TUESDAY IN MEXICO

Every morning we would go to Sala(morning devotion). There would be songs to sing and a brief Bible lesson and then prayer. At the mission, you can actually "check out" a kid to take to Sala with you. I know you are thinking that's crazy...that would never happen in the US. Barbara brought this beautiful little girl to Sala. She has a knack for entertaining children and keeping them quiet during church. The other sad thing about this place is that the Mexican government will tie up adoptions by Americans for 6 to 7 years just so they can make more money. I pray that God will change that or keep providing great places like this mission to care for the babies that the parents don't want.

If someone can help me figure out how to flip my pictures upright...that would be great. This was the morning ritual in the clinic. The entire medical staff would get together and pray and then we would sing Holy Ground, first in Spanish then in English. It was beautiful.

Ellie is actually a nurse at the clinic. She dressed up as a clown to entertain the kids and teach some much needed health education while the people waited in the line to see the Drs.

The sight outside of one of the clinic doors. How often do we complain about sitting in a comfortably air conditioned waiting room. (FYI- if my cardiologist was 3 hrs late to see me in the office because he was at the hospital taking care of another patient, that's fine with me. I'm thankful that we had the best Drs. doing everything they could for my dad and while I'm sorry if it inconvenienced some people, I'm glad they were at the hospital instead of at their office.)

the reception desk and the inside waiting room to see the internal medicine Drs. The translaters and staff had these blue shirts on which helped us all. Nora, the lady leaning over did all my scheduling and was such a help to me.

arent they a cute couple in their O. R. hats?

Bro. David, my church's minister of music, and his wife Tammy. Bro David helped Dr Mark and Mrs. Tammy was the "Pharmacist" for the week. It's also amazing how the people could get some ibuprofen and think it was a miracle drug and I myself take way too much for the smallest of aches and still complain.

MONDAY IN MEXICO

Michelle, 11, making dough and cooking tortillias for her family.

Fernanda was a sweetie, too. She brok my heart when she asked me to lay down with her so she could go to sleep. I looked over at Erika's bed and there were no sheets, just a mattress. They slept in the clothes they played in all day and then I saw them the next am wearing the same clothes. I just wanted to drive the 2 1/2 hour crazy drive to wal mart and buy these kids some more clothes and bottles of water to take baths with.

we babysat for the orphan kids so the house parents could have a break. It was a very long three hours. Erika was a pistol and great on the skateboard.
michelle and I bonded instantly. She spoke a little English.
Jeffrey playing tic tac toe with Michelle
We taught the kids how to play hop scotch
all Raul wanted to do was play in the mud

After the tour I had an afternoon to do massage. The first two clients spoke English. The last one did not. She was so gracious and thankful afterwards and kept saying God Bless you to me. I told her this was God giving her a blessing.

The mission has a fire rescue team and an ems team. Someone donated an ambulance to the mission, but the border patrol wouldnt let them into Mexico. So they got smart and took all the lights and sirens off and painted the ambulance like a hippy van, put surfboards on top and put the driver in a Hawaiian shirt. It rolled right over the border and is currently being repainted and put back together. one point for God minus one point for Satan!
no it's not a crazy farm...they produce macadamia nuts. (They are quite good by the way) It's a way they help to fund the mission. "Miss" Dorothy can make some really great snacks.

one of the sweet babies in "Miss Betty's" baby care house. Babies are brought to her usually because they have some kind of deformity requiring surgery or more medical care than the parents are willing or able to give. Does there look like she's anything, but precious?

a layout of the entire mission...it's quite big!

the prayer garden. they have figured out how to recycle the waste water to water the plants and grass.

we took a three hour tour of the mission...this is a daycare program for single moms who have to go out and work. The kids get their clothes washed while they play and they go home happy with clean clothes. I learned later this day how much of a gift that was.

Rocio, isn't she cute!

i couldnt resist!!

the back side of me in my scrubs sure looks like a tourist! or a really devoted Valdosta State fan...more like Georgia Bulldog fan!

the painting on the wall of the kitchen/dining area

SUNDAY IN MEXICO

I dont think you guys want to know everything about my trip. Plus, to tell you the truth, my journaling dwindled as the days went on and my body got more and more tired. (There will be lots of pics though.) I will say that this day was very interesting...seeing a different way of people worshipping God. Pastor Ken had an interpreter that truly translated Jesus! They did a baby dedication and they talked about the story of Hannah. It was so sweet. I had a small cryon the front row of the church(ofcourse) as I passed by a pic of my dad in my Bible. I so deeply want to have the hole in my heart filled so the sorrow will go away. The irony is that my dad would be the one I would cry to and would give me the "it's gonna be okay" speech. Barbara Jordan was sitting next to me and has lost both of her parents. She gently touched my arm and sent me some love. We ended up having a good talk about loss later in the week.

Allison helped me in the afternoons. I wanted to wash the people's feet that I worked on. The mission is a bunch of dirt. The people's feet are very dirty. I can imagine this is what it was like when Jesus lived. I believe foot washing is a humbling act and a true act of service. I wanted the people I worked on to know I was there only because of God.

my massage room for the week. It was humbling all by itself. I am so thankful for carpet and air conditioning. I am very blessed to have my office and want everyone to know that I know I am blessed.

Marcia and Becky getting the Operating Room ready

Brad's exam room

the back side of our living quarters

there were beautiful flowers in the field next to our living quarters

the worship service on Sunday night

Yes there is pizza in Mexico and it was really good!

BLOG ISSUES

I'm having trouble posting pics and I want to do that to explain about my trip so bear with me until they are up. Until then, I will share a poem that was on a card my grandma just sent me. She continues to be such a blessing to me.

"Tough times don't last"
I said, "Lord, I can't take it!"
He said, "I'll see you through it."
I said, "But what if I fall down?"
He said, "I'll carry you."

I said, "My fears are many."
He said, "Trust Me alone."
I said, "But I'm discouraged"
He said, "I'll cheer you on"

I said, "These tough times hurt."
He said, "Please let me help-
Remember I love you."
I said, "Lord I accept you"


I can say this trip was a huge blessing. I know how much my Heavenly Father loves me. I am still sad and I still miss my dad, but I am going to try to focus on serving my creator. I realize the pain will never go away. It's just a part of me now and I accept that.

MEXICO OR BUST! (DAY 1)

We arrived at the church at 6am and left on a charter bus to ATL. We flew from Atlanta to San Diego and then drove 5 1/2 hours to Baja, Mexico. (We stopped at the last Wal Mart possible in Ensenada about halfway to buy as much as we could get in our 30 min time frame. my plane buddies, Robbie and Marcia Dixon

the lovely view out of my window

this picture made me think about God and how He created everything in His way and His time and it was good. It made me wonder how we could be so close to the beautiful clouds and wonder where Heaven is. I thought how neat it would be if my dad was hanging out right next to me.

i wish this pic loaded the correct way... just turn your head and realize how steep of a road this is! It's in Tijauana(sp). I was very glad that we were not going up it in our van.

Allison and Debbie Haluka were my van partners for the long and crazy!! drive to Baja.

very winding roads in and out of the mountains to get to Baja! scary!

my first taste of an authentic Mexcian taco. These folks didnt mess around.

Dr. Mark took his turn at chopping up the meat with a large knife...I think he should stick to delicate eye surgery.(hehe)

I'M HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm home and so thankful and blessed! More to come! Thanks to all who prayed! Love you!

MEXICO

Ok, here's all you need to know...or all I know about my trip to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. We will be in a little town called Vicente Guerrero. It has a population of 20,000. This is the mission statement from the Mission's website: www.ffhm.org
Foundation for His Ministry is a mission whose purpose is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. To this end we share and demonstrate God's love through the power of the Holy Spirit by meeting basic spiritual, physical and educational needs of those in Mexico and beyond. This will be done in such a way as to establish the Mission as a model of effective ministry for other parts of the world.
I will be doing massage on the people who work at the mission year round. The mission has a "nut house" as the city is a producer of macadamia nuts. They also have a nursery and an orphanage. I think I will be very humbled while there. I donated my dad's glasses to be given out while we are there. (I had 3 of mom's old glasses and 3 from my aunt Susie-I think my family is winning our own contest.) I am praying that I will appreciate the gift God has given me even more. I am praying that lives will be changed for God's glory. I am praying for my life to be changed or at the least my outlook on life. I am sure that I will have lots to post about when I get back. I will be back on Sunday Aug 3rd and wont have phone or internet from Sat July 26th until then. I'm gonna take a notebook to write on while I'm gone so you wont miss out!! (I'm sure that's what yall were hoping for!)