Stretching from our comfort zone-again

Today we had the emotions of our last day at VBS followed by a new stretching experience. Jorge asked last evening if we would join him in Atresia for a radio program. He would arrange for a translator. His radio show reaches out to folks in the Pecos Valley. He invited Jerry and I but we thought Sarah and Chloe should join us. Autumn was going for photos.. But when we arrived at the radio station, Jorge had questions for all of us. We were able to share a little about our church, our experiences , our blessings and he asked for some advice. This wasn't originally part of the plan but then He has been directing our path so he took us there. We are bringing back a recording for you all to hear. I was so proud of our young ladies, they stepped up and expressed themselves with great confidence.

Tomorrow we leave again for home. I'm praying that this leg of the trip is more uneventful than the trip here.

Susan

Farewell to New Mexico

This may be our last post for a few days. We're not sure if our hotel in Colorado has internet service or not. The bus is loaded (and the load is lighter) and we'll be pulling out of Roswell at 6:00 AM. The fliers take off at 10:35 (at least that's the schedule). We're hanging out at the Dexter Church- they're making us dinner again (we love potlucks in New Mexico- maybe more than potlucks at home). The pastor and his wife are taking us on a tour of Dexter after dinner to show us some of the homes of the children that we taught this week. This will be a new experience for us- we haven't been allowed to see their homes before.

We'll keep you posted when we can. Pray for our safe travel tomorrow and the next few days.
Autumn

Storms Are Different Here

I have video, can't post it, but I have it. We experienced our first New Mexican lightning storm on Tuesday evening, and our second last night. They are amazing- like nothing we've ever seen before. The video doesn't do the lightshow that we saw justice. Sideways lightning, exploding lightning, star-shower lightning, and a few normal bolts thrown in to remind us that we were viewing lightning. The storm started in the mountain range several miles away, and at times radiated from Capitan Peak like those balls that make your hair stand on end at the Science Center. One bolt went from the ground clear up into the sky as far as we could see and was so bright we were temporarily blinded. God gave us a lightshow that we'll never forget. The rain came to Roswell after we were all safely back in the hotel.

VBS Photos

VBS went really well this week, despite curriculum challenges (it wasn't as good as it looked). We had about 50 kids total, but only about 32 each day.

We had a sleepover with Amber and Colin lastnight, who came in from El Paso, Texas. Colin kept us laughing.

Bottomless Lakes State Park

We're a little behind in our blogging. The last few days have been pretty hectic. By the time I get the computer booted up, it's time to load up the bus to go back to the hotel or something. Tuesday evening we went to the Bottomless Lakes State Park. The facilities have expanded since the last time Jerry and Sue were there, and the rock walls are now off limits for "explorers". Adam and Esther went with us, as well as Jorge, Jorge Jr., and a few teenage guys that have been helping with VBS. It was an AWEsome sight. Afterwards we all went to dinner at a little pizza place in Hagerman, "Piccolino's" - as Jorge explained it, a nice little Italian restaurant with Mexican cooks.

Here are some photos...(a little out of order)

Last Day Blues

Our last day of VBS is almost over. Everyone is finishing up lunch and then the deluge of tears will begin (Chloe and Chelsea starting crying a few hours ago). It's amazing how attached you can get to a group of children that you didn't know 4 days ago.

Some of us will be leaving here at 1:15 to do a radio show in Artesia while everyone else cleans up and packs the trailer. Jorge does this radio show every Friday, but they are doing a special edition today to have us talk about why we come to New Mexico. I'll be videotaping part of it, so you can see it too.

Here's our group photo taken about 30 minutes ago. The only one missing is 3 yr. old Luis, who we discovered later had decided an empty lunchroom meant he was the 1st in line.

Jam Session

Everyone is gathered in the "Little Chapel" right now (where the Hispanic congregation worships here at the Dexter Church). Adam brought his keyboard, Jerry has his guitar, some have tambourines, others have just their hands- but everyone is singing and praising and having a having a blast. I tried loading video again, so you could join the fun, but blogger just doesn't want to cooperate. Here are a few photos...

Emily dancing a jig

Like Grandma like grandson..(Amber and Colin are joining us for the night)

We all wish that all of you could experience this in person!

day 3 more and more attached

day 3 of bible school started alot better this one little boy his name is Ruben he is so cute once he say me todya he ran in and jumped on me and was like mommy and it almost made me cry it was so cute. he always comes up to me and gets on my back and he always wants to be with me. then Brenda she is only 3 years old and she told me she loved me today and i just wanted to cry shes always following me every where and always wants to be held. they listen to me very well i am very seriouse with them. i dont raise my voice i just give them this look and they know im being seriouse. i partisipate in everything with them and i think they enjoy that very much. i spend time with all of them and we have really bonded. its like we are a little family now and i dont want to leave that behind. ik i have a family at home but now i have one here to and they need me more. but we are trying ot get Jerry to bring us back next summer we have meet alot of new and interesting people, horhay,horhay jr, omar, uvon, pastor steve, pastor adam and his wife, prasilla ( horhays daughter), and socorro (horhays wife). they are all unique in there own way they are fun to be around and its easy to talk to them. we have all had a new expierience in a new place. and i think we have all had a new spiritual journey.
bye byez for now...
love you...
chelsea

Hi from Esther

It's a pleasure having you back home in Roswell. Greetings and blessings to you all in Jesus' name.

Esther

Mission Trips in New Mexico vs. Close to home

At devotions today, all of us were talking about how some people questioned us why we were going so far away to do a mission trip. Yes, it would be less expensive to do, lets say a soup kitchen in Pittsburgh, but personally I wouldn't feel as accomplished as I do on this trip. I think that in order to have a successful mission trip, we must bond with the people we are helping, to get to know their story. When I know get to know people is when I truly feel like I'm doing good.

After VBS, we went to Bottomless Lake. We had a fun afternoon of swimming and soaking up the sun. Emily, Chelsea, Esther, and Adam all went for a ride on a paddle boat. Also, Chloe and I went on a ride with Jorge Jr. and Omar, another helper from VBS. After the lake, we went to an Italian Restaurant (I can't remember the name) and had delicious pizza. Later on, Jorge Sr., and Adam took us to see another church. It reminded me a lot of our own church.

Today was an awesome day and I hope tomorrow is as good!!

Oh yeah, Chloe and I are going to hide when everyone leaves and come out after they are gone. WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

day 2 of vbs

day 2 of this weeks adventure. today was kind of crazy but the kids had fun and so did we. the kids got more atached to us then yesterday i dont think im going to say goodbye like cesar this one little boy that got attached to emily whispered in her ear that he loves her and hes only around 3 or 4. this one little girl named brenda always wanted to fallow me around all the time she wouldnt let me leave her in a room with anyone unless i was there she is so cute she fell asleep while we were in closeing at the end of the day. everyday everyone experiences something different and something better. i dont want to leave i want to see my family again but its like everyone has made a new family with the children and the pastor and we are all like one big family now and noone is going to want to leave there new familys behind.....
well ill type more tomorrow...
love you guys...
bye byes...
chelsea.

Reflections from Susan

Why is this experience so meaningful to me, I have been thinking about what the difference beside 1702 miles away. I guess it is partially the gratefulness expressed. Yesterday afternoon we were in town so that our first timers could get the Roswell experience. a shopper keeper gave Chloe a bracelet she was going to purchase because she was here on a mission trip. We were in a christian coffee shop and the owner shared his experience going to Africa and express his appreciation of us coming here. I guess we work hard doing things at home but when we work hard here strangers witness it too. Really strangers witness what I do at home too but I haven't been as aware with the regular-ness of my day to day life. Today we studied ASK. I must ask more often that I remain aware of my day to day witness. Must go get ready for closing.

what happened to me day one of bible school

well it started out kinda bad cuz we got up to early but it didnt matter cuz being with those little kids helped everything i didnt hink those little kids would bond with us so quickly but they did they were jumping on me i was giveing them piggy back rides they didnt really listen sometimes and i had to pick them up and carry them to the next station but dureing closeing they all wanted to sit next to me and emily and sit on our laps and they were so cute ruben was one little boy that followed me every where and wouldnt leave me alone but i didnt mind he was still very cute........
well thats all im going to type for today i will type more tomorrow....
bye byes...
chelsea

Attitudes Are Different Here

(A stained glass window in the Anglo sanctuary at Dexter).

Worship is a state of mind here, not just something that you do on Sunday morning. The worship services that we experienced yesterday were filled with rejoicing - concerns were few - joys were abundant. It was a refreshing change from home, where sometimes it feels like we get bogged down with the baggage we bring into worship with us. Note to Will, if you're reading this, Jackie (or Yackie as it is pronounced here - Jack may appreciate that) would like tambourines for the entire congregation, or at the very least the entire choir.

And Gerry Sankey- check out Dexter's sound room (for the Anglo Congregation):

VBS, day 1

Well today was the first day of Bible School. It was one of the funnest days I have had in a long time! Chloe and I were in charge of games, and had a blast. We got to spend the whole day outside in the nice hot sun. We are hoping to get a nice tan :) (but so far that is not happening). After VBS, we got to do some shopping in downtown Roswell, and yes we visited the UFO Museum. We got some postcards, and Autumn got a present the Van, it says "Are we there yet?", and we visited the Out Of This World Coffee Shop, which is a Christian coffee shop.

Oh and a little tidbit of a conversation Chloe and I had with a little boy named Rueben, "My brother put his cookie in his underwear so he could keep it safe...then he ate it!"
Just thought we'd let you know!!

~Sarah

Ramblings from Jerry

We have been having a very good experience on the 2009 Mission Trip. It seems that everywhere we have been we have had people asking questions about the trip and the things that are happening. We have been able to touch people by sharing the reason that we have become aliens in a far country. We have been able to speak about our faith and the Lord, Jesus Christ. We stopped in a coffe shop in downtown as we "shopped" for souvenoirs and met the owner who serves as a pastor of a ministry in Roswell and the valley. He was touched by the fact that we had come down to serve and to teach. He said that there needed to be more groups coming to minister in the area. He said that we would be in his prayers. He also knows Adam Soliz and told us to be sure to tell him he had met us. Every evening we spend time reflecting on our journey of faith and what it is doing in our lives. We keep you-all in our prayers and hope that we are in yours.

Blessings!

VBS- Day 1

We had a great day today. More than 25 kids showed up, plus Jorge taught an adult class and his daughter Priscilla had a nursery class.

A local gentleman came to teach the older kids about woodworking, and they will be working on a craft that will take the entire week. I'll get a close-up of the project tomorrow.

VBS Setup Sunday Afternoon

We celebrated Sue's birthday while we were decorating yesterday...

A hallway...

Our "burro"
Sagebrush Storytelling...
Shadow Science: (the walls were already painted- it's perfect)...

Worship Yesterday

Here are some photos from worship @ Dexter last evening:

Our internet connection had some sort of meltdown at the hotel lastnight. So the promised posts weren't able to be completed. We're going to try to make up for that today. I tried loading video too, but that won't even work here at the church (I have a special one for Doug and Steph!).

Here are some pics from worship @ Iglesia yesterday morning:

Hola from Roswell

First Day of VBS

Hi North Liberty family and friends,
Our first day has just finished. We had 30 students today. More than we expected. much like we have experienced in the past. Crafts, story telling, science leaders had to be flexible because we had children arriving all morning. The kids seemed to enjoy Jerry playing with the water shooter...Dave Beatty would have been so proud. Of course he emptied so I couldn't shoot him back like the script suggested. We are really excited because we are finally connected here at Dexter. Autumn is planning on posting pictures tonight. Stay turned. God is busy working in us, expanding our thinking and providing a wonderful blessing.

Our Lips Are Burning, But We're Happy!

The food was amazing today (this was just our first potluck today), and the worship was even better. I'm going to be making several posts today (and we're noticing that the dates are a day later than we're actually posting now- I guess the blog in still in the Eastern Time Zone) just to fit everything in with related photos and videos.

We were served two enormous meals today, and we're realizing that the people here are doing without so that they can show us how grateful they are that we are here. There aren't words to describe how good everything was- it definitely was spicy though!

I took several shots of the homes on the way down to Dexter this afternoon. These are the homes where the children that we will be teaching this coming week are living. One photo appears below. We don't realize how much we have at home until we come here. The girls joked yesterday as we were unloading the trailer that we packed everything but the steeple, and we should have just tied it to the top of the trailer- it was one of the many times so far this trip that we have discussed having too much "stuff".

Next post...worship!

Technical Difficulties

We are having some technical difficulties with the Internet connection here. The instructions that we were given do not seem to be compatible with our laptops, so we have to use the wireless in the lobby. It is pretty slow, so we probably won't be able to load anymore slideshows. We will try to load photos in our posts though- a few of the hundreds that we have taken over the last few days.

Here's a shot of "Sponge-Emily Trianglehead" modeling our trip gear.