Saturday, July 21, 2012
Reward for a job well done
As Gaby rounds up the team for one last picture, little do we know we're about to be baptized. Notice the before, during and after shots. Awesome job team!!!
Posted with Blogsy
Perfection at its Finest Savanna Kemper
Phenomenal. Life changing. Eye opening. Exceptional. Loving. Thats only a few words that begin to describe this mission trip. Ask any of us how our experience was and I can guarantee you no one will have awords to describe it! No words amount, but hopefully our actions following this trip will show y'all our transformation. I couldn't have asked for a better team; these people have truly been the reason for such a memorable trip. I can't picture it with anyone else. Along with the people from Georgia, the people we met here in Mexico are also the reason for the perfection of this trip. The ONE thing I ask of everyone is to keep in touch with one another and to try as hard as they can to communicate with the Yucatecos here. I think that alone will help us persevere and maintain the growth of our faith in Christ during this trip. That would make my world y'all. :) Just know how grateful I am for each and every one of you. You are all beautiful and handsome people and never let anyone tell you differently. Anything is possible through Jesus Christ! Never forget that! I love you all to the moon and back. Thanks for making this trip everything and more. God bless!
This trip has been the experience of a lifetime. When I applied for a mission trip, I was hoping to get on the Brazil team. When I got the email saying I was put on the Mexico team, i wasn't sure what to think. It was the shortest trip of the three. I attended the first meeting and instantaneously I was beyond word excited to go to Mexico. We BY FAR have the best/funnest people on our trip. It went from the first meeting to the last meeting in the snap of a finger, and before I new it, we were going through customs coming into Mexico. The first day del kind of slow to me. We explored the wild sink holes of Mexico. The next day, we started our goal of building the second story of Blas Pascal. The team worked ridiculously hard, and before we knew it, the second story was done. This trip has been life changing. I've connected with people in ways I never have before. I made new friends, got to know people better, and most importantly found brothers and sisters in Christ. God has affected me in so many ways on this trip, and I'm beyond blessed to experience something like this.
-Derek Barker
Necesito Dormir
Today I woke up at 5:30 am. I went to bed earlier that morning at one. After doing some quick mental math, you can calculate that I slept for approximately 4 hours. That's half as much as I would like to have. After a delicious breakfast of quesadillas, we went to work. I was the concrete mixer mixer, so I threw gravel, sand, water, and concrete into a giant rotating sphere and then dumped it out. Repeatedly. When we got our fifteen minute breaks, I usually slept. By the end of the 5 hour day, I was best friends with Pero and Moses. They were awesome even though they spoke as much English as I spoke Spanish. Although I wouldn't consider this a "fun" day, it was the most joyful I have been in a while. The blisters on my toes, cuts on my hands, and concrete burns on my face didn't keep me from the contentment that Christ provided me. Some of this sounds like complaining and asking for pity, but it was awesome. Fantastic. Beautiful. We finished the second floor today, and it was worth every hour. So far this trip has definitely taught me some spiritual disciplines that I will be able to take back to the States. I have also formed some awesome friendships. But the most important part of the trip is what will be left here in Merida. The children we entertained in VBS. The buildings we constructed. And the workers we befriended using Spanglish. To be honest, I didn't have many expectations for this trip. I had no clue what to expect. However, this trip completely destroyed any expectations that I could have had. It has been phenomenal. Monumental. Even despite the lack of sleep.
Gloria a Dios,
Josh Martin
Gloria a Dios,
Josh Martin
From A Student's Perspective
Though I have never left the Southern area of the United States or even the country itself, I am enjoying Merida far more than I originally thought i would. I thought Merida would be a confusing place covered in a language I wouldn't understand. Instead, most of the people down here speak English at a nearly fluent level and the culture is so amazing that I regret that we have to leave tomorrow. Merida in general and Mexico at large will leave a large, lasting impact on my life, my story and my relationship with God.
The stereotypical view of Mexicans being cheap workers that want to leave their country at all costs is a complete hoax. The people down here are just as normal as anyone else, though I believe they might be slightly super human. The food we have been eating is all homemade and better than any upper class restaurant I have ever eaten at before. It's been said over and over during meals that their isn't a bad meal in Merida, and it is completely true.
God has opened my eyes through the people that helped me build a second floor for Blas Pascal, and he has reinforced my faith and my subservience to him by the amazing sights I have been allowed to witness. It has been an earth shattering experience, from the bottomless sinkholes to the middle schoolers who can't wait to see the long awaited second floor on top of Blas Pascal and I honestly don't want to go home. Merida, Mexico is an awesome place to serve.
-Ben Strube
-Ben Strube
Work is completed!!!
All our hard work has paid off! Today we completed the roof to Blas Pascal so that the kids will have 4 new classrooms this fall. It was by God's strength alone that we were able to complete this task. Our strength alone would have failed long ago. I think I finally understand what my grandpa always says, "I came into this world with nothing, and I've still got most of it!"-Zane Williams
Our morning song...
Each morning we were treated to a song on the bus by one of our stellar leaders Emily Stubbs...this particular time was very special as it was our last time on the way to eat breakfast and serve at Blas Pascal (and yes, you read the clock correctly in the front of the bus...6:00AM - I told you your students were amazing).
Resting then debrief time
The team is taking a well deserved siesta; in about 1 1/2 hours we will have a debrief of the entire week. What is a debriefing you may ask? It's a very special time where we reflect on what God has done through each one of us; we listen to stories from those those who wish to share. We laugh...we cry...probably more crying...then a little bit more crying...then Zane will say something crazy and we will laugh again. We will also listen to a personal story from one of the students on how Christ has changed their lives and then worship our heavenly Father in song. We have some VERY talented musicians in the house! Can't wait for this evening!
Water Ballon Beach Battle
Time for the Browns Bridge InsideOut team to unwind after a long day on Tuesday with a friendly (for the most part) water ballon battle.
Keeping up with the little ones...
It's tough getting older...not sure who came out on top here (Tue at VBS)??
VBS dance contest
On Tue at VBS we saw an impromptu dance contest...3 contestants, you be the judge!
McKensie's leap of faith...with help
After 20-30 minutes of starts and stops, McKensie, with a little help from her friends, makes the big leap!
Friday at the Ranch
On Friday our focus was building relationships with some of the Merida high school students at Blas Pascal. It was a time of games, rest and great conversations. Building the second floor of a school is amazing; impacting students is priceless. We ended the day as usual with a time to debrief, hearing from one of our students, and worshiping our God (with a bit of craziness mixed in)!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Pouring Concrete on Thu
Up and at it again at 7:00AM...we are still a bit sore and bruised but not defeated! God is doing great things through the students serving here in Merida. The work today was challenging yet again but the students persevered. Zane kept us loose and motivated everyone daily. Everyone pitched in and were pooped out when we broke for lunch. Parents, you have amazing students (I will say it 1000 times)!!! Take a look at a few pictures of these students and leaders in action!
Flash Mob - part dos (at VBS)
See below for the flash mob dance...we had a blast! I missed Josh and Mason's back flip on the right and left side (sorry guys, you moved out of my frame!!).
Awesome VBS time...and a few goodbye tears
Well, this is our last VBS night with the kids...yes, there are a few tears on both sides. The VBS team did another amazing job with support from the rest of us. We end the evening with a rendition of our now famous InsideOut Flash mob dance (first performed with close to 2000 students at The Walk in 2011); if the internet is good to us, I will post the dance on the blog. Enjoy the VBS pics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)