The Southwest Territories
This was my 3rd consecutive year working with the Canadians (Bethel Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park, Alberta). Like last year, they had 3 job sites this year. I worked with a crew in Juarez, building a home for the family of 3 that lends their yard to Pastor Hernandez's Mission San Francisco. The family had been waiting 3 years for an addition, and it was clear why when we went in their existing house to use the bathroom: there was a bed in the kitchen! The new addition will also be used as a meeting space for the Mission during inclement weather or for overflow.
Amid the enjoyment of spending time with many friends from north of the border, a disturbing trend came to light this year: every project they've worked on is adorned with a Canadian flag. El Paso and Juarez better watch out, or they are going to become Canada's newest province pretty soon--The Southwest Territories!
Singing "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" after church at Santisima on Sunday.
Everyone in the group had permission to cross the border this year!
Siding wall #2 on Monday.
If you build next to a dirt lot, they will come...
Lots of kids and teens gathered around our site, especially as the week wore on.
Logan and Kelsey drilled for the electric and ran all the wire.
Loralee marking one of the plates for the partition wall.
Lori was on kid duty all week. When she tried to pick up a hammer and "work," the group leader forbid her to do anything but interact with kids. I understood completely as he explained that she was working in a different and perhaps more important way. To be fair, I did teach her how to install outlets on Friday!
The burrito guy on the corner of where we turned every morning to get to our worksite!
Aqua chiffon ;)
Loralee and Alondra reading under the shade tree across the street.
Pastor Hernandez and his wife Blanca stopped by several times throughout the week to check our progress, but Friday Blanca made us burritos and Pepe performed a house blessing.
He raised his hand to consecrate the new dwelling and asked all of us to join him.
Blanca and Alondra's little sister, Mara.
Claiming another 288 sq. ft. for the Canuks...
Lori, Katie, Josh, Erin, and I.
Mariachi San Pablo playing at the Diablos game for Lutheran Night on Saturday! The Canadians always leave on a Sunday instead of a Saturday, so they spend Saturday touring. Half the group went to Carlsbad Caverns, and the other half went to Hueco Tanks and then Lutheran Night. I have been to Hueco Tanks a bunch of times recently so I skipped out on that, but I caught up with them for the game. I really wanted to witness the bat flight program at Carlsbad, but I was in charge of Lutheran Night and I accidentally scheduled it on the same day! Maybe Chris and I will go one day in September.
Pastor Heimer sang the National Anthem too!
The pastor from the group and I signed some of the kids up for the between inning promotions. It's amazing what you can find out when you ask, and what kind of pull you get when you say you've got a bunch of people from Canada at a minor league baseball game in El Paso.
It wasn't very crowded so we were allowed to go sit in the front row of the red seats to take pictures of the hysterics. While we were waiting, I snapped some up-close shots from our incredible vantage point.
Kevin and Josh (left center of the photo) dominated the Balloon Bust.
Victory for Team Canada!
Until next time, blessings!
Amid the enjoyment of spending time with many friends from north of the border, a disturbing trend came to light this year: every project they've worked on is adorned with a Canadian flag. El Paso and Juarez better watch out, or they are going to become Canada's newest province pretty soon--The Southwest Territories!
Singing "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" after church at Santisima on Sunday.
Everyone in the group had permission to cross the border this year!
Siding wall #2 on Monday.
If you build next to a dirt lot, they will come...
Lots of kids and teens gathered around our site, especially as the week wore on.
Logan and Kelsey drilled for the electric and ran all the wire.
Loralee marking one of the plates for the partition wall.
Lori was on kid duty all week. When she tried to pick up a hammer and "work," the group leader forbid her to do anything but interact with kids. I understood completely as he explained that she was working in a different and perhaps more important way. To be fair, I did teach her how to install outlets on Friday!
The burrito guy on the corner of where we turned every morning to get to our worksite!
Aqua chiffon ;)
Loralee and Alondra reading under the shade tree across the street.
Pastor Hernandez and his wife Blanca stopped by several times throughout the week to check our progress, but Friday Blanca made us burritos and Pepe performed a house blessing.
He raised his hand to consecrate the new dwelling and asked all of us to join him.
Blanca and Alondra's little sister, Mara.
Claiming another 288 sq. ft. for the Canuks...
Lori, Katie, Josh, Erin, and I.
Mariachi San Pablo playing at the Diablos game for Lutheran Night on Saturday! The Canadians always leave on a Sunday instead of a Saturday, so they spend Saturday touring. Half the group went to Carlsbad Caverns, and the other half went to Hueco Tanks and then Lutheran Night. I have been to Hueco Tanks a bunch of times recently so I skipped out on that, but I caught up with them for the game. I really wanted to witness the bat flight program at Carlsbad, but I was in charge of Lutheran Night and I accidentally scheduled it on the same day! Maybe Chris and I will go one day in September.
Pastor Heimer sang the National Anthem too!
The pastor from the group and I signed some of the kids up for the between inning promotions. It's amazing what you can find out when you ask, and what kind of pull you get when you say you've got a bunch of people from Canada at a minor league baseball game in El Paso.
It wasn't very crowded so we were allowed to go sit in the front row of the red seats to take pictures of the hysterics. While we were waiting, I snapped some up-close shots from our incredible vantage point.
Kevin and Josh (left center of the photo) dominated the Balloon Bust.
Victory for Team Canada!
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