A GREAT WEEK AND A GOODBYE TO "CATA"

TUESDAY WAS THE DAY OF FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE TRADE SCHOOL AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM JOINED ME IN STARTING THE BUILDING OF A HOUSE FOR A NEEDY FAMILY. I REALLY NEEDED THE HELP AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA HELP AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY LEAVE ON WED. WE MANAGED TO GET FOUR WALLS BUILT IN A FEW HOURS BEFORE RETURNING TO THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEDICATION. WHEN WE GATHERED TO DEDICATE THE NEW TRADE SCHOOL, A FEW PASTORS CAME AND SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE COLONIA WERE ALSO THERE. THE TIME WAS FILLED WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ANTICIPATION OF HOW THIS NEW FACILITY WILL BE USED TO CHANGE LIVES. A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THIS PROJECT AND THE REALITY OF IT'S FUTURE IS CLEAR. WE ALL GATHERED IN A CIRCLE AND PRAYED FOR THOSE WHO WOULD ATTEND THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THOSE THAT WOULD TEACH. THE IIT TEAM HAS GIVEN A COMMUNITY A GREAT GIFT AND THEY SHOULD ALL BE AS PROUD OF THEMSELVES AS WE ARE OF THEM. ON WED WE RETURNED TO THE COLONIA FOR A FINAL TIME OF JUST PLAYING WITH THE KIDS AND THANKING THOSE THAT HELPED ALL WEEK. UPON MY ARRIVAL AT OUR MINISTRY CENTER, THERE WAS A GROUP OF YOUTHS WITH A FRIEND FROM REYNOSA THAT ARE GOING TO ATTEND TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN REYNOSA NEXT FALL. WHAT AWESOME TIMING, THAT A GROUP OF TECH STUDENTS WOULD COME WHILE I HAVE A TEAM OF TECH STUDENTS HERE BUILDING A TECH SCHOOL. DIVINE APPOINTMENTS? I TOOK THEM ALL DOWN TO MEET THE STUDENTS FROM CHICAGO AND WE HAD ANOTHER DEDICATION WITH THEM BEFORE WE ALL TRACED OUR HAND PRINT ON THE WALLS IN THE SCHOOL. I ALSO PUT A PRINT ON THE WALL FOR CATARINO, THE MAN THAT DIED ON MONDAY THAT HELPED US WITH THE FLOOR AND SOME PAINTING. IT WAS SAD WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND KNEW OUR TIME WITH THE KIDS WAS OVER. PAULA MADE THEM ONE FINAL GREAT MEAL AND WE ALL HUGGED AND CRIED A FEW TEARS BEFORE THEY HEADED DOWN THE ROAD. ADIOS AMIGOS, WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. OUR PRAYER FOR THEM IS THAT THEY WOULD BE FOREVER CHANGED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LAST 7 DAYS AND THAT THEY TOO WOULD REMEMBER THE POOR AND NEEDY IN THE WORLD AS THEY PURSUE A LIFE ON THIS PLANET WITH A REGARD FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, AND BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR CHARACTER, I'M SURE THEY WILL. THURSDAY, SEVERAL CARS, TRUCKS AND VANS DROVE THROUGH THE COLONIA, HEADED TO THE GRAVE SITE WHERE CATARTINOS FLESH WILL RESIDE UNTIL THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, WHERE HE WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE. MEXICAN FUNERALS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IN THAT WE ALL STAY AND FILL THE GRAVE WITH THE DIRT AND PLACE FLOWERS ON IT AND THE I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND GAVE AN INVITATION TO CHRIST AND THEN WE ALL TOOK TURNS TELLING STORIES OF HOW CATA TOUCHED OUR LIVES.