Mexico Update #4

 Jill and Megan are writing today:

 

Progress with house addition:

So as many of y'all probably know, our team is building an addition to one of the youth pastor's homes.  He has a fairly large family consisting of four kids, his wife and of course, himself.  So far the attitude of the team has been very eager and excited to get things done.  I was surprised to see that just our team of twenty four people can get so much done and bless a family in such amazing ways, even something as simple as taking scrap wood and nailing it together for the kids to make little wooden benches and animals.  They don't need high technology to keep them entertained, they are just so happy to be with us.  It's really a blessing to see that we can make such a great impact on their lives, even if its just making them laugh at us because of our not-so-good spanish.  So the house... we have finished putting up the outer walls and frame and have started putting in the dry wall.  Apparently no group before has worked as quickly and efficiantly as we have by today. Within two days the framework of the addition is up.  To me, this could not have happened without the clear work of God and your prayers for all of us and our unity.  The group is working together very well, teaching each other and having patience with each other, even when most of us are worn out.  Although we still have a lot of work to do, we feel that our work will really pay off, not only for the family, but for the light of God as well.

 

Progress with VBS and the trip itself:

Today, VBS was a big success.  Yesterday we went around to neighborhood homes and invited the kids to come to "escuela biblia" aka bible school, but today the church was pretty much filled.  Another difference today was that a good part of the children spoke very good english as well as spanish.  I thought it was amazing to see that a nine year old was bilingual.  The children were very rowdy today, but they had a great time.  They loved the puppet show and singing, and like yesterday, really worked on their craft.  I know back in the US, a lot of children in sunday school just push aside the craft to get back to playing or talking with their freinds, but here I think because they dont have much to draw or paint, they really took the time and appreciated the help we gave them and the cross windchimes themselves.  Also at the end, we give out little goodie bags of goldfish and magazines and little prizes like sunglasses. They also get packets of skittles if they answer questions about the skit right.  Though the children dont have much, they know how to give.  The little skittles that they had, or even the goldfish, they keep wanting to share with us, and to me that's just really humbling.  In all of their innocence, they reach out to give us the little that they have.  I've noticed that the boys here are very outgoing, the majority will try to talk to us even  if we're not making any sense.  The girls are patient as well, but they just love to be in our presense, as opposed to the boys wanting to play games and joke around.  This is very much like the children here.  God has been showing me that the children are all people, he understands them even when I don't.  The goal here is to help them see that God cares for them, and we do as well.

              Tonight Mike talked about how our trip should not be based purely on helping others.  Alot of people were like "what is he talking about?" then he explained that this trip is also about us and our walk with christ. The point of this trip was our walk with christ and helping others. As long as you have the fire in your heart to serve christ you are already serving others simply by your actions because you're living in His will. It's not only about the work for others. There is so much to get out of this trip other than making a list and checking it off or just following the schedule. The people here have helped a lot of people see that god is the most important thing. Seeing thier faith in the lord really changes lives.

           Today on the worksite we ran out of bread. None of us knew why. It turns out one of the pastor's daughters "stole it ". We found out that she was making sandwiches for "children who need it" . This makes me think back to the story about the boy with the bread and fish. He was willing to give his food to others who needed it also. That spoke to my heart. She was so selfless in her decision. Even though we didn't all get bread, We were all satisfied with our sacrifice for others.

          It also amazes me how quickly and easily relationships begin. I have been working in the kitchen with the chef Lerra. She and  i have become fast friends, even though most of our conversations consist of pointing and very bad spanish on my part. Where as most people find enjoyment in relaxing and playing cards, i feel relaxed in the kitchen and helping in some way. She really appreciates it. I like helping in there because its something i can say i actually did. On the construction site i can't really do much so i don't feel comfortable saying "de nada". when i work in the kitchen its somethin i can actually take credit for.

        Yesterday a few people from our group did prayer. It is where we go to a home and sit and talk with a family. It was great how open the family was to share thier testemony. They were so giving and upbeat. giving us nicknames. I have inherrited one from the previous intern "super megan". Its a hard name to live up to. apparently we act alike too, helping in the kitchen and open to sharing testemonies. The family offered us ice pops and the cookies and bread that we bought for them. It was such a wonderful experience.

Hasta Luego

-Jill Heron and Megan Sharpe-