill, alcoholics, the list goes on and on. We felt devastated when wehad no more food to give, but thankful for the opprotunity to minister to the people. Javier was oneman who was familair with Mike and the ministry, and he had an evangelistic heart. He taught us different stories to utilize in evangelism.
After the feeding ministry, we went straight to another Taco restaurant for dinner. This one was more upscale in comparison to Pollo Feliz. The restaurant was built for warmer weather, but we were protected by the cloth walls and large heaters. Brady ate multiple spicy tacos, and Marky ventured deep into Flavortown with cabeza (head) , lengua(tongue), and asada (steak) tacos. We all left with spicy mouths and full bellies. We returned to the house with enough time for devotions and team time. We wrapped it up with goofy games of Koala and Guesstures, and called it a night.
We woke up this morning for a 7:30am breakfast delight of pancakes, sausages, yogurt, peaches, cupcakes, and of course, refried beans. We then went over our skit of David and Goliath and found last minute props! We loaded up in the van and headed to the orphanage. The ride there was like a roller coaster with all the ruts and holes from the washed away roads, but we made it without any serious concussions. ;) The orphanage is quite large, like a complex of yellow apartment homes.
Brady played the part of Goliath, and Marky was David. Pancho (a.k.a. Mr. Padilla) was King Saul, and we acted out the story from 1 Samuel about overcoming the enemy with God's strength and taking care of His people. The kids loved to hear the story, and then colored pictures of David and Goliath, played with the props, played tag, blew bubbles, and hugged us like crazy. We took turns going to hold the babies and youngsters indoors while it rained outside (though the rain didn't stop the kids from playing tag!). We had to leave as the kids were getting ready for school, but we went to another orphanage, more similar to a foster home, on the way. The people who run it followed God's call to serve the people of Tijuana, and moved from Las Vegas to do so.
At lunch, Peyton dared to venture out of her tastebud comfort zone into the spicy new world. She consumed foods she had never tried before in her life such as: tacos, guacamole, and Horchata at Pollo Feliz (the Happy Chicken). Peyton was the Christopher Columbus of Flavortown. Others followed in her courageous footsteps, eating grilled jalapeños and rice. The food was delicious and it was light years better than the unauthentic Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme.
After lunch, we ventured into the sketchiest area in all of TJ. Thankfully we had multiple leaders who were well trained and familiar with the people of the area, so we were safe the entire time. The twelve of us split into smaller groups to reach out to people and invite them for free food and fellowship. Mike, one of our guides and directors during our time in TJ, greeted the small crowd with the story of the woman caught in adultery presented before Jesus for judgement. Jesus responded to her accusers, "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." Mike then reminded us all that we are equals and that God doesn't bring condemnation, but calls us to be diligent servants to Him. We distributed hot dogs, hot coffee, and orange slices to everyone who came to us. There was an essense of gratefulness, tinged with desperation, surrounding the crowd. Our hearts were overwhlemed by the needs of a variety of people... Hatian refugees, drug addicts, struggling mothers and fathers, prostitutes, mentally ill, alcoholics, the list goes on and on. We felt devastated when wehad no more food to give, but thankful for the opprotunity to minister to the people. Javier was oneman who was familair with Mike and the ministry, and he had an evangelistic heart. He taught us different stories to utilize in evangelism.
After the feeding ministry, we went straight to another Taco restaurant for dinner. This one was more upscale in comparison to Pollo Feliz. The restaurant was built for warmer weather, but we were protected by the cloth walls and large heaters. Brady ate multiple spicy tacos, and Marky ventured deep into Flavortown with cabeza (head) , lengua(tongue), and asada (steak) tacos. We all left with spicy mouths and full bellies. We returned to the house with enough time for devotions and team time. We wrapped it up with goofy games of Koala and Guesstures, and called it a night.
January 6
Casa Sion, Campo de Fe and Rosarito
We enjoyed seeing the kids at Casa Sion again this morning, sharing the story of Jesus healing the blind man -- reminding us of God's healing for us in whatever areas we need heaing. Emily C. read the scripture, and Maria, Leah and Brady enacted the story. Many of us ran around the playgound with the kids, played with the babies in the nursery, and did a craft from Bible story. The ministry is such a blessing to so many kids, and we were grateful to be a part of it!
We next travelled to Campo de Fe to meet Flor and the ministry that she has to show Christ's love to many men who are in need of a rehabilitation/recovery facility, but who have no means to pay for their care. The men shared their testimonies -- stories of addictions, accidents and illnesses that brought them to Campo de Fe. We sang songs and then then all prayed together before leaving. We prayed individually for the men, and they did for us as well. We could not always understand each other, but we know that God has no language barriers and that He always hears our prayers.
After a yummy grilled cheese lunch back at the base, we got ready to head to Rosarito beach for a restful time of devotions near the water. It was a beautiful and quiet place to sit on the sand, read scripture, to journal our words of gratitude and to process all that we have witnessed and participated in over the last few days. We also had the chance to ride horses on the beach just before sunset. Marcus had never ridden a horse before, and it was a lot of fun (mostly). Everyone did great, but some things just cannot be predicted :) On the way back from our ride, Marcus' horse decided to take off to catch up with Brady's horse. It ran full speed ahead and right through the "easy-up" tent that the men were using to organize the beach rides. The horse then got a bit spooked and started to run in circles under the tent. It was a bit crazy, but don't worrry, Marcus is fine. We then enjoyed an amazing sunset, and a fun dinner (Los Pelicanos) where we were treated by mariachis singing and playing Mexican folk songs (on guitar and harp), and the server, Ezekiel, who made us homemade salsa at our table. Maybe, just maybe, there were a few eyes batted toward him :) We then headed back to the base for team time and some fun hanging out with the many new friends we've made. We had a great day!
We enjoyed seeing the kids at Casa Sion again this morning, sharing the story of Jesus healing the blind man -- reminding us of God's healing for us in whatever areas we need heaing. Emily C. read the scripture, and Maria, Leah and Brady enacted the story. Many of us ran around the playgound with the kids, played with the babies in the nursery, and did a craft from Bible story. The ministry is such a blessing to so many kids, and we were grateful to be a part of it!
We next travelled to Campo de Fe to meet Flor and the ministry that she has to show Christ's love to many men who are in need of a rehabilitation/recovery facility, but who have no means to pay for their care. The men shared their testimonies -- stories of addictions, accidents and illnesses that brought them to Campo de Fe. We sang songs and then then all prayed together before leaving. We prayed individually for the men, and they did for us as well. We could not always understand each other, but we know that God has no language barriers and that He always hears our prayers.
After a yummy grilled cheese lunch back at the base, we got ready to head to Rosarito beach for a restful time of devotions near the water. It was a beautiful and quiet place to sit on the sand, read scripture, to journal our words of gratitude and to process all that we have witnessed and participated in over the last few days. We also had the chance to ride horses on the beach just before sunset. Marcus had never ridden a horse before, and it was a lot of fun (mostly). Everyone did great, but some things just cannot be predicted :) On the way back from our ride, Marcus' horse decided to take off to catch up with Brady's horse. It ran full speed ahead and right through the "easy-up" tent that the men were using to organize the beach rides. The horse then got a bit spooked and started to run in circles under the tent. It was a bit crazy, but don't worrry, Marcus is fine. We then enjoyed an amazing sunset, and a fun dinner (Los Pelicanos) where we were treated by mariachis singing and playing Mexican folk songs (on guitar and harp), and the server, Ezekiel, who made us homemade salsa at our table. Maybe, just maybe, there were a few eyes batted toward him :) We then headed back to the base for team time and some fun hanging out with the many new friends we've made. We had a great day!
January 7
We got to sleep in today!
Breakfast was eggs and French toast. We packed up and got the laundry downstairs, and we began our trip to Alamar, a small impoverished community. Once we got there, we realized the rains had made a giant mud lake out of the road. Thankfully our drivers were awesome navigators. As we approached, a man had a giant sow (Mama pig) with a rope tied on it's back leg, and he pulled with all his might to yank it away from a fence...we think the babies were on the other side of the fence. She knocked the whole fence over!
We were shocked at the conditions in which the people of this community are living. It was such a contrast to how we live. However, their hearts were open and they welcomed us into their homes with hospitality. Though they lived in homes that were made from whatever they could get their hands on, once we went inside you could tell that they had taken time to do the best with what they had. Families were provided rice and beans, and an opportunity for us to pray for them. Each person we asked was open, and had a specific request they asked us to pray for. One woman had very low blood pressure and got weak easily, one was awaiting test results, and many asked for prayer for their children. Their eyes were filled with desperation and sometimes glistened with tears. It was an honor to pray for these people. One woman said that she had recently invited the Lord into her life, and showed us into her home and into the adjoining small chapel that has been there the last four months. On the walls was the same verse that we had just shared with the kids at the orphanage: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was an eye-opening time. One little girl even gave Kyla, Caroline and Leah candies that she had in her pocket, as a little gift! While the flavor combination was a bit foreign to our palates (tamarind, chile and lemon... and a mysterious aftertaste), we were very grateful for her generosity.
Afterward, we returned to the base for lunch and final goodbyes to the staff of Puente de Amistad. Amalia, our chef, was such a sweetheart! We're really going to miss her. Mike and Cathy let us know that we were the last group that they'll be working with for a while, as they're taking a furlough for six months. The care they took and the relationships we built with them are something we'll never forget.
We packed up the vans and headed to the border, where we had one of the speediest processes for customs ever! We went through customs via the pedestrian crossing, and it was a total of about 12 minutes! Elaine and Mike met us there and took us to the airport to pick up our rental vans, and we made our way to Coronado Island over the vast, giant bridge. It is a quiet, fancy, beach town. We walked around a bit and got coffee and ice cream, and Kyla got to see her Aunt Dale at the swimsuit shop she owns on the island.
Then, the moment came when we got our phones back (after 3 days while we were in Mexico): everyone was itching to grab them! We had 20 minutes to catch up on what we missed back home, and realized for some of us, it was a little stressful to jump back into everything that happened. For others, it was exciting! We noticed we ended up being on them a lot less than before we had them taken away, because we were actually interacting with our team, our little family!
Next, we took a trip over Vons grocery store and got supplies...but had a bizarre encounter! We turned the corner to the next aisle and found California Brady!!! It was Brady, 10 years in the future, when he moved to San Diego! He actually had the same glasses, hat and jacket that Brady has! It was uncanny! He was cool enough to pose for a photo with Brady. His name was Scott, but his parents always called him Brady for short. ;)
Pasta Bar was on the menu, and Brady was the server. We ate dinner on the covered pool table. Once again, we did "Highlights," where we go around and share the highlight of our day. A lot of people mentioned connecting with the families in Alamar, and also how Armando was so gifted at bridging the gap and getting to know the people of the community.
While we did dinner, Kyla got the special treat of going out to dinner with her sister Joanna, her sister's daughter, and their parents. Mr. Padilla hung back with us, and it all worked out well.
We played pool and chilled. It was the most restful day yet.
Breakfast was eggs and French toast. We packed up and got the laundry downstairs, and we began our trip to Alamar, a small impoverished community. Once we got there, we realized the rains had made a giant mud lake out of the road. Thankfully our drivers were awesome navigators. As we approached, a man had a giant sow (Mama pig) with a rope tied on it's back leg, and he pulled with all his might to yank it away from a fence...we think the babies were on the other side of the fence. She knocked the whole fence over!
We were shocked at the conditions in which the people of this community are living. It was such a contrast to how we live. However, their hearts were open and they welcomed us into their homes with hospitality. Though they lived in homes that were made from whatever they could get their hands on, once we went inside you could tell that they had taken time to do the best with what they had. Families were provided rice and beans, and an opportunity for us to pray for them. Each person we asked was open, and had a specific request they asked us to pray for. One woman had very low blood pressure and got weak easily, one was awaiting test results, and many asked for prayer for their children. Their eyes were filled with desperation and sometimes glistened with tears. It was an honor to pray for these people. One woman said that she had recently invited the Lord into her life, and showed us into her home and into the adjoining small chapel that has been there the last four months. On the walls was the same verse that we had just shared with the kids at the orphanage: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was an eye-opening time. One little girl even gave Kyla, Caroline and Leah candies that she had in her pocket, as a little gift! While the flavor combination was a bit foreign to our palates (tamarind, chile and lemon... and a mysterious aftertaste), we were very grateful for her generosity.
Afterward, we returned to the base for lunch and final goodbyes to the staff of Puente de Amistad. Amalia, our chef, was such a sweetheart! We're really going to miss her. Mike and Cathy let us know that we were the last group that they'll be working with for a while, as they're taking a furlough for six months. The care they took and the relationships we built with them are something we'll never forget.
We packed up the vans and headed to the border, where we had one of the speediest processes for customs ever! We went through customs via the pedestrian crossing, and it was a total of about 12 minutes! Elaine and Mike met us there and took us to the airport to pick up our rental vans, and we made our way to Coronado Island over the vast, giant bridge. It is a quiet, fancy, beach town. We walked around a bit and got coffee and ice cream, and Kyla got to see her Aunt Dale at the swimsuit shop she owns on the island.
Then, the moment came when we got our phones back (after 3 days while we were in Mexico): everyone was itching to grab them! We had 20 minutes to catch up on what we missed back home, and realized for some of us, it was a little stressful to jump back into everything that happened. For others, it was exciting! We noticed we ended up being on them a lot less than before we had them taken away, because we were actually interacting with our team, our little family!
Next, we took a trip over Vons grocery store and got supplies...but had a bizarre encounter! We turned the corner to the next aisle and found California Brady!!! It was Brady, 10 years in the future, when he moved to San Diego! He actually had the same glasses, hat and jacket that Brady has! It was uncanny! He was cool enough to pose for a photo with Brady. His name was Scott, but his parents always called him Brady for short. ;)
Pasta Bar was on the menu, and Brady was the server. We ate dinner on the covered pool table. Once again, we did "Highlights," where we go around and share the highlight of our day. A lot of people mentioned connecting with the families in Alamar, and also how Armando was so gifted at bridging the gap and getting to know the people of the community.
While we did dinner, Kyla got the special treat of going out to dinner with her sister Joanna, her sister's daughter, and their parents. Mr. Padilla hung back with us, and it all worked out well.
We played pool and chilled. It was the most restful day yet.
January 8
Sunday sounds like a good day for rest, and it was for us. We needed a day of rest from blogging too, but are eager to share about our day... tomorrow :)
Grace and Peace.
Grace and Peace.
January 8
Yesterday we woke up to breakfast of bagels and bananas, and headed out to the front patio for a quick team time. We then drove to Kyla's parents' church, Paseo del Rey. It is a mainstream church with casual attire and modern worship. They were teaching on Romans 8, and the pastor did a great job showing how he studies the Bible. After the service, all the students ran over to Mike and Cathy, who were on this side of the border. We said our last farewell, then headed to lunch before going to Point Loma. We sat on cliffs overlooking the ocean as we ate our lunches. It was beautiful weather! Even though we were at the beach, the temps were in the 70's! Pretty nice for January. Brady got a quick photography tutorial from Kyla, and she was brave enough to let him use her dSLR camera while hiking the cliffs (even after he dropped the bag twice). He became a pro in that short time, and has a newfound passion.
Fun fact: Point Loma is the most southwestern corner of the United States. We hiked down to the shore and cliffs, and hiked along the shoreline while stopping to find sea anemones...it was so fun to stick our fingers in them; they grab onto you with their tentacle-things. When you press on them when they're closed, they squirt water at you! From there we walked through 57* knee-deep water, to get to the next rock formation. Some of us got wetter than others! From there we had quiet time on the cliffs listenting to the waves crash on the shore. After our quiet time we had more time to explore and take pictures.
From the cliffs we were going to go padleboarding, but missed the time by 20 minutes. Bummed, but not defeated, we drove over to Mission Beach to get rental bikes. It was crazy crowded on the boardwalk, and skateboarders kept it interesting with their tricks in front of us. At the beginning, we were chatting and Caroline lost control, running into Marcus' bike and then slowly ran into the wall on the opposite side. We had difficulty navigating the crazy party crowd on the narrow road, but after two miles or so, we got to the end of the boardwalk and there was only one way to go...down down down a ramp to the beach! We explored the shoreline a bit as the sun was setting, and then headed back via the hard-packed sand of the shore. It was a great quad workout!! We worked up an appetite, and we were too lazy to go back and make dinner, so we stopped at our friend Mike's restaurant Kojak's for amazing lamb gyros! Everyone but two of us had the lamb! Mike even keeps a photo of the past year's Winterim on the wall next to Johnny Cash. We left full and happy.
We drove home and had a team meeting, then settled in for guy's night and girl's night. We talked about relationships and self-image, and had some good laughs in there, too. The end of a great day.
Fun fact: Point Loma is the most southwestern corner of the United States. We hiked down to the shore and cliffs, and hiked along the shoreline while stopping to find sea anemones...it was so fun to stick our fingers in them; they grab onto you with their tentacle-things. When you press on them when they're closed, they squirt water at you! From there we walked through 57* knee-deep water, to get to the next rock formation. Some of us got wetter than others! From there we had quiet time on the cliffs listenting to the waves crash on the shore. After our quiet time we had more time to explore and take pictures.
From the cliffs we were going to go padleboarding, but missed the time by 20 minutes. Bummed, but not defeated, we drove over to Mission Beach to get rental bikes. It was crazy crowded on the boardwalk, and skateboarders kept it interesting with their tricks in front of us. At the beginning, we were chatting and Caroline lost control, running into Marcus' bike and then slowly ran into the wall on the opposite side. We had difficulty navigating the crazy party crowd on the narrow road, but after two miles or so, we got to the end of the boardwalk and there was only one way to go...down down down a ramp to the beach! We explored the shoreline a bit as the sun was setting, and then headed back via the hard-packed sand of the shore. It was a great quad workout!! We worked up an appetite, and we were too lazy to go back and make dinner, so we stopped at our friend Mike's restaurant Kojak's for amazing lamb gyros! Everyone but two of us had the lamb! Mike even keeps a photo of the past year's Winterim on the wall next to Johnny Cash. We left full and happy.
We drove home and had a team meeting, then settled in for guy's night and girl's night. We talked about relationships and self-image, and had some good laughs in there, too. The end of a great day.
January 9
Serving and sightseeing
We got to sleep in a little today! After breakfast we went to San Ysidro Medical Clinic and San Diego P.A.C.E. (Adult Day Center). They serve many people with disabilities or brain injuries. We helped with their activities, like painting nails, knitting, painting birdhouses, coloring, etc. The students spread out and conversed with the patients, learning their stories as well as practicing more Spanish.
Then came the best part -- ZUMBA! It is chair-Zumba for those who can't stand up, and it is actually a really tough workout!
The students started out dancing in the chairs among the patients, but the proceeded to the front to show off their moves. It was so much fun! The patients had real talent, and some used maracas and tambourines.
After serving there, we drove to the edge of the CA border to the outlet mall for lunch and shopping. Then we went to Seaport Village for an excursion: we took the SEAL (Sea and Land Vehicle) through the streets of San Diego and then into the San Diego Harbor. We learned about the Navy SEALS, and that they use dolphins and sea lions for scoping out mines and torpedos. We also learned about a few of their boats, and saw massive naval helicopters and innovative ships. It was as the sun was setting.
We came back and Elise, Emily B., and Julia made a dinner of grilled hamburgers and salad. Everyone reflected on the day and shared highlights, then Frank surprised the students with a quiz! Marcus won with 9.5 out of 10 points! He won a pair of sunglasses he can sport everywhere.
We walked around the island and make an ice cream run! When we got back home, a long game of Phase 10 began, and Marcus beat us all.
We got to sleep in a little today! After breakfast we went to San Ysidro Medical Clinic and San Diego P.A.C.E. (Adult Day Center). They serve many people with disabilities or brain injuries. We helped with their activities, like painting nails, knitting, painting birdhouses, coloring, etc. The students spread out and conversed with the patients, learning their stories as well as practicing more Spanish.
Then came the best part -- ZUMBA! It is chair-Zumba for those who can't stand up, and it is actually a really tough workout!
The students started out dancing in the chairs among the patients, but the proceeded to the front to show off their moves. It was so much fun! The patients had real talent, and some used maracas and tambourines.
After serving there, we drove to the edge of the CA border to the outlet mall for lunch and shopping. Then we went to Seaport Village for an excursion: we took the SEAL (Sea and Land Vehicle) through the streets of San Diego and then into the San Diego Harbor. We learned about the Navy SEALS, and that they use dolphins and sea lions for scoping out mines and torpedos. We also learned about a few of their boats, and saw massive naval helicopters and innovative ships. It was as the sun was setting.
We came back and Elise, Emily B., and Julia made a dinner of grilled hamburgers and salad. Everyone reflected on the day and shared highlights, then Frank surprised the students with a quiz! Marcus won with 9.5 out of 10 points! He won a pair of sunglasses he can sport everywhere.
We walked around the island and make an ice cream run! When we got back home, a long game of Phase 10 began, and Marcus beat us all.
January 10
Orange County Fun
Today the students spent the whole day without their phones (until 10:00pm)! They did great!
Being able to sleep in and wake up to sunshine was fantastic, and some of us even woke up early to go on a run. Around 9:30am we loaded up in our cars and were off to Orange County! On the way there, we stopped at Rainbow Sandals, and they gave us a quick tour of the place and brief history of how it started and how they construct the sandals by hand right on site.
After that, we went around to visit Kyla's Great Aunt Maxine for a little while, which was definitely a highlight for everyone, being able to play with her dog Luci, who does some mind-boggling tricks. Maxine is so fabulous; she is so energetic and fun. We had a great time stopping off at the cutest little beach cottage in the world.
Around lunchtime we arrived in Orange Country where we ate lunch at Watson's, California's first soda fountain, established in 1899. They've renovated it in beautiful and turn-of-the-century style. They had huge portions, which was perfect because we were all starving! The food, the service, and the whole look and feel of the place was amazing. The best part was when Marcus did a little trick with the knife and fork and Mr. Padilla was absolutely baffled for quite some time.
Next we took a little stroll around town. After including getting coffee, we went to the center of the Orange Circle near the fountain. All the tall fellas helped out the ladies by picking the ripe oranges right off a tree, but it had just rained so they got a bit of a shower right after they got each orange! Of course, there was also a fair amount of PARKOUR that happened. We also enjoyed playing with cameras, background blur, and aperture.
It was sprinkling, so we ended up going to the spacious Newport Back Bay Estuary next to have quiet devotion time. Even though it was cold (er, "chilly"), it was relaxing to wander the trails by the bay. We caught the sunset there, and it was so beautiful and peaceful to just sit and be in God's nature. We then went to Fashion Island, a giant upscale shopping area, and hung out there, shopped, and then ended our time in Orange County with some delicious Chik-fil-a.
On the ride home we switched up who was sitting in which van, and it was great to get a playlist started of #sandiegoats. Blasting music for fun and to keep Kyla awake on the drive home, it went much faster than expected. Frank's van was conversational and mellow, and Kyla's was lit. ;)
Praying for clearer skies than the forecast says tomorrow!!!
Today the students spent the whole day without their phones (until 10:00pm)! They did great!
Being able to sleep in and wake up to sunshine was fantastic, and some of us even woke up early to go on a run. Around 9:30am we loaded up in our cars and were off to Orange County! On the way there, we stopped at Rainbow Sandals, and they gave us a quick tour of the place and brief history of how it started and how they construct the sandals by hand right on site.
After that, we went around to visit Kyla's Great Aunt Maxine for a little while, which was definitely a highlight for everyone, being able to play with her dog Luci, who does some mind-boggling tricks. Maxine is so fabulous; she is so energetic and fun. We had a great time stopping off at the cutest little beach cottage in the world.
Around lunchtime we arrived in Orange Country where we ate lunch at Watson's, California's first soda fountain, established in 1899. They've renovated it in beautiful and turn-of-the-century style. They had huge portions, which was perfect because we were all starving! The food, the service, and the whole look and feel of the place was amazing. The best part was when Marcus did a little trick with the knife and fork and Mr. Padilla was absolutely baffled for quite some time.
Next we took a little stroll around town. After including getting coffee, we went to the center of the Orange Circle near the fountain. All the tall fellas helped out the ladies by picking the ripe oranges right off a tree, but it had just rained so they got a bit of a shower right after they got each orange! Of course, there was also a fair amount of PARKOUR that happened. We also enjoyed playing with cameras, background blur, and aperture.
It was sprinkling, so we ended up going to the spacious Newport Back Bay Estuary next to have quiet devotion time. Even though it was cold (er, "chilly"), it was relaxing to wander the trails by the bay. We caught the sunset there, and it was so beautiful and peaceful to just sit and be in God's nature. We then went to Fashion Island, a giant upscale shopping area, and hung out there, shopped, and then ended our time in Orange County with some delicious Chik-fil-a.
On the ride home we switched up who was sitting in which van, and it was great to get a playlist started of #sandiegoats. Blasting music for fun and to keep Kyla awake on the drive home, it went much faster than expected. Frank's van was conversational and mellow, and Kyla's was lit. ;)
Praying for clearer skies than the forecast says tomorrow!!!
January 11
The students have stayed up until 2 or 3 most nights, but they still seem to have plenty of energy! It's gonna be a rough transition tomorrow!
Once again we got to sleep in, and we had team time together after breakfast. We read Colossians 3:12-17, and paired off into partners to go on an prayer walk. After the prayer walk, we toured down Orange Street. We got some funky socks at the sock shop, and stopped off at Coronado Candy Company called Fuzziwig's! Strange name, but delicious treats. For lunch, we went to Wich Wich, and got some yummy sandwiches.
Next was our last grocery shopping trip, and we stocked up on goodies at Vons. Once we dropped our stuff off at home, we went straight to the San Diego Zoo. It's eco-friendly, spicy, wild, and huge. We walked around as the drizzle tapered off, and saw giraffes, tigers, elephants, rhinos, panda bears, meerkats, tazmanian devils, koalas, llamas (Elise's spirit animal), kookaburra, wallaby, and even wild peahens (female peafowl). After all the walking, we took a quick detour and got a Footsie Tootsie massage! So invigorating! A couple of us have had tummy troubles after each time we eat (we think the hamburger meat did it!), so the tram was a nice break to sit and relax. We saw even more animals, and then visited the gift shop before heading home. With the ongoing rain and drizzle, we had to amend our plans, but had fun anyway!
The senior girls made us dinner tonight, with a guacamole appetizer, and a main course of sesame chicken stir fry! The students shared highlights of the day, as well as highlights from the whole trip, and there were a lot of laughs. We've made so many memories!
Elise is ready to go home because she's been gone so long (she was in Mexico for 10 days before our trip!), and also because she got the great news that her family got a puppy while she has been here! We all can't wait to meet him!
The team had a lot of fun on this trip, and they bonded well. There are new best friends and buddies that didn't even know each other before. It is amazing what 8 days & 24 hours of connecting and talking can do to bring a group together! We are so grateful to God for every moment.
Tomorrow we'll be boarding the plane, so tonight we're going to stay up late, pack, and perhaps make a late night In-N-Out run...
Once again we got to sleep in, and we had team time together after breakfast. We read Colossians 3:12-17, and paired off into partners to go on an prayer walk. After the prayer walk, we toured down Orange Street. We got some funky socks at the sock shop, and stopped off at Coronado Candy Company called Fuzziwig's! Strange name, but delicious treats. For lunch, we went to Wich Wich, and got some yummy sandwiches.
Next was our last grocery shopping trip, and we stocked up on goodies at Vons. Once we dropped our stuff off at home, we went straight to the San Diego Zoo. It's eco-friendly, spicy, wild, and huge. We walked around as the drizzle tapered off, and saw giraffes, tigers, elephants, rhinos, panda bears, meerkats, tazmanian devils, koalas, llamas (Elise's spirit animal), kookaburra, wallaby, and even wild peahens (female peafowl). After all the walking, we took a quick detour and got a Footsie Tootsie massage! So invigorating! A couple of us have had tummy troubles after each time we eat (we think the hamburger meat did it!), so the tram was a nice break to sit and relax. We saw even more animals, and then visited the gift shop before heading home. With the ongoing rain and drizzle, we had to amend our plans, but had fun anyway!
The senior girls made us dinner tonight, with a guacamole appetizer, and a main course of sesame chicken stir fry! The students shared highlights of the day, as well as highlights from the whole trip, and there were a lot of laughs. We've made so many memories!
Elise is ready to go home because she's been gone so long (she was in Mexico for 10 days before our trip!), and also because she got the great news that her family got a puppy while she has been here! We all can't wait to meet him!
The team had a lot of fun on this trip, and they bonded well. There are new best friends and buddies that didn't even know each other before. It is amazing what 8 days & 24 hours of connecting and talking can do to bring a group together! We are so grateful to God for every moment.
Tomorrow we'll be boarding the plane, so tonight we're going to stay up late, pack, and perhaps make a late night In-N-Out run...
January 12
An Amazing Week
Sometimes its just good to sit back and take some time to reflect on our experiences together. We had very smooth travels, played some intense games of Dutch Blitz in the Detroit airport during our long layover, and enjoyed time with friends all day. Yet, we also had to say goodbye not only to the warmth of San Diego, but to the slower and less stressful rhythms we had this past week. God brought this team together, and we are so grateful for that. Thank you for supporting us in prayer and encouragement along the way. We are very grateful for God's provision and His goodness. This was His trip, and we got to be a part of it. We each shared reflections about our week, and hope you get a chance to read what God was doing in each of us this past week.
Team Highlights of the trip
Kyla -- It has been amazing and entertaining to watch the students create friendships and laugh together. I am grateful for the time we had; Mexico was a fabulous sort of shock to the system…it woke us up to the everyday need in our own lives, as well as the very real day-to-day needs of the poor in our world. It made a big impact on each of us, and I could see each of us wanting to serve in a similar way again soon. I loved having the support of a team in Mexico on the ground, already established and thriving. Mike, Cathy, Elaine, Juan, Amalia and Armando were our fearless and hilarious co-leaders. I was amazed at how much of the driving in Mexico was in reverse, actually! TJ driving is really a thing of wonder. ;) But seriously, we have learned so much about what service for the Lord looks like from these wonderful people. They will be truly missed. I have seen each of these students grow and mature as they took time with each other and with God, and I am thankful. They each took steps to try new things every single day, which makes my heart swell. They were flexible when weather changed our plans, time and time again. They were even up for dancing at the Adult Day Center with phenomenal and unstoppable Rita! I am spent, and I am ready to kiss my biological children goodnight, but I am acutely aware that God has led this trip, and I am happy I got to be a part of it.
Frank (AKA Francisco, Pancho, or Mr. Padilla...) -- My greatest joy came in seeing our team serve – not only serving in Mexico and in the medical clinic in San Ysidro, CA, but in serving each other as well. It was a gift to lead our team alongside my amazing teammate and wife, Kyla Joy. We all entered into the week with excitement, but with some nervousness as well. Who truly knew what God had in store for us when we landed in San Diego, only to have a quick lunch (at the amazing In-N-Out Burger), and then to head across the border to meet some of the most beautiful and loving people? God’s Kingdom is huge, and we got to see it more fully. Our Puente de Amistad staff knew exactly how to introduce us to cross-cultural ministry, and their own passion to serve God was contagious. Our prayer was that God would open each of our eyes to the places he is calling us to serve him. This may not necessarily be outreach in Mexico or in the border town of San Ysidro, but He undoubtedly uses experiences like these as formative in each of our lives. We want to be open to His callings on our lives, because His plans are always the best. It was a ton of fun, and a great privilege to be a part of this 2017 team!
Caroline -- After getting just over 4 hours of sleep, I can say I’m not necessarily looking forward to coming home to ice-covered streets, but I am looking forward to seeing my family. I am glad to have been able to be a part of this group that has changed drastically over the course of the trip. I am so thankful for the opportunities within this trip to get to know others, different cultures, as well as myself much better. I will always remember this trip fondly and will miss this group dearly.
Maria -- I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico & San Diego with such an amazing group of people. I loved pretty much everything on this trip. I had no idea what to expect in Mexico. The things I saw while in Mexico had a major impact on me. I loved meeting everyone that worked to better peoples’ lives in Tijuana. They did everything with open minds, and with love. It was really hard saying goodbye to everyone in Tijuana, but I’m glad that we still had time to experience San Diego. My favorite thing in San Diego was our late night talks that we had almost every night. We all became such great friends and even though saying goodbye to each other will be hard, we will be able to see each other at school and when we all get together again. I loved this trip so much but I can’t wait to see my family and friends in freezing Michigan!
Emily C. -- Hi family and friends! I loved this trip and I think it was exactly what I needed, and God knew what He was doing. I really loved getting to know all of these people. A special highlight was our time in Tijuana, and the experiences that we had there will be hard to forget ,whether it was horseback riding on the beach or praying over those who needed our prayers. One of the memories that sticks out is the beauty that we saw and experienced at Point Loma (especially the cute little snails) Anyways, overall I’m glad that this group was filled with such nice people, along with the missionaries we met in Tijuana. I’m gonna miss this trip.
Leah -- As excited as I am to go home and see my family I am also sad to leave. This trip has been such a blast from getting to know everyone to enjoying the warmth. One of my favorite parts of the trip was riding bikes on the beach at night in San Diego; it was super nice to get moving a little and be by the water.
Julia -- As amazing and life changing as this trip was, I’m excited to return home and see my family and friends and share my adventures with them. There were so many moments on this trip when I saw a glimpse of God; for example looking over the cliffs at Point Loma and seeing the waves crashing against the shore was one of my favorites. My favorite part of the trip was definitely the late night talks, over the many hours of lost sleep we grew closer as a group as we shared things about our lives. I had such an amazing time; I’m going to miss everyone dearly.
Payton -- This trip has been amazing and for sure one to last a lifetime. I have really missed all my family and friends back home, so I’m ready to go back home to see everyone. I will miss this trip and all the friends I have made on this trip. My favorite part of the trip was staying up late and having long talks to get closer to everyone. It was really nice to make new friends and get extremely close to everyone. I also loved going to Point Loma and just sitting on the cliffs having some quiet time.
Emily B. -- I’m excited to go home and see my family and friends, but I’m going to miss this trip a lot. I made lots of tight bonds with people whom I would normally never probably met if it weren’t for this trip. My favorite part was definitely being in Mexico and experiencing such a different culture. I had so much fun serving there.
Elise -- This trip was absolutely amazing! Everyone meshed so well; we didn’t just become friends, we became a family. (We’ve already planned our reunions. :) Although we didn’t have the typical “Sunny California” weather and it was a bit dreary out, no one complained and everyone was flexible. My highlights of the time had to be all the laughs and the late night talks in which everyone contributed and opened up. I had an amazing time, but I am excited to come back to Michigan and sleep in my own bed.
Brady -- my favorite part of the trip was making a new friendship with Marcus and playing with all the little kids as well. We didn’t have amazing weather, but it was still nicer than Michigan and I am thankful for that. I’m excited to see all of my family and friends again.
Marcus -- My favorite part of the trip was going to the orphanage and bonding with all the little kids there; especially Infriene (or Ephraim?), a little boy who I spent most of my time at the orphanage with. Also I really enjoyed making friendships with everyone and getting closer to all the people on the trip -- Brady in particular. Mexico was very fun, and I am thankful for the opportunities we had to serve there.