A SPECIAL WEEK WITH SPECIAL PEOPLE
As we close out another week of building and ministry, I can't help but be so grateful for the people God brings into our lives to help us touch the lives of the people in Mx. It is always special when our family of friends, both old ones and new ones come from our home church, Moraine Valley in Palos Heights,Il. We all worked together and Thomas, Blanca, Chewy and Leslie have a new home, some work was done on a church in Progresso, Mx, the children were entertained by the clowns on our team, about 13 all tolled, and some souls were ushered into eternity with Christ.We were able to visit the old colonia we worked in for years and visit some old friends. A short week committed to the Lord brings about much fruit! Paula, Raul and I will be left with heavy hearts as we say goodbye to everyone. Larry and Judi head for Florida, Dave and Karen and the team back to Chicago just in time for a lovely snow storm. What a great week! Thanks to all that make these trips so special.
LONG DAYS< SHORT NIGHTS
Two long days followed by 2 short nights and the house is ready to be dedicated. The team from Moraine flew in on Mon. and Larry and Judi Peterson drove from Arizona. It was so nice to have the gang from back home here. We accomplished a lot in two days and that will free us up to do more ministry and work on a church that is partially built in Progresso and needs to get finished. The family we are building for is so excited and said they have been praying for a house for 6 years and give God thanks for blessing them with a house. Thomas admitted that he hasn't been confident that God would answer his wifes prayers for a house and today he bowed his head and gave thanks to the only God that hears and answers prayer, Jesus Christ! A great day followed by Chuck, Rachel and me clowning with the kids during the evening service at Victors church. Paula will post some photos later. We will dedicate the house tommorrow and organize a food give away, while some of us go to Progresso.
ADIOS IIT STUDENTS AND ADIOS SMILEY GOOGLE
We got an early start Friday so we could put a few finishing touches on the house before we handed the keys over to the Family. Upon entering the colonia, Paula stopped to say hi to Carla, Blancas' mom. We built Blanca a house with our friends from Laharpe Illinois a month ago. We call her "smiley google"because she always lights up the colonia with her smile. Well, she enjoyed her new house for a month and now she resides in a mansion in heaven. She had an epileptic episode and passed away from an apparent heart attack at the age of 24. The wake was in the house we built for her and her husband Miguel.I stopped there after the team left for the U.S. and I just held her Mom for a while as we both cried over the loss of such a sweet young lady. Please pray for the family as they grieve such a great loss.The house we built was finished and we dedicated the house in another pool of tears as Naftalie, Jezy and Talita stood on the porch of thier new home. The team all shared a little about thier experience building the house and meeting all the wonderful people and then Carmello and Beto both prayed for the family and the team that built it. What a joy it is to give a needy family a home to call thier own. Thank you to Anne, Elaine, Jeb, Mickey, LaLuce,Mike,Ryan,Andy,Mikeys' dad Mike, Roger, Raul,Beto, Carmello, Pastor Victor and his family and of course my wonderfull wife Paula who kept us all fed all week as well leading the team painting and decorating for a great job. The house looks beautiful and the solar system is awsome, they are really glad that a group of young people built the house because that is Naftalie and Jezys' passion, working with young people in the colonia and in the city. Paula and Roger took the team back to the states as Raul and me prepared for the next team to arrive on Monday. GOD BLESS, AND ADIOS
THE REWARD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
The reward has been the hands on experience of seeing thier design turn into a habitable dwelling that is going to bless Naftalie, Jezy, and thier daughter Talita for many years to come. Our prayer for the team as we almost finished today is that, this week will be a life changing event that will shape thier thinking into that of being givers in this life as a life style choice, rather than takers. They have all embraced this week with such a great attitude and ambition that all of thier parents should be proud of them. The few things that remain to be done will be done in a few hours in the morning. We ate dinner in the colonia as we rushed to finish. The family waited in anticipation of us finishing and handing the keys over to them, but they will have to wait a few more hours. What a great house they built this week. I'm almost envious of the cool house they built and may build one like it on our lot in the colonia in the future.
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