Hola all amigos!! I absolutely cannot believe it is already almost the end of April 2017.. so, the update is I am still back working as a traveling nurse, now in Escondido, CA, which is north San Diego County. Ernie comes up from Mexico every other week or so to visit! yay! It was toooo hard being in Oregon without him....
Anyway..Ernie continues mission work in Ensenada, Rosarito and Tijuana. The Ninos de Fey Coastline orphanage project is pretty much done (our part) and we sure have been blessed to be a part of that! The latest work is shoring up the driveway down into Pastor Leo's church in Rosarito. YWAM volunteers are helping get the creek bed border wall complete and the asphalt pouring for the steep driveway should be done this week while Ernie digs out the framework for the staircase he is planning for pedestrians to walk down safely. God put the finances together as usual, more blessing and testimony to the neighborhood!
Ernie gets to go with Pastor Leo & Gloria to minister up in the hills east of Rosarito on Saturday mornings. And he is faithfully ministering to one boater at a time in the marina in Ensenada!
One more project he hopes to complete before leaving Mexico is moderating at a presentation to local pastors (and others) of the Truth Project (a video series on apologetics that Ernie was a part of moderating at Calvary Chapel of Ojai at the end of 2016.
And of course, there is the Baja 500 coming up the first week of June with MOOCH (Mount of Olives Children's Home) racing team that Ernie will be driving in and helping with building and outfitting a mechanic garage for the kids to learn how to work on vehicles there at the orphanage. Art & Ruth Penner from Canada are the owners of the car and are another couple doing God's work in Baja.
The next plan is shaping up for us to be reunited in Oregon, probably in August this year... Ernie and some friends will be bringing boat up north in July or August to Oregon coast. We have made the financial decision to return to work in the states (together) for at least one or two years to rebuild our finances before we go any further south or..?
So, our mission is not over, just a detour of sorts... next stop, probably Newport, Oregon as there are more RN job opportunities for me. I am praying that Ernie will complete his Marine Surveyor requirements finally and this will be a career he can work internationally, so the next time we head out, this will help finances also!
We are asking for prayer for guidance and swift restoration of finances... as we dream of next direction Liberator II will go from Oregon, maybe west... only God knows for sure!
But in the meantime, please know that we love and appreciate all of the brothers and sisters we have met along the way this far on the journey/mission. We have met Pastor Joe and Caroline and the El Cajon families and have been blessed to have been able to connect and get fed sound doctrine! Unbelievable how refreshing that is!!And Pastor Gary Glenney in Portland, Oregon. And these guys are online, so we can listen anytime we want to! And I have been blessed to be able to stay with family in Escondido, getting to know and love my nephews (Ryder & Riley) who I would never have had the chance to get this close to had we not come this way! Ernie has connected with several old and new friends along the way and I have no regrets that we set out when we did. We wish to thank all of you who have prayerfully and financially blessed us along the way. Also want to remind people that we still would love to have visitors, even in Oregon. Who knows what God has up His sleeve for us to do there!!?? I will update every few months on here, so you don't forget us, ok?
By the way, some awesome fellow Christian sailors, Jim & Carolyn just arrived to Fatu Hiva, the southernmost island of the Marquesas!!! How cool is that? Way to go! Just love hearing about God's kids getting to follow their dreams like that (we met them in San Diego and reconnected in Ensenada). So happy for them.
Ernie and I want to encourage all of you reading this that no matter if your dream is to sail the Pacific or write a book or build your home and family in one place or whatever... please do it and remember God. We know that this life on earth is but a vapor so our prayer is that you enjoy all God gave us and spread His name and what He did on the cross so that if one chooses the free gift of salvation, we know we will meet again on the other side!
That's all for now!
Love ya,
Ernie & Cindy
Liberator II
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Sunday, November 13, 2016
November already (Are you kidding me??)
Hi all...absolutely unbelievable that it IS mid November...well.. alot has transpired. I write this entry from the Extended Stay Hotel in Tigard, Oregon..so, we reviewed our finances the end of September and realized that we had spent our entire 2 year budget plus.. in the one year we have been gone from Everett, WA..but we know, God's in charge, not us! So, rolling up our sleeves, we are back to work. Ernie has been commuting to CA from Ensenada to do paying mechanic work. All I can do for $ is be a nurse..and the only RN license I have current is Oregon. So I am on a travel nurse assignment in Oregon. Will be here till January 9, 2017. I have reinstated my CA RN license, so am praying for next assignment in southern CA!! Ernie is still commuting back and forth to keep cats fed & watered & boat afloat in the marina in Ensenada. We have awesome neighbors who are helping us immensely! Thank you, thank you..Angie & Ralph (SV Nanner Moon, Marshall (SV Tenacity), Jan & Chuck (SV Windwatcher) and those who have sailed away..Jules & Jeff (SV El Gato).
Meanwhile, orphanage maintenance & mechanic projects continue in Tijuana & Rosarito. And Ernie has an awesome God opportunity to drive & codrive (navigate) in the Baja 1000 2016. A special thank you to Art & Ruth of MOOCH racing for believing in Ernie & welcoming him into their fold! Any of you who know Ernie at all, know that he is a total gearhead and desert rat! He is having such an experience. He says he is using all the skills he has to do this! And its just pre running right now. Please, please all of you, keep him in your prayers, for his and all others involved (spectators and participants at all levels) for their safety and enjoyment, no hurt, harm or danger to come to ANY of them, in Jesus' mighty name! Amen.
And my laptop hard drive died...hope I got all my pics & docs saved, but I am on a loaner from my mom (thanks, mom!)..so I have no idea how to send any pics...sorry.. will promise next post will have pics! ok?
Thank you all for your continued prayers, kind thoughts and gifts of support & encouragement. Love you guys!!
Meanwhile, orphanage maintenance & mechanic projects continue in Tijuana & Rosarito. And Ernie has an awesome God opportunity to drive & codrive (navigate) in the Baja 1000 2016. A special thank you to Art & Ruth of MOOCH racing for believing in Ernie & welcoming him into their fold! Any of you who know Ernie at all, know that he is a total gearhead and desert rat! He is having such an experience. He says he is using all the skills he has to do this! And its just pre running right now. Please, please all of you, keep him in your prayers, for his and all others involved (spectators and participants at all levels) for their safety and enjoyment, no hurt, harm or danger to come to ANY of them, in Jesus' mighty name! Amen.
And my laptop hard drive died...hope I got all my pics & docs saved, but I am on a loaner from my mom (thanks, mom!)..so I have no idea how to send any pics...sorry.. will promise next post will have pics! ok?
Thank you all for your continued prayers, kind thoughts and gifts of support & encouragement. Love you guys!!
Thursday, July 21, 2016
#3 for July 21, 2016... be sure to read em all...
Now for "Captain's note" from Ernie:
Wow, can't believe its been 9 months already since we left Everett. I must first give thanks to God for the Awesome journey so far, and second-awesome praise to my wonderful wife for keeping us organized and on the ball. Many sailors (men) are envious of me cuz I have a wife "totally into the boat life" well what can I say but Cindy is awesome and I could not do all this without her!! Love you sweetie!! (Geez, he made me copy it word for word)...
Thanks to ALL for all the prayers and support over the years to get us to this point. Its awesome to be a part of God's plan to spread His love to all we come across; to Him be the Glory now and forever!!
Give em Heaven!
E.
And now, some thoughts on the mission. We have been gone almost 10 months and we budgeted only for 24 months..so upon reflection, it looks like we are going to have to change some of our plans. The most logical is to not venture as far south as we had previously planned. So as of now, we are thinking we will go as far south as Puerta Villarta area, then when ready, do the Pacific Puddle Jump from there. There are classes to prep for the ocean crossing that we want to take that start every January. So we will prepare to "jump" either April, May, or June of 2017 or 2018. Mission work we involve ourselves in further south will determine our plans of course. Please keep this mission voyage in your prayers.
Wow, can't believe its been 9 months already since we left Everett. I must first give thanks to God for the Awesome journey so far, and second-awesome praise to my wonderful wife for keeping us organized and on the ball. Many sailors (men) are envious of me cuz I have a wife "totally into the boat life" well what can I say but Cindy is awesome and I could not do all this without her!! Love you sweetie!! (Geez, he made me copy it word for word)...
Thanks to ALL for all the prayers and support over the years to get us to this point. Its awesome to be a part of God's plan to spread His love to all we come across; to Him be the Glory now and forever!!
Give em Heaven!
E.
And now, some thoughts on the mission. We have been gone almost 10 months and we budgeted only for 24 months..so upon reflection, it looks like we are going to have to change some of our plans. The most logical is to not venture as far south as we had previously planned. So as of now, we are thinking we will go as far south as Puerta Villarta area, then when ready, do the Pacific Puddle Jump from there. There are classes to prep for the ocean crossing that we want to take that start every January. So we will prepare to "jump" either April, May, or June of 2017 or 2018. Mission work we involve ourselves in further south will determine our plans of course. Please keep this mission voyage in your prayers.
July 21, 2016...continues
So, we do want to share a scary incident that happened one week after we got to Ensenada. As most of you know, we bought an awesome old beater car (La Bamba, 1995 Buick Regal) for transportation to and from Mexico when we were still in San Diego. Well, the second Sunday we were driving home from church and fellowship with Pastor Leo & Gloria on the libre (free) back mountain road to Ensenada and when coming around a blind hairpin curve/turn in the road, La Bamba was hit on the driver's side by a riderless Harley Davidson motorcycle. Really! Turns out, Raul & his amor dumped the bike on a curve, fell off and the bike righted itself to continue on and hit us...God is in charge as always and He worked everything for good. No major injuries to anyone. No one went to jail... we just saw the movie "Get the Gringo".. Whew! Raul honorably paid for car repairs and we made two more friends here in Mexico!
Ernie always lookin for another buggy! This is the best vehicle for here, for sure! But don't tell La Bamba! No worry, its way not in our budget!!
Finally, this week...construction work begins on the nueva casa para huerfanos (the new home for Casa Hogar, Ninos de Fe orphanage in Baja Malibu), working with Coastline Church of Carlsbad, CA. What a blessing to the children, caretakers (Victor & Gabi) & community Coastline Church has been and is being--really unbelievable!
We have also met a lot of wonderful & welcoming cruisers and office personnel here in Cruiseport Marina in Ensenada. All of our documentation paperwork is now in order and we feel so much more secure here!! We have been making time for Mexican Train dominoes once a week. Also blessed to have la leccion en Espaniol cada miercoles (Spanish lessons every Weds) right here in the marina, Gracias, Senora Alejandra!!
July 21, 2016
Hola, Amigos.. we are really feeling like honorary Mexicans now! We are starting our 3rd month in Ensenada!! What a wonderful time here. In between trips up to Estados Unidos (U.S. in Espaniol)!
We also reunited with some sailors from CA that we met in Monterrey, Ronald & Bridgett, who came down to visit their sailboat, Shameless. While they were here, they introduced us to the BEST pizza in Mexico we believe! Ochento's..hidden in the wine country near Ensenada. We met the family owners and hope they take some time off and come down to the marina to go sailing before we leave here in November!
When we were up north, visiting family and friends, we got the chance to reconnect with David & Danielle, missionaries we met years ago in Santa Barbara through Tristan Harvey. We haven't seen David & Danielle in at least 7 years-- David just finished training as a pilot and mechanic! to be a missionary bush pilot--we saw them just before they headed north somewhere for official training for that kind of mission! Wow!! So we got together for coffee with Tristan too!
Trying to get a good picture of the huge beautiful Mexican flag is difficult!
Meanwhile, Ernie is busy, busy, busy...his gifts and talents are of great service here. He has done lots of mechanic stuff..maintenance and vehicle fixes. And last week, he was wearing his electrician's hat;
revitalizing electricity to the caretaker home for Pastor Leo & Gloria's church in Rosarito, Lo Mejor del Trigo. 
We also reunited with some sailors from CA that we met in Monterrey, Ronald & Bridgett, who came down to visit their sailboat, Shameless. While they were here, they introduced us to the BEST pizza in Mexico we believe! Ochento's..hidden in the wine country near Ensenada. We met the family owners and hope they take some time off and come down to the marina to go sailing before we leave here in November!
When we were up north, visiting family and friends, we got the chance to reconnect with David & Danielle, missionaries we met years ago in Santa Barbara through Tristan Harvey. We haven't seen David & Danielle in at least 7 years-- David just finished training as a pilot and mechanic! to be a missionary bush pilot--we saw them just before they headed north somewhere for official training for that kind of mission! Wow!! So we got together for coffee with Tristan too!
Tristan & his family have been in Bali, Indonesia for the past year.. to return in the next week or so--who knows when we will see them again!
Friday, May 20, 2016
May 20, 2016
Hi all...well, I know its been awhile since I posted...alot has been going on. We were in San Diego the full 3 months to avail ourselves of free cruisers anchorage! Had a few visitors from north of San Diego...got more acclimated to life on the hook...made weekly trips to Mexico. Ernie is doing maintenance mechanical work on lots of orphanage & church vehicles. We have met several awesome cruisers along the way. Carol & Craig (windcutter), Neal, Tally, & Jan (raven), Marshall (tenacity), Jim (bruyere), Jim (double angel)...to name a few. We have now also made the move south to Ensenada Mexico...leaving behind lots of San Diego sailors/friends...Vanessa, Norbert, Lester, Justin, Jason, Ed the rigger & Ed from the wall...Getting to know lots of folks here at Cruiseport marina...they have a cruisers website & vhf net. Very helpful! Once we get our bearings, will resume ministry work...orphanage new home sale is still pending, so we can't start work on remodel til all the legal stuff is done, but always vehicle work and homeless ministry work to do!.. We are a bit dismayed that we had to rent a slip here cuz we can't anchor in the bay here...and there are lots of $$ fees when you exchange $$ and unexpected boat/old car expenses/printer replacement/cell phone replacement/vessel documentation name change fees (who knew ernie & cindy weren't our legal names!!?).. But we are still learning alot! We have come to the conclusion that when we use up all our $$...if God doesn't need us to continue this mission trip by providing more resources...we will know its time to go home...wherever that will be!! We are planning to reroute trip at this point to only go as far south as Puerta Vallarta...then do pacific puddle jump from there! Keep us in your prayers!
May 20, 2016...pics
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