At one point during our stay, Jay and I had the opportunity to visit with the lady who was the church treasurer and oversaw the finances for the congregation. As one might expect she was conservative with the church's funds and wanted to make sure the church did not overreach itself financially, but she enjoyed talking about her dreams for the new building that we were helping to paint. She said she would like to see a new drop ceiling and an air conditioning unit to provide additional relief from the heat. (It has a peaked ceiling all made of metal that really radiates heat in the afternoon even with sprayed on insulation.) She would also like some curtains / blinds for the west facing windows that would help keep the space cooler in the afternoons. We were there in May and it was 102 in the afternoons, I can't imagine what July and August are like, especially since the sanctuary is on the second floor. She also said she'd like pews, but Jay and I tried to convince her that that would really limit the use of the space. We had been using it to sleep in at night, and for VBS during the day, with pews that would have been much more difficult.
It was a good feeling to be contributing to the future dreams of this congregation through our paint efforts. I hope I have the opportunity to return in the future and see what else they have done as a congregation.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Day 7 - final VBS and departure
The final day of VBS had the most kids yet. Pastor Ramon was quite pleased with the turnout from the local neighborhood and plans to make follow up visits in the coming weeks with the families of the kids who attended. We sang Jesus es la luz (boom, boom, boom) for the final time and los Chicos won the final round. The theme for the day was forgiveness. We acted out the story of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35). I got to be the second servant in the story whose debt was not forgiven by the first servant. Delaney took great pleasure in being the jailer and throwing me into prison : ) Miriam delivered the "application"(lesson) from the scripture today. She is so gentle and kind with the children. I love to watch her interact with them. We decided not to do games today in order to be able to leave on time at 5:00 pm, so the kids just did a craft project - making cross/bead necklaces and then closing with a final song and snack.
Most of the kids hung around afterwards and waited until we were loaded in our van and then gave us a great send off! It was on a high note that our van pulled away after we got hugs from all of our Mexican partners.
Jay singing with las chicas y los chicos
Day 7-final day painting
We decided to get up early today so we could finish up the painting jobs before hitting the road this afternoon. Unfortunately, we ran out of both interior and exterior paint which caused considerable delay. When someone went for paint today, the store(s) they tried were closed, so it took longer than expected. This was a little irritating because we had taken yesterday off and could have had all the supplies on hand easily. The exterior paint arrived just as we finished cleaning up the last of the paint brushes and were getting ourselves cleaned up for VBS, and packed up to hit the road later in the afternoon.
It's been a challenge trying to do a top notch job without the full equipment that would make it easier. The paint got watered down the second day to make it stretch, but it ended up requiring a second and third coat, which kind of defeated the purpose. We had one rag towel (that I took from the kitchen) that we used to wipe every square inch of the tile floor on the sanctuary to make sure the paint splatters were cleaned up. We reused the plastic drop clothes each day and they were pretty holey and paint covered by the end of the 3rd day. In the end we finished the sanctuary and it looks great. The exterior is not quite done, but hopefully our foreman Fernando will be able to finish with some help from other church members in the next few days. I'm sorry we won't be to see the new sign hung.
It's been a challenge trying to do a top notch job without the full equipment that would make it easier. The paint got watered down the second day to make it stretch, but it ended up requiring a second and third coat, which kind of defeated the purpose. We had one rag towel (that I took from the kitchen) that we used to wipe every square inch of the tile floor on the sanctuary to make sure the paint splatters were cleaned up. We reused the plastic drop clothes each day and they were pretty holey and paint covered by the end of the 3rd day. In the end we finished the sanctuary and it looks great. The exterior is not quite done, but hopefully our foreman Fernando will be able to finish with some help from other church members in the next few days. I'm sorry we won't be to see the new sign hung.
Matt and Bill working on the exterior
Matthew, David and Ally
finished front door to the sanctuary
Fernando our foreman - helping clean paint containers
Sign to be placed on the side of the building prominently facing the traffic coming up the street.
Carefully cleaning up
Day 6-worship with Voz de Desierto
On Wednesday evenings, Voz de Desierto has a midweek worship service. We had purposefully worked to finish painting the wall at the front of the sanctuary on Tuesday so that the space would be usable on Weds night. After VBS we returned all of the band equipment to the stage, and then did some extra clean up of the paint specks on the floor so the space would look really nice that night.
Very similar to the service in Agua Prieta, we began with a lot of songs. I'm glad to say that many were the same songs we had sung in Agua Prieta, so I knew some of them well enough to sing along even in Spanish. The did not have a projector, but did have songbooks for everyone to use. It was really enjoyable to listen to their band. They did a great job!
After singing the pastor gave greetings to visitors, especially those of us from the US and Agua Prieta. We read a Psalm in unison, alternating between the Spanish and the English for each verse. This was particularly difficult not because of the language, but because the Americans had at least 3 different versions of the bible and our unison was more of a babble. Fortunately it was not a long psalm.
The Pastor offered up a prayer, then invited Pastor Bill from El Dorado to offer the sermon. Bill had Delaney read the scripture (Matthew 16:13-18). Bill did a really nice job with the sermon on the church BEING the mission, not just HAVING a mission, and Joca translated as he went along. It must have been challenging at times to build into the peak of the message and have to pause after every sentence for translation even though Joca was quick in her work. (She also worked the other way, translating Spanish prayers to English as Pastor Ramon spoke).
The service lasted about an hour and half, although I think it would have been shorter without the translation work. We ended by forming a circle around the perimeter of the sanctuary, holding hands and singing a closing song together. I was most moved by the music of the service. It really helped me feel close to this worshipping community that was so far away from my home. My favorite song (although it was hard to choose), was: Unidos, Unidos (roughly - united together).
Unidos, unidos
en su nombre unidos
pues en este mundo
paz y amos tendrmos.
Unidos siempre unidos
tomados de la mano
iremos por el mundo
cantandole a Dios.
La gloria de Jesus,
al fin resplandecera
y al mundo llenarade
amor y de paz.
United, united, in his name united.
Then in this world we will have peace and love.
United, always united, holding hands around the world singing to God.
The glory of Jesus in his splendor shines around the world in love and peace.
Very similar to the service in Agua Prieta, we began with a lot of songs. I'm glad to say that many were the same songs we had sung in Agua Prieta, so I knew some of them well enough to sing along even in Spanish. The did not have a projector, but did have songbooks for everyone to use. It was really enjoyable to listen to their band. They did a great job!
After singing the pastor gave greetings to visitors, especially those of us from the US and Agua Prieta. We read a Psalm in unison, alternating between the Spanish and the English for each verse. This was particularly difficult not because of the language, but because the Americans had at least 3 different versions of the bible and our unison was more of a babble. Fortunately it was not a long psalm.
The Pastor offered up a prayer, then invited Pastor Bill from El Dorado to offer the sermon. Bill had Delaney read the scripture (Matthew 16:13-18). Bill did a really nice job with the sermon on the church BEING the mission, not just HAVING a mission, and Joca translated as he went along. It must have been challenging at times to build into the peak of the message and have to pause after every sentence for translation even though Joca was quick in her work. (She also worked the other way, translating Spanish prayers to English as Pastor Ramon spoke).
The band
Joca, Pastor Ramon, and Jay presenting a gift on behalf of Southern Kansas Presbytery
Nita, Carolyn, and Miriam
The service lasted about an hour and half, although I think it would have been shorter without the translation work. We ended by forming a circle around the perimeter of the sanctuary, holding hands and singing a closing song together. I was most moved by the music of the service. It really helped me feel close to this worshipping community that was so far away from my home. My favorite song (although it was hard to choose), was: Unidos, Unidos (roughly - united together).
Unidos, unidos
en su nombre unidos
pues en este mundo
paz y amos tendrmos.
Unidos siempre unidos
tomados de la mano
iremos por el mundo
cantandole a Dios.
La gloria de Jesus,
al fin resplandecera
y al mundo llenarade
amor y de paz.
United, united, in his name united.
Then in this world we will have peace and love.
United, always united, holding hands around the world singing to God.
The glory of Jesus in his splendor shines around the world in love and peace.
Day 6- Delaney and her Friends
Delaney has shown once again that her social skills cannot be thwarted by language barriers. She has made friends with a number of the kids around the neighborhood. On the first day of VBS she met a girl named Michelle who spoke a little bit of English. They were good buds throughout the week. She also enjoyed playing games of tag and tickle with three of the girls whose mom's were helping prepare our meals each day (Anita, Fernanda, Syctalli, Janelli, little Ramon-baby).
She learned a fun hand slapping game called doble-doble-das-das. Ask her and she'll show you how its played.
She learned a fun hand slapping game called doble-doble-das-das. Ask her and she'll show you how its played.
While she has helped some with the physical painting and other work projects, her best work is done as a goodwill ambassador.
Michelle and Delaney
Delaney helping keep others cool with a squirt bottle!
Day 6-VBS
VBS was a lot of fun today. We had even more kids than the previous two days. Jay had them all singing Jesus es la luz (boom, boom, boom) at the top of their voices. The bible story was Ananias and Sapphira. Jay just told it straight today. The value we were teaching was honesty. The craft for the day was Ojos Dios (God's eyes) made from popsicle sticks and yarn. They turned out well and the kids had fun with them.
For the game the kids went over to the local park area and played with water balloons. There is a water balloon manufacturing company in El Dorado KS that donates packs of balloons each year for the group to bring down. Water balloons are fun any time, but in the 102 degree heat we had a blast!
For the game the kids went over to the local park area and played with water balloons. There is a water balloon manufacturing company in El Dorado KS that donates packs of balloons each year for the group to bring down. Water balloons are fun any time, but in the 102 degree heat we had a blast!
Michelle tattooed Terry's head for him every day with a cross.
Local park
Kids playing with water balloon bouncing on sheets
playing with water balloons
Day 6-on the beach
We arrived on the beach around 10 am and rented a shady grass pavilion for the group. A steady stream of beach vendors began to pass by with all sorts of souvenirs, etc. Fortunately they were not pushy. Pastor Ramon decided to just rest in the shade and watch our stuff while we hit the water. It was the perfect temperature, not to warm, not cold. There was a very gentle slope to the beach with small breakers rolling in. The water seemed extra salty me. Jay said that there were salt flats on the north end of the inlet and when it rained it washed a lot more salt into the bay. It was hazy and we could not see the other side of Baja California (not sure if we could have even if it was clear). The sand was very fine and soft. There were quite a few seashells at the tide line and a number of seabirds overhead. There was a pelican actually feeding. Its so fun to watch them diving for fish.
The beach was not very crowded, perhaps a dozen families playing along the shore. Jay and I decided to swim out beyond the breakers and just tread water. The rest of the group tried to body surf, wrestle in the waves and generally horse around. Matt had never been to the ocean before, so it was kind of neat that this was his first time. Matthew tends to get sick when he swims in the ocean and threw up 3 times (possibly from swallowing too much salt water?), but still had a good time.
We swam for about an hour, then walked to a beach front restaurant for a bite of lunch before returning to Hermosillo for VBS. Since we are on the ocean, the menu had a huge variety of fish, which people reported were good, but I just had a hamberger (I'm not fond of fish). It was a good meal and a nice break from the classic Mexican food we have been consuming.
The beach was not very crowded, perhaps a dozen families playing along the shore. Jay and I decided to swim out beyond the breakers and just tread water. The rest of the group tried to body surf, wrestle in the waves and generally horse around. Matt had never been to the ocean before, so it was kind of neat that this was his first time. Matthew tends to get sick when he swims in the ocean and threw up 3 times (possibly from swallowing too much salt water?), but still had a good time.
We swam for about an hour, then walked to a beach front restaurant for a bite of lunch before returning to Hermosillo for VBS. Since we are on the ocean, the menu had a huge variety of fish, which people reported were good, but I just had a hamberger (I'm not fond of fish). It was a good meal and a nice break from the classic Mexican food we have been consuming.
Beach in Bahia de Kino
Delaney enjoying the surf
Houses along the coast. Apparently many are owned by Americans. There is a lot of beach front property that is available here. Its kind of interesting that open desert is immediately across the main road where all the houses are on the beach front.
Chris
Joca, David, Ally and Miriam
Pastor Ramon
Matthew and Delaney
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