Can it really be two and a half years since I've posted on my blog!?!?
A lot can happen in two and a half years, an awful lot. Children grow up and leave the nest, for one thing. Kaleb has gone off and joined the Air Force. Nate up and moved to Hawaii, then Carrie also moved to Maui. Amanda lived in India for a year, came back, got married to Joel, now they live in Oregon! Katie went to school near Seattle for a year - North West University in Kirkland to be exact.
Then she moved to California to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) with her very serious boyfriend Cole! Note: Cole is not very serious at all, he's wild and crazy in love with Jesus. But they are both serious about the relationship.
As for me, I've been busy with a building project that is darn-near completion. We have a certificate of occupancy anyway and some renters! It all started on the way home from the Mexico trip in 2012. Susi and I had been talking about a retreat center for at least the last 10 years. We even spent one "Super Bowl Sunday" on a drive out towards Cle Elum where we checked out an old christian summer camp that was for sale!
But the discussion a year and a half ago in March introduced a new twist. As we were heading North after building a home for a needy family in Tecate', Susi suggested we do some building on our own property, a "dorm" I think she called it. I'm convinced the idea came when we visited a couple who had moved down near Tecate' to retire. We were introduced to them by Daniel. Oh yeah, who's Daniel?
This year at the work site there was this young Mexican who showed up, speaking pretty decent English, and introduced himself as a "youth pastor." I was skeptical at first, because he was always hungry and very attentive to any situation where there was a sandwich or granola bar being handed out. It turns out he was a great guy, who, in spite of having a checkered past, had become quite helpful to the church there. He knew lots of people and kept bringing them by the house we were building to meet us.
He talked about "his parents" who didn't live very far away, and he really wanted us to meet them. Because Daniel was poor and seemed a bit unpredictable (not really living a "settled" lifestyle) we didn't know what to expect of his "parents." It turns out they were a couple from the states who had sort of "adopted" Daniel. They were even paying for his cell phone so they could stay in touch with him.
We arranged to visit them late one afternoon after work, on our way back to the Amor camp. We were surprised to find that they had a pretty nice place, you might call it a small ranch. After a hot, sweaty day of work we especially appreciated their bathroom, with running water, sink and a flush toilet!
Their vision was to host groups like ours who came down to help. They had a large field they made available for tent camping. And above the three car garage they were starting to add some rooms. When we asked what the rooms were for they said "for you!" They explained the new addition where groups could stay, throwing sleeping bags on the floor and equipped with bathrooms and a modest kitchen facility.
(to be continued)
A lot can happen in two and a half years, an awful lot. Children grow up and leave the nest, for one thing. Kaleb has gone off and joined the Air Force. Nate up and moved to Hawaii, then Carrie also moved to Maui. Amanda lived in India for a year, came back, got married to Joel, now they live in Oregon! Katie went to school near Seattle for a year - North West University in Kirkland to be exact.
Then she moved to California to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) with her very serious boyfriend Cole! Note: Cole is not very serious at all, he's wild and crazy in love with Jesus. But they are both serious about the relationship.
As for me, I've been busy with a building project that is darn-near completion. We have a certificate of occupancy anyway and some renters! It all started on the way home from the Mexico trip in 2012. Susi and I had been talking about a retreat center for at least the last 10 years. We even spent one "Super Bowl Sunday" on a drive out towards Cle Elum where we checked out an old christian summer camp that was for sale!
But the discussion a year and a half ago in March introduced a new twist. As we were heading North after building a home for a needy family in Tecate', Susi suggested we do some building on our own property, a "dorm" I think she called it. I'm convinced the idea came when we visited a couple who had moved down near Tecate' to retire. We were introduced to them by Daniel. Oh yeah, who's Daniel?
This year at the work site there was this young Mexican who showed up, speaking pretty decent English, and introduced himself as a "youth pastor." I was skeptical at first, because he was always hungry and very attentive to any situation where there was a sandwich or granola bar being handed out. It turns out he was a great guy, who, in spite of having a checkered past, had become quite helpful to the church there. He knew lots of people and kept bringing them by the house we were building to meet us.
He talked about "his parents" who didn't live very far away, and he really wanted us to meet them. Because Daniel was poor and seemed a bit unpredictable (not really living a "settled" lifestyle) we didn't know what to expect of his "parents." It turns out they were a couple from the states who had sort of "adopted" Daniel. They were even paying for his cell phone so they could stay in touch with him.
We arranged to visit them late one afternoon after work, on our way back to the Amor camp. We were surprised to find that they had a pretty nice place, you might call it a small ranch. After a hot, sweaty day of work we especially appreciated their bathroom, with running water, sink and a flush toilet!
Their vision was to host groups like ours who came down to help. They had a large field they made available for tent camping. And above the three car garage they were starting to add some rooms. When we asked what the rooms were for they said "for you!" They explained the new addition where groups could stay, throwing sleeping bags on the floor and equipped with bathrooms and a modest kitchen facility.
(to be continued)
