A Beautiful Sight to Behold

Yesterday, was our first "hotdog lunch" event for Dios Me Ve.  Anthony Pallante from Apple Valley brought a group of about 50 people from 5 different churches to La Mision.  Close to 23 of that group came with Anthony to Dios Me Ve to serve hotdogs, jump rope, paint faces, blow bubbles, paint over graffiti and anything else we could think of to convey to the people of the river colony that God sees them.  It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Five churches came together from Apple Valley, Big Bear and even Canada to serve in Mexico.  All of them had a heart to serve.  All of them served with joy and with smiles on their faces.  They jumped in where ever they could help and asking often if there was anything else they could do to serve.  My heart was touched as I'm sure the heart of God was also moved.  It was a beautiful sight to watch brothers and sisters in Christ preferring each other over themselves.  No one was demanding.  Everyone was flexible.  

We were blessed in many ways yesterday.  Before we ever arrived at the colony, we stopped close to the colony and got out of our cars for a minute or two.  I talked with two of the men that had come down in the group.  They asked me the story of how I became involved.  They asked me about the property and how much more did we need to finalize the purchase of the land.  I told them $337 dollars.  The smiled and said that they were pretty sure that the land would be payed off before they left, if not it would be coming.  As I continued to share what God was doing with the people here, one of the gentlemen excused himself.  When he returned he put a hand of cash in my hand.  With tears in his eyes he said that I didn't need to raise anymore money to pay off the property.  At that moment, the property had become PAID IN FULL.

When we arrived at the colony, everyone quickly started setting up for the even and I took about 10 people with me and my guide Mario to pass out tracks and fliers to remind people to come and get their lunch at Dios Me Ve.  Many of the people along the way recognized me and came out to great me with a hug.  The group with me were so great about smiling as they handed out fliers to people.  I could tell that God was touching their hearts as we walked around the colony inviting people to come for lunch.

When we returned, one of the people that was on the walk with me came and put $100 cash in my hand and said he really liked what he saw happening and wanted to contribute to the work that God was doing at the colony.  Throughout the day I had others coming up to me asking me if I had the property payed off yet.  They all were concerned that it was taken care of before they left.  

While we were preparing the hotdogs for lunch, Anthony and a couple that had come with him went for a walk and found the local school.  By the grace of God they talked with the principal of the school and asked if they could pray for the teachers.  The principal gave them permission!  They asked what the school needed and were told a roof and paint.  They continued to talk and by the time they left, the principal had agreed to let Anthony bring "the Jesus" movie and show it the school when he returned in June!!!  (That doesn't happen in Mexico; unless you have an AWESOME God working on your behalf.)

During the event I watched how well everyone worked together.  We had four churches from southern California, one church from Canada, two people from Hector's church in Ensenada, and three or so people from the colony all serving together. It made me so happy it was hard fighting the happy tears that kept coming to my eyes.

Another blessing we enjoyed during the event was the weather.  Once again we had rain predicted for the day and once again the weather was beautiful.  We started to have a few sprinkles as we were putting things away.  It was like God was reminding us that He controls the weather.

On our way back to La Mision, some of us in the group needed to stop at Costco to purchase some things.  Hector and Maribel took us there.  When we arrived, I told them I might as well start purchasing supplies for our next grocery/dispensa give away.  As I went to pay for the vegetable oil we were purchasing for dispensas, one of the people asked me how much it cost.  When I told him that it came to $57.00, he put cash in my hand.  God's goodness was almost more than I could stand and still there was more to come.

Once in the parking lot, another person came up to Hector and I.  They said they could leave with out contributing to the work God was doing through Dios Me Ve.  Again, a hand full of cash was put in Hector's hand while saying it was for the ministry we were doing down here.  

In closing, I'd like to end with a song I grew up singing as a little girl in church....
"I keep falling in love with Him, over and over and over and over again.  I keep falling in love with Him, over and over and over and over again.  He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by.  Oh what a love between my LORD and I.  I keep falling in love with Him, over and over and over and over again."

Showing Verses Telling

What a blessed day we had today at Dios Me Ve.  Again, we didn't announce our coming believing that those who were really in the  greatest need would be the ones to remember.  It was a smart move.  We had one older gentlemen walk 15 blocks to get his groceries and asked for me to take his picture.  It was very, very cold and windy today, so the people that waited for food were very needing to endure such cold weather.

I haven't counted, but I could honestly say that I've taken 200+ pictures of kids with friends, families, and babies. It has been a great "ice breaker" for me with my limited Spanish.  It's been fun trying to find creative ways for me to show God's love since talking about God's love is very difficult at this time.  But, it has served me well in reaching out to others.  What I mean is, it has forced me to SHOW the love of God through kind acts, lots and lots of smiles and even some hugs.  When I started taking pictures, some people loved it and some weren't quite sure.  Now, when I show up, people start asking me to take their pictures.  It has given me a great way to interact with my new friends.  

Another way I've tried to interact with people is through the making of beanies, or knitted caps.  Since it gets so cold at night and in the morning, I knew I needed to get beanies for keeping the people in the colony warm.  They've always been grateful for any beanies I could bring them, but then after a while I started to think, "what if I teach them how to make their own?"

A few months back, a my dear friend Kate Logan brought me several hat looms and yarn.  We started teaching the girls in the orphanage how to make them.  Although it was fun for the girls, it was difficult for them to find the time to make them while they still had homework to do after school.  So, two weeks ago I started to teach one lady, Rebecca, how to knit a hat while many other ladies watched and were very interested.  I told Rebecca that if she came back today, (two weeks later) that I would have more yarn for her to make another hat.

At first, I thought that Rebecca was going to be a "no-show".  About an hour after we started distributing groceries she came with her hat almost completed.  She asked for help with the last step and again many ladies were watching.  Then, I went to my car and came back with a bag of yarn for Rebecca to pick out for her next hat.  I looked around and there were about 10 ladies watching us.  After Rebecca picked out her next color of yarn for her next hat, I asked another lady to do the same.  Then, I introduced her to Rebecca as her new student.  Then another lady as Rebecca's second student.  We had a great time and many smiles were shared.

I also found out something good about the property we're purchasing.  We were concerned, but took the risk anyhow.  When we purchased the first property it was explained to us that the government would come by to make sure someone was living on the property.  They usually come by and mark the houses with stickers to show that it's occupied.  Hector recently spoke with someone from the government and told the official that we we're going to live on the property.  He told them how were just wanted to help the people in the area by providing food and clothing.  He was told not to worry.  They would mark the posts that we put around the boundary of the property.  Today, when we came, we saw stickers from the government on our posts.  According to the official, we shouldn't have any problems doing what we're doing. 

A Little Different Approach

Last Sunday we tried something a little different when coming to the river colony.  Instead of driving through the entire neighborhood letting people know that we were on our way, we decided to go the shortest way, straight to the lot. The reason was because we have been coming at the same time and the same place for quite some time.  We wanted to meet the needs of those most in need.  Everyone in the colony definitely needs food, clothes, blankets and shoes.  Some have very little, but some have nothing.

It was interesting to see that once again we had new people coming and some "no-shows".  Many of the older children did not come this time.  We think that maybe they were at the local carnival.  I learned that admission is free to the carnivals in Mexico.  I have a hard time imagining going to the carnival just to watch and not be able to go on the rides or have money to buy food, but I guess it's an outlet for the kids.

As we continued giving out the bags of food, we noticed how long some had been standing in line.  It was a longer wait this time, because Maribel and I were trying to document all the shoe sizes represented.  Some waited in line over an hour and some close to two hours.  As they patiently waited, I got an idea.  I went to my car and pulled out my loom for making beanies and began making a beanie in front of the people waiting.  After a while, I asked one lady if she'd like to learn how to make one.  I told her she could learn to make them for her family and then if she really enjoyed it, maybe she could make them to sell at the market.  Her name was Rebecca and she was very interested.  As we knitted our beanies, little by little other ladies began to express interest.  So, it looks like in two weeks, I'll be starting my first knitting class.

Please pray that I can continue to find ways to build relationship with these people.  Pray also that God will give us creative ways to genuinely help them.  We don't want to just give them things.  People before us, show up once with food or things and then are never to be seen again.  We have learned through talking with people the importance of building relationship.  When well intentioned people come and go, it leaves a bad feeling with the people that they were just trying to reach out to.  We've learned that some people are wondering what they did so wrong that people don't return.  They feel as if they made someone angry with them.  

The best thing that we've done so far is that we have been faithful.  It sends an entirely different message when you keep coming back.  It doesn't even matter if we have something to give, but a smile or a hug.  We've got their attention for the simple fact that we keep returning.  They're asking us why we keep coming.  Why aren't we charging them for food.  They don't understand yet that it's the love of God that compels us to return to them. 

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

This last Sunday, Hector, Maribel and I walked the entire river portion of area 89.  It had rained for two days previous and was very cold.  Due to the weather, almost everyone was in their house.  One of the few people we talked to was our new neighbor to our property.  He asked Hector if we needed any help with working on the property.  Hector explained that we had no money to pay him for his work.  That was fine with the man.  He just wanted to help.  

As we walked further on, Hector explained to me that the man had told him that he lived alone.  He had been very cold during the rains and he was trying to clean up the mud and water left from the rain before it happened again. 

I am still impressed with the character of the poor that I continue to meet.  Could it be that the things other than shelter, food and clothing; the things that we call "blessings" are the very things that keep us far from Kingdom living.  I continue to meet the most hospitable people I have ever met.  It is so easy to me to see why God is attracted to the poor.  If anyone has time for God, it's the poor.  If it's anyone that expresses thanks to God first and foremost; it's the poor.  

I know that the Bible says that we will always have the poor with us.  Some, after reading that, think "Why bother then?  If the poor are always going to be with us, then what is the point?"  Could it be that we need the poor in the world to teach us who have so much?  Think about this.  What about the poor Christian, that suffers everyday?  The ones that I've met look forward to their home in heaven much more than you and I do.  They appreciate the simplest of things; practical things and show no attitude of deserving anything.

I continue to be amazed at the love God has shown toward me.  His love and compassion keep compelling me to love others.  I find myself constantly thinking what can I sell so that others may have just their basic needs met.  Or I'm thinking much more often, "If all that I think is mine, is really on loan from God, then as His steward of His stuff....hmmmm."  It's like I've taken the purpose driven life to my "things".  I feel like if my "things" aren't serving a God's purpose, then they need to be given away to someone that could use them, or sold so that the money could be used in a better way.  I'm learning how little time I have for "things" and relationships are where I want to invest my time.