We had our largest group yet as twenty of us made our way to Hartford to catch our plane. The group included Nancy Allen, Patty and Sarah Bober, Michelle Chaffee, Erica Corbet, June Deptulski, Amanda Duntz, Sue Fage, Mark Kane, Ann Kecskes, Lisa Lapointe, Michelle Madsen-Bibeau, Amber Manning, Chad Pfieffer, George Rezendes, Mark Salomon, Stacy Sedotti, Julie and Rob Wagner and me.We flew through Minneapolis and then on to San Diego. Unbeknownst to Mark Salomon, his son Matt had arranged to join the team and meet us on the west coast. What a surprise! It was especially amusing to see Mark's face because he had just hung up with Matt. He had checked in with him to tell him he had made it to San Diego.
We were shuttled over to the rental car place and after a forty minute wait were told that they didn't have the three vans and the mid-size car that we had reserved. They made some calls and hooked us up with a company that rented 15 passenger vans. So after a little finagling, we picked up two vans and saved about $180. Of course this whole episode put us behind by over two hours. Thankfully everyone was very patient and the ride over the mountains turned out to be very fun. We were all together in two vans and excited about what was ahead.
Rick and Mercy Barnes, our missionary partners, met us at the Carl Jrs restaurant in Calexico and drove us across the border and on to the seminary. We drove through the city in the darkness like we did back in 2007 and this was a little intimidating for the fourteen first time missionaries. Classes were still in session when we arrived at the seminary and the compound was full of life. The program has grown since last year. A few of our old friends were there, Jacob and Israel, as well as Rev. Gregorio Gamboa, the director of the seminary and pastor of the very first church we worked at two years ago. After our orientation with Rick and Mercy, we headed to bed prepared to get up and start our work in Mexicali.
On Wednesday morning we split up the group and half went to Primera Iglesia de Mexicali and half stayed at the seminary. The group that went to Primera worked on some electrical problems, did some landscaping and put together the duct work for the air conditioning system. Mark Kane and Mark Salomon also began putting up the channel for a suspended ceiling.At the seminary Rob Wagner and George Rezendes worked on some electrical problems and helped get the ladies set up to do some insulation and sheet rock work in the bathrooms. They also painted Carol W's outer wall again.
After a yummy lunch cooked by the chef, Verna, we took a break and rested up before heading off to a church mission site called Felipe Angeles. Some of the members of Primera had opened up their homes for prayer and Bible study in the neighborhood. This was a new ministry. Our job was to assist them in a Vacation Bible School outreach ministry to the neighborhood. We arrived and after a few words of instruction, we went out with members of the church and Sunday School to deliver flyers and invite people to come.
On Thursday morning we decided to take the whole group to Primera. The group went to work and continued the tilling of the ground for a lawn and the preparation of an area that will one day become a room that will serve as nursery for the church. The two Mark's went back to work installing the channel for the ceiling. The concrete walls really proved to be very difficult and it took a lot longer than anticipated.
After another sumptuous lunch, a group headed into downtown Mexicali to buy souvenirs. The big winner was Michelle Chaffee. She came away with some real bargains. I also tested the local food an tried some fried rice at a Chinese restaurant.
That evening we hosted the first night of Bible school and it was a rousing success. Everyone had a good time, including the members of our group. The kids worked on as banner with the theme, Jesus said you are my friends. All the kids put their handprints on it and signed their "nombres." After their Bible study, the kids made badges with their names on them. It was so enjoyable to watch the teachers work with the kids and then see how our group interacted with them. After we got home almost every person commented on how much they loved to see the expressions of joy on the kid's faces.There was also a significant moment for our group on Thursday. We happened to go by Buen Samaritano, the church we served last year, and ran into Ramon. Since we were there last, the church had added a second story and laid a foundation for a bathroom. Ramon was so pleased to show it to us. A few of the men were sheet rocking the walls upstairs and trying to fix some damages to the ceiling of the sanctuary.
At VBS on Thursday, Michelle and I talked to Rick about the possibility of a few of our folks working with Ramon on Friday and Saturday. We offered them some more money, the money we saved on the rental vans to buy supplies for the work if that would help them.On Friday morning Rick announced that he had spoken with Alma and Ramon and we could send a group to work with them. So we sent one group there, one to Primera and left a few back at the seminary to finish up. George Rezendes and five ladies went to Buen Samaritano to do sheet rocking, Mark Kane and Mark Salomon took a group to Primera where they mixed cement and laid the concrete slab. Rob Wagner and his girls, Patty, Michelle and Ann, finished up the sheetrocking in the bathrooms, replaced all the showerheads and reframed a few doors.
After lunch on Friday a group went with Rick up the mountain. They stopped in to see a new church planted by a retired minister who had moved to the area. Soon after he arrived, he felt called to begin a church and he did. It was a great experience for all our folks who went up for the ride.
On Saturday we headed off in three directions for our last day of work. Our hope was to see some of the projects finished before we left. One group went to Buen Samaritano, one to Primera and a third group went to the home of the family hosting the VBS. That group was charged with painting the house. We did pretty well. One group even decided to skip the afternoon break and go back to work at Primera to help them finish up and get the church ready for worship on Sunday.On Saturday night we made or way to Felipe Angeles to close out our three nights of VBS. It was an emotional time for all of us as we watched the kids faces light up. A friend of Michelle Chaffee's, Chris Colter, sent along a ton of stickers and goodies from his "Mad Science" company and they were a big hit. You should have seen the excitement. Even the adults were having fun.
On Sunday morning we dressed up and went to Church at Primera Iglesia. What a difference we saw in the church. The men of the church had worked late in the evening to finish the ceiling and to clean everything up. We went to Sunday School and then stayed for worship. The time flew by. Then we went out to lunch with Pastor Jorge and his family to an authentic Mexican Restaurant. It was great and there was so much food we were bursting at the seems.
On Sunday night we went back for evening worship and they celebrated our ministry with them with a slide show and by including several very familiar songs in English and Spanish. After church there was a banquet in our honor. It was a very special day.Back at the seminary we met with Rick and Mercy and expressed our appreciation to them for their help in connecting us with these churches in our short term mission trips. There weren't too many dry eyes as we said our good byes. We were blessed even further when Ramon and Alma stopped by to say good bye too. It was like a scene out of an old movie.
And that brings us to today. We left the seminary at 8:45 am and went to the border. It only took about an hour and fifteen minutes to make it across. Then we headed west and came into San Diego. Our group split up with one group going to LA, another going to the Zoo, a few going to see the Midway aircraft carrier, and the last group going to Old Town to shop. We closed out the night by going to Mission Bay where five of us rode the roller coaster and then stepped foot in the Pacific ocean.
Now I haven't even mentioned some of the other special moments like...
a) breakfast by Mark and George
b) prayers offered by different members each day
c) the kitty
d) Patty's birthday
e) ice cream at Dairy Queen
f) power walks and bike rides
g) naranja, platano and donas every day
h) hot showers
i) Cal's taxi
j) Por tu Amor in church
k) Amber and Sarah's service as translators
l) the sharing of the gifts
m) playing "One" with the seminary students
n) Rob's Australian accent
o) "Can you hear me now?" service
p) Altos everywhere
q) New friends and smiles
r) Walmart
s) memories that will last forever.
Tomorrow morning we head home. I can tell you that we will never be the same. Our thanks go to those who supported us with prayer and financial resources. Your efforts made a difference and will be felt in our continuing ministry in Mexicali and at home.
Cal
No comments:
Post a Comment