There is still much to be done, sanding down the walls, painting them, finishing of trim, the wiring, and finally cleaning. But we will work hard with the finishing line in sight.

This time we have been greatly honored by one of the the families, who are in the process of establishing a pig farm (which is also the location for one of the houses we are building). As a thank you they will be slaughtering and cooking a pig for us. This is an incredible gesture on their part and I know that all of us are humbled and intrigued by the meal that will be prepared for us.

In the afternoon once we are finished, we will be handing over the keys to the homes to the respective families. I have done this three times before, each time was moving, but I know today will be especially so.

I know for each of the teams, this time we have really had the opportunity to build up a relationship with our families. In a matter of five days we have been immersed into a part of their lives, a very exciting part for them. We have played with their children, worked alongside them and broken bread with them. I know that today above all days, will be very emotional, it will be wonderful to hand over the house but so tough to say goodbye. Lauren yesterday with the children constructed a sign post. On it they placed a series of signs, including one pointing to New Jersey (2800 miles) and London (5400 miles). While soon we will be far from these families, I don’t think that they will ever leave our hearts.

My prayer as we leave these three houses to their families is that they too will never forget us, and more importantly that they will never forget why. We do this so that they might know that God loves them and longs for a relationship with them. I pray that what is happening in this region through this ministry will lead to more and more coming to know Jesus, that a movement will be born and that soon, as it says in Acts, we will see that:

“Day after day, … from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

I am reminded of the story of Jackie Pullinger, who at 21 felt God call her to Hong Kong to work with the drug addicts, the prostitutes and gang members. 21 - unbelievable! Yet 44 years later she is still there, and God is using her in remarkable ways. I love the quote from her, she said:

‘God wants us to have soft hearts and hard feet. The trouble with so many of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.’ Christians should have hard feet in that they should be tough rather than morally weak or ‘wet’.

I think Rick and Tammie exemplify this challenge to us all so well. They put up with so much, and take on tough challenges, yet they have soft hearts, hearts that are filled with compassion. The toughness is in their feet, not their heart.

Here in Mexico we get the opportunity to see and experience those qualities first hand. Yet this approach to life should not be reserved for the Missionaries of this world. We are all called to serve. We are all called to live out God’s plan for our lives. However, if we have “soft feet and hard hearts”, we won’t hear God’s call, nor have the sacrificial toughness to execute the call. The world calls us constantly to the alluring path that is meant to be easy but is it?

Instead we all need “soft hearts and hard feet”. Surely following after God has to be the most exciting and fulfilling undertaking of our lives? Of course it will not always be the easiest path. It may involve difficult choices, and self sacrifice. But is it worth it? I leave that to you to decide.

In the afternoon each team worked hard, trying to get as much done in a few hours, and succeeded.  This was despite a strong breeze that turned our working environment into dust storm for most of the time.  Most of us have noticed that we come back from the worksite with our skin feeling “burnt” not by the sun, but by the constant flow of dust onto our skin.  I guess this is a perfect place for a cheap exfoliation, as well as cheap medication.  At the end of the day each team had got a roof fully on, sheet rock nearly completed, and are well positioned for the big push on Thursday.

One of the things I love to see through the week is people having a go at something that they have never done before.   As a result people have discovered new things about themselves, new talents and gifts, and sure they have also discovered sometimes that this is not for them.  But everyone has tried, and everyone has worked hard.  The “can do” attitude runs through the team for these five days on the work site and clearly anyone who comes to Mexico is prepared to get out of their comfort zone.

I think there is a danger of not continuing with that attitude for the other 360 days.  It is too easy to stay in our comfort zone.  We do what we think we are capable of new things or we don’t want to try for risk of failure.  My prayer is that we all embrace this “Mexico Building Site” attitude every day of the year ahead, knowing that this is exactly what God wants.  He see so much potential in all of us, and loves to see us walk and run, and when we fall over, He is there to pick us up.  He does not want us to try independently but to realize our potential with Him, through His power, accepting the promise of Jesus that:

… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

We are all here because a group of men were prepared to get up, and follow Jesus, and were then transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  They discovered their potential, new gifts, new talents and a new purpose.  Seems to me this is a great way to live your life?

See below some more photos from Dan’s Team, and Natalie one of the Ensenada Interns.

More Ensenada Photos

For me, my “picture” of the day was shortly after we had put up the internal walls, that divide the 20ft square house, into three rooms, creating one living room and two small bedrooms. Once completed the two young sisters in our family came into the house, and it was a delight to see them excitedly pointing out to each other “that is our bedroom!” (well I am pretty sure that it was they were saying!) A room of their own, where they can rest, and play, and call their own. To see such simple happiness and joy as a result of our efforts was magnificent!

Another highlight of the day for me was to play soccer with a number of the team, and the local kids. The pitch was beautifully flat, but again covered in dust and stones! Quite why Thomas thought he should try to slide tackle I will never know but it worked. Rob, Andrew & Richard blazed the trail for their respective sides, playing really well, although the English guy showed he still had what it takes! A lot of fun was had by all, and the local children had their moments of glory, and an evening to remember.

The delight of a child brings joy to all our hearts. They take life as it is, and it does not take a lot to bring a smile to their face. We have seen this each day with the families we are serving, with the children at VBS, and I am certain that we need to be more like them, less caught up in our complex view of the world, and instead rejoicing in who we are, knowing that we are loved.

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I want to take a moment to recognize our team that came out at the beginning of this year and helped build our new head quarters. For those of you that have been out here before, this places feels like the Ritz in comparison. For those of you that have not been here before, it won’t feel like the Ritz! But it is great to have everything in one place, to have showers that do more than spit at you, to be able to meet together with ease, this place is a huge blessing.

I will upload more photos later today but for now, here are a few from our site.

Ensenada Building Photos - Day 2

At each site we are presented with a 20ft square concrete slab.  All the wood, paint, sheetrock and other building materials are there.  Each of the team gathers on the slab, greets the family, and then we simply pray together and begin to work.

It is a joy to be part of a team where everyone plays their part.  No task is too simple or pointless because we all get the point, we all want to serve this family and provide them with a home.  Paul said “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”, each part matters, the house cannot be built if we don’t each play our part - measuring, cutting, painting, hammering, lifting, etc.

Because of that, every team made great progress today, you can see that from the many photos that can be found at the following link.  For all the progress and the sense of accomplishment that our success at building generated, for me the highlight was the family on our site (and I know that was true for the others).  Our family were there for the entire day, watching with such a sense of excitement that there home was being built.  They helped as they could, and then at the end of the day, with four walls up, but no roof, they walked through the doorway, and looked at their home as if it were a mansion.  It was deeply moving, and humbling.
Photos of Building Day One - Part 1

Photos of Building Day One - Part 2

The afternoon was ours to use as we wish and I appreciated the chance to just breath in, and prepare not just for the physical labor but more importantly for the emotional and spiritual challenge that I know the next week will present.

Building a home for a family is a wonderful thing; the sense of excitement as the house comes together is so precious.  But a week like this always goes so much deeper; it digs into our emotions, our thoughts, values, feelings and attitudes; it examines us and challenges us to determine what really matters.

Jesus asked those questions, and answered them with a remarkable perspective on what matters.  His first teaching went like this:

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
for they will inherit the whole earth.”

Here in Ensenada, I understand these words more clearly.  The week ahead of building, serving, living together in community will strip away the things that I all too easily “think” are important.  This week I know will dig deep into my soul and examine me, and I welcome it, I truly welcome it.

For me though, the journey really begins with the drive down from San Diego into Mexico. This is my fourth trip, and each time I feel like my “eyes” open wider to the world that we encounter here in Ensenada.

The first time is almost overwhelming, you are pounded by so much that is new, challenging, stretching and disturbing that it can be hard to process, hard to see clearly. By the fourth visit I feel like my “vision” has grown accustomed to all that I face and, at least for me, I begin to see things more clearly. I will blog more on that through the week, and hopefully sew in the observations of many of the team who are here this week. But for today I would highlight two things:

Firstly, crossing the border you know you are entering a very different part of the world. I think what really hit me this time was the several miles of foreboding fences that have been installed between Mexico and the USA; it is such a powerful and very physical reinforcement of the stark divide between the lives of their respective people.

The other image that hits me, is the dust. America is green and lush, but once you cross the border, everything is brown, dry and dusty.

Yet I think the dust is so important. I know that through this week, as I walk through the dust, as I build in the dust, as I serve in the dust, it will be cleansing me. For it is in the dust that I see what is important, what has true value and what is worthless. It is in the dust that I have the privilege of witnessing new life. New life in our teams, as I see peoples lives being changed forever and new lives in our families as they are blessed by new relationships and a new home.

In the dust of Ensenada, I am reminded that God by the power of His Holy Spirit brings new life to the dust:

Genesis 2:7
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

i started the morning going into Chatham High School to present “Straight Talk” with 1st Choice.  LOVE that ministry and what they are doing.  in b/t the two classes, had to run to the dentist for a cleaning, answer emails sitting the waiting room, and then ran to the office to get on with the day.

as soon as i got to LHC, LIFE2010 stuff is yelling for my attention, receipts need to be filled out, PBbk needs to prepped, my calendar for the week planned out, Bike to Build DVD’s to put together, etc etc etc…  to be honest…i’m frustrated at all that was/is on my plate.  i walked out side my office to collect my thoughts and went to one of my favorite places…pastor tims office!  when i got there, i realized my problem…there he was resting on his couch with the Word of God…and here i was running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

sometimes practicing what you preach is tough.  the day after i find myself struggling to focus.  thankful to work on staff that keeps Jesus 1st and spurs each other on to do that.  enough typing…time to go be with Jesus:)

enough reading…go be with Jesus…

When I think back over the last 9 months I remember how many times others asked me if I was ready to be a father and if I could believe it. I always answered the same way, that it would not hit me until I was holding him in my arms. Now that moment has come at last. It is all that I had hoped for, and more. As he lays here and sleeps in my arms, I am suddenly overwhelmed with the emotion of the moment. I love him more than words could express.

It is in this moment that God speaks to me the depth of His love for me. I recognize the love I have for Luke right now, and I realize that is the same love, even more so, that my heavenly Father has for me. No words could express that beautiful truth that this tiny life in my arms now reminds me.

I realize how much I long to simply rest in my Father’s arms like Luke is doing now. How great is His love for me, I cannot fully realize it and yet in this moment I understand it so much better now. Not only that but I long for it more and more, to be drawn close to the Father’s love as He holds me in His arms. what a beautiful picture of His love he has blessed me with, and an equally beautiful baby boy to go with it!

So now when I think about resting in my Father’s arms, I will have this beautiful picture to remind me of that amazing truth of how deep His love for me is….

about the end of august i always get the same “going back to school” feeling. it’s now been 11+ years since i’ve had to experience actually going into the high school, but i always have that feeling. i think it’s because as all our students get ready for a new year, so do we!

one of the blessings of youth ministry is knowing that september always brings a new start. i love that we take the end of summers off for LHCyouth vacation. it just leads to a great anticipation for what’s to come; there is this unspoken expectation that “GREAT things are in store for us this year.” It reminds me of 2 Cor 5:17 when Paul talks about how in Christ we are new creations.

one of the things about a new school year is starting fresh. there are all sorts of possibilities and learning experiences ahead. i wonder though, how often do we realize that the same is true in our spiritual journeys with Christ. everyday the possibilities of what God can show and teach us are endless…

i know for me, honestly, i tend try to “survive” the day like i tried to “survive” the last couple weeks of school until summer arrived. I don’t know that God ever intends us to be in survival mode, but rather that Psalm 5:3 attitude of expectation and excitement to see how He’s going to move.

time for me to start expecting:) do you ever feel like this? i’d love to hear! leave a comment~