Well here I sit in my house contemplating the experiance that we all shared in. How Great is Our God - that through all things his hand has been upon us.
What an experience it had been in Mexico, I can't wait to go back to see how things have progressed with the class room we built and the orphanage called Impact of Love. What amazing people the Mexicans are, those that know Christ have such complete faith that he will provide and he has proven himself to them time and time again.
Big ups to Hayden, Peter and their awesome church to help this orphanage with some of the basics to keep them up with their governments requirements.
It was an honor to sing at Pastor Daniels church with Cookie and Leah and hear Yeta, Vicky and Lisa testimonies - such wonderful women. Aaron stepped up to the mark and played guitar after 5mins practice with Pastor Daniels daughter. She sung in spanish and he just knew where to go in the song. It was amazing to see the congregation come at an altercall that Pastor Daniel gave, how they bowed down before the Lord all on their hands and knees and sobbing before him.
Being with Diana, Michelle, Victoria, Nikky and Lorna when we had the van ripped off in Tijuana was an experience. It gave Victoria, Nikky, Michelle an I an opportunity to pray in the midst of trials and tribulations in support of Diana and Lorna. Way to go girls!!!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
'Developed' and 'Undeveloped'
Far out!
So far we have seen and experience so much! Much that is worthy of praise and also allot of sorrow and injustice!
Yesterday I (Kirk) had a bad run i with last night dinner and subsequently ended up staying at the condos yesterday. This was after being left behind by the vans and having to hitch a ride to the restaurant where we eat for breakfast after deciding no one had noticed yet i wasn't with the team. But praise God that through such problem i got to share my faith with my driver! My prayers remain with him still!
The team had to battle some immense heat in the midst of building and visiting orphanages. Some of the less fortunate had a water fight!
My perspective of today was rather different however. It was one of much reflection and thought. a battle in my head which occupied 8 pages of my journal. It is so strange that in the midst of so much poverty and lack that the people here have such a joy that in the west we would be so envious of. It sounds clique but i guess its only because many people have observed the same all around the world. It seems that when we have all we could want and more we lose sight of really make life so brilliant. We forget the small things such as the sun, laughter, intrinsic beauty, company and replace these with structure, wants and selfishness. Usually we don't even notice. The people here have reminded me and so many here once again what it is to live. With a joy, passion and lust for both the small and big things which truly make life shine. They so often don't have jobs, food, security, space or health and yet they make time and enjoy the constants in life and this is my challenge for myself and all who read this. This freedom comes from a lack of selfishness and 'stuff' which distracts us so often from life in the west. So my prayer for Mexico is not that they can mimic the western development ideals of industrialisation, globalisation and 'westernisation' but they there development comes through selflessness and love, a hatred toward injustice and a love toward God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
So hear i am again back at the condo for the second time reflecting on my own life and how i can live a live in which i truly know and life for what we so often oversee but what God has granted to be good!
Peace and Blessings to all! Your prayers make a difference each day!
Kirk
So far we have seen and experience so much! Much that is worthy of praise and also allot of sorrow and injustice!
Yesterday I (Kirk) had a bad run i with last night dinner and subsequently ended up staying at the condos yesterday. This was after being left behind by the vans and having to hitch a ride to the restaurant where we eat for breakfast after deciding no one had noticed yet i wasn't with the team. But praise God that through such problem i got to share my faith with my driver! My prayers remain with him still!
The team had to battle some immense heat in the midst of building and visiting orphanages. Some of the less fortunate had a water fight!
My perspective of today was rather different however. It was one of much reflection and thought. a battle in my head which occupied 8 pages of my journal. It is so strange that in the midst of so much poverty and lack that the people here have such a joy that in the west we would be so envious of. It sounds clique but i guess its only because many people have observed the same all around the world. It seems that when we have all we could want and more we lose sight of really make life so brilliant. We forget the small things such as the sun, laughter, intrinsic beauty, company and replace these with structure, wants and selfishness. Usually we don't even notice. The people here have reminded me and so many here once again what it is to live. With a joy, passion and lust for both the small and big things which truly make life shine. They so often don't have jobs, food, security, space or health and yet they make time and enjoy the constants in life and this is my challenge for myself and all who read this. This freedom comes from a lack of selfishness and 'stuff' which distracts us so often from life in the west. So my prayer for Mexico is not that they can mimic the western development ideals of industrialisation, globalisation and 'westernisation' but they there development comes through selflessness and love, a hatred toward injustice and a love toward God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
So hear i am again back at the condo for the second time reflecting on my own life and how i can live a live in which i truly know and life for what we so often oversee but what God has granted to be good!
Peace and Blessings to all! Your prayers make a difference each day!
Kirk
Mexico
Hi All,
I am absolutely exhausted but it has been so amazing and I feel privileged to be here. We have met some awesome people and seen people living in awful living conditions and through much hardship. Please view my website attached to this blog to see some of the many photos we have taken. Take care and please keep praying
Love
Sam
I am absolutely exhausted but it has been so amazing and I feel privileged to be here. We have met some awesome people and seen people living in awful living conditions and through much hardship. Please view my website attached to this blog to see some of the many photos we have taken. Take care and please keep praying
Love
Sam
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, Day 4: God's provision.
Hola to you all amigos,
William here; Lorna asked me to write the blog for today for which I am very honoured.
Where can I start about today?Well, it was a day where Satan tried to knock us down but where we stood strong with God. Around lunchtime today, we found out that one of our vans were stolen. It was done in about a minute, before anyone could see what was happening. To this we were shocked and horrified. How would we get between the building sites and our hotel(around about a 30 minute drive)? How would we all get across the border and subsequently back to New Zealand? Setting aside those worries, we all got together at our respective building site and prayed for a miracle. With encouragement from some of the crew, we all decided to put all our trust in God's will and hope for the best.
The result? As Lorna put it, "all these little miracles happened in succession". Now, I won't go into detail about what these were; I'll probably get them wrong. Best to ask Lorna I think.
Although our van is still stolen, we have not only found a replacement(which Diana will be arriving with in about a hour), but the insurance company generously have decided to replace the van but two hundred dollars. Considering the value of the van(judging by its size, quite alot!) this is a major miracle!
PRAISE GOD!
Thank God for providing for us such an awesome outcome, in a dire circumstance.
On the building side of things, it is going extremely well. Having been to both building sites(the classroom and the house), both teams have done most of the roofing and jib-boarding. They have also made big inroads into the plastering. I believe that we should be proud of the team as they have worked extremely hard. We should be especially proud of the team made up of mostly MBC youth(the house team). With considerably less equipment and with only one foreman, teamwork has really eptiomised the team, and has meant they are keeping up with the classroom team. Well done guys!
Being in Mexico is still challenging us and making us think perceptively about who we are, who God is etc etc. Also, being in Mexico has given us alot of joy and hope in God's love and how this transcends anything. In the midst of the whole stolen van saga, Diana still had time to testify about God's love to a local who drove them to the police station. When buying a balloon animal for $1 (US), Zara then proceeded to give the lady $5 and said to keep the change. You should've seen the lady's face light up. She not only looked over the moon, she made Zara the best darn balloon animal I have ever seen. Furthermore, she then wrote her email address on a serviette for Zara to email her.
When I see stuff like what happened today, I know the Mexico is worth it.
Definitely.
By the way having difficulties uploading photos, but will have some photos up tomorrow!Blessings and keep praying- you guys are amazing!
William :):)
William here; Lorna asked me to write the blog for today for which I am very honoured.
Where can I start about today?Well, it was a day where Satan tried to knock us down but where we stood strong with God. Around lunchtime today, we found out that one of our vans were stolen. It was done in about a minute, before anyone could see what was happening. To this we were shocked and horrified. How would we get between the building sites and our hotel(around about a 30 minute drive)? How would we all get across the border and subsequently back to New Zealand? Setting aside those worries, we all got together at our respective building site and prayed for a miracle. With encouragement from some of the crew, we all decided to put all our trust in God's will and hope for the best.
The result? As Lorna put it, "all these little miracles happened in succession". Now, I won't go into detail about what these were; I'll probably get them wrong. Best to ask Lorna I think.
Although our van is still stolen, we have not only found a replacement(which Diana will be arriving with in about a hour), but the insurance company generously have decided to replace the van but two hundred dollars. Considering the value of the van(judging by its size, quite alot!) this is a major miracle!
PRAISE GOD!
Thank God for providing for us such an awesome outcome, in a dire circumstance.
On the building side of things, it is going extremely well. Having been to both building sites(the classroom and the house), both teams have done most of the roofing and jib-boarding. They have also made big inroads into the plastering. I believe that we should be proud of the team as they have worked extremely hard. We should be especially proud of the team made up of mostly MBC youth(the house team). With considerably less equipment and with only one foreman, teamwork has really eptiomised the team, and has meant they are keeping up with the classroom team. Well done guys!
Being in Mexico is still challenging us and making us think perceptively about who we are, who God is etc etc. Also, being in Mexico has given us alot of joy and hope in God's love and how this transcends anything. In the midst of the whole stolen van saga, Diana still had time to testify about God's love to a local who drove them to the police station. When buying a balloon animal for $1 (US), Zara then proceeded to give the lady $5 and said to keep the change. You should've seen the lady's face light up. She not only looked over the moon, she made Zara the best darn balloon animal I have ever seen. Furthermore, she then wrote her email address on a serviette for Zara to email her.
When I see stuff like what happened today, I know the Mexico is worth it.
Definitely.
By the way having difficulties uploading photos, but will have some photos up tomorrow!Blessings and keep praying- you guys are amazing!
William :):)
Monday, September 29, 2008
For Wellington South
Hey guys, Jimmy Hayden and Pete here. None of us had passwords for the blog so just logged in under another guys name. We are currently in a beach condo in a town called Rosarito which is amazing! Had our first day of building the house today which was a pretty unique experience for all of us. Working in the heat of what is practically a desert ended up taking its toll, particularly on the older amigos (not naming any elders). was good fun playing a bit of street football with some of the young boys, despite the fact that they were alot better than us. Everyone has been keeping their food down so far which is a relief, most people on the team are pretty paranoid about food poisoning which is not suprising given how dirty everything seems to be here.
will make another posting leter on in the week, hopefully we will have our own username by then!
cya
will make another posting leter on in the week, hopefully we will have our own username by then!
cya
Underway and to a brilliant start!
So we have started building today and we have gotten away to a brilliant start! Most of the Miramar group are building on the house site with the assistance from Peter, (Pastor) Hayden, and Jimmy from Wellington South Baptist and Keyziah representing Lower Hutt Baptist (Yay for the Hutt homies! Me and my mum Claire are the other two!).
We have built in a single day the framing, exterior walls, roof, windows in and have now started the Gibb (dry wall), with some electrics and roofing to go. So by the end of tomorrow we will be most of the way down the home straight!
It has been quite the culture shock for many of us as so many of us haven't seen such poverty let alone traveled abroad. Yet we have such an opportunity to show these people love and some of God's character and already people are really blown away by the fact that we have come here let alone to do what we are doing!
As a member of the team that has been before it has been amazing to see the difference in this nation from just a year ago. The slums have become much more 'westernised' with some large shops and factories which have shifted across the boarder to make use of the cheap labour. I'm still not sure what to think as many people that didn't now have jobs and yet it is a relatively ethic free move from these American companies. There has been allot of humbling and challenging sights that we have individually been processing in our heads and we are so often left more confused then previously. However it is these times and sights of the real lives that we encounter which challenge and shape us the most. For which we praise God and pray he would continue to mould us and have us be His salt in His world!
It is such a blessing and i cant tell half of what i would like to on here but God is moving and were privileged to be part of it!
More to come as we continue ministering and building in the next few days!
Kirk
We have built in a single day the framing, exterior walls, roof, windows in and have now started the Gibb (dry wall), with some electrics and roofing to go. So by the end of tomorrow we will be most of the way down the home straight!
It has been quite the culture shock for many of us as so many of us haven't seen such poverty let alone traveled abroad. Yet we have such an opportunity to show these people love and some of God's character and already people are really blown away by the fact that we have come here let alone to do what we are doing!
As a member of the team that has been before it has been amazing to see the difference in this nation from just a year ago. The slums have become much more 'westernised' with some large shops and factories which have shifted across the boarder to make use of the cheap labour. I'm still not sure what to think as many people that didn't now have jobs and yet it is a relatively ethic free move from these American companies. There has been allot of humbling and challenging sights that we have individually been processing in our heads and we are so often left more confused then previously. However it is these times and sights of the real lives that we encounter which challenge and shape us the most. For which we praise God and pray he would continue to mould us and have us be His salt in His world!
It is such a blessing and i cant tell half of what i would like to on here but God is moving and were privileged to be part of it!
More to come as we continue ministering and building in the next few days!
Kirk
Day One of building completed!
We are having a great time in Mexico and have just finished the first day of building! We are building a house for a family of 9. The mothers name is Anna Maria and her youngest child is 2 months old - very cute! The team is doing a fantastic job of building - the house was framed, closed in with roof on by 5pm tonight. We are also building a classroom at a local church that runs a women's refuge. We will finish building tomorrow (Tuesday) and the school will be open on Wednesday! We received some generous donations for education materials so have purchased 600 school books, a couple of white boards and other classroom equipment so the school will be very well equipped - so thank you so much! Thanks also for your prayers - we are having an awesome time - the team is fantastic and we are having a lot of fun. The team tell me that their highlights have been the Mexican food (it has been really yummy!) and we are having a competition to see which team can build either the house or the school room the quickest - so far the school team is in the lead! We will be visiting 2 orphanages this week - one on Wednesday and one on Thursday, as well as the womens refuge. All of these places have lots of needs and we are privaledged to be able to help them out. The refuge make yummy doughnuts which they sell in the markets each day - this afternoon they cooked up a heap of doughnuts - and they are good! We will post some pictures on the website soon, but having a few difficulties getting internet time!!
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