.moments.

i have these moments. these moments when everything seems surreal and right and spiritual and a whole whack of other emotions. i had a few of those this week...

This past week we had a special week at EOC.  We got to work on a house build project together as a whole staff. No teams. Just the staff.  The 'hired pros', the office staff, the kitchen folks, the interns, all of us!  We invited our family members, some pastors, and got to really live out community this week.  It was a beautiful thing. We ate phenomenal breakfasts served by various people during the week.  We savored incredible lunches prepared by Ana and her family (who conveniently happen to be neighbors to the family we were building for). We enjoyed working together for once... a first in EOC history.  It was really special for many of us. Alejandro shared before the build he'd be dreaming about this opportunity!  And Jose shared that he hopes this won't be the last of these types of builds!  

we laughed. we built. fast. we learned. we served. 

and we fell in love with the wonderful family we were building for.  Their story is rich and full of struggles, health issues, perseverance, joy, and smiles that is so full of love...  

So when we were dedicating the house on Thursday, I had one of those moments.  standing with my friends. from 3 nations. from different spaces and places. for one purpose. to love. so often, even here in the ministry we make it so much more complicated than that..

That evening we had a grand feast. my first american thanksgiving. in mexico. 

We invited staff, families, neighbors, pastors, friends... over 100 were there to celebrate. to bread break together. 

It was a night of abundance. joy. fullness.  diversity. community.

After watching the highlight video together of our week's work i had another moment.

Looking around the room, some faces i didn't know, some i only recognized, and others who i can now call real friends. these people were my family.

As the evening unfolded I had just finished saying farewell to Marisol, the young woman (and new friend) who we built the house for.   Then suddenly I see someone calling me over...

it was Christina.  Christina was part of the family I helped build a house for the very first time my youth group came down to Ensenada!  Over 5 years ago we met Christina and her mom and we built a home for her. She's now married, with two children.  I've been able to visit with her a few times since my return and she's always excited to see me. always telling me she's never forgotten us!  And so I sat with Christina, holding her newborn baby... and had yet another moment.  Who would have thought... over 5 years later I'd be sitting here holding Christina's newborn. Who would have thought... over 5 years later I'd be sitting among these people and calling it home...

.moments. that shake me. and remind me Im apart of something really cool...

and indeed I am thankful.

cheers

i raise my glass (of sangria?

to my friends & family who i got to serve and work alongside last week
to the teams of wellington and calvary
it was a pleasure to share this, my new home with you.

it was an emotional week. 
much laughing... 'remembering whens'... feeling safe... accepted... being challenged and challenging...worlds colliding...being inspired and humbled... knowing im in the right place... being encouraged and empowered... late night sleepovers & cigars with dear friend...trips to estero to debrief the day... moving beyond the surface... serving friends and family... grand reunions and tearful goodbyes...
im exhausted.
but what a fabulous week it was! 

.to be known.

this week has been a wonderful week! My church (wellington square) and 'sister church' (calvary) is here serving and building here at the EOC! It's so awesome to have familiar faces, to reunite with dear friends, to get to share my new home with people, to have people cheer you on, to know where the team you are working with has come from and is going back to.
what a privilege.
i realize this week how important it is to be known. to really be known.
how often in a day do we pass someone as say 'how are you?' only to keep walking without even hearing their response.
it's often because we are too busy, or too distracted. i can confess to both those excuses. and add in there some language barriers and you've got a recipe for some pretty surface conversations. you sometimes can't get to really knowing someone, or really being known among a community unless you take the time to really hear how someone is doing, to ask the good questions, or to stumble through some broken spanish to say more than just 'que pasa!?'.
these last few weeks I've been feeling that bridge is being built more and more. feeling more and more that I am here. i can be me. and people are learning who that is. i am being known.
this week in particular it's been incredible as i visit the work sites everyday how refreshing it is to have people, friends, mentors pull me aside and say, so how are you really?! hearing people who i hold in high regard encourage me... and tell me that I am where I am supposed to be.
i am blessed and proud to be apart of these two incredible communities where for this week they get to collide into a hilarious, meaningful encounter! I suspect it will be hard to have my team leave... good thing it's only wednesday.
for now, im off... to the hardware store.

Spanish Mike

Spanish Mike is back! For those who forgot or didn't see the original,
click on this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngRq82c8Baw


but here's a pretty funny follow up with Spanish Mike! (and yes, my spanish is getting a bit better. I hope to get as good as Spanish Mike someday....)

.a new normal.

Living down in Mexico is new for me, but also feels right and normal and like it always has been...

my new normal includes: 

...getting up and working by 8:00 (that hasn't happened in awhile)

...eating delicious tacos many times a week

...not understanding most of the conversations happening around me (but my spanish is slowly improving! im taking classes monday nights and my comprehension is getting better everyday!)

...living a 'rez kinda life' again, but the girls are awesome and wonderful housemates

.... experiencing new traditions (including smashing the birthday guy's face into his cake!)

..getting to type this on my/the camps new mac! woot!

...answering lots of questions and asking even more

...going to sleep tired and satisfied

so far, im liking this new normal.

.feels like i never left...

So it hasnt even been a full week and it feels good. and safe. and kinda like i never left.
So Sunday early-gross-am I made my way to travel from Buffalo to San Diego. To then meet up with Scott (and a team we were hosting) to drive down to Ensenada. I ended up getting a bonus 'catch up night' in San Diego due to the team we were meeting's flight got canceled to the next morning. It gave me a chance to survive the jet lag, lack of sleep, and also a chance to catch up with Scott on the ongoings of the camp since i left. And hey, i still get excited about staying in a hotel, so that was fun too.
When i made my way to the camp on Monday it immediately became familiar and it felt awesome to be back apart of this ministry and community. And i had to jump right back into things as we were hosting a team. Its still a much different change of pace than the summer, as the teams are smaller and things are quieter. I look forward to this 'off-season' life around here. really hoping it will give me a chance to enjoy new parts of my role, community, and Mexico.

I look forward to keeping you all updated on my adventures and random thoughts! first stops when in mexico.. poblanos & marios! :)

.goodbyes.

goodbyes suck.
tomorrow i head back to EOC after a 'furlough' visit in Canada. its been almost 2 months... visiting, connecting preparing, paperwork, sponser letters, celebrating, savouring...
its been wonderful and i am so blessed.
its hard leaving these people who know you. who love you. who you feel safe around.
i have amazing friends & family who drive me places, throw parties for me, give me financial support, cook me meals, take care of me when my wisdom teeth get taken out, laugh with me, pray with me. love me.

but.

its time.
its time to really start this next season of my life. the summer was a bit easier as i knew i was returning in a short while. but this time its really happening.
as life at EOC starts to pick up again, and we look to host our first team since the summer, the excitement builds too.
i know im ready to have purpose again and to offer what i can to this ministry.
and hey, the nice weather helps too!

i look forward to trying to keep all those who are interested and curious updated on my adventures.
it should be a good ride.