Those who worked in West Virginia to prepare meals for youth mission teams who repaired houses are back safely. Food orders for the meals arrived on time (most of the time) and nobody fell off a cliff! (Check the WV trip news for 2008 to read about that last one!) Special thanks to Carl and Pat Lotz who plan the menus, order the food, and, essentially orchestrate the whole project--although most of those on the teams have worked several years on this project, so they've had lots of practice.
Next Mission Trip:
A day trip to the Sheila Dennis Shelter in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 29. Leave Covenant at 8:30 and return about 2:30. (This is the shelter where in June a birthday party was prepared for all the women there.) The team, led by Richard Smith, will prepare lunch for the residents. Even though there won't be a party this time, having a group of friendly people serve you a delicious lunch makes for a great day! Call Covenant Presbyterian Church if you'd like more information or to sign up to join the group: 610-648-0707
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Day 15: Saturday July 4, 2009
Since everyone is packing to leave, once again breakfast is quiet. Just cereal, juice, fruit and yes pizza.
Pat and I have packed many of the items we brought with us to make the job easier.
I have made a list for Norm as to what he is to bring home to me at the end of next week. Norm is a site coordinator for all three weeks who has offered to run the griddle next week so we can continue my menu.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie have left for home. Pat and I will be soon behind them. I just have to review procedures for next week with one of the interns who knows the woman that will be kitchen manager next week. However Bonnie, the school employee kitchen person will keep every thing organized.
Oh yes, I have to file this email from the school’s principal’s office. My last for this adventure.
Pat and I have packed many of the items we brought with us to make the job easier.
I have made a list for Norm as to what he is to bring home to me at the end of next week. Norm is a site coordinator for all three weeks who has offered to run the griddle next week so we can continue my menu.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie have left for home. Pat and I will be soon behind them. I just have to review procedures for next week with one of the interns who knows the woman that will be kitchen manager next week. However Bonnie, the school employee kitchen person will keep every thing organized.
Oh yes, I have to file this email from the school’s principal’s office. My last for this adventure.
Day 14: Friday July 3, 2009
The count down to the end is near. I thought it was only Pat and I with two weeks under our belts. But the schedule is so foreign to our normal schedules that everyone is on the count down.
In many ways this week has almost been strange. Again the breakfast hour was stretched thin which deceives me. Even though I am outside and everyone passes the griddle I am working, it seems very few are coming to breakfast. That is until I get to go inside and find the dining room a filled as ever.
Friday we serve everything that is left over. Creamed dried beef, potatoes, cinnamon rolls, and biscuits. And French toast again fresh from the griddle.
Today we do not have to build sandwiches for lunches. No lunch tomorrow.
Back at the Inn today by 8:30, Again time to rest.
Oh of interest, yesterday someone tried to jump off the famous route 19 New river gorge bridge. The police closed down the bridge about 7 a.m. If you have enough guts to actually jump, then you should have enough guts to face life. The National Park Police eventually subdued him with a taser.
The town (actually called a city) of Gaulley Bridge is preparing for the Fourth of July celebration. A marathon gospel concert outdoors near the river Gaulley.
Free until 3:30 today, I head back for my last hours at the museum mentioned in earlier emails. It is not a priority for them so if we go back in future years it will be there for me. It is years of work. However now I can turn to researching the timeline for some of the processes and equipment I found in their basement.
Dinner is chili, build it yourself tacos and pizza. In short teen food. When I put together the menu every item in stock has multiple uses. The cream of chicken soup on Monday became the gravy over the chicken on Tuesday, etc., etc. Fridays leftover pizza is then served for breakfast on Saturday. They love it.
In many ways this week has almost been strange. Again the breakfast hour was stretched thin which deceives me. Even though I am outside and everyone passes the griddle I am working, it seems very few are coming to breakfast. That is until I get to go inside and find the dining room a filled as ever.
Friday we serve everything that is left over. Creamed dried beef, potatoes, cinnamon rolls, and biscuits. And French toast again fresh from the griddle.
Today we do not have to build sandwiches for lunches. No lunch tomorrow.
Back at the Inn today by 8:30, Again time to rest.
Oh of interest, yesterday someone tried to jump off the famous route 19 New river gorge bridge. The police closed down the bridge about 7 a.m. If you have enough guts to actually jump, then you should have enough guts to face life. The National Park Police eventually subdued him with a taser.
The town (actually called a city) of Gaulley Bridge is preparing for the Fourth of July celebration. A marathon gospel concert outdoors near the river Gaulley.
Free until 3:30 today, I head back for my last hours at the museum mentioned in earlier emails. It is not a priority for them so if we go back in future years it will be there for me. It is years of work. However now I can turn to researching the timeline for some of the processes and equipment I found in their basement.
Dinner is chili, build it yourself tacos and pizza. In short teen food. When I put together the menu every item in stock has multiple uses. The cream of chicken soup on Monday became the gravy over the chicken on Tuesday, etc., etc. Fridays leftover pizza is then served for breakfast on Saturday. They love it.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Day 13: Thursday July 2, 2009
If you read last weeks blog you know today’s breakfast is pancakes. We are ready before 7:30 our starting time to serve. The kids who are coming in for breakfast look worse than they did yesterday. And again they straggle in over the full hour. But they are loaded up and out to the job sites by eight o’clock.
I have the standard administrative items to take care of on Wednesdays. Food delivery time, pay the bakery, etc.
The rest of the day today is to rest. Mary however heads out to visit some of the work sites. It takes her hours before she is back.
At two o’clock I head to the Foodland for a few items and then go to the school to check out my food delivery. At 3:30 I pick up Pat and she starts the soup for tonight’s salad bar.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie arrive at four and we have everything set up and ready to serve by four-thirty.
The groups are back a little earlier than usual but the first person through the salad bar is only 10 minutes before the five o’clock salad bar opening. Dinner is good, just ask anyone. Dessert is a small brownie or a large square of cake. Want to guess what most boys took.
As for me, I now have the realization that Pat and I have one more day before we can head home. I am ready, almost looking forward to it.
I have the standard administrative items to take care of on Wednesdays. Food delivery time, pay the bakery, etc.
The rest of the day today is to rest. Mary however heads out to visit some of the work sites. It takes her hours before she is back.
At two o’clock I head to the Foodland for a few items and then go to the school to check out my food delivery. At 3:30 I pick up Pat and she starts the soup for tonight’s salad bar.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie arrive at four and we have everything set up and ready to serve by four-thirty.
The groups are back a little earlier than usual but the first person through the salad bar is only 10 minutes before the five o’clock salad bar opening. Dinner is good, just ask anyone. Dessert is a small brownie or a large square of cake. Want to guess what most boys took.
As for me, I now have the realization that Pat and I have one more day before we can head home. I am ready, almost looking forward to it.
Day 12: Wednesday July 1, 2009
The campers have the afternoon off. They work the morning and then are free until ten tonight. To make this possible they have their praise service at eight a.m. right after breakfast.
But right now at 6:30 we have no takers for breakfast except a small group of adults that are always early for breakfast. In fact it is six-fifty before we get any campers through the door. And it is a very slow trickle right up to our seven thirty cut off for breakfast. They all look tired.
Some raft, some swim, some picnic this afternoon.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie head to Beckley about twenty miles away to take the coal mine tour. An underground tour that is fascinating. Of course it’s a cool 50 or so degrees inside so jackets are required.
Pat and Carl went their own way. As a result I have a bone to pick with Kathy Southerland next time I see her. Last week she and Rich went to Greenbrier about two hours away. We of course are heading for Greenbrier. I have to admit it is not quite two hours travel. We arrive in time for the 1:30 tour of the bunkers. But it is only noon. There is a McDonalds just down the street, but we opt to have lunch in the hotel Café. Ten times the potential McDonald’s bill. But it is a once in a lifetime experience. The ninety-minute bunker tour is very interesting. They tell us it is now the bunker used to store company records. They also talk about how the bunker was hidden in plain site. Hummm!
Pat and Carl are just finishing dinner in the Glen Ferris dinning room when in come the rest of our group. So Pat and I sit with them as they order dinner. The conversation eventually leads to how each of the couples met. Interesting.
But right now at 6:30 we have no takers for breakfast except a small group of adults that are always early for breakfast. In fact it is six-fifty before we get any campers through the door. And it is a very slow trickle right up to our seven thirty cut off for breakfast. They all look tired.
Some raft, some swim, some picnic this afternoon.
Mary, Mollie, Betty and Makenzie head to Beckley about twenty miles away to take the coal mine tour. An underground tour that is fascinating. Of course it’s a cool 50 or so degrees inside so jackets are required.
Pat and Carl went their own way. As a result I have a bone to pick with Kathy Southerland next time I see her. Last week she and Rich went to Greenbrier about two hours away. We of course are heading for Greenbrier. I have to admit it is not quite two hours travel. We arrive in time for the 1:30 tour of the bunkers. But it is only noon. There is a McDonalds just down the street, but we opt to have lunch in the hotel Café. Ten times the potential McDonald’s bill. But it is a once in a lifetime experience. The ninety-minute bunker tour is very interesting. They tell us it is now the bunker used to store company records. They also talk about how the bunker was hidden in plain site. Hummm!
Pat and Carl are just finishing dinner in the Glen Ferris dinning room when in come the rest of our group. So Pat and I sit with them as they order dinner. The conversation eventually leads to how each of the couples met. Interesting.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Day 11: Tuesday June 30, 2009
The normal routine to set up for breakfast, serve Egg McMuffins.
Today Mary has to bake the cinnamon rolls by 6:30 when we start serving breakfast and then go on and bake one hundred biscuits for the strawberry shortcake.
Of course after breakfast half the group builds sandwiches and the other half cuts strawberries.
We head back to the Inn for an hour to rest. At ten in the morning we shuffle cars at Hawk’s Nest State Park so we can start the rail trail hike with this weeks crew. The walk is tradition. Everyone except Pat walk the two-mile trail. This time the pace is slower while Mary and Betty admire the variety of plants and try to identify them. Mollie and Makenzie sets the pace way ahead. We meet Pat at the bottom and then take the gondola up to the hotel at State Park. We then all enjoy lunch in the “Rivers Restaurant” with the view of the river below. We can see all the way to the bridge crossing the gorge at Fayetteville, which is almost fifteen miles away. We are done and still have two hours to rest before preparing tonight’s dinner.
Tuesday’s dinner is one of the bigger dinners we serve. Baked chicken on top of rice pilaf along with glazed carrots.
Each week we always have some campers who need special handling. This week we have a girl just diagnosed with diabetes before coming to Gauley Bridge. We are adapting are items so she can count and control her carbs and sugar.
Tuesday is a snack night, but for the first time in years very few show up for nachos tonight. I am beginning to think these kids a weird.
Today Mary has to bake the cinnamon rolls by 6:30 when we start serving breakfast and then go on and bake one hundred biscuits for the strawberry shortcake.
Of course after breakfast half the group builds sandwiches and the other half cuts strawberries.
We head back to the Inn for an hour to rest. At ten in the morning we shuffle cars at Hawk’s Nest State Park so we can start the rail trail hike with this weeks crew. The walk is tradition. Everyone except Pat walk the two-mile trail. This time the pace is slower while Mary and Betty admire the variety of plants and try to identify them. Mollie and Makenzie sets the pace way ahead. We meet Pat at the bottom and then take the gondola up to the hotel at State Park. We then all enjoy lunch in the “Rivers Restaurant” with the view of the river below. We can see all the way to the bridge crossing the gorge at Fayetteville, which is almost fifteen miles away. We are done and still have two hours to rest before preparing tonight’s dinner.
Tuesday’s dinner is one of the bigger dinners we serve. Baked chicken on top of rice pilaf along with glazed carrots.
Each week we always have some campers who need special handling. This week we have a girl just diagnosed with diabetes before coming to Gauley Bridge. We are adapting are items so she can count and control her carbs and sugar.
Tuesday is a snack night, but for the first time in years very few show up for nachos tonight. I am beginning to think these kids a weird.
Day 10: Monday June 29, 2009
The new crew hits the ground running. Pat and I are in the kitchen by 5:30 in the morning. I distribute the items from the freezer and refrigerator so when Mollie, Mary, Makenzie and Betty arrive they have what they need to start. The representative of the school district (Bonnie) now knows the menu from working with us last week. Bonnie however feeds about 140 kids every day as the only kitchen person; as a result she has trouble with all these people in her kitchen. For some reason she starts work early and very often has our items for the day in the oven, etc.
On the other hand our crew is used to doing it all. I have to walk a fine line with Bonnie trying not to discourage her from what she wants to do, but being sure she leaves enough for us in the morning.
Makenzie and Mollie put together the lunch bar and find this group of kids doesn’t take as many sandwiches as the group did last week. After they all leave for their work sites we do not have to build very many sandwiches. Mary bakes a sheet cake for tonight’s dessert and several hundred peanut butter cookies that we will bag and put out for lunches tomorrow. Betty and Pat handle the breakfast bar. I find that Betty in her youth was in the Army stationed in Ireland and worked food preparation for hundreds of soldiers. This all comes back to her and it is easy for her to join right in.
With everyone knowing their job, and only 110 to feed the morning goes very quickly. Well with one exception. The precooked 300 strips of bacon I use with French toast did not come in. As a result I picked up ten packages of bacon at the local food store and cooked them on the griddle.
Following breakfast we replenish the sandwiches for tomorrow and stack them in the refrigerator. I pull the Sloppy Joe trays from the freezer to defrost by dinnertime. Then clean the griddle from making the French toast and call US Foods to get a time for today’s food order. Supposedly around 4:30. Since I will be back around 3:30 we don’t need an intern helping in the office to meet the driver.
The free time becomes a day of rest and recuperation for the girls from the travel and early hours.
By four o’clock the crew is back and working to replenish the salad bar. We open the salad bar at 5:00 Pat makes two tureens of chicken corn soup, and then she and Betty handle replenishment of the salad bar as needed. Makenzie dispenses soup also on the salad bar. At 5:15 Mary and Mollie man the steam tables and build the dinner plates. Chicken over rice pilaf with carrots on the side
Watermelon and cake complete the dinner.
We are cleaned up and out by seven.
On the other hand our crew is used to doing it all. I have to walk a fine line with Bonnie trying not to discourage her from what she wants to do, but being sure she leaves enough for us in the morning.
Makenzie and Mollie put together the lunch bar and find this group of kids doesn’t take as many sandwiches as the group did last week. After they all leave for their work sites we do not have to build very many sandwiches. Mary bakes a sheet cake for tonight’s dessert and several hundred peanut butter cookies that we will bag and put out for lunches tomorrow. Betty and Pat handle the breakfast bar. I find that Betty in her youth was in the Army stationed in Ireland and worked food preparation for hundreds of soldiers. This all comes back to her and it is easy for her to join right in.
With everyone knowing their job, and only 110 to feed the morning goes very quickly. Well with one exception. The precooked 300 strips of bacon I use with French toast did not come in. As a result I picked up ten packages of bacon at the local food store and cooked them on the griddle.
Following breakfast we replenish the sandwiches for tomorrow and stack them in the refrigerator. I pull the Sloppy Joe trays from the freezer to defrost by dinnertime. Then clean the griddle from making the French toast and call US Foods to get a time for today’s food order. Supposedly around 4:30. Since I will be back around 3:30 we don’t need an intern helping in the office to meet the driver.
The free time becomes a day of rest and recuperation for the girls from the travel and early hours.
By four o’clock the crew is back and working to replenish the salad bar. We open the salad bar at 5:00 Pat makes two tureens of chicken corn soup, and then she and Betty handle replenishment of the salad bar as needed. Makenzie dispenses soup also on the salad bar. At 5:15 Mary and Mollie man the steam tables and build the dinner plates. Chicken over rice pilaf with carrots on the side
Watermelon and cake complete the dinner.
We are cleaned up and out by seven.
Day 7: Friday June 26, 2009
(Well, slightly out of order, but please bear with us.)
We are starting the fifth day of sunshine. Well that is what the weather station tells us. At five a.m. there is not enough light to really know.
Today is “whatever we have leftover” day. As a result it is a smorgasbord of items. French toast or eggs off the griddle along with dried beef, toast, English muffins, cinnamon rolls, mixed fruit, even some left over McMuffins from Tuesday.
Being the last day that we will have the six hours of free time before dinner, everyone did their own thing. Rich and Kathy joined Debra and headed to Tamarack, shop that specializes in West Virginia tradesmen handcrafted items. Millie and Nancy read and spent time on the computer. Pat and Carl just rested and joined them for lunch at the Inn. Millie swore she was going to start lunch with dessert, but did have a hot dog before all of us ordered desserts.
Tonight the Town of Gauley is sponsoring an auction of QVC products in the Gym of the building the kids are staying in. As a result everyone, especially the kitchen staff from here want to be finished early. (Even Linda from the old HICO School {now retired} that we worked with four years ago came to the Auction). It was nice to see her and she greeted us as old friends.
Tonight’s dinner is teen food. In place of soup we serve chili, they make their own tacos and of course there is always pizza. This morning Nancy baked two sheet pans of corn bread for dinner and 160 bisquick short cakes to be used with hot peaches for dessert.
One of the groups with us all week headed home as they finished their project today so we were short twenty-five at dinner.
Most importantly we were registered in the gym ready for the auction by seven. A mish mash of items, I looked on the boxes they came out of, they were all marked with a “return” label to QVC. Oh well we still managed to buy $25 worth of items.
I left the gym a little after eight and went across the street to set up for another ice cream snack night starting at 8:30. Rich came back from the Inn to help me. They devour ice cream quickly and Rich and I were back at the Inn by 9:30.
We are starting the fifth day of sunshine. Well that is what the weather station tells us. At five a.m. there is not enough light to really know.
Today is “whatever we have leftover” day. As a result it is a smorgasbord of items. French toast or eggs off the griddle along with dried beef, toast, English muffins, cinnamon rolls, mixed fruit, even some left over McMuffins from Tuesday.
Being the last day that we will have the six hours of free time before dinner, everyone did their own thing. Rich and Kathy joined Debra and headed to Tamarack, shop that specializes in West Virginia tradesmen handcrafted items. Millie and Nancy read and spent time on the computer. Pat and Carl just rested and joined them for lunch at the Inn. Millie swore she was going to start lunch with dessert, but did have a hot dog before all of us ordered desserts.
Tonight the Town of Gauley is sponsoring an auction of QVC products in the Gym of the building the kids are staying in. As a result everyone, especially the kitchen staff from here want to be finished early. (Even Linda from the old HICO School {now retired} that we worked with four years ago came to the Auction). It was nice to see her and she greeted us as old friends.
Tonight’s dinner is teen food. In place of soup we serve chili, they make their own tacos and of course there is always pizza. This morning Nancy baked two sheet pans of corn bread for dinner and 160 bisquick short cakes to be used with hot peaches for dessert.
One of the groups with us all week headed home as they finished their project today so we were short twenty-five at dinner.
Most importantly we were registered in the gym ready for the auction by seven. A mish mash of items, I looked on the boxes they came out of, they were all marked with a “return” label to QVC. Oh well we still managed to buy $25 worth of items.
I left the gym a little after eight and went across the street to set up for another ice cream snack night starting at 8:30. Rich came back from the Inn to help me. They devour ice cream quickly and Rich and I were back at the Inn by 9:30.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Day 9: Sunday June 28, 2009
After church we head the 18 miles to Bob Evans for breakfast. Then Pat gets to do the laundry at a Laundromat nearby. I need to have some copies made for the leaders meeting tonight and head on to Beckley, but I get sidetracked. Seeing a sign to an area we go to often, it is a possible new route. So I take it. When I left the main highway Beckley was eight miles away. Now that I am on the rural route, Beckley is now 12 miles away. Remember the old geometry axiom – The shortest distance between to points is a straight line. West Virginia claims to be the largest state in the union, if they ever flatten it out. By the time I get the copies done, Pat is contacting me because she is done the laundry. I pick her up and we both head back to Whipple for a couple of hours. Our time is limited since we want to be back Glen Ferris by four to meet Mary Keller, Betty Bowes, Mollie Hughes and her granddaughter Makenzie.
They do arrive around four-thirty. They drop their luggage and meet us in the dining room for Sunday dinner. You might call it a working dinner since we work out who handles the Lunch Bar (Mollie & McKenzie) who is our baker (Mary) who handles the salad bar (Pat and Betty. Then we head off to the school to make sandwiches for tomorrow.
Pat, Carl & Makenzie stay and dispense ice cream in our second Dori Gillstrom ice cream party for 2009.
They do arrive around four-thirty. They drop their luggage and meet us in the dining room for Sunday dinner. You might call it a working dinner since we work out who handles the Lunch Bar (Mollie & McKenzie) who is our baker (Mary) who handles the salad bar (Pat and Betty. Then we head off to the school to make sandwiches for tomorrow.
Pat, Carl & Makenzie stay and dispense ice cream in our second Dori Gillstrom ice cream party for 2009.
Day 8: Saturday June 27, 2009 – Alone
With everyone gone we can take it slow and easy. Resting until noon, lunch in the Glen Ferris Inn dining room and then on to the Oak Hill area to the Whipple Company Store. Pat however spent the afternoon resting at the hotel.
As mentioned earlier, last year I toured the Whipple Company store. In the basement of this 100-year-old building is just that. 100 years collection of junk. But in the corner is what was the print shop. Since I earned my living in the graphic arts industry I volunteered to sort through the piles of material jammed into the print shop space. So I spent several hours having the time of my life finding the material for books of the area and other printing projects.
Tradition has Pat and I having dinner with the US Foods representative in this area, Penny Meeks and her husband. So I head back to Gauley Bridge, 18 miles, to get Pat then retrace 24 miles to the restaurant in Beckley. And these are not straight miles. But it is a real experience to negotiate that distance in the dark to get home.
As mentioned earlier, last year I toured the Whipple Company store. In the basement of this 100-year-old building is just that. 100 years collection of junk. But in the corner is what was the print shop. Since I earned my living in the graphic arts industry I volunteered to sort through the piles of material jammed into the print shop space. So I spent several hours having the time of my life finding the material for books of the area and other printing projects.
Tradition has Pat and I having dinner with the US Foods representative in this area, Penny Meeks and her husband. So I head back to Gauley Bridge, 18 miles, to get Pat then retrace 24 miles to the restaurant in Beckley. And these are not straight miles. But it is a real experience to negotiate that distance in the dark to get home.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Day 6: Thursday June 25, 2009
Well it’s back to the grindstone again. Rich and I are up when Pat knocks on our door. Usually it is the other way around. She wants to get an early start making the creamed dried beef,
Pancakes are on the menu for this morning, regular and blueberry. The kids prefer regular, the adults prefer blueberry so everyone is happy. The creamed dried beef can be over pancakes, toast or biscuits. With link sausage and the apples previously described.
The best part of the day is the fact that today is the last day that we have to build three hundred sandwiches. Hooray!
I am waiting for the bread order delivery, which is late. It does arrive by nine, so we are back to the Inn on time. This is one of the two days that Rich is working in the field with a group in Montgomery. So he heads there.
The rest of us just rest, read, nap.
We have an unusual number of vegetarians here this week, mostly girls. As a result it is important that tonight’s soup be vegetarian vegetable. So Pat and I head to the food store for the makings and then to the school to double check the food order that came in from US Food this afternoon. One of the PACE interns met the driver and made everything was put away.
Chopped Sirloin Steak, real mashed potatoes and the menu called for green beans. I substituted baked beans instead. I usually will not modify the menu because there are always people in attendance with food allergies. But to be frank I was tired of moving the cans of beans from location to location.
We have our group picture taken tonight around six thirty, right in the middle of clean up. We all donned our “Life Builders” T-shirts to be recorded for posterity.
Even with the picture we were out of the kitchen by seven. We are now back at the Inn enjoying what is left of the daylight. Nancy has her computer out to trace her daughter/s trip to London. She is also emailing the information to Ed Elrod back home. Sometimes we think our hours are weird, but we noticed that Ed posted our last piece on the church BLOG around 4 am in the morning.
Day 5: Wednesday June 24
The best thing about Wednesdays is the fact that we only have to serve breakfast. After breakfast the groups put in a half day and then have Wednesday afternoon and evening free. So do we.
The griddle I use uses propane so I have it under a canopy just outside the entrance door. Everyone passes by on the way in. I light the griddle as soon as I arrive in the morning. Mostly because the sky is just beginning to lighten. Otherwise the flame is so blue that you cannot see it. This early I can see and adjust the flame for what I want to cook. This morning it's eggs over easy.
We also served scrambled eggs, scrapple, toast plus cereals, fruit etc. It always surprises me how popular PA Dutch scrapple can be. The groups from Western PA and VA have never had scrapple. I tell them here in the south you should try scrapple. After all you eat grits, which is only cream of wheat with sand in it. And they do try it, and some actually like it.
Breakfast goes smoothly. While we are eating, an adult stops at our table to say she has been to several different work camps and the food is usually mediocre but raved about what we are serving.
There is always the inevitable sandwiches for tomorrow. For some strange reason the kids are excited about the frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The adults are not so excited. We finish and are out by 9:30.
Each group heads their own direction for the day. Millie and Nancy head toward Charleston, about 40 miles away. Pat and I do some typing of this blog. Rich and Kathy head to Greenbrier Resort about ninety minutes away.
By the time Pat and I were finished typing it was time for lunch, so we went into the dining room, only to find Millie and Nancy there, so we joined them.
I am desperate for a cell phone signal, since my business calls forward to my cell phone, so I can get my messages. This means heading the eighteen miles to Oak Hill. Just as I was saying to Pat here is where I had a signal last year my phone beeped to say the same. I called home. During the conversation the signal disappeared. So we moved another mile down the road. That did the trick.
The Whipple Company Store is a museum in a building that was a coal mine company store. To me it is fascinating. In the basement of the building is a print shop. I have contacted the people who run the operation to volunteer to sort through the piles of papers and printing plates, etc. I am going to spend some of my time over the weekend doing just that. We spend several hours of the day talking with the operators of the museum toward that goal.
We have an hour before we are to meet Nancy and Millie for dinner, so we drop by the local Walmart. In aisle 16 we run across Millie with a cart full of clothes. The place we were going to have dinner was backed up by two bus loads ahead of us so we moved on to Bob Evans where we had eaten before. Were served by the same waitress. We all have specific requests regarding our food order, somewhat confusing to her. After this time we promised to call ahead to our waitress the next time we plan on coming back so she can call in sick.
We are all feeling pretty good from a relaxing day when we are all together again at the Inn.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Day 4: Tuesday June 23
For some reason five a.m. creeps up on you. The alarm is very faint, but you still can’t ignore it.
This morning is PACE McMuffins. Somewhat easy but you still have to build at least 180 sandwiches. Nancy Carpenter has a busy morning baking cinnamon rolls, which are so popular that previous campers actually ask us if and when they will be available. She also is making a new item that Pat and I saw as an appetizer at our local Bob Evans. Sure enough they are available. Breaded small apple slices that when heated and coated with sugar tastes like apple pie.
The morning routine is the same. However we are experimenting with freezing the peanut and butter sandwiches. If it works it means we can make them well in advance. Please don’t mention this to Carmella Dorr. But time marches on.
After breakfast Rich goes on to the town of Montgomery to work with a crew. The women in our kitchen group along with Betsy accompany me to hike the Ansted rail trail. Nancy and Millie stay at the Hawk’s Nest Lodge, a state park that has a gondola down to the river. Betsy, Pat, Kathy and Carl drove on to the town of Ansted to the head of the rail trail. The two mile trail follows a roaring stream past some old coal mines down to the river at the location of the gondola. So you don’t have to walk back up even if the grade is never more then a 3% a train can maneuver.
This is the first time in the four years Pat and I have been coming here that she was willing to walk it.
“Wow, I eat better here than I do at home.” Just one of the many compliments that follow dinner.
The salad bar soup of the day was Country Tomato. Campbell’s tomato soup with spaghetti sauce added for additional flavor. We are going through tremendous amounts of applesauce every day.
Chicken is the main course with rice and carrots and the left over chicken soup from Monday as the gravy. But the highlight is the strawberry short cake with whipped cream.. Nancy baked 160 short cakes in the morning and the rest of our crew cut up four flats of strawberries.
Day 3: Monday, June 22
Monday Breakfast is always more difficult than the rest of the week. The problem is the fact that the kids actually get up on time and are to breakfast in one large group. As the week goes on they are more tired and spread out over the 6:30 to 7:30 that we serve breakfast.
Faced with having to build the peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches (100 of them) in the morning means a concentrated effort of almost everyone. We coat each slice of bread with peanut butter and jelly in the middle. This is to keep the sandwiches from being gummy by the time they are eaten at lunch.
When Betsy (From Manor Church) first joined us I explained that our group (CAMT) was experienced and everyone knew their job. For that reason alone Monday breakfast went like clock work. French Toast from the griddle we travel with, bacon, mixed fruit, cereals, and juices. Pat and Millie oversee the breakfast line while Betsy handles the drinks. Rich and Kathy handle the lunch line dispensing sandwiches, fruit, chips, lunch bars, and sodas.
Nancy Carpenter is our designated baker. She bakes two sheet pan cakes and a case of chocolate cookies that will be offered for lunch tomorrow.
At 7:30 the group that is responsible for today’s cleanup in the dining area are looking for instructions. The school has an ongoing problem with ants so the clean up after each meal has to be strenuous.
We all sit down for our own breakfasts. It is the break we need. We just put in a fast paced two hours. We now have to prepare for dinner. And build those dreaded sandwiches for tomorrow. We’ll tackle the salad bar items this afternoon, till then we are free until 3:30. We finish by 9:30 and head back to the Inn.
The girls go directly to the school at 3:30. I always stop at the local Food Mart to pick up milk for breakfast, but tonight I am loading eight watermelons to go with the cake for dessert.
The salad bar items are taking shape, from chopped celery to beets. The mainstay of the salad bar is the applesauce and soup that we serve each night.
The Sloppy Joe beef is being heated, and we are ready to steam the peas. I added the Sloppy Joes to the menu here after we served them at Outley House, another outreach of CAMT. I did have to chuckle when Rich who prepares the mix from scratch for Outley, asked me what my recipe was for them. Institution is my recipe. If it is not complete when we buy it I do not want it. Time is our important factor. It must be pretty good, many came back for seconds.
“Welcome to my cruise line” I told the leaders at the Sunday meeting. The school only has tables to seat about 140. So we had to break the groups into two seatings. The 5:00 group does the salad bar and then the main course. While they are finishing dinner and clearing the 5:30 group starts with salad bar. The first night I have to circulate through the hall prodding those who are finished to make room for the newcomers.
We are cleaned up and out by 7:00.
Back at the Inn everyone disperses to their own interests. I go out to the yard between the building and the falls. The Inn is located at the falls of the river. The river is also very wide. The falls, which are probably not more than six feet high, create the constant roar that becomes synonymous with home. I find Kathy and Rich already there sharing a book that was part of the curriculum of a teacher friend at Haverford. I sit in with them mostly contemplating the band of sunlight that is marching up the mountain across the river as the sun is setting.
We should be in bed early but it’s hard to give up the beauty and solitude here.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Day 2: Sunday June 21, 2009
Toudor’s Bisquit World was 50 minutes late in opening up this morning. Explanation Later.
Around eight this morning I brought Pat her coffee and a Danish in bed. The last service like that for at least two weeks. I then headed to the school to rearrange things in the walk in freezer and cooler. The school was locked. So I went down the hill to Toudor’s for my breakfast. Sitting in the corner of the dining room was a well dressed mature man with his bible open and several reference books. I couldn’t resist “If you don’t have your sermon ready now, it’s almost to late.” This led to an extensive conversation while I ate my omelet. A transplant from California, his wife was from here, so they have retired here. During the discussion we were saying how friendly everyone here is. So friendly that it is hard to complain. Toudor’s Bisquit World was 50 minutes late in opening up this morning. They just opened , no apology. Being from California he was having a hard time adapting to the way business and time runs here..
By the time I got back to the school it was once again open and I was able to get my key. I picked up Pat and we went back to the school to spend the afternoon sorting and organizing.
We are looking for the rest of our group to arrive around four this afternoon.
Millie And Nancy are right on time. Rich and Kathy Are running late so there is only four of us in the dining room for dinner. We decide to go to the school at seven. I have a leaders meeting and the others will start making the two hundred plus sandwiches needed for Monday morning. Just as we are ready to leave for the school Rich and Kathy arrive. They put down their bags and head out with us. Postponing dinner.
At the leaders meeting I gain a volunteer from Manor Presbyterian Church (formerly Faggs Manor) so Betsy joins us making sandwiches. As hard as it is to believe we have a good time building sandwiches and getting to know each other.
We finish in a little over an hour. I take Rich and Kathy down the hill to a Pizza shop for there dinner. The others head back to the Inn.
As a result Rich and Kathy return with me for the 9:30 Dori Gillstrom Memorial Ice cream social. It is always a highlight of the week.
Day 1: Saturday June 20
It rained for the first 140 miles. Normally we would have left last night (Friday) and now we are paying the price. But the need to finish up the loose ends at home, both business and personal, called for an early start this morning. We are due in Gaulley Bridge around one this afternoon. But around two is more realistic.
Gauley Bridge is just how we left it last year. As we pull into town the police have someone stopped. The signs say 25 miles per hour – strictly enforced. We of course learned last year, but we also discovered that Brenda’s (the janitor at the school) brother in law is the mayor and he will fix tickets when necessary.
Our first food order was delivered on Thursday. As a result the lunch room of the school is jammed with dry goods. Including many items moved from nearby Montgomery, left over from March. But that is another story.
Pat and I take a quick inventory and then move on to check in at the Glen Ferris Inn for our two weeks here.
This week Millie Williams and her cousin Nancy Carpenter along with Rich Smith and Kathy Southerland will be working with us. We will be feeding 208 every day.
The last thing we have to accomplish is a quick run to Lowe’s. Quick is a 17 mile run over mountainous twisty roads. There are so many twists that I would like to just have the franchise for arrows around here.
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Birthday Party for 50 Women
The Sheila Dennis Shelter in Philadelphia provides three meals a day, counseling and job training for women who are having trouble getting back on a steady and positive path. Covenant's Adult Mission Team (CAMT) has prepared lunch at the shelter several Saturdays this year.
During an earlier visit, Barb Rhinehart, a member of the mission team, noticed how sad many of the women looked and decided that what they needed was a party!! She led the planning for a "birthday party" for all the women during the June 13 visit.
Members of the congregation contributed towels and washcloths, toiletries and clothing. Covenant's quilters made beautiful tote bags--individualizing each of the 50 bags so they wouldn't get mixed up (no small task!), and the Sunday School children made birthday cards for everyone. Nine team members not only made and served lunch, but also decorated the dining room with colorful tablecloths. There were balloons and birthday cakes complete with candles. It was truly a festive occasion that was an uplifting experience for women who don't have much to cheer about on a day-to-day basis.
There was no question about whether the women loved the party! They made a poster to display at Covenant expressing their appreciation.
The quote of the day by one of the women: "It makes me feel like going to church!"
When God's people act out the love He has for his people, even those who may have strayed from the "straight and narrow," it touches, people deeply and can help change lives.
Richard Smith, team leader for the shelter visits, makes all the arrangements for the monthly lunches served Saturdays at the Outley House Shelter for men or the Sheila Dennis Shelter for women. He sets the tone of loving and respectful service to people who are trying to find new directions for their life.
Like to join in? Call Covenant (610-648-0707) for more information.
Next mission trip: West Virginia where PA Christian Endeavor (PACE) hosts youth mission teams who repair homes. Covenant's team prepares three meals a day for the young people. Teams will be there June 21 through July 4. Check back for news starting June 22.
During an earlier visit, Barb Rhinehart, a member of the mission team, noticed how sad many of the women looked and decided that what they needed was a party!! She led the planning for a "birthday party" for all the women during the June 13 visit.
Members of the congregation contributed towels and washcloths, toiletries and clothing. Covenant's quilters made beautiful tote bags--individualizing each of the 50 bags so they wouldn't get mixed up (no small task!), and the Sunday School children made birthday cards for everyone. Nine team members not only made and served lunch, but also decorated the dining room with colorful tablecloths. There were balloons and birthday cakes complete with candles. It was truly a festive occasion that was an uplifting experience for women who don't have much to cheer about on a day-to-day basis.
There was no question about whether the women loved the party! They made a poster to display at Covenant expressing their appreciation.
The quote of the day by one of the women: "It makes me feel like going to church!"
When God's people act out the love He has for his people, even those who may have strayed from the "straight and narrow," it touches, people deeply and can help change lives.
Richard Smith, team leader for the shelter visits, makes all the arrangements for the monthly lunches served Saturdays at the Outley House Shelter for men or the Sheila Dennis Shelter for women. He sets the tone of loving and respectful service to people who are trying to find new directions for their life.
Like to join in? Call Covenant (610-648-0707) for more information.
Next mission trip: West Virginia where PA Christian Endeavor (PACE) hosts youth mission teams who repair homes. Covenant's team prepares three meals a day for the young people. Teams will be there June 21 through July 4. Check back for news starting June 22.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
CAMT Works!!
On Sunday, April 19, Covenant's Adult Mission Teams (CAMT) presented slides and told about their experiences on mission trips, and explained Pedals for Progress's work around the world.
* * * * *
P4P: Pedals for Progress
P4P isn't really a mission trip, but it's been working under the CAMT "umbrella." It's an organization which collects used bikes and sends them to countries around the world where repair shops have been set up. The bikes are repaired and sold to people who have no other way to get to jobs, markets, or schools. 3 great things about P4P:
1. It provides employment for those who repair the bikes.
2. The bikes provide transportation for people who otherwise would have to walk miles.
3. It keeps millions of bikes out of landfills.
It's a win-win-win program!!!
Bring your old bikes to Covenant May 9th from 9 to Noon.
Covenant is located at 400 Lancaster Ave., one block east of Route 352 on Route 30.
Donors will receive a receipt for their donation plus the value of the bike which can be used for a tax deduction. Children's bikes are accepted, but not tricycles or rusted bikes.
* * * * *
Outley House (for men) &
Sheila Dennis House (for women)
These are rehab centers in Philadelphia. The slides showed Covenant members and friends preparing and serving lunch to those in the shelters. The emphasis is not only the food (delicious as it obviously is!), but the way servers interact with the people they are serving. People are greeted warmly and with respect. Trips are made once a month, alternating between the two shelters.Schedule: May 23 - Outley House
June 13 - Sheila Dennis House
Leave Covenant 8:15 and return about 2:30
* * * * *
PA Christian Endeavor (PACE) trips to West Virginia
PACE plans mission trips for teens who do amazing home repair work in impoverished areas of West Virginia. CAMT prepares three meals a day for the young people for 2 of the weeks teams are serving. Covenant supplements the PACE budget to give the teens extra hearty meals. Some teams say they plan to come during weeks when CAMT is serving! There's an ice cream social one night each week in memory of Dori Gillstrom who led the first Covenant teams to WV.
Next trips: Jun21 to 27 and June 28 to July 4
* * * * *
Faith Ministry in Mexico
Faith Ministry was formed 15 years ago and has established 3 Presbyterian Churches and 2 medical clinics in Mexico in the area across the southern Texas border. They host many mission teams from the U.S. Medical teams bring specialized services (such as dentistry and ophthalmology) and work in the medical clinics, and construction teams build houses to replace the shacks in which many families live. Those who want a house built for them must pay $5000 and do volunteer work in the building of other homes before they get one for themselves. More than 2000 homes have been built
Covenant's teams (who often are a bit "long in the tooth" to be pouring cement and lifting cement blocks!) have worked with women and children to teach them sewing and crafts. The congregation contributed 35 boxes of materials this year, and over the past few years has given 4 sewing machines.
Faith Ministry also arranges for scholarships for Mexican children who otherwise would not be able to afford the uniforms and daily supplies required by schools. (5-1/2 million Mexican children don't go to school because they can't afford the expense!) Covenant, which is one of many churches who provide scholarships, supports 3 children.
Next mission trip to Mexico: February 2010.
Want more information: Call Covenant at 610-648-0707
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Day 8, Friday, February 27, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
They’re back! Safe and sound, but really worn out. Mission trips are not for sissies! They arrived at Philadelphia airport on time and were escorted back to the church via 3 minivans. It gave time for the team to talk about their experiences, and it was really neat to catch the enthusiasm for the people they worked with and with what was accomplished.
The women and children were very excited about all the materials they brought and all the things they learned how to do—although a lot of the women were not strangers to sewing machines and sewing in general.
Three observations stood out—the families at Naranjito were, in general, younger than those at Reynosa, the paved roads made traveling much easier, and—one not-so-good item, the economy is tanking. Some American businesses are closing down the factories they had built in Mexico, and this has resulted in higher unemployment and worsening economic conditions.
Thanks to all for your prayers and donations!
Mark your calendar for 9:45 am, Sunday April 26 when all Covenant’s mission teams will present a PowerPoint program which will give you a chance to see pictures and hear first hand about their experiences.
(We're Covenant Presbyterian Church, 400 Lancaster Ave. (Route 30), Frazer (between Exton and Paoli, PA, 610-648-0707.)
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
They’re back! Safe and sound, but really worn out. Mission trips are not for sissies! They arrived at Philadelphia airport on time and were escorted back to the church via 3 minivans. It gave time for the team to talk about their experiences, and it was really neat to catch the enthusiasm for the people they worked with and with what was accomplished.
The women and children were very excited about all the materials they brought and all the things they learned how to do—although a lot of the women were not strangers to sewing machines and sewing in general.
Three observations stood out—the families at Naranjito were, in general, younger than those at Reynosa, the paved roads made traveling much easier, and—one not-so-good item, the economy is tanking. Some American businesses are closing down the factories they had built in Mexico, and this has resulted in higher unemployment and worsening economic conditions.
Thanks to all for your prayers and donations!
Mark your calendar for 9:45 am, Sunday April 26 when all Covenant’s mission teams will present a PowerPoint program which will give you a chance to see pictures and hear first hand about their experiences.
(We're Covenant Presbyterian Church, 400 Lancaster Ave. (Route 30), Frazer (between Exton and Paoli, PA, 610-648-0707.)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Day 7, Thursday, February 26, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Millie recovered from whatever “bug” she had yesterday and joined the team for the last day. Actually it was just a half day of work since they fly home tomorrow. The team estimates that about 100 women and children came to the church during the course of the week, with an average of 40-50 on any given day. (Keep in mind few, if any, have phones, and no one has a car, so a “grapevine” and “shoes” made it possible to get to the church—with little kids in tow!)
Before lunch, everyone helped pack up supplies and tightly cover the sewing machines to keep the Mexican dust out of them. It’s hard to describe how grateful the women are for the sewing machines, fabric, thread and other supplies that were donated.
Thanks to all who contributed to the cause!
Your gifts will continue to be very much appreciated
over the coming months!
After lunch the team took several of the Naranjito women and children to the Reynosa church for a dedication service for the work done by the mission teams that week. Covenant’s work was celebrated, and the women and children showed some of the things they had made.
Three 12 ‘x 24’ cement block houses were built this week by teams from other churches, so all the teams, and the families who will now live in these homes, filled the Reynosa church from wall to wall.
John was asked to tell about Covenant’s work during the service, and you may be interested to know that Deantin (founder of Faith Ministry) calls him the Candy Man. It’s a bit of an inside joke that John brought chocolate candy to share during the week and Deantin prayed that John would be “led” to give him all the remaining candy.
After a final round of goodbyes, the team (remember it includes 7 women) went shopping! There’s a tourist town not far away just across the border in Nuevo Progresso. The tourist part of town is just about four blocks long and 2 blocks wide. Picture a pharmacy, a dentist’s office, a gift shop (often with nice jewelry and hand made crafts), and sidewalk vendors. Repeat the sequence as you walk down the street, and you’ll get the idea. (Dental work and medications—no prescription needed—are a real bargain in Mexico.)
Dinner, devotions and packing made up the agenda for what was left of the day. Tune in tomorrow for news of the flight home and last minute impressions of the week.
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Millie recovered from whatever “bug” she had yesterday and joined the team for the last day. Actually it was just a half day of work since they fly home tomorrow. The team estimates that about 100 women and children came to the church during the course of the week, with an average of 40-50 on any given day. (Keep in mind few, if any, have phones, and no one has a car, so a “grapevine” and “shoes” made it possible to get to the church—with little kids in tow!)
Before lunch, everyone helped pack up supplies and tightly cover the sewing machines to keep the Mexican dust out of them. It’s hard to describe how grateful the women are for the sewing machines, fabric, thread and other supplies that were donated.
Thanks to all who contributed to the cause!
Your gifts will continue to be very much appreciated
over the coming months!
After lunch the team took several of the Naranjito women and children to the Reynosa church for a dedication service for the work done by the mission teams that week. Covenant’s work was celebrated, and the women and children showed some of the things they had made.
Three 12 ‘x 24’ cement block houses were built this week by teams from other churches, so all the teams, and the families who will now live in these homes, filled the Reynosa church from wall to wall.
John was asked to tell about Covenant’s work during the service, and you may be interested to know that Deantin (founder of Faith Ministry) calls him the Candy Man. It’s a bit of an inside joke that John brought chocolate candy to share during the week and Deantin prayed that John would be “led” to give him all the remaining candy.
After a final round of goodbyes, the team (remember it includes 7 women) went shopping! There’s a tourist town not far away just across the border in Nuevo Progresso. The tourist part of town is just about four blocks long and 2 blocks wide. Picture a pharmacy, a dentist’s office, a gift shop (often with nice jewelry and hand made crafts), and sidewalk vendors. Repeat the sequence as you walk down the street, and you’ll get the idea. (Dental work and medications—no prescription needed—are a real bargain in Mexico.)
Dinner, devotions and packing made up the agenda for what was left of the day. Tune in tomorrow for news of the flight home and last minute impressions of the week.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Day 6, Tuesday, February 25, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Millie was sick today and stayed at the motel. Everyone hopes she’ll be able to go with them tomorrow. By the way, we stand corrected: Millie and her roommate are in one of the handicapped rooms on the first floor. Everyone else is in a second floor room (no elevators) which isn’t too much of a problem except for Dick who has a knee which will be operated on when he returns.
John, who calls me (Joyce Lammey) each evening with the news of the day and is a first timer on a mission trip, is surprised at how tiring the week has been. Mission trips are generally very intense and the travel back and forth across the border makes for long days—and of course being in a new environment is almost always more stressful anyway.
The remaining nurses, Kay and Joan, went again to the medical clinic which they have renamed The Icebox. The air conditioning overworks and they have to step outside occasionally to warm up.
The rest of the women, Barbara, Pat and Maryalis, continue to work with the Mexican women who are delighted with the sewing machines and materials they now have to work with. They are making dresses, aprons, and other sorts of things. As new boxes are opened it’s like Christmas! Ginny continues to keep the children occupied while their mothers work which keeps her quite busy, although Mexican children in general are much less “active” than most American children.
John and Dick spent most of the day again with Deantin Guerra, the founder of Faith Ministry. They saw the more wealthy parts of Reynosa which have some homes like those on the Main Line. The contrast with what they had seen yesterday was amazing. There are, of course, more “middle class” sections, too--even a tourist section, but there does not seem to be any effort to help the extremely poor. There are no welfare programs or agencies that serve their needs. Even the Catholic church turns a blind eye.
The border crossing on the way home involved a 45 minute delay which is not at all unusual. Border guards are more particular about checking what people take into the US than what goes south into Mexico. There continues to be news of drug-related violence in the general area. The mayor of a nearby town was shot recently, and military personnel are always present at the border.
A footnote about travel in the 12 passenger van: John and Dick sit in the front and are “amused” by the conversations of the 7 women in the back. There are usually at least 3 conversations going at one time, and they just smile and shake their heads….
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Millie was sick today and stayed at the motel. Everyone hopes she’ll be able to go with them tomorrow. By the way, we stand corrected: Millie and her roommate are in one of the handicapped rooms on the first floor. Everyone else is in a second floor room (no elevators) which isn’t too much of a problem except for Dick who has a knee which will be operated on when he returns.
John, who calls me (Joyce Lammey) each evening with the news of the day and is a first timer on a mission trip, is surprised at how tiring the week has been. Mission trips are generally very intense and the travel back and forth across the border makes for long days—and of course being in a new environment is almost always more stressful anyway.
The remaining nurses, Kay and Joan, went again to the medical clinic which they have renamed The Icebox. The air conditioning overworks and they have to step outside occasionally to warm up.
The rest of the women, Barbara, Pat and Maryalis, continue to work with the Mexican women who are delighted with the sewing machines and materials they now have to work with. They are making dresses, aprons, and other sorts of things. As new boxes are opened it’s like Christmas! Ginny continues to keep the children occupied while their mothers work which keeps her quite busy, although Mexican children in general are much less “active” than most American children.
John and Dick spent most of the day again with Deantin Guerra, the founder of Faith Ministry. They saw the more wealthy parts of Reynosa which have some homes like those on the Main Line. The contrast with what they had seen yesterday was amazing. There are, of course, more “middle class” sections, too--even a tourist section, but there does not seem to be any effort to help the extremely poor. There are no welfare programs or agencies that serve their needs. Even the Catholic church turns a blind eye.
The border crossing on the way home involved a 45 minute delay which is not at all unusual. Border guards are more particular about checking what people take into the US than what goes south into Mexico. There continues to be news of drug-related violence in the general area. The mayor of a nearby town was shot recently, and military personnel are always present at the border.
A footnote about travel in the 12 passenger van: John and Dick sit in the front and are “amused” by the conversations of the 7 women in the back. There are usually at least 3 conversations going at one time, and they just smile and shake their heads….
Day 5, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Good news!! Millie did not have to be smuggled across the border this morning! Omar Saldana, an administrator recently hired to work with Faith Ministry, lives in Mexico and was able to go to the medical clinic where he found Millie’s purse. He took it to the border this morning, so she could cross legally. Problem solved!
The church credit card, which the team uses to pay for the motel, meals, supplies, etc. while on the trip, was apparently maxed out yesterday. Turns out the credit card company noticed unusual activity and placed a hold on charges. A phone call set the record straight. Another problem solved! (P.S. Team members reimburse the church for their share of the expenses when they get home.)
The team stopped at the Reynosa church this morning and borrowed not only their 3 sewing machines (provided in previous years by Covenant), but also picked up two of the women who are leaders of the sewing group that continues to meet at that church: Maria and Petra.
This meant there were 6 sewing machines in Naranjito, for about 12 women, so no one had to wait too long to be able to sew. The woman are learning to make pillow covers (decorative pillow cases.) Pillows seem to be a popular item with the Mexican women. They are also making appliance covers. There is not much grass in the area so there is a lot of dust, and the women like to protect their appliances. There were a few women in Reynosa who liked to crochet and/or knit, but that doesn’t seem to be at all popular with the Naranjito women.
John and Dick spent some time at the medical clinic when they dropped off Millie, Kay and Joan. They saw the twins they heard about yesterday and declared them "gorgeous".
John and Dick spent most of the day with Deantin Guerra, founder of Faith Ministry. Deantin has retired from his position as head administrator but is still actively involved in traveling to tell people about FM and encourages support for their work. He took John and Dick on a tour of the area so they could visit schools and homes helped by FM. It was an eye-opening day.
Many homes are built on landfill and have dirt floors. They were able to visit a few homes with interior walls consisting of plywood or sheets and blankets. If the family has chickens (which is common), they often have free range and sometimes fly up onto the beds. Faith Ministry has hosted mission teams who have built more than 2000 cement block homes that replace homes such as this.
They also visited a preschool that is supported by Methodist churches, and a public elementary school. The schools were simple but well-kept, and it was obvious that there was good discipline as well as strong expectations for learning. They were pleased to see the public school had a computer room. John, a retired public school administrator, noted that if families could not afford the uniforms and school supplies they are expected to provide when children are 6 or 7, they may never attend school. By the time children are 8 or 9, they would not be comfortable in a 1st grade classroom and would almost certainly be "doomed" to a life of poverty.
John and Dick also watched the team from Ann Arbor make cement for the floor of the home they were building. They don’t use cement mixers, but pile the “ingredients” on the ground and mix them by turning them over and over with shovels. It’s back-breaking work!
The team treated David Rodriguez, the head administrator of Faith Ministry, and his family to dinner tonight. Over the years, the teams have become quite fond of David who makes a lot of arrangements for Covenant’s work in Mexico. (After working with him on previous trips, Frank Lammey's heartfelt assessment is: "He’s a great guy!")
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Good news!! Millie did not have to be smuggled across the border this morning! Omar Saldana, an administrator recently hired to work with Faith Ministry, lives in Mexico and was able to go to the medical clinic where he found Millie’s purse. He took it to the border this morning, so she could cross legally. Problem solved!
The church credit card, which the team uses to pay for the motel, meals, supplies, etc. while on the trip, was apparently maxed out yesterday. Turns out the credit card company noticed unusual activity and placed a hold on charges. A phone call set the record straight. Another problem solved! (P.S. Team members reimburse the church for their share of the expenses when they get home.)
The team stopped at the Reynosa church this morning and borrowed not only their 3 sewing machines (provided in previous years by Covenant), but also picked up two of the women who are leaders of the sewing group that continues to meet at that church: Maria and Petra.
This meant there were 6 sewing machines in Naranjito, for about 12 women, so no one had to wait too long to be able to sew. The woman are learning to make pillow covers (decorative pillow cases.) Pillows seem to be a popular item with the Mexican women. They are also making appliance covers. There is not much grass in the area so there is a lot of dust, and the women like to protect their appliances. There were a few women in Reynosa who liked to crochet and/or knit, but that doesn’t seem to be at all popular with the Naranjito women.
John and Dick spent some time at the medical clinic when they dropped off Millie, Kay and Joan. They saw the twins they heard about yesterday and declared them "gorgeous".
John and Dick spent most of the day with Deantin Guerra, founder of Faith Ministry. Deantin has retired from his position as head administrator but is still actively involved in traveling to tell people about FM and encourages support for their work. He took John and Dick on a tour of the area so they could visit schools and homes helped by FM. It was an eye-opening day.
Many homes are built on landfill and have dirt floors. They were able to visit a few homes with interior walls consisting of plywood or sheets and blankets. If the family has chickens (which is common), they often have free range and sometimes fly up onto the beds. Faith Ministry has hosted mission teams who have built more than 2000 cement block homes that replace homes such as this.
They also visited a preschool that is supported by Methodist churches, and a public elementary school. The schools were simple but well-kept, and it was obvious that there was good discipline as well as strong expectations for learning. They were pleased to see the public school had a computer room. John, a retired public school administrator, noted that if families could not afford the uniforms and school supplies they are expected to provide when children are 6 or 7, they may never attend school. By the time children are 8 or 9, they would not be comfortable in a 1st grade classroom and would almost certainly be "doomed" to a life of poverty.
John and Dick also watched the team from Ann Arbor make cement for the floor of the home they were building. They don’t use cement mixers, but pile the “ingredients” on the ground and mix them by turning them over and over with shovels. It’s back-breaking work!
The team treated David Rodriguez, the head administrator of Faith Ministry, and his family to dinner tonight. Over the years, the teams have become quite fond of David who makes a lot of arrangements for Covenant’s work in Mexico. (After working with him on previous trips, Frank Lammey's heartfelt assessment is: "He’s a great guy!")
Monday, February 23, 2009
Day 4, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Kay Rowell, Millie Williams and Joan Hahn were dropped off in the morning at the Reynosa medical clinic where they helped check blood pressure and weight and prepared medications for patients. There is no pharmacy in the area. Faith Ministry (thanks to donations from U.S. churches and several medical organizations) provides medications which are counted out as prescribed and put in second hand prescription bottles. (CAMT had mailed at least one large box of used prescription bottles prior to their arrival.) Patients pay a small fee if they are able; otherwise, they are free.
The team was impressed with the work done at the Betty Clinic by the doctor and “Nurse Betty” for whom the clinic is named. She’s worked there since the clinic was established about 15 years ago and is very much loved by those she serves.
The team heard the story of twins born two months prematurely who would have died without a special formula which the mother could not afford but which was bought by Faith Ministry. They are now 3 months old and are doing very well.
Barbara Rhinehart, Pat Lotz, Maryalis Bakken and Ginny Abplanalp continued on to the Naranjito church where they began the sewing and craft projects with the women. Two of the three sewing machines broke down and were unusable, so on the way home the team stopped at (where else?) Wal*Mart, and bought 2 sewing machines for less than $100 each.
John Bakken and Dick Abplanalp continued on to the nearby work site where a home is being built for a family that replaces the shack in which they had been living. The father and/or mother would have had to work 6 months helping to build other houses and saved $5000 to help pay for their own house before one could be built for their family. There were about 20 people at the work site so John and Dick took pictures and observed how the 12’ x 24’ cement block house was being constructed.
Faith Ministry lunch hours are spent not only providing food for the body, but also food for the soul. After lunch everyone working in the Naranjito area—Covenant’s team and those from Ann Arbor, Raleigh, and New Orleans—joined together for a praise service.
Shhh…Don’t tell anybody! The team smuggled Millie across the border on the way home. As the 9-member team approached the guard station at the border, Millie realized she didn’t have her purse which held her passport. When the guard asked for the passports, he asked John, “How many?” John said “8” (thinking he was asking how many passports he was going to give him.) The guard counted the passports, didn’t bother to count the 9 people in the van and waved them through. Whew!!!
Millie is hoping her purse is at the medical clinic, but as of this writing, no one has figured out how to get her across the border tomorrow morning. Pray for grace and/or another border guard who can’t or won’t bother to count!!!
Will Millie be able to cross the border tomorrow morning?
Will she find her purse?
Will the sewing machines work as they should?
What will tomorrow hold?
Only God knows ….
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
Kay Rowell, Millie Williams and Joan Hahn were dropped off in the morning at the Reynosa medical clinic where they helped check blood pressure and weight and prepared medications for patients. There is no pharmacy in the area. Faith Ministry (thanks to donations from U.S. churches and several medical organizations) provides medications which are counted out as prescribed and put in second hand prescription bottles. (CAMT had mailed at least one large box of used prescription bottles prior to their arrival.) Patients pay a small fee if they are able; otherwise, they are free.
The team was impressed with the work done at the Betty Clinic by the doctor and “Nurse Betty” for whom the clinic is named. She’s worked there since the clinic was established about 15 years ago and is very much loved by those she serves.
The team heard the story of twins born two months prematurely who would have died without a special formula which the mother could not afford but which was bought by Faith Ministry. They are now 3 months old and are doing very well.
Barbara Rhinehart, Pat Lotz, Maryalis Bakken and Ginny Abplanalp continued on to the Naranjito church where they began the sewing and craft projects with the women. Two of the three sewing machines broke down and were unusable, so on the way home the team stopped at (where else?) Wal*Mart, and bought 2 sewing machines for less than $100 each.
John Bakken and Dick Abplanalp continued on to the nearby work site where a home is being built for a family that replaces the shack in which they had been living. The father and/or mother would have had to work 6 months helping to build other houses and saved $5000 to help pay for their own house before one could be built for their family. There were about 20 people at the work site so John and Dick took pictures and observed how the 12’ x 24’ cement block house was being constructed.
Faith Ministry lunch hours are spent not only providing food for the body, but also food for the soul. After lunch everyone working in the Naranjito area—Covenant’s team and those from Ann Arbor, Raleigh, and New Orleans—joined together for a praise service.
Shhh…Don’t tell anybody! The team smuggled Millie across the border on the way home. As the 9-member team approached the guard station at the border, Millie realized she didn’t have her purse which held her passport. When the guard asked for the passports, he asked John, “How many?” John said “8” (thinking he was asking how many passports he was going to give him.) The guard counted the passports, didn’t bother to count the 9 people in the van and waved them through. Whew!!!
Millie is hoping her purse is at the medical clinic, but as of this writing, no one has figured out how to get her across the border tomorrow morning. Pray for grace and/or another border guard who can’t or won’t bother to count!!!
Will Millie be able to cross the border tomorrow morning?
Will she find her purse?
Will the sewing machines work as they should?
What will tomorrow hold?
Only God knows ….
Day 3, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
The team woke up to a very brisk day with the temperature in the mid 40’s, but it warmed to the low 70’s in the afternoon. By taking a different route to Naranjito, they had a real eye-opener. They saw lots of homes best described as shacks. In their 15 years of existence, Faith Ministry has hosted mission teams who replaced 2000 of these shacks with cement block homes. Obviously, there is more work to be done!
The Naranjito congregation does not yet have a “church.” It has a cement block building with two floors. The second floor provides a dormitory for visiting mission teams working in the area. The first floor is much like Covenant’s lower level. There’s a kitchen at one end, and the rest of the room is used for various activities including serving meals to visiting mission teams. On Sunday mornings, it provides room for Sunday School classes and worship. The Covenant team will use this room for craft and sewing work this week.
A mission team from Ann Arbor, Michigan is also working in Naranjito this week. There are 21 people on the team, and they are staying at the church, so Covenant’s team has had a time of good fellowship with them today. Both teams broke up into small groups this morning to visit Sunday school classes and then attended the worship service. PowerPoint was used to project on a screen the words to hymns and selected parts of the service. Sometimes the projection was in English, and sometimes in Spanish. Long range projects include a “real” sanctuary for the Naranjito congregation.
The Ann Arbor group has provided two new pews to use for church services. Eighteen more are needed. As a long term project, Covenant’s team will explore helping with this project. Looking ahead to the coming week, the nurses will work in the medical clinic, the rest of the women will work with the Naranjito women doing sewing and craft projects, and Dick and John will walk 3 blocks to where they will help the Ann Arbor team to build a house for one of the Mexican families who had been living in a shack.
Check back Monday night for more news.
CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
The team woke up to a very brisk day with the temperature in the mid 40’s, but it warmed to the low 70’s in the afternoon. By taking a different route to Naranjito, they had a real eye-opener. They saw lots of homes best described as shacks. In their 15 years of existence, Faith Ministry has hosted mission teams who replaced 2000 of these shacks with cement block homes. Obviously, there is more work to be done!
The Naranjito congregation does not yet have a “church.” It has a cement block building with two floors. The second floor provides a dormitory for visiting mission teams working in the area. The first floor is much like Covenant’s lower level. There’s a kitchen at one end, and the rest of the room is used for various activities including serving meals to visiting mission teams. On Sunday mornings, it provides room for Sunday School classes and worship. The Covenant team will use this room for craft and sewing work this week.
A mission team from Ann Arbor, Michigan is also working in Naranjito this week. There are 21 people on the team, and they are staying at the church, so Covenant’s team has had a time of good fellowship with them today. Both teams broke up into small groups this morning to visit Sunday school classes and then attended the worship service. PowerPoint was used to project on a screen the words to hymns and selected parts of the service. Sometimes the projection was in English, and sometimes in Spanish. Long range projects include a “real” sanctuary for the Naranjito congregation.
The Ann Arbor group has provided two new pews to use for church services. Eighteen more are needed. As a long term project, Covenant’s team will explore helping with this project. Looking ahead to the coming week, the nurses will work in the medical clinic, the rest of the women will work with the Naranjito women doing sewing and craft projects, and Dick and John will walk 3 blocks to where they will help the Ann Arbor team to build a house for one of the Mexican families who had been living in a shack.
Check back Monday night for more news.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Day 2, Feb. 21: CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
The weather was misty and overcast in the morning, but cleared to beautiful sunshine in the afternoon with temperatures in the upper 70’s.
The streets in Mexico, which have been described as worse than those in Africa, have been greatly improved in the two years since the team was last in Mexico. Many have been paved and, in fact, some now have speed bumps! However, the secondary roads, those a bit off the main streets, are still quite “rough” which makes for very slow driving.
The new medical clinic (now about 3 years old) looks great and is many times larger than the old one which was about the size of the room at Covenant where chairs are set up for overflow congregations. The new one is two stories high and has a footprint larger than Covenant’s sanctuary.
The team drove to the Reynosa church to pick up the boxes which had been mailed ahead and took them to the Naranjito church where they will be working next week. They met Pastor Alfredo Castillo and his wife Sylvia who were most gracious and accommodating. Afredo is in the process of completing his Masters in psychology at a branch of the U. of Florida in Monterey.
Alfredo speaks enough English to be able to translate as the team started working with the Naranjito children—between 40 and 50 of them—by taking pictures of each one as well as many pictures of the children with their parents.—a real treat in a society where cameras and school pictures are quite rare. Thanks to modern electronics, the pictures could be developed on site and were ready later for framing.
The children then made “salvation” bracelets made with embroidery thread. They include sections of yellow, black, red, green and blue. Each color has a special meaning related to salvation, i.e. streets of gold in heaven, Christ’s blood shed on the cross, etc. In addition to the one each child made, they were given several made in advance by the team so they could give them to friends, explain the colors, and invite them to Sunday School and church.
As the children finished their bracelets, they crowded around tables in back of the room and started to decorate the frames for their newly developed pictures as well as visors the team provided. The children were also given coloring books.
It was getting dark as the team headed back to the motel. They stopped for dinner, then pulled in to Wal*Mart to try to negotiate their use of PA’s tax exempt document. Expenses related to mission trips are tax exempt, and in the past they graciously honored our out-of-state document, but—not this year.
Tomorrow the team will attend Sunday School classes and worship at the Naranjito church and make sure everything is set up for working with the women on Monday.
The weather was misty and overcast in the morning, but cleared to beautiful sunshine in the afternoon with temperatures in the upper 70’s.
The streets in Mexico, which have been described as worse than those in Africa, have been greatly improved in the two years since the team was last in Mexico. Many have been paved and, in fact, some now have speed bumps! However, the secondary roads, those a bit off the main streets, are still quite “rough” which makes for very slow driving.
The new medical clinic (now about 3 years old) looks great and is many times larger than the old one which was about the size of the room at Covenant where chairs are set up for overflow congregations. The new one is two stories high and has a footprint larger than Covenant’s sanctuary.
The team drove to the Reynosa church to pick up the boxes which had been mailed ahead and took them to the Naranjito church where they will be working next week. They met Pastor Alfredo Castillo and his wife Sylvia who were most gracious and accommodating. Afredo is in the process of completing his Masters in psychology at a branch of the U. of Florida in Monterey.
Alfredo speaks enough English to be able to translate as the team started working with the Naranjito children—between 40 and 50 of them—by taking pictures of each one as well as many pictures of the children with their parents.—a real treat in a society where cameras and school pictures are quite rare. Thanks to modern electronics, the pictures could be developed on site and were ready later for framing.
The children then made “salvation” bracelets made with embroidery thread. They include sections of yellow, black, red, green and blue. Each color has a special meaning related to salvation, i.e. streets of gold in heaven, Christ’s blood shed on the cross, etc. In addition to the one each child made, they were given several made in advance by the team so they could give them to friends, explain the colors, and invite them to Sunday School and church.
As the children finished their bracelets, they crowded around tables in back of the room and started to decorate the frames for their newly developed pictures as well as visors the team provided. The children were also given coloring books.
It was getting dark as the team headed back to the motel. They stopped for dinner, then pulled in to Wal*Mart to try to negotiate their use of PA’s tax exempt document. Expenses related to mission trips are tax exempt, and in the past they graciously honored our out-of-state document, but—not this year.
Tomorrow the team will attend Sunday School classes and worship at the Naranjito church and make sure everything is set up for working with the women on Monday.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Day 1, Feb. 20: CAMT Mission Trip to Faith Ministry, Mexico
The 9-member Covenant Adult Mission Team (CAMT) took off from Philadelphia airport at 12:30pm and flew to McAllen, TX. The team is staying at a motel in San Juan, a suburb of McAllen and will cross the border each day. The motel has its shortcomings, but is clean, is considerably cheaper than those in McAllen, and provides a very good (free) cooked breakfast.
9:00pm: Message from John Bakken, “reporter” for the team:
“Everything’s fine. Flights have been perfect and everybody’s in good spirits. We’re at a restaurant. (Aside: “What restaurant is this?” Voice from a distance, “Golden Corral.”) That’s right, Golden Corral. When we’re done here, we’re going to Wal*Mart to get some things we need for tomorrow, then we’ll go back to the motel. I’ll call you later.”
9:30pm: “Dear Mom, send cash. Credit card machine at motel is broken. They asked us to pay up front for our rooms in cash ($1400!) Don’t worry about money for food. We ate on the plane.”
All kidding aside, McAllen was ready for us (we got the 12 passenger van we reserved) but the motel was not. They really did want $1400 up front! We told them it was out of the question. They didn’t have the handicapped rooms we reserved. (They had been reserved months in advance, and Mary Decker, Tour and Cruise Travel, had called earlier in the day to “assure” their availability.) All our rooms are on the second floor.
Temperatures are in the 70’s; overcast skies; we understand it will be overcast tomorrow. Dick (who’s got knee problems) was able to get around the airport in the carts which he flagged down whenever he needed one. We’re enjoying each other’s company. Tons of stories have been swapped. All are looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. Realize we’re just eating now—and already are planning the next meal.
Will call again tomorrow.
The 9-member Covenant Adult Mission Team (CAMT) took off from Philadelphia airport at 12:30pm and flew to McAllen, TX. The team is staying at a motel in San Juan, a suburb of McAllen and will cross the border each day. The motel has its shortcomings, but is clean, is considerably cheaper than those in McAllen, and provides a very good (free) cooked breakfast.
9:00pm: Message from John Bakken, “reporter” for the team:
“Everything’s fine. Flights have been perfect and everybody’s in good spirits. We’re at a restaurant. (Aside: “What restaurant is this?” Voice from a distance, “Golden Corral.”) That’s right, Golden Corral. When we’re done here, we’re going to Wal*Mart to get some things we need for tomorrow, then we’ll go back to the motel. I’ll call you later.”
9:30pm: “Dear Mom, send cash. Credit card machine at motel is broken. They asked us to pay up front for our rooms in cash ($1400!) Don’t worry about money for food. We ate on the plane.”
All kidding aside, McAllen was ready for us (we got the 12 passenger van we reserved) but the motel was not. They really did want $1400 up front! We told them it was out of the question. They didn’t have the handicapped rooms we reserved. (They had been reserved months in advance, and Mary Decker, Tour and Cruise Travel, had called earlier in the day to “assure” their availability.) All our rooms are on the second floor.
Temperatures are in the 70’s; overcast skies; we understand it will be overcast tomorrow. Dick (who’s got knee problems) was able to get around the airport in the carts which he flagged down whenever he needed one. We’re enjoying each other’s company. Tons of stories have been swapped. All are looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. Realize we’re just eating now—and already are planning the next meal.
Will call again tomorrow.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Mexico Team Ready for Takeoff!
Barbara Rhinehart, Ginny and Dick Abplanalp, Millie Williams, Joan Hahn, John and Maryalis Bakken, Pat Lotz, and Kay Rowell leave Friday morning (2/20) for Covenant's 6th trip to Faith Ministry in Mexico. After working 5 years in the Reynosa Presbyterian Church, this team will work in the Naranjito church teaching sewing and craft projects to the women and children, taking pictures that will be used in an April 19th report to the congregation, and doing odd jobs as time and needs present themselves.
They are preceeded by 35 boxes filled with materials for the week--one of which contained 3 sewing machines.
We hope to have daily reports from the team, so check back with us for updates as their work progresses.
They are preceeded by 35 boxes filled with materials for the week--one of which contained 3 sewing machines.
We hope to have daily reports from the team, so check back with us for updates as their work progresses.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
NEW NEWS!!
Since the last entry which told about the November mission trip to Outley House (a rehab shelter for men in Philadelphia) a team returned December 27 to prepare and serve lunch to more than 100 men. The next trip, to a similar shelter for women, will be Feb. 14.
Call the church office (610-648-0707) if you'd like to sign up. You don't have to be a member of Covenant to join the team! Plan to leave Covenant (400 Lancaster Avenue, Frazer where Church Road dead ends onto Route 30) at 8:15 and return about 2:30. Smiles on the faces of those who have gone reflect a well-organized, much-appreciated, fun-filled, satisfying experience.
CAMT (Covenant's Adult Mission Team) has also been busy planning for the next mission trip to Mexico. Faith Ministry has established 3 churches and 2 medical clinics just south of the border from McAllen, TX. Since the first trip in 2003 Covenant members and friends have donated many pounds of sewing and craft materials--plus 4 sewing machines--which the CAMT teams have used in working to establish a group in the Reynosa Presbyterian Church which sews a variety of items for themselves and also makes some things to sell in their neighborhood to support their church.
Feb. 20 to 27 a team will do similar work with the women in the church in Naranjito. Since no one is driving this year, 25 boxes of donated materials--including 2 sewing machines--have been shipped ahead of time. It will be all-hands-on-board Saturday afternoon (the first working day) when 80 - 100 children will come to the church to engage in various craft activities.
Monday through Thursday Barbara, Ginny, Pat and Maryalis will lead sewing/craft work with the women while Millie, Kay, and Joan will help in the medical clinic. Dick hopes to spend some of his time coaching basketball with interested children. The rest of his time will be spent with John as he explores all the branches of Faith Ministry's work with Deantin Guerra, founder of Faith Ministry. Their pictures and information will be used to present an overview of the work done there to the Covenant congregation during the Sunday School hour (9:45am) Sunday, April 19. Visitors are most welcome!!
The team will stay in a motel in McAllen, TX and cross the border each day to work. Going on a mission trip is a little bit like going to camp. You "live" with the others who are there. The team shares devotions each evening in one of the motel rooms. They eat together, work together, travel together, and--in short--get to know each other very well! The bonds that form from common work and common spirit are strong indeed!
Call the church office (610-648-0707) if you'd like to sign up. You don't have to be a member of Covenant to join the team! Plan to leave Covenant (400 Lancaster Avenue, Frazer where Church Road dead ends onto Route 30) at 8:15 and return about 2:30. Smiles on the faces of those who have gone reflect a well-organized, much-appreciated, fun-filled, satisfying experience.
CAMT (Covenant's Adult Mission Team) has also been busy planning for the next mission trip to Mexico. Faith Ministry has established 3 churches and 2 medical clinics just south of the border from McAllen, TX. Since the first trip in 2003 Covenant members and friends have donated many pounds of sewing and craft materials--plus 4 sewing machines--which the CAMT teams have used in working to establish a group in the Reynosa Presbyterian Church which sews a variety of items for themselves and also makes some things to sell in their neighborhood to support their church.
Feb. 20 to 27 a team will do similar work with the women in the church in Naranjito. Since no one is driving this year, 25 boxes of donated materials--including 2 sewing machines--have been shipped ahead of time. It will be all-hands-on-board Saturday afternoon (the first working day) when 80 - 100 children will come to the church to engage in various craft activities.
Monday through Thursday Barbara, Ginny, Pat and Maryalis will lead sewing/craft work with the women while Millie, Kay, and Joan will help in the medical clinic. Dick hopes to spend some of his time coaching basketball with interested children. The rest of his time will be spent with John as he explores all the branches of Faith Ministry's work with Deantin Guerra, founder of Faith Ministry. Their pictures and information will be used to present an overview of the work done there to the Covenant congregation during the Sunday School hour (9:45am) Sunday, April 19. Visitors are most welcome!!
The team will stay in a motel in McAllen, TX and cross the border each day to work. Going on a mission trip is a little bit like going to camp. You "live" with the others who are there. The team shares devotions each evening in one of the motel rooms. They eat together, work together, travel together, and--in short--get to know each other very well! The bonds that form from common work and common spirit are strong indeed!
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