Ensenada - Day One : Welcome to the Dust
With a 5:00 a.m. Departure from LHC, everyone faced an early alarm call. Despite the crazy hour and the overwhelming humidity, the excitement of heading out on this much anticipated trip was enough adrenaline to get us all moving, at least until we could locate Starbucks at Newark Airport. We all looked quite the picture in our team (bright green) t-shirts (I will post pictures later), which incidentally led to several conversations with people who were intrigued by what we were all doing. An uneventful flight (which is the way I like them) was followed by our usual stop at “In and Out Burger”, although I am not convinced that they beat our local “Five Guys”.
For me though, the journey really begins with the drive down from San Diego into Mexico. This is my fourth trip, and each time I feel like my “eyes” open wider to the world that we encounter here in Ensenada.
The first time is almost overwhelming, you are pounded by so much that is new, challenging, stretching and disturbing that it can be hard to process, hard to see clearly. By the fourth visit I feel like my “vision” has grown accustomed to all that I face and, at least for me, I begin to see things more clearly. I will blog more on that through the week, and hopefully sew in the observations of many of the team who are here this week. But for today I would highlight two things:
Firstly, crossing the border you know you are entering a very different part of the world. I think what really hit me this time was the several miles of foreboding fences that have been installed between Mexico and the USA; it is such a powerful and very physical reinforcement of the stark divide between the lives of their respective people.
The other image that hits me, is the dust. America is green and lush, but once you cross the border, everything is brown, dry and dusty.
Yet I think the dust is so important. I know that through this week, as I walk through the dust, as I build in the dust, as I serve in the dust, it will be cleansing me. For it is in the dust that I see what is important, what has true value and what is worthless. It is in the dust that I have the privilege of witnessing new life. New life in our teams, as I see peoples lives being changed forever and new lives in our families as they are blessed by new relationships and a new home.
In the dust of Ensenada, I am reminded that God by the power of His Holy Spirit brings new life to the dust:
Genesis 2:7
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Glad you all made it to Ensenada safely. We will be praying for a safe, productive and cleansing trip. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you until you are back safely! May the Lord be with you; God Bless!
On a peronal note: (i) we will be at Red Bulls Stadium today to see of your English teams can carry the day — Red Bulls v Man City and Spurs v Sporting. It will be a hot one! (ii) I finished my inagural tri yesterday - I’ll be looking for company as I search out my next challenge. So, you better get in a run or two in the dust of Ensenada …
July 26th, 2010 at 8:54 am
A week full of great anticipation. Never the same as last year, a new family to serve, new construction challenges, new team dynamics, and then there’s the dry wall and spackling.
We wish you and the entire team a week full of blessings, answers to prayer and many pleasant surprises.