mission work / volunteer
Many Americans, young and old, come down to Baja and to other parts of Mexico specifically to do the Lords work. Since I have been living here, I have personally met MANY people here for that very reason, of all ages. We run across these wonderful people every day, everywhere we go. Hardly a day goes by that we dont talk to someone volunteering their time, their labor, and their love, in some form or another, to help the less fortunate.
Many young families come here for this very purpose. It is very heartening to see this. They move their entire lives and dedicate themselves completely to organizations such as orphanges, battered womens shelters, youth ministries, Habitat for Humanity and the like. Many people come down as an individual to live and immerse amongst the organizations. Many come down with big groups to stay just for a short time, perhaps to build a small community.
The Kids Kingdom Orphange
“Defending the poor and fatherless.” psalm 82.3-4
Tomas Y Maricela Shockey, director – Serving Jesus in Maneadero, B.C. Mexico
US phone….619-730-0028
I had the absolute honor and pleasure to meet Ms. Marina Vishanoff, missionary at Kids Kingdom, one day at work. She wandered in on her day off, looking for a place to get a bite to eat. She carried a stack of books and bibles in her arms. She sat down at the bar. I handed her a coke. We got to talking and before long i knew I was in the presence of an angel. Mariela became a regular at work and every time she came, she left with a van full of free food for the orphange. She invited me to come be a part of the mission, when i had free time, which i assured her was very infrequently! I was very humbled and honored. She had a very quiet and unassuming demeanor. She was a beautiful lady, inside and out.
Anyone can volunteer at these places, they are always looking for more hands. If this is something you would like to do, please contact Maricela. They will gladly and happily accept any type of help!
Lantern on The Hill with Abbey and JJ Williams
Educating, Caring and Feeding Children & Families in Baja CA, Mexico
by Rachel Swick
6/10/2009
A group of seven Middletown-area (PA) Legion baseball players, six baseball coaches and chaperones and one reporter have ventured to Baja, Mexico to help out at a day care center and women’s shelter for five days. The trip is focused on teaching the Middletown residents about the culture of this region of Mexico, and in return the group will hold baseball clinics to teach the local children of Baja how America’s game is played. Rachel Swick, Press And Journal reporter, is along for the ride and will documenting each adventure in order to report back to readers.
The group arrived in Puenta de Banda, the town where we will be staying in the Baja-region of Mexico on Tuesday after a quick tour of San Diego. We flew United out of Harrisburg to Chicago, then to San Diego, where we were met by our tour guides, JJ and Abbey.
John Williams, the Middletown Legion baseball coach organized the trip. JJ is his son. About two years ago, JJ and his wife, Abbey, pictured below,
decided to sell everything they owned in California and move to Mexico to open an organization to help pair volunteers with charity organizations here. They succeeded in creating Lantern on the Hill, which has made a difference in every day lives already, said Abbey. “We hope to continue working hard and later expand to help more people, but right now, the economy and swine flu concerns from the United States have cut our volunteers in half,” said Abbey. Actually volunteer groups visiting Mexico have been cut by more than half. As have tourist groups visiting the area.
Usually, the port in Ensenada has at least two cruise ships docked, but for the past month, Abbey and her staff have not seen a single one. Until today. As we were driving from California to Baja, we passed through Ensenada and there was a cruise ship there. But, later when we arrived at the resort hostel, we were told that even though the ship is there, it doesn’t mean tourism dollars will start flowing again.
Javier, a partner of Lantern on the Hill, said many of the people who came in on the cruise ship were to scared to get off at the Ensenada port. He said he hopes people learn that swine flu does not affect this area of Mexico. Javier told the baseball group he hopes they learn a lot from this experience and take the new knowledge back to the United States to tell others how safe the region really is. Rachel will be on assignment in Mexico until Sunday, June 15.
for more info http://web.mac.com/abbyandjj/Lantern_Hill/Home__3.html ← click here!
This is not a typical “mission trip” or service project….
We match your personal gifts to the needs of our communities and partner organizations for you specifically. There is no program that you “fit into.” Through our reflective processing time at the end of each day, we help you sort through your experience. Our processing time, combined with activities designed to get you thinking and developing your servant heart, will lead you into a rhythm of service that you just can’t find with a “pre-programmed” organization.
my personal note! Abbey and JJ are some of the most vibrant, fun, dedicated young people I know. They are incredible. When you contact them please, please say Lynn sent you.
email them at : lanternonthehill@gmail.com
