We have been living in Cozumel just over a month now. It has taken some time to getting used the Country, culture and language, but daily we grow in the love for the people and the home God has placed us in.

It is amazing to watch and see God work in our hearts and how He open doors for His word to go out. A few weeks ago we drove through a very poor community, Las Fincas, located just outside the walls of the orphanage. We saw families living in stick hovels with no running water or electricity. Our hearts went out. The next Sunday we learned that the local church we attend has property located in Las Fincas and that they want to use the land for a mission. I asked the pastor, “If we were to build a display garden and offer classes do you think the people of Las Fincas would be interested in learning how to build square meter gardens and grow their own food?” She said, “YES!” and suggested that we build them on the church’s property right in the middle of Las Fincas

 We couldn’t be more thrilled. The land is about an acre and has been overtaken by the jungle, but as the neighbor says, “It is good land.” Eric and I began clearing it yesterday and within an hour we were able to clear enough plants to see the fence. Today we will clear a section in the corner where we will begin our compost pile. The overall goal will be to build a Mission Center for the people of Las Fincas. Here they will be able to get training on  how to compost, build rain catchment systems and square meter boxes for the garden. It will also be a place to host medical and dental mission teams, tutoring services for the children, church services, and eventually a farmer’s market.

So….. for some personal insight into our daily lives.

Gia has been invited to part of local dance group for Carnival. Kailea has  been a little motorcycle mamma scootering all over the island with Eric and making friends with a local girl, MaraJo who loves the ocean as much as Kailea and whose family owns a snack bar on the beach. Tonka has aquired his movie star status and is awaiting his first starring role in Perro de Fuerte. (Dog of Strength) And, as for Eric, God decided to make him an object lesson on the old testament. While doing good deeds fixing the fence in the orphange to keep iguanas out, he got in a tangle with the poison wood tree and was struck by a loathsome rash that began on his arms, rapidly spread to his chest and torso- and because he was stupid, and went the gym and rubbed his sweat off his face with his shirt, it enhanced his features even more. See pictures below.

But if that wasn’t enough, he was asked to preach on Sunday. After icing his face for 3 hours in the morning, Eric was confident that he could pull it off. However, after only a couple of minutes in the pulpit the puffy eyed frog appeared – Eric couldn’t read his notes, see the Bible and when his throat closed up it was all over. We are hoping he will be asked to preach again, might be waiting a while.

One of the best days so far…

The church we go to on the island sponsors children to go to school. In Mexico, the public schools require that the students pay an enrollment fee, plus pay for their uniforms and school supplies (including things like toilet paper). Many families can’t afford to send their children and thus the cycle of poverty is perpetuated. We put together supplies for 28 children and hosted the families at the pastor’s home to pass out the supplies. It was an amazing blessing to see how joyful and excited the children were to be able to go to school.

       Everyday brings new challenges and new friends.  we absolutely adore the people here.  There is need here, as there is need in a lot of areas of the world, for us God has placed a passion for these people, at this time, at this place.  Anytime we feel down, a walk through the town square reminds us why we are here.  The smiles and waves make us feel at home, reenergized, and ready to serve anew.  

 Thank you for your continued support and prayers. If you would like to help out with the school children or community gardens you can donate at paypal.me/7dayheromexico

Cozumel is a very beautiful island with warm, friendly people. When you visit, it is easy to see only the beauty. But, when you venture just a short 3-blocks away from the sea and cruise-ship-filled horizon, your eyes behold a very different scene.

Today we drove through a community called, Las Fincas, which translated to English means The Farms.  I didn’t see any farms, but rather the area brought to mind the story of The Three Little Pigs. Many of the homes were built out of sticks, aluminum siding, pallets that washed

up on shore or tar paper. They are smack dab in the middle of the jungle – the lush greens of the plants make even the shantiest of homes seem pleasant, but in the rainy season (which it is now) the mosquitos abound carrying dengue fever and encephalitis.

So for me the question is, how can I help? I don’t want to assume that they are unhappy. I don’t want to change their culture. I just want to share the love of Jesus and provide wherever they may have need. We have decided to use the square gardening method of planting at the orphanage. It appears to be an amazing and somewhat easy way of growing food. We hope to train/educate the children there to create these gardens for themselves by teaching them how to compost, save rain water by making water catchments and rotate crops after harvesting. If this method proves successful, how incredible would it be to bring it to areas like Las Fincas. Please pray for open doors and that God’s work and word will go out.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. If you would like to financially support 7 Day Hero Mexico’s mission please click on the link below.

paypal.me/7dayheromexico