Help-Project Blog

February 19, 2015 By Jodi Bueckert 2 Comments

Putting It On Hold… Finding Faith For the Future.

Last night I awoke at 12:00 am till 2 a.m. For those of you on Facebook you would have seen me online. You know how it goes… Shift to the left. Shift to the right, shift to your back… Nothing feels comfortable. Then the raging thoughts begin. There just might have been some snores from Darryl’s side of the bed too. He He He

I’m struggling as of late with my life that is on hold. I feel like it’s been on hold forever if I’m honest. We’ve had such a tremendous time here in Mazatlan and Serving aside it has been an excellent time to regroup, refresh, and re-evaluate our lives a bit. A lot of our life before we left Langley was preparing to really put our life on hold. Putting belongings into storage, selling items, building, painting, cleaning, designing, and all the last-minute details that we had. Saving for our future hasn’t happened in over a year, putting education savings on hold, bank accounts dwindling has been the theme, and not to mention putting our jobs on hold. All on hold… For what? For how long? “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus….” I assure you I’m not complaining, just trying to be honest out loud.

God has really begun to show us why he needs us here for The Vineyard church and that especially goes for Darryl. Between processes, admin, and two church websites he’s on his toes lately. I think he really feels fulfilled, because the work he’s doing is not for him, and all for God.

I recently finished reading the book Simplify: ten practices to unclutter your soul by Bill Hybels. Here’s a snippet from his book.

“Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Overscheduled. Sound familiar? Today’s velocity of life can consume and control us . . . until our breakneck pace begins to feel normal and expected. That’s where the danger lies: When we spend our lives doing things that keep us busy but don’t really matter, we sacrifice the things that do.

What if your life could be different? What if you could be certain you were living the life God called you to live—and building a legacy for those you love? If you crave a simpler life anchored by the priorities that matter most, roll up your sleeves: Simplified living requires more than just cleaning out your closets or reorganizing your desk drawer. It requires uncluttering your soul. By eradicating the stuff that leaves your spirit drained, you can stop doing what doesn’t matter—and start doing what does.

In Simplify, bestselling author Bill Hybels identifies the core issues that lure us into frenetic living—and offers searingly practical steps for sweeping the clutter from our souls.”

In one of the chapters of his book he encourages you to choose a life verse. A verse to keep you on track, through ups and downs, emotions, and anything that can sidetrack you from completing the life that God has for you. Where are you struggling? Generosity? Are you anxious? Do you need more compassion? More awe of God? More gratitude for what is in front of you? Hey? I think by now I’m talking to myself…

1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is never in vain if it is in the Lord.

Please be praying for us we lean on God for this summer. We will have to jump straight back into lives once we are home, and as the sun rises and sets, so will the bills into the mailbox. This is a worry for us, and we have to trust that God will provide, and more. I know he will!

On a side note, please be praying for our businesses. We feel God shifting them slightly to be better used for his work and we hope for Clarity around this. It’s tricky to Know how much to work on now and starting to build this amongst enjoying our time here, serving, homeschooling, Etc. Knowing that we need to make an income by June is really quite scary. God help me.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

That’s my prayer for today.

January 22, 2015 By Jodi Bueckert 2 Comments

Life as we know it: A bit of what we are doing here in Mazatlan.

Hey all! I figured it was time to let you in on a few things brewing, (besides the amazing Mexican coffee I drink every morning). Sorry couldn’t pass that one up!

This is a guess but I’m thinking that a lot of you wonder what a typical day looks like for us? Each day is different with fabulous places, feelings that come our way, and some moments more frustrating. Our days have generally looked a little like this…

5:30 am Emily wakes up… Such an early riser!
7:00 am Ben wakes up! See the difference?

When I wake up I immediately make coffee, and we enjoy breakfast together.
Mornings are for exercise, so that’s when I get my sweat on. Wow! With the bit of extra humidity, I do sweat. I’m enjoying my jogs along the boardwalk at the ocean.

We walk a lot, and this is our neighbourhood.

Classy huh? This is Mexico! Beyond these downright dirty, smelly, loud streets are really nice people, cheap limes, and a beautiful ocean one block from our house. Our Home street is super quiet with very interesting and beautiful people and perhaps we might do a video tour of our home? You never know.

School hasn’t been very strict lately, so mornings have been for doing math for both grades, some reading, but keeping it chill. Some times the kids play math games on their devices, and other times we’ve brought home work to the Church if we need to be there. We will however have to make sure that the kids get enough studies in before March as my bro and his family are coming to visit. Yippee! Can’t wait to show them here.

Most of our days are spent doing errands, grocery shopping, we go to the beach, head out to various feeding and ministry programs that the vineyard is a part of. Most of our time as of late is Darryl sitting in front of his computer doing web design for the church.

The leaders of the Vineyard are super excited that we are here. They’ve been praying for someone to come along that can help them with their website. In comes Darryl. One of the pastors said that its their prayers, and their fault we are here. Who’s really keeping track? We honestly had no idea what we would be doing down here when we made the decision to come, and now the pieces are finally coming together for us as a couple.

So back to The Vineyard ministries website, you’ll see its a bit dated, and could use some tender loving care.

The Vineyard ministries relies on donations to keep their awesomeness going, so it’s in the plan to truly show their web visitors just how important their work is for the children, and families of Mazatlan. Will keep you updated, when Darryl has something up.

I’ve been spending some of my time on Pinterest, working for the church. Yeah I know hard work…. Fill you in on that another day. Can I just say how much I miss Home magazines?
Thankfully Pinterest keeps my creative juices going.

Anyways, we feel more settled, especially at church. For awhile there it was hard feeling like the new Fam in town. I’m even going to the women’s retreat next week at church, which will be interesting. The average age attending probably will be 65, so I’m sure somehow I’ll walk away with decades of faith, wisdom, and promises from God, and maybe even an awesome manicure. Who knows?

Anyways, will let you go. We appreciate your prayers, and financially we can’t do this without you. Thank you again to those who have helped us out. Extremely humbling. God bless you!

Prayer requests: Continue to pray for Ben and Emily. Even though our kids Are having a blast, Ben asks regularly “why did you bring me here? “. It’s hard, he’s only seven. He greatly misses his complex friends and his cousin Jack. All we can do is show him the child sponsor ship website that Daddy is working on.. For .30 cents a day you and I can change a child’s life and break this awful cycle. Ben- that’s why. You’ll appreciate this experience when you’re twenty.

Thanks!

Darryl, Jodi, Emily and Ben!

December 29, 2014 By Jodi Bueckert Leave a Comment

No Hassle Fresh Shrimp Ceveche

I just have to share with you a recipe that I made last night. It’s simple, but with a bit of chopping you’ll have a nice dinner, appy, or snack in about 20-30 minutes top. Perhaps it might show up at your New Years party? Yep, your guests will thank me.

Fresh Shrimp Ceviche

3 cups cooked chopped shrimp.

2 cups chopped cucumber

1.5 cups chopped onion. Red or white is fine.

2 cups of chopped fresh tomato

lots of limes for juicing. I used about 6 key limes.

1 large handful of cilantro chopped super fine.

First step: I cooked up the raw shrimp in a skillet till they were just cooked. Be careful not to over cook the shrimp. After they are all cooked up, I chopped them finely. Place in the fridge to cool. I find visually food looks best when all the components are chopped the same size, but feel free to do as you like, and don’t sweat it. It will all taste the same in the end regardless.

Second step: After the shrimp is cooled a bit, you can now add all of your chopped veggies, cilantro, onions, and this is where you will need lots of lime juice. I used approx. 6 key lines, so use the amount that you want to taste. Authentic ceviches are served with a lot of lime, but make it your own.

Third step: Allow for the mixed up ceviche to sit for a few hours to allow all the flavors to blend in, and then it’s ready to serve with either tacos, tostadas, or however you’d like to eat it. I made it into a meal and served it with retried beans, and rice.

Enjoy!

December 24, 2014 By Jodi Bueckert 7 Comments

So This Is Christmas…

This is the week leading up to Christmas! We’ve put our tree out, added some gifts, baked some shortbread to give to the neighbors, ( which was super tricky when you don’t have the proper measuring tools.) This week we await to go to the Christmas Eve service at the Vineyard Church. Going to church on Christmas Eve is certainly tradition for our family. I can’t imagine a time or year when I didn’t go as a child, so I’m glad my parents passed this tradition on to us kids. What would Christmas be without remembering that little baby in the manger?

Last week I promised to send you a few things that we’ve found challenging. You know since starting to write this post, I’ve had some really good conversations with God. Ben and I went out skateboarding/walking the other day and it was a good time to clear my head, take in the waves, and have the warm sun on my face. It’s amazing what water, waves and sun can do for someone’s soul? Week 2-4 were really hard and sort of felt like I was not feeling grateful for this experience, as well I lack in patience.

There’s a lot that we do enjoy so it’s hard to mention all of it. I mentioned a few things in my post last week, and if you get our updates through Facebook, you’ll see that Mazatlan is bringing us joy. I think the hardest part for us now is to balance having purpose (the serving part) without feeling that we have to perform, but listen to Gods prompting. I know for our kids, especially Ben who is only 7 years old really struggles why we are here. Why does he have to leave the neighbour kids that he loves playing with and leave our life in Langley and plunked it down in Mazatlan? It’s hard as adults to listen to God and be obedient with the simplest things so why would I expect our 7-year-old boy to understand this journey? My heart aches as a Mother when he’s sad. I know this is temporary, and the lessons he/we will take with us back to Canada will forever change our family.

Even though I find more purpose some days than others, I will admit that we do miss home. I think each one of us misses different things and each of our journeys are not alike. This is a life untravelled, and by God’s grace he will see us through this. Not only to see how he wants us to show favour to our neighbour, a man on the street that is hungry, or a drug addict up the street. In God’s eyes we are all equal. All sinners, except for me I am privileged to know his love, and forgiveness every time I screw up! Which is almost daily obviously. It’s because of the birth of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for you and me that this is all possible.

I really miss home. It’s only been 5 weeks, but it’s funny how familiarity is so key. The other day we were killing some time and spent about 45 minutes in a Walmart. In Langley we never Shop in Walmart, but coasting around the store here in Mazatlan was comforting because it is familiar. Can you imagine that if we only did what was familiar how we as humans would never grow?

We live in a very non-touristy area so our family is always in the spotlight. We get all sorts of looks, from, joy, surprise, a sense of welcome, confusion, to downright… “What the heck are you doing here?” Looks. As much as Darryl and I have taken on an attitude to not care what others think of us, part of this journey and the stares get really old quickly. I will say that in the last few weeks we have started to feel more settled and at home.

We are settling more and more. The first few weeks were like Darryl says… “A shock to all the senses”. The sights, the smells, and sounds were over whelming when you know that this is your life is now for 6 months. That’s half a year!

Anyways, I’ll stop rambling, and let you get back to your egg nog, chocolate, and candy canes. Those are all good things for the senses. I know we will be taking a few of our own. We will be back in the next few weeks to update you on what we are doing, so stay tuned.

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Bueckert Casa; You are in our thoughts daily!

Darryl, Jodi, Ben and Emily.

December 13, 2014 By Jodi Bueckert 2 Comments

Sand, Sun, and Propane Gas: The Joys Of Mazatlan.

Hello from Mazatlan!

I must say we appreciate all the love you all have sent us via text, email, Facebook! We appreciate every One of you in so many ways and this journey would not be the same without you.

A few weeks back I wrote about our first week here in Mazatlan. I’m sorry That I’m a bit behind on getting some thoughts down as the last few weeks have had all sorts of stuff going on.

I think one of the main areas I’d like to touch on today is a question that mostly family asks us on a regular basis and at the time it’s hard to answer fully so I will today.

1. What is your Favourite part of Mazatlan?

2. What have you found most challenging? I’ll save this for next time, so stay ready for that post.

I’ll start with the positive, We’ve had a lot of kinks the last few weeks here at the house to deal with, (one of the benefits to renting a home versus home ownership. When something goes wrong you call someone else to fix it). A lot of this home is brand new, and this is the test drive for all of the home elements working out together.

As I type, we currently do not have running water from our sinks as there is something wrong with the water pumps. Emily announced this morning that if we aren’t going to have running water then she is packing her bags and I quote.. “getting out of here!”. Kids….

A few weeks ago in one area of the house there was a really strong presence of propane gas. This was lagging on, so we made our landlord aware. Her maintenance guy came to have a look. The contractors that did the work a few years ago sealed off the existing pipes from the old boiler with what looked to be a piece of cardboard and not actually taking the time and money to seal off with an attachment. This was behind a concrete wall in one of our open walkways, and it was enough that our sensitive noses could smell it. The idea of what could have happened or that a bomb did not go off is beyond me and I thank God for his safety and provisions.

Any ways… I thought this part of the blog post was supposed to be positive? Sort of got sidetracked there. Any ways, in some ways I guess it is positive. The Landlord is extremely grateful that Darryl and I are living in this home the first time. We’ve been able to shrug off lots, and carry on. This is a great home for us, not only the flow of the house, but Design wise it’s perfect for us while we are here.

I’ll list just a few things that we’ve enjoyed because I know you don’t have 20 hours to read a very long post.

We are saving so much money on Groceries. The other day a truck on our street was selling avocados. I purchased 9 small ones for 10 pesos. So about . 85 cents. Yep, I know!??

The mexican kids faces really light up when they get to see our kids. especially Ben because he really plays with them and he loves to Play! The girl’s eyes light up when they see Emily’s bracelets, so its in the works to give each girl we meet a larger rainbow loom bracelet as we go along these months.

We are with our kids 24/7 now, which is really different for us. We are really enjoying that we have time with them, without distractions. However, when Grandpa and Grandma come in February, we will definitely enjoy a dinner out with out our little critters. Wink, Wink.

The water and sand are so beautiful here. Mazatlan is truly a wonderful place to vacation if you are on the look out for some place warm. We live 2 minutes from the ocean, so it makes it convenient to stroll down for an after dinner walk which we do a lot. We walk a lot. I mean a lot. I told Emily that when she returns to Canada, she will have calves of steel. 🙂

There is lots to be thankful for, even though we feel really comfortable in our home, we don’t fully feel at home. I’m not sure we ever will, but we are enjoying the journey and each new day. Each day brings its challenges, joys, hardships and hurdles. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? You too?

Stay Tuned, for my next post this week about some of the challenges we’ve noticed, and how you can pray for us.

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and emails. We appreciate you all.

Darryl, Jodi, Ben and Emily.

November 19, 2014 By Jodi Bueckert 1 Comment

We’ve Arrived In Mazatlan: The First Update.

Hola from Mexico. It’s been about a week since we’ve arrived, and there’s been so much to take in. Some good, interesting, trying, gross, unfamiliar, and some down right beautiful.

I’ll try my best to convey to you our first week, but I doubt my words will do it justice.

Lets see. We arrived on Tuesday November the 11th early afternoon after 2 days of flying, to meet the women who owns the home we are renting here in Mazatlan. We’ve been in contact with her since late spring since we found her rustic little casita on flip key. Instantly we felt connected to this home, and to her. She was extremely helpful in making us feel prepared to stay in her home, which luckily was 3 blocks from the Vineyard Church. Another awesome reason why we chose this property. All was well until hurricane Cabo came through in September. About 4 weeks ago she phoned us to let us know basically we didn’t have a home to rent any longer, and the area was basically being abandoned due to that area being so severely damaged by the storm. Of course we were sad about the news, but we knew God had other plans in mind for our family.

She happens to own a few properties in Mazatlan, and graciously has allowed us to rent her home that she’s been on the market for 2 years. It’s a beautiful,mostly renovated 2 bed, 2 bath home, spacious, lots of light, minimal finishes (which is right up our alley), full of character HOME.

So here we are, getting settled in the downtown Core of Mazatlan. Our home is on a quiet street, but most of the day it is bustling with some kids, the elderly off to the market, street bikes selling water, people who have less, people who obviously have more, young students walking to school, moms pushing strollers, bikes flying down the hill faster than you and I can blink, and the working class off to start their toil.

The first night I think both us felt like we were in a jail cell, locking up each of the gates to our home, and thank goodness the kids were oblivious. By the second night we felt so much better, and the area feels good. While this first week has felt like we’ve been on vacation, in our souls we know that’s not the case. Don’t get me wrong, the city of Mazatlan is a very beautiful city at that, but it’s taking some time to get used to the spanish chatter that goes on night and day, the looks, and the stares from Every direction. On occasion the four of us can be surrounded by plenty people on the street, but at the same time feel completely utterly alone. This shifts from day-to-day. Some days, we feel really normal, other days it feels like more of adjustment. We are being gracious to ourselves as its only been one week. We are slowly getting to know the neighbors, and thank goodness we have one neighbor that lives to the left us that speaks both spanish and English. It’s been an adjustment being the neighbors that need a little more help, as we are used to being the neighbors that help others. It’s interesting how God shapes and grows our spirits of Need for others and our dependence on him. The neighbor kids seem to really like Ben and Emily. Smiles all around, and our “Social Ben” loves to scooter and goof off with them. Emily is slowly adjusting, and getting used to the heat so she’s often quite tired. We want to show Grace to her spirit when she just feels like staying home. It’s a huge change for her, so now parts of the day at home is comfortable for her. Undeniably a bit of a coping mechanism.

This puppet I brought has come in handy to bring smiles and giggles.

I’m still praying that God will show us what do with all the rainbow looms that were so graciously donated. Thank you to everyone who got behind Emily on this idea.

Most of our week has been exploring, finding places to shop, naps or siestas, the start of home schooling, rearranging our home to feel like us, washing clothes by hand, and washing dishes by hand. Woot!

For one week in, I think we are doing pretty good. Like I said, some nights I feel like We are still in Langley, and others we know very well where We are and how we just aren’t connected yet. Those are the nights where you honestly just want to take a shower, crawl in bed and watch an American movie on Netflix.

We are starting to feel rested, the stresses of getting ready to leave are behind us and for the first time in a year I have found time to read. I’m enjoying little tidbits from various books, and it feels good.

This past Sunday we were able to make it into The Vineyard church. It felt good to be amongst fellow believers. As I stood and sang I realized… This is what it’s like to be the “new person”. The best medicine for that is to start getting involved, and I think our brains are ready To do that with the brakes on a bit.

I think there’s not going to be a shortage of ways we can help in our community, and in time I’ll take the time to share that journey as its revealed to us. For now we are pressing on with what’s in front of us. That faith.

I’ve been reading DC talk book called “how to live like a Jesus freak” – spend today as if it were your last. I’m sure this is an oldie but a goodie. I found it at a thrift store this fall and knew I’d finally one day have time to read it. In the book it quotes:

“Seek God for his direction In your life. As you press on in your faith and grow as a Jesus freak, he will make his plan for your life clearer. But don’t be surprised if he shows you just one step at a time. Faith is a lot like hiking on a trail at night, guided only by the beams of a flashlight. You have just enough light for your next step. That’s Gods way of stretching your faith and getting you to flex your prayer muscles.”

So for now, we’ve got food in our fridge, a bed to sleep in at night, a church to go to, nice neighbors, and one big flash light to guide our steps. All in time.

Till the next update, thank you for your support, prayers, we definitely feel each and every one.

Darryl, Jodi, Ben and Emily.