Here we are....send us!

On the spur of the moment -- because the group needed someone with camera equipment and some photo-experience -- Claire and I spent the weekend with a Mission Team in Ensenada, Mexico.

I have to confess, I had NO idea what the nature of the trip was or even where Ensenada was located. I heard three things: Mexico, Mission, Camera....and started packing my suitcase! Wade was so gracious -- knowing my heart, he was the one who suggested Claire and I go as a Mother/Daughter trip.

Turns out, Ensenada is on the Baja Peninsula -- an 8 hour drive from Phoenix, just south of San Diego and Tijuana.

Welcoming us -- the sign says "Thank you for your visit. Welcome to Ensenada!

The mission in Ensenada was fairly simple: help finish the school being built at Rancho de Refugio and spend a day ministering to the people of Ojos Negroes.

Rancho de Refugio is a camp for Americans coming to the Ensenada area to serve. The grounds were breathtaking. The views awe-inspiring. The area just lovely.

A school has been built on the grounds of the ranch. The amazing multi-purpose building will serve the children that come into the area with their families to work. These families live simply in the barrios of Ojos Negroes with no access to schools for their children. Rancho de Refugio wants to change that. The school will offer a pilot program in July for the children. Pray that the resources needed to make this a successful venture are secured (they need desks, chairs, teachers!)!

Early morning view of the school as the coastal fog rolls in.

Wheelbarrows waiting for cement delivery -- so we can build a curb around the school!

Claire and I were ready to serve. We planned to work hard. We prayed to bless.

And of course, what happened? WE were blessed. Repeatedly. And taught so much. So very much.

Dan Simpson and his dog, Winnie.

Ivy Simpson working to smooth the concrete.

Our first lesson was about service -- and retirement. As Americans, we live in a society that believes we reach a certain age and should "retire". My dictionary defines retire as "to withdraw from action" or "to withdraw from one's occupation." But Dan and Ivy Simpson, the missionaries that run Rancho de Refugio, BEGAN their service in Mexico at 60 plus. They have been there for more than 11 years. This couple worked not just alongside us all weekend -- but twice as hard as most of us! They were amazing. And so inspiring. And definitely NOT retired!

The view from behind the ranch.

But our lessons didn't end with the Simpsons. Beth and Brad Bozer, former missionaries to Papua, New Guinea, spoke to our team on Saturday night.

At 20-something, with two toddlers and another on the way, Brad and Beth waded through swamps, crossed rivers and climbed hills to reach their new "home"with the Teti people of Papua, New Guinea.

The Teti tribe had only recently ceased practicing cannibalism. The teti tribe spoke a language that had no written form. The Bozers lived among them for six years before they could speak and understand the language well enough to share the Gospel. Six years. Can you imagine? The Bozers lived among them -- seeing the power of the Holy Spirit work among the people -- until they could develop a written alphabet and translate the entire Bible for them. More than 20 years.

Brad pointed to this scripture -- Mark 16:15 as a command from Jesus, rather than merely a suggestion. 

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Eager to get into the world after hearing Brad, we awoke Sunday ready to head to Ojos Negroes to meet the children. The weather was not cooperating and we feared our day would be cancelled. Claire could not hide her disappointment and so we had a prayer time that the weather would clear and our plans could move forward.

And the sun began to peek out encouraging us that it would eventually shine. We loaded the trucks and headed to the barrio.

When we reached the church, the sun was out and though chilly, it was a perfect day! (I have to add that the men had left us with the children while they went to repair a roof at the local police station. They reported that as soon as they lifted the first hammer, the sun appeared!)

The camera opened the door wide open for us. I snapped a few pictures and turned the camera so the children could see themselves. Within minutes, I heard "Hermana, Hermana." It took the little boy repeating this a few times for me to realize he was speaking to ME...calling me "Sister". Oh my goodness, my heart was smiling.

"Hermana, un photo!" And as I turned the children would ham it up; or grab their best friends and squeeze them tight; or look at me solemnly as if afraid to smile and then be eager for me to turn the camera for them to see themselves. It brought hours of enjoyment! (And a couple hundred photos of precious faces for me!)

Claire and three of the teenagers on our team were doing face painting for the children. The girls were using their various levels of Spanish to communicate. As they inquired what each child wanted, I observed (technically I was taking photos but it lent itself perfectly to observing!) the beautiful interaction. At first, the girls were struggling a bit but within minutes they had discerned enough language to communicate with these beautiful children. The kids were eager -- getting both cheeks painted, foreheads, arms, wrists and hands!

Claire painting faces.

And then they wanted to turn the tables...asking if they could paint Claire's face. It made me smile as I realized what an illustration of missionary work this made: Brad had told of telling the Tetis about Jesus and teaching them the Gospel only until he had enough Teti believers to teach the others. Then he allowed them to do the teaching. The children had the girls teach them how to paint faces....and then they picked up the brushes and began to paint the girls and each others.

Claire, Charissa and some of the beautiful children we worked with.

Our team in front of the Police station where the men repaired the roof.

The weekend was brief but the blessings were plentiful. I am ever thankful for the opportunity to serve and to learn from the willing hearts of so many. But perhaps for me, the biggest blessing was serving alongside my daughter, observing the lessons God taught her, the work He did through her and the joy she received from the entire experience.

Are you ready to go?

Not your typical Valentine...

The five oldest Shraders had an adventure this weekend (that means sweet Cate had to stay with Uncle Len...but he spoiled her rotten so we won't feel too badly for her!)...we drove down to Rocky Point, Mexico with our church, Christ's Church of the Valley, to build a house. Build a house!

I want to share so much of the details with you -- I do. And yet, I am at a complete loss as to how to begin. Me...at a complete loss for words! ha But I have pictures, and emotions, and if you'll excuse my rambling, I'll try to share about a weekend that left me feeling like a piece of taffy -- stretched, and pulled, and doubled in compassion, love, and faith!

We arrived in Rocky Point, Mexico Friday evening and were out at the site of our sweet new friends' home early Saturday morning. This is where Hector and Odelia and their little two-year-old Lesley were living. The Mexican government leases the land to them, and they are required to find the "house". No one in the barrio (neighborhood) has electricity or running water. A few have built outhouses for the bano (bathroom) but Hector and Odelia didn't even have that.

This is a shot of the next door neighbor's home. Our hearts were so torn -- we were excited to be helping this family but wanted to help all we came into contact with during the trip. The poverty level was so high -- and these are homes FOUR hours from our door. Only four hours.

Because this was a spur-of-the-moment trip (we jumped in last minute to fill some holes left by cancellations), we didn't have a good handle on what Benjamin would be able to do. He found tasks to help with in spite of a wheelchair that wouldn't drive on the sandy terrain. But his real strength, something we could not have done without, was the beautiful job he did of breaking the ice with the children who came to watch us work. His "tool belt" was full of "dulces" (sweets) and it didn't take long for that word to spread! He loved passing out candy to all the sweet children...and even made a special little friend, Ocedes, who seemed to have a fondness for him and kept wandering back to his side.

Mason was as usual, a worker bee! He tried his hand at everything from adding the fiber to the concrete (and a prayer for a strong foundation for the house!), to holding the boards steady while they were sawed in two, to overcoming his personal fear of heights and going up for some work on the roof! This kid even helped dig a five foot deep hole that Hector can now take the scrap materials from the house and build a bano!

Claire was also a hard-worker -- she tried her hand at every task imaginable but found her favorite to be building friendships! She was very worried about her limited knowledge of Spanish but soon discovered that love is easily conveyed! Her heart was touched as the young girls she befriended have so very little and yet were so happy!

Wade was excited to jump in wherever needed -- he poured the foundation, he built walls and yes, every first aid emergency fell to his expertise! Before we left, he spent time with the organizers of the mission we were working through to discuss plans for a medical mission trip! I will be excited to see how God uses the new passion he has given Wade for the people in Mexico!

As for me, my love for the people of Mexico is nothing new. Nor is my knowledge of the poverty level at which they live. My own "dulce tia" (sweet aunt) introduced me to that when I was 15 years old and she took me home with her to her mission field in Montemorelos, Mexico. I spent a month there that forever changed me. I promised those dear people that I would return. It took far longer than I ever imagined but this weekend, I felt like I was keeping my promise. I learned how to mix concrete (my shoulders are still aching), how to hammer a nail (Wade is delighted! He had tried and tried to teach me in the past!), I learned how to apply stucco (not nearly as easy as they make it look on HGTV!) and I learned most of this while being followed around by my own new amigo, Jorge, Hector's youngest hermano (brother). This little boy of "ocho anos" (eight years) was glued to my side because I always let him use his hammer! (Yes, I am a pushover in every language!!) And so, my favorite words became "Aqui, Jorge" and that sweet boy would go to town!!

But perhaps the biggest lesson I learned this weekend came from the mouth of this young mother who was getting a brand new home. I used my limited Spanish to ask her how she was -- "Como esta, Odelia?" And she smiled her beautiful smile and said, "Contento."

Oh Father, that I would learn to be contento. That would be the biggest blessing of all.