Cookout at the Ranch

All the groups met at the ranch between 5-6pm.  Martin, Susie & I were on our way ... when the ... radiator broke down and started steaming out the hood of the car.  We pulled over and Martin made a few phone calls.  Two other vehicles were able to provide us transportation for the rest of the way.
It was really neat to see so many people out there using all the space - horse rides, sitting on the porch of the dormatories, socializing under the covering, cooking in the outside kitchen, playing horseshoes in the yard, and jumping on the trampoline.  We had hot dogs, watermelon, ... and lots of flies.
The Gatto family has recently moved out of the house and a new family has moved in (all within the last 2 weeks).  The Gatto's are getting ready to go on their furlough for about 6 months.  I'm hoping they'll touch base with us when they get to the Phx, AZ area.

Cooler activities

It's not only temperature cooler in our room, but it seems that our lessons, activities, games, ... have also become cooler.  The motivation has increased now that we aren't dripping and sticky.  The kids' attention span is also a little longer.

This morning our lesson was the weekly theme: "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8. Our books and activities dealt with the five senses (tasting, seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling)and the attribute "GOOD". Our craft was making watercolors out of Kool-Aid packets and painting pictures of fruit. Boy did it smell good in here!! Their pictures are now - scratch n' sniff.

Wednesday

Today is the field trip day for the elementary and youth groups.  So, we have asked to use the elementary classroom for the day.  We mopped, vacuumed, and sprayed down with Lysol.  Then, moved and unpacked our preschool table, books, games, tubs, and crafts.  In a jiffy we transformed it into 'our' space.  Milton (the Casa Buena owner) and his assistant got our air conditioner unit to work mid-morning and it is a marvelous thing.  Desi & I have staked our claim on this room for the rest of the week.
This picture (right) may not be anything to look at, but it is a prayer come true for us.  The red and green lights that are lit ... mean the air conditioner is running.  Aaahhhhhhh!

Game & Coffee House Night

Our evening festivities were held in the worship center at Casa Beuna.  There were group games, gift bags, and a 'Coffee House'.  Patti (the TEAM Conference Coordinator) got "the bug" that's been going around, so Tonya and I were the 'bartenders' for the night.  It was fun!  Tonya was making vanilla, mocha, and chai smoothies.  I was taking coffee orders - decaf/regular, flavor options - plain, vanilla, or almond.  After clean-up it was after 10pm before we loaded up to come home.

Desi & I

Desi and I make a great team.  This is us and a picture of us with our kids for the week.  We love them so dearly since the second they walked in our room.

Tuesday - day 2

Tonya is so relaxed with her schedule, lessons, and kids.  Once she spent some time with them and got through 'the first day's' curriculum, she knew better what to expect, personalities, and what to teach.  Last night and today she was definitely herself again.
The preschool group (me) spent a nice amount of time with the 2 older groups today.  We made tie-die shirts.  In the morning we wrapped the rubber bands and in the afternoon (5pm) we squirted on the paint.  It was great fun for them to combine the colors!  I had each of my kids point to a place on my t-shirt for a rubber band that will represent them.  Then I had one of the elementary kids do the painting for me, while I helped the little ones and took pictures.  He did a super job!
 Our room was much hotter today than yesterday. The afternoon was unbearable for the little ones. They were already tired, then the heat mixed in and it created grumpy, irritable, attitudes. They couldn't help it and they were having meltdowns. We moved our mattress to a semi-cooler room to watch VeggieTales, but we'll need a new plan for tomorrow.

Evening Fun

The evening time (everyone) was a night having ice cream along the Malacon'. Tonight we went to the ice cream shop with the white tree and polka dots.  Tonya and I each had a ground coconut ice cream bar.  It was very yummy!!  My preschoolers were starting to melt (Tonya said "faster than their ice cream.") but I was able to look at them and smile ... their mommies were there.

The kids

Oh what a day we had!!  Our room was hot, but the kids didn't complain.  Desi is an amazing assistant.  We work very well together and think similarly about nurturing and disciplining young children.  We had a lot of fun with our verse:  "But, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22-23.  We brought in crafts, lessons, hands-on, coloring, games, books, ... you name it.

Ali

Luke

Ava

Kylah

Arthur

Desi and the boys

Worship

After breakfast we had everyone together in the worship room (air conditioned).  Patti had introductions and Paul led us in a marvelous time of worship.  It was the perfect way to start the day.

Preschool Classroom

Tonight we had dinner as a group at Casa Beuna and then broke into small groups to prepare for tomorrow.  Desi (my preschool assistant) and I went to our 'classroom' and got it ready for our kiddos.  There was quite a bit of cleaning, organizing, and rearranging to do.  We will figure out a way to cool the room tomorrow (AC doesn't work).

Sunday Service - El Faro

We went to church service this morning at El Faro.  It was wonderful seeing friends, adults and children.  There were lots of hugs and smiles.  I recognized 2 worship songs and sang them in English, the others I did my best to read the Spanish words from the powerpoint.  The breeze in the crossway was refreshing and listening to Rafael speak was interesting.  The scriptures he selected for his sermon were on the same pages as some verses that I will be using and relating to for my lessons this week.  He went in a completely different direction, but it was neat to see how God brought those together.
There was a family there that the children had attended the Strong Families VBS last month. It was exciting to show them the pictures I brought and hug them again.  Another amazing thing ... the Sunday School classrooms are now concreted.  Wow, big changes and growth already.

Accomodations

We are staying at the condo. It is a few blocks away from Casa Beuna (the TEAM Conference Headquarters) and it is right on the water. We are at the end of the Malecon' walkway, so after unpacking (nesting) Tonya & I walked to Lola's Yogurt for dessert.

Tonya & Jodie have arrived

We are here.  Tonya arrived in Phoenix at 9:30pm Friday night.  She had a few hours (literally) of sleep in a comfy bed and then we got up at 3:15am Saturday morning to catch our 6:10 flight to Los Angeles.  We had a few hours in LA to go over curriculum, catch up, and get a bite to eat.  Our second flight to LaPaz was on a tiny plane.  The propeller was just to my left (see photo).  I teased Tonya and said "I have you to my right and the propeller to my left.  I could get my head chopped off from either side."

Martin and Susie were at the airport to pick us up.  Tonya made her own introductions since my bags were getting rumaged through - twice (two different stations).  We swung by Casa Beuna and then went to Martin & Susie's house for late lunch / dinner with two of the other missionary couples - Paul & Jan, Herb & Linda (yes, Gregg).  Some of the other flights were delayed, so we postponed our "curriculum meeting" for the evening and we were dropped off at our "home" for the week.

LaPaz, Mexico - x2 - "Going Again!"

I am going to LaPaz, Mexico AGAIN.

We're home

The church, El Faro (meaning "the lighthouse") prayed over us and sent us farewell.  We're home - safe and sound.  It was an amazing mission trip.  We've narrowed the passion of 1,750 photos down to 77.  Please check them out:  share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AatWrFi5ctVE64

Rancho El Camino

This morning we visited "The Ranch" - Rancho El Camino.  Another family, who are TEAM Missionaries, have been living/working in this area for the past 5 years.  The land was donated and is now being used to host camps, provide living quarters for interns who are helping build up areas and new buildings, and bring new believers into the Kingdom of Christ.
The Gatto family - Peter, Cher and their 5 children keep this area functioning, while they homeschool and share Christ's love with those all around them.  It was a joy to see the work of our Creator, our God, in this environment. It was a pleasure to hear Cher telling us stories of how God has moved the hearts of people to accept Christ - as their Savior - in the midst of this desert area.