Politics! People! Pride! Poverty!

Well these have been a lot of the words going around on Facebook Pages lately all relating to the problems we are having locally! For over 20 years the migrant workers have been brought here to the Baja to pick fruits and vegetables and export them to the states and other places! Well I for one am tired of the drama!

I do not like to get into politics or debates about others rights since without God it is all temporary! BUT I just have to put in my two cents worth!

There have been so many comments and opinions and thoughts! These people are uneducated and they truly have no voice! Even if their salary was doubled and they only had to work 8 hours a day they would still only make $2 US an hour! I made more than that in 1982 when I started working at 12 years old in a restaurant! Yes land is cheaper here and building a house is cheaper here but the daily cost of living is not! It is the same as in the US or more for many things! SO how can you buy land or a house if you can not meet your daily needs!
How can they read the WORD of God to know they only TRUTH that will set them free, if they can not read?
The majority are no longer migrant they live here and this is their home. They may have been born here since many workers are so young and uneducated. Many were never registered since their parents were never registered! You can not apply for a birth certificate if your parents have no id! Which means no school, no future to get better, just a cycle of poverty!

I was once told by a person who has been coming to the Baja for years: "The poor you will have with you always!" Yes this is true but if you read the rest of it Jesus said to do something about it. That person returned back to their nice comfortable life while the poor were still poor! We have been sent to Camalu to change the poverty mentality, to help them see Jesus and depend on HIM!
The battle here is not physical poverty as much as spiritual poverty! If we can help one family a day? Give them a ride to doctors, bless them with rice and beans, diapers, or meet a practical need to show that Jesus is in the details, then they will see Jesus in us! We need to be contagious!

 PLEASE LET'S FOCUS ON THE ETERNAL NOT THE SEASONAL!

Mark 14:7The Message (MSG)

6-9 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial. And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.”

Gilberto at 12 took on the role of his mother when she died 3 years ago. Eva his sister has CP and he has two younger brothers. One who works in the fields with his dad, when there is work.

Canda takes care of her younger sister now that Domi has a baby to take care of. This means no more Jr. High for Canda just like it meant no school for Domi!

Domi and Jose holding Mari Estrella. Domi has Spina Bifida and recently had her leg cut off due to infection, then returned to the hospital with another infection. Her and Jose's smiles are contagious!

Eva's aunt who tries to help take care of her when she can. The bags are full of baby clothes for her new baby!

We met Juan's mom one day and we just happen to be given diapers in his size! He fell and broke his hips so he no longer walks.

Since Juan is non verbal I guess he would be saying Mom I am hungry!

 

Yes! They Made Wrong Choices!

The down and out getting on their feet! 
Why are they in this situation? Why are they down and out or just plain addicts? 
But for the grace of God go I!
These are children of God! Men He created for His glory and we are so thankful to be a part of their healing! It is amazing how God is allowing us to see their new walk! We have to remember the next generation has choices to make and lives to live and if we do not take interest in both generations all will be lost.
At first I was concerned with having people that use and or have used around our house with all the kids. However it has been amazing lessons for all of us. We had friends stop by yesterday and they are into door to door evangelism sharing with people trying to get them into their church. They just sit in amazement when they come because they have never learned that we are the body of Christ and we need to evangelize every moment of our life where ever God gives us the opportunity! 
Pancho and Paulino sat around yesterday and read the word of God and Paulino taught him what it meant and the kids were around listening footing the ball on the patio. Armando the other day taught the kids how to play cards oh great! But they all were able to hear Paulino turn it into an evagelistic message as only he can do. 
Last night Paulino was able to share with a mother how her husband selling drugs is affecting her teenage daughter and her choices. 
Kids are like sponges they absorb it all so good or bad they are absorbing it we just want to bring them living water to absorb. Sharing the True Word with them and True Love! 

But let me run loose and free,
    celebrating God’s great work,
Every bone in my body laughing, singing, “God,
    there’s no one like you.
You put the down-and-out on their feet
    and protect the unprotected from bullies!”
Psalm 35:9-10 MSG

Walking On Water

This is the next generation! Are you praying for them? As we started out on our trip to Ensenada to pick up Pancho from the hospital we did not know what our day would bring! We had no gas and no cash. Then the phone rang and it was a mom needing to take her disabled daughter to the emergency in the opposite direction! SO stop everything I am on my way! When I got back we were on our way to Ensenada to pick up Pancho or so we thought! God had other plans. Someone had brought over $40US for gas, however last time we went up to import the truck it cost over $80 there and back. 

Paulino says lets go and put the wheel chair and the stroller in the back of the truck! Oh us of great faith just laughed knowing we may be walking when the truck runs out of gas! So off we go to the gas station and then on the side of the road we seen a couple hitch hicking with big back packs so we offered them a ride, they were also going to Ensenada. Amazing couple as we found out on their honeymoon back packing Mexico and then back to Sonora to the mountains to serve where no one will serve! Sata is a missionary kid and Fabian is a national! God has great plans for their lives! 

While driving in faith the phone rings and Paulinos cousin says Pancho is here at the house! So we pull over to the Oxxo and let them out and then turn around and head home! As we get closer and closer to home the car gets closer and closer to empty! Jesus says keep your eyes on me and walk or in this case drive! 

When we got home this couple came over Jesus and Gabriela! She says you do not remember me. I know your face but I can not figure it out until I went through some photos. Her daughter was born a year ago and we gave her some clothes and blankets. Her husband left her and she had two small boys and a brand new baby. One of the people in the little rental rooms took her in and asked us to help her. 

Jesus we met at the trash dump and found out he was from Los Angeles and had gotten himself deported. Our friend Jen who also lives in the Los Angeles Valley contacted his mom and brought us some clothes and such for him. She also brought money for a bus ticket to go where he has family but he did not want to go so back went the money. Well some how these two are now together and she is pregnant. Jesus is working at the recycling plant and taking care of her. 

We are so blessed to be able to serve God here Camalu but we understand the Holy Spirit is the only one who can bring fruit and change lives for ever! Please pray for the next generation! Same countries different worlds! 

If You Build It The Food Will Come

Fridady morning I received a facebook from Diane a wonderful sister in Christ! I was taking a shower and God wants you to build a food pantry! If you build it God will send the food!  Well lets pray then that we get the land behind our current land because truth is we have very limited space! A few hours later another message this one from Hermana Rosie I am bringing you money for food!  Steve and Stella a couple who helped us with our Christmas program have also been praying for where God wanted them to serve! When they told us they wanted to buy us the lot to use for ministry we were in shock!

Well as you can see the food pantry will also be a clothes closet so that the people no longer have to search for clothes out of a trash bag! There are so many people coming yesterday a woman came from the south with her daughter and did not have much clothes and had no idea how cold it was. We were able to bless them with a few clothes and blankets. However kids clothes and men's clothes are very hard to keep on hand. I have been told there are many clothes in the states waiting for us as soon as I get my Visa and Mexican drivers license! I can cross to get donations but God has big plans for each family he brings us! Not just physical needs but spiritual! They are thirsty and need Living Water!

Cerebral Palsy Cleft Pallet and a HUGE Smile!

Valerio and Paulino have been friends for many years and were just recently reconnected by God's amazing grace. God is blessing his family in so many ways and I thought I would share them with you as a form of saying please pray for the entire family they need Jesus!
 

These amazing women who I think are snow birds in AZ! Made quilts to warm the children of Camalu!

This is the first day I met Marely and her grandmother. We were asked by Barry (YWAM) Mexico adventures if we knew anyone across the highway who needed a house because they had a big group coming on a bus and had a house planned in that area and needed another.  So we contacted the pastors in that area and went to meet the family suggested however it was not their land so that did not work out. On the way to look for other families Paulino said let's stop by so you can meet Marely she is in the Eternal Anchor DayCare here in Camalu. She was introduced to Austin by Gume, our friends who also have a son with CP and who Jill brought a team to build the family a house. I was shown in to a small room with two queen size beds or maybe fulls and the just look bigger because they were wall to wall? There was Marely with no sheets on the bed wrapped in a blanket watching soap operas. She is 7 years old and was not sure who this woman was until she came out and seen Paulino, he picks up the kids for the day care and takes them home, except for her since she is on the other side of town. I asked the gramma who was watching her how many people sleep in this room. The gramma and grampa, their 14 year old daughter who we learned was given to them as a baby, and Marely and her mom who is deaf and mute.  

Currently the five of them are living with Marelys aunt and uncle (in the orange and brown) and their two daughters pictured here. The 14 year old and grandfather are not in this picture neither is Marely because she was asleep in her baby stroller she is 7 but wears 3T. Yesterday they came over to get clothes and blankets. I am given many XL and larger clothes and am always excited when I find people that can use them.

Everyone found clothes and blankets however the little Dora as I call her found herself a puppy and when I said oh I am sorry that is Gianna's and needs to stay here until you come and visit next time this is the look I got. 

Would you live on your land if you had a house there? Oh we have a house they said but it is too cold and Marely gets sick so fast. (I know this is true Eva just spent another week in the hospital.) The son is still living there by himself until it gets warmer. I went out and told Paulino can we see their house I think God brought us here! Off we went a few blocks away and this house is what we came to! Yes that is right adobe, people still live in adobe falling down houses!  Since the met Bill they have not downed the adobe to make room for the foundation to be layed for a new house! 

Maria who has Spina Bifida, her church is lending their building to house the day care until God provides a permanent place. You can see Marely's big smile she has had some surgery on her cleft pallet but still lacks the other surgery. 

  

As I told Marely's gramma if everyone in your home does not receive Jesus I will be shocked because He just keeps knocking on the door with amazing blessings! First Austin knocks on the door and offers daycare, then we knock on the door and offer a new home, then clothes and blankets, beans and rice! I wish I could offer sign language classes to Marely's mom but then who would she talk to? 

Please go and be the hands and feet of Jesus today! 

Little Old Lady From Pasadena

Ok ok she was from North Dakota! She had friends from Montana and other states too! It had been a crazy day and I had finally gotten most of the kids out of our house and we were now doing homework in sets of two. When the phone rang, which it had been doing all day. However this time it was a call of someone who wanted to bring this lovely group of ladies over to bless us with home made quilts!
When Armando came this morning we did not have a blanket to give him. All his stuff was left at the trash dump when he left including the sleeping bag we give them for winter.
I thought they would bring just a few quilts! No they brought many quilts and some were even for boys! That never happens!

So after saying good bye to the ladies this amazing woman who is love with Gianna says I have something in the car for you. Before I left for Mexico we had prayed God would show me who to give it to and I need to give it to you. Then she went and took $40 out of the car and put it in my hand as I was crying! It was very amazing how God gives you EXACTLY what you need! I do not like to borrow money but we had to borrow money to get our car insurance to register our car and here it was the next day exactly what we needed to pay back and a few pesos over to buy something to make for dinner. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Clothes Pins from Minnesota and Addicts in Bible College Disciplining the Youth

Wow Julian is listening to the word! This is a first, he usually goes the other way if he sees a white van and he will admit it. Two hours later wow Charmy is being invited over to Julian and Alejandra's house to see their stove! Julian has been a friend of Paulinos for many many years, we are trying to help their family get registered since his parents nor Alejandra's parents registered them they can not register their children. We try to bless them in any way we can like sharing seeds for them to grow and sale in their garden. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them, since Julian is so against listening to the Word! Yesterday to see him sitting their with his family really listening to Jose preach on Romans 12 I was so excited! On the right front of the photo is Miguel Angel in the orange shirt, Alejandra in the stripped pink and white, Julian in the flannel, Christian there 4 year old in from of them and Eva the 15 year old over by the truck with Gianna. 

Charmy has been working to perfect the rocket stove and haybox cooker so we can share it with the local families so they will have to use less firewood and not have to breath in smoke. 

When she was invited to Julian and Alejandra's their daughter Eva was with me and she said what? She was in as much shock as each of us!

So what do Clothes Pins from Minnesota and Addicts in Bible College Disciplining 12 Mexican Youth who's parents are from Canada, have in common? Pretty much nothing until yesterday. When ever we plan to do a big ministry outreach the enemy seems to come in with his usual. You are not good enough to do this , or wouldn't you rather raise your daughter in the states? Well yesterday was of course one of those days. The day before we had thought we would be doing outreach with a group from Minnesota when we realized it was not going to happen we were sad because we love there leader dearly! We had also gone to Eva's home to look at building a house, she was still in hospital and we were told their house is ok. At the same time the phone rang and my ride to the states for the weekend canceled! 
That night an amazing woman of God called and she said I know it is short notice but we are starting our discipleship program again! Her 12 kids, some of which are from here and Camalu and totally pour out their love on Jose when they see him, are being discipled by the students of a local Bible college.These students are made up of men who have gone the same road as Paulino and are now living in a full time Bible college.  Of course our house is 24/7 so it is never too late to plan an event. I asked what would they like to do, Jose would preach from Romans 12, and some wanted to go to the dump like they used to do with Paulino and in any other ways we would like them to serve.