[Almost] All My Ex-coworkers Live in Texas

Fun fact: I started this blog in September 2008, as I was preparing to deploy for my first stint as an LCMS missionary, 18 months that turned into three years as the Servant Event Coordinator at Ysleta Lutheran Mission (YLM) in El Paso, TX. 

My first trip to YLM, in 2003, lasted just seven days, but I went home set on majoring in Spanish and being a missionary. I'd serve short-term four more times before doing just that from January 2009 through January 2012. 

Oh sure, I've visited since: for YLM's 30th anniversary gala in October 2012, twice at spring break with the youth from my church, twice at Thanksgiving, and most recently, with a multigenerational group from my church plus an extra week to see all my people...in 2017. 

Yes, I have people, including a goddaughter, and no, I hadn't seen most of them in six years. I also mentioned having spent multiple Thanksgivings at YLM, beyond the three that fell within my term. Our Father Lutheran Church (OFLC) in Centennial, CO, has been sending an "Alternative Thanksgiving" volunteer team for 25+ years to serve turkey for ~1,000 people on both sides of the border (no, Thanksgiving isn't observed in Mexico); they're one of my TiM congregations, and I have people there, too. Piece after piece fell into place until I decided it was high time I make the trip. 

Supposedly, Mexico, TX, and NM meet atop Mt. Cristo Rey, just below the wing tip in the photo; I've hiked it multiple times. 

Interim Executive Director Karla picked me up and took me to dinner with her three daughters, then dropped me off at Building #12 on the YLM campus - the dorm.  

I joined the staff for daily devotions - a new tradition! - the next morning, Wednesday. Scott (center), whom I'd never met, does 1/2 of my old job.

I spent the rest of the morning running errands with Luz, who handles communications for YLM and does the other 1/2 of my old job. We got the van washed, then bought all the produce (can you say 185 Roma tomatoes and 15 bunches of cilantro?) for OFLC's 3-day cooking marathon. 

The OFLC team was large: 28 people. "Too many cooks in the kitchen" isn't just a saying, so Scott planned a few projects around the YLM campus, including cutting down The Tree. There's probably a 20 year-old picture of me climbing it, so I needed a moment.

I lived 2+ of my three years in Building #13b...here. 

Luz moonlights as a Christian counselor. I was honored to be her plus one for her office Thanksgiving potluck that afternoon. I knew I needed to save room for dinner with the OFLC group, arriving that evening, but I was there for the pumpkin pie with the only correct topping, end of story: Cool Whip (also peep the sourdough bread with pumpkin butter). 

Part of OFLC's tradition is making baggies of leftover Halloween candy for the kids at each site. I helped stuff them Thanksgiving morning, and I can honestly say I've never seen so much candy. This isn't even all of it, and we're not talking Dum-Dums and Tootsie Rolls, either. 

We paused from our labors for an 11 am bilingual worship service, which included a blessing for us volunteers.

I was pleased to see YLM's Thanksgiving service tradition, allowing members of the congregation to state what they're thankful for in either language, continues. 

After church...we feasted! The menu:

Turkey

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Corn

Charro beans

Rolls

Salsa

Yellow cake with Cool Whip icing

Kool-Aid

Thursday is a mere warm-up for Friday and Saturday, when quantities are scaled up and everything gets packed for transport into Mexico.  

My dear friend Carol and I appointed ourselves as lunch-makers so those who'd cross the border could eat en route. 

Rev. Micah Steiner (2nd from L) led Friday's Mexico crew in prayer before setting off for Anapra.

Some people knew I was in town...others, like Rev. Javier Lozano and Deac. Rosy Lira, did not!

A highlight for me was meeting one of Mexico's current deaconess students (far L), and two of the 2022 deaconess graduates (2nd from L and far R) - Rosy's sister and niece.

OFLC kids waiting for the pre-meal meditation to begin. 

Maddie ran a tight ship when it came to candy. The distribution was hands-down the most orderly I've ever seen...and quite possibly the only time there's been enough for seconds. 

I crossed back into the US with the Heimer family and invited myself to "ice cream night."

Saturday morning before helping Carol make sandwiches, I answered a plea for volunteers to help with YLM's weekly drive-thru food pantry. I'm on the far L, with my back to the camera, handing out blankets I would have rather wrapped myself in; it was cold!

Somehow, I managed to snag a coveted seat in the van both days, so off to Km. 30 I went. 

More people who didn't know I'd be there: Rev. José "Pepe" Hernández and Cecy, a member who's loaned out her carport for innumerable church events. 

Pre-meal singing - and this song in particular - made my heart soooooooo happy. 

The team left early Sunday - or Saturday night, in the case of one family - but I wanted to go to my old church so my flight wasn't until Monday morning. 

Sunday night, I finally connected with the Viramontes family, including my goddaughter Viviana (center, in pink). She's 14 now, and I couldn't be prouder of the beautiful young lady she's become. She's a freshman at a magnet school for health sciences (she wants to be a nurse) and enjoys messing around on her skateboard for fun. She doesn't want to have a quince next year because she's not into dancing (like [god]mother, like [god]daughter). We ate pancakes, and then they drove me around their neighborhood. It used to be in the boondocks, but now there's a shopping center, a Home Depot, and an Amazon fulfillment center. 

While I missed the Thanksgiving service and potluck with the missionary and seminary community in the DR, I'm so glad I took this walk down memory lane. El Paso in general and YLM in particular have no doubt morphed in the past six years, but some things were exactly the same and will probably never change. I know more about missiology now than I did then as a rookie, but YLM will always, always hold a special place in my heart as the catalyst that set me on the path to where God has me now. It's very existence is a testament to the fact that He is present there, "changing lives every day through simple acts of kindness." 

Five hour layovers on the way home are always better when a volunteer you hosted in Panama picks you up and goes to lunch with you. 

Until next time, blessings!