Remembering a Dear Friend

I traveled back to my Mexican home the weekend of May 17th to build another cinder block home with a group of college students and several adults from Suncreek United Methodist Church. The family for whom we built the home lost their home in a fire. The father and the children worked beside us moving cinder blocks, mixing mortar, and filling in the cracks in the walls.

In addition to building a house, we we blessed to participate in the dedication ceremony of La Colonia Kathleen Baskin-Ball. This neighborhood is named in memory of our senior pastor and dear friend, Reverend Kathleen Baskin-Ball, who lost her two year battle with cancer in December, 2008. Kathleen is the person who introduced Suncreek (and many other churches and people) to Rev. Jose Luis Portillo and Proyecto Abrigo. I am forever grateful to Kathleen for igniting the flame in my heart for mission work in Juarez. She loved the people of Juarez and they definitely love and respect her. It was an honor for all of us to be there for this ceremony where we read scripture, prayed, and heard several stories about how much Kathleen means to the people of Juarez. What an emotional, but wonderful experience! (the memorial will eventually be finished with stone and ceramic tile - I can't wait to see it!)

My heart is sad because there are no mission teams from the U.S. scheduled to build homes through Proyecto Abrigo all summer long. It's very hard for me not to know when my next trip to Mexico will be, so I am trying to be patient until the time comes when I can spend more time there once again. Please continue to pray for Jose Luis, his family, and all of our friends in Juarez.

Until next time, Dios te bendiga!