Final Good-byes
Trip Start
Jun 04, 2010
1
32
33
Trip End
Feb 08, 2011
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Sunday, February 6, 2011
This month it was held in Tijuana.
Samuels morning was spent flat out getting ready for the event, while I occupied the entire morning baking up tray after tray of chewy chocolate-chip cookies and cinnamon rolls for the expected 200 people to be present that afternoon. What fun!
Known as the "Cinderella of the Pacific", Ensenada is beautifully located on the coast, a little over an hours drive down the Baja peninsula from Tijuana. With it's warm, Mediterranean climate and beautiful setting, Ensenada has long been a favorite tourist destination - and Mexico's second most visited port-of-call for major cruise lines...also home to YWAM's southern most location in this state.
On two wonderful occasions we were able to join a group of friends in going down to visit this lovely place. Ensenada is widely known for it's famous Fish Tacos ... which at first held very little to no appeal for the pallet, and yet taking that first bite of such delicate infusions, completely melted away any prejudice to make it tantalizingly addictive...and oh-so-memorable.
Mmmm, inspired.
To add to all the incredible ministries that the Tijuana base is running and involved in, both Samuel and I loved the incredible opportunity to join in visiting the Juvenile Prison: the girls on Thursdays, the boys on Fridays. We had a grueling list of what we could and could not take, do or wear ... from a number of different common colours, to zero jewelery, bobby pins, or literally anything other than the specified clothing. But oh, it was wonderful!
Homes of Hope had built a little 'home' in the midst of the prison yard as a place to spend time with and reach out to a number of the 350-some convicted juveniles that were imprisoned there ...a sum of whom had already served 6+ years.
We would spend a lot of time singing together - with them always eager to learn new worship songs, or the English translation of them - as well as talking and encouraging them in their dreams, doing Bible studies and playing games.
They were beautiful.
Hearing snippets of their stories, seeing the pain in their eyes, the longing in their hearts - and their noble desires and dreams beyond the bars that presently held them, played havoc in tugging at my own heart strings. One of the girls wanted to start an orphanage...another wanted to work with troubled youth...and so the stories went as the girls shared their hearts with desires beyond themselves in reaching out to help others in need.
I myself was so inspired by them.
We truly have loved our time here in Tijuana.
From building Homes of Hope, helping with the childrens tutoring program, feeding the homeless, visiting the juvenile prison, walking amongst the prostitutes in the red light district ... to cooking up some great Mexican meals, helping with hospitality, baking for & running the cafe, all added to the countless maintenance jobs around the place ... we have both been kept very busy.
Once again we have been so blessed by all the incredible people here...loving the opportunity to get to know them and having the joy of being encouraged and inspired by them.
Good-byes never cease in tearing at our hearts. . .and yet we wouldn't ever take back these wonderful times shared -- our lives so much the richer for the experience.
