G R I P International

Happy Birthday Mom!

kateyhage — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:26:28 +0000

Surprise. Since this blog hasn’t been posted on in a while. I thought I sneak a little message in. Happy Birthday Kathy Nedelisky- co-director of GRIP international. Hope you have a fabulous day!

Love, your daughter

season final game and fiesta

gripinternational — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:45:21 +0000

Last Saturday Kathy & I were priviledged to have our family visit us from the states and participate with the kids playing baseball. Our grandson JJ experienced first hand the joy of batting and running the bases with the local teams playing here in CSL. The kids playing had fun playing the final game of the year and met our family for the first time. After the game we gave prizes and food for all who came and participated. We are looking forward to the new year with the kids and growing the baseball program.

thanksgiving with the kids

gripinternational — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:40:07 +0000

Thanksgiving day in Mexico is just another day for many. We went to Las Palmas to play with the kids who don’t have much to be thankful for, but smile and love you no matter what day it is. Playing on the field, today we learned how to play a game that seemed foreign to them, but still fun. I came away encouraged that even though I miss my family on this special day in our country, I knew that being with my “other family” was still very fulfilling. I am thankful that we have kids here in Mexico that love us and appreciate that we take the time to impact their lives.

the changing face of a homeless person

gripinternational — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:07:25 +0000

One of our board members, Cathe Wiese runs a non-profit in Gresham, OR called My Father’s House. It’s a community shelter that houses families. This is important because despite the stereotypical belief that homeless people are old and not completely with it, there are more kids and families on the street than single adults. Crazy huh? These homeless men, women and children have a chance to start over with the support, training, and care of loving people at My Father’s House. It is a wonderful organization that seeks to challenge, teach, educate, and encourage families as they work to get out of homelessness. We are thankful for the work of Cathe Wiese and her staff. We are thankful she has chosen to partner with GRIP.

Make way for a field

kateyhage — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:34:03 +0000

This week we were introduced to an organization who helps fund and build sports facilities for youth and communities throughout the globe- Community & Sports Development Council. We hope to make a connection with them, as a potential resource for our fields here in Cabo. The major factor in building a field is having land- which is exactly what we are lacking right now. Hopefully it is only a matter of time.

kids on first

gripinternational — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:04:22 +0000

this past week was a step in the right direction for our baseball program. I was able to visit some schools and talk to them about our baseball program. It is always fun to visit the schools where kids love to eat, talk and touch. We went from class to class showing everyone the new soft baseball. Many people are afraid of getting hurt with a baseball, so I bring our new soft baseball and bouce it off of everyone’s head to show that it doesn’t hurt. The kids laugh and laugh and then we are able to invite them to come play every saturday…and have fun!! After visiting two schools, handing out flyers, we visited a primary school in Las Palmas. We will start an after school baseball program in this community which will give these kids something to do while their parents are often working. I will meet with them again this week to get the ball rolling…literally.

Saturday was great playing with the kids and seeing alot of new faces. The kids are thrilled to have someone give them some attention and are learning alot. As I struggle with the fact that we have been here over a year and still have no baseball fields for kids…I realize that the kids are having fun even if the conditions are not what they could be.

“Kids first” will always be my motto as I continue to reach out to them one at a time.

missions in Cabo?

kateyhage — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:17:35 +0000

When you hear of someone doing “missions” in Cabo San Lucas, you might find yourself thinking (maybe not out loud), why there? why a resort town? From a westerner’s perspective, specifically someone from the US, when we think of missions, or global missions, most often we think of far off places where no American has ever been. A place where tourism doesn’t abound, where English isn’t a commonly heard language, where there aren’t beautiful beaches and resorts that infiltrate the local community’s landscape. But for some, specifically GRIP international, a place like Cabo is just the place to reach out a hand and offer friendship and care. In a place like Cabo, many times the hurt, the poverty, the poor care of the underprivileged is masked by consumerism, tourism, government development, population growth, nice hotels, pretty beaches, and lots of beautiful handmade artifacts and trinkets to take back to your hometown. GRIP saw through the facade, a group of people who deserve the best, hard-working people, who need a helping hand.

Found on the english version of the Baja California government website was this statement:

“Migrating people arrive to Baja California with the intention of a temporary stay, expecting to later immigrate to the U.S.A., and when they do not accomplish it, the majority decides to reside here permanently. This is the reason why one of each two habitants is born in another State or country”.

Cabo is a land of opportunity, but sometimes not all dreams come true. Many people migrate to Cabo for work in hopes to “get ahead”: to move to the US where visions of greener grasss lie, maybe it’s to give their kids a better education, or maybe it’s just to get a job when it was difficult elsewhere. Immigrating to the states can be very difficult, and many don’t make it.

Many of the people of Cabo have basic needs that are not met everyday: nutritious food, fare wages, childcare while parents work, the presence of a father figure for children, access to free school and education, and many health needs. This is not to say that the government is not trying, but poverty exists as it does all over the world. GRIP can’t solve all these social problems, so lending a helping hand means providing kids with a fun activity, that is safe, healthful, and enjoyable. A place where kids can laugh, be mentored by adults, get exercise and learn how to work together.

Baseball is the name of the game. Helping people is the vision. The location- it could be anywhere- but for GRIP, it’s Cabo.

The history of baseball in Mexico

gripinternational — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:44:09 +0000

Many of us have heard of Latin Americans playing baseball in the states, but what you might not know is that baseball has been in Mexico for over a century. Check out this site to learn more about how it all began!

While it may be more likely to see kids in Mexico running around playing with a soccer ball, or futbol, there are a few kids with a ball and bat. GRIP wants to contribute to the legacy of baseball in Mexico. Do you want to be a part of it too?

Back in Cabo

gripinternational — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:02:19 +0000

It was a grueling trip back down the baja, but Mike arrived safely thanks to the prayers of many.
The most difficult part of the trip was when Mike left Portland alone and drove through the night.
He had to pull off in several rest areas to try and catch some winks. After a good nights rest in
Tustin, he and brother-in-law Darrel headed down the Baja. They arrived safely after 24 hours, thanks
to the prayers of many. They made it in just ahead of a threat of another tropical storm expected to
hit Cabo. Fortuntely that never materialized.
After a few days to recoop, Mike is hard at work, cleaning up after lots of rain. He has had lots of meetings
with the local folks there and many are anxious to get the baseball program up and running for the fall.
It is extremely hot and muggy but hopefully the weather will be cooling down in a few weeks.
Kathy and Annie are scheduled to be back on the 16th of Oct.

We appreciate your prayers over the next couple weeks. There are multiple things that need to be completed
before our return to Cabo.
God is so good and faithful so we trust in His strength for each day!

Kathy

Family

gripinternational — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:22:29 +0000

We have had a wonderful 2 months enjoying our family with
Jamey, Simona and grandsons Jonathan (JJ)3 and Peter 18mo., here in Portland. Son Danny and daughter Katey, husband Corey and 5mo.old Ezra are in Seattle. Son Joey was just up from Fullerton CA. We also had a visit from my brother and family from Tustin CA. We have had lots of great dinners out on the deck.
We have also been enjoying the cooler weather this summer here in Portland.
Between visiting with family we have been working diligently to complete our home. The new decks, landscape and other projects look fabulous thanks to Mike’s handy work.
We are hoping to have a buyer soon. This will really free us up
when we are in Mexico. It has been a challenge to maintain a home in the states. We have no plans of getting another home at this time. We will stay with our kids when we are up in the states.
Mike is planning to drive back to Cabo mid-Sept. Annie and Kathy will follow when things are wrapped up with the house.

It has been such a blessing to be with our loved ones, however the time goes too quickly and sadly we don’t get to spend enough time just visiting friends.

The song “Friends” by Michael W Smith is appropriate. It says
Friends are friends forever, if the Lord’s the Lord of them.
So even if we don’t get to be with you now, we think of you often and love you very much!

Wishing you all a very wonderful Labor Day!

M & K