This trip has been absolutely nothing like I had imagined in so many ways....... After traveling for two days from Canby to Baja California, we arrived at our destination (near Camalu) and everyone got out of the vans and truck......except me. I was paniced because I couldn't find my purse (with my passport, driver's license, debit card, over $200 in cash plus other ID's and things that I couldn't even remember). With tears in my eyes that I couldn't hold back, I climbed out of the van to come face to face with Mike "Miguel" Fink, the director of Go Missions To Mexico, the compound where we are staying. Brandon asked me what was wrong and I told him I couldn't find my purse....and our group formed a circle (with Mike) and prayed that it would be found. Mike went to his office along with Susan, Melissa, Robin, Ron and me. Mike and the girls got on the phones looking up international numbers for Chase Bank, Burger King (where we had lunch in Ensenada, the Ensenada police. The Spanish speakers, Mike, Susan and Melissa began making calls.....while I stood there in a daze. Mike told me that he hated to be the bearer of bad news, but chances were slim that I would ever see my purse again. I went to my room in the dorm area when the gals I was rooming with had already unpacked my luggage and set up my area and made my bed. Feeling pretty "low" I went to the kitchen (where I was supposed to be helping Pat and Geri prepare our first meal)....and Merry and Michelle Doty were taking my place and helping them......They told me that they had just prayed that God would protect my purse and it's contents. I went back to my room to unpack the rest of my things....and just a few minutes later I heard all this yelliing and clapping hands out in the dining room, so I stepped out of my room to see what was going on....and Mike, the director, had come over from his office and said the Ensenada Police had called back......retrieved my purse from Burger King.....and was holding it at a police substation in Ensenada. We were all hugging (and I was crying) and praising God. IT WAS A MIRACLE for sure!! It was on a Sat. and we couldn't pick it up intil Monday, so we were just praying that my passport and driver's license.....and the important things were in tact in my purse......We doubted the money would be there, but still we didn't doubt that God cares and can perform miracles. We had a great Sat. evening and Sunday was amazing at the little church in Triki where we are doing our work this week. I have never given a testimony in front of a group of people, but I gave a testimony in front of the whole church of sweet Mexican people AND our missions group....and Sayda translated for me.....and I read Prov. 3:5 & 6 in Spanish .....and I just felt on cloud "9" that night! The music was wonderful and the little Mexican girls dancing to the praises of God with their tamborines were like little angels......and the worshipers sitting in front of me praising God with all of their hearts.....well, I had tears in my eyes most of the evening while I sat there feeling God surrounding me. Brandon's message that night was amazing.....and the tamale dinner and love and fellowship that the Mexican folks lavished on us was like a dream. So much love and kindness and smiles just radiated from their happy faces. Well, Monday dawned and Greg Newman offered to drive me up to Ensenada (a great sacrifice beings it is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Camalu) along with Susan Dunfee (to translate for us) and PC came along, too. First we went to Burger King to thank them for holding my purse for the police to pick up.....then to the police station that they said had it.....That station said they didn't have it, but called around and found the station that had it.......We drove to where we thought they told us (by their directions) and that police station directed us back to a 3rd police station. Well, the third substation DID have it.....and as soon as we told them who we were, they seemed so excited to go to a filing cabinet in their little tiny office and unlock it.......and as he, the officer, was getting it out.....I saw it and started crying again! He (Antonio Gonzalez Lopez, the officer who went to Burger King and got my purse) brought it to the counter and had me open it and get everything out so he could write down what was in there, so I could sign papers that everything was there. EVERYTHING was there plus I had more cash than I realized I even brought with me..... and even my Fisherman's License was in there that I got when I first started going to Canby Christian Church six years ago!!....my most important license! The other policemen (Humberto Duran Duran and Ariel Carrillo Gastelum) on duty that day were all smiling and happy and fun and funny and we took pictures and hugged and laughed. The people at all three police stations were trying so hard to help us in every way.....and the officers that gave me my purse particularly melted any doubt I may have had in the honesty of the people of Baja in general.....in the Mexican fast food restaurant.....within the police department......and after meeting the people in the church and in the neighborhoods where we are evangeliziing. Today has been amazing in our evangelizing in Triki. Brandon pretty much covered our group in his blog, but I stood in amazement as the young gal accepted Christ right there with her little kids running around her yard.....and dogs wandering around, the sun beating down.....and God right there in our midst. While Sayda was praying with her, Rich and Brandon and I looked up and two white doves were flying over us. Whew..... I can't express each day's events and happenings in this blog because you may have already shut me down 20 lines back. I just sincerely and whole heartedly express my gratitude to God, my team buddies on this trip, the people of Baja......but mostly my God! Thank you, God. You are more than words can express!
My love to all of you who are praying for us (and everyone else, too!),
Sallie Palafox
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
An amazing day
I'm exhausted and ready for bed, but really want to share some of the events of this day. Oh, what a day!!!
The morning started off as usual, once we arrived in the community where we are serving we split into 2 different groups. One group that would be working on construction at the church - painting, rebar work and dismantling the pastor's old house, which is in the middle of the new church. The second group was to go into the community and do evangelism and prayer - door to door. The evangelism half was split further into 3 groups, each with their own translator and representatives from the local church. The group I was in consisted of myself, Rich Brubaker (my brother-in-law), Sallie Palafox, Sayda Wickman and our two church representatives - Gresellia and MariaElena.
We started at a house where there were 4 young children out in front. Gresellia who is a grandmother and probably 4 feet tall if I am generous, an indiginous woman from Oaxaca in southern Mexico was the leader of our group. Gresellia approached these children and discovered that they are left at home alone each day. Their father is an alchoholic and absent most of the time, their mother works all day in the fields and earns around $7 per day - which her husband takes and uses to fund his addiction. Sayda immediately jumped into the conversation and we spent probably the next 30 minutes visiting with these children. They are scared because they are left alone all day with nobody to watch over them, and they are worried about what might happen if their father came home while their mother is away. Sayda shared the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den and explained to them that even when they are alone, God is watching over them. We prayed with them as a group and then finished with Gresellia singing a song aided by her tamborine.
Over the next couple of hours we visited a few other people, had a couple men refuse to speak with us, but then came upon a young woman doing her laundry in her yard. Sayda quickly began talking with her. This woman, who was around 25 years old with small children, had so many questions. Sayda kept asking us to find a verse to answer this question, find a verse to answer the next question. Rich, who is a pastor in Eugene, got very involved in the conversation and even walked the woman through a prayer asking Jesus into her heart (translated through Sayda). This was certainly the highlight of our evangelism team's morning.
For lunch we were served another amazing lunch by the ladies in the church. These authentic Mexican meals are always such a highlight.
After lunch, we did a VBS for the children and there were around 200 children in attendance. Melissa, Geri and Susan do so much to make this successful, of course they couldn't do it without the help of the rest of our team. The best way that I could describe one of these VBS sessions is like trying to herd cats. But with God's help, they get it done.
At the same time that the VBS was happening, Sayda was leading a women's Bible study with about 20 women present. That grew from 12 yesterday. Sayda is an amazing teacher and really knows the Bible. She had these women captivated for 2 hours - she could have gone for hours more.
After dinner, we ended the day with a youth outreach. The youth of our church had put this together under the leadership of Geoff Barrett and Adam Doty. Tonight was the second and final night of the youth outreach and it was a huge success. I got the pleasure of being able to attend both. I am so proud and amazed by the youth in our church. Adam put together a skit which we did a couple nights ago in the adult outreach and they did again today in the youth outreach - we will be doing this for our whole church family in the very near future - it will bring tears to your eyes and bring you to your feet with applause. After the skit, Adam explained what it meant and the importance of having a meaningful relationship with Jesus. This was followed by 2 testimonies (Chris Miller & Isaac Williams tonight, Conner Southerton & Sarah Vasnik last night). These kids are amazing and the things they have experienced in their lives really struck a chord with the kids in Mexico. Geoff finished up tonight's outreach speaking about training to win, whether in boxing, running or in our Christian walk. All our young adults were amazing.
I am so greatful to our entire team. We are working as a team and there have been no conflicts, which is amazing when there are 38 of us. Please keep us in your prayers. We still have a day and a half left of ministry. We are getting really tired, but Jesus and adrenalin are keeping us going.
In His Service,
Brandon Chase
The morning started off as usual, once we arrived in the community where we are serving we split into 2 different groups. One group that would be working on construction at the church - painting, rebar work and dismantling the pastor's old house, which is in the middle of the new church. The second group was to go into the community and do evangelism and prayer - door to door. The evangelism half was split further into 3 groups, each with their own translator and representatives from the local church. The group I was in consisted of myself, Rich Brubaker (my brother-in-law), Sallie Palafox, Sayda Wickman and our two church representatives - Gresellia and MariaElena.
We started at a house where there were 4 young children out in front. Gresellia who is a grandmother and probably 4 feet tall if I am generous, an indiginous woman from Oaxaca in southern Mexico was the leader of our group. Gresellia approached these children and discovered that they are left at home alone each day. Their father is an alchoholic and absent most of the time, their mother works all day in the fields and earns around $7 per day - which her husband takes and uses to fund his addiction. Sayda immediately jumped into the conversation and we spent probably the next 30 minutes visiting with these children. They are scared because they are left alone all day with nobody to watch over them, and they are worried about what might happen if their father came home while their mother is away. Sayda shared the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den and explained to them that even when they are alone, God is watching over them. We prayed with them as a group and then finished with Gresellia singing a song aided by her tamborine.
Over the next couple of hours we visited a few other people, had a couple men refuse to speak with us, but then came upon a young woman doing her laundry in her yard. Sayda quickly began talking with her. This woman, who was around 25 years old with small children, had so many questions. Sayda kept asking us to find a verse to answer this question, find a verse to answer the next question. Rich, who is a pastor in Eugene, got very involved in the conversation and even walked the woman through a prayer asking Jesus into her heart (translated through Sayda). This was certainly the highlight of our evangelism team's morning.
For lunch we were served another amazing lunch by the ladies in the church. These authentic Mexican meals are always such a highlight.
After lunch, we did a VBS for the children and there were around 200 children in attendance. Melissa, Geri and Susan do so much to make this successful, of course they couldn't do it without the help of the rest of our team. The best way that I could describe one of these VBS sessions is like trying to herd cats. But with God's help, they get it done.
At the same time that the VBS was happening, Sayda was leading a women's Bible study with about 20 women present. That grew from 12 yesterday. Sayda is an amazing teacher and really knows the Bible. She had these women captivated for 2 hours - she could have gone for hours more.
After dinner, we ended the day with a youth outreach. The youth of our church had put this together under the leadership of Geoff Barrett and Adam Doty. Tonight was the second and final night of the youth outreach and it was a huge success. I got the pleasure of being able to attend both. I am so proud and amazed by the youth in our church. Adam put together a skit which we did a couple nights ago in the adult outreach and they did again today in the youth outreach - we will be doing this for our whole church family in the very near future - it will bring tears to your eyes and bring you to your feet with applause. After the skit, Adam explained what it meant and the importance of having a meaningful relationship with Jesus. This was followed by 2 testimonies (Chris Miller & Isaac Williams tonight, Conner Southerton & Sarah Vasnik last night). These kids are amazing and the things they have experienced in their lives really struck a chord with the kids in Mexico. Geoff finished up tonight's outreach speaking about training to win, whether in boxing, running or in our Christian walk. All our young adults were amazing.
I am so greatful to our entire team. We are working as a team and there have been no conflicts, which is amazing when there are 38 of us. Please keep us in your prayers. We still have a day and a half left of ministry. We are getting really tired, but Jesus and adrenalin are keeping us going.
In His Service,
Brandon Chase
Friday's travels
Friday morning we woke up at 5am (yes...not much sleep!) and running on giddy adrenaline we rolled up our sleeping gear, got changed and I cooked our kids some eggs as we were not stopping for a couple hours for breakfast (but they hardly ate anything as there was others riding in our van with us and it was too much fun!). It was weird to arrive at that church while it was still dark and then leave again in darkness!
We enjoyed at beautiful drive with the sun comming up and arrived quickly at a resturant for breakfast-it was delicious!
After driving again for awhile we stopped at a rest stop and as we turned off the van smoke started pouring out of one side of the engine! We opened the hood and found that a rubber tube to the coolant had rubbed raw from all the driving and coolant was burning on the engine. Thankfully, we had lots of guys who know vehicles and they figured we would have to get new tubing. We decided to switch some of the car seats around into different vehicles so some guys could stay back and get a new tube while the rest of us continued on.
It was really fun to get into a different vehicle and sitting next to new people (we have had the chance to really chat and get to know others when we sit near them for a couple of hours-I LOVE IT!) Auston was sitting next to Mel for awhile and she shared some of her fun electronic toys...they "raised the roof" together.
Playing a fun game with mama to make hours go faster.
It was really fun to get into a different vehicle and sitting next to new people (we have had the chance to really chat and get to know others when we sit near them for a couple of hours-I LOVE IT!) Auston was sitting next to Mel for awhile and she shared some of her fun electronic toys...they "raised the roof" together.
At lunch we stopped again for an hour to eat and let everyone stretch or run around.
We found that even though we are trying to eat healthy we have found salads at fast food resturants that we can eat and fruit and even hardboiled eggs at rest stops...Auston loves his hardboiled eggs!
Too much driving, lack of sleep, excitement and siblings sitting too close=cat fight.
No I'm not kidding...Abbi and Jackson just started swinging at each other-if I wasn't their mother, I'm sure I would have found it funny. After they freaked out at each other I made Abbi get up and sit in a different row. I couldn't believe the way they acted-and over who knows what!
Right after their tiff...this is what we found...
Talk about exhausted!!
Going through (actually around) LA...traffic as the sun sets. A long day of driving.
We all met up at dinner with the team that stayed back to fix the van as we stopped for dinner. We were all getting to the exhaustion phase and I was feeling the "oh goodness was this a good decision to do this whole trip?" as we pulled into the church we were going to stay at around midnight.
It was a very long day. And I'm sure we were all REALLY glad to get unloaded and into bed as fast as possible. Thankfully, this evening the kids were out like a light!
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