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.
Monday, January 31, 2005
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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