So I am officially back on the field again! After a break for the holidays from November 24th-January 2nd I met back up with most of my incredible team in the Atlanta airport and we made our way to Chiapas Mexico, specifically Tuxtla Gutiérrez. After a crazy few travel days with canceled flights and delays, we finally arrived at Alegre Casa Hogar a ministry connected to Baja Bound on Sunday the 4th. We were immediately welcomed by all of our friends who stayed behind in Italy for the holidays and that was such a sweet and special moment with all of us having had a month's anticipation building up to seeing each other. We got settled into our lodging for the next 6 weeks, got a tour of the orphanage where we're living, and have much needed time to catch up with friends.

This week is training camp which looks like lots of teachings and worship sessions on the roof, ministry time, orientation on our new roles within the squad, and lots of team time. It has been an amazing week so far and we have some incredible mentors with us through next week, on top of God already teaching us so much and moving in so many small ways. Even at the airport, our layover was only an hour long which was tight already, but then our plane was delayed and we sat on the tarmac for an hour, so we missed our connecting flight. We were stressed because the next flights were a full 24 hours away, which meant either staying the night at the airport or getting a hotel. But God had his hand over us the whole time, I mean of course, but as we were running to try and catch the connecting flight we missed, I saw my guitar come out in baggage claim when it should've been on our next flight. Through this we realized that all of our luggage would've stayed in Cancun with no way for us to pick up 20 suitcases while we were in Chiapas. So we were able to get all of our luggage, stay at a hotel, and catch a flight the next day.

For some context, Chiapas Mexico is coffee central with some of the best coffee in the world, but it is also the poorest state in Mexico, bordering Guatemala. Coffee is one of my ministries alongside helping with English immersion for the kids here at the orphanage. Coffee ministry will be a group of us working with the manager of Broken Rib Coffee, a ministry that was started as a way to support Baja Bound, and their ministries like the orphanage. We will learn the ins and outs of the industry, how sustainable ministry is possible and works, and we will get to serve alongside some of the locals and farmers who keep the industry alive and share with them the love of God. For the English immersion ministry, I will be in the music group using songs, dances, and guitars to help the students learn English in order to give them better job and life opportunities in the future.

We've had the opportunity to do ministry here at the orphanage already which is a blessing in the midst of this crazy week. We spent some time with the littles just playing and loving on them, we've gotten to help with English immersion/their classes, and even while we're doing little things like cooking there are always kids to connect with. On Tuesday we were also able to make the 4 hour drive into the mountains to a little coffee village called Tres Picas. We hiked up to the coffee fields where everything for Broken Rib Coffee started, and we saw a glimpse into how coffee beans are farmed and processed. Then we were able to hangout out in the town, our boys played in a basketball tournament, and we passed out some gifts to the kids there. Mexico ministry has already been incredible and I am looking forward to seeing all God does in the coming months!

For a little snapshot into what my 4 months will look like, I will be staying here at Casa Hogar until Februrary 12th, then working alongside YWAM Chiapas until February 21st, then a debrief week in Guatemala. Starting March 1st ministry in Guatemala begins (I'll share what that will look like in a coming blog) and then final debrief in El Salvador April 18-25th!