Sunday, roofs, and puppies

This is the pastor of the church we visited on Sunday. You can’t tell from the picture, but he really is a nice person. 

He started the church in his house and as the church grew he added space. Finally the church grew so big that he moved out and is now renting a house for him and his three children. His wife passed from cancer about 5 years ago so he not only pastors the church but is also raising 3 tweens and teens. He takes no salary from the church so to pay the bills he works in a factory. 

After church we visited the down town area of Nueve Laredo and even stopped to get some ice cream at “the best ice cream shop in Nueve Laredo. I can’t remember the name of the shop, but even with out us the line was long. I had a scoop of vanilla and a scoop of queso frasa, strawberry and cheese. Not cheesecake, but cheese sort of like a strong cheese. Or was actually pretty good. 

Monday was a hard day of work with the sun bringing heat in the 90s. Even with much progress was made. All the walls are up and as you can see, some of the church rafters were raised as well. It has been quite amazing how fast the building have been coming together. 

To night I pray for the pastor and his family. May they soon have a home of their own. I continue to pray and be thankful for the many skilled hands that are guiding the work and for continued safety on the job site. Amen. 

Oh, and puppies. This a girl that lives I. A house that was built last year. Her mom works as a cook at the school. May God bless her and her family. Amen. 

. 

7 Walls Up

 

I am in Mexico as part of a 40 person team made up from churches from Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Carolina. We have converged in Mexico to build a house for Edward, Jackie, and their two children. Edward and Jackie are both in ministry with Edward leading the church and Jackie focusing on children’s ministry. All four of them are currently sleeping in a single room at Jackie’s’ parent’s house. 

Today we stood up the four walls of their three bedroom house. It isn’t a large house but they are extremely grateful. 

Along with their house a church is being built and three of the four walls of the church were stood up today. There is still plenty of work to do as roofs are still needed as well as insulation and sheet rock. 

Tonight I pray for Edward and Jackie and the ministry in which they are about to embark. May God bless their ministry and journey. May His word spread with each day in the neighborhood in Nueve Laredo. May god protect them and their children as the walk forward in faith. 

I also think the Lord for the hard work and the safety he provided for the team. Amen. 

Good night as the sun begins to set in Nueve Laredo. 

To Mexico

It has been a while since I have posted to this blog as I have not been able to travel to Haiti for a while. This week I am off to Nueve Laredo, Mexico to help on a construction trip. The team is helping to build a home for a pastor and his family who are currently living with his wife’s parents. We are meant to meet up with another team who is building a church. Rumor has it that some of their team had to back out, so I suspect that there is plenty of work to get done. 

I have mixed feelings about this trip. While I am glad to be able to participate in this trip, it highlights the fact that I am not able to go to Haiti. I continue to have a love for the people and country of Haiti and miss being able to visit. Traveling to Mexico almost feels like an acknowledgement that I won’t be able to visit Haiti for a long while, if ever again; and that saddens me. 

This morning, I pray for the safety of my family while I am away and for the pastor and his family to which we are traveling. I pray for the people of Nuevo Laredo, their safety, and may they prosper. I pray for safe travels for our team and for many encounters blessed by the Holy Spirit. May God watch over all these and grant us His favor. Amen.