Mexico Mission Trip Picture Update 6/23/07

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Mexico Mission Trip 6/22/07

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we made it into San Antonio safely. The plan for the rest of the night is to have dinner and then have our devo. It was a great week but looking forward to being home. Thanks for the prayers and continued prayers as we travel tomorrow.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments!!!

Mexico Mission Trip 6/21/07

Today was an interesting and different day. Rick Owens took us to what he calls "the real Mexico" to spend the day with a church and community about 2 hours south of Saltillo. Part of the travel was about a 30 mile on a dirt road...

This was a very poor village. Rick said that these people live off the land and that is how you survive. I added a picture so you could get a taste of the area.



When we pulled up to the church we were greeted by many people. We had lunch, played soccer and volleyball, and just enjoyed the day experiencing life in real Mexico. This was a sobering experience.

On the way home Barry told us that the church's contribution was $15 a week. Most of this money went to help out with the poor people in the community (the rich were the ones with the goats, bulls, and pretty much any farm animal). So we took up a collection on the bus and people gave what they wanted from their spending money. As Barry said tonight in 5 minutes, 52 Americans (mostly teenagers) collected enough money to help the poor for a year in that village (about $800). As Barry said again, "to much that is given, much is required".

The experience of the day ran through our heads throughout the rest of the day whether at dinner or at devo or in conversation. This experience today was a life changing one.

Tomorrow we are leaving in the morning around 7:00 AM to head back to San Antonio. we plan on stopping at a market in Neuvo Laredo and having lunch there with Paco and his family (the minister of the church that we went to on Sunday).

Pray for our travels and safety tomorrow and if you would begin (or continue) to pray for Rick and Sherry Owens (the missionaries we are working with) and Mexico. This week we have experienced the good of Mexico (standard of living wise) and also the "real" Mexico. We are a blessed people but as God called to the Israelists, the same words echo today: you are blessed to be a blessing. To much is given; much is expected.

Mexico Mission Trip Pics updated 6/20

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Mexico Mission Trip 6/20/07

Today we continued to work on the walls on the second floor. We filled alot of columns so that was a lot of mixing of concrete and carrying buckets of concrete to the second floor. Everyone worked hard today. This week's weather has been unusually cooler and we have had some rain all three days. Today we worked straight through the rain singing and having a good time but still working very hard. Today was our last day working on this site because Rick Owens (the missionary) wanted to take us to a town and spend some time in a community that he has built a church building in. He has only ever taking one other group there so this will be a special day. Since it was our last day, we exchanged gifts and contact info and shared hugs, songs, and gifts. The elders that were on the trip prayed over the minister and the ministries that will go on at the site we worked on. It was a moving experience....

We were invited to another church in town (where the church we were working on meets until this building is done) for Wed. night service. We sang, prayed and had a lesson and then enjoyed a meal together. Afterwards some of the team played soccer outside. Let's just say the Mexicans are very good at soccer... It was a great night to fellowship and to enjoy each others company.

Continued prayers for the group and the things that are going on in Mexico...

Mexico Mission Trip 6/19/07

Today was a good day. We woke up and began to finish the 2nd floor walls. Within two hours we had a whole wall done. The theme of the day was block parties with moving about 700 blocks today. That's one day... We had a truck with 1200 blocks come in on Monday and we have two stacks left. We have laid alot of block! Near the end of the day we began to pour the columns.

As we were pouring a large rain storm moved in and we had to cut the day short. The plan tonight is to have subs at the hotel and have our devo and sit around and relax. The group is going together and working very hard. Everyone should be very proud of this group. More pictures were added...enjoy.

Continue the prayers....they are greatly felt!

Photobucket Album

Mexico Mission Trip 6/18/07

Today was day one of working with the church. Our building is about 15 min. from our hotel. Rick said we have the best church with the best location with the best cooks. I think I hear him say that every year. But the statement is really true. It is a great place to work. People are so friendly and grateful for us being there.

Our main job is laying block and building walls. It's going well so far. We worked a 12 hour day today. Barry is a slave driver :) Jk...Actually, Rick had some things that had to get done today so we honored that request and kept going. We are all very tired but the work felt rewarding today.

The rest of the day was going out to eat and having our devo.

Everyone is enjoying themselves and working hard. The group is growing closer each moment and we work very well as a team. God has truly blessed us so far beyond what we need. Everyone sends their love and thanks for the comments and keep them coming....

Here are some pictures from the first day (Sunday). More from today will be up soon (I'm going to get some up but I need to go to bed....)

http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n10/mwilson1382/

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.....

Mexico Mission Trip 6/17/07

Greetings from Saltillo, Coahulia!!!

The day began with worship with some of the Mexican Christians in Neuvo Lardeo. It was a great day. We got to see Paco again who is the minister that we have been in contact with since we started working in Mexico over 10 years ago. Paco has started a new church on the other side of town because the church that he was at was full so there was a need for another church on the other side of town.

A woman was baptized at the end of the service. It was wonderful to experience that together. we sang songs, prayed together in both Spanish and English....it was a neat opportunity.

We got to the hotel this evening after the bus trip down from Neuvo Lardeo. On the bus we played cards, talked, slept, and watched Remember the Titans.

The hotel is very nice and people have been great. Rick Owens came and visited with us for a moment during our devo. After the devo, we went and had dinner and now we're getting ready for bed.

We have an early morning tomorrow. According to Rick we have the best place to work with the best job and the best cooks. It's setting up for a great week.

I will have pictures posted later on....

Continue offering your prayers....

Mexico Mission Trip 6/16/07

Greetings from Larado, Texas! All the groups (newark, Glen Rock, and 3 Copt) made it down safely to San Antonio and we got in to Larado at 5pm. The gelling of the teams seems to be going very well so far. There is a lot of interaction between the groups. The plan is to relax, have dinner together, have a devotional, and get to bed. Tomorrow morning we had into Mexico and will be worshipping with a congregation in Neuvo Laredo.

I will try to update daily. Leave messages for a person or the group and I will get the message to them....

Thanks for the prayers and we ask for continual prayers this week....

MEXICO MEETING AND TEACHER NEEDED FOR ONE WEEK

• June calendars are available on the youth ministry bulletin board
• Mexico meeting on June 10th right after service
• Mexico Mission Effort: June 16-23...please be praying about the work going on and as we go and come back...
• I am in need of someone to teach the Teen class on Wed. July 11th. Please let me know if you can teach...