.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...

.rain.

Although comparatively 'insignificant' in light of the tremendous tragedies in Haiti, but heavy rain storms in California and Baja have been hitting hard.

While the rains have been heavier in California, when rain comes to Ensenada.. it doesn't know where to go! We just aren't used to this type of rain! Cars stuck or stalled out, roads flooded, mudslides... not to mention all those folks with inadaquate housing.

As we scrambled to patch leaks here around the camp, I couldn't help but think of the many families who are without a shelter in the wet, wind, and cold. We can give away tarps and help where we can, but again, can't help feel a bit helpless...

Keep these folks in your prayers....

in Ensenada.... photo credit: Daniel Meza

check out my friends work here or here

.the square.

One of the reasons I love the square.

This was the welcoming I got at my home church, Wellington Square, when I returned in

January...