The first good news: the missing cord and foot pedal for the portable sewing machine donated to our friends in Mexico was found in the 6th box unloaded from our van.
The second good news: Covenant member George called to say he’s interested in going to Mexico with the mission team. George will be a great and dedicated team member--and he also speaks Spanish! Nine people are definite about going, and there’s a possibility of one more, maybe even two!
A few days later, the third good news: Pat and Carl are donating a sewing machine to Faith Ministry. Pat’s mother is no longer able to continue her slipcovering business, so we’ll now have two machines to take with us.
Several days later, the fourth good news: we learned that Covenant, in addition to paying its half of mission team scholarship requests (Donegal Presbytery pays the other half), is giving money to cover the cost of oiling and adjusting the sewing machines, the cost of extra craft material, and the cost of the painting materials needed by those who will paint newly constructed rooms in Mexico. Thank you, Covenant!
There’s an extra air of excitement about our trip this year, perhaps because by asking our congregation for craft materials and ideas they feel more involved than in other years. In any event, it’s neat to hear comments and questions about our next adventure as well as to see their generous donations of craft materials and ideas.
On October 25, a group from CAMT gathered at Covenant for a Sorting Party. We reorganized all the craft donations and ended up with about 12 tubs/boxes of materials which included yarn, various kinds of cording, quilting material, craft paints, needlework kits, several kinds of looms, sculpie clay, the makings of beautiful bracelets and much more.
With the more efficient packing it looks like it will all fit into the van without having to make Pat, who’s traveling with Frank and Joyce, ride in a rocking chair on top of the van a la Granny in Beverly Hillbillies!
Take a look at the pictures that document the "Journey of the Crafts" as they made their way from Ginnie's home in Bethleham to Frank and Joyce's home in Collegeville and on to Frazer, PA where Covenant is located. Next stop: Mexico!
The next post to the blog will probably be after our next meeting December 6. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for the trip January 28 to February 4.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Journey of the Crafts
The pictures below show how full Frank and Joyce's van was with all the craft donations given by Ginnie (on the left in the first picture). Joan (on the right) is the one whose slides in May 2001 inspired Covenant's interest in mission trips.
The materials moved from the van to Frank and Joyce's garage for a month, and then journeyed to Covenant where they were joined by all Covenant's craft donations and where we had a Sorting Party to organize the material and decide what else we needed for the various projects.
The materials moved from the van to Frank and Joyce's garage for a month, and then journeyed to Covenant where they were joined by all Covenant's craft donations and where we had a Sorting Party to organize the material and decide what else we needed for the various projects.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Cord, Cord, Who's Got the Cord?
Frank and I took the sewing machine Ginnie gave CAMT to take to our Mexican friends at Faith Ministry in January to an excellent repairman in Pottstown. He said it’s a good machine (a Viking) and it looks like it’s in good shape. It hardly appears to have been used. Of course, it will cost $60 to check it out—more if it needs any actual repairs. Probably not unreasonable, but—CAMT’s account at the church has its usual balance of about $80 and we owe Faith Ministry a $250 registration fee for our trip in January.
To digress briefly, there is one person (we think it’s one person) who makes anonymous donations of about $20 in one of the pew envelopes most Sundays. While we do get several hundred dollars from the church budget each year, our expenses have expanded as our work has expanded, and we need more (a matter being addressed by the church at this time). Last year these pew envelope offerings totaled more than $600! The bottom line—our bottom line always seems to be enough to pay what we owe such as registration for mission trips, a supplement for the WV food budget and scholarships for those going on the trips. As I learned long ago, when there is legitimate need and you trust God to provide, He does—but He does cut it awfully close sometimes. We’re never “comfortable” but we always have enough.
Back to the sewing machine. Frank and I just looked at each other when the repairman asked if we had the cord. Ginnie was so thorough that I doubt she forgot to give it to us, but there’s no way to store it in the case, so while we wait for an e-mail response from her, I guess we’ll look through the boxes of materials she gave us.
If you remember, her contributions literally filled our Dodge Grand Caravan to the extent that the only space not taken up with boxes and tubs are the two front seats. Since there’s no place at church to store everything (we barely have room for all the people sometimes—hence the plans for a major building program.) we’ve decided to just store everything in our one-car garage which means the car will have to sit in the driveway. It will be inconvenient, and I will probably complain about having to get into a cold car until we leave in January just to make sure everyone knows what a sacrifice I’m making, BUT IT’S OK!
Today we’ll move all the boxes and tubs into the garage and begin our search. Do we have bets on how many boxes/tubs we’ll search before finding it? I’ll let you know.
To digress briefly, there is one person (we think it’s one person) who makes anonymous donations of about $20 in one of the pew envelopes most Sundays. While we do get several hundred dollars from the church budget each year, our expenses have expanded as our work has expanded, and we need more (a matter being addressed by the church at this time). Last year these pew envelope offerings totaled more than $600! The bottom line—our bottom line always seems to be enough to pay what we owe such as registration for mission trips, a supplement for the WV food budget and scholarships for those going on the trips. As I learned long ago, when there is legitimate need and you trust God to provide, He does—but He does cut it awfully close sometimes. We’re never “comfortable” but we always have enough.
Back to the sewing machine. Frank and I just looked at each other when the repairman asked if we had the cord. Ginnie was so thorough that I doubt she forgot to give it to us, but there’s no way to store it in the case, so while we wait for an e-mail response from her, I guess we’ll look through the boxes of materials she gave us.
If you remember, her contributions literally filled our Dodge Grand Caravan to the extent that the only space not taken up with boxes and tubs are the two front seats. Since there’s no place at church to store everything (we barely have room for all the people sometimes—hence the plans for a major building program.) we’ve decided to just store everything in our one-car garage which means the car will have to sit in the driveway. It will be inconvenient, and I will probably complain about having to get into a cold car until we leave in January just to make sure everyone knows what a sacrifice I’m making, BUT IT’S OK!
Today we’ll move all the boxes and tubs into the garage and begin our search. Do we have bets on how many boxes/tubs we’ll search before finding it? I’ll let you know.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Boxes, Boxes and More Boxes of Crafts
First, thanks for the suggestions offered in Comments at the end of recent entries. Appreciate it!
Barbara, Frank and I (Joyce) drove to Bethlehem (that’s PA) 9/26 to have lunch with Joan whose slides led to Covenant’s becoming “hooked” on mission trips. We then proceeded to her friend Ginnie’s home to gather the craft materials and a small sewing machine she wanted to donate to CAMT (Covenant’s Adult Mission Team).
Ginnie has a HUGE collection of odds and ends of things which can be cut, folded, glued, wrapped, threaded, painted, sewn, decorated—you name it—to make all kinds of interesting items you didn’t know you’d like (or even knew existed) until you saw them.
Ginnie, a retired art teacher, is a conservationist unlike anyone we’ve ever seen. Plastic rings that hold soda cans in six packs can be cut and woven together to make hammocks that will support a person—or can be suspended in a room to hold household items. Felt covers a square of cardboard cut from the side of a cereal box and becomes the playing board for felt tic tack toe pieces. Beads are threaded on colorful pipe cleaners which are then bent to make the shape of a candy cane. The list goes on—and on—and on—and on… When she threw multiple rolls of ribbon into one of our boxes, Barbara asked what we could use them for. Her reply? “You won’t know until you have them.” Talk about being open to new possibilities!
It took two hours of very efficient, rapid-fire mini lessons (or, sometimes, just a quick flick of the materials in her hands to suggest what can be done with them) to introduce us to the van-load of boxes of materials she gave us. Everything was well organized and there were patterns for many projects.
Ginnie looks at everything differently from most of us. I doubt she’s ever said, “That old thing!” More like, “I can use that to make ______.” The Bible tells us not to put new wine in old wineskins. Ginnie’s the kind of person who wouldn’t throw out the old wineskins just because they were no longer fit to hold wine. She’d find a creative use for them—like filling them with flowers and hanging them on her door to bring a smile to someone’s weary face.
Later in the week, a new attender at Covenant was in our neighborhood and dropped off two tubs of quilting materials plus a box of silk ties and two boxes of quilting patterns. We haven’t unloaded Ginnie’s donations because we don’t know where to put them. Now we don’t know what to do with the newest gifts which are sitting in our dining room. They won’t fit in the van which is now filled except for the two front seats. Guess we’ll start to fill up our car.
Next month’s meeting will be a Sorting Party at which we’ll attempt to develop some kind of organization of projects and materials and repack everything into tubs and boxes for the trip southwest.
Next Post: after our CAMT Sorting Party Oct. 25.
Barbara, Frank and I (Joyce) drove to Bethlehem (that’s PA) 9/26 to have lunch with Joan whose slides led to Covenant’s becoming “hooked” on mission trips. We then proceeded to her friend Ginnie’s home to gather the craft materials and a small sewing machine she wanted to donate to CAMT (Covenant’s Adult Mission Team).
Ginnie has a HUGE collection of odds and ends of things which can be cut, folded, glued, wrapped, threaded, painted, sewn, decorated—you name it—to make all kinds of interesting items you didn’t know you’d like (or even knew existed) until you saw them.
Ginnie, a retired art teacher, is a conservationist unlike anyone we’ve ever seen. Plastic rings that hold soda cans in six packs can be cut and woven together to make hammocks that will support a person—or can be suspended in a room to hold household items. Felt covers a square of cardboard cut from the side of a cereal box and becomes the playing board for felt tic tack toe pieces. Beads are threaded on colorful pipe cleaners which are then bent to make the shape of a candy cane. The list goes on—and on—and on—and on… When she threw multiple rolls of ribbon into one of our boxes, Barbara asked what we could use them for. Her reply? “You won’t know until you have them.” Talk about being open to new possibilities!
It took two hours of very efficient, rapid-fire mini lessons (or, sometimes, just a quick flick of the materials in her hands to suggest what can be done with them) to introduce us to the van-load of boxes of materials she gave us. Everything was well organized and there were patterns for many projects.
Ginnie looks at everything differently from most of us. I doubt she’s ever said, “That old thing!” More like, “I can use that to make ______.” The Bible tells us not to put new wine in old wineskins. Ginnie’s the kind of person who wouldn’t throw out the old wineskins just because they were no longer fit to hold wine. She’d find a creative use for them—like filling them with flowers and hanging them on her door to bring a smile to someone’s weary face.
Later in the week, a new attender at Covenant was in our neighborhood and dropped off two tubs of quilting materials plus a box of silk ties and two boxes of quilting patterns. We haven’t unloaded Ginnie’s donations because we don’t know where to put them. Now we don’t know what to do with the newest gifts which are sitting in our dining room. They won’t fit in the van which is now filled except for the two front seats. Guess we’ll start to fill up our car.
Next month’s meeting will be a Sorting Party at which we’ll attempt to develop some kind of organization of projects and materials and repack everything into tubs and boxes for the trip southwest.
Next Post: after our CAMT Sorting Party Oct. 25.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Mexico On Our Minds
The Lord in His goodness continues to provide! As mentioned earlier, on our next mission trip—now scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 4—we plan a whole week of making crafts which the women can sell at popular flea markets in the area and earn a few extra pesos.
Ginnie, a retired art teacher in Bethlehem, PA, has invited us to visit her home to sort through what she says is “a ton” of craft projects and materials she doesn’t need any more. She’s been on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, so she knows the people and can help us decide what kinds of crafts are best to take. She even has a small sewing machine she is willing to donate! Guess we better drive the van!
A neighbor told me about a yarn shop that has knitting pattern books in Spanish! Mexican women put sweaters on their babies and wrap them in blankets during their cooler seasons, so we thought they might enjoy learning to knit baby sweaters and baby blankets.
We’re hoping we can find a store which would be willing to donate (or sell at discounted prices) sewing supplies such as scissors, needles (sewing and knitting) and crochet hooks. If you have a lead for us, let us know.
Keep us in your prayers!
Joyce
Ginnie, a retired art teacher in Bethlehem, PA, has invited us to visit her home to sort through what she says is “a ton” of craft projects and materials she doesn’t need any more. She’s been on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, so she knows the people and can help us decide what kinds of crafts are best to take. She even has a small sewing machine she is willing to donate! Guess we better drive the van!
A neighbor told me about a yarn shop that has knitting pattern books in Spanish! Mexican women put sweaters on their babies and wrap them in blankets during their cooler seasons, so we thought they might enjoy learning to knit baby sweaters and baby blankets.
We’re hoping we can find a store which would be willing to donate (or sell at discounted prices) sewing supplies such as scissors, needles (sewing and knitting) and crochet hooks. If you have a lead for us, let us know.
Keep us in your prayers!
Joyce
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Mexico Mission Trip: The Plans Begin!
CAMT is beginning to plan for its next mission trip to Mexico January 28 to February 4, 2006. We will work again in Reynosa, but may also work in Naranjito, a neighborhood (colonia) about 15 minutes away. The church compound there is almost completed. It includes a sanctuary, medical clinic, and an all-purpose room with dorms on the second floor for mission teams who come in the summer. Some of the newly completed rooms need painting, nurses on the team can help in the medical clinic, and there is a request for our team to paint another mural.
The big change in our plans for this trip is a greater emphasis on crafts. In the past, we planned an afternoon of crafts for children, but in view of the fact that the women who came with them enjoyed the crafts at least as much as the children—and often demonstrated considerable artistic talent—we decided to plan a whole week of crafts for adults. This work will be done in Reynosa since the women there are familiar with us and have already worked with crafts.
For people who live in such extreme poverty, even a few extra dollars now and then can make a difference. If we teach them how to make crafts that would be useful and/or decorative, they could make some to sell at one of the many flea markets in the colonias. In some poverty-stricken areas in the world, such humble beginnings have sometimes turned into a cottage industry. We don't know if our efforts will lead to this, but we feel led to take these first steps at this time.
We're looking for ideas for relatively inexpensive crafts that preferably can be made from materials purchased locally with profits from initial sales. Some of our ideas include knitting and crocheting (believe it or not we’ve found pattern books in Spanish!), macramé items, jewelry (beading and sculpting clay), bean bags, tote bags, and needlework using plastic mesh. Donations of yarn as well as craft/needlework kits that are gathering dust somewhere would be appreciated.
If you have more ideas, let us know at the address/phone number/e-mail listed above! We would especially like ideas for things children can play with. We've never seen a child with a toy other than a ball. Bean bags would be a change, but we’d like more suggestions.
Pray for us. Donate ideas and craft supplies if you can. Join us on our trip! Based on costs of previous years, the trip will cost about $800 (fuel costs may drive this up next year), but Covenant offers scholarships for those who need financial help, so don’t let $$$ stop you from coming with us!
The big change in our plans for this trip is a greater emphasis on crafts. In the past, we planned an afternoon of crafts for children, but in view of the fact that the women who came with them enjoyed the crafts at least as much as the children—and often demonstrated considerable artistic talent—we decided to plan a whole week of crafts for adults. This work will be done in Reynosa since the women there are familiar with us and have already worked with crafts.
For people who live in such extreme poverty, even a few extra dollars now and then can make a difference. If we teach them how to make crafts that would be useful and/or decorative, they could make some to sell at one of the many flea markets in the colonias. In some poverty-stricken areas in the world, such humble beginnings have sometimes turned into a cottage industry. We don't know if our efforts will lead to this, but we feel led to take these first steps at this time.
We're looking for ideas for relatively inexpensive crafts that preferably can be made from materials purchased locally with profits from initial sales. Some of our ideas include knitting and crocheting (believe it or not we’ve found pattern books in Spanish!), macramé items, jewelry (beading and sculpting clay), bean bags, tote bags, and needlework using plastic mesh. Donations of yarn as well as craft/needlework kits that are gathering dust somewhere would be appreciated.
If you have more ideas, let us know at the address/phone number/e-mail listed above! We would especially like ideas for things children can play with. We've never seen a child with a toy other than a ball. Bean bags would be a change, but we’d like more suggestions.
Pray for us. Donate ideas and craft supplies if you can. Join us on our trip! Based on costs of previous years, the trip will cost about $800 (fuel costs may drive this up next year), but Covenant offers scholarships for those who need financial help, so don’t let $$$ stop you from coming with us!
Monday, August 01, 2005
West Virginia Wrap Up Report
It is a wonder that as soon as you get home you fall into the routine of work and just being busy. Two weeks have gone by since we were in West Virginia with CAMT but it almost seems longer.
The mail arrived today, and it took me back immediately. In the mail were the “Note Envelopes” that were written to Pat, Carl and Quintin during those two weeks.
In previous reports I explained that everyone in attendance at a PACE (PA Christian Endeavor) work camp had an envelope with their name posted in the hall of the school. The kids are encouraged to write notes of encouragement to the people they meet during the week.
One of the incentives for Pat and I to return each year is the fact that we are appreciated, not only during the meals we serve, but afterwards through these notes. Here is a sampling:
To Quintin (My ten year old grandson who went along to work and got up every morning with me at 5am) “If you can get up early morning to prepare breakfast for us, I guess I should be able to get up and get ready to work too.” from an older teen.
Also “Thank you so much for all the things you have done. The food was great. You’re a great hard worker and I really admire that.” Andrew.
To the whole kitchen staff – “The disaster relief for those who can’t afford it and to serve the Lord makes me come to camp, but the meatloaf makes me never want to leave.”
“I want to thank you for all of the hard work and time you put into making us the best meals. I’m sure it’s hard feeding 150 people, but there’s no one better at it than you!" Mara
"Delicious doesn’t adequately describe the food this week. It was the best I’ve had on a mission trip. French toast, pancakes, eggs, chicken, meatloaf, pizza, tacos, spaghetti –it was all superb." Thank you – Diane
Quintin had made up his mind while we were still in WV that he wanted to go back next year. Pat and I were pretty tired after two weeks and were not really sure. But, now we are rested and those two weeks I mentioned in the opening of this email are long past. Are we going to do it again? I think the notes that arrived have once again persuaded us. Sure we’ll be there next year starting July 9th for two more weeks. We’re easy. All we need is to be appreciated.
Carl
If you'd like to join the mission team next year during one (or both weeks!) let us know next May or June 2006. Or you can even sign up now by contacting the church office at the address and phone number listed above.
The mail arrived today, and it took me back immediately. In the mail were the “Note Envelopes” that were written to Pat, Carl and Quintin during those two weeks.
In previous reports I explained that everyone in attendance at a PACE (PA Christian Endeavor) work camp had an envelope with their name posted in the hall of the school. The kids are encouraged to write notes of encouragement to the people they meet during the week.
One of the incentives for Pat and I to return each year is the fact that we are appreciated, not only during the meals we serve, but afterwards through these notes. Here is a sampling:
To Quintin (My ten year old grandson who went along to work and got up every morning with me at 5am) “If you can get up early morning to prepare breakfast for us, I guess I should be able to get up and get ready to work too.” from an older teen.
Also “Thank you so much for all the things you have done. The food was great. You’re a great hard worker and I really admire that.” Andrew.
To the whole kitchen staff – “The disaster relief for those who can’t afford it and to serve the Lord makes me come to camp, but the meatloaf makes me never want to leave.”
“I want to thank you for all of the hard work and time you put into making us the best meals. I’m sure it’s hard feeding 150 people, but there’s no one better at it than you!" Mara
"Delicious doesn’t adequately describe the food this week. It was the best I’ve had on a mission trip. French toast, pancakes, eggs, chicken, meatloaf, pizza, tacos, spaghetti –it was all superb." Thank you – Diane
Quintin had made up his mind while we were still in WV that he wanted to go back next year. Pat and I were pretty tired after two weeks and were not really sure. But, now we are rested and those two weeks I mentioned in the opening of this email are long past. Are we going to do it again? I think the notes that arrived have once again persuaded us. Sure we’ll be there next year starting July 9th for two more weeks. We’re easy. All we need is to be appreciated.
Carl
If you'd like to join the mission team next year during one (or both weeks!) let us know next May or June 2006. Or you can even sign up now by contacting the church office at the address and phone number listed above.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
News of the New Week in WV
Another of Carl’s riddles: How are Superman, Moses and Cabbage Patch Kids the same? (Answer is at the end.)
We are having trouble coping. We know it’s not Chick and Dolly, because they are very good at finding a need and filling it. Our basic problem is that we just don’t have enough kids to feed. There are only 60 kids to feed this week, and we’re used to feeding 160. As a result, we’re coasting this week. (That’s probably something we shouldn’t be telling anybody.) As a result, we have been able to very easily prepare for the next meal each time, (i.e., after breakfast we have dinner well underway.) There’s a big difference between preparing 100 pieces of French toast compared to 300 pieces. But, overall, it has been very enjoyable because of that.
As a result, we have had time during the day to pursue some of our interests, and today Chick, Dolly, Quintin and I (Carl) went to the Thurmond area which is now a national park that has preserved a railroad center. We took Halley who is a native of the area, and as we entered the road to Thurmond, he said, “Why don’t we park here and ride our bikes. It’s all downhill from here.” And it was--5.7 miles without pedaling. (You’ll be glad to know Pat drove our truck to the bottom, so we could ride back up. We’re not dummies!)
At the bottom, the national park has restored an old railroad terminal. The road we were coming down was one of the branches. When we got down there we got to talking with the guy who owns the railroad branch so he gave us a complete history of railroading in the area.
While riding down the hill(s) and through the “hollers” Quintin, as he observed the obvious poverty of the area said, “The kids should be working down here.” He had the option to return home with Mary and Millie last Saturday, but he was having so much fun, he elected to stay. He’s a “stick-to-it” kid who has carried his own weight with all the work that needs to be done. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to work with the teams of kids who are painting, roofing, etc. (We noticed that he picked up a few girl friends while here, but of course they will go their separate ways at the end of the week.)
Tomorrow, because it’s Wed. and we only do breakfast, we are going to take an all day rafting trip (starting after breakfast, of course.)
Tuesday is meatloaf night. We also serve mashed potatoes, peas and the usual salad bar and soup. Dessert is strawberry shortcake. One of the kids said, “It just keeps getting better and better!” The kids work really hard during the day and are really hungry for supper. When one of the girls heard “Tonight’s treat is ice cream and pizza, she said, “Tonight’s sleeping!” But our guess is that she’ll partake before turning in.
Dolly baked cinnamon rolls Monday, and tonight baked chocolate chip and sugar cookies for lunches. Covenant’s team does a lot of little extra, homemade things that the kids seem to enjoy, and the adults appreciate the extra touches, too.
PACE has a mascot—a big Gumby, and when the kids arrive, they see a video about Gumby which tells them to have fun like Gumby, clean up after themselves like Gumby, use the right bathroom like Gumby, etc. The tradition is that someone has to kidnap Gumby. Last night someone kidnapped Gumby and left a ransom note on the stage. “Give us more ice cream, and we will return Gumby!” The administration down here (all tongue in cheek) act very upset when something happens to Gumby. Last week they found him at the top of the flagpole. They brought him into the kitchen where he was put into the storage room. It’s one of the fun things that provides comic relief from the really hard work everyone does.
The Covenant team always stays for the video and Jesus sightings after dinner. (Yesterday’s posting explains these events.) It gives them insight into what the kids are doing during the day and how they are being impacted spiritually by the mission team experience.
There’s been a lot of hard work, especially last week, but also a lot of fun. My philosophy is, “You don’t have to suffer to serve.”
---------
Because of the difficulty in getting news for the blog to PA, we won’t have another posting until Carl and Pat return home Sunday. Monday (or maybe even Tuesday) night there will be a final wrapup, and by then there should be pictures of the West Virginia adventure.
(Answer to the riddle: Superman, Moses and Cabbage Patch Kids were all adopted.)
We are having trouble coping. We know it’s not Chick and Dolly, because they are very good at finding a need and filling it. Our basic problem is that we just don’t have enough kids to feed. There are only 60 kids to feed this week, and we’re used to feeding 160. As a result, we’re coasting this week. (That’s probably something we shouldn’t be telling anybody.) As a result, we have been able to very easily prepare for the next meal each time, (i.e., after breakfast we have dinner well underway.) There’s a big difference between preparing 100 pieces of French toast compared to 300 pieces. But, overall, it has been very enjoyable because of that.
As a result, we have had time during the day to pursue some of our interests, and today Chick, Dolly, Quintin and I (Carl) went to the Thurmond area which is now a national park that has preserved a railroad center. We took Halley who is a native of the area, and as we entered the road to Thurmond, he said, “Why don’t we park here and ride our bikes. It’s all downhill from here.” And it was--5.7 miles without pedaling. (You’ll be glad to know Pat drove our truck to the bottom, so we could ride back up. We’re not dummies!)
At the bottom, the national park has restored an old railroad terminal. The road we were coming down was one of the branches. When we got down there we got to talking with the guy who owns the railroad branch so he gave us a complete history of railroading in the area.
While riding down the hill(s) and through the “hollers” Quintin, as he observed the obvious poverty of the area said, “The kids should be working down here.” He had the option to return home with Mary and Millie last Saturday, but he was having so much fun, he elected to stay. He’s a “stick-to-it” kid who has carried his own weight with all the work that needs to be done. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to work with the teams of kids who are painting, roofing, etc. (We noticed that he picked up a few girl friends while here, but of course they will go their separate ways at the end of the week.)
Tomorrow, because it’s Wed. and we only do breakfast, we are going to take an all day rafting trip (starting after breakfast, of course.)
Tuesday is meatloaf night. We also serve mashed potatoes, peas and the usual salad bar and soup. Dessert is strawberry shortcake. One of the kids said, “It just keeps getting better and better!” The kids work really hard during the day and are really hungry for supper. When one of the girls heard “Tonight’s treat is ice cream and pizza, she said, “Tonight’s sleeping!” But our guess is that she’ll partake before turning in.
Dolly baked cinnamon rolls Monday, and tonight baked chocolate chip and sugar cookies for lunches. Covenant’s team does a lot of little extra, homemade things that the kids seem to enjoy, and the adults appreciate the extra touches, too.
PACE has a mascot—a big Gumby, and when the kids arrive, they see a video about Gumby which tells them to have fun like Gumby, clean up after themselves like Gumby, use the right bathroom like Gumby, etc. The tradition is that someone has to kidnap Gumby. Last night someone kidnapped Gumby and left a ransom note on the stage. “Give us more ice cream, and we will return Gumby!” The administration down here (all tongue in cheek) act very upset when something happens to Gumby. Last week they found him at the top of the flagpole. They brought him into the kitchen where he was put into the storage room. It’s one of the fun things that provides comic relief from the really hard work everyone does.
The Covenant team always stays for the video and Jesus sightings after dinner. (Yesterday’s posting explains these events.) It gives them insight into what the kids are doing during the day and how they are being impacted spiritually by the mission team experience.
There’s been a lot of hard work, especially last week, but also a lot of fun. My philosophy is, “You don’t have to suffer to serve.”
---------
Because of the difficulty in getting news for the blog to PA, we won’t have another posting until Carl and Pat return home Sunday. Monday (or maybe even Tuesday) night there will be a final wrapup, and by then there should be pictures of the West Virginia adventure.
(Answer to the riddle: Superman, Moses and Cabbage Patch Kids were all adopted.)
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Final Notes from the First Week
In order to e-mail a report for the blog, Carl goes to the local library, the only place in town with public access to the internet. He planned to go there today, but discovered the library is closed through Monday. He called and made the following report Saturday evening, July 2.
I (Carl) make up riddles and post them every day. Today’s riddle: How do you spell the word candy with just two letters?
Answer: C and Y. (Put it all together and you have CandY.) Someone suggested the popular candy M & M’s, but Carl had an even better idea: Covenant’s M & M’s, namely Covenant mission team members Millie and Mary.
Millie has a painful knee for which treatment can’t be given until she returns. She struggled through the week without complaint and handled our salad bar along with Pat. She took care of all the special little needs of many of the kids who were there. Things like ice water or setting something aside for somebody, something for breakfast or dessert. And she chopped many a tomato, onion and stalk of celery. And of course she made many trips back and forth to the kitchen.
The second M stands for Mary whose last name should be Dynamo or (Dori lives!) Mary runs about doing absolutely everything from cooking to dishwashing and everything in between. The only problem is that she makes the rest of us tired.
The two M’s left this morning (Sat.) about 9 o’clock to head home and it was a darn good thing they were with us. It takes a lot of teamwork and hard work on the part of all. Covenant team member, Quintin, age 10, made major contributions. He handled the soups at night, opening the cans, mixing them, heating and ladling it out. In the morning he built sandwiches (as we all did!). 190 every day.
As of today, Saturday, only Pat, Quintin and I are left until Chick and Dolly arrive Sunday. We went to Fayetteville’s festival. Fayetteville, WV (not the Fayetteville you breeze by on Route 95) is the county seat for Fayette County which is about the size of Chester County. The town has two traffic lights and one business block on one side of which stands the court house. Across the street are several businesses. At 5:30 we’ll watch the 4th of July parade.
In case you’ve been wondering about the mechanics of having all the supplies needed for the youth to paint, patch, replace damaged wallboard, etc., PACE sends lay people with construction experience to come on Thursday to lay groundwork for the next week. They establish what materials are needed and do the ordering.
Friday night was the last one for the kids. As part of the praise service, there are announcements, Jesus sightings, music (singers and a band from Covenant Pres in Bucks Co.) and a message by a speaker who knows teen-talk.
Jesus Sightings are reports of experiences youth or leaders have while working during the week. They stand up and discuss things they have learned or experienced.
One of the leaders told of seeing a sweatshirt that was on the ground at one of the worksites. All week, no one picked up the sweatshirt. He assumed it didn’t belong to anyone in the work group, but when they finished Friday and were ready to leave he asked, “Does that sweatshirt belong to anyone in our group?” A girl in the back seat said, “Oh, yeah! It’s mine.” The leader was not too pleased, but he got out of the car, went back to the house and picked up the sweatshirt. Underneath it was a carpenter’s square he had brought along that had belonged to his grandfather and which he thought had been lost.
During the week, kids’ and leaders’ names are posted along a hallway attached to an envelope. Paper is nearby, and everyone is encouraged to write a positive note to one or more people they have worked with during the week. Fri. night they are taken down and given to leaders to give to the kids who read them on the way home. It’s a very moving experience for all!
One of the men told Carl his son wanted him to write a note to Carl. He said he didn’t get around to it, but his son wanted Carl to know how much he liked the food. Another man told Carl this morning about a co-worker's comment. “Ken always goes where you go, and with the food you serve, I can see why!” Annette, the executive director announced that one of the reasons the food was so good was because extra money had been donated for the weeks Covenant’s teams were here: $200 from Covenant and $500 from a Rotary club. With the extra money Covenant teams are able to serve such foods as breakfast meat and delicious frozen cookies and cinnamon rolls that only need baking. Carl also plans menus that use a minimum of ingredients that are used in a variety of ways. Left over salad ingredients and extra tomato soup not used up earlier in the week become tomato-based vegetable soup. A couple of cans of corn mixed with extra chicken soup become chicken corn soup. Left over pineapple upside down cake makes a good breakfast coffee cake. (Maybe you’ll volunteer to go next year just for the food!)
The ultimate compliment--when a kid says, “You never served a meal I didn’t like,” (Someone added, “Even their mothers don’t do that!”)
Chick and Dolly will arrive Sunday and will work with Carl, Pat and Quintin to serve the 60 youths who will arrive Sunday night to work next week. The load will be lighter, and there will be more time for the team to interact with the kids.
The next post to the blog may not be made until Tuesday, so in the meantime pray for safe travel and another great week of service.
I (Carl) make up riddles and post them every day. Today’s riddle: How do you spell the word candy with just two letters?
Answer: C and Y. (Put it all together and you have CandY.) Someone suggested the popular candy M & M’s, but Carl had an even better idea: Covenant’s M & M’s, namely Covenant mission team members Millie and Mary.
Millie has a painful knee for which treatment can’t be given until she returns. She struggled through the week without complaint and handled our salad bar along with Pat. She took care of all the special little needs of many of the kids who were there. Things like ice water or setting something aside for somebody, something for breakfast or dessert. And she chopped many a tomato, onion and stalk of celery. And of course she made many trips back and forth to the kitchen.
The second M stands for Mary whose last name should be Dynamo or (Dori lives!) Mary runs about doing absolutely everything from cooking to dishwashing and everything in between. The only problem is that she makes the rest of us tired.
The two M’s left this morning (Sat.) about 9 o’clock to head home and it was a darn good thing they were with us. It takes a lot of teamwork and hard work on the part of all. Covenant team member, Quintin, age 10, made major contributions. He handled the soups at night, opening the cans, mixing them, heating and ladling it out. In the morning he built sandwiches (as we all did!). 190 every day.
As of today, Saturday, only Pat, Quintin and I are left until Chick and Dolly arrive Sunday. We went to Fayetteville’s festival. Fayetteville, WV (not the Fayetteville you breeze by on Route 95) is the county seat for Fayette County which is about the size of Chester County. The town has two traffic lights and one business block on one side of which stands the court house. Across the street are several businesses. At 5:30 we’ll watch the 4th of July parade.
In case you’ve been wondering about the mechanics of having all the supplies needed for the youth to paint, patch, replace damaged wallboard, etc., PACE sends lay people with construction experience to come on Thursday to lay groundwork for the next week. They establish what materials are needed and do the ordering.
Friday night was the last one for the kids. As part of the praise service, there are announcements, Jesus sightings, music (singers and a band from Covenant Pres in Bucks Co.) and a message by a speaker who knows teen-talk.
Jesus Sightings are reports of experiences youth or leaders have while working during the week. They stand up and discuss things they have learned or experienced.
One of the leaders told of seeing a sweatshirt that was on the ground at one of the worksites. All week, no one picked up the sweatshirt. He assumed it didn’t belong to anyone in the work group, but when they finished Friday and were ready to leave he asked, “Does that sweatshirt belong to anyone in our group?” A girl in the back seat said, “Oh, yeah! It’s mine.” The leader was not too pleased, but he got out of the car, went back to the house and picked up the sweatshirt. Underneath it was a carpenter’s square he had brought along that had belonged to his grandfather and which he thought had been lost.
During the week, kids’ and leaders’ names are posted along a hallway attached to an envelope. Paper is nearby, and everyone is encouraged to write a positive note to one or more people they have worked with during the week. Fri. night they are taken down and given to leaders to give to the kids who read them on the way home. It’s a very moving experience for all!
One of the men told Carl his son wanted him to write a note to Carl. He said he didn’t get around to it, but his son wanted Carl to know how much he liked the food. Another man told Carl this morning about a co-worker's comment. “Ken always goes where you go, and with the food you serve, I can see why!” Annette, the executive director announced that one of the reasons the food was so good was because extra money had been donated for the weeks Covenant’s teams were here: $200 from Covenant and $500 from a Rotary club. With the extra money Covenant teams are able to serve such foods as breakfast meat and delicious frozen cookies and cinnamon rolls that only need baking. Carl also plans menus that use a minimum of ingredients that are used in a variety of ways. Left over salad ingredients and extra tomato soup not used up earlier in the week become tomato-based vegetable soup. A couple of cans of corn mixed with extra chicken soup become chicken corn soup. Left over pineapple upside down cake makes a good breakfast coffee cake. (Maybe you’ll volunteer to go next year just for the food!)
The ultimate compliment--when a kid says, “You never served a meal I didn’t like,” (Someone added, “Even their mothers don’t do that!”)
Chick and Dolly will arrive Sunday and will work with Carl, Pat and Quintin to serve the 60 youths who will arrive Sunday night to work next week. The load will be lighter, and there will be more time for the team to interact with the kids.
The next post to the blog may not be made until Tuesday, so in the meantime pray for safe travel and another great week of service.
Friday, July 01, 2005
No News Is Good News?
Didn't hear from Carl Thursday. Probably worn out with the afternoon of white water rafting, etc.
While you're here, why not experiment with Comments? Carl will be able to read them and will share them with the others. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you!
1. At the bottom of the most recent entry, click comment.
2. You'll see the comments already posted. (Last time I looked, there were two for yesterday's Fun, Food, Fellowship entry.)
3. If you want, in the "Leave your comment" box, type your comment.
4. Click one of the options listed below.
5. Click the first one if you're already a registered blogger and your name is printed as you want it to appear.
6. Click the second option to type in your name (and your web page if you have one; otherwise leave that box blank.)
7. Click Anonymous if you don't want your name to appear.
8. Click Post Comment and your comment will appear on the blog. Usually you have to refresh the page before it shows up. (If you can't figure out how to refresh the page, close out the blog, then reopen it.)
Also, keep in mind that Covenant's web page has a link to CAMT's blog.
While you're here, why not experiment with Comments? Carl will be able to read them and will share them with the others. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you!
1. At the bottom of the most recent entry, click comment.
2. You'll see the comments already posted. (Last time I looked, there were two for yesterday's Fun, Food, Fellowship entry.)
3. If you want, in the "Leave your comment" box, type your comment.
4. Click one of the options listed below.
5. Click the first one if you're already a registered blogger and your name is printed as you want it to appear.
6. Click the second option to type in your name (and your web page if you have one; otherwise leave that box blank.)
7. Click Anonymous if you don't want your name to appear.
8. Click Post Comment and your comment will appear on the blog. Usually you have to refresh the page before it shows up. (If you can't figure out how to refresh the page, close out the blog, then reopen it.)
Also, keep in mind that Covenant's web page has a link to CAMT's blog.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Food, Fun and Fellowship
Last night Carl (CAMT team leader) talked with Joyce by phone about what had happened so far in WV, and she wrote the narrative.
Today, Carl reports.
It’s Wednesday, and we are tired. We only have to handle breakfast today, and then we have the rest of the day free. The teams are on their own for dinner tonight. All of the work groups will put in a half day on Wednesdays and then play in the afternoon. On the list of activities are bridge jumping, white water rafting and many other activities that it is better that their mothers don’t know about.
Our group (Mary, Carl and Quintin) are going whitewater rafting for a half day trip leaving at 2:00. Pat and Millie are on their own. We will all get together for a dinner out tonight.
It does take some time to get used to the schedule. I am in the kitchen at 5:30 am to set out the food items we are preparing. First we prepare the sandwiches for lunches the kids will carry as they head out to their work projects. The others are in by 6:00 with each assigned part of the meal: 90 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 50 ham & cheese, 30 turkey. Then comes breakfast that we start serving at 6:30. Pat and Millie handle the set-up of the cereal buffet table including mixed fruit, OJ, milk and some baked items. Today we also had home fries, scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, and sausage.
Normally we return to prepare dinner at 3:30. But today is a day of rest. If you call whitewater rafting resting.
The student groups stay and sleep at the Midland Trail High school just six miles north of our motel. At our age, and with our schedule, we find it better to stay at a local motel. Of course, that’s what caused Mary to fall into a speed trap at 5:30 yesterday morning which led to a ticket.
We have been joined by Harmon who has worked with us now for the third year. We also have Janet from a Mennonite Church who has been handling some of our baking. Harmon handles the drinks, and 140 kids go thru at lot of drinks. He also assists with the griddle work at breakfast. Janet has been baking cinnamon buns, cookies for the lunches, and cakes. Yesterday was Janet’s birthday. We didn’t make her bake her own birthday cake. We bought one at a Dairy Queen just for her.
We welcome your prayers as we serve and begin to interact with the youth workers and their leaders.
Today, Carl reports.
It’s Wednesday, and we are tired. We only have to handle breakfast today, and then we have the rest of the day free. The teams are on their own for dinner tonight. All of the work groups will put in a half day on Wednesdays and then play in the afternoon. On the list of activities are bridge jumping, white water rafting and many other activities that it is better that their mothers don’t know about.
Our group (Mary, Carl and Quintin) are going whitewater rafting for a half day trip leaving at 2:00. Pat and Millie are on their own. We will all get together for a dinner out tonight.
It does take some time to get used to the schedule. I am in the kitchen at 5:30 am to set out the food items we are preparing. First we prepare the sandwiches for lunches the kids will carry as they head out to their work projects. The others are in by 6:00 with each assigned part of the meal: 90 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 50 ham & cheese, 30 turkey. Then comes breakfast that we start serving at 6:30. Pat and Millie handle the set-up of the cereal buffet table including mixed fruit, OJ, milk and some baked items. Today we also had home fries, scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, and sausage.
Normally we return to prepare dinner at 3:30. But today is a day of rest. If you call whitewater rafting resting.
The student groups stay and sleep at the Midland Trail High school just six miles north of our motel. At our age, and with our schedule, we find it better to stay at a local motel. Of course, that’s what caused Mary to fall into a speed trap at 5:30 yesterday morning which led to a ticket.
We have been joined by Harmon who has worked with us now for the third year. We also have Janet from a Mennonite Church who has been handling some of our baking. Harmon handles the drinks, and 140 kids go thru at lot of drinks. He also assists with the griddle work at breakfast. Janet has been baking cinnamon buns, cookies for the lunches, and cakes. Yesterday was Janet’s birthday. We didn’t make her bake her own birthday cake. We bought one at a Dairy Queen just for her.
We welcome your prayers as we serve and begin to interact with the youth workers and their leaders.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
CAMT Has Landed--in Fayetteville, WV
Carl, team leader for Covenant’s Adult Mission Team, called tonight with an update on what’s been happening since they arrived. But first, you need to know there is no handy way for Carl to e-mail daily news from where they are this year, so he will phone in reports as time permits during the two weeks he’s there.
Carl and Pat and their grandson Quintin arrived first on Sunday so they could check out the food supplies Carl ordered, and Mary and Millie arrived a little later. You may remember that CAMT’s work is to prepare three meals a day (breakfast, bag lunch, and dinner) for youth mission team workers (140 this year) who come to do flood relief work. After checking out the food he had ordered, Carl set up the ice cream machine.
That’s right, folks—an ice cream machine. The high school cafeteria used in previous years was near a Dairy Queen, so getting an ice cream treat was no problem. This year, new school, no DQ. Carl asked a fellow Rotarian if he could borrow his ice cream machine and asked another friend if could use his trailer to take the small refrigerator-sized machine to WV. The only problem was that while pulling a trailer/ice cream machine up and down the hills of WV, Carl only got 5 miles to the gallon. It took 3 tanks of gas to get there.
On Sunday night, the five team members, as they had done in previous years, had supper at Dirty Ernie’s and made plans for the week. The team has to work extra hard this year because PACE (PA Christian Endeavor) could not afford to pay the extra kitchen helpers they hire for as many hours as in other years. However, while Monday morning was a bit “rough,” the team was in high gear for dinner, and all has gone well ever since.
To back up just a bit, Sunday evening, when the youth teams had arrived and had enjoyed a praise service, Carl was asked to talk to the young people about the meals for the week and got a huge round of applause because many were returning from previous years and remembered how great Covenant’s CAMT food is. (Quintin said it was the loudest applause all evening!)
Carl made a point of telling them that because Covenant Church (via CAMT) had donated $200 to allow for a bigger food budget, they could consider the ice cream a gift in honor of Dori Gillstrom who was the one who accepted the first invitation for CAMT to serve in WV and who led the teams the first two years. Dori, who died June 15, set the pace for great meals and loved to serve food to, and interact with, the youth.
The youth really enjoy the praise services they have after dinner each evening and they participate enthusiastically. A videographer takes pictures of them working during the day and introducing themselves on camera. He edits the film and shows the video to the youth in the evening. They love seeing themselves working and hoot and holler when they see their friends on camera.
Have you ever had a lousy Monday morning? The main road leading into Fayetteville has a speed limit of 65 mph, but everyone goes 75. At the town border, the limit suddenly drops to 50. While driving to the school at 5:30 AM Monday morning, Mary only slowed down to about 55. Would you believe she was stopped and fined $150??!! Hey, at that time in the morning business is slow…
Carl met a man from Fayetteville last year. They have become friends, and during the afternoons when the team has free time, the two often ride bikes down a four-mile hill. (You go four miles and never have to pedal!) He also knows Harman, a Bible Baptist from central PA who loves to come help CAMT in the kitchen. He's also willing to drive down the four-mile hill and bring Carl and his biking friend back to the top.
Check in again in a day or two for more news.
Carl and Pat and their grandson Quintin arrived first on Sunday so they could check out the food supplies Carl ordered, and Mary and Millie arrived a little later. You may remember that CAMT’s work is to prepare three meals a day (breakfast, bag lunch, and dinner) for youth mission team workers (140 this year) who come to do flood relief work. After checking out the food he had ordered, Carl set up the ice cream machine.
That’s right, folks—an ice cream machine. The high school cafeteria used in previous years was near a Dairy Queen, so getting an ice cream treat was no problem. This year, new school, no DQ. Carl asked a fellow Rotarian if he could borrow his ice cream machine and asked another friend if could use his trailer to take the small refrigerator-sized machine to WV. The only problem was that while pulling a trailer/ice cream machine up and down the hills of WV, Carl only got 5 miles to the gallon. It took 3 tanks of gas to get there.
On Sunday night, the five team members, as they had done in previous years, had supper at Dirty Ernie’s and made plans for the week. The team has to work extra hard this year because PACE (PA Christian Endeavor) could not afford to pay the extra kitchen helpers they hire for as many hours as in other years. However, while Monday morning was a bit “rough,” the team was in high gear for dinner, and all has gone well ever since.
To back up just a bit, Sunday evening, when the youth teams had arrived and had enjoyed a praise service, Carl was asked to talk to the young people about the meals for the week and got a huge round of applause because many were returning from previous years and remembered how great Covenant’s CAMT food is. (Quintin said it was the loudest applause all evening!)
Carl made a point of telling them that because Covenant Church (via CAMT) had donated $200 to allow for a bigger food budget, they could consider the ice cream a gift in honor of Dori Gillstrom who was the one who accepted the first invitation for CAMT to serve in WV and who led the teams the first two years. Dori, who died June 15, set the pace for great meals and loved to serve food to, and interact with, the youth.
The youth really enjoy the praise services they have after dinner each evening and they participate enthusiastically. A videographer takes pictures of them working during the day and introducing themselves on camera. He edits the film and shows the video to the youth in the evening. They love seeing themselves working and hoot and holler when they see their friends on camera.
Have you ever had a lousy Monday morning? The main road leading into Fayetteville has a speed limit of 65 mph, but everyone goes 75. At the town border, the limit suddenly drops to 50. While driving to the school at 5:30 AM Monday morning, Mary only slowed down to about 55. Would you believe she was stopped and fined $150??!! Hey, at that time in the morning business is slow…
Carl met a man from Fayetteville last year. They have become friends, and during the afternoons when the team has free time, the two often ride bikes down a four-mile hill. (You go four miles and never have to pedal!) He also knows Harman, a Bible Baptist from central PA who loves to come help CAMT in the kitchen. He's also willing to drive down the four-mile hill and bring Carl and his biking friend back to the top.
Check in again in a day or two for more news.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
West Virginia, Here We Come!
Covenant's Adult Mission Team (CAMT) is gearing up for its next mission trip. Two groups will travel to WV to prepare meals for youth mission teams who come to the Fayetteville area to do flood relief work. PA Christian Endeavor plans for the work done by mission teams during summers in WV.
One Covenant group will work the week of June 26, and the other, the week of July 2. Working in a high school cafeteria, CAMT prepares a full breakfast and packs bag lunches for the youth teams who return at the end of the day for dinner and a praise service.
CAMT's planning group met recently to review travel and motel arrangements for the trip, to discuss costs (about $300 per person), and to answer questions. Carl, who will be kitchen manager again, and his wife, Pat, will be there for both weeks. Mary and Millie plan to go the first week, and Chick and Dolly will be there the second week. Tracy and Molly haven't yet been able to finalize their plans.
The meeting closed with a birthday party for Frank who, you may remember, had daily "birthdays" while on the Mexico mission trip in January. During that trip he "aged" from 35 to 40 as the days went by during the week. Since this meeting was on his real birthday, he got cards as well as cake. He claimed he was now 41, and no one had the heart to tell him he was off by about three decades.
Carl will send daily reports from WV which will be posted to the blog. You should be able to read the first one Monday, June 27--and if the system works as predicted, there should be a picture or two each day. Put the CAMT blog on your Favorites list so you can get to it quickly.
One Covenant group will work the week of June 26, and the other, the week of July 2. Working in a high school cafeteria, CAMT prepares a full breakfast and packs bag lunches for the youth teams who return at the end of the day for dinner and a praise service.
CAMT's planning group met recently to review travel and motel arrangements for the trip, to discuss costs (about $300 per person), and to answer questions. Carl, who will be kitchen manager again, and his wife, Pat, will be there for both weeks. Mary and Millie plan to go the first week, and Chick and Dolly will be there the second week. Tracy and Molly haven't yet been able to finalize their plans.
The meeting closed with a birthday party for Frank who, you may remember, had daily "birthdays" while on the Mexico mission trip in January. During that trip he "aged" from 35 to 40 as the days went by during the week. Since this meeting was on his real birthday, he got cards as well as cake. He claimed he was now 41, and no one had the heart to tell him he was off by about three decades.
Carl will send daily reports from WV which will be posted to the blog. You should be able to read the first one Monday, June 27--and if the system works as predicted, there should be a picture or two each day. Put the CAMT blog on your Favorites list so you can get to it quickly.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Godspell + Generosity = 3 Scholarships!
The Alpha/Omega Players gave an amazing performance of Godspell May 6 at Covenant, and those present responded enthusiastically both with their applause and their offerings. At last count, which includes donations given Sunday morning, we have $1800 to send to Faith Ministry for scholarships. That's enough to assure 3 high school students another year of school and the chance for the kind of job that can take them out of the on-going cycle of poverty.
We praise God for the theatrical gifts of the Players, for the generous donation of two people which covered the cost of the Players coming to Covenant, and for God's moving in the hearts of all who responded to the very real need of impoverished children and youth in Reynosa, Mexico.
We praise God for the theatrical gifts of the Players, for the generous donation of two people which covered the cost of the Players coming to Covenant, and for God's moving in the hearts of all who responded to the very real need of impoverished children and youth in Reynosa, Mexico.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Godspell comes to Covenant
Godspell is coming to Covenant Presbyterian Church Friday, May 6 at 7:30 PM. This amazing and very popular musical, which is based on the Gospel of Matthew, will be performed by the Alpha/Omega Players of Birdsboro, PA. Because of a generous donation, there is no cost to attend, but you must reserve a seat by calling the church office (610-648-0707).
A love offering will be taken at the end of the performance to benefit the scholarship fund of Faith Ministry in Reynosa, Mexico. CAMT mission teams have worked with Faith Ministry for three years and are especially interested in the scholarship funds that help make sure children can complete their education. There is no tuition charged for children to go to public schools, but families must provide uniforms and school supplies at a cost of $400 to $600 depending on the grade. Many families cannot afford to send their children to school for more than a few years which perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Check out the earlier entries of the blog to read about CAMT's most recent visit to Faith Ministry early this year.
Covenant Presbyterian Church is located at 400 Lancaster Ave., Frazer, PA (about half way between Paoli and Exton, PA, one "block" east of the 30 and 352 intersection.
A love offering will be taken at the end of the performance to benefit the scholarship fund of Faith Ministry in Reynosa, Mexico. CAMT mission teams have worked with Faith Ministry for three years and are especially interested in the scholarship funds that help make sure children can complete their education. There is no tuition charged for children to go to public schools, but families must provide uniforms and school supplies at a cost of $400 to $600 depending on the grade. Many families cannot afford to send their children to school for more than a few years which perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Check out the earlier entries of the blog to read about CAMT's most recent visit to Faith Ministry early this year.
Covenant Presbyterian Church is located at 400 Lancaster Ave., Frazer, PA (about half way between Paoli and Exton, PA, one "block" east of the 30 and 352 intersection.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Mission Trip to West Virginia
After a great response to our reporting on mission trips March 13, CAMT now looks foward to sending teams to Fayetteville, WV where they will prepare meals for Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor (PACE) youth mission teams who come to do flood relief work. Carl will be the kitchen manager the weeks of June 26 and July3. So far we have 4 who plan to go the first week and 4 (plus the possibility of 3 more) for the second week. Stay tuned for more news nearer the time.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Good seats still available
Here are just a few of the things you will hear next week
when CAMT shows slides of the mission trips they have taken
and share what the mission trip experience is like.
People on the teams fit into the responsibilities needed.
No one had to be told what to do.
It was amazing how you could find ways to communicate
with people whose language you dont speak.
The change when we crossed the Rio Grande was unbelieveable:
shacks for homes, trash along the roads, abandoned cars.
It was great to see the teens on the WV mission trips. They worked hard
and seemed very dedicated to helping those in need.
Seeing the great love the Mexican parents have for their children was touching.
Parents keep the children clean even in a dry, dusty--or, when it rains, a very muddy environment.
Along with hard work there were a lot laughs:
(Yahtzee games for the WV teams and,
for the Mexico team, the on-going birthday parties
for Frank--or "Dad" as he was called--because he had the credit card and paid all the bills.)
The people seemed to know we were there to help because we genuinely care about them.
Join us at Covenant Presbyterian Church, March 13, 9:45 to 10:45
when CAMT shows slides of the mission trips they have taken
and share what the mission trip experience is like.
People on the teams fit into the responsibilities needed.
No one had to be told what to do.
It was amazing how you could find ways to communicate
with people whose language you dont speak.
The change when we crossed the Rio Grande was unbelieveable:
shacks for homes, trash along the roads, abandoned cars.
It was great to see the teens on the WV mission trips. They worked hard
and seemed very dedicated to helping those in need.
Seeing the great love the Mexican parents have for their children was touching.
Parents keep the children clean even in a dry, dusty--or, when it rains, a very muddy environment.
Along with hard work there were a lot laughs:
(Yahtzee games for the WV teams and,
for the Mexico team, the on-going birthday parties
for Frank--or "Dad" as he was called--because he had the credit card and paid all the bills.)
The people seemed to know we were there to help because we genuinely care about them.
Join us at Covenant Presbyterian Church, March 13, 9:45 to 10:45
Monday, February 21, 2005
The Making of the CAMT Blog
Tales of a Mission Blog
Click on the link if you're thinking about using a blog to share your mission. Then add a comment to let us know about your experiences.
Click on the link if you're thinking about using a blog to share your mission. Then add a comment to let us know about your experiences.
Friday, February 04, 2005
The Clinic
This is Millie. I wanted to tell you about the clinics where I worked for the third year.
The mothers are fabulous about bringing their children in. They take fabulous care of the children, always bringing them for check ups at the first sign of something.
There's one three year old that was born hydrocephalic. The father did not want the child; wanted the mother to let her die. The mother chose surgery to put a shunt in, but it hasn't worked out too well.
The mother carries the child all the time. This year when I saw her, she was getting ready to leave the clinic when the child went into a seizure. It was very disturbing for those around her. But the tears just rolled from her mother's eyes.
The seizure happened because she had run out of medicine and money to pay for it. She had come in that day for medicine, but meanwhile, she didn't have any.
She lives in a "rented room" with several unrelated men living in the other rooms. The only bathroom is an outhouse. But if the horses and donkeys are out, they just have to wait to get to the outhouse, with no heat or electricity.
The nurse at the clinic and her aide try to gather up food for her. They say it's the saddest case that they've seen. The mother is devoted to this child and at the same time is raising two other children.
The mother does housework when she can, just to make a few pesos. She takes the child with her. While she's working, she constantly has to watch the daughter. It was so sad to see that she didn't have money for seizure medication for her child, but she's never given up on her. We hope and pray that in some way, she will find a way to afford medicine, control the seizures, and find a better life.
The mothers are fabulous about bringing their children in. They take fabulous care of the children, always bringing them for check ups at the first sign of something.
There's one three year old that was born hydrocephalic. The father did not want the child; wanted the mother to let her die. The mother chose surgery to put a shunt in, but it hasn't worked out too well.
The mother carries the child all the time. This year when I saw her, she was getting ready to leave the clinic when the child went into a seizure. It was very disturbing for those around her. But the tears just rolled from her mother's eyes.
The seizure happened because she had run out of medicine and money to pay for it. She had come in that day for medicine, but meanwhile, she didn't have any.
She lives in a "rented room" with several unrelated men living in the other rooms. The only bathroom is an outhouse. But if the horses and donkeys are out, they just have to wait to get to the outhouse, with no heat or electricity.
The nurse at the clinic and her aide try to gather up food for her. They say it's the saddest case that they've seen. The mother is devoted to this child and at the same time is raising two other children.
The mother does housework when she can, just to make a few pesos. She takes the child with her. While she's working, she constantly has to watch the daughter. It was so sad to see that she didn't have money for seizure medication for her child, but she's never given up on her. We hope and pray that in some way, she will find a way to afford medicine, control the seizures, and find a better life.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Banners, Murals, and Warmth All Around
The best news is that Karla is feeling better and could be with us today. Evie went with Millie to the medical clinic. She was impressed by the way that the mothers interacted with their children. She now has a new insight into the medical side of Faith Ministry.
This morning the rest of the team went back to the church. The murals are 98% done. During the service we carried the mural into the sanctuary where everyone could see it. The banners are completed. The banners were hung around the walls of the sanctuary and lent a really delightful atmosphere to the service.
The praise service once again included enthusiastic singing and a wonderful sense of unity. During the chorus of one song, as is their custom, people walk around and shake hands with each other. There's a warmth to this activity that is not matched in any other place that we have been.
After the praise service, Roman, a young bilingual Mexican, took us to see the home of one of the women who worked with the 2004 mission team. Her home has been enlarged by Faith Ministry. She did a year of volunteer work, including the time she worked with us. It was amazingly well furnished in some ways, but with concrete block walls and a very primitive bathroom There were no closets, but a large armoire in one of the bedrooms. Clothing was simply piled into boxes. She and her four children are fortunate to live where there is electricity and sewers. The streets, however, are incredibly rutted, with top speeds of 2 miles per hour.
We stopped on the way home to buy canvas bags for the women who had worked with us this week. One of the children, a 12 year old named Karen, made one of the banner and did some painting on the mural. We'll give her the leftover paint and brushes.
We had dinner at Joe's Crab House. Dad (Frank) celebrated his third birthday this week and received free cheesecake while the waiters sang Happy Birthday, backwards. (!knarF, yadhtriB yppaH) Oh, not what you think. They simply turned around, and sang with their backs to us.
Back at the hotel, we had devotions and reflections on the day, and the week as a whole.
This morning the rest of the team went back to the church. The murals are 98% done. During the service we carried the mural into the sanctuary where everyone could see it. The banners are completed. The banners were hung around the walls of the sanctuary and lent a really delightful atmosphere to the service.
The praise service once again included enthusiastic singing and a wonderful sense of unity. During the chorus of one song, as is their custom, people walk around and shake hands with each other. There's a warmth to this activity that is not matched in any other place that we have been.
After the praise service, Roman, a young bilingual Mexican, took us to see the home of one of the women who worked with the 2004 mission team. Her home has been enlarged by Faith Ministry. She did a year of volunteer work, including the time she worked with us. It was amazingly well furnished in some ways, but with concrete block walls and a very primitive bathroom There were no closets, but a large armoire in one of the bedrooms. Clothing was simply piled into boxes. She and her four children are fortunate to live where there is electricity and sewers. The streets, however, are incredibly rutted, with top speeds of 2 miles per hour.
We stopped on the way home to buy canvas bags for the women who had worked with us this week. One of the children, a 12 year old named Karen, made one of the banner and did some painting on the mural. We'll give her the leftover paint and brushes.
We had dinner at Joe's Crab House. Dad (Frank) celebrated his third birthday this week and received free cheesecake while the waiters sang Happy Birthday, backwards. (!knarF, yadhtriB yppaH) Oh, not what you think. They simply turned around, and sang with their backs to us.
Back at the hotel, we had devotions and reflections on the day, and the week as a whole.
Reflections on the Week
Hi this is Barbara. I just wanted to say that it has been a blessed experience. We’ve all had fun together and enjoyed our interactions with people in Mexico. It's been a blessing to us to work with them and to see their joy and hope that they have a good life when they have so little. It reminds of how much we have.
This is Evie. I echo everything Barbara said. I'm glad for the opportunity to be here. There's been some bumps along the road, but we've been blessed and had a really positive experience.
This is Karla, the children are amazing in Mexico. It's a joy to see how the mom's and dad's take care of the kids even though they have so little. They can still put a smile on their faces and that's truly is a blessing. It has been an uplifting experience.
This is Joyce. I really echo what has been said. It's been a wonderful week. As they said, there's some bumps in the road, figurative and real. It's just been great the way the team has come together. We really have been enriched by the whole experience.
We're so happy we could be here for Frank's birthdays.
This is Evie. I echo everything Barbara said. I'm glad for the opportunity to be here. There's been some bumps along the road, but we've been blessed and had a really positive experience.
This is Karla, the children are amazing in Mexico. It's a joy to see how the mom's and dad's take care of the kids even though they have so little. They can still put a smile on their faces and that's truly is a blessing. It has been an uplifting experience.
This is Joyce. I really echo what has been said. It's been a wonderful week. As they said, there's some bumps in the road, figurative and real. It's just been great the way the team has come together. We really have been enriched by the whole experience.
We're so happy we could be here for Frank's birthdays.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Tuesday in Mexico
Wes, Karla, and Evie made great strides on the mural.
Frank joined the mural painters and (to the surprise of many) painted a wicked bull, a cow, and two realistic, fluffy (?) llamas. The Mural is 3 feet high and 16 feet long (on Masonite, you might recall). Everyone is having fun painting the parade of animals leaving the ark under a beautiful rainbow. Any resemblance between Noah and Deantin Guerra is said to be completely unintentional. To the disappointment of some, Noah will not appear in a Philadelphia Eagles jacket.
Barabara, Joyce, Millie, and eight Mexican women are working on banners to be hung in the Reynosa and Miguel Aleman Presbyterian churches. They've completed 17 banners so far this week.
Language barrier makes in depth communication difficult, but Joyce reports a "conversation" of gestures, Spanish, and English about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that was primitive, but very effective communication between two people who share one Christian faith. The woman with whom Frank was speaking summarized the conversation by pointing to the Cross!
Wednesday - crafts with children all afternoon.
Frank joined the mural painters and (to the surprise of many) painted a wicked bull, a cow, and two realistic, fluffy (?) llamas. The Mural is 3 feet high and 16 feet long (on Masonite, you might recall). Everyone is having fun painting the parade of animals leaving the ark under a beautiful rainbow. Any resemblance between Noah and Deantin Guerra is said to be completely unintentional. To the disappointment of some, Noah will not appear in a Philadelphia Eagles jacket.
Barabara, Joyce, Millie, and eight Mexican women are working on banners to be hung in the Reynosa and Miguel Aleman Presbyterian churches. They've completed 17 banners so far this week.
Language barrier makes in depth communication difficult, but Joyce reports a "conversation" of gestures, Spanish, and English about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that was primitive, but very effective communication between two people who share one Christian faith. The woman with whom Frank was speaking summarized the conversation by pointing to the Cross!
Wednesday - crafts with children all afternoon.
Good News and Bad
First, of course, the bad:
It's cold. 50 degrees and showers since arrival.
The stop at Kinko's for blogging is draining after a full day of working in a new location where we don't speak the language.
The van driver (Karla) isn't feeling well. But it looks like our intrepid backup driver (Barbara) is willing to compete with Tex-Mex motorists who know no fear.
But also good news!
Our team has truly become one, supportive of each other and dedicated to serving our Mexican neighbors.
There have been many light moments filled with laughter. Joyce has laughed harder this week than at any time in years.
The devotions written by Covenant members back in Pennsylvania have helped direct the team's thoughts each evening to various aspects of the mission. Thank you for your prayers.
It's cold. 50 degrees and showers since arrival.
The stop at Kinko's for blogging is draining after a full day of working in a new location where we don't speak the language.
The van driver (Karla) isn't feeling well. But it looks like our intrepid backup driver (Barbara) is willing to compete with Tex-Mex motorists who know no fear.
But also good news!
Our team has truly become one, supportive of each other and dedicated to serving our Mexican neighbors.
There have been many light moments filled with laughter. Joyce has laughed harder this week than at any time in years.
The devotions written by Covenant members back in Pennsylvania have helped direct the team's thoughts each evening to various aspects of the mission. Thank you for your prayers.
Happy Birthday, Frank!
Frank has become "Dad" to the team, because he pays for everything! Last night, Barbara, Evie, and Karla celebrated Frank's 35th birthday with cake and song. It's possible that they were wrong about more than the month and day of Frank's birth.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Monday, Rainy Monday
We woke up today, Monday, to showers which meant we couldn't drive with the masonite boards on top of the van. Carried them up to Joyce and Frank's room and went to Lowe's who were happy to cut them (Yeah, Lowe's!) They now fit under the seats, and we got to the church compound without incident.
Wes, Karla and Evie began the painting of the mural--it's awesome--while Barbara, Frank, and Joyce worked with nine Mexican women to make banners for the sanctuary and/or Sunday School rooms. We had dropped off Millie at the Medical Clinic where she helped by taking patients'vital signs.
Left later in the afternoon and finally feel like we'getting into the heart of what we're here for. It's been lots of laughter (a LOT of laughter), serious reflections, and growing awareness of what life is like south of the border.
Wes, Karla and Evie began the painting of the mural--it's awesome--while Barbara, Frank, and Joyce worked with nine Mexican women to make banners for the sanctuary and/or Sunday School rooms. We had dropped off Millie at the Medical Clinic where she helped by taking patients'vital signs.
Left later in the afternoon and finally feel like we'getting into the heart of what we're here for. It's been lots of laughter (a LOT of laughter), serious reflections, and growing awareness of what life is like south of the border.
Sunday, Part II
We finally have had time to sort through all that has happened--including the State Dept. travel warning for Americans crossing the Mexican border. We learned about that Friday, the day before we left. Some Americans have gotten in the middle of drug lords' wars. After a call to Faith Ministry and the State Dept. everyone decided that our risks were very low since we cross the border together in a van, do not take walks alone in dangerous neighborhoods, and are only in Mexico during daylight hours. Still...it gave everyone pause for thought. We ultimately came, not assuming absolute safety, but feeling an assurance that by using common sense and trusting in God's protection, we would be safe.
On to Sunday when we headed for Mexico. When crossing the border you get either a green light or red one. If it's green, you go on through without stopping. If it's red you pull over and answer questions, have your vehicle briefly searched, and then, if the guard is satisfied, proceed.
When we got to the church, 1st Presbyterian Church of Reynosa, we visited some of the Sunday School classes (adult and children), then attended morning worship. The service is much like ours at home, although this time we didn't recognize any of the hymns except the last one, "God be with you 'til we meet again." (Of course we also didn't understand any of the sermon which was loooong.)
On the way home we searched out Home Depot to get two 4 X 8 panels of masonite on which the mural of Noah's ark will be painted. They wouldn't cut it to the 3 X 8 size because they said it might split, so we tied it to the top of the van. Stopped at Wal*Mart to get paint for the mural.
Barely got back in time to head out for dinner at Poncho's, a Mexican restaurant which features Marachi bands. David Rodriquez, the associate director of Faith Ministry joined us and spent some time telling us about the ministry and the ideas that formed it.
Pictured above - Covenant CAMT Mission Team. Back row, left to right: Wes, Millie, Barbara, Karla, and David (Associate Director, Faith Ministry). Front row, left to right: Frank (Dad), Joyce, and Evie.
It had been another LONG day, but we took time again for evening reflections on the day and for one of the daily devotions written by a Covenant member.
On to Sunday when we headed for Mexico. When crossing the border you get either a green light or red one. If it's green, you go on through without stopping. If it's red you pull over and answer questions, have your vehicle briefly searched, and then, if the guard is satisfied, proceed.
When we got to the church, 1st Presbyterian Church of Reynosa, we visited some of the Sunday School classes (adult and children), then attended morning worship. The service is much like ours at home, although this time we didn't recognize any of the hymns except the last one, "God be with you 'til we meet again." (Of course we also didn't understand any of the sermon which was loooong.)
On the way home we searched out Home Depot to get two 4 X 8 panels of masonite on which the mural of Noah's ark will be painted. They wouldn't cut it to the 3 X 8 size because they said it might split, so we tied it to the top of the van. Stopped at Wal*Mart to get paint for the mural.
Barely got back in time to head out for dinner at Poncho's, a Mexican restaurant which features Marachi bands. David Rodriquez, the associate director of Faith Ministry joined us and spent some time telling us about the ministry and the ideas that formed it.
Pictured above - Covenant CAMT Mission Team. Back row, left to right: Wes, Millie, Barbara, Karla, and David (Associate Director, Faith Ministry). Front row, left to right: Frank (Dad), Joyce, and Evie.
It had been another LONG day, but we took time again for evening reflections on the day and for one of the daily devotions written by a Covenant member.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Prayer of Dedication
The plans for dedication Sunday included the prayer CAMT adopted early in 2002, about a year after we began planning for mission teams. It’s a prayer written by a monk, and it was carried by a fireman chaplain who died at the World Trade Center. While we’ve felt it’s especially pertinent to those of us on mission teams, it suggests an openness to God’s leading that is important to all who are willing to step out into new avenues of service:
Lord, take us where You want us to go;
Let us meet whom You want us to meet;
Tell us what You want us to say, and
Keep us out of Your way.
Amen.
Lord, take us where You want us to go;
Let us meet whom You want us to meet;
Tell us what You want us to say, and
Keep us out of Your way.
Amen.
CAMT Gets Cold Foot
But not cold feet, fortunately!
Sunday’s foot of snow stopped just about everything cold. No pun intended. …Well, maybe…. Even church services at Covenant were cancelled. There had been plans to dedicate the mission team at both services, but it was not to be. We leave next Saturday morning, the 29th, so this was the last time to worship with the congregation before we leave. While we’re sorry it didn’t take place, we have felt support from so many people, we already feel blessed in a very special way.
Sunday’s foot of snow stopped just about everything cold. No pun intended. …Well, maybe…. Even church services at Covenant were cancelled. There had been plans to dedicate the mission team at both services, but it was not to be. We leave next Saturday morning, the 29th, so this was the last time to worship with the congregation before we leave. While we’re sorry it didn’t take place, we have felt support from so many people, we already feel blessed in a very special way.
A spirit of Giving
The latest—made a list of directions we’ll need to give the children with whom we’ll do crafts Wed. afternoon. Have asked Michelle, our Spanish resource teacher, to send us translations (i.e., for taking Polaroid pictures which they will frame: May I take your picture? Smile! Don’t touch the picture yet. Here is a frame for your picture, etc., etc.) There’s another list for showing them how to make little baskets into which we’ll put some gifts for them, and more directions for making beaded bracelets.
My recent brainstorm is to suggest they can make a bracelet with someone else’s name so they can give it as a gift. I doubt children in such impoverished homes have the pleasure of giving gifts very often, but, of course, that may be another stereotyped idea that’s wrong. Have to check it out… Of course, others on the team may have already thought of the gift idea…. (One thing Adam didn’t have to worry about—someone else beating him to the punch on what he thought was a great, new idea! At least not until Eve was created.)
My recent brainstorm is to suggest they can make a bracelet with someone else’s name so they can give it as a gift. I doubt children in such impoverished homes have the pleasure of giving gifts very often, but, of course, that may be another stereotyped idea that’s wrong. Have to check it out… Of course, others on the team may have already thought of the gift idea…. (One thing Adam didn’t have to worry about—someone else beating him to the punch on what he thought was a great, new idea! At least not until Eve was created.)
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Cameras Needed!
Craft ideas keep evolving for our mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico! The latest from our "crafty" team members: take a Polaroid picture of each child during our afternoon of crafts, and give the children adhesive-backed decorations to add a festive note to the frame they will receive.
Children in impoverished areas rarely have pictures taken of themselves. It will be a very special keepsake for both the children and their parents.
However--we need one or two more Polaroid cameras to speed up the picture taking process. (We anticipate 40 to 50 children.) If you have one you can lend, call the Covenant Church office at 610-648-0707.
Children in impoverished areas rarely have pictures taken of themselves. It will be a very special keepsake for both the children and their parents.
However--we need one or two more Polaroid cameras to speed up the picture taking process. (We anticipate 40 to 50 children.) If you have one you can lend, call the Covenant Church office at 610-648-0707.
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