Giving Thanks - November 18, 2008

It was a very busy, but wonderful weekend! The team of 104 men from The Woodlands United Methodist Church arrived on Thursday evening and left on Sunday afternoon. They built ten cinder block homes in a day and a half. Since my help was not needed with the construction of the homes, I worked in the kitchen cooking and serving meals. We began preparing breakfast at 5:30 a.m. and finished serving dinner and cleaning up at 8:00 or later each evening. I was exhausted, but it was so much fun working with two of Jose Luis's sisters (Julieta and Ana) and another close friend from the church, Maxi!

One of the highlights for me over the weekend was when one of the men came to talk to me, after they had attended the dedication/blessing of the homes. He told me that he wasn't ashamed to say that he had shed some tears. I told him that he wasn't the first man to cry at a dedication and I know he won't be the last! Then he said that he had been watching me for the past two days and couldn't help but notice that I have a smile on my face first thing in the morning and still have a smile on my face at 9 or 10 at night. He said, "You must really love it here!". Tears came to my eyes and I told him that he has no idea - I do truly love it here and the people I work with here are like my second family!

I'm very sad to share some bad news about one of our dogs. Erika (the white dog with the dark spots) died on Sunday afternoon. She seemed to have totally recovered from the bacterial infection she had ten days ago(after we gave her antibiotic injections for six days). She was really playful and energetic again. We aren't sure what happened - she may have been hit by a car or ate something poisonous. It was a very sad ending to a wonderful weekend! It is likely that Eva (the brown dog) is pregnant, so there may be puppies in a couple months and I can fall in love with them too!!!

I fly to Dallas this coming Friday, the 21st and will be home for the the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. There aren't any teams scheduled for the next couple months, so I will be home longer than I originally planned. Although I am very excited about seeing my children and my friends at home - it is bittersweet because I am sad to leave Juarez for that long. I can't explain it and I imagine it's hard for people to understand! I will continue to help with some of the administrative activities from home and look forward to returning to Juarez in the new year.

I thank each of you for your support and prayers over the past two months and look forward to seeing you soon. I also give thanks to God for the opportunity to serve here in Juarez. It has truly been a blessing for me! I ask that you continue to pray for Rev. Jose Luis Portillo, his family, and everyone associated with the ministry of Proyecto Abrigo.

Until the next time, Dios te bendiga!

Staying Busy - November 12, 2008

I had the pleasure of helping with a 'campamiento' (church camp) for 25+ children of the Nuevo Pacto church the weekend of October 31st - November 2nd. The children arrived at the compound on Friday evening around 7:00 p.m. and didn't leave until time for church on Sunday morning. We played games outside (similar to tag, Red Rover, and others) and the children rehearsed and performed dramas based upon bible stories. They also had devotional/bible study times and made craft projects. Although I spent 16 hours in bed with the worst migraine I've ever had on that Saturday, the weekend was great fun! I made 7 bags of microwave popcorn for a snack for the kids and shared some excellent chocolates with them too! It's awesome because now every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening at church - since that weekend - I get lots of hugs and smiles from my new little friends!

Last weekend, we had a team of 46 adults and youth here from Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney. We built four homes in just two days. Three of the homes were for an extended family of four generations that attend our church here (Grandma, parents, an eighteen year old son, two other adult sons, their wives, and their babies - 10 months and 4 months). The fourth home was built to provide an additional room for the family of 13 that was blessed with a cinder block home by the RockPointe Church team just a few weeks ago.

Erika, my white canine friend, was very sick for the past week or so. She was very lethargic, had fever, and looked very sick! I was extremely worried about her. My friend, Juana drove us to the vet so that I could have Erika examined. The vet said that he thought she had a bacterial infection, but that he couldn't rule out distemper. He said that if it was just an infection, the medication he provided should cause her to improve within a day or two. The vet gave Erika an injection of two medications (one antibiotic and one to reduce her high fever). He also gave me five syringes and a bottle of antibiotics to give her an injection each day for five days. She received her final injection last night and she seems like a new dog! I am so thankful that I was able to get her to the vet and get medicine for her (and for the low, low price of $19.76 total - for everything!!). There is definitely a cultural difference in the way we Americans treat our animals - to us, they are pets and part of our families. To the people here, they are just dogs.

We have a very busy weekend coming up! 98 men from Houston will arrive tomorrow afternoon and will build nine homes in two days. I will help in the kitchen, cooking and serving meals. It will be hectic and loud, but what a blessing it will be for nine families to receive a cinder block home! I will be traveling back to Allen later this month to spend the holidays at home with my children. I look forward to seeing family and friends during my favorite time of the year!

I continue to feel truly blessed to be a part of the wonderful ministry of Proyecto Abrigo.

Until next time, Dios te bendiga!

10/30/08 - A Visit from Suncreek

It's been a busy two weeks since I last posted an update! My mission trip buddy, Janet Hunt, and a team from Suncreek United Methodist Church arrived last week to complete the construction of a room for the De La Torre family. This family of seven live in a small one room home that has just one bunk bed (a double bed on the bottom and a twin bed on top). Their sweet grandma (abuela) lives next door. The three youngest boys - Felipe (9), Samuel (7), and Martin (4) have an illness called Hunter's Syndrome. This illness results in developmental abnormalities, skeletal deformations, mental retardation, and, in many cases, early death. The De La Torre family has already lost two children to this disease. It was such a pleasure for our team to bless this family with a second room and they were so appreciative! I have had these boys and this family on my mind all week. Please keep them in your prayers!

Martin drove the Suncreek team and I to the market in downtown Juarez on Saturday afternoon. Although there weren't many people shopping, we felt very safe. A couple of the vendors we've known for years told us that there are undercover security guards working in the market, but there hasn't been any incidents. I realize that there is a lot of coverage on the news about the violence in Juarez, but honestly it doesn't seem any different than it has for the past five years. We walked to the store for ice cream one evening and we were not nervous or worried at all.


I spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday of this week working with two of our favorite maestros (Oscar and Ernesto). With cinder blocks paid for by Suncreek UMC, we built a wall around the back yard at the home of a family that attends our church here. Javier and his wife, Oralia, were so happy to receive this gift! Javier is blind and has been unable to find employment for quite some time. Oralia works at a factory here in Juarez. They have an adorable six year old daughter who loves to sing at church. Oralia insisted on cooking breakfast and lunch for us both days. I ate lentils for the first time in my life!!! While waiting for more blocks to arrive on Tuesday afternoon, I spent an hour or so talking with Javier - in spanish!! We laughed and sang and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I am really glad that I was able to get to know this family!


Today I spent most of my day doing laundry. It sure takes a long time to dry clothes on a clothesline, but they smell great after drying in the sun and wind! When there are no teams here, it's very quiet, but there is always a couple of girls (Eva and Erika) looking for attention from me!



It's hard to believe that I've been here for almost five weeks! I'm looking forward to a visit to Allen in three weeks. It will be nice to celebrate Thanksgiving at home! Although I miss my kids, my dogs, and my friends very much, I am thoroughly enjoying the work we are doing here! I received a card last week and I loved what it said -

"Work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long, the pay is low, but the retirement benefits are out of this world!"

Until the next time, Dios te bendiga!

Rita

It's a Beautiful Day in Juarez - October 14, 2008

I would like to thank Bill Ball Jr. for his help in getting this blog started for me! Without Bill's assistance, keeping in touch with all of you in this way, would not have been possible!

It's a beautiful fall day here in Juarez! After a very cloudy and cool morning, it has warmed up to the mid 60's and the sun is shining.

I worked with a team from RockPointe Church in Flower Mound this past weekend to build two cinder block homes. The team consisted of seven adults, a college student, two high school students and three middle school youth. One home was built for a family of three (with another baby on the way). The second home went to a family of 13 (grandparents, their three children, and their grandchildren)! Can you imagine 13 people living in one cardboard house?!!!! They were so happy and thankful for the gift of a new home. This was the first family mission trip for RockPointe Church, but they hope to make it an annual event. It makes me so happy to see others fall in love with the people of Juarez, just as I did five years ago.

I attended the Sunday afternoon service at our new church called Sublime Gracia (Amazing Grace) in Loma Blanca. The church building is in the early stages of completion with the walls and concrete floor just partially finished. It was a great experience to sing songs and listen to the sermon in the open air, with the wind blowing and birds flying overhead. There were about 30 in attendance this week, but we plan to visit people living in this neighborhood to invite them to join us on future Sunday afternoons.

We are expecting another delivery of food items tomorrow for the Food Bank. I hope to receive training this week on the preferred method of packaging the donations for dispensing to families in need.

I went to El Paso one day last week with Jose Luis and I was able to open a bank account and get a P.O. Box. If you ever want to send me a note, the address is

Rita Thomas
P.O. Box 17533
El Paso, Texas 79917-7533

Email - thomasr1@tx.rr.com

Thank you for your prayers and support. They are appreciated more than you know.

Until the next time, Dios te bendiga!

Rita

Eva

I have included photos of my buddies, Eva and Erika. They keep me company and love to give lots of kisses! (Eva is the mother of Erika)

Erika

Week One - October 9, 2008

My first week in Juarez was a bit uneventful. I was very sick with bronchitis when we arrived here so I spent the first few days resting. I was concerned about not doing anything useful, but Jose Luis told me there will be plenty of time for me to work and that I just need to get well. I spent a great deal of time reading and thinking. I attended the Tuesday evening service at the Nuevo Pacto church and received such a warm welcome from the congregation. Although I miss my friends and family at home, I am very happy to be here!

Late on Friday afternoon, Oct. 3rd, we found out that a team was arriving that night from Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch. On Saturday morning I worked with the team of four women and two men to begin building a home for a wonderful family (including grandparents, parents, and five children). We attended Sunday service at Nuevo Pacto church and after lunch headed back to the work site. With help from the maestros (and despite cool, rainy weather) we finished the walls and the floor this afternoon. We completed the roof on Monday morning and then had the dedication of the home where we shared communion with the family as the first meal in their new home.

On Tuesday morning, 10/7, Juana and Alfredo Flores and I attended the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Before and After school program in Loma Blanca. We are looking into the possibility of starting a similar program at the Nuevo Pacto church for children ages 4 to 12. Hours of operation will be 5:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The city will pay a nominal monthly fee for each child so that we are able to offer breakfast and lunch for them each day. This program will provide a safe place for children of working parents to come before and after school where they can study/do homework and most importantly keep them off of the streets. Our hope is to eventually have a building near the existing medical clinic in which we can expand this program.

The Mormon church here in Juarez has donated items for starting a Food Bank. We are using one of the dorms here at the Proyecto Abrigo compound to sort and store the food. Plans are to package the donations in bags to dispense to those in need.

A team from Flower Mound arrived tonight, Oct. 9th. The team includes adults and youth and I will work with them on the construction of two homes this weekend. I am really looking forward to working with the adult mission team from Suncreek UMC in a couple weeks too!

There are so many exciting projects underway and I am very grateful for the opportunity to help. It truly brings joy to my heart to be a part of the wonderful ministry of Proyecto Abrigo.

Dios te bendiga!

Rita