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.)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
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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