Sunday, July 26, 2009

Day Two in the books

Hey All,
The students are just bedding down after a great day here in Mexico. This morning, we had an opportunity to take a tour of the Back2Back campus as well as a tour of Matt and Julie Coopers home and the recently completed medical center. We've had a chance to be a part of the construction of that building and it was great to see it up and running, complete with two medical exam rooms, two dental exam areas, and a digital patient record system which I hear is really advanced, even for hospitals back in the states. From there, we headed to church which, according to about 50% of the students, was the highlight of the day. Hopefully my pictures will upload so you can see for yourself the building and the experience, but it was a beautiful church at the top of a hill with a top notch worship team who sang back and forth in spanish and in english. The message was also translated in english and I think all of the students were touched deeply by that experience of worshipping next to people in a different language but singing to the same God. It was fantastic! After church, we had lunch with all the visiting teams and the children from Casa Hogar Douglas. Then we hoped on two separate busses for our afternoon project. Jonathan, Rachel, and Katie's group headed to a children's home named Imperio De Amor (Empire of love...I think) where they did a variety of things including cleaning their kitchen, building new shelves and organizing a storage closet, collecting water to use on the property from a not so nearby river, and of course, playing with the kids. I personally wasn't there but from all accounts, it was a great day. I hear there were some shenanigans involving jumping into some large barrels of water, but I'll let the students tell the story when they get back. Kara, Steph, and my (Jeff) group headed to a children's home named Monantial De Amor (Natural Spring of Love) to help pour a concrete wall behind the building to helpful solve some erosion problems that the building's foundation has been dealing with. The students worked and worked and never once complained or asked "when are we leaving?" I can tell that this blog is getting way to long, but just let me close in saying that the students are KILLING IT!!! Great attitudes, working heard, uniting with each other, and they're excited for the rest of the week. John, Kara, and D.C. arrived safely around 9:30p.m. We'll check in tomorrow! Enjoy the pictures!

-Jeff

29 comments:

  1. Awesome pictures - glad you arrived safely and are working hard and changing lives!!!! I can't wait to hear about all the transformations that happen this week. Hello to all you "Fuzzy Llamas" - Enjoy your week!

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  2. I am loving the pictures already. Glad you all made it safe and sound. Jackie

    Kaitlyn, It takes an amazing person to work all summer in order to go help those less fortunate.
    I'm so proud of you! Love, Mom

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  3. Looks like Day 2 was successful and everybody is doing well. Thanks for all the pictures. Keeping drinking lots of water! Went for a long walk in the beautiful sunshine and prayed for the one and only SON to shine on you today and the rest of the week. Have an amazing Monday.!!! It's so nice to read what everyone is doing each day. Thanks for the updates. Much love to Rachel and Nicole.

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  4. FRIENDS!!!!!!!!

    I'm so proud of you all. It sounds like you are having a blast as you are pouring all you have into serving. I'm praying for you!!

    Love the pictures Jeffrey!

    Ditto, Random fact just for you. I found THE coolest Michigan shirt of all time!!

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  5. I'm so glad the rest of the wonderful team made it safely! It's amazing that when we do the small things, God has a way of making them big!

    Kaitlyn B., Paige wants me to tell you another tooth is loose, but she doesn't want you to tell Brianne. I love you and your increadibly caring heart! Love, Mom

    Tori, it looks like you guys are doing amazing things already, I'm so glad you were able to go!

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  6. heeellooo!

    you all look like you're working hard! it makes my heart beat fast to see you all being the hands and feet of god. the work you're doing down there means more than you could realize. keep you're focus and don't lose sight of why you're down there! to liv, pey, nikki, val and kels: keep working hard. if you start to feel tired and out of energy, lean harder into the lord and he will give you the strength you need. i love you all and am so proud of each of you!

    love, madd

    "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

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  7. hey cassie, it's jordan! Hope you're having a greattt time in Mexico shining God's love! We miss you here! Love ya!
    --Jordan
    "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

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  8. Hi guy's I love seeing all the pictures of the work you are doing and accomplishing. When I read the blog each day I feel like I am there with you. We are praying for each one of you to keep working hard and to continue to be the hands and feet of God. You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!
    We love you Amanda and are very proud of you!!!!!!!!

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  9. Thanks for all the great pictures Jeff! Austin, Have I told you how proud I am of you? I know I have, but I have to tell you again - I am SOOO proud of you and your desire to follow Christ in your life. You're an amazing person and an extraordinary son.

    Have a great day/evening everyone!
    Mom Gundy

    P.S. Austin - Aubri jumped off the diving board at the pool for the first time today (yea!). Bryce chickened out. Maybe tomorrow. :O)

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  10. HIIIII!!!!

    I am so excited to see everything that God is doing and will do through all of you this week. Be Jesus for these kids...You will never regret it!!
    I love you all very much!!

    Jekema

    ps. Thanks for the pictures!

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  11. Hey Austin FW,

    Hope you had a great monday! I know i say this all the time, but i am proud of you. You are awesome!!
    :)
    Miss u
    ---HB
    p.s. SOAP!!!!

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  12. Abi!

    Im so glad to here that everything is goin well and that god is doin some good things. Anyway I just wanted to let you know that im still prayin for you and for everone... and i miss you!!!

    Daniel

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  13. Hi Samantha and Paige!
    I am so excited to see you Saturday! I guess I don't want to be an only child! :) I miss you guys! I love your room Sammy! Thanks! Oh yeah, Paige your bed is sooooo comfortable! Love ya!

    Your favorite sister,
    Madi :)

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  14. Wow what a first day! You all have so impressed me with your hearts and desire to help others...especially the kids. I know that's your favorite part, Peyton...and I'm sure many others as well. Thanks to all you leaders for your hard work as well and especially for the updates! This week would be so much more difficult and long without pics and updates so GRACIAS!

    Lesley

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  15. Hey Jonny, DC and Kara! So glad your flights went well too. It's good to see your pictures as well. And congrats DC on your team's win. I bet you have lots of stories to tell. Maybe when you're hungry, I will have the opportunity to hear a few. Love you all!

    Lesley

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  16. To all of my girls and everyone on the Mexico 09 journey...you are always on my mind! I pray that each day God brings better and better things to your life and all the lives you're touching. I admire you for the hard work you're accomplishing in the heat (don't know if I could do it!). Let His love flow through you and keep it coming!! To all the staff, thanks for taking such good care of them. I'm grateful to all of you.

    Love to all,
    Mom (Diana) Risselmann

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  17. Hi Tori. I love you and I'm so proud of you. You are opening yourself up to God's heart in a way that is going to lead your life in amazing directions. Keep going!

    Love, dad.

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  18. It sounds like all of you are having a great time. We are enjoying the pictures and blog posts and continue to pray that the week goes well. Katie S., we love and miss you very much!!! We look forward to seeing you and hearing the many stories about your time there, especially with los ninos! Fuzzy llamas rock!
    Love, Mom, Dad, Chris, Meg, and Drew

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  19. Great to see the pictures of everyone. We're so thankful Abby is with a wonderful group of people doing awesome things to help bring up there down here!

    Love and miss you Abby, Mom and Dad :)

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  20. hi lindsey i miss you r u havin funnnn????? tell oscar that you're goood friends with haley! have fun!! and hi everyone!!!

    i love you
    Dani :)

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  21. Hi Sam & Paige We miss you so much. We're so proud of you! Thanks Jeff for the pictures and blogging! I can't wait to get up in the morning to see it.
    De Mi Parte. Buenas Noches Y Dulces Suenos!
    I love you girls!! Love Mom oxoxoxoxoxo

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  22. Buenos Noches! Great pictures, Jeff. Lindsey, I love you and miss you lots!!!! I am so proud of you and all of the team for doing Gods work for the children of Mexico. Have a great day tomorrow.........can't wait to see what you accomplished.
    Love,
    Dad

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  23. Hey, Liv - You're on our minds all the time. We miss you like mad, but we're so glad you're there. Looked at the moon a couple hours ago and thought of you. Same sky, same moon, same God. We're covered.

    Liv, hope you're not upset, but the old metal shed came down today without you. As I kept swinging the sledge hammer, knocking the crap out of the thing, I thought of pictures of you working away in Mexico and knew you'd love to have had a crack at it. But... You keep working there.

    Loving the pictures each day (Jeff, you've captured the moment and unique personality in the faces of the team - great work!)! It's fun to see you all working so hard in the hot sun - and smiling! It's even more fun to know that you and the entire team are serving because you love Christ and you love the people there. You inspire us. You're representing Jesus and GCC well!

    Liv - we're looking forward to the stories, journal memories, and pictures. We'll have 9 hours to Gatlinburg (and more) to hear all about it!

    Love, Mom and Dad

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  24. PAIGE and SAM

    WOW...you are all clearly making a difference. What a blessing for all involved. No doubt you both are shining. We sure miss you here. It is not the same for sure. We had a cook out and played volleyball. Your Dad rocked! Sure you know that though. It was so much fun..we laughed alot but all thought how much funnier it would be with you there. Come home soon..until then be safe and know we continue to lift you all up in prayers.

    WE LOVE YOU
    Gee and Shelby

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  25. Abi

    Just wanting to send you a quick note to say were so glad your safe and obviously making a difference. It is a privilege to help others...we live when we give huh? May God bless you.

    Love ya lots

    Gina and Shelby

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  26. Eden,

    Hi there. Great to see pictures of you. What a awesome trip. Your smile is contagious. God bless and stay safe.

    Love
    Shelby and Gina Webb

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  27. Kelsey:
    It's so awesome to see pictures of you serving along side your friends for your Savior. (actually, it's really awesome to have photographic proof that you are still alive! lol) Anyway, we miss you, and can't help but fill with joy that you are doing such an awesome thing. Gram's small group is continuing to pray, and if I can get her to check out the blog, she might actually be able to follow along this week! But you know how that goes...Gram and computers!

    Keep up the good work, and know that we love you!

    Michelle

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  28. Sam and Paige,
    Mom said that she did not see my earlier posts so you may not have got them? Anyway, know that you're in our thoughts and prayers!
    We look forward each day to seeing the difference that you and the GSM team are making! I can only imagine the stories that would accompany each of the pictures; anxious to hear them.
    I love you both! Dad

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  29. Hey this is christian! I'm so glad to see everybody happy and even though the work is hard. pays off with other people smiling. Remember whatever you do, do it with all your heart because that brings up everybody around to work harder for the lord.

    I miss you Eden!

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