Day 3-worship service

We enjoyed worshiping with the congregation at Lily of the Valley on Sunday morning.   Delaney and Matthew joined the kids in Sunday school while the adults met our partners from Agua Prieta who would be joining us on the trip to Hermosillo (Miriam, David, Joca, and Ally).  Delaney was fast friends with the other little girls.

The service was very comfortable. Mark provided translation for us.  The band sang a lot of praise songs, including two special ones in English and Spanish.  We also sang a song for them in both English and Spanish.  Lots of gracious smiles for our imperfect Spanish.  We felt especially welcome by the congregation as they greeted everyone with handshakes all around.  I even got a welcome kiss on the cheek.  There was mostly music for the first hour,  then a message by Pastor Rudolfo from Hebrews 5.  I have heard sermons on this passage before, but he had a new take about what to do when you are no longer 'drinking from bottles like a babe' in your faith.  Instead of throwing the bottle away, you save it for someone else who is new in their faith and share it with them, even as you go on to 'eat meat' and grow stronger in your faith.

The sanctuary was still under construction, but was looking really good.  They had a good sound system for the band and a projector for the words for the songs.

Lily of the Valley sanctuary

Pastor Rudolfo (on the left)

David playing guitar (screen:  Welcome.  Christ loves you)

Los Americanos cantar  (singing for the congregation)

One of three Sunday school rooms - we were practicing to sing for the service

Jay with his guitar - leading us in song

Day 3- Realities

Delaney has discovered the reality of life for many people south of the border.  She was a bit put off
by the bathroom when we arrived.  I explained that the sewer pipes are small and can't handle toilet paper, thus the small trash can next to the toilet.  I pointed out that they are a lot better than a hole in the ground and she had to agree with that.  This morning she got to experience a coldish shower.  Fastest shower she's ever taken!

Although there are two swamp coolers at the church, neither works.  Fortunately the evening cooled off nicely from the 95 degree high yesterday.

There are unfinished construction projects everywhere, also the norm in the developing world.  Finished buildings are taxable, so most people have re-bar on the top of their house where they might someday add another story.   It kind of disturbs my preference for finished tasks (and those who know me will laugh), but I understand the reasoning.

Lots of unpaved roads within Agua Prieta, it will be interesting to see the condition of the highways as we drive to Hermosillo.

Delaney got to see a baby chick hatch overnight.  He was pecking his way out when we first arrived.  He had made it out by bedtime, but was laying exhausted in the bottom of the incubator.  By the morning he was up and peeping around.  We were told that once his feathers dry out he will be taken out of the incubator and placed with the other chicks.

Day 3-Presbyterian church in Mexico

Lily of the Valley church is 28 years old, the second oldest church in the Presbytery in northern Mexico.  Churches begin as "missions" then as "fellowships" and finally as full fledged churches.  The Presbyterian church in Mexico  does not allow the ordination of women, although they can attend seminary to lead in music ministries, or children's ministries, or to assist their husband's who are pastors.  Not everyone supports this position and given time it will likely change, but its interesting to hear people talk about it.

Lily of the Valley is a self supporting church.  When members tithe 10% of their income, it only takes 10 members to support the pastor at an average salary of the rest of the congregation, which is the norm.  With more members, more ministries are supported.

In the early 1900s the Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches in the US made an agreement to divide spheres of influence in Mexico.  The Presbyterian church got the southern part of the country, so the church is strongest in Chiapas.  Mexican Presbyterians have since spread the church north.

Day 2- shopping and fun

After dinner, most of the group went to a local artist's house for souvenirs and then to the market for  ice cream.  Delaney went along, but I decided I needed a break and wanted to catch up with travel notes.  Delaney remarked that there were a lot of people out on the streets.  There are also a lot of stray dogs.

Delaney and Matthew have found several kids to play with already and have been doing lots of games of tag.  The pastor's son has a cute chihuahua that the kids played with last night.  They have also been playing gaga ball with some of our hosts.

When riding in the van they are playing a lot of Go Fish thanks to willing adult partners who join in!

Day 2- fellowship

We were treated to dinner fixed by members of the church. Salad of local greens,  fried chicken (also local), some great mashed potatoes, and fresh watermelon smoothie drinks.  The dinner conversation was fascinating.  The pastor's wife, Lorena, told about her new children's ministry.  50 kids for several hours after school is out because factory shifts are 9 hours or more and school is only 4 hours.  (There are only about 20 factories in this town, compared to several hundred in larger towns such as Juarez).  Lorena teaches "values, bible, health, and future job preparation/exploration."  The kids are ages 3-15.   She does this all on her own!  It was fun to listen to her Spanish, spoken more slowly and clearly for our sake.  I understood a lot of it, and Bill translated some, and she spoke some English as well.

Delaney learned how to say "me llamo delaney". She also asked me how to say "good meal". And said "me gusto" to the cooks tonight.

Preparing dinner - fried chicken

Nita, Delaney, Matt

Jay, Nita, Delaney, Matt, Don, Bill, Matthew, Terry (L to R)

After dinner we chatted with the pastor's daughter,  Melisa.  She is getting a degree from the University of Guadalajara in Cultural preservation something or other.  She is basically the link between donors and projects that need funding.  I was particularly surprised that it was an online degree.  I didn't realize that phenomenon was spreading in the South as quickly as in the US.

Miriam, Carolyn, Joca, Ally

Day 2- Cafe Justo

Immediately after our arrival in Agua Prieta, we took a tour of Cafe Justo which is a coffee coop from Chiapas that was started by a Presbyterian development grant.  We got to see their raw beans, roaster, packaging area and order tracking board.  In just a short time they have done very well.  Churches in Kansas have purchased 679 lbs of coffee in the last 6 months, which means the farmers have received $5,075 for their coffee versus selling to the middlemen on the free market for $977.  There are about 20 farmers in the coop and they have to commit to growing organically.  They can't expand the coop until they have more demand. http://www.justcoffee.org/  I bought some robusta for David,  he'll have to report on the quality.

Delaney with 100 lb bags of coffee

Roaster, purchased with a Presbyterian development grant

Grinders

Day 2 - border crossing

After learning about Frontera, we cued up to cross the border.  There was not a long line but we had to do some additional paperwork.   If you travel more than 30 Kms inside the country, you have to guarantee that you will take your vehicle out, not sell it without paying taxes.  So we had to provide paperwork for the van and trailer.  The van's registration expires a day after we are scheduled to return and they didn't like that very much = delay.  We all had to get our passports stamped.  The people in customs were pleasant and helpful even if they were slow.  Eventually we drove a few blocks and found our stop for the night: Lily of the Valley Presbyterian church- Iglesias Presbiteriana Lirio de Los Valles.

Entrance to the town of Agua Prieta

Lilios de los Valles Iglesia Presbiteriana

Fellowship hall at Lilio de los Valles.  This is where we slept in Agua Prieta.