A Beautiful View
The group the week of January 30 was from Bella Vista, AR, which means "Beautiful View" in Spanish. They worked in Anapra so we went to church at San Lucas on Sunday, and as usual Javier wanted to do a brief introduction of the group in front of the congregation. When I told him they were from Arkansas, he looked at me like I was nuts for thinking he was even going to try and pronounce that, but after I told him the city was called Bella Vista, he looked significantly more relaxed. Of course, in the U.S., except maybe in 97% Hispanic areas like El Paso, it's pronounced in true gringo fashion...
Anyways, two of the group members, Ivan and Millie, had already been here for about 2 weeks and will be here for 2-3 more, when the rest of the group arrived; they are one of 3 couples that chose to spend a few months this winter serving the Lord on the border. Together with 4 others from their church, they completed their assigned project as well as several other pending tasks and some extra jobs as well. Their assigned project was to build a house (addition) in Juarez, one that actually only needed 1 wall since there were 3 existing cement block ones, along with the roof and sheetrock on the new wall and the ceiling. Later on the family was going to stucco the 3 cement block walls on the inside. The slab was already in place as well since Panchis wanted the Mayer Lutheran group that was here over New Year's to do this particular house, but we vetoed that idea since they would have finished it waaaay too soon. We had to rush and get the roof on by Wednesday since rain was forecasted, which we did, and it poured. However, our attempt was unsuccessful: it leaked where the roof of the existing house meets the roof of the new addition. It was a total blessing that we were able to discover the problem with enough time to (hopefully) remedy it. It poured again this past Thursday night, so maybe next time I am in Anapra I will check it out.
Aside from that, Bella Vista also built a retaining wall at one of Mayer's 3 houses (Casa Dos) so that the slab and thusly the house didn't erode away due to a water spigot in an inopportune location, organized a pile of mismatched Sunday school materials, and painted the kitchen and conference room in the dorm building. Some of the other "winter volunteers" and 2 longtime friends from Orphan Grain Train tagged along for a couple days to help with some of the work in Mexico; two of them also got the job of hanging some new lights in the sanctuary of San Lucas that had been donated by a pastor in Oklahoma. They REALLY enhance the look of the "new" sanctuary.
The Bella Vista group with a bella vista (the view from Mayer's Casa Dos where they would go on to build a retaining wall) in the background.
One of the group members is a member of the Gideons, so he brought a case of Bibles to distribute after church and throughout the week.
We got to give out an X-BOX with a whole grocery bag full of games too; someone donated it to the mission awhile back and Chris and I thought of Samuel (Panchis' son) as the best recipient. He LOVED it! It was a surprise for him after church but I told Panchis what it was beforehand and she almost cried. She said Samuel had asked his dad for one before Christmas, but although the family is slightly more well off than many in Anapra, they couldn't get Samuel something like that.
William was there too...he was everyone at Casa Uno's favorite kiddo during Mayer's week and I was sooo excited to see him at church!
Millie and Diana made up the most excellent measuring crew.
Ivan what did you do?!?
Diana, Lewis, and Ivan nailing on the 1st piece of siding.
Genesis 1:3
This is what they look like up close--cool reflections!
Analaura (the homeowner's niece) decided I needed a Hello Kitty sticker on my forehead (and both of my hands too).
The Bella Vista group plus winter volunteers plus friends from OGT with the homeowner Maricruz (3rd from right) and one of her 5 children. I recognized her and her family from church, and they were wonderful to work with. It didn't hurt that she cooked us lunch EVERY day!
The retaining wall crew.
All it needs is to be filled in with dirt, which the family is going to do. Then Genaro says maybe they can plant a garden!
Last week there was a group here from Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, MN. They went to Hueco Tanks on Friday and did some other touristy stuff so I was in the office all day minus a couple errands. The most exciting thing that I accomplished is doing my taxes, with A LOT of Chris's help. Well, he pretty much did them with me watching over his shoulder since I didn't have the faintest idea where to even start. It was way easier than I thought it was going to be though, thanks to my new friend TurboTax! Maybe next year I can do them with him looking over MY shoulder...
Until next time, blessings!
Anyways, two of the group members, Ivan and Millie, had already been here for about 2 weeks and will be here for 2-3 more, when the rest of the group arrived; they are one of 3 couples that chose to spend a few months this winter serving the Lord on the border. Together with 4 others from their church, they completed their assigned project as well as several other pending tasks and some extra jobs as well. Their assigned project was to build a house (addition) in Juarez, one that actually only needed 1 wall since there were 3 existing cement block ones, along with the roof and sheetrock on the new wall and the ceiling. Later on the family was going to stucco the 3 cement block walls on the inside. The slab was already in place as well since Panchis wanted the Mayer Lutheran group that was here over New Year's to do this particular house, but we vetoed that idea since they would have finished it waaaay too soon. We had to rush and get the roof on by Wednesday since rain was forecasted, which we did, and it poured. However, our attempt was unsuccessful: it leaked where the roof of the existing house meets the roof of the new addition. It was a total blessing that we were able to discover the problem with enough time to (hopefully) remedy it. It poured again this past Thursday night, so maybe next time I am in Anapra I will check it out.
Aside from that, Bella Vista also built a retaining wall at one of Mayer's 3 houses (Casa Dos) so that the slab and thusly the house didn't erode away due to a water spigot in an inopportune location, organized a pile of mismatched Sunday school materials, and painted the kitchen and conference room in the dorm building. Some of the other "winter volunteers" and 2 longtime friends from Orphan Grain Train tagged along for a couple days to help with some of the work in Mexico; two of them also got the job of hanging some new lights in the sanctuary of San Lucas that had been donated by a pastor in Oklahoma. They REALLY enhance the look of the "new" sanctuary.
The Bella Vista group with a bella vista (the view from Mayer's Casa Dos where they would go on to build a retaining wall) in the background.
One of the group members is a member of the Gideons, so he brought a case of Bibles to distribute after church and throughout the week.
We got to give out an X-BOX with a whole grocery bag full of games too; someone donated it to the mission awhile back and Chris and I thought of Samuel (Panchis' son) as the best recipient. He LOVED it! It was a surprise for him after church but I told Panchis what it was beforehand and she almost cried. She said Samuel had asked his dad for one before Christmas, but although the family is slightly more well off than many in Anapra, they couldn't get Samuel something like that.
William was there too...he was everyone at Casa Uno's favorite kiddo during Mayer's week and I was sooo excited to see him at church!
Millie and Diana made up the most excellent measuring crew.
Ivan what did you do?!?
Diana, Lewis, and Ivan nailing on the 1st piece of siding.
Genesis 1:3
This is what they look like up close--cool reflections!
Analaura (the homeowner's niece) decided I needed a Hello Kitty sticker on my forehead (and both of my hands too).
The Bella Vista group plus winter volunteers plus friends from OGT with the homeowner Maricruz (3rd from right) and one of her 5 children. I recognized her and her family from church, and they were wonderful to work with. It didn't hurt that she cooked us lunch EVERY day!
The retaining wall crew.
All it needs is to be filled in with dirt, which the family is going to do. Then Genaro says maybe they can plant a garden!Until next time, blessings!
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