Saturday, July 14, 2007

Healing

This week was an incredible week of team building. Many shared struggles they have had in life and we prayed together. How wonderful to remove the masks and be real and genuine. Words can not begin to express how special this time was. You really needed to be among us to fully understand!
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  1. Mrs. EmmerJuly 15, 2007 at 11:04 PM

    HOLA!
    Your last two sentences explain our amazing mission to our brothers and sisters in Reynosa. "Words cannot begin to express how special this time was. You really needed to be among us to fully understand." Tim Reyes from World Servants proved to be an outstanding servant. Ours hosts Pastor Andres and Maria and his family, genuine and full of God's love and spirit. Through God's grace much was accomplished.
    I can only tell you about the children. While we managed to paint three 10'x10' classrooms, the children consumed most of the time for the women. Before leaving for Reynosa, World Servants asked us to facilitate all four days of Kids Club as we were the only group. We were to prepare for 20 children each day with possibly 30 on Friday (everyone tells their friends by the end of the week). Armed with all the materials needed plus several extras we confidently set out for Mexico. On Monday we arrived at the church began to set up and sent several teams into the Colonias to find children. The teams brought back 27 children on Monday. We told them to tell their friends that we would be at the church at 9:30 every morning and to bring their friends. When we arrived Tuesday morning at 9:00 we were welcomed by a SEA of smiling faces! Needless to say we made several trips to Office Depot (thank God for the Office Depot) when our numbers climbed to 70 children! Tom, this experience with the children, well, refer to your two sentences at the beginning of this entry! The children were like little sponges thirsty to soak up all they could. Most have been left to care for themselves (mom's are at work) not sure were Dad is. There are so many stories it would be too lengthy to go into them all here. Jen did a great job organizing the dramas and music, Kate, Ellen, Wendy helped me with crafts, Shae took on the memory work and games, Corinne did a great job playing with and encouraging the children while Mary painted every face she came in contact with! We did have three people from Alabama join us at the last moment. Haley and Jenna helped Jen and Mary while Carl worked with the men upstairs. They were a great help to our mission. We left with many of the children saying, "you don't have to leave you can stay." We were able to leave all the templates and a lot of supplies with Maria (Pastors wife) who wants to continue to work with the children. She was such a joy, I am sure she will get several care packages from our group with more supplies. At the Wednesday night service several members at the church shared their prayer requests with us and we with them - we prayed for them and they prayed for us, each in our own language, yet we understood.
    This was the amazing part to me - Pastor Andres annouced to us that some members from his church are getting into their church van??? on July 30 and will drive 7 hours further into Mexico, where the people have nothing??? and serve the people there. He quoted the scripture to whom much has been given, much is expected. He felt his church and small congregation had been given much this past week! While they may not have the material things that we have, they have far surpassed me with their faith and love for God. Please pray that God will richly bless their efforts, that their van will make it there and back without incident. I will end this post with - when we talk to you next remind me to tell you about the water balloon game!
    Love to all, your prayers were answered for this mission! Everyone involved has been changed!

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