In the last few weeks I have helped build a house, participated in the Acts 1 YWAM conference, camped, and somehow had time to finish my bible studies through Numbers. It is hard to believe that the weeks are already adding up and I have now been here over a month.
Last weekend I helped build a house through the Homes of Hope program. It was started here in 1991 by the base directors Sean and Janet Lambert. It is a simple house concrete floor, and wood walls. However this house allows a family to get off of the ground and into a structure that will protect from the elements. The family was previously living in a shack with a dirt floor made with various pieces of wood and plastic banners that made up the roof. The construction site was twenty min from the base and only twenty or so minutes from the US border. In the distance, from the construction site, you can see the ocean and the resorts where people vacation. Hard to imagine that within an hour drive I can get to a resort, the US and a community of people who live without sufficient housing. The family consisted of a single Mom her teenage son and two younger children around the age of ten. In the month that I have been here there have been four houses built, all by different volunteers, people from the US, Canada, and New Zealand. I hope you guys will check out the website http://ywamsandiegobaja.org/homes-of-hope/ it gives more information, and some pictures and videos about the people’s lives that are being changed by receiving a house and those who are building it.
Last week there was also a conference here in Tijuana. YWAM LA, San Diego and Ensenada all came down to pray, worship and serve in Tijuana. I have not had a chance to experience a large YWAM event since 2010 when I was in Santiago Chile, and I was glad to be a part of it. Like the conference in Chile people from all over the world were in one place worshiping God. It is an amazing testament to the power of God.
When I left to come here I had a lot of people warn me about the dangers of coming to Mexico, especially Tijuana. Often times I think the news chooses to shine light on the negative press, the danger, drugs and evil that is here in Mexico. That is part of the story here, and I do not want to down play the severity of the problem. However there is another side to the story. I am living in a place where people care about each other, where people with little are ready to give in order to help there neighbors. Men and women who get up and work hard to try and give their family what they need. There is good news also coming out of Mexico and I am happy to report that we are a part of that good news! Please continue to pray for me and YWAM Tijuana. Pray that as a base we can continually look for how God wants us to serve the people here. Pray for my school for wisdom safety and strength. We are all overwhelmed at times with revelation and the amount of work that we chose to take on.
Here I am reminded every day how much I need God in my life, and how much I need people like you to pray for me and with me. God Bless
