November 2nd: Introduction on Instagram

Jessalyn made this fun intro in our new Find Your Path Mission Instagram Page:

Who are we? Are we crazy?

We're the Bates family. And maybe a little.

We're a homeschool family of 10. We grew up reading stories of great people who really made a difference. Made a difference in the world, by making a difference for 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

We asked ourselves, "Who can we help?"

It was this question that led to us to go on a volunteer trip to an orphanage in Tijuana 2 years ago. Serving together as a family brought so much joy and purpose. We were actually making a difference for the 𝘰𝘯𝘦!

When it was time to go home, we all cried.

We knew we needed to go back. We had made connections we couldn't forget.

Each time we went back, it was a little heartbreaking because some the kids we loved, were no longer there. Some went to family (happy) but more just ran away.

They were missing something and would run away to find it.

We kept going, because love is always a good thing, but we needed to find a more lasting way to help them find what they were missing.

These kids need stability and a feeling of home. They needed a stable foundation to find their path and grow into their potential.

We couldn't give that to them from Utah, so we sold everything we owned and moved to Mexico!

If you want to see how we're trying to make the difference for the 𝘰𝘯𝘦 join the Find Your Path mission! Click the link in the comments

November 3rd: Day of the Dead

In Mexico, they tend to extend holidays to several days instead of just one day. "Día de Muertos" is 3 days long. Here are some highlights.

Oct 31 when we went to see the ofrendas at the park and walked with lit candles from the church to the park to symbolically guide ancerstors to the ofrenda.

Nov 1 A sweet couple in our ward had us over for pizza and then we ate "Pan de Muertos" (bread of the dead) which is a orangey-tasting bread that is super good and watched Haunted Mansion. Coen wore his Spiderman Costume his grandma gave him for his birthday.

Nov 2 We had family and missionaries over for a traditional meal and then went to the church for a family history lesson.

Tonight we are having Mucbipollo with another family from church that we are excited to meet. It's like a huge tamale with chicken, pork, beans and hard boiled egg filling, that is cooked underground. I will post pictures of it later

November 4th: God is Involved in this Work

This is one of my favorite miracles so far. It's fun to see how God is involved in this work.

From Jessalyn on the FYP Mission IG:

We believe in understanding the root problems before we try to solve them.

Miraculously when we first came to the town we’re building in, we met a woman who had started a “homeschool”. Homeschooling is very rare in Mexico. She teaches kids and teens who have been abandoned by the public school system: orphans who don’t have enough stability to go to school, kids who work some days, kids who just learn differently then other students.

We teamed up with this school and started teaching/attending there.

As we’ve been around these kids who are like the ones we want to serve, we are learning so much!

The school is bursting at the seams! Right now, school is at the founders home. We need your help building a school that will fit all the kids who want to learn!

November 6th: Intro to the Work and Family by William

William is super talented. He created this introduction video for us. This is his post:

We are Find Your Path Mission. Our mission is to help youth and children here in Mexico break free of the consequences of addiction, abuse and poverty so they can find their path and achieve their great potential! There are many ways to help our mission and you can start by subscribing to our youtube channel:

November 7th: Starting a Vlog

Come join us on this adventure. We are starting a vlog, please subscribe and tell your friends!

November 12th: Our Friend Got Baptized

Our friend Kalix got baptized last night. The love Jesus feels for Him was palatable at the baptism.

He was so prepared for the gospel message and so ready to follow Jesus whem he heard it, overcomimg MANY challenges over the last month (and thoughout his life) to get to this point.

I believe he is going to do great things for God and His kingdom. Heaven was celebrating today!

November 13th: The Primary Program

We got to learn from the children at church last Sunday. They taught us to remember to love Jesus and build a closer relationship to Him through the study of the Bible and Book of Mormon and by caring for each other.

I couldn't record my kids during the meeting so I asked them to say their part later for family who couldn't be there.

It is good to remember that we are all little children in God's eyes. That He loves us just as we are with all of our past and present weakness, and that, as our Father, He wants to walk with us through life to help us see as He sees, love as He loves, and grow into our divine potential.

November 14th: Joshua Breaks His Wrist

Kind of a rough day for Josh today.

Lots of rain makes for mud everywhere and a slippery floor. Especially since it's a muddy path from our bedrooms to the dining and kitchen area.

Josh hurt his arm playing soccer a couple of days ago. We thought about taking him in for x-rays but we decided to wait it out to see if it kept hurting. It was starting to feel better so he asked James to play soccer in the dining/laundry area of our home.

They said they wouldn't play rough, but they're boys and it got competitive. he slipped on the muddy tile floor and landed on his wrist again.

This time we were sure it was broken . He was in a lot of pain. We went to the little town hospital. They sent us to the town x-ray lab.

It turned out to be broken. He is using a wrist splint right now until the specialist comes in on Thursday to tell us what else we will need to do.

He was super sad. He's been through this before and he knows what to expect as far as recovery. He is in a ton of pain too. We hope all goes smoothly on Thursday!

November 15th: Introduction Reels

How this move happened and why we started this nonprofit

See Reel Part 1

See Reel Part 2

November 17th: Encouraged by Others

Today I got home from shopping and found the water wasn't working in the kitchen, so I would have to leave the dirty dishes in the sink until I could figure it out tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the kitchen will be full of bugs in the morning with all those unwashed dishes. Not looking forward to that.

The kids and I had stopped for a quick dip in the ocean after shopping, which was nice, but it made for a cold, wet ride all the way home.

I dreaded jumping into the cold shower, but I worked up the courage, and then when I got out, I noticed I forgot to put a bucket on my bed. The roof leaks over a spot on my bed when it rains and so there was a 2 foot wet spot on it.

This wasn’t just annoying because I couldn't get warm, but also because it meant mosquitos would be hanging our near our bed all night (they seem to love wet cloth!)

Feeling annoyed, I took out the mosquito zapper racquet. Coen and I started zapping as many mosquitos as we could find so that there wouldn't be as many to bite us.

I started to feel a little sorry for myself (and being a mom, I not only feel sorry for me but also for putting my kids through this, voluntarily leaving the comforts of our old home). No one was complaining, but still..

Just as I was starting to head into homesickness and self-pity... I remembered that right now, there is a group of BYU-Idaho students having a big dance fundraiser to help us in this cause.

As I thought of them, I felt their love through their willingness to add to their already busy schedules and put together such an awesome event. They did all this to help youth in Mexico that none of us really know yet (except for a few of them).

However, we all share the belief that each of those youth have a divine potential and will do great things for the world if given the opportunity.

So that's why we are here trying to do our part to help, and they are there, doing theirs.

Inspired by their faith as I thought of them. I told God thank you for inspiring such amazing people.

Our home felt much more cozy and happy...mosquitos, dirty dishes, wet blankets, and all

Thank you Anna and friends, for who you are and for your great faith! Your courage strengthens ours.

P.S. By the time i got done writing this long post, our sheets were dry

November 18th: A Yucatan Tradition for Getting Engaged

Funny and interesting experience I had paying for dance and guitar lessons the other day. I love comparing cultures to find what like best. What do you like and not like about this tradition?

November 19th: Oh It Is Wondeful!

We were a mess as we walked into church today. 15 minutes late, we sat down and I noticed Coen had his breakfast all over his face. I had forgot to iron my very wrinkly skirt. Dallin's clothes had gotten rained on after he hung them out to dry so he was in his nicest flannel shirt and khakis.

To top it off, as we were singing the sacrament song I looked down and noticed my sandals and feet were muddy.

I thought of how symbolic that was because no matter how hard I try, I'm always a mess in my efforts.

Then I tuned into the second verse of the song we were singing:

"Me cuesta entender que quisiera Jesús bajar del trono divino para mi alma rescatar;

que Él extendiera perdón a tal pecador

y me redimiera y diera Su gran amor.

Cuán asombroso es que por amarme así

muriera Él por mí. Cuán asombroso es lo que dio por mí."

English:

"I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"

God loves us as we are. He is patient. And he guides us and loves us into who He knows we are meant to be.

That's why we are in Mexico, because every single person is infinitely precious to Him; and they need to know.

I'm so thankful to feel His love in my mess every single day!

November 23rd: Gratitude

The kids at the school where we're teaching English and Faith share what they are grateful for.

We recently moved to Mexico to start a home and school for disadvantaged youth to reach their potential and make their personal impact for good on the world.

One of the biggest lessons we have learned is GRATUTUDE! We are so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and to be able to share His love.

November 24th: Thanksgiving

I cried a lot yesterday.

I know I'm not the only one missing loved ones during the holidays.

Thanksgiving dinner proved to be difficult to make without an oven, and without all the ingredients we used to find so easily at the nearby Walmart.

Thankfully neither of our missionaries are from the US so they weren't expecting something too special.

I was grateful for:

-Kids who still thanked me for my efforts at making a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner.

-A BEAUTIFUL first lesson with an incredible person, so loved by God, who appreciated the gospel message so much.

-Awesome missionaries who complimented the food and shared a beautiful reminder with us:

"Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not. Feat not "

Sometimes I wonder if this sacrifice will be worth the cost and if God is really going to open up a way to make it work. We miss family, resources, friends, classes, and our old home.

I have to believe it will be or I begin to slip into fear.

I'm sure the missionaries didn't know how much I needed those words, but I am holding on to them right now with all I've got.

So, so, so thankful for the understanding I have of a God who loves His children deeply and who upholds us with his omnipotent hand.

November 29th: 22 for Kids Challenge

We started a challenge today. Here is a post I wrote for it:

God gave us unique interests, talents, and circumstances for a purpose. We can each impact the world for good in our own way.

Up for a challenge?

#22forkids

The Bates family (@findyourpathmission) sold everything and moved to Mexico to create a place where vulnerable youth can develop their unique gifts and make an impact for good.

They need 1000 people to donate $22 by Christmas to be able to get started with phase 1 of their healing campus.

Will you help?

1. Celebrate: Share a picture or video of you doing something you love

2. Donate: $2, $22, (or $222!) Whatever you can give to Findyourpathmission.org/donate

3. Share: Tag 4 or more friends to nominate them for the challenge!

(You can copy and paste it from here or share this post with your own video).

The ripple effect of your post can make a huge impact!

Thank you!

This is Coen sharing one of his talents. He always has the sweetest thoughts to share at out morning devotional so this morning i got the camera out when he was about to share.

He helps me start each day with the best perspective. I'm grateful for his talent!