Written By: Libby Steinhart and Connelly Renfrow
 
Another beautiful day in Baja! Very windy! Most of us began the day with "quiet time" by the ocean with a warm cup of coffee. Sitting in a time of reflection and soaking in the present moment helped to begin the day on a great note. Before we left, we (Connelly and Libby) were feeling adventurous, so we walked on the rocks by the water line and found a sea slug that we thought was a shell. It was the size of a volleyball, very large. 
 
First, we headed off to Camp Baja with quite a bumpy road. From the moment we stepped off the bus, each person was bought in and got straight to work with whatever was needed. We painted bunk beds in a room that sleeps 32 people, and we spread heavy rocks to make an artistic heart and a cross. Pilar and her boss, Rex, were very impressed with our rock spreading and design. Next, it felt like we were on the scene of the movie "Holes." Spreading sand and creating a sand volleyball court was our next assignment. We felt like it was a desert with all the wind blowing dirt and sand in our faces. Regardless of the wind, each person had a positive attitude, locked in, and worked to get the job done.
 
This evening, we had the privilege of joining a local church and worshiping alongside them. To begin, we all sang worship songs in the chapel area, and then transitioned to small groups of about 20 people in each. There was a women's group led by Addi Pelham, Megan Sullivan, Lanie Wagner, and Kailee Bass. It is Mother's Day in Mexico, so they spoke to these women and let them know that no matter what they do or their situation, they are valuable in the eyes of the Lord. It was emotional and moving. Even though there was a language barrier, they still felt a connection with these individuals and shared a common love for Jesus. 
 
Philip Hutcheson spoke for the men's group. They discussed The Golden Rule, and the importance of treating others the way we would want to be treated. The third group was the children's group led by Libby Steinhart, Nelly Renfrow, and Logan Gish. Even though the other groups had translators, this group did not. The beginning was tough to figure out the ways to communicate with the kids because they spoke no English, but through teamwork, persistence, and Google translate, we were able to remind the children that God will protect each of us. We created the shield of faith (with paper, markers, and crayons), as well as bracelets, crosses, and fishes for the mothers for Mother's Day. 
 
All the kids were very well behaved, patient, and grateful for the crafts and love we provided them. This reminded us once again that while some may have little in the eyes of the world, their lives are marked by gratitude. The patience they have for us with our translations and "broken Spanish" has truly impacted and shaped our perspective.
 
Each night we have gathered in the "Casa Rosa" hotel room (our kitchen) and reflect on the day, share our thoughts, and debrief moments together. After the time as a whole group, we have "girl time."  This is always a special time to share our personal stories and journeys with God. This night especially we were fortunate enough to have four friends share their own stories: Jade Zaleski, Meg Mersman, Libby Steinhart, and Jada Divita. There were many laughs, tears, and wisdom shared this evening. 
 
This is only the second day of being in San Quintin as well as having these types of special moments together, and it has already impacted all our lives in ways that we didn't expect it would. We are excited for the upcoming days, and the ways in which we can impact the lives of others, as well as learn more about the friends around us.