Independence Day in Tijuana

This past week was an exciting time for us at Baja Bible School as we shared the week with our first ever class of students.  They spent their first week with Dave Burdette going over culture and spending a lot of time in the city learning from the people of Tijuana.  So, in the theme of being learners and getting to know Mexican culture, we headed out to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day.  It is a very celebrated event down here, and is celebrated on the 15th and 16th of September.  We participated in the evening events on September 15th.  This is the night that people gather in the city squares all over the country to participate in El Grito.  This occurs at 11:00pm traditionally and is done in honor of the war heroes that were part of Mexico becoming independent from Spain.  As El Grito begins (which is a shout), the president yells !VIVA! and then proceeds to go through a list of war heroes... !VIVA HILDALGO! and the crowd yells back !VIVA!  This went on for a few minutes followed by three shouts of !VIVA MEXICO!  Then there was music and shouting and fireworks and lots soap being sprayed out of cans :-)  It was really cool to be there and celebrating with them.  I have posted some pictures from our outing together, including the results of what happens when you get caught in the soap spraying festivities.  (I really thought it was silly string at first, but very glad that it was soap :-)

Students and Staff celebrating and wearing the large Bigotes (mustaches) that they were selling on site  (We were not the only group wearing these :-)

Being Sprayed

More Soap

The fireworks after El Grito were amazing

Time for School

Baja Bible School starts on September 14th!  This means we are now less than a week away from opening for the first year of school!  The dorms are finished and the classroom is ready after the new floor was just recently poured.  If you would like to see how the floor was transformed, check out bajaandbeyond.blogspot.com to see photos from the concrete pour.  

The next week will be filled with many finishing touches to get the campus ready for the students.  A few will be joining us on Saturday and then we officially begin the year together on Sunday night.  

I have included the most recent photo of the dorms (as of today) and the finished classroom.  For those of you that remember the campus in the earlier forms, I added a couple of those photos too...pictures of His faithfulness in supplying countless workers and supplies.  

The dorms, ready for students!

The finished classroom

The Graduates of 2009

This summer, I have been able to attend two very special graduations.  The first was for our neighbor Pablito.  He graduated from Kinder.  As the class of 2009 celebrated and prepared to head out to 1st grade, they had a short and very sweet ceremony.  Each student received a certificate and walked forward to the sounds of pomp and circumstance playing in the background.  I was invited to attend the service as one of Pablitos padrinos.  As young people graduate here in Mexico, they have sponsors that come and bring a special gift.  Depending on the graduation, you may walk forward with the graduate as well.  As it was kinder graduation, my duties were very simple, and I presented Pablito with some candy and a special graduation balloon.  Below are a few photos from the ceremony...

Class of 2009

Pablito receiving his certificate

Pablito and his mom Betty

The second graduation was very special to me as it involved my mom.  She just finished two years of serious study and received her Masters in nursing education.  We made a family trip over to Phoenix, AZ to celebrate with her.  Congratulations MOM!  I am very proud of you!

Mom and her Masters Degree

my sister, me, Mom and Step-dad

Albercas y Toboganes

I grew up loving to go to waterslide parks.  In the summer, it was a special treat to visit the Tri Cities (WA) and go to Oasis Waterworks for the day.  So, yesterday we took a summer day and spent time together as a staff at one of the local waterslide parks in Tijuana.  Tijuana has several parks that have pools (albercas) and waterslides (toboganes), and we decided to check one out.  So... off we went, the Baja Staff, local friends and our guests visiting us from Washington State.  I will just say, it was awesome.  Fast slides, short lines, and not too many rules.  You could go down slides backwards, headfirst... 

The group before the sliding began

The park has been in Tijuana for over 50 years

The Medusa.  Imagine the ride at the fair with the gunnysacks... add water and you have the Medusa.  

I tried out the white one and really liked it.  The blue slide next to it is called the Kamikaze.  It was definitely the tallest slide at the park and even our neighbor Chewy knows this slide.  I am not sure this picture shows the top part well, but I was told that the tube was probably there to make sure you stayed on the slide :-)

This was my favorite slide.  You went down the tube and it shot you out into the larger bowl.  Once you entered the bowl you could go around inside 1-3 times before being dropped out the bottom shoot.

There were several water games throughout the park too.  In addition to this one they had a rope swing, a river and a wave pool.

It was a really good day.  We came home tired, content, and a little sore from playing so hard.  I would gladly go and do it all over again.    

Episode 6... A Baja Morning with Dave

This past year, we have had the opportunity to meet with Dave Burdette on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  We have been working our way through the book of Mateo (Matthew).  We've been discussing what it means to follow Jesus and live Kingdom life under the Father's rule and reign. This past week talked about the themes that characterize kingdom life.   Words that were used were wholeness, liberty, authority, and hope.  This is the good news and that is what Jesus spent time proclaiming to people, the good news of the Kingdom.  We just finished chapter nine this past week and it ends with Jesus saying this:  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.  Matthew 9:37-38

In just a little under over two months we will beginning our first school year.  As we talked in class this past week about the good news of the kingdom and workers being sent out into the harvest, I thought of our students and of us as a staff.  May we be people that enjoy living under the reign of our Father and partner with Him in seeing His kingdom extended wherever He leads us.  

Now onto class time...

Time for some Ice Cream

Time for a little more Tijuana life.  This episode takes you to a very popular stop; the Michoacana.  The place of ice cream, popsicles, strawberries and cream, fruit salad... lots of delicious treats.  My personal favorite is the paleta.  This is a popsicle and I highly recommend the coconut if you get a chance to try one.  Enjoy!

Karaoke in the Park

I have driven past this sign many, many times and finally made it down to Karaoke Sunday.  Every Sunday afternoon, from 2:00-6:00pm, one of the neighborhood parks has a free Karaoke time.  People are invited to sign up, choose their song, and then perform for all the locals in the park.  The performances ranged from junior highers singing Latin Pop to more mature performers singing what I believe would be considered the classics here in Mexico.  Lyndsay has challenged me to get up there one of these Sunday's and sing a song of my own... but... I am not so sure.  Singing in public on a microphone and in Spanish; I think I might need a little more time :-)

The karaoke stage 

 A place to sit and enjoy the show

And here is a bonus photo... possibly my favorite photo of the week.  Lyndsay and I were sitting on the park bench, enjoying karaoke, and we spotted this local dog.  He looks a lot like Yoda, but in dog form.