.my mom.

IN MEMORY OF ADA ELGERSMA...

Saturday September 11 I received a phone call you never want to receive. “You better come home Rhonda. Your mom may not make it.” We had discovered just a month previous my mom had cancer. We knew it wasn’t likely going to be a hopeful prognosis. We’d just discovered days before that it was stage 4 breast cancer and had spread to various parts of her body. We were just accepting this news that my mom was on a journey to death, when an infection rushed her to an emergency surgery that changed the coarse of action. My family living in various parts of Canada, US, and Mexico rushed home in chance it was our last chance to say goodbye.

My mom did make it through the surgery okay, but her body was tired and her spirit was weary. She had been fighting and wrestling for years already - suffering from chronic arthritis pain that had essentially limited her mobility to her house. My mom told my dad she was ready to see her Maker. She was ready to go. We had precious moments of saying goodbyes, sitting with her, praying with her, laughing with her. We were ready to release her into a life of freedom... The doctor warned us although her spirit was ready her body may take some time to let go. We began to pray God would take her quickly and quietly so there would be no more suffering. God answered our prayers and took her home September 17. Mi mama es libre! My mom is free!

At the time I write this I am still recovering from the whirlwind of the last 10 days. Ups & downs, tears & joys, precious time with my family, experiencing emotions I never knew I had...It’s been exhausting but also been humbling to see the love, support and prayers from so many people - from old school friends, to church communities, to EOC partners and teams. What an amazing example of community. Thank you so much! I am sure I’ll be continuing to rely on you all as I walk through this process of grieving.

My mom was always proud of my work and ministry. She never got to witness my work first hand but always knew what was happening at the EOC and supported me faithfully. In honor of my mom, you can make a donation to my ministry with EOC YUGO. Help make an eternal difference in our broken world. Thank you for those who already have made a donation. I am completely humbled by the generosity of people in my life. Paying for flights, driving over an hour just to give me a hug, making yourself available, driving me places, feeding us, donations, prayers, emails... Its been an incredible outpouring of support. And I need it all more than ever, so thank you.

For more information/photos/tributes - you can go to www.cooperfuneralhome.ca (online condolences)

I will be returning to reconnect with my Mexico family for a few weeks. And then back to Ontario for most of October some previously planned visits to churches and partners. I am blessed to have such great communities of people all over the world who will be loving me along this journey...

.contrasts.

I feel like Im living a bit in contrasts these days...
alot of moments where i think to myself "well on one hand... but then again, on the other hand...."

Like how we wrapped up our our last of 9 weeks straight of teams, finishing up a long run of teams. Ending a season...
Then shortly after hosted the first ever local youth camp. Two houses built by local mexican youth.
The first steps in an amazing new chapter of the ministry. Starting a new season...

Another example, Im sad to see that our extended staff are leaving us, returning back to their homes. Our team of interns are wrapping up their time here and many have already left us. We had a team of 10 youth from Canada, US, and Mexico serving together - working hard behind the scenes, selflessly giving themselves to the ministry. What a gang they were! But aside from working together, we also lived together, played together, celebrated together, wrestled together. It's a beautiful thing really! It will be sad to see them all go. They bring so much joy to my days!
But this community thing can be exhausting! I'll be excited to have my own space... to not be accountable for 10 to 100 other people. Maybe just a handful will be nice for now. I'm ready to know that if there are dished in the sink, I can only blame myself... Im ready to be able to walk around the house in my pjs without someone walking in. I'm ready to answer a few less questions in the day...
But then how long will that peace and quiet turn to eery silence... or lonliness...
The contrast of embracing the quiet peace of the camp, but also missing the joy and activity of teams and visitors!

The contrast of knowing this is where I need and want to be right now, but that there are some things back 'home' in Ontario that are pulling upon my heart. Some difficult news from home regarding my mother's health is racing through my head, but for now, we wait... Wanting to enjoy this season of preparation and planning here in Mexico, but not sure where I should be and where...

The contrast of wrestling with personal finances... not really being able to get ahead and tackle those debts and get what I all need [want] .. but also still living in abundance and richness compared to the people I'm serving here in Mexico.

So many interesting contrasts.
But I suppose that's the beauty of life. ups and downs. pulls and pushes. changes. growing. stretching.
it's what keeps you awake, alive, fresh.
and to be grateful - content whatever the circumstances...

.another season.

Can ya even believe it? Another month has flown by and another summer season about to wrap up. 9 weeks straight of teams from all over the States & Canada. (And one more next week from Mexico!) Phew! It is with a little bit of a sigh of relief that the busy season is coming to an end. The early mornings, late nights, dishes to wash, questions to answer, lunches to pack, coffee to make, nails to hammer... it’s been a full summer!

But on the other hand you can never grow tired of seeing the keys being passed around for a new home, or the embrace of a child, or hearing testimonies of team members, or watching a team of interns work and serve hard. It’s a real joy and honor to get to be apart of all the activities, ministry, and community of this place.

Next week we are excited to launch our first ever Mexican Youth Camp! Due to the generosity of others, we have two houses sponsored to be built by local youth! We are excited to open this new chapter!

We have already begun planning, dreaming, and thinking ahead to the next season. Ideas on how to serve the teams, staff, and community better and more effectively. And really the ministry doesn’t stop.... maybe the pace changes, or the work of visiting teams slows down... but the needs of the people

here in Ensenada continue and so does our work.

But I won't complain when we get some vacation time at the end of August either. Woohoo!

Sleep is near my friends, sleep is near!

.small moments.

The other day at staff night/hang out time, we had to share our high & low, or rose & thorn of the week so far. It's always so great to have a chance to peek into how someone else is doing...as we can be working alongside one another but not have a chance to really connect.

Anyways, it was my turn and I was having the hardest time thinking of a high point. It wasn't b/c I had such a terrible week - there were a few tough moments as in any week really, but I just couldn't think of anything "worth sharing". I realized my highs were these simple, little moments throughout my week.

Things like

... laughing with Maddie (my hometown intern from Burlington. such a delight to have a face from home here again, serving together!) I think we were reminiscing about good ol' days with the youth. I laughed until I cried. Love those moments.

... translating at a house dedication. Thursdays when we hand the keys over to the house, the team has a chance to share words and blessings for the family. So we need to help translate... and I was the only kinda-sorts-bilingual one there. Although my spanish still require MUCH work, little feats like this are encouraging. Besides the family didn't speak very good spanish anyways (spoke a dialect from Oaxaca) so Im sure they were full of grace. And well, they nodded and smiled at the right times it seemed!

... my morning walk/run on the beach with Ana and Kim. as tough as that 5:45 alarm is, it does feel good to start the day off this way with dear friends.

... I got all goosebumpy introducing the intern team this past sunday -- all 10 of them! from 3 nations! So exciting to see more and more local youth wanting to help! To the point where Im having to turn some away! I was so proud to call out there names as they proudly wore there staff tee's... ready to serve! How inspiring they really are!

... playing and singing and laughing with Naomi. Scott and Ana's almost 3 year old girl is full of energy, character, and joy. It's a pleasure to be able to watch her grow and be apart of their family.

... meeting new friends. I got to spend some more time with some friends Diego & Selena these couple weeks and am excited to get to know them more and was blessed to partner with them in ministry this past week. They work in the Migrant Camp areas and it is so amazing to see how this community loves and respects them. Being around passionate, fun people is good

for my heart!

So those were some of the small 'roses' or "highs' of my week. Maybe not too mayn mountain top moments, but I'll take those rich, simple moments of love, joy, and community anyday.

By the way, my 'thorn' was when I was trying to fill the ketchup bottles up and the bag exploded all over me. again. It's definitely not my gift.

Enjoy those simple moments today.

.space.

So i've been thinking about the concept of space lately. Whether it physical space or mental head space or spiritual space...

I think it's one thing that I have wrestled and defined and redefined many times here. I live in community - 24-7. My house is located in the middle of the camp. My office is about 80 steps away from where I sleep. Sometimes the camp is filled with 200 other people sharing the same space as where I live and work. Currently Im living with 6 of my 'ninas' - 6 girls who are interning with EOC this summer (from canada, us, and mexico! it's actually quite beautiful!) My schedule often starts from 6am to 11pm with litle space to sometimes breathe or rest or stop. Then there are other times and seasons when the camp is empty and my world has so much space and time and it's a bit lonely.

Im not sure I've found that balance of space entirely yet. Using space wisely and intentionally... knowing when to pull out and read and pray and retreat. Or knowing when to step out and connect and seek out community. It's a tricky balance but an important one. We need physical, emotional, and spiritual space to recharge. But we also need community. Im learning I thrive most when I've found that balance.

We are just about half way through our summer run of teams. The biggest weeks still to come. We have a stacked team of interns and volunteers, we have full camps, and programs prepared. We are ready. I think (hope) I am too. This past week was a quite week and so I think Im geared up to serve these teams well. These weeks will be full in all senses of the word and in all forms of space - but I hope I will be intentional with my space these next two months - Enjoying the joys of community and busyness of the season, but also knowing when to pull back and recharge.

Pastor Fransisco skips with some kids in his community.

Summer intern team 2010

Chapel reno fun!

.mas fotos.

...some photos as captured by camp photographer of one of our summer weeks...

.fotos.