Mexican Blessings

 I was blessed to be able to go back to Mexico at the beginning of January. It's been four years since I last went down to Monterrey, so I was really excited to jump in the van (okay, maybe not that excited about the van ride, but you know what I mean!) and head south. We left on 5 January, which I think was about the coldest day of the year! Several people on the team had a lot to deal with just before we left, with things like the starter on one of the vans going out, a broken furnace, frozen pipes, and a backed up sewer. We were so thankful for your prayers!

My dad wanted to have a block party for the neighbourhood and the church we work with, as a thank you for their gracious hospitality all these years. We've been working in Salinas Victoria for 12 years now, which means we've made a lot of deep friendships. The kids in the second picture below were playing in the street, waiting for us to get started. I've never seen anyone move quite so quickly as when I told them to find a seat so we could serve the cake!

Our team of 16 people; we took two vans and pulled a trailer.

Some of the kids, enjoying their cake and juice.

The houses we build are 16'x20' and are built on a cement slab, which the family is responsible to pour before we arrive. We use metal studs, a tin roof, sheetrock, and cement board siding (which we get to paint a fun colour, like pink or green or orange!). 

Putting the frame together.

Holding up the frame until it is anchored.
Photo by Jill Hansen

Lunch break! Playing with the kids.

Putting up the siding on the front of the house.

Putting up drywall on the ceiling inside the house.

The back of the house.

See all those lovely mudded screw holes behind me?

Yeah, I did those. I was told I was kinda slow, but

that's just because I do quality work. :)

We ended up being short a few pieces of siding, so we had to improvise!

We used the leftover pieces of tin from the roof to finish the front gable.

A couple of the ladies that went on the trip wanted to do a ladies' ministry-type thing, so I ended up helping out with that. I led the music, which I really enjoyed! I love singing in Spanish, it really forces me to slow down and pay attention to the words I'm singing, instead of just mouthing the lyrics by rote.

Making the wordless book bracelets for the women to use as a tool
to share the gospel.
Photo by Jill Hansen

I did not plan a VBS this time, which was the first time in 11 years that I haven't done one! Two of the girls on our team decided to do one, so the next couple pictures are from them.

Photo by Emma Rachner

Photo by Emma Rachner

At the end of the week, once the house is finished, we have a dedication. Two of the teens from the church in Webster were responsible for giving the talk and charging this family to use the house for God's glory. They did a great job!

Jose and Gabriela received the house; Gabriela was due to 

have their baby girl any day!

Our team and the family in front of the completed house.

We were able to purchase a crib for the new baby, as well as diapers, 

baby clothes, some toys, and a couple people brought hand-made 

baby blankets.

The highlight of the week for me was seeing my kids and other friends from years passed. It was so good to reconnect with them in person after being away for four years! 

Carmen and Keila; I helped build their house in 2013.

Jose; I've known this young man for ten years, since we built his house in 

2008. He just turned 18 a couple weeks ago and will graduate in the spring.

Monica; we built her family's house in 2014, but I've known her for quite a few

years before that. 

Alejandra; she is the pastor of the church we work with and has such a 

servant heart.

Gabi and Flor; these two ladies helped make our meals all week. They are 

fantastic cooks and even better friends! (Also, Flor is Jose's mother, so I've 

known her for 10 years, also.)

Ramon and his wife, Magda; Ramon helps us out a lot each time we visit, 

especially with driving us around the city and up to the border.

I think this was the best trip to Mexico I've been on (okay, disclaimer: I say that every time I go!). But seriously, I think one thing that really did make it better was that my language has improved a lot since I've been teaching Spanish in Papua New Guinea. I was able to have actual conversations with my friends and really catch up with them. It was such a blessing to return to my first "other home" and see my Mexican family!