Day 2: Exhausting

Today was not as exhausting as you might think, but when you combine my lack of physical fitness and an altitude well over a mile above sea level, things can get a little hairy. Hannah even had to go back to the room for a while today. We think she's suffering from altitude sickness. Please keep praying for her.

Setting up the room for VBS with (LT to RT) B-----, R----- (sitting), S-----, and M-----

Our work commenced with gathering our supplies and then setting up the room we're using for the VBS. We worked hard, and I even put together the tent we brought. The MKs did a phenomenal job helping us, though some wanted piggy-back rides more than they wanted to help ;-). The work took a long time, and I decided to head out to the store when the opportunity arose. Hannah and I didn't pack much clothes for cold weather, and even though 59 degrees isn't that cold, shorts and a t-shirt doesn't always cut it. We picked her up a green and white zip-up hoodie (thin, not thick material) and she seemed to like it, especially since Mexico's colors are red, white, and green. Just one off!

When we got back, Mitch, one of the teenagers on our team, helped me put together my missions room. It was a lot of moving tables and taping together posters to block out the windows (the missions rotation is supposed to be a cave), and we couldn't finish before lunch, so we had to come back again to put on some finishing touches before the room was used as a testing area for missionaries. They have to keep up on their Spanish skills, so it's nice to know that they monitor that.

Mitch slide tackling D-----, an IMB missionary

With nothing to do for a few hours, we got together and played good old, American football with the MKs and some missionaries. After a couple turnovers and two touchdowns, we decided to end the game with a tie (you can do that in Mexico) and play soccer. That was exhausting for me (Andrew). Hannah was in the room during this time trying to get over altitude sickness. I was trying to defy it. By the end of the game I was not feeling too well, in part because I took a powerful kick right to the groin. We ended up losing 3 or 4 to 1, but I did get to score that one goal. All in all, we probably played for about three hours.

In the evening after supper the missionaries officially began the retreat part of the week (prior to that it had all been business). We took the kids (K through 6th) to sing some VBS songs and Kristin (another team member) assigned the older kids roles in a play. After the fun was over, we tried to play capture the flag with the youth, but we had to call it due to lightning. But I'm bushed. Technically it is now day 3, so I had better get to bed. Be sure to check out all our photos from today here.

Day 1: Arrival!!!

UPDATE: Today's photos are all available online here.

We've made it. Hannah and I could hardly sleep last night, so after only two hours of sleep and a long day of travel, we've made it to Querétaro. Mexico City is a massive tangle of urbanization, and it took us quite a long time to navigate through customs, but Hannah and I made it with our baggage intact (with the exception of a broken wheel on one of our bags). Some others in our group lost some of the things they were bringing like a special mp3 player with sermons from the Spanish version of Charles Stanley. I hope the customs officials needed them.

The missionaries in Mexico hooked us up with some drivers, so I got to enjoy chatting with Miguel the whole way to Querétaro, with the exception of a short power nap. When we got to the hotel, we discovered that it is more like a grand complex spanning a lot of area. There is a restaurant, pool, tennis courts, patios, greenery... ah, it is perfect for a retreat. We met some of the missionaries, and Hannah and I look forward to learning more about their ministries and maybe find out a little more about what to expect as we get closer to the dream we believe God has laid on our hearts, full time service overseas.

MKs left to right: R----- and sisters R-----, S-----, & L-----

Supper was great, and though I'm tempted to say the best part was the tres leches cake, I have to say we very much enjoyed chatting with some MKs (missionary kids). We spent most of the time talking with R-----, S-----, L-----, and M-----. Learning about missions from the perspective of people who've grown up and are growing up in that environment has been phenomenal, and we feel like we've made some friends too. They're not that much younger than us.

Thank you all for praying for us, for safety, patience, and love. I think a few of us got on each others' nerves once or twice, but everyone has been patient and gracious. May God be praised. Tomorrow more of the missionaries will be arriving, so pray for their safety in travel and pray for the people they left behind who still have a mission to carry out without their American counterparts. We also want to see God glorified in our attitudes and kindness. And catching up on some missed sleep isn't too bad, either.

Meet Dan and Treva

Meet the team (well, most of us)! This picture was taken at our last get together in June. We hope to introduce you to each person a little bit on our trip. For now, we'd like you to meet Dan and Treva. Dan is second from the right and Treva is wearing the black shirt to the left of him. They live in northern Indiana near the Michigan border. Hannah and I knew their son and daughter-in-law before we met them, since Derrick, their son, and Betzy, their daughter-in-law, go to church with us and are actively involved in the Hispanic ministry at Fall Creek Baptist Church.

Dan speaks Spanish fairly well and has gone on these trips many times. He's been one of the primary organizers and coordinators of this trip and we are very grateful for him. Treva has been the quieter of the two, but she has a warm smile and is looking forward to being with the MKs (missionary kids) and serving in Mexico.

Please keep these two in your prayers (as well as the rest of the team) that they would be strongly united in love, seeking to serve one another, the team, and the people in Mexico with grateful hearts. They have been instrumental in making sure this trip goes off without a hitch, and if something were to go wrong, it won't be because of them.

What's Going On?

If you're like me, you often ask people the question, "What's going on?" I don't normally ask it as a greeting. It usually arises out of total confusion and lack of any knowledge about the events that are transpiring around me.

But as of right now I know exactly what's going on. Hannah and I, along with a team of about 18 other people, are traveling down to Querétaro, Mexico, at the end of the month. Why? To put on a rockin' awesome VBS for MK's (missionary kids) while other team members hold a special retreat for their parents. The missionary families look forward to this annual event because they get a break from their ministry responsibilities and get to spend time with their family away from home speaking in their heart language. And God, in His providence, has seen fit to allow Hannah and I to participate in this special time.

Please pray for us and our team as we earnestly seek to serve God in a way that pleases Him, not that He needs us or that we have done anything to deserve this privilege, but because His mercy and grace to us.

In the days to come, we look forward to introducing you to our team and the amazing work God is doing through His people in Mexico!