Weighing on my heart

I have something weighing on my heart and I'd like to share it with you all.  It is something that needs to be shared and acknowledged.
On Sunday, when I was at the outdoor market, I saw something I've never seen before.  I was standing outside, by a store selling herbs, spices and other things.  I noticed a man with a young boy, the boy did not look old enough for school yet.  The man was carrying a plastic bag, and in it I saw an onion.  I watched the man as he went through the garbage cans looking for food.  I was shocked and extremely saddened upon seeing this.  I quickly tried to think of what to do.  I didn't have much money with me, and I was afraid of being mobbed if I started handing out money.  Then I thought I could buy them some food, but there was no cooked food around for sale.  It was just ingredients, like dried peppers or cinnamon.  That wouldn't work!  I watched them as they continued to look for food and I felt like crying.  Never in my life have I been faced with a situation like this, and never had I had to go looking for food in a garbage can to feed myself or my children.  I know I am supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and yet when faced with it, I did not know what to do and did nothing.  Jesus said, "What you do for the least of these, you do for me", yet I failed to do anything.  The next day, I discussed what I had seen with Ray, the missionary here.  I asked him what I could do in the future.  He told me that this is not an infrequent thing in Tijuana or Mexico.  There are no soup kitchens here, or any place that will feed people that come in off the streets.  He suggested that I can start carrying fruit around with me when we go out.  That way I can give it to someone who needs it.  He also suggested that I have some 10 peso coins with me that I can discreetly give someone to buy a taco with.  I feel better having a plan now, but I still am burdened by that father and son whom I saw.  I am thankful that God opened my eyes to see them and notice their situation.  I hope the next time I encounter something like this, I will be ready and able to act.  There is a song that I've been listening to while preparing for and during my trip.  It is called Kings and Queens by Audio Adrenaline.  It says if not us, who will help the least of these?  They can become kings and queens.  I love the song and it has a great message.
I wanted to share this with you, so that you would be aware of it as well.

Two Weeks Already!

It's amazing to think that it's been two weeks already!  So much has happened.
Ok, on Saturday, the 19th, we went back to Ensenada and La Bufadora.  This time, we went on a boat ride around the bay of Ensenada.

Lying on the buoy sunbathing, is a sea lion.  

 More sea lions lying around!

 A crate being unloaded from a cargo ship.  Of course it's from China!

The Ensenada fish market.

Sunday was church, and I was happy to recognize two of the songs; How Great is Our God, and Forever.  After lunch, the group and I went out into Tijuana.  We went to Las Playas (the border fence) again, and the on to the Centro Cultural Tijuana, the cultural center.  I hadn't gotten to tour it yet.  I was very interesting and showed the history of Mexico as well as Tijuana.  Next we stopped at a market before going on to supper at a wonderful taco place.  I got an amazing loaded baked potato, which made this Iowa girl very happy!

 My potato

On Monday, I found out how to do laundry in Tijuana, you hang it to dry, and place your socks on the fence post, as seen below. 

 My socks drying on the fence.

After doing my laundry, I made another rug out of sheets.  This time, I used the material I'd tie dyed.  I think it turned out very nice, don't you?

 My new rug made out of tie dyed material.

The ladies from West Virginia and I have been doing more crafts all week and teaching the women.  Tomorrow, they will go back home, so I took a picture of the whole group of them.

The West Virginia Group

It's amazing how close you can get after just 10 days.  I'm really going to miss these women.  They have been so much fun and I've learned a lot from them!  I might have to go to West Virginia on my next trip!

I don't really have much else to report, so I'll sign off.  I was hearing some grumbling from the states about not having updated, so here you all go!  Take care!  

I'm so crafty!

On Monday night/Tuesday morning, the West Virginia group arrived at Deborah's House.  This group is a bunch of crafty ladies.  They came with many craft supplies and materials.  They've been teaching me, and the women at the shelter how to sew, quilt, knit and crochet all this week.
On Tuesday, I helped to teach one woman how to sew a baby blanket.
Wednesday, I crocheted a necklace and made earrings too.

 Here is a flower pin that one of the women that teaches sewing here made for me. 

 The earrings I made.

 My necklace I crocheted.

Supper Wednesday night.  It was toasted bread, with beans and cheese on it.  It was very good!

Yesterday, Thursday, I made a rug out of ripped up fabric.  I learned how to crochet it.  Mine didn't turn out very well though because it won't lie flat.  Oh well.  It's pretty.

 Our lunch yesterday was pork and cactus, beans, rice, veggies and pineapple.  The cactus was interesting, but cooked with some very spicy chilies.

 We also had some jicama for a snack.  It's a root of some kind.  Tasted kinda like a carrot.

 Here's the rug I made!

Yesterday, I also helped to tie dye some sheets to make more rugs with.  Today, we washed the excess dye out of them and are going to dye some more later. 

Today, I learned how to knit a scarf.  I've seen these around a lot, and they are very popular, and now I can make them myself.  Isn't it pretty?

 I've been having so much fun crafting with this group!  I love to do crafts, but don't have time or don't know now.  Now I have time and someone/s to teach me!  Well, I'm being called to tie dye, so I'll update more later!  Take care! 

Pictures

Here are the pictures I promised to provide that go along with the last post.  :D

This is the fish taco I tried and liked in Ensenada. 

Here's the tortilla soup we had at supper on Saturday at the lobster place in Puerto Nuevo. 

These are the clams in their shells that I tried at La Bufadora. 

Here's the lobster I tried on Saturday.

I'm beginning to think this is turning more into a food blog.  :D There's just so many new foods I'm trying though, I have to prove I'm being brave!  Lol!

 This is the sunset from the Tijuana side of the fence on Sunday night.  Isn't it beautiful?  I love the sunset reflected in the sand.

 These are enchiladas verdes, or green enchiladas with chicken in them.  Our lunch on Sunday.

And this is breakfast Sunday.  Sorry for jumping around.  It is scrambled eggs with bacon, apples, beans, yogurt and a donut.

 Ensenada Marina

 Me on the beach at Rosarito.

 The Palmer Seminary group, plus Adalia at Ensenada.

Me at La Bufadora

 The ocean

Before

 After.  La Bufadora.  Water spraying up into the air.

Here's a pretty painting that was on the wall of the lobster place.  I thought it was so pretty.

 I wrote "No estas solo/a.  Dios esta contigo" which means You are not alone.  God is with you.

 "Give me liberty or give me death. Patrick Henry" 

 The lighthouse with the sunset behind it.

Me painting.

 The wall on the American side near El Campo.

 Water left for people making the dangerous journey north.

The ravine where we stopped to leave water.

 The cemetery for unknown people.

On the stone for John Doe, this cross was left by another group.  It means "Not forgotten".

Alright, I'm updated on pictures too.  Enjoy the sights!

January 10-14

After breakfast on Thursday, which I already told you about, the group of us sat down with a few of the women and heard their stories through Ray as our translator.  They were so sad.  We heard from Alisa, Erica, who as her family says "talks crooked", meaning she's a little slow, and Sandra who just came here a month ago in December.

  At 3:00 we had a lunch of hominy stew with pork and tortillas (the above pic).
Then after lunch, Ray introduced me to the women as the English teacher, so I had my first class with a few of the women.  They taught me some new words, and I just taught them words they wanted to know right then, like good morning, how are you, and such.  I told them I'd help them with their English, and they had to help me with my Spanish!   For supper that night, the women and our group went out for tacos at a local taco stand.  They were really good!

On Friday, we had some kind of chilies for breakfast (above pic).  They were good, but very spicy!  They burned all the way down!

After breakfast, we participated in the self-defense class for the women that Ray teaches.  It was about techniques of how to get away from someone who is bigger and stronger than you.  Later he said, "It's about giving the women a voice, because their voice has been taken away from them, and so have their bodies.  The class is so they won't have to be afraid to walk down the street and to find their strength."

After the class, we went on a trip through the city.  Our first stop was to the children's school.  They have 1st through 6th grade at the school.  This school is special because it is one of the only schools in the city that work with special ed students and students with disabilities.

After visiting the school, we went to a low price health clinic they have in the city.  Actually there are three.  Filadelfia 1, 2, and 3.  They offer health services for a lower price.  While we were there, a woman was having a C-section and we heard the baby crying.  It is a christian run health clinic.  They also offer dental services as well.

For lunch, we went to Ray's favorite taco place.  I got chicken quesadillas for lunch and we all tried the dessert tacos, which were my favorite!  They were like crepes.  They were chicken, with mango and pineapple inside, wrapped in melted cheese, and covered with a strawberry sauce.  So yummy!

After our wonderful lunch, we drove around the city for a while and checked out the sights.  When we got back to the shelter, I helped some of the women make supper.  We made cheese quesedillas.  It was fun to talk, laugh, and cook with the women.  Maggie made chocolate (hot chocolate) while I worked on the quesedillas.  It was very good!

After supper was cleared and put away, the group and I decided to give the women and girls manicures and pedicures.  We had stopped earlier, and bought some stuff for it, and I'd brought some polish with me as well.  We had so much fun, and the women really enjoyed it too!

Yesterday, Saturday, we had eggs with green beans in them, beans, and oranges for breakfast.

After breakfast, we took off for a day trip.  We stopped at a beach for a bit, and watched for whales migrating south.  While driving, we saw a few.  Then we went on to Ensenada.   We walked along the boardwalk, and then had fish tacos for lunch.  I didn't think I'd like them, but I actually did!

After lunch, we traveled on to La Bufadora, or The Blowhole.  This is a place in the rocks where when the tide comes in, water sprays up into the air, like a whale.  At La Bufadora, there were many street stands selling all kinds of things, along with food vendors.  I tried clams cooked in their shells with cheese and pico de gallo, churros, and pina coladas, which were pineapple and coconut juice mixed together and drank from a hollowed out pineapple.  All of the food was very good!  I also did a bit of souvenir shopping there as well.
Later, on our way back to Tijuana, we stopped in Puerto Nuevo for lobster.  They had a special of five lobster tails, rice, beans, tortillas and a drink for one price.  I tried the lobster, and ate two tails, but I didn't really care for the taste or texture.  Sorry to all you lobster lovers out there, but it's not for me.  Give me a pork chop though, and I'm happy!


On Sunday, we got up and had breakfast with the women and children before heading off to church.  The church we went to was just the next building on the same hillside as the shelter.  Church was interesting, but difficult because it was of course, all in Spanish.  Luckily for me, the group from Philidelphia's professor was sitting behind me translating the whole service.  Next time though, I won't be so lucky.  One really neat thing about the church service though, was we sang Blessed Assurance in Spanish.  I love that hymn, and it was great to have something familiar in an unfamiliar place.

After church, we went back to the shelter, and had lunch.  After lunch, Ray loaded all of us in the van and took us back to Las Playas, the Mexican side of the fence.  There, we talked about how people come to the wall looking for encouragement or understanding.  Ray had brought along paint and brushes, and some of us decided to paint our own voices and sentiments on the wall for others to read.  I was one of them, and actually put two quotes up.  I'll put up pics later.

When we had finished our paintings, we discussed the other main attraction and tourism industry in Tijuana, human trafficking and the sex industry.  We drove through the Red light district of town.  It was so sad to think about the women who are being so misused and in circumstances such as these, with no other options or hope.  Then, we drove thought Agua Caliente, Hot Water, the rich part of town.  The comparison was so striking and horrifying. On our way to the red light district though, we did something really neat.  We took turns saying what our favorite hymn or praise song was, and then we sang as much of it as we could remember.  It was amazing, because we were going into a horrible place, but we found a way to bring God and his light in with us.

On our way back to the shelter, we stopped at basically the equivalent of Hy-Vee.  There, we bought 2 cakes, and some pastries to take back to the shelter.  When we arrived at the shelter, the women were in the process of putting the children to bed.  After that, our group served the women of the shelter.  For supper there were cheese quesedillas and beans.  For dessert, we had the cakes and pastries.  After we had all eaten, the group took turns sharing about their experiences at Deborah's House and the connections made with the women and children.  Then the women shared how much they appreciated us being there.

During this, one woman asked the "translator" if I was leaving as well.  She assured her, that I was not, and that I was going to be there for two months.  Through the translator, she informed me, that I need permission to leave, and it is to be written and given with 48 hour notice.  I asked how many bags I'd have to buy from their store to be able to leave.  I was told 20 bags.  We negotiated it to 4 bags, an apron, a jacket and a skirt.  It made me feel good that they didn't me to leave yet.

Today, Monday, we had breakfast of scrambled eggs, beans, yogurt, donuts and oranges.  Then we loaded up the van with the group's luggage, and took off on our trip.  We drove through Mexico to the east, until we crossed back into the U.S. at Texacale.  Then we continued on through California.  We arrived at El Campo, a place where the border issue was taken into the hands of the civilians.  Minute Men, as they called themselves, would set up camp along the border, and shoot at and kill Mexicans trying to cross.  We then drove up further into California, and stopped at a ravine along the highway.  There, we walked through the terrain and set down jugs of water for travelers.  Some of the group found possessions of people who'd made the journey there.  There was a child's backpack with clothes, lipstick, shoes and tin cans.

We continued on to El Centro, California, where we met and spoke with a chaplain who works at the detention center there.  He informed us that it is not just Mexicans who are in the center.  He has people from 6 continents.  Not all of them there are illegal either.  Some are simply people seeking asylum, and are being held there until their status is determined.

After that, we went to a cemetery outside of the town.  First, we had to pass through a private cemetery with nice stones on them.  We then walked along a dirt road, to a county cemetery.  There, we found simple bricks containing  a name and row number of people who have died and have no identification, or were never claimed.  Many of the graves said John Doe.  These were people who had died in the crossing, and whom people didn't know who they were.  A group had come before us, and left crosses on the graves that said, Not Forgotten.  It is so sad to think, that their families might never know what happened to them, and not be able to visit their graves and mourn.

We grabbed lunch at Subway, before heading to San Diego, where we hung out at Ray's house.  The group from Philidelphia, will be flying home tomorrow and so are staying the night here to be close to the airport.  There is also another group flying in tonight to spend some time at the shelter, so we will go pick them up soon.  It was nice to watch a movie, eat pizza and laugh and forget for a bit, the sadness we had seen today.

But I also don't want to forget.  No one should be forgotten, and their trials should be acknowledged by someone.  Regardless of how you feel about the immigration issue, there needs to be a better policy.  I have never been in the situation where I have to do something illegal to survive and I hope I never will be.  I think though, that if my children were starving, I would do anything I could to give them a better life.  Why can't we see the humanity and the desperation in these people?  What right do we have to judge them for their choices, when we've never had to face such a decision?  Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor".  These people are our neighbors, even if we've never met them.  I don't have the answers, but I think compassion needs to be our first response to situations like these.

Well, I'm all updated now.  I will add pictures later when I am back at my own computer.  Please keep praying for me and the women at the shelter.  Thanks.  Cassandra