Living the Questions

Tijuana, Mexico: On Saturday, February 9, a group Adult Work Campers gathered in the Church of the Beatitudes parking lot at 5:00 Am to begin a several hour journey to Tijuana, Mexico. I loaded up my backpack, suitcase full of dreams, ever present camera along with Max McHugh and Curt Spotts to name a few and bleary eyed Curt drove off in our rented 15 passenger van first stop the San Diego Airport. By the time we got to Tijuana, Eperanza Mission site we were 44 people strong, ranging in age from 14 to late 70’s, male and female, hearty and healthy. We went down to Revolution and had our first night dinner out. Food and fellowship was great.

Each day we began with a breakfast delivered by our many short order cooks, variety designed omelets, French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham, oat meal, mush, and much more. Then we shared a time of praise as we did each morning. On our first full day, Sunday we had the several families joined us for a fiesta … people who had had homes built for them and those we were about to work for/with from the community over the years. You may want to ask Max about his day … What happens in Tijuana stays in Tijuana. Many were fed, and fellowship was contagious and fraternal. Those of us who were first timers … many friends were made. For those who have been going down for years friendships were renewed … Piñatas, soccer, singing, and multilingual conversations.

Monday we again began our day with breakfast and worship and began our work site experiences. The first day we dug out a foundation with picks, shovels, buckets and bodies. Oh my … what I might have paid for a backhoe and operator about 2:00 PM that first day. Tired, blistered and feeling my age along with everyone else we piled into our van for a ride home to our Esperanza Plaza. Our showers were abrupt, but food was devoured, I opened a good book, fell asleep in my chair and went early to bed. Oh my … it felt wonderful to crawl into my sleeping bag.

Up early, 6-ish, repetition and completion. Finished the foundation, laughing and slumped shouldered by 3:30 PM we went home. Bed by 8:30, asleep by 9:00 … Book, beans and rice, snoring, nothing kept this laborer from his appointed sleep.

We worked on Foundations, cement walls, blocks, digging, bucket passing, stacking and restacking dirt, stone, cement blocks, and more … painted community compost out-houses, ran jack-hammers, cement mixer, and much more … Hard physical labor can transport the mind and spirit at times as well as a brilliantly crafted phrase. Praise be to God for balance.

Some people tell the story of how they gave a person a fish and then gave the person the fishing pole and taught them to fish. This miracle is ever present across the landscape of Tijuana, Mexico …where ever Esperanza has placed its mark. Jesus must be proud to see his words take form in the hearts, minds and lives of the people … Curt thank you for your invitation and friendship … Max you can dance with the best of them. Ta-Ta for now! Ted