Ok, so this really wasn't our first trip to Ensenada, Mexico, but it was our first trip down to work with RDA. In October 2023, we came down to build a house with Walk the Talk Missions and met Egla. She shared with our group a little about RDA and what she did for the kids in her community. In November, I sent some Christmas gifts down to Egla for her Christmas events. Through communication with Egla about that event and other needs she had, I knew I wanted to help more! We had planned on traveling again in October 2024, with Walk the Talk, but unfortunately, we were unable to. Egla suggested we come down and participate in some of her events. Yikes! Travel to Mexico by ourselves? Rent a car, a hotel, and drive across the border all on our own? Yes!
I was all in! No stopping to think about all the logistics and what could go wrong. Plane tickets booked, sunscreen packed, passport in hand, and ready to leave for the airport all before talking to Marcus... It took a little more convincing for his logical brain to be on board. I'll never tell him this, but it's probably a good thing he's the logical one in the relationship! There truly was a lot of planning that needed to go into this trip, but we prayed about it and put the trip in God's hands. Finally, in July 2024, we took our two boys and a bunch of baseball supplies down to Ensenada to meet Egla, Carlos, and some of their team. It was one of the best things we could have done. God blessed our family so much during that short weekend. It was so much fun to see the boys interact and connect with other kids, even though they couldn't speak the same language. As it turns out, video games have no language or cultural barriers; it's something all kids understand, and the love of baseball can be found anywhere, not just in America! Marcus and I met and made friends that will hopefully last a lifetime, and I came back knowing this trip was not going to be the last one. I am honored to be able to help Egla and RDA and hope some of your reading this will join me on future trips!