Rosa's Ropas

“Rosa’s Ropas”,the thrift store, is in business!! Rosa is becoming a real business woman with her enthusiasm, desire to learn, and level of responsibility. She decided to start a short term hold and lay-away option for the clients. All items are priced, inventory is in order, and accounts receivable are accurate. We now have an excel program backing up the books. I’m so proud of her! We have a lot of fun together and great conversations.

One day, the door opened for me to share my testimony. They asked me why I was so lost and empty and I told them it was because I didn’t have Jesus in my heart! Rosa’s husband was listening to all the details of my story very closely. Seeds were planted in fertile ground! Rosa showed me a new level of acts of service! At 6 months pregnant, she spent 6 hours preparing lunch for her husband one day! It started at 6 a.m. with searching for a pollo (chicken) to purchase for 15 pesos ($1.50). Of course, it was alive, so she had to kill it, remove the feathers, and de-gut it before boiling him up!! All that work for 1 meal!! That’s amor (love)!

Spirtual Growth

I was led back to live in casa # 7 with Gaudalupe (Lupe) and family (some of you may remember the story of how I was led there in the fall of 2008)! I believe that she and her husband, Andres, will become spiritual leaders in the village some day. They have commented that they like the perspectives and teachings that I share with them. It touches their spirits as truth! They pray with me before meals and bedtime. They do devotional reading and meditations with me. Their ears and eyes are wide open, as well as their hearts. They ask for prayer when in need. For example, Andres’ sister, who is 40 years old, had to spend the night in the hospital at 6 months pregnant with twins. After putting it in the Lord’s hands, they felt peace. They are hungry and thirsty to go deeper with their Heavenly Father.

During the Friday night bible study, Lupe said that they are like babies, learning and growing. We were discussing the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1. I shared a personal experience that night: A few nights ago, I was walking home to my palapa, crying over the fact that my IPOD was being charged and I’d not be able to sleep without my Christian music. I thought about finding comfort in food instead; until the Holy Spirit asked me what the TRUE source of comfort is! The tears stopped! I went to my bed (hammock) and felt His peace come over me, and fell into a deep sleep!! Lupe and Claudia said, “Wow, you can talk to God. You are much closer to Him than us!” I explained that they too can have this intimacy and conversations with the Living God! Some day Lupe will be leading this bible study!

The hammock/solar oven exchange got me into Almi’s casa, which led to her prayer request for a healthy pregnancy. She too is expecting and in her late 30’s. (Due in October!) She opened up to ask me about church and baptism. I shared my beliefs on water and Holy Spirit baptisms. We agreed that the church is the people versus a building! Later in the week, she hosted the solar cooking workshop. We cooked refried beans in about 5 hours… LISTO (ready)!!

Again, the relationships that God is building are so vital to the plan God has for Ek Balam.

Rosa's Ropas

A few months ago, Elaine had the brainstorm to start a thrift store with all the clothes that have been donated. One day, we set up a table under the gazebo in the town square park. Word spread like wild, holy fire and women were swarming in from all directions! In just 2 hours, we made enough money to pay for the dentists to fill up their gas tank to get back home after a day of pulling and cleaning lots of teeth!

The women knew that their purchases helped to make this dental mission possible. I believe that being part of a team gave them a sense of significance, and once again brought value to the services provided. Rosa turned into a shopping guide to all the women that day. Due to her passion shining through, we agreed to open the thrift store in her casa...And so began Rosa's Ropas!

We have had quite a few giggles while pricing the merchandise. It’s interesting to see her preference in styles. Only a few women will where shorts or pants due to their culture. Men rarely wear pants without pockets. “Hotch oots” (its good in Maya), she says as she tugs and pulls on some items. She pointed out the fact that the way they scrub clothes by hand, determines the quality of material. She has been selling quite well out of boxes and piles of clothes on garbage bags. I love to see the people lined up, waiting for us to finish the next batch of inventory so they can shop ‘til they drop just like women know how!! “Compralo” (buy it), Rosa says when she knows they really want it! She has started a lay-away plan for higher priced items. I am pleased with her accounting skills.

One of the highlights of this visit was painting the huacales (vegetable crates in Maya) to provide a way to organize the items. It turned into a family project. Alonzo, her husband; Modesto, her nephew; Pedro, her brother; all came with paintbrushes in hand. Doors opened, and they came out with some interesting questions for me about moral issues. I was surprised at how comfortable they felt to bring up these topics. It turned out to be a great opportunity to share!

Rosa's Ropas has been another confirmation of how well it works to build relationship and watch God move!

Please pray! Elaine will be bringing a group of ladies down next week! Pray for safe travels and lots of open doors!

Cooking Classes

Elaine Smith (my partner in this co-mission:) brought along 4 solar stoves with the last team from Oregon. The women exchanged a hammock for a stove. The good old fashioned way of “purchasing” an item adds value it. Introducing something new can be a bit challenging. There was quite a bit of doubt as to how the sun could cook up a meal in this crazy contraption! We remembered that a couple of years ago, several women said they would like to attend cooking classes. Perfect timing to convince them that this solar thing really works!

Dorotea, was thrilled to be the hostess of our first cooking class! A spanish women (who was working & visiting Ek Balam for a couple months) volunteered to team up with me on this project. Together, we women gathered up the chaya leaves (similar to spinach) in Dorotea’s backyard. A little bit of water, one bullion cube, a bag of arroz (rice) and a handful of leaves turned into quite the dish 4 hours later! Well, it was finished off on the open fire during the fifth hour due to an afternoon rain shower! Hey, it worked!!

These solar stoves will especially come in handy after a hurricane. It takes 3 days of sunshine for the leñas (logs) to dry out in order to cook on that fogata (campfire)! In the meantime, four families will be enjoying gourmet dishes while the rest of the village will be eating bread and cookies (which is what they ate after the last hurricane hit)!

For the second class, my Spanish friend taught a group of ten, how to preserve mango marmalade in a jar! If we can get them canning, that would make a difference and add variety to their usual meals of rice, beans and tortillas!

I plan to continue these classes because it provides an opportunity to teach about nutritional diets; as well as a social time for women to connect. Dorotea had once mentioned that she is home alone with 6 kids because her husband is a construction assistant in Playa Del Carmen. Since he only visits 2-4 nights a month, she gets pretty lonely out in the far corner of the village day after day! These classes provide the perfect environment her to connect with other during those lonely times.

Elaine is coming with a team to Ek Balam in the beginning of December and they will be bringing more solar stoves. If you would like to help this mission by purchasing a stove for the women of Ek Balam please contact elisa@thecause.org

Insurance Program

The meeting with Governor Don Carlos concerning setting up the insurance program finally took place on the last possible day! The Director of the Elementary School (also named Don Carlos) shared our future goals to build a kitchen and lunch room. With this seed planted, getting official permission and legal documentation will be much smoother, when the time comes.

I thanked the Governor for his help in building the classroom (he installed windows, doors and electricity) and commented that, “we make a good team”! He then responded positively to my request to proceed with the health insurance plan for the village.

I have my work cut out for me now! There is a list of documents that I will need from each person, including a birth certificate. Due to the fact that many people were born at home in a hammock, while the neighbor cut the cord; many do not have this document. When there is a will, there is a way. It will happen in time and with patience! I’m excited!!

Hammocks of Hope

When I picked up a hammock from Marie, she told me that it had been 7 months since her husband passed away. She shared with me that it hasn’t been easy and that she needed strength. Marie is a single mom of 2 small children and has become a maid at one of the hotels in town to be able to provide for them. We asked the Holy Spirit to come to her in strength and power that afternoon, and of course, He did! She knows that now she can draw on that Power each and every day! Did I say that, God is good?!

It’s amazing how the hammocks, the cooking, and the store, provide the reasons to visit certain people; at the same time, the doors opened for deeper purposes of our time together (time and time again)! And not just for them; for me to learn and receive too! While retrieving a hammock at Sabina’s casa (house), she really touched my heart! She came to me with a huipil (typical Mayan dress) in her hands. Making an assumption, I asked, “cuanto es” (how much)? “800 pesos” (about $75 USD) she said. “But, it’s a gift from me to you”, she continued. “BASH” (what – in Maya), I exclaimed! Her daughter then interpreted from Maya to Spanish, explaining that Sabina hand stitched the flowers on it herself and with all her heart she wanted me to have it. “PERO… pero” (but… but), I said with my hand over my heart as I looked back up at Sabina. Celestina continued to interpret that Sabina will never forget the time that I had prayed for the burn on her arm to be healed. She said that it hurt so much and then the next day it had new skin and was healed, thanks to Jesus and my prayer!! WOW… I’ve run out of words! I have a new Sunday dress to wear now ;)!!

Augustina was sitting by the door in the sunlight, reading her bible (the one that was given to her during one of our outreaches), when I arrived asking for her hammock. She showed me the bag of medicines that she’s been purchasing for some time now. The doctors obviously haven’t figured out what is really wrong. We prayed once again for healing, for doctors to come to the village on a regular basis, and for the Lord’s favor with the insurance program.

A restaurant in Playa Del Carmen will be displaying these hammocks under little palapas (thatch huts) that are surrounding a cenote (natural swimming pool in the jungle). Each hammock will come with a 5X7 photograph of the woman holding that very hammock that she made by hand. Taking these photos was half the fun for me! We have some natural models in the village!! Strike a pose ladies!! We hope and pray that when people find out that the purchase is to help these women to pay for medicine and their children’s school uniforms, that they will sell like hotcakes (or tortillas ☺)! We also hope that the hammocks can be sold at other locations in PDC.


Thanks for your prayers!

PS If you are interested in purchasing one of these beautiful hammocks contact elisa@thecause.org

Stepping Out

Hola! Well, this is a miracle! Debi Morris is writing a blog! What will she do next!?

I took the first step into the Jordan River (a step of faith, so to speak)! On July 5th, I hopped a bus to Ek Balam on my first FULL TIME missionary trip! Exciting and adventurous! After waking up to the roosters, the Lord gave me a download of His plan of action (P.O.A.) for the 2 weeks. He prioritized my agenda:

1. To be Spirit led as I encourage my Mayan friends spiritually, while pouring out God’s love!
2. Meet with the Presidente del Municipal (governor) to ask for his support with near future projects: building a “nutrition center” (kitchen and lunch room) at the Elementary School & secure free medical insurance via a governmental program called, “Seguro Popular”.
3. Prepare for “Grand Opening” of the first thrift store in the village.
4. Organize cooking classes using our new solar stoves.
5. Purchase hammocks for a restaurant in Playa del Carmen.

With His faithful guidance, I set out to follow the POA each day! Loving and encouraging people, comes naturally for me, so that part bubbled and overflowed everywhere I went ;)! I was invited to a first communion. After the misa (church service), we prayed together and she thanked Jesus for entering her heart and becoming an intimate part of her life! God is good!

Keep checking back for updates from Ek Balam.