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!