This season, more than any other, has been a time of growth and transformation for The Giving Gifts. Every time I open my computer to write an update, I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of progress and motion. As the calendar fills up for summer, I am profoundly grateful to be in this position. If you had told me a year ago that life would look like this, I don't know if I would have believed you. The way The Giving Gifts vision is coming to life in ways I could never have imagined is one of the greatest gifts I am privileged to share.
One of the most difficult aspects of having a big vision like the one I’ve been given for The Giving Gifts has been trusting what comes along with it. Big visions can be overwhelming. When I first envisioned the World Ocean Day cleanup and celebration, I was immediately met with a millllllion questions combating the image in my head.
Will people show up? Will we make a real impact? Is this the right way to go about it? These questions swirled in my mind, and more than being scared of the answers, I noticed how much shame I felt about my insecurity. But here’s what I am learning: that insecurity is a gift. That doubt was ultimately an invitation to invite more people in. It didn’t diminish the vision; it actually expanded it.
I am realizing more and more the beauty in being given a vision and not having all the answers. Community is built through sharing doubts and opening up the vision to go beyond my own. Collaboration really is a beautiful thing.
Grief Garden & May’s Cleanup
On May 4th, we had 42 people gather for a beach cleanup. This weekend was already emotionally taxing here in Ensenada due to the devastating loss of three young men visiting on a surf trip. Oddly enough, we had already made the underlying theme of the cleanup “learning to share in our grief”—this concept that grief, although an individual experience, doesn't need to be experienced in isolation.
People who had never met one another walked the beach together, cleaned together, and took part in an activity we called “Jardín del duelo” or Grief Garden. We safely propagated succulents and, with some cinnamon and honey added to the root, we were able to plant and take home a representation of the new life that comes when loss is shared. We left the beach that day with nearly 400 pounds of trash and recyclables and a restored hope that the suffering we experience in this world matters.
We say “nos vemos” to Hannah & Zoe
Hannah from Northern California and Zoe from New Zealand spent four months in Ensenada interning with EMI, Engineer Ministry International. The Garcia family hosted them, and I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed their contribution to the Giving Gifts community.
Hannah and Zoe went above and beyond in every way imaginable, lending their time and ideas to the startup of the cleanups here in Ensenada. Saying “nos vemos” or “see ya later” was tough, but it's encouraging to see how they both get to be part of a much greater vision for The Giving Gifts. I’m excited to continue to witness the exploration and identification of their individual gifts as they seek to use them in this world.
Our first workshop & collaboration with Colectiva
At the end of May, we partnered with Colectiva, an incredibly talented group of artists with a vision to use their art to bring people from all walks of life together. When the idea of doing a workshop that involved a beach cleanup and art was brought up, it was a quick “Yes”.
The vision for workshops is slightly different than cleanups, aiming for smaller groups to create space for deeper connections. We began with a cleanup that allowed people to get to know one another and then had a guided art project. We learned a lot collectively and I am stokedddd for the upcoming workshops this summer (p.s. discover:surf may be making its way here in august!!!!!!)
World Ocean Day
Finally, that brings us to this past weekend. To be honest, I am still very much processing all of it. There were so many people who made the day possible. The theme for the World Ocean Day cleanup and celebration was unity, a lesson that the ocean exemplifies better than anything else.
Like the seas connect the land, we had over 60 amazing individuals come together to clean and celebrate. “juntos puedemos” “together we can” was our theme for the day as we removed over 240 pounds of waste! It was SO sweet to see people of all ages, from little people to older adults, working side by side, UNITED.
The event was more than just a cleanup; it was a celebration of community. We enjoyed activities, a raffle filled with incredible and thoughtful gifts, and a space for celebration provided by Wendlant (the coolest brewery across the street from where we clean), complete with drinks and food. The sense of camaraderie was palpable, and the support from everyone involved was overwhelming.
This incredible experience is difficult to encapsulate in words, but the unity, effort, and joy shared that day are unforgettable. I am deeply grateful to everyone who participated and helped make this vision a possibility. (of course it wouldn’t have been an event without starting the day dropping a huge water jug on my foot, a fun encounter with port security letting us know we couldn’t be there, and them changing their minds and enjoying some pastries together, and a little rain.)
Okay, okay, okay, that is probably enough for now. Bravo if you have made it this far! I really wasn’t planning on sending such a long update, but truly, there is still so much that is being left unsaid. What I will say, again, is that I am so incredibly thankful to be doing what I do. None of this would be possible without the vision that I trust God is providing and all the people who have gathered and rallied around that vision. There is so much more being planned for this summer and I cannot wait to share it with you. I promise I’ll share more regularly and a little less all at once moving forward.
As always, if you’d like to chat, explore opportunities to be part of what’s happening, or want to support the movement of The Giving Gifts, please don’t hesitate to reach out!!!