.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.

.catch up.

Well where to start! I have failed miserably on the blogging and updates! So much to catch up on! Letme just start by walking through a few highlights of the last several weeks! Then we can get a bit more personal...

* 29 houses have been built so far in 2010!

* We’ve hosted 18 visiting teams from all over the States & Canada who came to serve, build, and love.

* Over easter, we survived a week of facilitating and hosting over 250 campers & staff, 9 houses, and 5 other ministry activities! It was a crazy week but we were so impressed by the hard work and flexibility of the teams and staff! What an fruitful week it was for God’s Kingdom!

* It continued to be a rainier spring season than normal around here! There were several wet and cold building days; and many communities and field worker impacted by the unusual heavy rains. We are excited to be enjoying some sunny, clear skies these weeks!

* We experienced some of the tremors of the nearby earthquakes in Mexicali in April. Thankfully we weren’t affected by the quake. We pray for our brothers & sisters in Mexicali who suffered significant damage in their communities.

* Our fearless spring intern team of Jon, Travis, Thomas, Anahi, & Sandy continued to impress us with there passion, willingness, and hard work! Go team! Thanks for your dedication! We are excited for our summer interns to arrive in June!

* our staff team enjoyed a weekend camping trip to a local waterpark “Las Canadas”! About 40 of us, staff and families enjoyed great food, campfires, volleyball, laughter, play, and even some zipline adventures! It was great for us to have time together in fellowship and celebrate what God is doing among us! (header photo and below are some of the fearless who conquered the canopy tour/ziplines!

*we have been enjoying the change of pace here in these weeks post-spring teams/ pre-summer teams! We are busy programming the weeks, interviewing families, renovating the camp, and preparing the camp and our hearts for the busy summer season ahead! Some of our staff will also have some time of vacation, deputation (support raising) and traveling. We are especially excited for David & Kimyco as David recently received his visa and they have been enjoying some time in Fresno with Kimyco’s family!

* one of our hopes for this year has been to open up this place for more local events - especially local youth groups! Sandy, a Mexican young adult & the newest addition to our staff team, has been working on building those connections with local churches and youth pastors. We’ve hosted a few events and look forward to running a youth camp in August where local youth have the opportunity to build houses and serve in their very own communities! Please pray for this!

.wishful thinking.

This is exactly why I hate making goals or resolutions. B/c as you can see by my latest post, I have failed miserably.I suppose alot has happened in this last month or so of "blog silence"...but at the same time I feel I have nothing "new" to report that I am able to articulate...

Work wise we've been busy planning, preparing, and hosting small teams. I dig having small teams in - you get to know them, you get to journey with them, you get to be flexible and more 'organic'. And I suppose its less work too ;). We have a great team here at EOC. I am blessed. It's work sometimes, but really - what a beautiful team we are! Our latest interns are fabulous and it's definitely a different tone when you have all guy interns! Right now we are getting the camp ready for our spring run of teams! Including my very own home church - Wellington Square Youth team! That shall be all sorts of wonderful for my heart! Shortly followed by our biggest week of the year with over 230 people! Phew!

Trying to balance the various roles and jobs I have, the constant running list of things to do, enjoying the challenge of it all, but also just enjoying the quiet still moments. Ive been having some great conversations with Scott - my dear friend, leader, and partner in ministry. Talking about finding balance and ways to keep filled and protected.

One of the things that has been added to my plate but also has given me so much in return has been being apart of the Homes of Hope program. Visiting the families con mis amigos Juan & Ana is something I look forward to in my week! Its great to be reminded what we are all about. We being EOC... but also we being followers of Jesus. Taking time to care for people. Or just be with people. Be invited into their "homes", enjoy a fresh flour tortilla, and talk about their hopes and trials. Listen. Laugh.

Personally, continue to know this is where Im supposed to be. Even in the tough moments where my world feels so small. I am so grateful for the friendship of my dear sister Ana who continues to journey with me in all the ups and downs. Continues to ask the tough questions that I hate. Continues to push me to search deeper. Finding time and 'ganas'/desire to do this, to search has been hard sometimes. But God is full of grace.

this photo captures a bit of my beautiful community here. diverse in all sorts.

Lucy - dear new hermana. phenomenal camp administrator. woman extraordinaire

Ricardo - a true example of servanthood

John - one of my fantabulous interns. interns are amazing. we wouldn't be the same without them.

Marvin - Marvin was one of my first amigos aqui. We continue to work side by side often. Spending many days driving around - talking, laughing, or comfortable in the silence.

.relief.

This past weekend we were given the opportunity to put our love and words into action. As previously shared, the heavy rains impacted the local villages in huge ways - not being able to work, not being able to buy food, not haven't adequate housing... So we gathered some resources together, purchases some staple foods, blankets, and tarps, connected with our partnering pastors, and headed out to the communities to distribute some releif items. No agenda. No sermons. Just love. And action. The weekend was a powerful example of teamwork, servanthood, and Jesus. It was so humbling to be apart of this opportunity.

Stay tuned for a video, but for now, here's a few photos...