30 years…

The Reflection Pools are very active.

Where has time gone? I sit here with this odd feeling of really not knowing how to take in this moment of time. It has been 30 years from when we crossed the Mexican border with our last load of furniture and goods and made our way to our new home. Nicki and Cassie were only 12 and 10, I was 35 and Debbie was 34. Actually the same age of some of our staff. In retrospect, we were only kids, as that is how I see our staff and often refer to them as kids.

So much we thought we knew, and so much we did not know. We went all in. We left our jobs, and with mine there was no going back. And with Debbie, she knew her wonderful home was gone, as we clearly walked away from it. Nicki and Cassie I think had the biggest adjustment. They left their friends, activities and soon found them selves in a very strange place with limited friends, no family and such a complete different life.

Our new home did not last long and would soon leave into a situation of Limbo with no where to go, our future uncertain, and more questions than what we originally came with. I’d never actually been without a job or position of responsibility, so when I was told I had been relieved it felt as if indeed I was falling off of cliff. I’ve brought my family to a dead end, and I was not sure where the bottom was, it how hard the landing was going to be.

I let go of everything, even my hair, and only held tight to Debbie hoping she still had the faith to follow me through this difficult time. Inside I knew something had to happen. I know Jesus did not bring me to this foreign land for nothing. Our new beginning would come about on a casual drive to church when we’d had this unplanned meeting with our friends Dirk and Helen on a sidewalk some where in town. When asked, “what have you been up to?” I simply replied, “I’m ministry Hunting,,,I was fired!!” and even laughed out loud. Dirks replay was “That’s GREAT!!” Which caught me off guard. Dirk had been set on a mission to recruit me months ago, but felt the timing was not right.

The wheels were set into motion. Dirk and Helen helped us find a place to live, and I had my first meeting with my future Director, Ken Small. Ken was such a great man. I remember Dirk saying that even with my long hair, the very conservative Ken Small was impress with me. He had a way of calming the waters, and his deep Scottish accent added spice to every story he told and scripture he quoted. I fell in love with where i was, and it was like putting in a good pair of shoes.

Our road was not easy, and I look back and wonder how we got here, well we know, and Jesus had his place for us and we just had to fall a bit to get where we are today. My hair is gray, bones are a bit sore at times. We’ve ministered to many, prayed with many, lived out dreams, and raced the Baja more times than I thought was ever possible.

Now, I watch our crew work. I stand by and have the confidence and trust that they can get the job done. I know they want to do things their way, and hope they appreciate the foundation that has been laid out for them. So I can now hold my Grandson, and enjoy my time with him, and there is still much of the Baja to conquer, and there is much work left to do. It is not time to shift into over drive and lean the seat back, but it’s time to tighten the belts, and down shift and search for traction.