Once again there are more pictures from today on the Photobucket.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Something old, something new
I have been accompanying students on mission trips for more than 15 years, yet I am still surprised when God teaches me something new. Today I drove the gas golf cart for the first time. I was a little afraid until Al said "Punch it." Suddenly I was transported back to driving lessons with my father. My first car was a manual transmission Toyota Tercel, and my dad taught me to clutch like a pro. Since I still drive a 5-speed, I have to "punch it" every day at home. How hard could it be? Before I knew it I was flying through Rio Grande Bible Institute waving at staff members as they passed in the opposite direction.
In the afternoon we drove to meet our friend Enrique, and traveled to his home for VBS. There were approximately 30 children and they enjoyed making masks of some of the animals on Noah's Ark. Birds, sheep, and lions paraded through the front yard and into the surrounding neighborhood. Games of jump rope and soccer were scattered in the street and everyone watched for cars. Again I was transported back to a time when I played outside with my friends. Nancy, one of the VBS children, insisted I jump rope with her. I kept thinking I was too old to jump rope, but I have to admit it was fun. At least it wasn't double dutch. I haven't done that since 1991.
I am grateful once more for a God who cares to teach us new things, and remind us that we are never too old to have fun. Thank you all for praying for us.
---Kathy Rochester
In the afternoon we drove to meet our friend Enrique, and traveled to his home for VBS. There were approximately 30 children and they enjoyed making masks of some of the animals on Noah's Ark. Birds, sheep, and lions paraded through the front yard and into the surrounding neighborhood. Games of jump rope and soccer were scattered in the street and everyone watched for cars. Again I was transported back to a time when I played outside with my friends. Nancy, one of the VBS children, insisted I jump rope with her. I kept thinking I was too old to jump rope, but I have to admit it was fun. At least it wasn't double dutch. I haven't done that since 1991.
I am grateful once more for a God who cares to teach us new things, and remind us that we are never too old to have fun. Thank you all for praying for us.
---Kathy Rochester
Pictures from Day 2
There are more pictures here, on the Mexico Photobucket.
UPDATE, as of 10:55 p.m.:
Some of Steve Fly's pictures are up in the bucket now, too.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Hello all!!
We arrived in Texas just fine. The plane flight was great. I was the only one of the group who had never really flown before and it was very exciting to me. It's so weird to think that the little shadows the clouds make on the ground provide a massive amount of shade for the people below. Really, the clouds aren't that big. Thinking about how the trees look so much taller when you're standing next to them on the ground and then looking at them from the air and seeing how tiny they really are sure puts things into perspective. I mean, how big is God? He's bigger then all of this (and now it's hard to imagine anything bigger!) The people are really so small in their own little life bubble...yet God knows each one of us. Awesome.
Things went well today at RGBI. We sanded and painted and cleaned and just in general helped out (not to mention that we had a ton of fun driving around the golf carts--RGBI is BIG). We're tired and gross, and yes I ran into a screen door, but I really didn't know it was there...
No one's terribly sunburned yet, for all you mom persons. We're getting ready for he VBS tomorrow in Matamoros. We've practiced the melodrama for Noah and the ark a couple of times, but I think a lot of this is going to be winging it and counting on God. Only eight of us are going, so Al's warned us that we'll ALL have to do something...no sideliners allowed.
Yep, all is well so far, except for the fact that Stephanie Felts and I just found five giant red ants crawling on the floor and in our luggage in our room...we decided to hang out in the living room area of the guesthouse for a while...
Allyson, Dwain we miss you and wish you could be here!
Keep checking up on here, Ian says that he'll put up pictures and super awesome video tomorrow. And keep praying for us, please.
Love,
Rebecca Sohn
We arrived in Texas just fine. The plane flight was great. I was the only one of the group who had never really flown before and it was very exciting to me. It's so weird to think that the little shadows the clouds make on the ground provide a massive amount of shade for the people below. Really, the clouds aren't that big. Thinking about how the trees look so much taller when you're standing next to them on the ground and then looking at them from the air and seeing how tiny they really are sure puts things into perspective. I mean, how big is God? He's bigger then all of this (and now it's hard to imagine anything bigger!) The people are really so small in their own little life bubble...yet God knows each one of us. Awesome.
Things went well today at RGBI. We sanded and painted and cleaned and just in general helped out (not to mention that we had a ton of fun driving around the golf carts--RGBI is BIG). We're tired and gross, and yes I ran into a screen door, but I really didn't know it was there...
No one's terribly sunburned yet, for all you mom persons. We're getting ready for he VBS tomorrow in Matamoros. We've practiced the melodrama for Noah and the ark a couple of times, but I think a lot of this is going to be winging it and counting on God. Only eight of us are going, so Al's warned us that we'll ALL have to do something...no sideliners allowed.
Yep, all is well so far, except for the fact that Stephanie Felts and I just found five giant red ants crawling on the floor and in our luggage in our room...we decided to hang out in the living room area of the guesthouse for a while...
Allyson, Dwain we miss you and wish you could be here!
Keep checking up on here, Ian says that he'll put up pictures and super awesome video tomorrow. And keep praying for us, please.
Love,
Rebecca Sohn
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
We leave tomorrow!
We will be on our way to Texas in less than 24 hours! For most of us, today holds the promise of finishing our packing and other preparations.
Our flight leaves at 7:15, which means that we need to be at church at the wonderful hour of 5:00. If you would like to come and see us off, feel welcome, but if you value your sleep more than your children and friends, we won't be offended, I promise.
Thank you again for your support, we probably wouldn't be leaving without you. Keep watching the blog, and pray for us.
We'll see you at 5:30 p.m., June 22nd.
Our flight leaves at 7:15, which means that we need to be at church at the wonderful hour of 5:00. If you would like to come and see us off, feel welcome, but if you value your sleep more than your children and friends, we won't be offended, I promise.
Thank you again for your support, we probably wouldn't be leaving without you. Keep watching the blog, and pray for us.
We'll see you at 5:30 p.m., June 22nd.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Four days away!
Okay, so the blog hasn't been nearly as active during the pre-trip stage as last year, but as a peace offering, I bring you a video!
Yes, well, the trip is this Thursday! Time flies when you're having fun, as they always say.
There is some bad news, however. As far as the information I have goes, the team is down to 10. Allyson can't make the trip because of her medical situation, and Duane Kunkee can't make it either. If you're reading this, we love you guys. (You too, Ro.)
But God is in control! Everything seems a little crazy, and things aren't as organized as last year, but I'm fairly confident that we'll pull it all together in time. I guess when you have a third of the people, you don't need to manage things as much, which is something Al is quite happy about, I can assure you.
Please pray for us, as I'm sure you're already doing. This should be fun.
Adios for now!
-Ian
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thanks for the support!
I know I'm very late in getting this out, but I wanted to thank everyone at Chatham for their support of the team.
At the dinner, with jobs, all of it. The way you guys stand behind us is awesome, and I want you to know that the whole team appreciates everything so much.
Okay, now that I've said that...
This year is going to be radically different. Mostly because the team is a third of the size of last year's. That's the big change, especially considering that half of us haven't been on a trip like this before.
It will be interesting, and quite honestly, that worried me at the beginning, but seeing how the team worked together at the dinner and how we interact at meetings, I realize that it's gonna be good.
And I think God will use us to do good.
Again, thanks for all your support. I'll be managing the blog for a second time this year, so expect to hear from me again.
-Ian
P.S. Please pray for Allyson Hartman. She's still in the hospital because she can't be off the IV, since the pain without it is too much. At this point Mexico is not certain for her, and she really wants to go.
P.P.S Below this post is the blog for 2007. I kept it for history's sake. It is not part of this trip, so please don't be confused.
At the dinner, with jobs, all of it. The way you guys stand behind us is awesome, and I want you to know that the whole team appreciates everything so much.
Okay, now that I've said that...
This year is going to be radically different. Mostly because the team is a third of the size of last year's. That's the big change, especially considering that half of us haven't been on a trip like this before.
It will be interesting, and quite honestly, that worried me at the beginning, but seeing how the team worked together at the dinner and how we interact at meetings, I realize that it's gonna be good.
And I think God will use us to do good.
Again, thanks for all your support. I'll be managing the blog for a second time this year, so expect to hear from me again.
-Ian
P.S. Please pray for Allyson Hartman. She's still in the hospital because she can't be off the IV, since the pain without it is too much. At this point Mexico is not certain for her, and she really wants to go.
P.P.S Below this post is the blog for 2007. I kept it for history's sake. It is not part of this trip, so please don't be confused.
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