Kids camp was so awesome! About 74 kids came to camp this year - much more than the 16 that came down last year! And they learned all kinds of skills they can use in service for God. The kids learned Guitar, Keyboard, How to preach sermons, How to do dramas, as well as going out on outreaches and social service trips! During play time the kids were able to bounce on the huge like 30 foot tall bounce slide and swim in the two small pools and make crafts. There was a candy stand to buy, well, candies, and pop, and we had great food during the meals! The main theme of the camp was "RincOn de OraciOn" (in English: Prayer Corner... and I can't do the letter o with an accent on this computer so I used the O instead) and Gary taught some awesome stuff about prayer during the evening chapel times, including an awesome skit with a couple young team members doing an awesome choreographed fight with swords and Tai Kwon Do moves! (And sound effects!!!) In the mornings the kids did the morning devo then individual devos. It's amazing to see some of the kids really get it and totally dig into their Bibles and prayer!
One of the kids I noticed during the morning individual devos actually stayed past the call to get ready for breakfast because he wasn't done with his devos yet. Wow! I was so impressed and touched! It is so incredible seeing it when the kids go from being pushed along to pedalling the bike on their own!
During the evening chapel at every alter call there was not a dry eye in the house! God just moves at these retreats where we give up all our normal routine and put ourselves in a position where the word of God is strong daily! And it is incredible to be a part of it and to see the fruit of all the hard work as these kids are touched by God in a powerful way!
At the end of the camp some of the kids who really stood out were given a guitar. Gary Duckworth's team that came down to help with the camp, as well as other members of his church, earned enough money to purchase 9 guitars to give to the kids! This one kid only had the right hand and a left arm, and he was able to play the guitar backwards strumming with the other arm, and he was one of the ones who was given a guitar! Also one of the kids in my Sunday School class was given a guitar. These kids were really blessed!
One of my main jobs during camp, besides teaching guitar and keyboard, was doing the arrands. Dwight, who did the arrands last year, was busy with maintenance so he could not do the arrands. Because of the visa on D and K's vehicle and because I know Spanish and can drive I ended up being the designated arrand runner. I drove out to town at least once a day, often more, and bought "Gafones" of bottled water, refilled the Coke bottles, bought balloons, candy, and chips at the candy store, bags, banks, more bottles, and virtually any arrand necessary whenever needed. Oh, Dwight and Kristi bought real Coke bottles that we can turn in to get refilled ones now! That's what they serve at most taco stands and it tastes best that way according to most visitors to Mexico. We were all pretty exited about that.
Over all Kids camp was totally awesome and fun! And we finished the week exhausted but very fulfilled that we had successfully touched some kids lives! Praise God!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Books, Books, Songs, and Camp... and Water!
Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. I've been busy working on projects! The main project I'm working on for the duration of the trip is writing and illustrating and generally putting together a book on dramas and skits, complete with tips on acting and scripts! It's really coming along quite nicely and I have about 7 out of 10 skits written out and even translated already. Because I'm so far ahead on my project, with about 2 more weeks of quality work time to go, Kristi and I and Ruben have decided to put together a CD. The most practical way to do so as Kristi and I have decided, is to put Bible verses to music. I've completed one song for the most part and hope to continue the week after next. However, next week is Kids Camp and we will be quite busy for a while.
It's been quite exiting around here these days. Even Olga, the cleaning lady, is totally exited. She started working outside cleaning the patio in preparation for Gary's team coming down (who will be arriving Saturday afternoonish, by the way, wooohooo!) and for Kids Camp, even trimming the trees and stuff, and it looks really good! The rest of us, today especially since Kristi is leaving early tomorrow morning to pick up Gary and team, have been totally running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Mostly it's just exitement, but it's been really fun and exiting! Oh, and did I mention it's exiting?
It was really cool seeing Edith this Tuesday! Wow, I couldn't believe it's been two whole years since we've seen eachother and I guess I've really missed my good friend. We've been able to chat a bit online, but it's really not the same, and it was so good to see her again. Sadly, she got sick and had a fever so again I haven't seen her since Tuesday. However, her plans are to come work with us at Pro Vision for about the same time as I do, and I'm looking forward to it.
As if just working weekdays isn't busy enough, I'm scheduled for all the Saturdays and Sundays with teaching lessons at a couple Sunday Schools in the area! On Saturday mornings I go to a church in Echojoa and teach the Bible lesson at their program. Last week was my first week there and was more of a time to meet the people and see what their program looks like. In two days, however, I get to teach the main Bible lesson... from scratch! Dude, there's no theme or anything! Well, tomorrow I plan to quite thoroughly plan for the lesson, and I'm hoping to incorporate an object lesson and some other things to keep the kids' interest. Tonight I'm going to ask God to help me, and I guess we'll see how it goes.
Sunday evening I'm going to be teaching the whole Sunday School at German's church in Huatabampo. (German is one of the paid staffers here at ProVis, pronounce Herman) Haha! I did the object lesson / science experiment last week, and apart from saying almost absolutely nothing because my spanish is so rusty, it went great! I totally got the kids laughing with some slapstick. Spanish, on the other hand, has been quite the challenge for me this trip. Man alive! I'm not sure if it was good for me to take the 2nd year spanish in class or not? Well, I'm sure it was, but maybe it's just taking its time coming together. I'm certainly not fluent yet, and I've been quite shy in Spanish so far, but hopefully it'll improve... Maybe even before Saturday? Haha! Crazy, but worth it.
Ok, but the biggest news from Pro-Vision is that we finally have WATER! Can you believe it??? And right before camp! No, there are wells on the property, but the city decided that this little towny thingy that we're in called La Rosita is finally deserving a connection to the city's water! They've been installing a pipe out here recently, and a few days ago they called the towns folk saying, come get your water! The people came to our house and said they are ready for us to come talk about water, so we all hopped in the van and drove into town! Wooohooo! After paying for the right to have the connection and installing pipes and stuff and after the guys working on the city's side of the pipe fixed the leaks, just yesterday the water started flowing! It is so awesome! Now we won't have to have water delivered here! Last evening we so had to celebrate our water that we washed off the patio! How fun! And today even with the washer machine going and showers and various sink usage, the tanks filled up! This is so awesome! Wow, and while we were in the van with the ladies of the town, Kristi mentioned that D and K have been waiting 4 years for this moment, and one of the ladies said she's been waiting 50 years. Wow! But it's finally here! And just in time for camp!
Well, thats all the news I can think of off hand, omitting all the boring details. I suppose I could write more, but this is a long post hehe! Hope to write another update, maybe even sooner than 10 days hehe! Thanks for keeping me and D and K in your prayers!
It's been quite exiting around here these days. Even Olga, the cleaning lady, is totally exited. She started working outside cleaning the patio in preparation for Gary's team coming down (who will be arriving Saturday afternoonish, by the way, wooohooo!) and for Kids Camp, even trimming the trees and stuff, and it looks really good! The rest of us, today especially since Kristi is leaving early tomorrow morning to pick up Gary and team, have been totally running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Mostly it's just exitement, but it's been really fun and exiting! Oh, and did I mention it's exiting?
It was really cool seeing Edith this Tuesday! Wow, I couldn't believe it's been two whole years since we've seen eachother and I guess I've really missed my good friend. We've been able to chat a bit online, but it's really not the same, and it was so good to see her again. Sadly, she got sick and had a fever so again I haven't seen her since Tuesday. However, her plans are to come work with us at Pro Vision for about the same time as I do, and I'm looking forward to it.
As if just working weekdays isn't busy enough, I'm scheduled for all the Saturdays and Sundays with teaching lessons at a couple Sunday Schools in the area! On Saturday mornings I go to a church in Echojoa and teach the Bible lesson at their program. Last week was my first week there and was more of a time to meet the people and see what their program looks like. In two days, however, I get to teach the main Bible lesson... from scratch! Dude, there's no theme or anything! Well, tomorrow I plan to quite thoroughly plan for the lesson, and I'm hoping to incorporate an object lesson and some other things to keep the kids' interest. Tonight I'm going to ask God to help me, and I guess we'll see how it goes.
Sunday evening I'm going to be teaching the whole Sunday School at German's church in Huatabampo. (German is one of the paid staffers here at ProVis, pronounce Herman) Haha! I did the object lesson / science experiment last week, and apart from saying almost absolutely nothing because my spanish is so rusty, it went great! I totally got the kids laughing with some slapstick. Spanish, on the other hand, has been quite the challenge for me this trip. Man alive! I'm not sure if it was good for me to take the 2nd year spanish in class or not? Well, I'm sure it was, but maybe it's just taking its time coming together. I'm certainly not fluent yet, and I've been quite shy in Spanish so far, but hopefully it'll improve... Maybe even before Saturday? Haha! Crazy, but worth it.
Ok, but the biggest news from Pro-Vision is that we finally have WATER! Can you believe it??? And right before camp! No, there are wells on the property, but the city decided that this little towny thingy that we're in called La Rosita is finally deserving a connection to the city's water! They've been installing a pipe out here recently, and a few days ago they called the towns folk saying, come get your water! The people came to our house and said they are ready for us to come talk about water, so we all hopped in the van and drove into town! Wooohooo! After paying for the right to have the connection and installing pipes and stuff and after the guys working on the city's side of the pipe fixed the leaks, just yesterday the water started flowing! It is so awesome! Now we won't have to have water delivered here! Last evening we so had to celebrate our water that we washed off the patio! How fun! And today even with the washer machine going and showers and various sink usage, the tanks filled up! This is so awesome! Wow, and while we were in the van with the ladies of the town, Kristi mentioned that D and K have been waiting 4 years for this moment, and one of the ladies said she's been waiting 50 years. Wow! But it's finally here! And just in time for camp!
Well, thats all the news I can think of off hand, omitting all the boring details. I suppose I could write more, but this is a long post hehe! Hope to write another update, maybe even sooner than 10 days hehe! Thanks for keeping me and D and K in your prayers!
Monday, June 15, 2009
I'm here everybody!
I arrived on Saturday afternoon! And without any problems or anything! Flying is one of my favorite means of travel, as is riding in the car endless hours, and I thoroughly enjoyed the travel. Dwight and Kristi picked me up at the airport and we headed home! Wow it seems like it has been so long since I came last year! Lots of things are different, but the majority of it seems the same. Kristi redecorated the house slightly, with new paint on the remaining grey walls, and a few pieces of furniture, and the nicknacks on said furniture is a nice new touch. The office is more open and has a couple more work stations. Sunday was a nice day of rest and today it wasn't hard to get to work. The project I've started is a book on dramas and skits and today I wrote two scripts and started on the design work. For the next week and as much of next week as I can I'll be working more on the book. Then I'll also start preparing for the Kids Camp that's starting in two weeks! I'm so exited!
It was nice seeing old friends here, and meeting a new one. I saw German and Paz today and met Marty. Hopefully next week I'll get to see Edith who has been a great friend of mine for the past few years! Sadly the computer network isn't functioning correctly in various ways. The laptop I brought down here won't connect with the server right, but that's no big deal because I brought a thumb drive. :D But the main problem is that the internet went down before I arrived, and the new internet service isn't working for all the computers still. We have internet on Dwight's computer, but the rest of them can't connect. Also the connection is a bit slow and is problematic when we try to watch videos. But Dwight will figure it out soon enough and we'll be back to normal soon, Lord willing.
It's been fun meeting their cats, Eeyore and Snowball. They have taken to me quite well, actually. I still scare them, but I have been able to hold them and even get a little purring. They're so cute! And good company for us all. Well, I have a busy day tomorrow and should get to sleep. Can't wake up without going to sleep first, right? I'll be back for another update soon. Thanks for your prayers and support! See ya!
It was nice seeing old friends here, and meeting a new one. I saw German and Paz today and met Marty. Hopefully next week I'll get to see Edith who has been a great friend of mine for the past few years! Sadly the computer network isn't functioning correctly in various ways. The laptop I brought down here won't connect with the server right, but that's no big deal because I brought a thumb drive. :D But the main problem is that the internet went down before I arrived, and the new internet service isn't working for all the computers still. We have internet on Dwight's computer, but the rest of them can't connect. Also the connection is a bit slow and is problematic when we try to watch videos. But Dwight will figure it out soon enough and we'll be back to normal soon, Lord willing.
It's been fun meeting their cats, Eeyore and Snowball. They have taken to me quite well, actually. I still scare them, but I have been able to hold them and even get a little purring. They're so cute! And good company for us all. Well, I have a busy day tomorrow and should get to sleep. Can't wake up without going to sleep first, right? I'll be back for another update soon. Thanks for your prayers and support! See ya!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Exitement is growing!
I am so exited for my trip! Especially since I'm leaving this Saturday!!! Yesterday in school I finished 2 classes, and today I'm finishing the other 2. It seems I have all these projects that I'm bringing to completion just before starting a new one. I have a few things on my to do list before I leave. Pack is obviously one of them, but I also have a few that aren't necesarily related to the trip, such as cleaning my car. Ha! Weird, but I suppose Mom and Dad would like me to leave a somewhat ok looking car. Clean my room, find that huge doosie that I want to show D and K cuz well ya know, it's HUGE!!! (a doosie by the way is one of those pops you get at a quicky mart) And I need to get a haircut. That part will be super fun! Woot! Oh and go to work a couple days. Ha! I'm actually not surprised to find out that I'm getting off work at 11pm Friday when I hop on the plane 5:20 am Saturday morning. Isn't that how it always goes??? And even though I get off work at 11, there's almost certainty that I will stay up at LEAST till 12 because of remembering all the little details I forgot to pack and all the exitement. I wouldn't be surprised if I get only 3 hours of sleep let alone 4. Well I guess I should get back to tieing all the loose ends. (Wooot so exited!)
Friday, May 29, 2009
WOW that was Fast!
Just this weekend I was looking at how much money I needed thinking, how in the world am I going to pull this off. I expected a miracle, but dude this one was fast!!! I guess God likes to reward those who are willing to put some effort! The carwash I did this Sunday and Monday earned $370 total, and I needed aprox. $500 or so more. A few more checks came in and this morning I only needed $350 or so more. Ha! Last night I participated in a concert with a school band and my music teacher Lori Haggans. She was so sweet and asked me to play the piece I wrote as one of the pieces in the concert. Afterward she told everyone that I'm going to Mexico and needed several hundred more dollars. Wow! Three checks from people at that concert, and I am ready for the whole entire trip! And the last one was practically exactly what I had estimated I needed! God is just sooooooo good! Thank you everyone soooooo much for supporting me! This is going to be great! Wow, $900 in one week! Praise God!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Carwash!
The carwash went great! My friends and I washed cars for over 11 hours in two days!!! And we earned over $370!! Wooot that's almost half what I need, sort of! It was great and fun and stuff, and we were tired both Sunday evening and Monday evening. My friends Amorina, Melissa, and Dawn helped me, (and Dad helped on Sunday) and they are so awesome! Well it's back to brainstorming the next fundraiser... concert? another carwash? Bring it!
Oh, by the way, the first post was incorrect, I'm leaving the 13th of June and coming back the end of July, not June. Must have been all exited about the trip and the cool stuff I'm going to do that I forgot the dates hehe!
Oh, by the way, the first post was incorrect, I'm leaving the 13th of June and coming back the end of July, not June. Must have been all exited about the trip and the cool stuff I'm going to do that I forgot the dates hehe!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Woohoo! I'm going to Mexico!
I have already bought the ticket! I'm flying down the 13th of June and driving back up with Dwight and Kristi the last week of July. Unfortunately I've been so busy I have not yet done any fundraising haha! So I have three weeks to come up with about $700. I'm going to do a carwash this Sunday and I'll mail out a letter soon. Then I'll brainstorm to come up with some other ideas, and of course pray that God will help me pull off a miracle!
It's going to be great though! I really miss Mexico, the people, the land, my sister, and man those are the most beautiful sunsets on the face of the earth!!! Kristi and I have been planning what I'll be doing while I'm down there. Because of school I've been limited to going in the summer instead of spring when Dwight and Kristi are slammed with the huge tour going from city to city and printing like crazy. So I'll be working on more products for them to sell at crazy cheap prices as tools for the teachers in the next tour. I will also be helping out at a local VBS or two and a totally awesome kids camp at Rancho ProVision!
Campamento NAVE (Ninos Avanzando en sus Vidas Espirituales (Kids Advancing in their Spiritual Lives)) is the most awesome camp ever. The camp raises kids to be leaders, teachers, pastors, and worship leaders. We teach them how to preach, act in dramas, evangelise, play musical instruments (and we gave some of them guitars of their own, and are bringing down some more this year), and more importantly spend quality time with God reading their Bible and praying alone. Besides that they get to play around, swim, make crafts, jump on the biggest inflatable slide this side of the taco stand! Seriously, though, it's HUGE!!!! Last year we even played tug 'o war in the MUD! Man that was so fun! But it was so awesome seeing those kids impacted by our teaching and touched by God! At times there were tears everywhere as they commited another part of themselves to God and to following His word and reaching out to others. I'm so exited for this year! Last year was a huge hit and we are expecting many more kids to join in on the awesomeness this year!
It's going to be great though! I really miss Mexico, the people, the land, my sister, and man those are the most beautiful sunsets on the face of the earth!!! Kristi and I have been planning what I'll be doing while I'm down there. Because of school I've been limited to going in the summer instead of spring when Dwight and Kristi are slammed with the huge tour going from city to city and printing like crazy. So I'll be working on more products for them to sell at crazy cheap prices as tools for the teachers in the next tour. I will also be helping out at a local VBS or two and a totally awesome kids camp at Rancho ProVision!
Campamento NAVE (Ninos Avanzando en sus Vidas Espirituales (Kids Advancing in their Spiritual Lives)) is the most awesome camp ever. The camp raises kids to be leaders, teachers, pastors, and worship leaders. We teach them how to preach, act in dramas, evangelise, play musical instruments (and we gave some of them guitars of their own, and are bringing down some more this year), and more importantly spend quality time with God reading their Bible and praying alone. Besides that they get to play around, swim, make crafts, jump on the biggest inflatable slide this side of the taco stand! Seriously, though, it's HUGE!!!! Last year we even played tug 'o war in the MUD! Man that was so fun! But it was so awesome seeing those kids impacted by our teaching and touched by God! At times there were tears everywhere as they commited another part of themselves to God and to following His word and reaching out to others. I'm so exited for this year! Last year was a huge hit and we are expecting many more kids to join in on the awesomeness this year!
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