Summer is long gone, but many of its memories still linger in the photos captured along the way. With school, AWANA and soccer practices in full swing, I'm hoping to get caught up on sharing about our summer, especially since so many Fall memories are in the making as we speak!
This summer, we had the incredible opportunity to take a road trip with our church to Ensenada, Mexico for five days to visit and serve our friends at Casa Esperanza, "House of Hope"- a community for single mothers and their children.
Passed the border and finally in Mexico!
Our fearless leader...
Tired girls...happy boys!
Our view of the coastline as we approach Ensenada...
We finally arrived at Casa Blanca...our Mexican "home" for the time we were here just miles away from our service site. The girls and I slept in the building on the left while the boys were on the right.
We were on a peninsula, so the view was amazing...
These tuna fisherman had their nets all along the coast...
The boys quickly figured out they could play four-square on the open concrete pad...it became a week long game and a chance to bond every night when we returned "home."
Each morning we would wake up and eat breakfast together as a team in the dining room...
After breakfast, we broke off for some quiet time with the Lord before driving to our service site. I had these two sweet girls with me for devotions every day while John took the boys. I loved the devotions put together for us by our church staff...every morning we talked about going, loving and serving. Cora wanted to write every word :)
...Here's a glimpse of our time at Casa Esperanza...
Listening to a Bible story told by another mom from our church...
Craft time!
Meeting new friends :)
Silly girl!
Rylee and Miss Janelle :)
(our youth pastor and friend)
Another friend...Miss Emily (a high schooler from our church who helped me SO much with the girls!)
(or as Rylee says - "Miss Em-o-lee")
The boys helped repair bikes all week...and then rode them with their new friends :)
And we painted the outside walls...Miami Spice!
(that was the name of the paint color that we have embedded in our clothes to this day)
Rylee helped me stain the wood stiding...I think she had a brown hand for weeks :)
Bubbles were a HIT!
The playground was a place where friends were made too.
Fun on a slide speaks a universal language of love!
After visiting their church on Sunday, we ended our trip with a visit to the Ensenada beach with the mothers and kids of Casa Esperanza...
Saying goodbye is always so hard...even if you've only known each other for a few days. A person's story lingers with your heart even when you're miles away. This brave mother of six leads worship for her church, with her oldest daughter. We are honored to have been asked to pray for them daily, and the bracelet I wear from our trip reminds me to do just that.
Back at Casa Blanca, we packed our bags to return home...we processed the way God had stirred our hearts and prayed we'd remain "stirred," going back different than the way we came.
...I learned many things on our "Road Trip" to Ensenada, Mexico...
I learned that kids can minister to hearts of all ages.
...and some friendships are formed young.
I learned that a little healthy competition can help boys bond, grow and learn that we're all very much the SAME, no matter which side of the border we live on...
I learned boys will be boys...no matter where you take them :)
And a girl's friends are very important...they help shape who they become!
...The girls...
...The boys...
I learned that people are people,
regardless of where they live,
the amount of money they have,
or what kind of stuff they own.
I learned that hospitality is more about the posture of the heart
than the taste of the food or appearance of the table.
We all came back changed and thankful...for another glimpse of His kingdom on earth!
Oh, how I love that post.... thank you for sharing!