#lookingforbeauty

I started doing something a couple years ago after we moved to the mission field in Mexico.  At the time I was feeling so overwhelmed.  I knew I had to stop and fix my eyes on Jesus and one way I found to do that was to look for things that were beautiful in my day-to-day life. I also found that if I took a picture of it I would probably remember it.  God prompted me to intentionally stop to recognize something beautiful so that I would remember His Goodness, His Greatness and His attention to detail.  And so I started #lookingforbeauty.  There have been times when I’m out for a walk that I’ve been so captivated by something beautiful, it literally takes my breath away.  In the beginning, the things that captured my attention were flowers and things in nature. (The lizards that run on their back legs get me every time.) But recently the moments that take my breath away are filled with women and children who I’ve grown to love. These also are the moments that I want to remember, the moments that give me hope… hope that keeps me doing the work God has called us to here in Mexico.

Sewing on paper

Recently we had a Master seamstress (Heidi Duncan) come and teach sewing classes to eight women in Tres Reyes.  From the first day I could sense their excitement and yet they were timid, and afraid to make mistakes!  As the class progressed, it was so great to see them shed their timidity and to see them laugh and encourage each other as they learned this new skill.  One hope we had for them as they learned this new skill was that mistakes do not have to hinder you or stop progress.  In fact, we learn from our mistakes – and we can learn how to fix them. 

We had no idea how the women would respond to the class.  We told them if they attended 5 sessions they would receive a small bag of sewing supplies.  We wondered, will they just show up for the 5 sessions and then be done?  Oh no. We were so surprised when they didn’t want to stop.  Every day (for 15 days) we had to be the ones to tell them it’s time to quit and go home.  They were like dry sponges….soaking up Heidi’s wisdom!  They did a crash course on basic sewing skills. Now they know how to repair their clothes and they are considering items they can make to sell to mission team guests. 

serger machine

For you to understand the impact of this class you need to know a little background information.  Last year we met with 30 women from Tres Reyes who shared openly about their lack of opportunity in Tres Reyes and their lack of education. Many of them struggle with low self-confidence and self-worth.  Fast forward to now when I see the beauty of these women and their smiling faces. I hear the sound of all of the machines working and the women busy sewing their bolsas (bags) with their names embroidered on the front.  And I see little Valentina running up to me to show me the Barbie dress her mother made her.  I find beauty in these moments.

As part of the classes we took the women on a field trip to the local fabric store. Since there isn’t one in Tres Reyes we had to drive.  (This in itself was a new experience for this group of women – to travel together in pursuit of fabric.) We showed them how to look for fabric, and other things they would need to sew for themselves.  Fabric stores can be intimidating and so we wanted to help them learn how to navigate purchasing items.  A wonderful thing happened along the way….the women laughed together, encouraged each other and community was built.

In Timothy Keller’s book: Generous Justice, he describes justice as a beautiful tapestry woven together.  “It becomes a tapestry when it’s woven over and under and around.  To do justice means to live in a way that generates a strong community where human beings can flourish – it means to go to places where the fabric of shalom has broken down, where the weaker members are falling through the fabric and repair it.  The only way to reweave & strengthen the fabric is by weaving yourself into it.  Reweaving shalom means to sacrificially thread, lace, and press your time, goods, power, and resources into the lives and needs of others.”

At the last class we wanted the women to know the reason Heidi came to teach them. We explained that it’s because she loves Jesus, that she donated her time and money - traveling to Mexico and bringing many supplies - all to teach them a new skill, so that they would feel empowered, and so they would know they have a God-given creative capacity.  One by one with tears in their eyes the women expressed their deep gratitude to Heidi for coming, for believing in them that they could learn and for teaching them a new skill that will help their family. 

fixing her husbands pants    -     women helping women -    learning to use an embroidery machine

50 Fun Things!

Last year I had an idea for how I wanted to celebrate turning 50.  Some people dread turning older and at times I’ve struggled with similar feelings.  But this year I wanted to embrace all that God had planned for me and celebrate the big & small things and recognize them as a series of gifts.  

So in January 2015 I began tracking the journey of 50 fun things.  I decided to take pictures cause let’s face it…..I forget things and I didn’t want to forget these moments.  Some things were big, some things were small, some things were planned, and some things were spontaneous. This is my journey and the pictures I took.  

#1 – Birthday dinner with Erick at Casa Rolandi in the Hotel Zone.  It’s one of our favorite restaurants in Cancun.  We know the Chef, Daniele Muller and his wife Yema both volunteer with Back2Back Ministries.  The chocolate molten lava cake which they call (Fondant) is amazing and one of my most favorite desserts!

Playa Delfines

#3 – I love adventures so Erick and Sarah Nace agreed to go with me to Puerto Morelos, which is a small fishing village south of Cancun.  We went in search of a book store that had both English & Spanish books.  I’ve been collecting books for the library at the Judy Morand Center of Hope in Tres Reyes. I actually found a book:  Ella Decidio ser Hippy a llos 50…She decided to be a Hippy at 50, which was so funny!  Puerto Morelos is a great place to explore.  It has fun little stores, great food, and a board walk.  On the beach that day they were having sand castle competitions.  The sand sculptures were amazing.

#4 – Birthday gifts. For those who know me, know that I love scented soap.  It’s probably because most of my time here in Mexico I feel like I am sweaty and smelly.  I typically don’t wear any perfume because I don’t want to attract anymore bug bites then I already do.  Thank you to my husband & friends who made me feel special.

Spontaneous staff lunch

#6 – I like to walk it helps relieve stress and often brings clarity.  I think that is because I use the time to worship, pray, and listen.  Sometimes I listen to podcasts to gain insight from Pastors and leadership principles.  Sometimes I turn everything off so it’s just me & God walking.  Quite often when I’m walking I will be “struck” by the beauty around me.  This was one of those days where I just had to stop and take a picture because the flowers were so beautiful.

#7 – Making my first paella ever!  I think it’s fun to try new recipes, explore new flavors, and try new things so I made paella.  Some people only put seafood into their paella but when I had it for the first time in Grand Rapids, MI the restaurant used chicken, chorizo, and shrimp.  I didn’t have any shrimp but the dish was bursting with smoky goodness from the paprika and the most expensive spice I’ve ever bought….saffron, spicy chorizo, and chicken full of flavor.

#8 – True confessions….a vitamin B12 shot may not exactly be fun.  However, it does provide the energy to do fun things.  So I included this picture to remind me to take care of myself in order to enjoy those moments God gives me.

#9 – Taking time to paint.  Before I moved onto the mission field I was a professional harpist and  I also liked to paint.  I sometimes can get so busy with the urgent things that need to get done that I don’t take time for creative pursuits.  So on this day I set aside time to paint.  Painting is one of those things that calms me.  I call this my blue period. 

#10 – Some friends from Michigan decided to leave the snow behind and visit me in sunny Mexico.  It was great to join them for a day to rest, relax, and laugh a lot.

#11 – My husband is truly a saint because he will watch food movies with me!  We watched “Thousand Foot Journey a drama that incorporates cooking into the story line…..love it! 

Coffee in my favorite mug!

#13 – I seriously love these children, they are from a community called Bonfil.  We had an educational field trip for them to experience Japan. They learned some Japanese words, facts about Japan, as well as learned how to make sushi.  We had tons of fun!

I'm so glad we still have fun together!

#15 – We returned to Puerto Morelos but this time we decided to find a nice spot on the beach and just relax.  I was so excited when I saw a Mariachi Band walking down the beach carrying their various instruments.  I was so surprised when I saw the man with the harp.  They came close to where we were seated and played for tips.  This was a fun surprise!

My favorite sushi

#17 – We were gearing up for a busy Spring schedule with mission teams so I decided to take advantage of a free day the week-end before and stayed in my PJ’s and read all day long!  

#18 – Loved, loved, loved having our children – Eliza & Nick, plus Eliza’s future husband Nate visit.  They were able to go to the community center in Tres Reyes and help with reading time.

#19 – Jeny’s quince años (15^th birthday party) we started working with Jeny’s family when she was 11.   She is one of Oti’s eight children, and at that time she had never gone to school and couldn't read or write.  The night of her party I reflected on how much she has changed and grown. I’m so thankful for the investment of Fabiola (her tutor) and Eloisa (Back2Back staff) who are making significant deposits into mentoring and coaching Jeny.

Flowers from my honey...just because

#21 – Marquesitas, street vendors, and Las Palapas in downtown Cancun.  Marquesitas are made with a thin waffle cone outer shell with your choice of toppings inside.  This one had Nutella, lechera (sweetened condensed milk) , and cheese...oh so good!

Water Spa!

 

#23 – Art day at the community center in Tres Reyes – we learned about the artist Kandinsky.  The children love to paint!

Playing relay games in Tres Reyes

#25 – We were in Nashville for Christian Alliance For Orphans Convention – We were downtown and saw a long line at a restaurant and thought it must be good so we joined the crowd and ate at Hot Hatty B’s Chicken.  It was a spontaneous fun night and to top it off right around the corner from Hatty B’s was a gluten free pastry shop!  Yum! 

Getting to see Eliza & Nick in Indiana

Eliza's graduation from IWU

#28 – Discovering Isla Blanca for the first time!  It’s an isolated beach and not overly crowded.  This happened to be on Mother’s Day and Erick, knowing that it would be a hard day because we weren’t with our children, told me that we could go wherever I wanted.  So we went exploring and found this wonderful spot, plus we found the best guacamole from a little shack on the beach!

2015 Staff retreat lunch

#30 – Before the summer teams arrived we had an excursion with staff & volunteers to Xcaret for the day.  We had a great time together but we were missing Elo, Samuel, and Mariana.

#31 – Summer Interns arrived and after a few days of training we had a fun day and took them snorkeling.  We took a water taxi to Isla Mujeres.  It was the best snorkeling I’ve experienced since moving to Mexico. We saw rainbow fish, eels, star fish, and so many more that I didn’t know the names.

Ellie, Anna, Jess, Abby, Vanessa, Me, Milan

#32 My first 4D movie experience! We watched Jurassic World.  The movie was just o.k. but the effects made it super fun!

Tina Lemmon & Me

#33 – Seeing part of a dream become a reality!  With the help of Sherri Filson and Daniel Zigler we created a wall mural for the community center in Tres Reyes.  Nada Es Imposible Con Dios…Nothing is Impossible With God.  This is the first day we started painting.

The finished wall

Face painting in La Jungla

Father/Daughter team

Shirley DiRuiter, Me, Sherri Filson

#36 – Shirley DiRuiter & Sherri Filson started meeting with me in the fall of 2014 to begin helping with the design plans for the community center in Tres Reyes & The Judy Morand Center of Hope.  We would Skype once a week.  I was so thankful for all the hours they both spent to help talk me through the process, to pray for me when I was overwhelmed, and to give sound advice.  This picture is when they both actually got to come to Cancun to walk through the final stages of planning.

#37 – We went back to Isla Blanca for a few hours of rest.  The sound of the ocean is so calming.

 

#38 – Erick & I broke away from a work day in Tres Reyes to walk to a local tienda and buy a Kick.  It’s the only soft drink I will drink and only get them once in a while.  It has ginsing & extra caffeine, and that day I needed a little Kick to keep me going! 

#39 – Erick & I went to Guatemala to meet with another ministry to learn more from them and how they do community development.  It was a great trip and we learned a lot.  One afternoon we were able to visit Antigua.  It’s a charming town full of history.  We stopped at a convent/monastery:  Santo Domingo.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.

#40 – We got together with friends from college when we were in Indiana.  It was so much fun to be together again.

#41 – my happy place: Isla Blanca - can't get enough of the beautiful colors I find in this place!

#42 A – The Back2Back Cancun Staff at the Judy Morand Center of Hope

#42 B - Dinner celebration at Casa Rolandi’s with the Morand family & their close friends following the dedication of the Judy Morand Center of Hope in Tres Reyes.
 

#43 – While we were in Antiqua we went to this little coffee shop and I had the best cup of coffee #Chemex

#44 – In search of flamingos.  We had heard from some people that a flock of flamingos were gathered and so we were off to see if we could catch a glimpse of them.  We never did see the flamingos but we had a wonderful time walking together on the beach!

#45 – Back in Grand Rapids, MI for meetings and we stopped at one of our favorite breakfast places – Wolfgang’s

#46 – Garrett’s popcorn in Chicago!

Mom & Dad in Michigan

 

Beautiful Fall colors in the Midwest

Our permanent resident cards!

#50 – In search of a bell....this time we found what we were looking for!  We wanted to buy a bell to go in the arch of the entry way at the community center in Tres Reyes.  So we went on a road trip to Valladolid, MX which is a couple hours away.  We found the bell at an outdoor antique store that felt like we were in the middle of the jungle.  There we so many treasures we found that day but I was so excited we found the perfect bell and had so much fun in the process.

So there it is....my 50 fun things. I'm so glad I have these pictures to cherish the memories from this past year. I definitely had many fun times.  John 10:10 reminds me that Jesus came for us to have abundant life....to rejoice and be glad (Phil 4:4) for the mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Blessings to you in 2016!