About Us

In April 2013, I arrived in Milwaukie, Oregon after spending 3.5 years on the mission field in Northern Baja Mexico. Soon I discovered God's purpose in bringing me to Oregon...the homeless community.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Schools in Baja

(FIRST THINGS FIRST, thank you to all that are reading my blog and to those of you who are sending us support. Your timing in giving is perfect and much appreciated especially in this difficult economy. It brings me to tears to know that you are mindful of our needs and are praying for us and supporting us financially. We really could not stay here without your support. God Bless you.)

The school system is very different here in Baja. It closes down for rainy days and cancels class time for full days dedicated to the celebration of children, Mothers and other various celebrations.


Yesterday, the circus came to town, so school was only for 2 hours so the children could enjoy the circus. Here at the orphanage, the children stayed back because funding about 80 children for circus rides is a expensive.

Today, Mexico is playing Italy in a soccer game. People are staying home to watch the game. Older students, do not have school so they can watch the game. It all seems so strange and yet it's interesting to see how people here enjoy life as it comes instead of putting off celebration and coming together when they've finally finished their goals and plans. I rarely see any "putting off" here.
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I also visited Jesus' class at school the other day. What an eye opener. His classroom was very humble in appearance. Simply put it was a concrete room with one door and a couple of windows. No tile on the floor, just concrete. 30 or more unmatched, old desks for the children and a desk in front for the teacher. The teacher has no aide to help her, and I saw no visual aides on the walls. It didn't strike me as a very happy place to learn.

I went to Jesus' class to see if I could observe what a day in school in Mexico was like. I took a friend to help me translate. I was introduced to the teacher as Jesus' mother and the teacher was asked if I could observe Jesus in the classroom setting. I was quickly told "No." I was told that he would behave well if I was in the classroom. I think the teacher was trying to say it would make things worse for her when I wasn't there and that Jesus needed to behave without me being in the classroom. She proceeded to vent her frustrations with him in front of the entire class and made it clear to everyone that if Jesus would behave then they would have a good class. I could tell my presence was making things worse so I quickly opted to come back a little later when the teacher said I could meet with her.

When I met with the teacher later, the situation had completely turned a "180". I apologized to her and told her that I felt I had offended her. I told her that I had great appreciation for her position and only wanted to see how I could help her or Jesus in the classroom setting. She told me that she had not been offended and seemed quite surprised that I felt I needed to apologize. Nevertheless, we had a good conversation and a tiny bridge was built between Jesus' teacher and myself.

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