We´re partly through the day and headed towards our last night. Construction finished demo on a thick brick, rock, rebar and adobe wall. Two truck loads of debris were hauled off. The painters (formerly known as demolition) continued painting the walls that make up the outdoor hallway between the fellowship hall and sanctuary. When the liquid sunshine started, the retractable roof was closed. This meant a quick climb up the ladder to spread planks and tarps to continue painting in the rain.
VBS and Med teams returned for their last day in Ecatzingo. VBS had their final day in both towns. In Ozumba, there was a short program where the children performed the songs and bible verses they learned.
As for the ransomed bags, the last word was freedom in 10 days. Thank goodness the Buncombe Street UMC team will be here and will be able to bring back Dr. Tom´s bags!
Tonight will be an emotional night. We will begin with a special meal that is prepared in a traditional Mexican way. Dinner will be followed by a farewell program by members of the Ozumba church. Then the team, Pastor Jorge and our interpetors will go to the chapel for a special closing service.
Tomorrow morning early (7am breakfast) we will travel back to Mexico City. Some of the team will head north of the city to the Mexican pyramids while the rest of the team will spend time in an authentic handcraft market. In the evening, we will ride the subway to Cafe Tucuba for our final dinner in Mexico. Saturday morning after breakfast, we hope to meet with the Bishop once again to hear more about the history of Mexico and the United Methodist Church of Mexico.
Families, we will call from Dallas if our flight will be delayed.
Continue to pray for us and we´ll see you Sunday!
Ray
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Hump Day
Wednesday brings a full plate of activity for the team. The medical/dental teams left immediately following breakfast for a full day at Ecatzingo. They were quite busy. Prayers were answered that the portable dental unit worked well (thanks in part to WD 40!). The VBS team was busy with a large group of eager kids in the morning at Ozumba and a roomful (12 X 12) in Ecatzingo.......15 kids and 6 adults!
Construction started the morning on a variety of projects. Demolition debris was loaded in to a pick up and hauled to Jorge´s brother´s new home site for fill. Two sided of the churach and fellowship hall were scraped, preped and mostly painted. Demolition continued on the walls and floor of the old nursery/church office to make room for the new stairs to the second floor. We had a slight construction accident when a bick from the neighbor´s abutting wall dislodged and landed in their home. Now we are a little more careful swinging the sledge hammer. Spirts are still high.
The high point of the day came when we were visited by the Bishop after lunch. He thanked us ( the go-ers...team...and the senders.....our churches) for our love and support of our brothers and sisters here in Mexico. He shared some history of the Methodist church and Christianity in Mexico, prayed with us and it was back to work.
Tommorow brings a full day of work, a special dinner and farewell, and a special closing service for the team. I will have one more entry tomorrow then you will see us in church Sunday!
Ray
Construction started the morning on a variety of projects. Demolition debris was loaded in to a pick up and hauled to Jorge´s brother´s new home site for fill. Two sided of the churach and fellowship hall were scraped, preped and mostly painted. Demolition continued on the walls and floor of the old nursery/church office to make room for the new stairs to the second floor. We had a slight construction accident when a bick from the neighbor´s abutting wall dislodged and landed in their home. Now we are a little more careful swinging the sledge hammer. Spirts are still high.
The high point of the day came when we were visited by the Bishop after lunch. He thanked us ( the go-ers...team...and the senders.....our churches) for our love and support of our brothers and sisters here in Mexico. He shared some history of the Methodist church and Christianity in Mexico, prayed with us and it was back to work.
Tommorow brings a full day of work, a special dinner and farewell, and a special closing service for the team. I will have one more entry tomorrow then you will see us in church Sunday!
Ray
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
message for Jerry Hill, Cam please forward
Ola Amigo!
The meds situation has been a trying mess. Jorge emailed the paper work in hopes you might work on our behalf with the Consolate. Check our blog for the latest.
Here´s the deal on the portable. When the compressor kicks on, at least half the time the on board breaker trips. I manually turn the fan and as the piston is on the compression stroke, it becomes extremely difficult to turn. Once turned past that point and the breaker is reset, it will usually run. The motor housing becomes quite hot.
INFO:
Dental Works Equip Co
Englewood CO
303-693-1410
Mod# 1500
Ser# 100104
115 volts 1100 watts 60 hz
Thomas Pump/ Compressor
Mod 1020CM90-303A
Ser 060100000219
10.5 A
Have Dr Fred see if it´s servicable next week (for 2nd team return) and advise. I have not gone in to the pump/motor for fear it would stop working completely. We´re happy to haul it back.
Contact me via rayw61@charter.net or Jorge´s cell. Please call Jorge to discuss next week. He has some concerns.
Aside from the customs mess, all is awesome!
Ray
The meds situation has been a trying mess. Jorge emailed the paper work in hopes you might work on our behalf with the Consolate. Check our blog for the latest.
Here´s the deal on the portable. When the compressor kicks on, at least half the time the on board breaker trips. I manually turn the fan and as the piston is on the compression stroke, it becomes extremely difficult to turn. Once turned past that point and the breaker is reset, it will usually run. The motor housing becomes quite hot.
INFO:
Dental Works Equip Co
Englewood CO
303-693-1410
Mod# 1500
Ser# 100104
115 volts 1100 watts 60 hz
Thomas Pump/ Compressor
Mod 1020CM90-303A
Ser 060100000219
10.5 A
Have Dr Fred see if it´s servicable next week (for 2nd team return) and advise. I have not gone in to the pump/motor for fear it would stop working completely. We´re happy to haul it back.
Contact me via rayw61@charter.net or Jorge´s cell. Please call Jorge to discuss next week. He has some concerns.
Aside from the customs mess, all is awesome!
Ray
Day 3
Tuesday morning brought a new day. Jorge´s brother took all the originals of the meds paperwork to the Bishop´s office in MX City early today. The Bishop and the leader of the muncipal medical group were meeting with the director of customs and hopefully the hostages were freed. Will update tomorrow on this issue.
The good news is the hand pieces for the dental equipment at the clinic in Talalamac fit the portable unit! In English, Dr. Tom and assistant Kathy Harvey are in business as of mid morning. We still need our bags for most procedures, but they are able to check and clean teeth and reccomend future treatments.
Construction saw the roof and front wall of the former nursery removed to make way for the new staircase to the second floor. Aaron has shown another talent......cutting out channels in the walls for electrical with a new, big Bosch grinder. Delivers the message on Sunday, cuts concrete on Tuesday......what´s next?
VBS had a busy morning with a roomful of excited kids and equally excited leaders. The med clinic was busy, also. Plenty of patients, lots of meds dispensed!
No VBS in Ecatzingo today because it´s market day in Ozumba! The team was able to take some time after lunch to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling street market that covers more than 6 square blocks.
After dinner tonight, we are planning a dance for the kids (and maybe us big kids!). They want to learn American dances (electric slide) and have promised to teach us mexican dances.
Tomorrow, the clinics will travel to Ecatzingo all day, while VBS will be there in the afternoon. Construction will begin painting the exterior of the church and continue other projects.
While the week is flying by, watching the relationships grow between the team and the people of Ozumba is truly humbling to me. It´s the most important part of the mission! I´ve stopped counting the number of times I have seen Jesus in the faces of the team and the people of Ozumba.
We´ve loaded pictures from cameras to disc and hope to have better success with uploads tomorrow!
Sorry about the bad guidance to the St Matthew site! I was not aware it had been updated. You can google the weather for Ozumba, MX and try Mt Popo volcano for more info.
Please continue to pray for us and our hostage bag situation.
Ray
The good news is the hand pieces for the dental equipment at the clinic in Talalamac fit the portable unit! In English, Dr. Tom and assistant Kathy Harvey are in business as of mid morning. We still need our bags for most procedures, but they are able to check and clean teeth and reccomend future treatments.
Construction saw the roof and front wall of the former nursery removed to make way for the new staircase to the second floor. Aaron has shown another talent......cutting out channels in the walls for electrical with a new, big Bosch grinder. Delivers the message on Sunday, cuts concrete on Tuesday......what´s next?
VBS had a busy morning with a roomful of excited kids and equally excited leaders. The med clinic was busy, also. Plenty of patients, lots of meds dispensed!
No VBS in Ecatzingo today because it´s market day in Ozumba! The team was able to take some time after lunch to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling street market that covers more than 6 square blocks.
After dinner tonight, we are planning a dance for the kids (and maybe us big kids!). They want to learn American dances (electric slide) and have promised to teach us mexican dances.
Tomorrow, the clinics will travel to Ecatzingo all day, while VBS will be there in the afternoon. Construction will begin painting the exterior of the church and continue other projects.
While the week is flying by, watching the relationships grow between the team and the people of Ozumba is truly humbling to me. It´s the most important part of the mission! I´ve stopped counting the number of times I have seen Jesus in the faces of the team and the people of Ozumba.
We´ve loaded pictures from cameras to disc and hope to have better success with uploads tomorrow!
Sorry about the bad guidance to the St Matthew site! I was not aware it had been updated. You can google the weather for Ozumba, MX and try Mt Popo volcano for more info.
Please continue to pray for us and our hostage bag situation.
Ray
Monday, July 23, 2007
Day 2
We awoke to a drizzlely day. After breakfast, Pastor Jorge (of the Ozumba church) beckoned us to the roof to see Mt. Popo in the clear blue sky venting a little steam.
Construction began with moving a ton and a half of sand and gravel (each) from the front of the property to the rear (via wheel barrows). VBS saw about 25 children arrive bright eyed and ready to learn. Dr. Rachael, assitant Melinda and Kathy saw the VBS kids for medical check ups, vitamins, and education in tooth health.
We are still in a quandry in MX City with our ransomed bags. The customs agent made a mistake when we arrived not letting us pass with our documented, donated supplies. The pink form started a chain of events that are difficult to undo. We have the Mexican Methodist church office in Mexico City working on our behalf. We will contact the US consolate in the morning and we pray between the two, our bags will be released. Please pray fpr a quick resolution to this situation.
Every one is doing well. The food is awesome , the people are wonderful......and tomorrow holds Market Day! We will try to upload pictures tomorrow.
To see a webcam of Mt Popo and the current weather, go to www.stmatthewumc.net and click on the Mexico Mission trip logo. Then click on the next logo and you will be led to the page that has the webcam and weather links.
Ray
Construction began with moving a ton and a half of sand and gravel (each) from the front of the property to the rear (via wheel barrows). VBS saw about 25 children arrive bright eyed and ready to learn. Dr. Rachael, assitant Melinda and Kathy saw the VBS kids for medical check ups, vitamins, and education in tooth health.
We are still in a quandry in MX City with our ransomed bags. The customs agent made a mistake when we arrived not letting us pass with our documented, donated supplies. The pink form started a chain of events that are difficult to undo. We have the Mexican Methodist church office in Mexico City working on our behalf. We will contact the US consolate in the morning and we pray between the two, our bags will be released. Please pray fpr a quick resolution to this situation.
Every one is doing well. The food is awesome , the people are wonderful......and tomorrow holds Market Day! We will try to upload pictures tomorrow.
To see a webcam of Mt Popo and the current weather, go to www.stmatthewumc.net and click on the Mexico Mission trip logo. Then click on the next logo and you will be led to the page that has the webcam and weather links.
Ray
Sunday, July 22, 2007
We´re Here!
We made it to Ozumba about 11pm last night. Flights were uneventful. Customs was a different story. Dr. Tom was welcomed to Mexico by a bag search. We learned sometimes God has a sense of humor. The bags of dental equipment were held for customs duty(that will be calculated by bag weight!) that requires a customs broker and no one works the weekend. Though we negotiated hard, Tom, Ray and Jorge will return to Mexico City Airport and pray we will convince the authorities to release the meds and dental tools.
The children of the Ozumba church waited for us to perform their welcoming ceremony. Dinner followed and the team had lights out somewhere around 1am.
Today brought breakfast and a ride to the mission church at Ecatzingo. The municipal authority erected a tent in the court yard outside of Daniel´s house (his family provides space in their courtyard for services) at no expense that allowed both the Ozumba & Ecatzingo churches to worship together. The youth praise team from Ozumba led music and the Ecatzingo children welcomed the team with a special presentation. Aaron Gunderson (Grace UMC) shared the message. Afterwards, in true Methodist fashion, we enjoyed a cover dish lunch.
After a quick stop in Ozumba, the team is heading over to Ameicamecia for a little tourist activity (read shopping), then we´ll be full on with bible school, medical clinic and construction in the morning.
Now that we,re here and settling into a routine, I promise more timely updates! Continue to pray for us, the people of Ozumba & Ecatzingo we´ll be serving, and the situation with customs.
Till tomorrow!
Ray
The children of the Ozumba church waited for us to perform their welcoming ceremony. Dinner followed and the team had lights out somewhere around 1am.
Today brought breakfast and a ride to the mission church at Ecatzingo. The municipal authority erected a tent in the court yard outside of Daniel´s house (his family provides space in their courtyard for services) at no expense that allowed both the Ozumba & Ecatzingo churches to worship together. The youth praise team from Ozumba led music and the Ecatzingo children welcomed the team with a special presentation. Aaron Gunderson (Grace UMC) shared the message. Afterwards, in true Methodist fashion, we enjoyed a cover dish lunch.
After a quick stop in Ozumba, the team is heading over to Ameicamecia for a little tourist activity (read shopping), then we´ll be full on with bible school, medical clinic and construction in the morning.
Now that we,re here and settling into a routine, I promise more timely updates! Continue to pray for us, the people of Ozumba & Ecatzingo we´ll be serving, and the situation with customs.
Till tomorrow!
Ray
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
On May 6th, the St Matthew folks celebrated Cinqo de Mayo a day late with a Mexican Fiesta and Silent Auction as the major fund raiser for the trip. The food was prepared with the help of members of the Red Cross who work specifically with members of the Latino community in the Greenvile area. Two members of their group preformed a few authentic Mexican dances for us. The food was wonderful, the kids enjoyed pinatas, bidding was fast and furious at the auction, and everyone had a great time. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Fiesta a huge success! Ole!!
Fund Raising
On Cinqo de Mayo, a hearty group from St Matthew tempted the fates and set up a hot dog tent at the Reedy River Duck Derby. We were successful in 'arranging adoptions' for about 180 ducks. As you can see, we loaded up for a big crowd! Unfortunately, the weather man had other ideas (or may be it was mother nature!). A good time was had by all, a few dogs were sold, and it was amazing to see so many grown ups standing in the rain to watch rubber duckys shoot the rapids!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Prologue
Welcome to the St. Matthew/Grace UMC 2007 Mexico Mission Trip
BlogSpot!
BlogSpot!Please add this page to your favorite list. We will post a daily entry and hope to upload pictures from Mexico.
A team of 18 from two churches in the SC conference will be leaving Saturday July 21, 2007 for Ozumba, Mexico. We will operate a medical and dental clinic, lead a children's bible study in two villages and continue construction on a parsonage and classroom addition. It will be a busy week! We will return to South Carolina July 28, 2007.
The training picture was taken at our teaming day that was held at Asbury Hills Camp www.asburyhills.org in the Foothills of SC. We had a great time getting to know each other and learning to work together!
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