Pictures of Kids

I wanted to include pictures of some of the kids that we were working with... but, I didn't want to write a long story about them... I feel like their faces tell their own stories - even better than I could ever put into words! They are SO beautiful!

2100 Lbs. of Food - Day 4

This is a picture of all the bags of food we made (well over 300 bags). Each t-shirt bag contained 2.5 lbs. of flour, 2.5 lbs. of rice and 2.5 lbs. of beans.


Here, KC and Myson are building frames for the doors (which they later put in). A team from Pennsylvania arrived at Resplandor De Vida a couple of days before us with the intent to build a house for a painter in the colonia. God had different plans. They ended up building this - it will be used to house future mission teams. They completed the outside of the building in about 5 days - Martine, Renee (Mexicans that live at the home) and a gentleman from the colonia were busy working on putting stucco on the outside when we were leaving to come home.

When you build with wood in this environment, you need to build quickly and get the stucco on. The conditions warp the wood and ruin it very quickly. A majority of structures here are built with cement blocks and cement.

Bagging up rice...

Day 4 - Tuesday: Sylvia, Anne, Vicki, Sue and I bagged up 2100 lbs. of beans, rice and flour. When we started, we didn't think it would take all day. Then we got into it and realized... this is no small venture. By lunch time (and we started at about 8:30), we only had the rice done. A lot of it was we needed to develop a system of bagging - after lunch, the beans and rice went much faster. And knowing that over 300 families would be blessed by the food made it all worthwhile.

And looking back on the day... it probably seems boring and uneventful to bag up food all day - quite the contrary; the five of us really got to know eachother - we spent much of the day swapping funny farm stories (some old, some new), stories about our kids that brought tears to our eyes (from laughter, of course) and we sang songs (I found someone else that actually knows Peter, Paul and Mary songs)! And after you look at all the bags, even though it isn't enough for everyone in the colonia, it gave us a real sense of accomplishment that we would be able to bless a few of the families when we go out on Thursday.

Super Fun Learning Experience - Day 3

Notice what the normal is for roads in this area of Mexico! Kind of like Upstate New York in the spring...

Pastor Nacho (Jehovah Jireh Church) and his son (he intreprets the Bible lesson for Vacation Bible School) and on this day... he also became skilled in the art of Oriental Trading crafts...

Here are some boys building the craft - our story on Monday was about baby Moses floating down the river. The story concentrated on the truth that God watches over us from the moment we are created. And He is with us ALWAYS!

This little girl stuck herself to me for much of the afternoon. I would guesstimate she was about 4 years old! And she was so proud of her craft (and having her picture taken).

This is Sue. She hates glue dots. If you are unfamiliar with them... they are a crafter's bestfriend, especially working with kids. They replace the use of glue guns (which are too hot for kids) and Elmer's (which takes FOREVER to dry). They work instantly, but you do need to know how to use them. Sue, here, is cleaning glue dots off the floor. She did not have an easy time figuring out how to use them. Because of that, it was very easy for her to point any out that were stuck to the floor!

Here are 2 little boys (the one on the right is Mario) who also enjoyed having their pictures taken. And they were even more excited to look at the picture after it was taken! Does anyone have a polaroid?

Day 3 - Monday: Today was our first day of Women's Outreach and Vacation Bible School. When the women came, there were not as many as we were expecting - only about 15. But, it doesn't matter how many... it matters that one may be affected! We started the morning by feeding the ladies (and their babies) hot pancakes and coffee. All of the children drink 'cafe.' I can't imagine giving my kids coffee, but I know that it is different when you grow up with it!

The women appeared wary at first. They looked tired...they looked like they could use a break (especially mentally). And the language barrier was tough. Our interpreter, Sandra, was amazing though. She helped bridge the gap - Anne, a nurse that was a part of our team, did a teaching on basic first aid. There are no major hospitals in Juarez. If someone gets sick or injured, the care is left up to the family. There is a traveling doctor program (doctors from the states) that visits a clinic in Juarez, but the lines are unbearably long and they can't treat everyone or fix everything. Our team had made first aid kits for each of the women to take home. Anne also opened the floor for anyone with questions... she gave some consultatoin... but most important, she invited anyone that wished for prayer. And we were able to pray with quite a few (even our interpreter).

I was uncomfortable at first. I think it was mostly the language thing (I was annoyed with myself that I didn't spend more time at home learning spanish). But, my breakthrough was with a woman holding her baby. She was playing with the baby - the baby would drop something, mommy would laugh, pick up the toy, repeat... I picked up the toy when it went too far away and she allowed me to hold her little nino! He was beautiful and my heart melted when he smiled at me. And he didn't cringe, but accepted me willingly.

VBS - ok... I would not really classify the VBS as an actual VBS. I always think of the crazy week of VBS we have at our church with 3 hours of fun-filled stuff as VBS. This was more like a Sunday School lesson. But that doesn't make it any less important or does it mean that it can't have an impact on the kids who hear it. I was extremely nervous about what to say, how to teach, what to teach with, etc. And again, I was nervous about the whole language thing. But as I was preparing for the lesson (back home)... God kept telling me - 'just keep reading the story in the Bible, not the lesson - know it forward and backward and read deeper and you'll be fine.' Well, I like to think I'm usually an overplanner. To just do the basics, well, I wasn't real comfortable with that, but it was AMAZING! The story went very smoothly (with translation) and the kids were very responsive. Then we started the craft - this is where the day got funny.

We set out the craft at each table (it was one from Oriental Trading) and each of us went to a table to help them put it together! I learned 4 words of spanish very quickly and successfully helped 2 tables of boys put their craft together! It started out frustrating for everyone, but boy, were we all happy when we actually made it to the final product. It was an exhilirating feeling. But, I wasn't prepared for the fun I was about to have...

We didn't have enough driver's to take the kids back to the colonia. Garry asked if I would mind driving a truck to help take them home! Sure, no problem (It was a standard too... which I love to drive). If you notice the picture above that shows what a normal road looks like in this area, you can imagine the fun the kids have in the back of a truck! The pickup I was driving as a normal Chevy pickup and I had easy 20 kids in the back - in Mexico, there are no seatbelt laws or maximum capacity laws - if you have one van and 25 kids - all the kids WILL fit.

Ok, when I first agreed, I figured that I would have someone who could speak spanish and english with me - HA HA! It was so much fun working out a system with the kids that let me know where they needed to go. We drove all over the colonia and I think we all laughed the whole time (and no, they weren't laughing at me)! The kids were great! And we had orange slices for them as they left the truck... they were so thankful and so hopeful.

God tells us to be like little children - life is so much more fun when we do!

It is SNOWING already...

I know that KC and I CHOSE to live in New York State, but seriously... couldn't it wait until at least November 1st before falling on us? The good news is that the kids were super excited about getting the sleds and tubes out! Here are a couple of cute pics of the kids!

Day 1 and 2

Here is the view from the El Paso Airport (Juarez, Mexico is directly across the border from El Paso - the Rio Grande is what separates the two) - I was so excited to see the mountains again. I have had moments since moving back East where I truly miss the mountains with all my heart and I want to move back. I yearn for them and this was a bittersweet moment that I might be surrounded by them once again (even if it was for just a week).

Here is a horse (caballo) that lives in the compound. Being from the Northeast United States, it was a shock to see a horse not roaming free in a bright green pasture and have plenty of water. When we went over to visit him, there was no grass (or much hay) and he didn't have any water. But he was friendly and interested in what we might have... KC wanted to see if he was thirsty - It was hilarious to see a horse drink from a bottle! By the way, KC, did you wash that bottle before using it again?

To look at the animals in this environment, it definitely took some getting used to. The horse was healthy, but not to our standards (maybe our animals are a little fat?). The dogs are not pets in the sense that we have pets. They have a job to do here. They are first and foremost, watch dogs (and they make great doorbells, especially at about 3am). The dogs look like a cross between an american breed and a coyote. But it didn't take me long to fall in love with every single one of them (especially LaLa, a mommy that had a litter of puppies the week before we arrived). One of the ladies on our team did not particulary care for the dogs (at all), but by the end of the week, even she held an affection for them (that was really neat to watch).

These 2 pictures are views from the compound where we stayed. I always find it amazing to see the power in a mountain (but also to know that water once flowed above and through the mountains, carving them into the shapes they are today). And the mountains surround the desert. On first glance, the desert looks so empty, so boring and so desolate. But the more time you spend there and the more time you take to really look around - the desert has so many beautiful qualities.

Day 1 was a traveling day... and it went smoothly - pretty much... we got hung up an extra half hour in Houston because of a broken plane part; thankfully, we ended up in a new plane - of course, that plane had an issue too. They taxied us onto the tarmac before determining there was a problem. We went back to the terminal, fixed it and off we went! We had no issues crossing the border into Mexico... or through the military check points.

We met another mission team from Pennsylvania (also staying at the compound) - it is amazing what God can do when He puts His family together from different places! We will connected to them forever now (and I'll show you what they did on another day).

Day 2 - we went to a church in Juarez. Pastor Nacho is the pastor and he also works with Harvest Hands as an interpreter. He played a very critical part in our vacation bible school and while caring for the children.

What was church like? Well... it was all in spanish (remember, neither KC nor I know much spanish)! But what surprised me was they sang quite a few songs in spanish that we sing back home. And I learned right away that language doesn't matter when you are worshipping (but they sure do talk really really fast).

One thing I noticed was that their babies and children are SO beautiful (and ear piercing is very popular)! The children were free to move about the congregation and just be. They weren't disrupting... adults didn't need to reprimand them. They danced and sang when they felt like it, sat when they were tired and went to find their mom or dad when they hadn't seen them in a little while. I silently played with one little girl (she reminded me very much of Cayna). We made faces with each other. Have you ever shook your head no at a child and they shake yes and visa versa? I did that too - she was SO cute!

Myson, the youth pastor from our church, preached the sermon that day. He did a great job. He does speak spanish, so the interpreter translated into english for us. His message dealt with fathers and how important their role is in the lives of their children. At the end, Pastor Nacho called all the men to the alter for prayer. KC observed that normally in the States, a pastor invites people up front for prayer, but Pastor Nacho told the men to come up. He did it in a way that said everyone needs prayer, that is why you are here. Come... and receive it. It was wonderful.

After church, we had fellowship (and food). We ate very tasty burritos. Our fearless leader, Gary (Harvest Hands) sent us to a Mexican bakery (without a translater). Ok... that was funny - we picked out what we wanted (which took a few minutes to hand sign with the ladies in the shop to figure out how to do this) and then she gave us totals for the food. She said 17 and 15... we were thinking dollars! The girl was a little overwhelmed when we handed her the money and said no, no, no - pesos! It really only cost about 2 dollars!

We then spent some time driving around the colonia (or neighborhood) that we would be working with, in and around. At first glance, it was hard to see how destitute and poor the people lived. And the desert really didn't make it any better. The people used ANYTHING to build with. One fence was built completely out of mattress springs. Others used wooden pallets and old wire. They just dumped their tires on the side of the road - I'm surprised they didn't figure out a way to build with the tires.

The evening was left open to get ready for the busy week ahead. And to prepare for the first day of our women's outreach and vacation bible school...

We Are Home!

'For Children' (this sign is outside the compound where we stayed - it keeps people out that otherwise may have bad intentions - Juarez is experiencing very high crime and death rates due to drug trafficking by Mexican Drug Cartels)

This was painted by a man that lives in the colonia that Resplandor De Vida serves (a colonia is, in essence, a neighborhood, but not what you would expect - there are no grocery stores, drug stores, playgrounds or gas stations - there is barely a school and never enough food...)

Our team - It was a varied and talented team - I loved that we all were able to spend time getting to know each other better; building a relationship that will build up our church (community) at home - and I REALLY loved experiencing all of this with the man of my dreams, my best friend, KC.

We are home from Mexico (obviously). I am a mixture of emotions - My feelings go between happiness about being with my babies again and sadness that I wish I could have stayed longer (and maybe brought a few kids back with me). So much happened in a week, and yet so little... I know that seems confusing, but I will relay, to the best of my ability, as much information (with pictures) that I can about all that happened in Mexico. I will add a new piece each day - if I tried to put it all in right now, I think you would all be overwhelmed (I know I am thinking about it)!

I hope you will listen to this song...Till I See You by Hillsong - Here is my first story - 3 days before we were to come home I started humming this song - everywhere I went (I hadn't heard it anywhere that I could remember), but I could only remember a few of the words (but all of the melody). When I went to church this past Sunday, this was the last song we sang - I could do nothing but let the tears stream down my face as the impact of our trip came into perspective in my heart - as God's will for this moment in my life began to grow and bear fruit in my heart. In Mexico, I was in a place where I relied completely on God (I know, we are supposed to do that all the time, but I'm learning it's easy not to do that when you are at home) and allowed Him to use me for His work from the time I woke up to the moment my head hit the pillow at night. And He showed me the beauty of His people, people that are in need, people that are just like you and me.

This song says 'I will live a child in awe of you' - I saw children with so much hope for their future, as bleak as it looked and I saw adults (some in my group) that were just like a child in their worship. God wasn't kidding when He tells us that we all need to have faith like a child. When we do, when we rely completely on Him, life becomes so beautiful, even with all the pain, the turmoil, the uncertainty - the everyday stuff. And every LITTLE thing is important to Him. I know this all seems so easy and a lot of it I've heard before, learned before, but sometimes we all need to see something and hear something over and over before it really sinks in.

Ready for Mexico

The day before we leave...

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:6-25

His Word is truth... Thank you Jesus for going before us!

We'll see you all when we get home! We love each and every one of you!