Focusing on Family

Every year, upon our return from our time in Ensenada, we are thrust into the onslaught of all the commercialism of the Christmas season. I always struggle, it’s almost offensive to me as we are surrounded by the excess that is available to us, from electronic gadgets and expensive items that find their way into a drawer or closet corner, to the amazing selection of food available at our grocery stores.

Slowly, year after year, we have consciously made changes to our holiday celebrations, placing a larger focus on spending time together as a family than the size and amount of gifts under our tree. Our family dynamic is evolving as the children grow older; school/work responsibilities and relationship commitments require us to adapt and be flexible and sensitive to their needs.

Last year, I learned of a movement called “The Advent Conspiracy”. Even though it started in 2006 by a group of pastors who wanted to help people find the connection between their faith and the traditional trappings of the season. It was built on four tenets-Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More,  and Love All. This year, we decided to be more intentional in how we plan to celebrate Christmas.

To start, we told the kids that instead of exchanging gifts among the family that they were to choose a charity and make a donation; the amount was not to be disclosed so that they did not feel any financial pressure, but they were to let us know who they picked during our family Christmas dinner celebration. As everyone explained their choice, it was apparent that a great deal of thought and research went into their decisions.

After sharing Christmas brunch as a family the next morning, we joined the hordes trying to complete last minute shopping and purchased hats, gloves, scarves, toiletries and other small creature comforts. Everyone had a budget and could choose what they wanted. As a family, we then drove over to Living Rock Ministries in Hamilton and donated the items.

In addition, we continued our tradition of being the “elf squad” for Santa at our Friday night community dinner. It’s a great way to share my gift of photography and work together as a team. We enjoy seeing the excited faces of kids of all ages, and feeling the love of a community of almost 300 come together to celebrate Christmas.

We celebrated early this year, in order to accommodate all of the schedules and allow the family the opportunity to fully enjoy each other’s company for the evening. Gathered around the table on Sunday, we started our family celebration by reading the affirmation that we recited as a church community earlier that day. Simply stated, to remember the true essence of the holiday and allowing the hope, peace, love and joy of the season enter our hearts and carry us forward, inspired by the grace of our Faith.

As we laughed and joked around the table, sharing stories and laughter, I thought about our friends and families in Mexico. The celebrations may take different forms, but we are all joined by our faith and love of family.

From our family to yours, we wish you all the blessings of this Christmas season.

Feliz Navidad!

Building a Team

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love”.

This November will mark my fifth trip to Ensenada since March 2014. I remember the very first time I walked into the courtyard at YUGO, I knew my life wouldn’t be the same.

Each time I travel down is a new experience. The composition of the team changes annually and the families we work with are new friends we have yet to meet. The best part is reconnecting with the YUGO staff, many of whom I consider friends, and my past families who I hold near and dear to my heart.

The home construction project is a whirlwind. We arrive on site Monday morning to see a overwhelming stack of supplies and a concrete slab…how will we ever complete this house in FOUR DAYS! We are so fortunate to have a YUGO construction lead with us, guiding us through the build and serving as translator as we create a bond with our build family. We endeavour to include the family in all aspects of the build where they are able, to foster a sense of pride of ownership for their future home.

The days are busy but filled with moments of laughter and gratitude as we all work toward a common goal. Before we know it, Thursday arrives and it’s time to hand the keys to the family and let them enter their home for the first time. It’s an emotional time, and even harder to say farewell.

Another key component for me is the relationships I build with the team. Often, I don’t know the team members particularly well in the beginning. Our preparatory meetings are a good opportunity to break the ice, but it isn’t until we board the plane and live in community for a week that we really get to know each other!

The Mexico Mission Experience isn’t for everyone. But I can tell you that everyone I speak with who has stepped out of their comfort zone and taken the leap of faith required to make the journey to Ensenada has experienced some sort of transformation. It can be as simple as a greater understanding of our global community, or something much deeper. We all return a little different than we were before.

If you’ve felt a pull to experience a short term mission, we are currently recruiting for the 2018 team. Travel dates are November 3-10; your commitment includes travel and accommodation expenses, and attending a couple of training and preparation sessions. No construction experience is required; just a love of the global community. Blowing bubbles, kicking soccer balls and playing games are considered an asset!

If you’re interested, or just want more information, be sure to connect with me. I love any opportunity to talk about Mexico!

 

 

“Fun” Raising for the Cause

Although we are only physically in Mexico for one week annually, our efforts back home continue behind the scenes year round.

Planning for the next trip begins shortly after our return as we debrief the highs (and lows) to assess the best options for future trips.

Making the decision to reach further into the community, not just during our visit but throughout the year, presented new challenges for us.

Our home church, Wellington Square United, sets aside part of its offering to support identified mission and outreach initiatives locally as well as globally. The Mexico Mission Experience is one of those projects. Typically, it covers the base cost of the home construction and the additional options such as beds, the “bano” and a house basket containing dishes, bedding and curtains. It’s such a wonderful gift from our church to their partner church family, and they look forward to seeing the updates each time we visit.

The additional funds for community projects needed to come from an outside source. We wanted to hold an event that was fun while raise the much needed monies required to assist our church family in Mexico.

So, we planned a fiesta! We wanted to hold it in May, to celebrate Mexican traditions. We found a really cool venue, planned delicious food and had a fabulous band offer to entertain us to support the cause!

For our first go, the numbers were small but mighty. Just under 50 people attended, and we had a great time! As there were no set expectations or goals, all funds raised would be a bonus. We were very pleased as the final numbers came in! Proceeds are currently being distributed to support the child and senior feeding programs as well as food baskets for families in great need in the community.

Our success is due in great part to the generosity of our venue, Shawn & Ed Brewing in Dundas as well as Crosstown Traffic from Burlington, who made the night a huge hit!

While planning the event, I had to opportunity to connect with Monica Graves of Glamjulz, a popular jewelry designer located in Burlington, We chatted, and I told our story and send her our wrap-up video for 2017. The outcome is a limited edition bracelet that captures the essence of surf, sand and sky while reminding us of our home building project that brings us down to Ensenada each year.

Bracelets are available for $40, and can be shipped easily. It’s a wonderful keepsake for anyone who has made the trip or a great gift for the special ladies in our lives. Proceeds will be added to our feeding program fund; our goal Is to maintain a consistent realistic quarterly contribution. If you are interested, reach out to me directly and we’ll get them right out to you.

As we plan and assemble the team for 2018, new opportunities to work alongside our partners are presenting themselves. In order to fund these additional projects, we have a very special evening planned for September 22.

So SAVE THE DATE, we’ll have more details in the next few weeks. It will be a night to remember!

 

Friends are the Family We Choose

One of the greatest gifts I’ve received through my mission experiences are the relationships that develop with the families and great church community of the places we visit.

The experience of participating in a house ministry is very powerful, and often runs the gamut of emotions. When we arrive home and return to our regular routines, the intensity often diminishes as daily life once again swallows us up.

I’ve been very blessed to have developed strong relationships with two of my build families. Through social media, we are able to stay in regular contact and maintain the bonds that were created during our initial time together.

Our dear friends (and adopted family) Alfonso and Alicia are truly special; I asked if I could share their story. They continue to inspire me with their deep and abiding faith, resourcefulness, and how they live in a spirit of daily gratitude.

We met Alfonso and Alicia initially in November 2015; they were selected as our build family by the local church we are partnered with. With Alfonso being completely bilingual, we were able to establish a bond extremely quickly and spend a great deal of time in deep conversation. His beautiful wife, Alicia, communicated through her exuberant personality and love of hospitality. She was so excited to serve us coffee daily on our “break”, and was the first one to join in any goofy antics that were part of the day.

As the days passed, we continued to grow closer and knew it would be very difficult to say goodbye after the key ceremony. Zach, who was in Mexico for the first time, had grown very attached to them and Alicia treated him like one of her own children.

Typically, we don’t see the family after the build, unless they attend our joint worship service in a subsequent year. But this year, the Lord had a different plan. Part of the project involves the purchase of basic home necessities such as bedding, curtains and kitchen items. When we took the package to the site on Thursday, we soon discovered a number of items were missing.

We took the opportunity to drive out Friday morning and deliver the last few pieces. We were in for a wonderful surprise! When we arrived, approximately 18 hours had gone by since we handed over the keys. Alfonso and Alicia must have work well into the evening, as they had already moved many personal possessions into the house and were quite settled in. Joyous Mexican music was pouring out the doors, and Alfonso was already hard at work, immersed in new projects for the house.

While we visited, Alfonso shared his dream of expanding past the existing walls to create a larger home so that one day he could host us and stay with him. As we prepared to leave that morning, I noticed that the family photograph I had left for them was proudly displayed among their personal family photos. I was humbled and honoured that they felt that deep a connection with us.

This past November, I was eager to visit our dear friends. I was unable to be on the team in 2016, and had missed them a great deal. On Wednesday evening, we drove them home from church and they proceeded to invite the entire team to see the house. Since I had last visited, Alfonso had built a bathroom complete with shower, and a full kitchen out the back of the house. A covered sunroom had been constructed to enjoy their gorgeous view of the bay. It was so inspiring to witness that with so little resources available to him, he was able to continue working on the house and making it their own.

This year, we made time on Friday for a visit. After sharing our time-honoured tradition of coffee together, Alfonso took Rob out to the back of his property to show him the latest project. He had acquired a couple of old refrigerators, and was planning to modify them into incubators to raise chickens and quail for income. For health reasons, he is unable to work any traditional jobs and we are continually amazed at his creativity and ingenuity as he strives to provide for his family. While the guys hung out, I got a tour of Alicia’s beautiful garden and chicken coop.

Rob started to research how he could help Alfonso with his plans upon our return home. It became evident very quickly that modifying the appliances would be too difficult and costly.

With the help of our friends at YUGO ministries, we were able to locate an incubator and have it delivered to Alfonso…it was a big surprise! We look forward to updates on how he decided to utilize it, and watch the progress.

I continue to feel called to be part of the Mexico Mission Team, and eagerly await our trip later this year. It is such a privilege to be allowed into the homes and hearts of these kind, loving people. If you want to know more about how to join us, send me a note. I’m always happy to talk about Mexico!

Roofing and Reunions-Day 3

Wednesday is by far the most physically challenging day of the week. Bodies are sore, we’ve found muscles we didn’t know we had. We’re a little fed up with community living, and feeling a bit spiritually exhausted with the emotional tides of the week.

Typically, it’s the day patience wears a bit thinner and this adventure loses a bit of its shine. Our foreman Ricardo had the perfect remedy! Before we began working on the site, he led us through a warm-up, getting everyone involved. Spirits boosted, there was lots of laughter and we were ready to go! Our team was fantastic, getting right into the swing of things and keeping everyone’s energy up!

There were a few more surprises in store for the crew before the day was complete. After another successful visit to the church to participate in the community lunch, it was all hands on deck to finish shingling. We wanted to get Abel up on the roof to savour this important milestone, and Ricardo added a very special element to this part of the project. He carved a simple cross into the second last shingle, and had everyone who was up on the roof to take a turn with one last nail. Once the last piece was in place, we gathered for a moment of quiet reflection and the opportunity for each of us to share a prayer and blessing over the house and family.

We pack up a bit early on Wednesday so we can clean up to join our partner church in worship. For those who have been on previous trips, that means TACOS! Ah, the gastronomic joy of being treated to Poblanos on Wednesday at campus…

Wednesday evening is very special, and one of the moments that team members carry in their hearts for a very long time when they think of their time in Ensenada. It’s an emotional evening for me, as we worship with our partner church as well as have the opportunity to reconnect with previous build families.

I have been privileged to have been given two wonderful families who have become an extension of our immediate family. I love heating their stories and watching their children grow. Introducing them to other family members who have made the journey makes my heart so full that the joy leaks out my eyes.

I am truly blessed.

Keeping it all in the Family-Day 2

Having been named the unofficial “team captain” for the build, I was ready to take advantage of any perks that were available. My first order of business was to sit and blow bubbles with Brandon while Graciela rested at the build site. She had done far too much on Monday, and the baby was telling her she needed to slow down. We sat and smiled at each other as we watched Brandon entertain himself with a small jar of bubbles.

The site was a hive of activity, with trim being painted and stained, drywall going up and work was starting on the roof. We had special plans for the afternoon, as a group was heading over to our partner church to visit the community lunch we had sponsored. It was a great opportunity to meet more of the local church family and to discuss future initiatives with Pastor Rigo. I convinced Rob to come along, as the thought of navigating my way to the church was too far outside my comfort zone!

As I began to think about the lunch activity, I realized it was a perfect chance for Graciela to meet new people as well. They have only just recently started attending church, and I thought it was a brilliant idea! As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for…

When it was time to load the van, suddenly a crowd of young women and babies were heading towards us. Where were we going to put everyone? Then I remembered that the “rules” are different here, and our van became a 14 passenger van with 11 seats! Joel and sat in the back with his bicycle, and we picked up the grandmother from the fields on our way.

Our navigators were quiet at first, but then got right into the spirit shouting and pointing as we missed a turn (or two)! Rob managed beautifully, and suddenly we were at the doors of the church.

They had set up tables just outside the church kitchen, and had prepared a delicious lunch of Mexican rice, chopped salad and saltine crackers. As a treat, they served a delicious juice. What we learned is that the church uses these community lunches as an outreach, inviting people walking down the street to come in and share a meal. They are introduced to the church and the teachings of the Bible. Although most of the attendees were women, there were a few men having a conversation at the back of the room. They were invited into a separate room and received free haircuts while we were there. I volunteered Rob, but he declined…

It’s always a challenge when you come up against the language barrier, but laughter and smiles are universal. The Pastor had more English that we had Spanish, so we fumbled along and discussed our various ministries at our respective churches. We even got a tour of their Sunday school and nursery, and it became even more apparent that we have more similarities than differences.

We packed everyone up and headed back to the site to finish our build day. It started to drizzle, a rare site in the area. We were treated to the most colourful rainbow as we packed up the gear to head back to campus, and were surprised with a torrential downpour on our drive back. Streets flooded quickly, and it was easy to see how challenging even a rainstorm was for the community. When we arrived back at campus, we learned that they had not received rain since March.

Physically tired but emotionally energized, we looked forward to what the next day would hold.

 

The Excitement of Day 1

We wake up with anticipation the morning of Day 1, knowing that this will be a big day for the team and the family. We quickly finish breakfast and get ready to head over to the build site, eager to get started.

I often wonder how the family feels about the first day. Just imagine if a van-load of strangers arrived on your property and piled out, moving things around and taking random pictures of your home and family. It’s easy to completely take over, so we decided to take a moment with our foreman to explain to the family that this is their home, and they are active participants and their input is welcomed. After all, it will be their home when we leave.

We take a moment before the pandemonium to reflect and be grateful for the opportunity to gather as a community and work together. Little Brandon was so excited to see everyone, although a little unsure about the whole process.

Day One is the day that the house progresses the most visually. Starting from a carefully organized pile of construction supplies, it’s hard to believe that in only a few short days it will be a home.

It’s easy to get lost in the bustle of the swirl of activity, but the house is really just the project that brings us to Ensenada. The best part of the week is developing a relationship with the family and the surrounding community.

Having experienced a number of builds, my focus this year was on the new team members. Knowing that there would be moments through the week that would push them completely outside their comfort zone, I kept careful watch and encouraged them to stay engaged.

Our foreman, Ricardo, was totally on the same page. We ran into an issue very early Monday morning as we discovered that the exterior paint colour was a bright rose tone. Abel, the father, was disappointed by the reality that this house that seemed like a lottery win was going to be painted a colour he despised! He did not say anything, because that would have been ungrateful. But his body language did not lie. The foreman asked Abel and Graciela which colour they would like for the exterior and interior. So white it became, with pink trim. After the decision was made, you could see the corners of a smile appearing on Abel’s face.

It’s so important to us that the family is engaged in the various tasks involved in the build. This is especially important to the father of the family; we were so fortunate he was able to spend the week building with us, and it must have come at considerable financial sacrifice.

Lunch break was our first real opportunity to spend time with Brandon, and I wasn’t about to miss out! He kept playing a game with me that I didn’t understand, but it involved yelling and laughing so I was all in! You couldn’t help but be happy around this child, his face shone bright like the sun and he had the deepest belly laugh I had heard in a long time.

The day just seemed to fly by, and before we know it we are packing up the tools and loading the vehicles to head back to campus for the evening. As we drive away, we can see the house beginning to take shape and the threads of relationship beginning to form.

It’s always the best Monday ever!

Four days, forever Family

Short term mission trips are a whirlwind of activity and emotion. I remember the excitement of meeting my first build family just over three years ago, with their shy, bright smiles and a beautiful baby girl that captured our hearts instantly.

I wonder what it must feel like to the family when we arrive on the build site first thing Monday morning. Piling out of our white van like clowns in a car at the circus, it must be overwhelming as the group is bustling around and taking over their property. We’re loud, and everything happens very quickly.

Day One is an exciting day for the family and the build crew. It’s the day that the main structure begins to take shape. Walls are lifted, trusses constructed and siding is painted and attached to the outside walls.

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As the house began to take shape, I had the chance to speak (with the help of our foreman, who was able to translate) to Jesus, the homeowner, who was apologizing that he was not able to take time off work to assist the team with the home construction. It was one of my first wake-up calls as to how very different their daily life was in comparison to mine. I reassured him that we were there to help, and he could go to work and provide for his family. He left very early in the morning to go to his job in a vegetable processing plant, and returned long after the crew had returned to camp for the night. I was excited for him, wondering how he would feel each day as the house progressed. A while later, I saw the couple watching through the window, looking in at the work that had been completed so far. Speaking with each other quietly, I knew they were making plans and realizing a dream.

I was determined to build the best house EVER for this young family. As I busily completed tasks, I would see Eva watching me from a distance. I quickly clued in that she wanted to be an active participant, not simply a spectator. After all, it was her house! We became partners for the balance of the week; I would show her the task I was working on and she was an eager and competent apprentice; we painted, drywalled and sanded together for a while each day.

It was this budding friendship that started to open my eyes about what this trip was really all about. Although initially I believed that Jay and I had traveled all this way to bless a family, they were the ones bestowing a multitude of blessing on us. Laughter, friendship and the magic of communication through language barriers were just a few of the many gifts I received that week.

The first afternoon I decided to take a break from the madness and sit on the tailgate of the pickup truck. As I was sitting there, Eva brought her beautiful baby girl for me to cuddle before her nap. Filled with love for my new family, I gently sang her to sleep before returning her to her mother’s arms. As I gazed at this sleeping child, the words of my friend and mentor came to mind…”God did not send you here to fix them, you were sent here to love them.” I have never forgotten those words, they are imprinted on my heart.

Days pass very quickly on the build site, and Thursday morning is a bittersweet reminder that we are excited to give our family the keys to their new home, but it is also the day we say goodbye. It is a strange mix of emotions; you have become immersed in another world, and as quickly as you arrive, it’s time to leave.

The hours leading up to the key ceremony fly by, and before we knew it we were forming a circle around our family. Watching the keys pass from hand to hand, our group was filled with emotion as we prayed blessings on this family and their new home. The feelings quickly changed to excitement as we followed them inside to see their reaction. After many hugs and long farewells, it was time to load the van and head back to camp.

But there was one more blessing in store for me. After everyone had been settled in their seats, there was a short delay before heading back to camp. I took the opportunity to dash back into the house for one more quick hug and chat with the newest members of my family, These people, complete strangers only five days earlier, were now woven into the fabric of my being. They had shaped me more than I could have ever imagined.

Standing in the kitchen together, Jesus and I were able to share another hug and a few words in broken English and Spanish. We had spent the week playing a game where we would teach each other a word in our native language. But he was the one who surprised me; as we hugged each other dearly, he told me in plain English that he loved me. He must have practiced through the week, and I was so grateful that I had been given one last chance to connect with him.

There’s so much more to this story, as our lives continue to be intertwined. I promised them that I would be back to visit them…I had no idea how important that statement would be as I continue to grow in my understanding of how to effectively serve in a short term mission.

They will always be my first love, and a part of our family…

Stuck in a Rut

I have a confession to make–I’ve been stuck. In a rut. A deep one.

The last few months have been filled with additional pressures and stress in both my work and home environments. It’s been a struggle to motivate myself to keep up with my training, and the consistent tossing and turning in the wee hours of the night have not helped.

In addition, I’ve been quietly trying to process how I was impacted by my experience in Malawi a few months ago. I was exposed to both situations of hope and desperation, and I have been unsure of my role as I returned to my regular life.

Some of those closest to me have asked why I have not shared many of the details of the trip. I haven’t been able to formulate an appropriate response. The truth is, I’ve been stuck.

A giant crowbar appeared over the weekend (metaphorically, of course!) and set me straight.

A friend of mine who has been an integral part of my short term mission journey shared an event that was taking place at her church on Sunday. The Watoto children’s choir, based in Uganda, was coming to perform. I was eager to attend, and revisit fond memories of the singing and dancing that was such an important part of worship while I was in Malawi.

As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. This ensemble is comprised of children and youth, some as young as six years old. They are currently on a cross Canada tour in support of their latest album. What makes this group very special is their common bond. They are children who have lost their parents, or live with mothers in vulnerable circumstances. Some are rescued when only days old, abandoned with no hope or future in sight.

The Watoto village was founded by Gary and Marilyn Skinner, who created a model where orphans could be cared for in a family environment instead of an institutional setting. They would be educated and work to break the cycle of poverty by growing into leaders of their generation. It’s an incredible model and story. I encourage you to read more on their website and follow them on their social media channels. They are touring until July, if you get the chance to see them it is something not to be missed!

Sitting in church, waiting for the performance to begin, I had goosebumps as I anticipated the joy I would feel as I heard their voices. From the very first notes, big tears started to run down my cheeks. And they would not stop. Looking at those bright, shining smiles full of joy I realized I was given the most incredible gift. In those faces, I saw hope and a future for those who were born into desperate circumstances. They shared personal stories as well, similar to many I had witnessed myself. During a couple of songs, video of the local communities where many of them had lived before coming to the Watoto village played on a screen in the background. The difference between both worlds is shocking, and I found myself back to the time  I visited similar communities.

When the performance was over, I was still very overwhelmed by the experience. As we waited to pick up a CD, I noticed the room that the children were in a room just up the stairs. I was not going to miss an opportunity to share with them the impact they had on me, and I scampered up the stairs.

I was once again overcome with emotion as I stood in their presence, and the words came tumbling out. The oldest member of the troupe in the room asked my name when I finished speaking, and then the most remarkable thing happened. He asked if he could give me a hug. Suddenly, through my tears and laughter, I was surrounded by the children, taking a moment to meet and chat with each of them and exchanging hugs. I thought my heart was about to burst! I thanked them again for the blessing they had given not just me, but everyone who had been sitting in church that morning.

The ride home was very quiet, as I continued to wrestle with the myriad of emotions coursing through my body. As the day unfolded, I read as much as I could find on the program and listened to their songs of worship again.

As the evening came, Rob and I sat quietly on the sofa and began a conversation that I could finally give a voice to. The need is overwhelming in these countries, and it’s so hard to know if you can even make a difference. Through our conversation, we discovered that there is a project we can partner with in Malawi that will have a positive impact on young children just like the ones we watched on stage earlier.

We’ll share more information in the near future, once we complete our research. And one day, I hope to visit Malawi again and hear about the hopes and dreams of those children. And my suitcase will be jam packed full of hugs!

 

Our First Adventure!

A few years before embarking on this journey, I had to make a heartbreaking decision to choose a new church family. I spent months researching and exploring the various communities to find one that would meet not only my needs, but be a place where my boys would feel comfortable and accepted. The transition to our new community was slow, as I had left many dear friends behind and the boys were still attending our other church on a fairly regular basis.

One of the main reasons I picked our new church home was the vibrant children and youth ministry program. As part of that program, a contingent of youth and adult chaperones would travel to a community on the Baja Peninsula and build a home for a deserving family during their March Break. We hadn’t been attending very long when the most recent post-trip video was shown during our worship service. Hard work, team building and the chance to share an experience with my children–count me in!

It turned out to be almost four years before we could make that trip a reality, but I was quick to sign us up once the opportunity arose. I had a bit of a hidden agenda, knowing that sharing such an experience would help us to integrate and connect with more of our new church family. Life after cancer had also sparked a “why not” mentality in my world; instead of a bucket list filled with items that may never happen, I now had a blank slate which was waiting to be filled as doors opened and occasions presented themselves.

At the initial meeting, we went around the room introducing ourselves and shared a bit of background about out motivation for deciding to commit to a trip like this. I was shocked and surprised to hear my son admit that he was there because I had informed him he was going! Although the admission brought laughter from the group, I realized that I needed to do a better job of communicating why I felt this trip was so important for us.

In the months that led up to our departure, the group met regularly to discuss not only logistics for the trip but prepare emotionally for what we would see and experience. I could sense that we were both forming relationships within the group, and I was eager to get going!

Before we knew it, the alarm clock went off at 3 a.m. on departure day. Bleary eyed but excited, the group drove to the airport and headed out. Our group leader, in spite of being one of the youngest adults on the team, handled the small bumps in our journey in stride. Before we knew it, we had landed in San Diego!

Collecting luggage, counting heads and loading rental vans was next on the agenda. I was very grateful for the experienced chaperones who seemed to know exactly what to do!

Crossing into Mexico for the first time was quite a surreal experience; I had driven across the U.S. border countless times, but sitting at the Tijuana crossing I could feel that this was going to be a completely different experience.

 

Our entry into the country was fairly uneventful, a few questions in Spanish that we did our best to answer so they could understand us and a quick baggage check and our convoy was on our way. Almost immediately past the border entry is the area often referred to as “no man’s land”. Seeing the walls and barbed wire was an immediate culture shock, reminding me that this was not a vacation but a trip with a purpose.

Soon enough, we were driving along the coast, jockeying for space to look out the windows and take pictures, trying to capture and take in all of this new scenery as we got closer to our destination in Ensenada.

I don’t think I could have predicted just how the next seven days were about to impact my life.