One car across and the rest are just getting in line! Many people knew I (Amy) was unable to find my passport when I left home so my car left a little early in case I was detained. Not only was there no wait at the border, but we had no problem crossing!
The rest of the vans just said good bye to Yadira and are getting in a 20 minute or less line!
We will check back in when we are across!!
Day 3 was better than the rest! Everyone at Refugio was in a better mood, which made everything so much easier! Matt and Cody went to visit the prison to play basketball and volleyball with some of the men there. The inmates won the volleyball games, but our boys bested them at basketball! The men at Refugio noticed their absence- one of the men who loves basketball was asking where Matt was. We also gave the men some fruit today- I think that was their favorite part! When we got to the church site we walked the streets looking for kids and inviting them to the church, but the pastor’s wife came with two separate loads of kids giving us around 20 kids for the day! Amy, Kelli, and joe, the kids and Nurse Nikki also joined us at the church and park. It turns out Joe is quite the soccer player! The kids enjoyed playing with some of the local kids on the play set. We’ve been invited to have lunch with the pastors family tomorrow, we’re looking forward to that!
The wind was crazy today, so we had to drop our tents for fear of dirt getting all over in them or them blowing away, and we had to have students hold the music stands for worship, but tomorrow looks like it will be more calm!
Good morning Michigan!
The students have been doing such a great job posting, I thought I should do one too. :) Really, I want to say what a great bunch of students and adults we have!!! One fine example is the group of 5 that, without anyone asking them, went into the kitchen to find out if they needed help. Without telling anyone except the adult who had to wake them, they started getting up at 5:30 EVERY morning so they could help make breakfast by 5:45! They then served it AND made sure they returned early enough each day to do the same with dinner!! They have been amazing!! Today I asked the other churches to step in and help as our students need a bit more sleep. If I had not intervened however, they would have happily done this the entire camp!!
This is only one example of many. God has been SO very good. The construction project that came out of nowhere, the way the kids have embraced my kids being here, at the park site the kids are even great! For anyone that doesn’t know, the park site is usually SUPER challenging bc the kids are not used to receiving love so they respond in various ways. We started using a different technique a couple years ago (instead of telling or getting upset with behaviors, we ignored and kept loving them or acted super funny in unexpected ways to throw off the bad behavior) and it appears to be working!!! The grace of God is POWERFUL!
More to come,
In His Grip,
Amy
This is from the point of Matthew. Cody and I both signed up to go to the prison. We went with Happy (the lady who is in charge of the prison team) right after chapel. We got to the prison around ten’ish. We had to go through security it took awhile, but we got through without any issues. We got there with the two other boys from Our Shepherd and started to play volleyball. They were way better than us and destroyed us every time we played. After that we played a game of basketball. The opposite happened we destroyed them. Our team of 4 was beating there team of 5. We left the prison at 12:30 and headed to Walmart to meet up with the rest of our team. On the way Happy told us here whole life story and it was really funny. We got to Walmart at 1:00 and Cody and I ate lunch Emma made us sandwiches. We left for the church site after Lunch. At the church we had a very big turn out we had around 25 kids unlike yesterday when we had 3. They were also very well behaved today. Amy, Joe, Kelli, and the kids showed up. We did our skit which was Compass and map and we connect that to Jesus in the dessert and how he used the Bible as a guide. Our craft went really good too we made paper compasses and bracelets we then went to the park and I played soccer with 5 kids about, Andrew, and Joe. We then left at 4:00 and headed to Walmart. We crossed paths we the other team and got ice cream.
Refugio
From the point of Leah and Sofia. When we arrived all the men were waiting with smile on there face and were excited to see us again. We all said our hello’s and branched off playing and painting with all the men. Many of us played sports with them like soccer or basketball, and others sang and drew with them. Towards the end, we formed a circle with all the men and sang songs and prayed with them. Then we had the opportunity to surprise them with bananas and oranges we had bought earlier that day. They were all super excited and enjoyed it a lot. The smiles we were able to put on their faces we’re priceless, and we are not ready say goodbye for the last time tomorrow.
We started this morning with food on the 7s and worship on the 8s and then we headed to the autism center and Laura met us there after her classes. Yesterday after the park we went to Walmart to pick up some toys for the kids and we gave them today, Barbie’s balls, cars, ponies and some books. We had a special guest in Ben Hagen because Anna and Kelly stayed back to sleep after their adventure last night. After a wonderful lunch of turkey sandwiches in the van we headed to the park and had an amazing day at the park with no incidents. We did a scavenger hunt with the kids and it turned into a free for all and the kids loved it. We went to Walmart and then tacos with the team and now we’re just chilling out. Don’t worry Anna and Kelly are all good.
Brandon words written by Anna
Jose, Ezekiel, Josh,and myself were about to go help St John’s with construction of some walls today. We are going back tomorrow to help again.
We started off the day by stopping at Super Cuernavaca to get some water for the day. Then we headed to Refugio, we got played with the men there and also colored. Some of the men were having an off day which was sad to see, but we ended our visit with circling up to sing and pray together which was an awesome experience for everyone included. After Refugio we drove to a store down the street eating our lunch on the way (sandwiches deliciously made by Matthew). We practiced our skits in the car and made it to the church on time. The Church site went amazing. We started by singing songs with everyone and then preformed two skits and two bible verses for the kids. They also loved the craft and we all walked to the park together. At the park we played soccer (Cody and Emma losing to Matthew and Emanuel, a kid from the church, horribly) and talked and played with bubbles with the rest of the kids. We then walked back to the church and said our good byes. Walmart was the next stop which was a great cool down. Sofia, Cody, Matthew, and Emma bought a large cake that was very delicious. We went back to camp and hung out while we waited for our friends from the church including Pastor Pedro and his family to come for Community Night. It was a great night hanging out with them and listening to some good music and a great sermon. We said our good byes and then it was off to bed for everyone.
-Emma
Heyyyy parents, friends, and family! Today Survival Squad had a little problem. Victoria, Harmony and I went to jail. But it’s ok, we got out at 1. Just kidding, April fools! But we did go to the jail and to pass out new uniforms for the ladies. we also played volleyball and it was the greatest. Even though we didn’t speak in spanish, we definitely spoke through the game of volleyball. The rest of the team went to the autism center for the first time this week. They got a tour, colored, and talked. They even played with play dough. Then the team came and got Victoria, Harmony and I. Then all of us went to the park site. It was great because the kids were very good today. There were NO problems. It was also Julian’ s birthday (a kid at the park site). We sang Happy Birthday and gave him a camp theme shirt. Survival Squad then went to Walmart to get a couple things for the kids at autism center and park site. Today was a day full of God sightings.
Brandi King
