"God helps me all the time... therefore I need to help him"

Happy Halloween week!

Derek and I are doing great... Derek preached yesterday and I had to work at the coffee shop so I was unable to attend the service at Pointe of Grace. (This is Trinity's second church that recently opened!) We both worked all weekend so we were extremely tired last night and I looked at the clock around 7 and I asked if it was to early to go to bed... he replied YES!

I love working at the coffee shop and I recently have been getting asked to babysit so I am really looking forward to those evenings!

We are excited to have our friend Candice Grimm out here this week... she was a counselor for Pathways this summer and was one of my basketball and youth kids back at Trinity.

Eric Clapp will be here as well... we are really looking forward to their visit because we plan to go into Seattle and tour some of the sights we haven't been able to see yet! It will be a great weekend!

This last Saturday I was able to be apart of Neighbors in Need. I have explained this program in an earlier post but for those who need a reminder... neighbors in need is a program that Trinity runs for the homeless people in our neighborhood. Every Saturday morning Trinity opens there doors to feed, clothe and help the homeless. We are lucky enough to be apart of this. What has been hard is that I have been working mostly weekends and I am unable to attend every Saturday. This past Saturday I was able to attend and I was able to reconnect with families that I had met the first Saturday that I was there. I was seeking out one girl in particular. Her name is Yesernia and she is 18 years old and is due in December. This Saturday I made it my mission to find out what she needs from us. I was greeted by her and her sisters with a big smile and after talking with them for a while, I asked the big question... "What can we here do for you and your baby?" She didn't know how to respond, after asking the question again and giving examples, she told me that she didn't have anything. I found out from her that she is in need of a crib, baby clothes, diapers, toys, bottles....EVERYTHING that a newborn and mother need she hasn't received.

This couldn't have come at a better time, I had just received my work schedule for November and I was disappointed to find that my hours didn't increase as much as I had hoped... meaning, I have time on my hands. Instead of getting upset that I won't be working and making money... I decided that maybe this is my year to give back. To volunteer and help out where needed. So... today on this Monday I have made phone calls and emailed new friends that we have made here in Washington in hopes to find out how we can help this family. God's power is truly amazing because within one email and a phone call... I have found baby clothes and toys that will be donated to this family. I have found resources online to help Yesernia with the stress, questions and uncertainty of bearing a child. Instead of being down and disappointed that I am not getting certain hours at the coffee shop I need to channel that disappointment into helping those in need. Before I left neighbors in need on Saturday a kind lady was helping us clean up. She was there on Saturday to use our services. She was not there to volunteer. As we folded up the last table together... I thanked her for staying after to clean up...she replied, "God helps me all the time...therefore I need to help him." Her outlook on faith has allowed me to realize that we are a team. God is on our team and what a great team to be on...but sometimes I feel like it is a one sided team, it is important to remember that being on a team means that we need to do our part too... and what a great part we have in this world, to help out our neighbors and our world while being on God's team.

Home Sweet Home...two weeks later....

Hello. Derek here.

I am back from Mexico, although truthfully I got back 2 weeks ago. What can I say? Things are busy.

Picture #1: This is an example of the foundation trenches we were digging. Unfortunately with reports of H1N1 and drug violence, Tijuana is not the most popular destination at the moment. In fact, the group we worked with saw an 80% decrease in American volunteer groups this past year. An 80% decrease means that the 20% that do show up work even harder. There were lots of houses that needed foundations, so we were in the trenches with shovels and pick-axes digging them out.

Picture #2: This is what I looked like after four days of digging. Also I have a moustache.

Picture #3: This is what happens when a pick axe falls on you when you are digging.

Picture #4: This is the family that we built the house for. They were so great and were right down there with us digging.

Picture #5: This is Lily and her older sister Reina. Their dad worked for the organization that we built with. They couldn't pronounce Derek so they decided to call me Paco. We played Life, Monopoly, and ate ice cream.

Picture #6: Although we didn't finish the house, we did get a huge chunk done. When the houses eventually are finished, this is what they look like.

However, the trip came with a price. This is what I missed:




I also missed Bobbie Jo's birthday, but I don't have a picture of her sitting alone on the couch eating pizza. When I called her on her birthday, that's what she told me she was doing.


While I did miss one of the greatest games in Twins history, one of the greatest games in Vikings history, and my wife's birthday (I got her flowers on the 5th and a fake Tijuana designer purse so hopefully I covered my bases there), I wouldn't give up a minute of my trip. It was such a great experience and I am so thankful that Trinity let me go.

Since then it's been business as usual, although I am truly thankful now for having hot water, plumbing, and more to eat than rice and beans. I take for granted all of the great things that I have, and it's trips like this that really help you realize it.

Stay tuned for more.

Derek

The sunshine state?

Greetings from the sunshine state? Rumor has it that it has rained for days in the midwest... out here the weather has been unbelievable. The sun has been shining since last week week and it has been in 60's. I hear the rain might be coming but for now it is beautiful. (You all should have moved out here with us!)

Derek is still in Mexico. He is having a fabulous time and we are able to talk through email. This is an adult mission trip so there is much more work involved and I think he is really enjoying it! He said he was pretty sore but it was a pretty amazing experience so far! He is extremely excited to get back and watch the Twins! I have DVR'd the games for him. (But during Tuesday's game, I ran into Seattle with a friend and had left the DVR going. Little did I know the game would go into 12 innings and that the DVR would stop in the middle of the 10th inning! Oops)

Yesterday was my birthday! I was able to work at Caffe Ladro so that made my birthday a little less lonely! After work I was surprised by beautiful flowers from Derek and a couple cards and packages! Thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday! It was such an unexpected treat to get mail! For supper, I made myself a personal pizza and watched the Twins get beat. I was planning on meeting a friend after her confirmation was over but I started to feel sick! I took my temp and it was a little over 100! So... I called off my evening date and went to bed! Before bed I called my Mom which probably wasn't the best thing to do because she went over all my symptoms with me and proceeded to worry about my conditions! NO... I don't believe I have the swine flu! I had the chills, a temp and I was pretty stuffed up! My nose wouldn't stop running throughout the night so I think it is just a cold! I woke up this morning to a text from Dad asking how I was feeling and within minutes a phone call from Mom! Mom & Dad I am fine!! (Although I appreciate all the care and worry!)

Today I work the night shift... 4 to close! I have not worked this shift so I am looking forward to it!

Derek is back on Saturday! I am sure he will be exhausted but he will go back to work on Sunday! What a turn around!

Thanks again for the birthday greetings! It was so great to hear from all of you! We are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives!

Love from the sunshine state...

Hello,
Derek is in Mexico and I am currently trying to find things to do while he is gone! This morning I went to Neighbors in Need. Neighbors in Need is a group of individuals from Trinity that put together a weekly Saturday morning meal for the homeless. Every Saturday morning, the homeless in our community are given an opportunity to get themselves back on their feet. Trinity offers them a hot meal, as well as gift cards to the local grocery store, a shower coupon for the neighboring Lynnwood Community pool and a thrift store type shopping experience. This was truly life changing for me today. I was able to see the need in this community for outreach. I met a girl who just turned 18 and is pregnant, I met a group of young adults about our age who are living on the streets and I met many kids who felt like it was Christmas because they were able to "shop" for toys and clothes in the make shift thrift store. There were about 124 people there this morning receiving help and they say once it is colder, the need is greater. This has really put my life into perspective and I look forward to many more mornings with Neighbors in Need. If only there was more we could do to help!

I made it through my first 5 a.m. shift and I loved it! I am really enjoying being a "barista"! It has been really fun to meet the regulars and I love the girls I work with! Right now, I am part time but I am really hoping to get more hours once I am done with training! Caffe Ladro is very similar to the Moxie Java's back home!
Here is a picture of the Lynnwood location! It was right across the street from the church! Derek and I are really enjoying being able to walk everywhere!









Happy birthday to Brian on Monday! We are so sad we won't be there to celebrate! Hopefully the Vikings will pull off a birthday win!


We hope you have had a chance to listen to Derek's sermon and take a look at our wedding pictures! We are really enjoying life here but we miss hearing from you!
Please keep us posted and have a fantastic rest of your weekend!