Day 11: Tijuana

The bell served as a wake up call mixing with the distant sounds of barking dogs and the chill in the 6 a.m. air. Each morning we rolled out of our bags of sleep, threw on hoodies and stumbled down the stairs. Wooden pews held little children, moms, teenagers, cooks, tired guests and a pastor in the simple room. There is a unwritten structure to the hour spent together; the pastor sings two or three words in his native Spanish language, there are prayers from the back row, and there is time for any and every person to share prayers of thanksgiving. The theme for this and every morning was straightforward: thankfulness to God for everything. For food, for a bed, for parents, for sunshine, for the road, for the "brothers from Minnesota", for running water, for the pastor, for hardship, for holiness, for good work, for siblings, for coke, and on and on.

My first visit to La Roca was in March of 1998. I was a young but confident admission counselor at my alma mater charged with leading a group of students on a spring break missions trip. Our initial plans were to spend a week in sunny San Diego but weeks before we were to leave our trip was changed to Tijuana, Mexico. I immediately fell in love with the people of Tijuana and returned for the following six spring breaks and a few visits over the following years. I didn't realize when I first set foot on Tijuana soil that it would be such a significant part of my life for so many years. But, indeed it was. I wonder if I will ever be blessed with a chance to visit this place again?

The biggest influence Tijuana has had on my life is simple: an encouragement, a challenge, a calling to be thankful and to live a life of thankfulness. I saw my life transformed after each visit to this place... I would return home and commit myself to rising early and thanking God for everything before my day began... and while this practice fades in and out the premise has definitely stuck.

These short verses from Thessalonians have truly become some of my "life verses" and how I want to be: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

Thank you, Tijuana, for making these verses come alive and for the impact you've had on my life.