Cont Missions Trip

This trip was a blessing. God choose me to go on this missions trip very specifically. He made the path to get me there smooth. The Lord provided the funds using my amazingly generous aunt Teri. And he used my wonderful husband to so kindly take care of the kids in my absence. The hard work and sweat that I was able to offer and the bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime are priceless. The Lord blessed me more than I can explain and take in at the moment. I was honored that the Lord let me be His hands and feet to bless a family and ultimately bring glory to God! I am in the process of learning spanish and praying about the next trip. The Lord has very clearly put on my heart that "You did a good job my obedient servant, but you are not done yet." I am listening God, open the doors and lead the way, I am willing and I LOVE YOU so much and more! Thank you for this opportunity to serve you in such a real and tangible way. Fill us up and send us out, Lord!!!

Cont Missions Trip

And the finished product. A photo of the family that will occupy the home once the next group stuccos it for them. And then a grand finale picture of our group (minus, Mike, Kelly, Vanessa and Clint, they left just a few hours before the end of the work day, they needed to be home) and the owners of the home. We all stood inside with the family (even though they could not speak english) and prayed over the home and the memories that would be made there. We did not just built a a home. We TOGETHER as a team built a place for them the children to grow up and memories to be made. A place to learn about God and for God to show them in a very real way His love, power and grace. We prayed that the children of the home would grow up to glorify God and lead others to the Lord through their testimony. God bless this home.

Cont Missions Trip

My oh my this is so much fun reminiscing over the trip and all of the memories made... so in the window Jessi wrote my quote of the weekend. I would wave to everyone that went by (I was so excited to just be there, I could not help myself and for once could care less what they might have thought about me... it was very freeing and powerful for me) so I would wave and of course flash my smile at everyone. Then if I had a chance to speak with them, I would say "gracias" or "adios." But then I would add to the end "Vaya Con Dios" (back story) when I was growing up we would say to one another "vaya con dios" but in english we said "Jesus be with you" So to be fair I KNOW that "vaya con dios" translates "God with God" but to ME when I am saying it, in my heart I am telling them "Jesus be with you!" All of mexico probably thinks I am "LOCO" but oh well!!! Everyone in the car had a good laugh when I explained this to them... it makes sense to me though :)

Cont Missions Trip

Well there were a handful of evident miracles that the Lord blessed us with over the trip... one, being complete removal of a migraine that Megan got the first night camping. Then the fact that Jeff even made it on the trip was a miracle, Jeff has major back problems. He is missing a disc,(OUCH!) and the morning of or the night before he fell to his knees, but he was there and worked his tail off, even though he would argue that with you! Also the quickness that Mike and Kelly received their passports and documents to order them was and could only have been GOD. Another miracle was my keys. Well for starters yes I brought both sets planning ahead. Well I was holding on to one set and Jeff and his radiant wife Cecilia had the other set. I was unaware that at some point their set had dropped in the dirt. I was walking up the hill to get more waters when I just about stepped on my own keys in the dirt! Then at the end of the trip I misplaced MY set of keys. I searched all the places I had kept them but they were no where to be found, a minute later I thought, why am I giving this so much thought (which is not like me to give up until they were found) I could be helping everyone else pack up, the Lord will find my keys. Off we drove home and 10min into the drive... my keys appeared! The Lord is faithful!!! There were more, but at the moment these are the ones that come to mind...

Cont Missions Trip

Sunday was different from Saturday... I think everyone was pretty wiped out from the heat and personally the pancakes just didn't tide me over or give me enough energy... so by the late afternoon on Sunday I just felt in the way. Then I found Dominic! Dominic was the man that could have single handedly built the house on his own... but he didn't he was SO patient and kind. I was SO thankful for that. So unfortunately for him I followed him around the rest of the afternoon doing anything he would let me :) I understood that I was visual and needed to be shown what to do not told. SO here I am staying busy by following him around! God bless you Dominic for understanding me and not making fun of me.

Cont Missions Trip

Random photo to most... but for Jessi (my new best friend and long lost kindred spirit) and me it is yet another picture of a cross. From the moment the trip started the word CROSS was put on my heart.(still not sure why) Dee the handywoman rockstar I mentioned before was telling me story before we got in the vehicles and headed South. She explained that she collects crosses. She has them all over her home. That she has a favorite one her daughter had gotten her. Then she goes on to tell me that the Lord had put on her heart to bring a cross for the family we were going to build the house for as a house warming gift. She said she immediately thought of her fav cross but thought no I will go buy one instead. Well after shopping she found one that she said "would work" but still was not feeling it. She wrapped up the newly bought cross and placed it in her pillow case. Then a few moments later tossed her pillow aside to get to something else, forgetting about the brand new cross. The cross broke into pieces and she said, "I got it Lord, I know what I need to do." So she so selflessly brought and had everyone sign the back of her favorite cross and generously gave it to the family.... great story to start off the trip! So having the word CROSS confirmed, Jessi and I thought it would be fun to keep out eye out for crosses the whole trip.

Cont Missions Trip

Here is a great picture of Dee... she is a handy woman rockstar! There is nothing this woman can not do. I should also point out we were the only two women that went with out their men. I love this picture also for so wonderfully capturing the conditions they live in. See the home over her right shoulder. A family lives there, with children even... it really makes you appreciate your front door, the locks, the non leaky roof, your carpet and the vacuum, the running CLEAN water, the toilets that flush into a sewer system, not to mention that is the "yard" or the where are all the kids play, there are no parks or safe places to run around. But they never complain, they are amazing at TRULY recycling. They toss nothing and are not prideful. We have a lot to learn from the, and their survival techniques...
Also here is a cute pic of Kelly my secret camping all star with a good picture of the bathroom... don't worry only from the outside!

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This is me and Sess or Sessa... she is my sister in Christ. We have become very close over the last year and I could not live with out her. She is family in the deepest sense of the word. Her name is Vanessa but Pais could only say Sessa so to us she is Auntie Sessa, Sess for short. I love her and can not say enough good things about her. It was a surprise when we found out we were both going, and it was nice to have experienced the trip together. She was our God sent translator. She was the only one who could speak fluent spanish! We couldn't have done it with out her.

Cont Missions Trip

Sunday morning we woke up and broke down camp. We headed off to the work site to finish the home. There was a lot to be done and it was a day of learning. The day before was mostly cutting and nailing... yes we all learned lots of tips to make those areas more effective, but day two was new tasks that at least for myself had never attempted before. So there was a bit more of a learning curve. Communication was key and there were some interesting moments where I was told to"just walk away" and I did just that. Were were productive as a team and we all learned something new. The best thing about our group was that EVERYONE lent a hand. IT WAS HOT, 108 the first day and in the high 90 the last two days, being in the heat and WORKING hard takes a lot out of you. But no one just sat, even if someone was taking a break you could find them attempting to chat with the neighborhood kids or smiling and someone walking by. It was beautiful to see so many Godly spirits working together for HIS glory.

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I apologize for these being out of order... but these I snaked from others who took photos too! There is one of me looking like I peed my pants because in the 100 degrees I could just not cool off so I was dumping water all over myself. Just water, I sware!