The Homestretch

I'm writing to you all from Atlanta!

After clearing customs and immigration (I learned something new there- apparantly, a tortilla press is a weapon- who knew?) I took a shuttle to our hotel, which is across the street from the MTW headquarters where I will be completing debrief training over the next two days- and then I will be HOME!!!!

This past week was the same VBS curriculum - Rancho Avalancha - but this time with a twist. Outside. In a tent. The Americans invlolved in this week at Vida Nueva Church joked that this week would be for our sanctification- I think they were right : ). This week was especially significant because most of the kids (close to a hundred this time) involved were not from the church as in past weeks. Also, we added a women's otreach-devotional and craft- and a soccer outreach. The soccor was fun but we got schooled in the US vs. Mexico games- Men 5-1, Women 3-2. One of those points was my fault- appartantly you get penalized for using your hands : ). Oops...

Anyway, that week was very exciting- pictures will follow.

Please keep me in your prayers as I reajust to life in the US- I don't anticpate many difficulties :).

Rancho Avalancho Take 2

And so ends the second week of VBS. This week we were assisted at Cumbres Del Rey Church by the First PCA in Margate, Florida. This VBS was unique in that it catered towards kids all the way up to 16 years old. I was excited by the opportunity to work with the teen group, helping to make their experience as in-depth and fun as possible. These older kids benefited from recieving personalized lessons from the church's pastor, Pablo, and they seemed to get a lot out of them. The exciting part was that only one of the kids in our group attended the host church, so hopefully, through this VBS, the children and their parents will be encouraged to revisit the church for regular services.

As I begin my last week in Monterrey, I would ask that you pray for concentration and perserverance for me. I'm finding it harder and harder to concentrate on anything but what I will do when I get home. Thanks for your prayers and encourgaement during this time.

The younger kids enjoing a water balloon game. (Too bad the balloons were actually regular balloons and wouldn't pop : ) )

My Group making a craft. Go Rangers!

Our prayer time during the morning Bible lesson.

Rancho Avalancha

Well, we had our first team for VBS this last week, and it was pretty great : ). A team of 5 came from Rainbow PCA in Alabama to help out. The VBS was hosted by Casa de Dios Church and was made up mostly of church kids with a few kids from the surrounding neighborhood. The theme was Rancho Avalancha, or "Avalanch Ranch", and we did lots of singing, dancing, crafts, snacks and devotionals which all went along with the day's bible verse. The kids learned that "God is strong", "God is with us", "God is in control", "God is real", and "God is awesome". I had a lot of fun hanging out with the kids and they seemed to enjoy it and learn a lot as well.

God has been teaching me a lot about relationships this week. The VBS, and previously, the construction, are only half of what this summer is about. The short-term teams that come down are from churches that sponser the churches here and meeting with them and helping them with these projects is essential for successful partnership and relationship. For me, it's been amazing to get to know so many people, and realize that this is a "normal" country with "normal" people. I have loved realizing that teenagers, no matter what country they are from, speak the same language: ).

Kids praying after a movie

The devotional

Our Team : )

Different Perspective

If you´d like to check out another perspective on the work being done in Monterrey this summer, check out dansmexicostories.blogspot.com. Dan is the other summer intern working here.