Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tijuana


Fourteen by sixteen feet. One room. One roof. One window. One door. Hard concrete floor. And you should see their faces when we hand them the keys to their new home. It isn't much by any stretch (even if we go all out with insulation and sheet rock) but it is all they need. While such a household might draw some pity from the more financially fortunate people in this world, there is something about such a house that I envy.


There is nothing like sitting down after a long day of concrete. Blistered hands. Burnt Face. Aching body. Covered in concrete mix. Dirty and smelly. I love it. A day well spent. Fish tacos? yes please


This is the only picture I took at the orphanage that day, and I hate it. Look at those kids all well behaved playing board games. pshhhh. I enjoy when they go nuts. dog pile on the floor. with me on top and the poor kid on the bottom screaming. o what...they started it!! or when their are twenty of us on a safa all sweaty and gross after playing soccer. no no this picture will not do.


Look at that smile and those fresh clothes!! Bryan just came out of the bath house where we bring warm water for these kids to bath. My favorite job is washing their feet. Coscillas?

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Me llamo Esteban

In Mexico my name is Esteban. Not Stephen. Not Steve. Not Estephen. It is Esteban. I don't even think about it any more. Whether it's the pastor at the church or the smelly kid that crawls in my lap... "me llamo Esteban"

My roommate down here ran me out. Well not exactly, but that's what everyone tells me. "Te corrió!" And although I have to stick up for him and say that there was more to it than that, he technically ran me out... In the nicest way possible. (No need to worry I'm just living right next door)

I suppose my fellow Americans are nice. The conversation is going great until they just have to ask that question... "So you already graduated college?" The rest of the conversation is set in stone. Always goes the same. I put away my high school dream of getting a tattoo until recently... I have already started designing one for my forehead that reads "NO I DID NOT GRADUATE COLLEGE please refer to my blog for all further questions"

For the past few months I have been wondering what is happening to me... what is happening in my life. Like spiderman after that first time he was bitten by the spider. I guess he wasn't spiderman yet. I always knew God was doing something but didn't know what it was or where He was taking me or why. I falter for words when people ask. But I think I am starting to get it. And I just smile.

My roommate ran me out not because we didn't get along. Rather, this happened because God wanted to tell me that this is who I am. A run off. Not by individuals, but by a system of thinking and a way of life. People don't keep asking me about college because that's what you typically ask a young man my age. Rather, this happens because God wants to tell me that I don't belong there. I didn't start introducing myself as Esteban because I thought it was a cool name or because I thought it would be easier for Mexicans to pronounce. This happened because God wanted to tell me that He is giving me a new name. A new life. A new adventure.

He is preparing me for something special. I want to say I am ready but the truth is that I lack so much faith.

¡Ponme, pues, a prueba,
Que no te hallarás en mí maldad alguna!
Salmos 17:3