ESCUELA
One teacher, one assistant (a mom), six students in a one room school house. It has begun. It is definitely not easy, but God fills me with joy in so many ways.
My day now begins promptly at 8 with my two oldest students for Science and History. At 9 I have an addition of two more for Math. At 10 I have all six for Language Arts and at 11 we do Writing or Spanish, depending on the day. Following is our hour lunch break.
After lunch, at 12:30, my four youngest students return for Science. Then to end our day we all join together once more for either P.E., Art or Music. I must tell the truth and say that this is my most favorite part of the school day. It is always great to step away from the books and be in a different element with the kids.
The kids seem to be getting use to and adjusting well to their new school environment. We are all having to learn each others personalities and what works well and what pushes buttons. We are in very tight quarters.
I am praying that through this experience we learn how to love each other better and that that love will spill out of us. I also hope to help instill in each child a love for learning as God has called us all to be learners. Learners from those younger and older. Learners from books, experiences, people and Him. Learners of hard things and easy things. Learners of things of interest and things we feel no need for knowledge of.
THE RAIN CAME TUMBLING DOWN
Rancho Casitas has a new look to it. On and off for 4 days it poured buckets of rain. Every dry creek became an overflowing roaring rapid. They grew to be 8+ feet deep and wide in areas. Each family was trapped in their own home…no way to cross by car or by foot. God again had his hand of protection over us all and the ranch. There was damage, but nothing that can’t be fixed or replaced. The men worked hard with the tractor to fix the roads so we can continue to have visitors.
If you haven’t heard already, there were also great benefits to the rain. I was able to do boogie boarding and boat racing for P.E.. Also the hills are now a glowing green and beginning to bloom with flowers. It is a beautiful sight!
My prayers during this time were really for the people in the communities and continue to be as so many homes were flooded or washed away.
LOFTHOUSE LOVE
It was an incredible Valentines gift to have a group of dear friends and family come to the ranch and give my lofthouse a little TLC (tender loving care). We did not complete the projects we set out to do, but the time of fellowship and laughter was what I was in need of most anyways.
The electrical was ran for someday when I get a generator. Insulation and paneling was put in place downstairs. But there is still a floor to be laid, ceiling panels to go up, and trim to finish it all off on the downstairs. The upstairs has yet to be touched. I think one more weekend and we can knock it all out.
Also, I am excited to say that a nearby shower house is being completed as well. The pipes and copper tubing were worked on and again will probably be wrapped up in a weekend. I think that weekend is just around the corner. My home church is sending a group down to do a build in the community and some have volunteered to hang back to help me finish up my lofthouse projects. I am stoked!
THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE RANCH
Over Christmas break I rescued a 3 month old little lab mix from the Redlands Animal Shelter. Her name is Revy.
She actually chose me. As my dear friend and I brought her into a play pen to see if we would be compatible, she ran around like crazy but then jumped up only in my lap. I had no choice but to take her home.
She is fitting right in at the ranch chasing cows and scaring off horses. During the day she sits on the step of the school house and waits for me. At night she snuggles down at my feet, but by morning she is up around my head. She is a big snuggle bug! And can you say spoiled?
For Financial Support : Hands of Mercy
P.O. Box 7818 Redlands, Ca 92375 (Please put #008 on memo line)
For Personal Letters or Care Packages : 633 Garfield Way Redlands, Ca 92373 (Mail will be delivered to me every month)
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JEN
HA NDS OF MERCY
DE C E M B ER 21 , 2009
VO L U ME 1 , I S SU E 3
A WINDOW INTO THE
LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE
PRAYER
• Of praise for God’s
constant provision
• Of praise that God is
using Mexico to change
me
• Of thanks for God’s heal-
ing of my unexplainable
rash
• For quality time with
friends and family over
the holidays
• For the HOM team as we
spend a week together
at a Calvary missions
conference in Murrieta
January 4-7
• For January as the kids
and I begin a consistent
school schedule
• For the opportunity to
teach English in El
Zorillo
The title is kind of a joke
because there are no two days
alike at the ranch. Each day
seems to change by the hour.
They like to call it “Flexico”. But
I will try to give you an idea
anyways.
When you go to bed at
eight, the day starts pretty
early. I am typically awake
before six . I crawl out of my
chilly loft house and venture
over to my trailer to make a cup
of tea and snuggle up to do my
Beth Moore bible study. Then I
head out for a walk to enjoy the
fresh air and beauty that covers
the ranch.
Between eight thirty and
nine the school day begins. We
have not yet started a set
schedule with the kids so some
EL ZORILLO
Though much of my time will
be spent on the ranch speaking
English, I have been encouraged
to find an opportunity to be out
in the community and have
someone to practice Spanish
with.
God has clearly opened a
door which I am really excited
about. We work with a pastor in
days I teach 2 kids and some
days I teach 6. Some of the kids
I teach in the school house and
some at their homes. This will
all change in January. We will
have a specific, but flexible,
schedule and all the kids will
come to the school house.
Many afternoons we finish up
with PE of some sort.
Evenings can get a little
lonely and they are very chilly
right now in a non insulated loft
house…so if we are not having
a meeting, watching the Truth
Project or having a kids game
night in my trailer, I usually
hang out with one of the
families.
On the weekends I am up
early and to bed late. I help
cook all the meals for the
a little community called El
Zorillo. I have only spent a little
time with him and his wife, but I
have taken to them quickly.
They are dear people.
They use to have someone
come teach English at their
church to adults in the
community, but that stopped a
year ago. I don’t know exactly
groups from the states and I
take advantage of any
opportunities to play card
games with people in the
evenings. On Saturdays I join
the moms for a bible study and
then meet up with a build
group. On Sundays I head into
town to go to a Calvary Chapel
missionaries service. The
afternoons are mine to rest and
gear up for the next week.
The inside of the school house. It is
in need of some TLC.
how I am going to go about this,
but I am going to start it back
up again in January on
Thursday evenings. By teaching
English I will have no choice but
to learn Spanish.
I am also hoping to spend
some quality time getting to
know Pastor Bogar, his wife
Maria and their 2 children.
CHECK OUT MY BLOG:
WWW.RED-SCHOOLHOUSE.BLOGSPOT.COM
Page 2
GOD SIGHTINGS
God has been very
evident in the last month. He
has shown up in beauty,
protection, and laughter.
A few weeks back I took
3 of the boys on a hike. As we
ventured up one of the
burned hills we began to see
many vibrant green and red
sprouts of new growth. It was
a beautiful site! God is
faithful!
When I drove home for
CHRISTMAS WISH
I am excited to be flying
out tomorrow morning for
Tenessee with my parents
and grandparents. We are
spending Christmas with my
Aunt, Uncle and 4 cousins in
a cabin in Pigeon Forge. We
have never spent Christmas
away from home so this will
be a new adventure.
Thanksgiving I had quite an
eventful day. It began with
seals in my transmission
blowing and losing all power
miles from the border. After
all other options failed, we
were pushed to the border by
a Green Angel. We told him
that he was a true angel for
us that day.
I love that God has a
sense of humor. The other
day, after teaching, I caught a
I pray that you and your
family are filled with God’s joy
ride with Cade and Colton to
their house. I began to giggle
because I was sitting in the
middle of two boys, neither
old enough to drive, but do.
On top of that we were driving in the oldest truck on the
ranch that smells like a dump
because it is used to take the
trash to the dump. I wish I
had a picture.
and peace during this
Christmas season. Many
Blessings to you in 2010.
For Financial Support :
Hands of Mercy
P.O. Box 7818
Redlands, Ca 92375
(Please put #008 on memo line)
For Personal Letters or Care Packages :
633 Garfield Way
Redlands, Ca 92373
(Mail will be delivered to me every month)
CONTACT INF
· Of praise for God’s constant provision
· Of praise that God is using Mexico to change me
· Of thanks for God’s healing of my unexplainable rash
· For quality time with friends and family over the holidays
· For the HOM team as we spend a week together at a Calvary missions conference in Murrieta January 4-7
· For January as the kids and I begin a consistent school schedule
· For the opportunity to teach English in El Zorillo
A Day In The Life Of Jen
The title is kind of a joke because there are no two days alike at the ranch. Each day seems to change by the hour. They like to call it “Flexico”. But I will try to give you an idea anyways.
When you go to bed at eight, the day starts pretty early. I am typically awake before six . I crawl out of my chilly loft house and venture over to my trailer to make a cup of tea and snuggle up to do my Beth Moore bible study. Then I head out for a walk to enjoy the fresh air and beauty that covers the ranch.
Between eight thirty and nine the school day begins. We have not yet started a set schedule with the kids so some days I teach 2 kids and some days I teach 6. Some of the kids I teach in the school house and some at their homes. This will all change in January. We will have a specific, but flexible, schedule and all the kids will come to the school house. Many afternoons we finish up with PE of some sort.
Evenings can get a little lonely and they are very chilly right now in a non insulated loft house…so if we are not having a meeting, watching the Truth Project or having a kids game night in my trailer, I usually hang out with one of the families.
On the weekends I am up early and to bed late. I help cook all the meals for the groups from the states and I take advantage of any opportunities to play card games with people in the evenings. On Saturdays I join the moms for a bible study and then meet up with a build group. On Sundays I head into town to go to a Calvary Chapel missionaries service. The afternoons are mine to rest and gear up for the next week.
Though much of my time will be spent on the ranch speaking English, I have been encouraged to find an opportunity to be out in the community and have someone to practice Spanish with.
God has clearly opened a door which I am really excited about. We work with a pastor in a little community called El Zorillo. I have only spent a little time with him and his wife, but I have taken to them quickly. They are dear people.
They use to have someone come teach English at their church to adults in the community, but that stopped a year ago. I don’t know exactly how I am going to go about this, but I am going to start it back up again in January on Thursday evenings. By teaching English I will have no choice but to learn Spanish.
I am also hoping to spend some quality time getting to know Pastor Bogar, his wife Maria and their 2 children.
God has been very evident in the last month. He has shown up in beauty, protection, and laughter.
A few weeks back I took 3 of the boys on a hike. As we ventured up one of the burned hills we began to see many vibrant green and red sprouts of new growth. It was a beautiful site! God is faithful!
When I drove home for Thanksgiving I had quite an eventful day. It began with seals in my transmission blowing and losing all power miles from the border. After all other options failed, we were pushed to the border by a Green Angel. We told him that he was a true angel for us that day.
I love that God has a sense of humor. The other day, after teaching, I caught a ride with Cade and Colton to their house. I began to giggle because I was sitting in the middle of two boys, neither old enough to drive, but do. On top of that we were driving in the oldest truck on the ranch that smells like a dump because it is used to take the trash to the dump. I wish I had a picture.
Christmas Wish
I am excited to be flying out tomorrow morning for Tenessee with my parents and grandparents. We are spending Christmas with my Aunt, Uncle and 4 cousins in a cabin in Pigeon Forge. We have never spent Christmas away from home so this will be a new adventure.
I pray that you and your family are filled with God’s joy and peace during this Christmas season. Many Blessings to you in 2010.
Check out my Blog:
www.red-schoolhouse.blogspot.com
For Personal Letters or Care Packages :
633 Garfield Way
Redlands, Ca 92373
(Mail will be delivered to me every month)
An incredible three weeks were spent in Palmer Lake, Colorado with 41 other adults representing 19 mission agencies and 21 countries. We became like a family.
There really are no words to describe the fire that was relit inside me. I learned so much about our creator, myself and relationships…my relationship with God, family, friends, and the HoM team. We called it “camp on steroids”.
Five days a week from 9 till 4 we were in class learning and practicing the tools to help prepare us for longevity in the field…embracing rest and silence and solitude, healthy conflict resolution, building community, facing cultural differences, managing stress, healthy hellos and goodbyes, and the power of prayer!
One of many stories:
Before I left for training I sent a friend a text saying, “Pray that I will come out of my shell.” I tend to be quite on the shy side around a large and new group of people. The first week of training I took a test to determine my conflict style and guess what animal I was? A turtle. God has a great sense of humor! (God exceeded all my expectations and took me out of my shell from the moment I landed in Colorado.) God is good! God is faithful! God is God!
Mexico…Here I Come
I am ecstatic! I am off to Mexico October 30th. I will be coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it will start out with a few weeks there and a few weeks here. We will be kicking off with a staff development weekend. Our focus…conflict styles and resolution. I feel well prepared thanks to MTI. 
Then transition begins by setting up my temporary home, a 1985 motor home, that was so graciously donated. I will be working alongside the moms with their current home schooling schedules and learning the ropes, before bringing them all to the Little Red School House. (It is currently storage, so that will be another project.) Also there will be several loft house builds taking place on the weekends so there will be many opportunities to cook and serve meals and manage projects (painting, roofing, installing windows) that take place on a build site.
Helping Hands
So this last weekend I rounded up some friends and we headed to Mexico to give Southwest Community Church a helping hand. They prebuilt 6 loft houses, but only had enough hands to complete 4 or 5.
Saturday morning we met them for breakfast at Estero Beach and then headed out to our build site with a team of unfamiliar faces. After a few pant splitting and hair raising events we were quite connected. (Read “Ripped Jeans & A Bee Sting” on my blog.)
The day was spent working shoulder to shoulder sharing our stories of where we have been and where God has brought us to now. And the quote that I often hear from the HoM guys, “We are not a medicine for Mexico, Mexico is the medicine for us” rang so true.
Every trip I make, my heart expands more and more either because of God’s truth that is poured into me by those I am building alongside of or the receiving family that is overflowing with joy from things we would look right over and their contentment with the simple life.
God’s Protection Over Rancho Casitas
As many of you know, a few weeks back, there was a fire on the Hands of Mercy Ranch. The fire lasted for almost 2 weeks and burned over a 100,000 acres.
God, the all powerful one, did one miracle after another from sending 30 Mexican firefighters and 80 military fire team members that no one ever knew existed to changing the direction of the wind minutes before it would have destroyed one of the missionaries homes.
Everything but the top of a pipe went untouched. As I heard said, “It looks like God took his finger and drew a line in the sand around the ranch” and I would add, “And He said to the fire…don’t go there!”
What an incredible confirmation that God is pleased with what the missionaries are doing and that HoM is still under God’s will.
Through all of the struggles and chaos of those 2 weeks there came so many opportunities for the HoM missionaries to minister and love on people and be loved on back.
5 of the 6 Bibles the missionaries put out on the table, where they were feeding the men meals, were taken and later 2 men were seen reading them. It gives me goose bumps.
Prayer:
- Of praise that God protected the ranch from the fire
- For a connection with Cade, Colton, Josiah, Micah, Lindsey, and Corbin as I begin building relationships with them
- For opportunities to be around natives and be forced to speak and learn the Spanish language
- For family and friends
Check out my Blog: www.red-schoolhouse.blogspot.com
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T IO N
I present to you my first newsletter as a missionary of Hands of Mercy. Yeah!
God is doing great things! He is providing prayer partners. He is stirring up hearts to come along side me in this journey and financially support me. I have raised over half my support! Thank you again because you are ones who are helping me to live out this burning desire and passion to SERVE. Serve in a ministry that is changing hearts and lives one at a time including the hearts and lives of the missionaries themselves. The greatest thing God is doing in my heart right now is helping me to see beyond my own understanding. I had a plan, but I have surrendered that to Him and am allowing His plan, one that is so much greater than my own.
Office Work
September 2nd I began working in the Hands of Mercy office in downtown Redlands. I am excited to continue building relationships with the men and women that take care of the essential parts of the ministry on the states side. I am researching health insurance options, making PowerPoint presentations, running errands, updating the HOM website, etc. Building great communication now will help when I am miles away and in another country where communication is a little trickier.
Training
Only a few days now till I will be on a plane to Colorado Springs, Co for my three weeks of missionary training. I am staying right on the grounds of the Missionary Training International facility. Training is Monday through Friday from 9-4, so evenings and weekends are free to continue studies from the day, build relationships and explore the area. The training consists of large group sessions and small group time that will focus on developing skills and character in these 6 areas: Spiritual, Personal, Lifestyle, Interpersonal, Cultural, and Endurance.
Prayer Requests
Thank you for being my prayer warriors! Many of you are aware that for 10 weeks now I have been battling some form of hives. The cause is still unknown. By patch testing we ruled out it being anything that is contacting my skin such as lotion or detergents. I am now going through more blood work to rule out Lupus. After that the next step will be allergy testing, but this is like finding a needle in a haystack and very costly. I continue to be in good spirits and just take one day at a time, but pray for an answer so the doctors can treat it properly.
This leads to another huge prayer request and that is health insurance. Right now I’m able to get most work done at a clinic in town and have also been graciously blessed with a few doctors and dermatologists that have provided their services at no cost. When in Mexico I will need to be covered. Coverage costs vary from $80-$450 a month, quite a big difference. So my prayer is that, despite my pre-existing health issues, I would be accepted by an agency that provides the coverage I need but is reasonable.
Then there are always little things that I know God will provide in His time…a vehicle that will withstand the 9 mile rugged dirt road.
Yours in Christ,
Jennifer Dahlin
Jennifer, 27 years of age, currently resides in Redlands, CA with her parents. She graduated from Cal State San Bernardino and Chapman University with a BA in Liberal Studies and a Masters in Teaching. She has been teaching for the last 5 years. She has been a member of The River CRC in Redlands for the last 8 years. God has put it upon her heart to serve with Hands of Mercy in whatever capacity God leads her to.