sabado

Today was our last day in Mexico. We started the day in a park where some of the team slid down a long slide (riding on smashed 2 liter bottles). We also visited some caves. As you can tell from the photo, Molly made a new friend as well.

Please be in prayer as we travel home tomorrow.

viernes

Today was the last day of VBS. Each group did presentations about what they learned. It was a fun morning. The kids were excited to eat pineapple for snack and get a beanie baby!

After VBS the team headed to the orphanage to do some painting. We were able to paint 3 classrooms and the railing of the top floor of the school.

We will soon be headed back to the church for a presentation by the children of the church and a tamale dinner.

We are going to a very spiritually dark area tomorrow. Please be in prayer for the team.

jueves

It is difficult to put into words the things we have seen and experienced over the last few days.

Today we went to an orphanage on the west side of the town. This orphanage has about 120 children. All of the children have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, or molestation. As we toured the facility we were told over and over about how God had provided for the orphanage and has blessed them with their facility. The founder and director of the orphanage had a vision of what this orphanage could be and she made a scale model of what she wanted. The Lord has provided the land and the resources for all of the buildings in her vision to have been built.

One child in particular touched the hearts of everyone in the team. She is standing with Lisa in the above picture. She experienced horrific abuse and as a result was going to have to have surgery to remove her womb. We were told that God worked a miracle and she did not have to have the surgery. She has a genetic condition and will never grow any bigger than she is now. She is ten years old, but is about the size of a five year old. As we did a puppet show, this little girl sat in her chair, bobbing her head in time to the music, smiling with a huge smile. She touched everyone in the group, gently pinching our cheeks or stroking our faces. We were overwhelmed by the joy and contentment exhibited in her actions and expressions.

What struck us about those we have encountered is the joy and contentment exhibited in their faces. I struggle as I think of those of us who live in abundance and yet we are not joyful or content. In one sense we are rich in material blessings but poor in joy and contentment. The people here are poor in material things, but rich in joy and contentment.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

Prayer Requests:

Hearts and Minds Attentive to God

Safety as we go to a very spiritually dark area on Saturday. Please be in prayer on Saturday as we prayer walk this area.

That the people here will see Jesus in everything we do and say.

Miercoles

Today was a full day. We had a great morning at VBS and a wonderful evening worshiping at church. Richard preached about facing giants. We then had an amazing time of prayer for the city. It was a late night and a busy day, but incredibly powerful.

Martes

We had another great day at VBS. We studied the Parable of the Sower today.

One of our adventures for the day was that Richard was our driver! Driving here requires special skill! Good job Richard!!

We spent the afternoon doing a few construction projects. We moved some piles of rock that we will use to help create a concrete wall/foundation to help keep water out of a house. We also helped to dig a trench. Currently when it rains, water floods the house and their floors and all their belongings are covered in water and mud.

We also helped to prop up a house that is leaning to one side. There are eight children who live in this house. The father commented that last night he heard the house popping as it tilted even more. Very unsafe conditions.

It has been a very full day. We are blessed to be here this week and to be part of what the Lord is doing in Mexico. Gloria a Dios!

Lunes

Today was an exciting day and a day that was full of lessons. One of the keys to a mission trip is flexibility. We have had a few unexpected changes this week, but the team is focused on bringing glory to God and having an attitude of service and humility.

We had about 160 kids at Vacation Bible School today. Everyone was very busy, but having a great time. We had two of our interpreters from last year, Cley and Karen. It was great to see them again. We saw many familiar faces today. The kids were very excited to come to VBS!

After VBS we completed a clean up project. This house was constructed by a team earlier this summer from CERI.

Our construction projects were postponed until tomorrow, but we were able to visit with a family and pray with them. We look forward to what the Lord has planned for tomorrow.

Sunday

The team is excited to be beginning the week. We have a new member of our team: Joban Baeza. He is a case manager with BCFS (CERI's parent organization). We are excited to have Joban join us!

Today has been an exciting day. We began the day with breakfast at a restaurant near our hotel.

We then went to the church (Mount Sinai Baptist Church). Kristi sang (in Spanish) and did a great job.

The people at the church were very welcoming and excited to see the group again. After church we handed

out fliers about Vacation Bible School.

After lunch, we went to the bank to exchange our money. The banking system here is slightly more complex

than what we are accustomed to! After negotiating the financial system, we bought snacks for the week.

The team then returned to the hotel where we reorganized all of our supplies for the week. Even Mission

Molly helped!

We are all excited to see what the Lord has for us tomorrow at our first day of VBS.

Arrival

The team arrived safely in Mexico last night around 10:00. We are settled into our hotel and praying for a productive week.

Our plan for the day is to worship with Mount Sinai Baptist Church and then hand out fliers about VBS. We are also going to get all our supplies prepared for the week ahead.