In November of 2023, our family went on their first mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico where we spent two days building a home with Homes of Hope. Homes of Hope is an initiative that focuses on building homes for families living in poverty in Tijuana, Mexico. Individuals, families, and groups come together to fundraise, build, and dedicate homes for those in need. Beyond providing shelter, Homes of Hope builds community relationships and personal connections. It also provides a safe place for these families to live which reduces sicknesses, teen pregnancy, and school drop-out rates. Being a part of this build changed all of our lives, and we decided to go back to YWAM to volunteer full-time. Crazy, I know.
In order to be "staff" (aka full-time volunteers at YWAM), you have to complete a Discipleship Training School (DTS). The school consists of a 3 month lecture phase followed by a 2 month outreach phase. The lecture phase is 50+ hours a week of class time, outreach, volunteer work, projects, and community building. The outreach phase typically takes place in another country where you do evangelism work and volunteer in the local communities.
To not only physically, but also mentally, be in a place where we could serve full-time, we chose to sell about 90% of everything we owned and moved into a 5th wheel. We then traveled across the United States and down into Mexico where we settled into San Antonio Del Mar just outside of Tijuana... but that's a very long story I'll tell another day!
We have officially been in Mexico and DTS for 3 weeks, and it has been both rewarding and exhausting. To be honest, some days I feel like this class is merely training young kids for burnout rather than rewarding mission work due to the amount of class time and work, but the truth is most of our classmates range from 17-24 and don't have any responsbilities other than this school. As a family, it is A LOT, and this season is proving to be very taxing. Balancing a family, homeschool, household responsibilities, and 50+ hours of work each week is a major feat, but we are working hard at maintaining balance and spending quality time together while doing so. I think we're doing a pretty decent job so far. It is insanely helpful that our entire class treats the kids as part of the team. They are welcomed in everything from class to social hangouts, and it is grately appreciated!
Travis and I both started our outreach work last week, and I think this is what we are the most excited about right now. Travis' group goes out on Mondays to connect with people on the streets of Tijuana. They invite them to Hope Zone, which is a project within YWAM that provides support for people facing challenges like homelessness and addiction. It creates a safe environment for healing and empowerment through counseling, life skills training, and community outreach, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Travis chose this "track" because he knew it would be the most challenging for him. I chose to take the media track, which teaches us storytelling through photos, videos, and varying forms of media. My group goes out on Thursdays with our cameras and a photo printer, and we literally connect with people by offering them a free photo of themselves. Watching people light up at the prospect of having their photo taken is heartwarming. It opens the door to incredible conversations, and each and every time someone chooses to share a little of their story I am so incredibly humbled. I can't wait to share more on this piece of my journey because to me it's such an interesting way to evangelize!!
The kids are absolutely loving it here so far. They have all helped with volunteer work around campus. We have had kitchen duty a few times, which includes dinner prep, cafeteria set-up, serving, and clean-up. We have also worked hard on clean-up around campus. Each one of the kids is so happy to be a part of the team, and they actually look forward to the work. They have also made good friends on campus. Weston and Gage have also had the opportunity to connect with local kids who come on campus for futbol on Thursday nights. La Industria, the ministry that brings the local kids on base, is incredible as well. They not only bring the kids to connect and play futbol, they also share the gospel with them and work very hard to make a lasting impact on their lives.
All in all, even in hard seasons, I truly believe God works all things for good. This season is busy and I feel like my patience is being tested on the faily, but I look forward to to seeing how God works in these next few months. Because I know good things are coming!!
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