We've been wanting to go to Reynosa, Mexico for quite some time in order to visit the children we sponsor. We finally made it this Thanksgiving break and it was absolutely AWESOME! I emailed a small prayer group in advance and EVERY prayer request was answered! It makes me want to ask the good Lord for MORE of Him!
We made it to Mexico Saturday around lunch time! We had to rush passports for the kids and we were really cutting it close. We prayed they would arrive on time and they arrived 2 days prior to departure! Praise God!
On the streets of Reynosa, you find horses and rickety carts with the cars.
And the police ride up out in the open ready to shoot their big guns.
We ate lunch at the hotel and then went straight to the colonia to build 4 houses. These houses are not "American" houses. They are 1 room shacks - but they are on concrete slabs, so they really help get people up out of the dirt and in shelter. Without these houses, people just put together whatever they can from the garbage to create shelter.
I was the paint lead, which basically meant I just made sure everybody who wanted to paint got a paint brush. The paint crew was not only efficient but beautiful!
Our team built 4 houses all on the same street. This was the house right next to the one we built.
This pictures shows my friend, Whitney talking to the lady we are building the house for, Krystal. Christie is translating (in the middle) and I bet they are talking about Melany, Krystal's daughter.
Krystal's place has a tiny little store built in the front of her property. We are building the house right behind it and slightly to the right.
This is the little store right across the street from us. There is a LOT of trash in the colonia. This lady sweeps the trash up around her place and burns it.
This is the view of the street.
Glory had a lot of fun getting to know Rachel.
Joy and Freedom hanging out.
All sorts of trucks come by selling tortillas and stuff. This is the BIGGEST truck that goes by. Not much room to let him pass! Better get out of the way!
Now, this is the BEST part of the trip! We were told our sponsor kids would be notified that we would be coming and they could meet us at the church Sunday afternoon. We were NOT guaranteed that they would come and no one would be able to track them down for us. I was disheartened to hear this news, because more than building a house, I wanted to meet the kids. I asked my prayer team to please pray that we could meet them and love them well. Well, Sunday afternoon, when we arrived at the church, they were there waiting for us!!!! OH MY WORD! This is Kassandra Nicolle and her mom and her brother, Ryan. Kassandra is 14 years old and she has sent us her report card on multiple occassions. She always makes straight A's and not just any A's, but STRONG A's! 100's 97's and 95's! We are so very proud of her hard work! She and her mother were SO precious. It was obviously very important to them that they express their gratitude for supporting Kassandra in school! Kassandra had made Jon and I bracelets with our names on them and had made a beautifully detailed Christmas card and written us two letters.
This is Cecilio's family! His mother, Claudia, his sister, Margarita and his little brother Jesus. Cecilio was SO happy to see us! He was grinning from ear to ear and gave me the biggest bear hug! He then went straight to Jon and about plowed him over with another big bear hug! I will never forget this moment! He's a good kid. All smiles and very loving. His mother was also absolutely precious and wanted very much to express her gratitude.
And this is Mayrin and her mother Celene. Her mother was also very intent on expressing her gratitude. Mayrin was a little shy, but she stood next to me and on occassion gave me a squeezy hug. We were able to get a friend who knew a little spanish to translate for us and were able to chat a little with the families. They asked how long we would be there and we let them know we would be there the next day all day working on building a house 4 streets down. They all informed us they would see us the next day. Claudia said Cecilio could help us work.
I had hoped they would show up the next day so I could really spend some time with them and in the morning Cecilio and his family showed up first! I was able to chat with his mom a little bit. She allowed Cecilio and Margarita to stay with us and help and we could walk them home on our way to the church at lunch time. This is Cecilio and Margarita painting with Luciano, Krystal's husband.
Then Kassandra showed up shortly after that!!! Her mom also dropped her off to help us work! She painted as well!
If Cecilio and Margarita saw me painting, they came over and took over.
And they kids did some face painting too.
Cecilio painted a heart on Glory's hand and a spider on his own.
This is us walking to lunch with these amazing kids behind us. Jon and I reached Claudia's house very shortly before the kids and she called out to me, "Donde estan los ninos?" They were RIGHT behind us - I loved that she was concerned. She loves her babies. We asked if they could join us for lunch at the church and she said yes. Kassandra wanted to walk on home, so we walked her home and because we couldn't speak Spanish very well, we weren't sure if we were going to see her again!
We loved eating lunch with these kids!
Walking back after lunch. Claudia asked her kids if they were ready to come home and they just laughed and said, "No!" I was overjoyed that they were going to get to hang out with us for the afternoon too!
Jon was often cutting on the table saw. Hubba Hubba.
Oh, and Glory held this cat as much as possible. The cat seemed to like it a lot.
And about an hour later, Kassandra came back! We love you Kassandra!
One evening back at the hotel in our church meeting.
Joy wrote the sign for the house. Hebrews 10:39
"But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved."
Our friend Lex is a matress strap!
Or is he taking a nap up there?
Sometimes its comforting just to know there's a buddy guarding outside when you go to a foreign potty.
The little house is finished! As Eric said in the dedication - it's the rock of Jesus Christ that their "house" is built that REALLY matters - so much more than this little house. But this little house is a huge help, getting people up out of the dirt.
Dedicating the house.
The bracelets Kassandra made us.
Letters, Christmas cards and a Straight-A report card!
Mayrin came back the second day toward the end of the afternoon! Mayrin made us a Christmas card and her mother made us a jello-cake!!!! We cut the cake right then and there.
Anytime I was painting, Cecilio came to help.
I loved being the "paint lead" (which basically means the person who hands out paint brushes)
Jon did a lot of sawing.
Last day with Cecilio. You will be missed!
Sweet hug goodbye!
Did I mention Glory held this cat every second she got.
Looks like Joy got a few seconds in too.
Our team and our house!
The inside kitchenette area.
The team and house next door! Awesome!!!
