Knitting Party
Along our wonderful 9 mile dirt road to Rancho Casitas is a place called Rancho Genesis. On one side of the road there is a women’s shelter and on the other side is a home for those women’s children and orphans.
I have driven by their hundreds of times but never stopped. A few weekends ago we had a sweet friend of ours come down from one of the churches in the desert and bring tubs of yarn and needles with the desire to have a knitting party at Rancho Genesis.
So, Joy, Lindsey, Sara and I tagged along and we ventured over and had an incredible time of fellowship and laughter as we taught and learned how to knit to the 12 or so young women and staff.
Being that I have a little knowledge of knitting, I told the young women I would stop back in a few times and check on their progress and see if they have any questions.

A Whale Of A Time
The Van Ness family and I went on a little adventure down south to see if we could see some whales and explore some new places.
We left on a Thursday night and returned the next Tuesday. Every night but one we camped…some in a tent and some in the car.
We began our adventure in San Ignacio where we went out on a little boat and were surrounded by grey whales breaching, spouting, jumping, flipping up their tails and causing all kinds of excitement. What amazing creatures they are!
Then we trucked along to Santa Rosalia where we stayed in a beautiful old hotel, walked the colorful downtown and collected black sand. From there we continued further south to Mulege and soaked up the incredible turquoise waters, kayaked, picked up tiny but intricately decorated hermit shells and relaxed.

Love
I love the way God works! At times I find myself laughing with Him and at times I find myself crying with Him…you just never know.
Us ladies at the ranch have been working through Breaking Free by Beth Moore. There is just so much to soak up in His Word that tells us about His unfailing love no matter how ugly or broken we think we are. Amen for that!
I have come to realize more and more how important this time so far in Mexico has been for my life. It has not been an easy road, but God is so at work and for the first time my eyes are wide open to it. He continues to bring out the ugly in me and fill me with the fruits of the spirit….the greatest being love!
I am so thankful that He gave me the ears to hear His call. I am so thankful that I listened and obeyed!
God is an amazing God! I love Him because He first loved me!

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)

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