They Let Me Drive In Mexico!!

So as our habit has been, today started with team devotions. Today Bev shared her testimony. A couple themes from her story would be 'my grace is sufficient for you' and 'whether you know it or not, or whether you feel it or not, God is in control'.  Often life brings us both good and bad times and in all of those situations it can be hard to see what God is thinking (especally the bad times). While Bev was sharing her testimony I could not help but think of this verse. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'.  Isaiah 55:8,9.  You can imagine how in the last week we have asked God why He would allow people in this part of the world to live in the conditions they are in.  In all of life's struggles whether Bev's, or anyone on our team, or the people of Hermosillo, we may need to conclude with these verses from Isaiah.

Today was a big day for me!  Driving in Mexico with a 15 passenger van that is in moderately good working order, especially compared to some of the vehicle we have seen driving almost sideways down the streets. We didn't know wheel alignments could be that far off!  Anyways, we have travelled quite a bit around the city, but this week the mission needs us to be able to get around a bit on our own, so I have been preparing for this moment. I love that pedestrians DON'T have the right of way. We need to make some changes in Canada!  I don't want everyone to think driving is crazy down here but it is different. Many things seems optional, or at least have different meaning, like stops signs, lanes, signaling, and speed limits. The goal seems to be get there safe, don't get in anyone's way, and don't make anyone hit their head on the ceiling from all the speed bumps!  Two out of three is not bad I guess. Speed bumps truly do work great here for controlling people's speed without police around. Putting over fifty of them in a half a kilometre stretch will do that!  So it looks like the team will have to put up with my driving for the rest of the week, so praying for safety would be much appreciated!

After our drive we finally got to see the orphanage. I had a preview the other day but for the rest of the team they finally were here!  In comparison to a lot of homes we have seen it looks pretty good.  It is still hard to describe how dry and barren the ground is even in their yard, but despite that, this is an oasis for these kids.  Some of the teams most striking memories of today were as follows. Getting instant hugs from Rueben (age 8), given to multiple team members!  The joy of playing with the kids with baseballs and wagons, while waiting to get started working!  Terrace becoming attached to Barbara (age 2 or 3). Dangerous working environment lifting approximately 400-500 lb concrete beams up to the roof to prepare to pour a concrete roof tomorrow. Having a little 8-10 year old boy join in to help us carry a few of these heavy beams, with a smile on his face!  The beauty and joy on the faces on all of these kids despite their situation.  Obviously many of them must know how blessed they are and what they have been saved from. The love shown by Pedro and Zoila to all of these kids (20 I believe, of which 3 are their biological children).  Our surprise at the huge modern country  kitchen inside this plain looking concrete structure they call their home. I'm sure I have missed many of the teams thoughts but I hope you are getting an idea of what this place is like.

Today's work consisted of the men helping the construction crew getting ready to pour the concrete roof over the 'baby room'. This entailed lifting the previously mentioned beams up onto the roof. It took four of us to carry these beams and help from three more to get them onto the roof. I also have to give Lydine some credit for helping out and making a significant difference in the load!  Once on the roof these beams were laid across that room and special styrofoam pieces are fitted and secured inbetween the beams. We will pour concrete on top of the styrofoam tomorrow to compete a solid roof over this part of their home.

We also did a lot of shovelling and moving sand to the side of the home to cover pipes and build up around the outside of two sides of the home. We would have done more on that but ran out of sand for that purpose.  Hopefully we will get more so we can compete that project in some of our down time. 

The ladies for the most part took care of sealing and painting the walls in a hallway and bedroom of the orphanage. I think they like to call it a home, so I will try to refer to it that way as well. The ladies still have quite a bit of painting to do as these concrete walls seem to soak up the paint. Some good progress was made despite they ran out of paint.

Both Jaelyn and Terrace were able to help with painting, but were mostly thrilled to meet the children and be able to spend time with them. Jaelyn also helped with hauling sand along the side of the home with the men and racked alot of sand to level a floor in the open living room. Terrace received more hugs today from Barbara than she could count and was able to read to her and play with toys with her. Jaelyn, you think would of been dead tired after pushing kids around endlessly in a big toy car, but she still found a lot of time to help out with the projects. I cannot describe the feeling in my heart to see my kids serving so selflessly with this family, a skill they learned from their mother for sure!

Mid afternoon we headed back to the church where the ladies were treated to a lesson in tortilla making with Annarita. Some of the men helped out as well with preparing them to be fried. We all helped out with eating a bunch. So much so that many of the ladies didn't really eat supper when we went out for Burros which are basically big burritos.  Another great meal hosted again by missionaries/tour guides Yolanda and Cornelius. 

I am looking forward to spending more time at the home tomorrow and getting to know Pedro, my brother with the same name, what a coincidence!  I also look forward to spending more time with the kids. 

As we talked as men tonight before bed, we discussed how this trip may change our lives once we are home.  We were not totally sure how this might look but were convinced that we need to ask God how He wants us to be changed.  We also felt that although we came here to serve others, we are beginning to realize that this trip may have a bigger impact on our lives than anyone we have come to serve.

Pedro