Find Your Path Mission

Epically Failing or Simply Learning?
(excerpt from today's blog post)

I have this deep fear, that creeps up once in a while.... that we moved to Mexico on some sort of whim... like thrill seeking. I prayed and prayed that this was not the case before we left... that it wasn't that I just wanted to chase something new (as is my tendency).

I vividly remember walking into the bathroom one night and noticing the nice, warm tile floor, whirlpool bath tub, beautiful view, large walk-in closet, and warm shower. I thought:

"Heavenly Father, I don't want to give this up. This is my dream situation. I have my parents nearby, and I have waterfalls within walking distance from my backyard. We have amazing friends. Are we doing the right thing? Or is this just a crazy whim?"

Then, the faces of each of the kids we knew at the orphanage started to come to my mind. I felt their need. And I was assured I was not doing this for me at all.

BUT it has been a year, and we haven't done anything for those kids, or much for any kids. I have made so many mistakes in the process.

From an outside perspective, we are epically failing... we are in Texas without a job or any money to get back to Mexico (the nonprofit does have some money, thanks to your donations, but we don't want to touch it for family things...like getting to and from a wedding).

The road to our home in Mexico is a muddy mess.

There are so many mosquitos that we can only earn money with the ropes course once those problems are fixed.

I've now lost half my kids (and biggest supporters physically and emotionally), and we have no idea how to move forward!

BUT from an inside perspective, we have learned SO much. It has been such a refining process. We have grown so close as a family through the hard things.

Our marriage is stronger than it has been in a long time.

We are learning how to really pray.

The kids know a lot of Spanish.

I can't think of a way to get better missionary preparation for my future missionaries than being part of an area opening for missionary work and watching people change.

AND I can't ignore the miracles! God has sent the people we needed, trucks, a ropes course with trees prepared for it in miraculous places, materials, and resources as we needed them... [read more ⬇️]

Words cannot express how grateful we are for these high caliber youth and all the work they’ve done over the past few weeks. Through teaching English, running the summer program, daily work projects in the heat and mosquitos, they maintained such a positive attitude and combined their talents in such a beautiful way. Forever thankful for our first Find Your Path Mission summer internship 2024. 🩵

We love teaching English class! Usually we involve a game to make it fun. Today the played English hopscotch where the kids had to practice forming sentences using the words in the squares. Our interns always have such great ideas 🩵

Let the summer program begin!!

We helped the kids with their school play about the story of Moses. I say we make pretty cute Hebrew towns people ;)

The interns are here! Could not have asked for a better group 🩵 We’ve already gotten a lot done these past couple days.
Working on building the garden path, teaching self reliance and sustainability. 🪴

I will be giving a short speech and praying at this Interfaith Prayer on Thursday if you want to tune in to hear a message about peace in this crazy world. I am excited to hear from the other presenters as well!

**GIVEAWAY!**
Ropes Course activity coming up! All proceeds go to Find Your Path Mexico! Tag 7 friends and you'll be entered into a raffle for a free couple ticket!
REGISTRATION LINK IN COMMENTS👇

I had a powerful experience the other day that taught me a lot about overcoming fear (and overwhelm, which is a type of fear). I hope it helps you if you are feeling overwhelmed, too. The link to read it is in the comments.

One of our favorite, surprise benefits of running a non-profit is how many amazing people we get to meet and work with! Anna Higgins, Ezrie Thacker, Joanne Davidson, Cassia Bates and Jessalyn Bates are part of our event team and have helped us so so much with bringing awareness to what we are working to do and raising funds.

Link to read the article is in the comments.

Thank you guys for having such huge hearts, awesome ideas, and so many talents!

We would LOVE more help with events, publicity, fundraising, and/or social media. If you want to be part of our team, reach out to Jessalyn at [email protected]

Who wants to come help us get a school, volunteer dorms and a home for abandoned youth built in Mexico this summer?

We have dates posted for service trips or internships!

We will also be running a leadership camp.

Check out the comments for more information 🥰

If you're in Utah, mark your Calendar for this super fun date! You won't only bond more as a couple, but you'll be helping our work here in Mexico. ❤️ The registration link is also in the comments.

Find Your Path Mission We are building a home and school for abandoned teens in Mexico

https://ksltv.com/624138/utah-family-opens-school-for-teens-in-mexico/

Utah family opens school for teens in Mexico A Utah family who volunteered at orphanages in Mexico has moved there permanently to open a school of their own.

Inspiring People (and Ropes Course Update):

Benjamin, his son Nathan, and Nathan's wife Lisa (Nathan and Lisa are the owners of Big Rock Adventure in Utah) have been putting in long volunteer hours to get the ropes course ready.

Benjamin had an encounter with a poisonous tree that is very prevalent in this area. His arms have rashes and his face is swollen, but he keeps on working with a smile, encouraging everyone. He is truly one of the most Christlike people I have ever met.

Nathan takes after his father and is so friendly and kind to everyone he meets. He shared a beautiful testimony at church yesterday when he was asked on the spot. His love and strength inspired us. He and his dad have washed our dishes, cleaned our kitchen, and are always looking for ways to do even more than they are already doing. What an honor to know them!

Lisa has a tiny new born baby who smiles a lot and cries a lot, like all newborn babies. I don't know how she has the energy to be in the jungle all day, tying tools to ropes to get them to people, working power tools, and walking all over with her baby to keep him happy. She fits in perfectly with the incredible Allen family with her powerful faith, loving kindness, and willingness to help whoever is in need.

We are incredibly blessed to know them and to get to soak in their goodness.

Thank you, too, for also being awesome people who are in this work with us by reading our emails, sending encouraging comments, sharing posts, donating, or volunteering your time and talents.

It's easy to see on the problems in the world, because there are so many, but there is also so much goodness in people! It fills me with hope and assurance that love will prevail; and our good efforts (ours and yours at home and where you serve) have great power. Thank you for who you are and what you do!

Here is a video (in the comments) with the progress so far ⤵️

Meet Someone Who is Changing the World

One of my favorite things about working with teenagers and young adults is that you get to see many of their strengths so quickly. It may be because they are less adept at trying to hide them than older adults. And you get to meet people who you know are going to change the world in big ways just by being who they are.

Five of those people are now on our FYP Event Team at Find Your Path Mission (two of them are my daughters, Cassia and Jessalyn), and the other three are young ladies whose hearts are also SO big, who have a huge desire to help those in need, and who are SO INCREDIBLY talented: Anna, Ezrie, and Joanne.

Joanne is the youngest of these amazing women.

I wanted to tell you about Joanne today because she is throwing a Valentine's Charity Bazaar for our home/school for abandoned teens in Mexico. Joanne is only 16, and she has been involved in helping with this work for a couple of years.

I first met her when we moved to Pleasant Grove and started attending a homeschool group that she was a part of.

I immediately felt at ease around her with her sweet, kind smile.

She wasn't loud and didn't try to get attention. She just went around doing good... helping a young child here, picking up garbage there, then noticing someone who needed a smile.

She didn't speak up a lot in class, but when she shared her insights, she shared wisdom far beyond her years.

She started attending Find Your Path Academy when we officially started it. When we gathered to clean land, plant, and build places for animals, she came prepared, worked hard, and seemed to wonder at those who didn't want to work, not in a judgemental way, but just in a curious way.

She organized how to plan in certain areas and led the group in her quiet way through her example.

Joanne started a dove business in which she trains doves and takes them to events. She releases them, and they fly back to her, and people will take pictures with them.

She uses the money she makes for humanitarian work. She and her siblings have sold treats and made crafts to sell in order to donate to our nonprofit. Her parents are also awesome and help inspire and support them in all of these good things.

Just from the little bit I have shared, can you already tell that she is one of those people who is going to change the world for good in a drastic way?

I got a text from Joanne's mom a couple of months ago to let me know that Joanne was going to put together a Valentine's Charity Bazaar for our nonprofit. She has worked hard to get people to sell things, donate talents, and get the word out so people will come shop.

Will you please let your friends know about this event happening tomorrow? We feel so honored to have Joanne helping us. With people like her on our team, we will see miracles.

If you cannot attend, will you make a donation toward raising funds through this Bazaar? The money will go towards a gathering pavilion and some challenge activities for the youth we will be serving at the home and school we are creating.

You can donate on the link in the comments.

Thank you for being a part of this work with us! We appreciate your love and your caring hearts so much

https://youtu.be/Ux7ok8MOs0g

Why did our family of 10 leave everything behind and move to the jungle?? Visit our website to volunteer, donate, or see more information: https://findyourpathmission.org/We are the Bates family. A family of 10 who left everything ...

The Easier Path of Impossible Goals? William just finished this video about the town where we are going to live and the paths that have been opened up so far for us there. In this video, I do an activity with the kids that demonstrates the importance of helping one another through this journey of life. We really do all have special gifts and interests that are incredibly important in this world. We can learn them more quickly when we are willing to set "impossible" goals... I just wrote a blog post about this; I'll put it in the comments.

Welcome to Solferino Website link: https://findyourpathmission.org/Find out more about our mission!

We've reached 22 donors on our efforts and raised $1686!
Thank you♥️
Please keep sharing so we can reach 1000 people :)

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