Adjustments and then Evacuating!

I’m sure it’s obvious to you by now that I am about three weeks behind in my blogging.

I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up at this point but who’s counting, right?!

The week after coming back from Mexico was a tough one for all of us.

I called it ‘re-entry’.which is a term my mom ‘coined’ when I was little.

After spending the night at a friends house she tells me I would always go through a period of ‘re-entry’ which typically involved some sort of disobedience and trying to get away with things that had been okay to do in my friend’s home because their parent’s rules were different. After being away from the ‘norm’ I had picked up different habits and it was a adjustment to try and get back to what my parents expected from me.

When we came back from Mexico the same was true, only in reverse. I had picked up habits in Mexico that I wanted to keep! And I didn’t want to go back to my old ways, the old ‘rules’ of living my life. God had changed me so I wanted to avoid going back to the things that were expected of me from others. It was very difficult to head back to work and interact with people because, while my heart and mind had been changed for the better, those I left behind had stayed the same. It was difficult to relate to others because my mind was filled with my recent experience and that was really all that mattered to me.

Then after a long work week and  struggles with ‘re-entry’ … Chris dropped a bomb on me. There was a hurricane headed towards the east coast. More specifically – us. He had made the decision as the head of our house that we were going to head out of town to avoid the loss of power and flooding that was imminent. Now, I’m alright with road trips but, being the home-body that I am, I prefer as much warning as possible.

Fleeing our home at the last minute added to my stress and made for an eventful weekend.  We went to Roanoke, which is my old college stomping ground. It actually turned out to be a really fun trip – I was just on edge because of the circumstances.

I had to take the wheel for part of the trip because I get pretty car-sick when I don’t drive. Chris thinks that it’s just a mind game to gain control of the wheel. (I wonder if that same tactic will work for the remote?). With me behind the wheel that left him to man the camera.

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We walked around downtown Roanoke which offers really great people watching year round. We also ate at the Roanoke Weiner Stand. Nuff said.

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Chris had fun at the old train station.

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There were a lot of pretty cool architectural details to be photographed. Unfortunately, my mood wasn’t up for the challenge. There’s always next time.

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We visited my alma mater. They were gearing up for move-ins the next day.

It was so exciting to be back. I felt like a freshman again!

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We brought Baxter along with us, of course, and took him to a local dog park to run some energy out. He made fast friends, as usual, and had so much fun.

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Back at the hotel Baxter got to hone his hunting skills with the rubber duck that was in our bathroom. He was definitely afraid of it at first, then nuzzled it like a friend, then gnawed it’s poor little beak off!

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One evening we ventured down Main street in Salem (which is actually where Roanoke College is located – off Main Street in Salem, VA and not actually Roanoke, VA).

We headed to my most favorite coffee shop ever – Mill Mountain Coffee.

I found the location where the shop HAD been and GASP! In its place was a tattoo and piercing parlor!! WHAT?! My old study spot?! The hangout?! How could it have gone out of business?

Chris tried to console me and informed me that ‘things change’.

My retort was “not in Salem they don’t”.  And with that, I slumped to the ground on the stairs of a nearby church to mourn the ‘change’ that had just occurred in my life (or so I ‘ve been told. I wouldn’t have believed It had there not been photographic proof of my mini temper tantrum).

This is me, thinking about how my world was crumbling down around me.

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And this is me, wondering how everyone else can walk by so calmly on the street as if NOTHING IS WRONG?! only everything was wrong because my home away from home had vanished!

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Then Chris decided to try and salvage the night by calling Mill Mountain’s number from their website. “Yes, where are you located? I’m having trouble finding you. Oh, across from the library?”

We pan our gaze to the right one block.

There’s the library. and across the street? Mill Mountain!! Hazzah!

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It was a miracle!

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I felt so grateful for Chris who, in times of disaster and meltdowns, always has a level head and somehow solves even the most impossible dilemmas like disappearing buildings!

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He did comment on the way back to our home that “Next time we’ll stay home for the hurricane”. Oops! Hope it wasn’t because of me.

Mexico –The meat and potatoes

My last post was a quick overview of our missions trip to Mexico in August.

A group from our church has gone every year for several years now to build a house for a family who doesn’t have one.  It is so cool to look back a few years ago, or even just last year, and see how much work the Holy Spirit has done in my heart. I know he has been working in my husband’s as well.

I was raised in a God fearing home by wonderful parents and have been taught all of the ‘right’ things to do as a Christian my whole life. It hasn’t been until recently that have truly inspected what God calls us to do as followers of Him. If we truly LOVE God, and we should because his son DIED for us, then we should LIVE for him. God’s commands to us are simple (not simple to live out…just simple):

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you”.               –   James 1:27

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”                            –   Matthew 28:18-20

 

Now, I know these verses in my mind. They were scripture memory verses and numerous Sunday school lessons when I was a child and growing up. The issue was that I didn’t really WANT to know these verses in my heart. These are commands from God. And if I believe in God (which I do) and if I depend on him for my life (which I do) then a command is NOT a suggestion. This is how we should live out the life God has given us: Care for orphans and widows. Share who God is and what he has done for you with others. Their life (eternal life in heaven) depends on it.

Honestly, I did not want to really KNOW these verses, because knowing would mean I would have to act. I didn’t want to do those things. I liked my life (and still like it) the way it is and I do NOT like change. My cute husband and my cute dog in my cute house going to my cute job and my cute church with my cute friends. Mine mine mine.

When you think about it, how does the length of time we spend on this earth compare to the length of eternity after we die? Our time on earth is so short. Our time after death is FOREVER. I know that I will be with God because I have trusted him as my savior. But have I been completely obedient? NO! I live for myself, not for him; yet He is the one who I will spend eternity with. The least I can do is live the short period of my life on this earth doing what is right in God’s eyes. Loving others, giving to others, and sharing God with people.

Now that last part has always been the hardest for me. I have never wanted to make anyone feel uncomfortable or be one of those ‘pushy’ Christians. But the truth is, I know God is right, I know the bible is right, I know there is research to prove it even if you don’t believe it through faith. So why am I so scared to share? Why wouldn’t I want people to escape hell?

These are things I’m still struggling with but God is truly working in my heart now that I am finally willing to focus on Him instead of myself.

 

Now, back to Mexico…which I’m sure was the reason you were reading in the first place.

This is the de la Tova family – Bernardino, Lizzeth, and their son Javier.

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This is the family we built a home for. Now, I have to be honest….this is NOT the type of family I thought we would be helping. In my mind I thought the family would be…poorer? Is that a word? Ultimately, this family did need a house because they had none. In years past I have heard stories of our church team building for families in extreme poverty (and many families in this area are living in terrible conditions) so that is what I was expecting – like the photo below. An area that we drove past each day to the build site. I remember thinking “God, why aren’t we helping those people”?IMG_8381

I love how God’s plans are different (and better) than ours. Throughout the entire trip I remember saying to myself  “this isn’t what I was expecting”. So, even though I was expecting to be serving a different type of family in Mexico God used this experience to help me understand that, while I was weighing material possessions in my mind (thinking to myself “should we be helping that family that can’t even get food?) He was looking at this family’s spiritual needs.IMG_7677

For four days we traveled to and from the build site from the camp.IMG_7414

It was interesting to see how God used all of our talents. Only one of us had any true building experience (other than a few who had been on previous year’s trips).

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Day 1:

The walls go up. A lot of plywood and 2X4s had to be cut, moved, and painted.

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There was A LOT of painting.

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Chris was officially in charge of the cutting.IMG_7634

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Day 2:

Siding goes up. Roof rafters go up. Drywall is mudded.

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Day 3:

Drywall mudding continues and sanding begins. Let me just say flat out that sanding drywall is the absolute worst job in the world. Worst. Job. Ever.

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Shingles went on. By the way, hot roofing tar will burn the fingerprints off your fingers.

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Day 4:

More sanding. painting. then decorating!

We wrote messages to the family on the plywood before the dry wall went up. It was a very humbling experience to go around with the family and have our words interpreted for them.

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The finished house. Once everything was completed we stood around the front door and took turns giving the family a blessing.

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The team + family + their family members/neighbors.

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Also, did I mention there were dogs everywhere?IMG_7508

and I mean everywhere.

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Though working on the house was rewarding, the best part was the relationships we were able to build with the family. IMG_7939IMG_7943IMG_7944

 

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Each morning before breakfast and each evening after dinner we met with some of the leadership staff at the camp for a worship and ‘regroup’ session. One evening we were challenged to ‘walk in the shoes’ of many of the people in this area of Mexico, and all over the world, who don’t actually have shoes. We left our shoes and went barefoot for 12 hours. Honestly the hardest part was that first step onto the cold sandy concrete of the meeting room (one of my least favorite textures).  Now before you go commending me, just know that 8 of those hours were spent sleeping. But I DID go into the bathroom without shoes.

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Though I don’t speak any Spanish it was interesting to see how God was able to use my strengths as a speech therapist to help me communicate with these special kiddos. One thing is certain, facial expressions and the power of play are definitely universal.

Our feelings are hurt when our friends don’t share. IMG_8301

A hug goes a long way to help.IMG_8232

and tickles or a kind gesture from a friend seal the deal and earn our friendship again.

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Then they realized I was ticklish…that’s a whole different story.

 

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It was so much fun to play with these sweet boys.

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I know you don’t know these boys and their families, and I barely know them for that matter. In fact they may have already forgotten about me. But let their smiles warm your heart and allow yourself to think about where your priorities are. I know mine have changed.

I never ever never thought I would be writing about my experiences as a missionary! But as God has been working in my life I have begun to see how little I was doing for others and how much I was doing for myself, which is not what God wants for us.  My idea of a missionary was this radical Christian, but in looking at what God says in the bible, someone who is spending their time helping those in need and sharing the love that God IS simply obedient…not radical.  You simply have to be willing. Truly willing to do whatever it is God needs you to do. He will do the rest.

Sorry for this soap box. actually, no I’m not. I’m just sayin’.

Mexico

Hey Y’all!

In case you weren’t privy to all of the things going on in the Baker home lately… we went to Mexico on a missions trip. Surprise!

We went with a team of 10 from our church. The team was made up of mostly members of our small group, which includes our pastor and his wife, but also their daughter and her friend.

I took so many photos (around 1,200 to be in-exact) that I had to split my favorites up into 2 blog posts.  I’ll narrate a little throughout the post…but most of my experiences, thoughts, and opinions of the trip will be poured out onto the next post. So, if you don’t like reading….this first post is a freebie!

Our group at the airport on Saturday morning at 4:30am.

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The group.

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We flew to San Diego and from there, rented a van and drove into Mexico.

This was our van.

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Just kiddin’.  Ours was a typical white church van.

But if we had had this van we wouldn’t have been spotted as tourists/missionaries quite as quickly.

We ate at some really yummy places while in San Diego that we don’t have on the East coast.

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On Sunday morning, we attended the Rock Church of San Diego, which was a cool experience. I had never been to a church that big. The Katinas just happened to be leading worship there that morning. AWESOME!

After lunch we drove across the border. Not as scary as I thought it was going to be, though we did get pulled off into ‘secondary’ inspection…and I did try to snap some shots, but got yelled at by the rest of the team. Actually, for most of the trip I got yelled at to ‘stop taking pictures’ and ‘put that camera away’, blah blah blah. But let’s ask those people now if they are happy there are 1,200 pictures to look at and reminisce about, hmmm? Thought so.

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Big Jesus also welcomed us to Mexico.

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While in Mexico we stayed at a camp where several missionary families live  permanently.  It was so awesome to live in community with each other.

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We ate all of our meals together. I even managed a week of kitchen duty (including washing the dishes…with the little scraps of food floating all in and around the drain. yeah, you know what I’m talkin’ about). IMG_7290IMG_7895

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There were many late-night runs to the taco stands in town. I only attended one, and that was enough for me. The tacos were delicious…the sights, a bit scary.

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They also have very interesting ice cream and popsicle flavors.

Here is Chris eating “Pineapple with chiles”popsicle.

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and Kallie’s face after she tasted it.

 

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My friend Kari and I .

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Following the week of working with the family and building them a home we drove around a bit and saw some sights.

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La Bufadora is a natural blow hole.

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Playa means beach. I think.

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I can’t wait to share with you about this cutie, Javier, and his sweet family in my next post.

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Stay tuned.

But in the meantime, please pray for Javier and his parents Bernardino and Lizzeth.

I pray that they continue to seek to understand who God is and what he means in their lives. That while we built them a home, there are other needs in their life that need to be met. God can take care of them, regardless of what they have and don’t have, but they have to trust in him to do it and lean not on their own understanding.

Virginia is for Lovers

I saw a cute print on etsy of various states, similar to the one found here.

I thought it was super cute, but knew I could do it on my own for way cheaper.

I started with a blank canvas I got in a pack of 3 at Tuesday Morning for $5.

It took me a while to decide on my color scheme,

but I’m totally in love with the end result.

First, I painted the canvas using my background color of choice, yellow.

Once that had dried I traced the outline of Virginia from a simple printout I got from the interwebs. Sorry Eastern Shore, you didn’t make the ‘cut’.

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I then proceeded to paint the inside of my tracing using my contrasting color, gray. I started on the edge and worked my way in. It took some delicate strokes to get in all those little nooks and crannies in the Chesapeake Bay area.

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Once that had completely dried I used my pencil again to freehand a little heart in the bottom right hand corner of Virginia, which is where I was born and raised and continue to live.

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I painted the heart red. After all, Virginia is for LOVERS!

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I love it, and it cost me less than $2 since I already had the paint and I found the canvas’ for super cheap. I haven’t decided where to hang it yet, but I’m thinking among the photo frame wall in our stairwell. We shall see.