Baja Mission Project June 2-14
For additional pictures go to
http://livedifferent.com/private-trips/diocese-saskatoon-2012/details
June 14
No Pictures, bus trip back to San Diego.
June 13
Today was a packing day and a restful afternoon at the beach as we have a long bus journey tomorrow.
Cheryl & Joan
June 12
Today was the day that we went and bought furniture for both houses, we also bought two stoves and food for both kitchens. We left with the families the Diocesan donations and the gifts that were collected by parish members. It really was a great celebration and we spend quite a bit of time with the families for the dedications and home blessings. We did have some spare items that we have left with the centre to give out to other families in the area.
We hope to have a restful day tomorrow before we have the long bus ride back on Thursday to San Diego.
Cheryl & Joan
June 11
Today we did the finial touches.
At the first house last minute painting was completed, kitchen counter and other shelving finished and the shower was moved into place.
At the second house the counter was completed and painted. Other paint touch ups were done and a concrete wheelchair ramp was poured. The shower was moved into place and the outhouse needed to be leveled.
After lunch we went to see a mission built in the 1700 s. Unfortunately it is now in ruins. We also saw the local orphanage that often houses 800 children. Our leaders took us to see a local school and how the facilities change over the years from a single classroom to what we would consider a full school.
Cheryl & Joan
June 10
Today one of the families prepared a traditional Mexican breakfast for the whole group. It was made up of corn,chicken and optional fixings. This was done as a thank you, for us all. It was quite crowded with such a large group, but the meal was so delicious and the hospitality was so good no one noticed.
After breakfast at the first house we finished the roof, put windows in, built a kitchen counter and started the trim. At the second house we tarred & shingled the roof. People worked on shelving and window/door trim. They also managed to hang the door.
Today we also celebrate Paul's 93rd birthday. It is such a blessing for all of us to the spend this day with him. This is such a mile stone for him and such an inspiration to all. He is the oldest participant to come down with Absolute.
Today is Sunday and we look forward to Bishop David joining us tonight
Cheryl & Joan
June 9
Today was a busy day at both houses. The first house we tarred part of the roof, cut out the windows and then built and painted the inside wall. At the second house we sheeted the roof, built and painted the interior wall and counters.
Today is Maureen's birthday and our hosts are putting on a Mexican Buffet supper for us.
Joan and Cheryl
June 8
Both House are coming along well. Lots of painting on both the homes today. Lots of paint on the group as well.
Both groups managed to raise the roofs. We hope to put the roof coverings on tomorrow. We are getting lots of help from both families
Very hot ,so we have a few hours off to go to a local market and we hope to go to the Ocean to cool off afterwards. We have some in the group that have never seen the ocean.
Cheryl & Joan
June 7
On Thursday, June 7, we started early. Breakfast by 7 am and off to the construction sites. We split into 2 groups of 14, with each group assigned to building one of the houses. We are all learning to swing a hammer and express our artistic sides with a paintbrush. We are going out for supper tonight and are looking forward to continuing tomorrow.
Joan and Cheryl
June 6
We left San Diego about 8 am yesterday and it took half an hour to get through the border. We followed the coastal route for eight hours with numerous bathroom and snack breaks. Today we have had a tours of the local area and visited a school. Tonight we will be meeting our families for the first time. Tomorrow construction on the homes will begin.
Joan and Cheryl
June 5
We had 75-80 people at the service at the Catheral
We all arrived at at Saskatoon airport at 4am, a 2 hours lay over at Calgary and arrived at San Diago at 2pm ( Sask time) spent the afternoon at SeaPort village and Balboa Park.
As you can see the weather is cloudy & cool.. Good weather for travelling.
Joan & Cheryl
Here is another link that you can go to to follow the mission team.
http://livedifferent.com/private-trips/diocese-saskatoon-2012/details
Commissioning Service for the Mission Team
The Baja Mission team is making final preparations to leave for Mexico on June 4th. The commissioning service for the team will be held on Sunday (June 3rd) at 7:00 pm in St. John's Cathedral. Even though you may not be going to Mexico, plan to come out to the service to give prayer and spiritual support to the mission team.
The Baja Mission group is going to build two houses for two Mexican families. Here is a little information on the two families.
Angelica and her family
Angelica has three children, Victor (7), David (6) and Maria (5). Angelica works in the fields and makes about $50-60 per week. She also sells raffle tickets to help cover the medical bills the family incurred when David was run over by a water truck. While his one leg had to be amputated above the knee, David is an active boy like any boy his age is. They currently live with Angelica's mom and other extended family next-door to the property they own.
Antonio and Ana and their family
Antonio and Ana have two girls, Esmeralda (18) and Natividad (14) and one son, Jesus (17). They have owned and lived on their land for many years and currently live in a tiny concrete house with a small wood addition. Mom and Dad both work in the fields and make about $150 per week. Jesus has Down Syndrome so the girls coordinate their school schedule so that while one is in school in the morning, the other stays with Jesus and vice versa in the afternoons. On the weekends their daughters work at a market to help pay the bills.
The mission team will be sending photographs and news back every day so check this site every day to stay up to date on the progress of the work. Also, please pray every day for the mission team of 29 people who are going to Mexico and for the two families they are working with.
Loving Creator, it is your joy to call youth, women and men to serve you across the barriers of race and language and culture; equip the members of this diocese, that are representing us in Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico, with the skills necessary for this outreach project. As members of your church, may all we do at home and abroad, be a grateful response to your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory now and forever. Amen.
Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico
Guerrero, lies 175 miles south of the U.S. border crossing at San Ysidro/Tijuana, in the center of the San Quintin (pronounced kin-teen) Valley. Ocean breezes help provide a temperate climate in Vicente Guerrero, which lies three miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The San Quintin Valley is a primary agricultural hub with farms in the area growing such crops as tomatoes, strawberries, onions and other vegetables. Farm owners hire agricultural workers at about $9-10 per day to work the fields, and they provide ground on which the workers and their families “squat.” A majority of these farm workers have migrated from the Mexican mainland state of Oaxaca, purchased land and built makeshift shelters for their families
Share Article