Raining like crazy and 600 are not enough blankets.

Today we go to the Pacific side of the Baja to a small town called Melitón Albañez.  There is an agricultural business located there because of the micro-climate that exists near the Pacific ocean.  There are nearly 1000 acres of greenhouses that produce peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.  They are now growing strawberries as well.  

About 2000 workers for this business are brought from other places on the mainland of Mexico.  Most that come to work here are very poor and come unprepared for the cold nights experienced here during the winter.

Melitón Albañez, BCS, Mexico

Just one week before we arrived a new group of workers arrived from the state of Guerrero and as reported by Pastor Chuy and his wife Juanita, this group of workers came with less than most who come to work here.

 Guerrero, Mexico

 Preparing end of year celebration meal at Semillas de Fe, the church in Melitón.

Every year the church at Melitón has a end of year celebration and meal.  This year because of the downturn in the economy they were planning just the celebration because they could not afford the meal.  It was very humbling to hear that the people in the church said "no, the Gerig family is coming to celebrate with us and we must have the meal also".  One by one they gave from their meager earnings and had a meal cooking when we arrived.   

Loading the blankets in Melitón.

 Loading the blankets in Melitón.

  Ready to go into the compound.

 The guards opening the gates.

Inside we are driving past acres of new greenhouses being replaced after recent hurricanes. 

 Dustin with an armload preparing to distribute the blankets.

The rain was pouring out of the sky when we arrived.  The management of the compound arraigned a place that was covered and that was able to keep some of the rain out.  Many had already gathered and waited patiently as we unloaded 600 blankets and many clothes for distribution.  

 We became humbled with our responsibility as we gazed at the numbers that gathered for assistance.

Don, Dustin and Brody unpacking more blankets.  How can we have enough?

 This is one of the tickets presented for a blanket.

Prior to our arrival, Pastor Chuy and Juanita working through the Social Worker at the compound identified the ones most in need of blankets and clothes.  They were given these tickets to present at the time of distribution.  
Christian Church Seeds of Faith
Worth one blanket
Sunday December 30 on the court at 12

 One of the blanket recipients.

 Janelle and Zeke with some clothing for distribution.

 Don, Zeke, Dustin, Linda and Jeff.

 Michelle, Don and Zeke.

 Mari, Evan and Avery interacting with many that were waiting.

 Elijah and Grandma giving one of the donated blankets.

 Madalyn exchanging a blanket for a ticket.

 Dusting interacting with one of the recipients.

Madalyn passing on another blanket.


 

 Elijah offering a blanket that was donated.

 Some of the many blankets donated by the Glen Byers family.

 Brody experiencing the joy of giving.

We had several opportunites to talk with the grandchildren about how God uses us in His plans no matter where we are or how minimal the task may seem.  In this example: many donated blankets, others organized blanket drives, others sorted and packed blankets, others loaded packs into the motor home, others transported them, others moved them to Melitón, others helped identify those who would receive them, others distributed them.   

As the blanket drives were taking place, God knew of the need that would be in Melitón of those who had not yet arrived!  He knew of the timing of their arrival just before the blankets would arrive.



We talked to them about always seeking ways to serve God.  No matter how minimal it may seem you are fulfilling God's plan when you seek to serve Him.  

 This woman delighted to trade her ticket for some blankets.

  This woman said she had three small children.

 On the way out of the compound we passed by the clothes washing area.


 

 One of the residents watching from his families 15'x15' home.

 Even though meager living spaces, the company provides satellite TV to the residents.

 Water running in the road and cold as we left the compound.

We returned back to Semillas de Fe church to participate in the end of year celebration.

 

 Children singing and dancing to active music.

Pastor Chuy introducing our family to the church.

 Brody singing Chris Tomlin song "I Will Rise" to the congregation.

 Four oldest grandchildren singing to the congregation.

 Zeke accompanying Chuy. 

 The Church at Melitón.

Evan enjoying new friends and the celebration meal.  It was fun to watch Evan communicate in Spanish with the people in Melitón.

 I am always amazed that no one gets clobbered during the piñata destruction!

 Katie getting quite a reaction.

 Don saying goodbye to Chuy.

 Chuy keeping Jeff at arms length!  

For over 10 years Chuy and Juanita as well as a few other dedicated families from La Paz have been serving the people in Melitón Albañez.  They have full time jobs in La Paz and would still drive the 1 1/2 hours one way to Melitón.  Much of it on washboard dirt roads at least twice a week to serve.  

 Our first visit to Melitón more than 10 years ago.   

These are the youth from Sweet Home Mennonite Church in 2002 praying with Chuy for a church to be established in Melitón.  Dustin was part of this group.



  

Piñata hunting and a "Blind Boxer" at Christmas dinner.

What is a Mexican Christmas dinner without a piñata?  Since we are in La Paz and will be celebrating tonight it was time to go find a piñata!  So with some direction from Cindy off we went to a store on Jalisco that carries many of them and supplies to put in them.

 In the "Party" store getting supplies for the piñata.

Some of the choices.

 Resting in town at the Mercado.

 

Michelle stuffing the piñata with all sorts of candy.

We have not prepared many piñata's.  Actually, none!  So we filled this one FULL to the top with candy.  When we got it full we realized how heavy it was and that any quick jerks on the rope would probably tear this thing apart.  

 Dustin getting the last few pieces in.

 Elijah delivering piñata abuse at the celebration.

Mad dash after the piñata burst.

 Aunt Linda with two of her nieces, Cindy Nuñez and Gwen de la Peña.  

These are daughters of Cecil and Faye Byers.  Cecil was Linda's oldest brother.

 Ventura the "Blind Boxer".

30 years ago Jose and Cindy traveled from La Paz through Phoenix, Arizona where we lived at the time.  They had a young man from Mexico traveling with them.  His name was Ventura. We got to know him as he stayed with us for a few days.  We reconnected with him about 12 years ago in La Paz. 

Ventura has lost his sight over the last several years as diabetes took it's toll.  During the years before the loss of his eyesight Ventura was well known for his boxing and coaching young men to box.  

In the last few years he has petitioned the local and state government and has had a full sized professional type boxing ring built in front of his house!  Even though he is sightless he continues to coach young men in boxing and teaches them to be responsible and accountable young men.  He shares with them the love of Jesus and how his life has been transformed by the Spirit of God living in him.

He is now petitioning the government to build a shade cover over the boxing ring so that they can get more use of it during the heat of summer sun.

An example of his humor was exampled the other day when he spoke about how he protected himself while it was raining.  A plastic trash bag was offered to him to place over his head and upper body as he walked down the street in the rain.  He laughed when he said that he must of looked a sight with the bag over his head and no holes in it for his eyes! 

Ventura is a great example of a man who has chosen to not allow his loss of sight to cause him to be diminished.  God is impacting the lives of many young men through Ventura.  

 Philipe and Mary Lou getting the food prepared for the family Christmas dinner.

Philipe and Mary Lou have cooked for us and the groups we have taken to La Paz for many years.  Philipe has always lined that ledge with a decoration of fruits and vegetables in a symmetrical display.

 This is an example of a fruit tray produced every day for us.

 Janelle and her cousin Tania. 

Tania and her husband Omar live in La Paz with their two children Emilio and Sophia.

  Eating under the palapa. 

 Tania bringing wonderful desserts from Café Exquisito.

 Philipe and Mary Lou preparing elote.

  I think Dustin and Michelle like it.

Ramon then sang and played for us with that "Mexican" style.

 Than we sat and spent a while visiting around the fire.


 

Brody loading blankets.

Earlier in the day we went over to Pastor Chuy's house and helped load the blankets and clothing for the trip to Melitón in the morning.

Evan helping with the loading!

 Jeff, Don and Dusting getting the job done.

 Off to Melitón in the morning to deliver these blankets to those who have none.