As you can see from all the great pictures today we took a bunch of kids from the Cadereyta to a local pool to have a fun day! The team played and jumped and splashed and piggy-backed for hours and despite many probably getting tired and a little sunburned, there were smiles and laughing all the way up until we sent the kids off on the bus!
As odd as it sounds, playing with kids can often times be tougher than some of the manual labor that is done down here. Our students did an amazing job and shined the love of Jesus to these kids ALL day! After swimming for about 3-4 hours, we had a hamburger cookout Mexico style with burger, actual ham and fresh avocado! After that Pastor Jose Angel said a few words and the team handed out backpacks to all the students to help prepare them for the next school year! After each name was called that child ran through a tunnel made by the Mexic09 team with cheering and high fives! These kids were celebrated for their hard work and rewarded with some great new stuff!
Tomorrow we have some stuff on the Back2Back campus in the morning and then we're taking the kids from Casa Hogar Douglas, Manantial de Amor and Villa de Juarez on a field trip! Should be great!!!
Thanks for all your prayers, comments and love!
-John
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Thanks so much for keeping us connected with pictures, Jeff! I've crept downstairs at unspeakable hours to see them every day this week, then I go back to sleep smiling, knowing that you're all in the best of hands, His hands! Thank you for giving those precious children a few days of carefree summer bliss while surrounding them with the love of Jesus. I'm reminded daily of the sacrifices you've made in order to be down there. You are all truly amazing, and I love you all!!!
ReplyDeleteValerie and Nikki, I've been having a great time cleaning kitchen cabinets this week, and I wish you were here to enjoy it with me. hehe I miss you more than you know and feel a part of me is missing, but I am SO, SO proud of you both.
To all my girls, can't wait to give you BIG hugs!
Love,
Diana Risselmann
hey austin fw,
ReplyDeletehope you have a great last couple of days. i love looking at all the pictures..it makes me smile. im proud of u. :)
---HB
Hi Sammy & Paige.
ReplyDeleteMom said you were having a great time. Sorry I couldn't post to you sooner but I just figure
it out, We love you and can't wait to see you
and to hear about all the things you've been
doing. Love MiMi and Ray
I love looking at all of the awesome pictures! All of you are doing a great job for Gods kingdom. Lindsey......can't wait to see you this Saturday. Dani, Mom, and I miss you a lot!
ReplyDeleteLove
Dad
So good to see all the smiling faces! Way to shine! We've not been having near as much fun here without you, Eden! (Ok... We did have Moolattes the other day. That was fun. And we almost bought a car, but, thank God, my coffee fund is still in tact for the year!)
ReplyDeleteFinish well, and we'll see you soon. Oh, & good luck getting your bed back from Christian... He's decided he likes your bunk better!
Hi and love to Beccah, too!
Love,
Mom
Austin B, we leave for Florida tomorrow morning, so this will probably be my last post. To let you know, Madelyn is going to be taking care of Lilly, Lola, and Skippy, so you're off the hook. :O) I really wish I could be there when you return, but please know that I will be thinking of you, and please call me when you get home. I can't wait to talk to you. I'm used to going 7 days without seeing you, but going 7 days without talking to you just about kills me. I love you so much more than you know, and am just so thankful that God blessed me with you. He knew that you would be the perfect son for me. I'm so proud of you and all you've done down there in Mexico. I pray that you will have a safe trip home, and that this experience will stay fresh in your heart.
ReplyDeleteI Love you bud,
Mom
To the team:
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can not be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matt 5:14,16
DC, Katie, John, Steph, Jeff, Seth, Kara, Hampton, Rach, Megan,
ReplyDeletehi everyone! i know this week is going so well for you all and that you are making a huge impact in a lot of people's lives. I just want to say thank you for being such great leaders. The whole team in Mexico this week is so strong and inspiring. You all were put on purpose in Mexico this week and you are following that with great passion and intensity. I can't wait for another growing and exciting year in GSM and can't express my gratitude to all of you leaders enough. Keep working hard and loving well. My prayers are with each of you.
love, maddie
Jonny (Hampton)-
ReplyDeleteI love you, and I'm praying for you! I hope that the trip is as wonderful as you'd been hoping and praying it would be. Keep working hard, and remember who your focus should always be on. I'm really proud of you for going on this trip. I'm truly blessed to have a brother like you who has a heart for sharing God's love with others. I hope that God will use this trip to strengthen you in Him.
Call me when you get home so we can share our tales of our journeys to foreign lands. (And yes. West Virginia does count as a foreign land! :) Love you, bro. You're pretty! (I'm not sure if you're getting discouraged at all, but that always makes Bethany feel better when she's feeling sad so I thought I'd give it a try.) Love you!
Jer
Hey! It's good to see how you guys are doing down in Mexico. its good to see everybody smiling. hope all of you are working hard for the lord! remember that whatever you do, do it with all your heart so that everybody will look up to you and do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI miss you Eden!
ABIGALE OSBORN !!! i miss you! I can't wait to see you soon!! I know your heart but God knows it even deeper than I do, and I know he is opening it even wider being there! You are the best sister ever.. and I know all the kids down there are loving you to pieces... and your loving them even more!! Daniel must be really bored without you because Aus, him, Drew and Brian made a ping-pong movie that is just hilarious!! looked like they had way too much time on their hands! Enjoy your time down there and take away as much as you can about serving others.. just be careful with the hammer.. blondie!!
ReplyDeleteI love you
Sissy<3
Hi Keek (Katie Sellers),
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well. We can't wait to hear your stories. Have you learned any good soccer moves to show coach Gru?
We are anxious for you to get home. We love you and are proud of you.
Dad and Mom Sellers
Megan: Oh my lanta, looks like you had another wonderful day! I bet the kids loved the pool. You can see the joy on their faces. You are not going to want to leave there, I know it. You have so much love in your heart to give! You make my world a better place, just by being you. I am so happy you have had this opportunity. Keep doing what you're doing - enjoy your last day tomorrow - and come home having had your life changed, once again, by God!
ReplyDeleteAll my love,
Mom
Abi!
ReplyDeleteIm not sure if Ive ever missed you this much before!! lol.. I had so much fun looking at the pictures from yesterday, though. I could just tell by the look on every one of the kids faces that you guys were doing such a big thing for them. They all looked like they were having a blast. Its crazy how much impact something as little as a meal and spending time with someone can have on someone's life...Well I hope you know that im proud of you and im still praying for you.
Daniel
Looks like you had a refreshing day in the pool. I know it's still work when you're playing with all those kids but at least you got wet!
ReplyDeletePeyton - I went to work today...many changes. My head is spinning. Hope I'm up for the challenge this year. Mike leaves tonight for the track :( But the boys are pumped for us to join him Friday.
It sure is quiet here. We miss you and Kelsey both terribly and your running here; running there; going to bon fires, etc. But it's all worth the difference you are making in the lives of others.
Take care and remember...wash your hands often!
Lesley
Mexico team... I am praying for you every day. You're on my mind constantly! I'm proud of your courage, boldness, meekness, faithfulness. You are loved. Missing you here but so glad you are there.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a wonderful time in Mexico! Sure sounds like you are! Can't wait to see you next week.
Love ya,
Aunt Jacki, Uncle Joe and Caleb
Tori. You're doing great things. Finish strong! We're proud of you.
ReplyDeleteLove, Dad and Lorraine
To the fuzzy lamas, I'm praying for great things that God is doing in your life. Though... it's hard to believe this name started with someones harry legs! LOL
ReplyDeleteLove, Someones Crazy Mom! :)
hey emily! Looks like you are having fun and working hard. I found you in a couple of pictures. We very proud of you and can't wait to see you Saturday. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteHey, team - we prayed for the India team as they left today. It was pretty cool to consider the missional reach of GCC with you all south of the border and another group headed to the other side of the globe. You're part of a great movement - not only GCC, but the world-wide, earth-changing kingdom of God! That's pretty awesome! We're proud of all of you!
ReplyDeleteAnother great day in pictures! 4 hours with kids who never stop can be exhausting for sure. But you all look engaged in the moment - and the kids look like they really connected with you. You've lived this week like Paul did among the Thessalonians. He said: "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." (1 Thess. 1.8)
Liv ~ as we type this, you have one more full day in Mexico. We know you'll finish strong! You've worked & played hard and your Heavenly Father is sure to be smiling! We certainly are! We love you & can hardly wait to see you!
Oh, and by the way, talked to Sebastian today. He misses you, too, and seems determined to see you on Saturday! But we're sure he doesn't want to see you nearly as much as we do (that's your Dad talking...) - 'cause remember, "I loved her first."
We're praying for another great day and safe travel. We'll comment tomorrow too, but not sure if you'll see it before you get home.
Love you like crazy!
Mom and Dad
Kara,
ReplyDeleteI miss you. You are a wonderful daughter.
Love, Dad
to all the ladies,
ReplyDeletei miss you so much and wish i could have been with you this week. you've been serving your hearts out and i am honored to be friends with each of you. know that god is pleased with what you are doing and that you are making greater impacts than you will ever realize. you are each a blessing in my life as well as to the people you met this week. i'm praying for you all to have the strength to finish well and i can't wait to see you in a few days!
love you all, maddie
Everyone...as I look at the pictures posted every day, and read the blogs from those there...I am humbled and amazed at the awesomeness by which God is working through you. The contibutions that you are making to the people in Mexico this week, both large and small, both physical and emotional, will be everlasting. And to think it's all because Jesus has touched your hearts in such a way that you feel a call and desire to share HIM with others. It makes my heart beat with excitment just thinking of the Kingdom building that is going on there this week!
ReplyDeleteTonight we gathered at home around our little lap top to see the pictures...and Kelsey's step-brother and sister, along with her brother, Dylan, stood in awe as they saw the wonderful things that God is doing. My husband teared up a bit...and I could tell it was because he could see in the eyes of all of you and the children you are blessing the love you have for Jesus...and that our daughter GETS TO be a part of that!
God Bless your socks right off!
Kelsey Stoll's mom...Michelle
Grizz- I love being kept up to date on your blog and on here. It's so awesome to see the joy everyone is having while serving. (Nice blog on serving too.) Props to Jeff and whoever else is taking pictures. They rock!! Keep the fire going Grizz!!
ReplyDeleteBeccah R- I absolutely love seeing pictures of you and the children. You are beaming with God's love and it makes me so happy to see it. I sent your mom a picture from Dc's blog and she LOVED it. Everyone misses you and is praying for you. Love you becs!
Eden W- I left a comment on your facebook and saw all of your status updates from before you left. If you were that excited and not even IN mexico yet I can only imagine how on fire you are right now!! I love it. Keep on loving those kids- I know you are! Praying for you!!
Smiles- Oh my smiles. I bet you are having such an amazing time doing what you love. You love children and have such a passion for wanting to help them. I admire it. Stay strong when its time to come home. I know thats one of the hardest parts for you. But just remember that you showed everyone how much God loves them this week and that's something they'll always have. I love you!!!
Monster- I know you are having a blast playing soccer with the kids any chance you get!! They are some competition :) I was talking with Colleen the other day and she said she bets if a kid stole the soccer ball from you you'd say, "UMM EXCUUUUEE ME, RUUUUUUDE!" haha. We love you and miss you. Keep up all the hard work you've been pouring out. Finish strong. You never stop giving and thats something I love about my monster. You're a monster and I love you.
Sarge- I loved your blog. The language barrier is such a hard thing to get over. But once you do, you really relate to people on a different level. It's so intimate to have a child hold your hand and hug you as their way of saying thank you. I love your heart for kids. It really shows your love for God too. To get over one of the most stressed about obstacles and remember its not about the words, it's about the actions... shoot, that's what its all about. Can't wait to hear the stories you'll bring back.
Everyone else- Keep the momentum going!! There's so much love on this blog for all of you. From things Johnny and Dc and the staff write to what parents and loved ones comment, everyone is so proud of each of you. Stay strong!!
Love,
Trace