Mexico Mission Trip Day 4 Tuesday the work continues

Like clockwork our friend in the car came by blaring his music laden ad which was the cue for the crazy people...I mean runners in our group to go down to the soccer stadium to get their morning run in. I told them every day don't run for fun but I don't think they listened. I think we all slept better through the night and we didn't have any major rain while we slept so that may have been part of it. I know Cole slept better since I grabbed him a blow up pool mattress at Walmart but it was still strange waking up in a foreign land to strange sounds and smells knowing I'd have to choke down some warm instant coffee.

Today's routine was going to be much like the day before with breakfast, work projects and VBS, lunch and siesta time, our sports ministry time at the park being back in time for dinner and group time. In our walks up and down the streets faces are starting to look familiar and the people are acknowledging us as we walk by.

This sealer paint was some thick stuff

This morning the heat didn't seam nearly as oppressive but it was probably just because we started getting used to it but the bit of cloud cover didn't hurt either. One of the nice things about working on projects with other people is just the chance to get to talk and catch up or get to know someone. Because even though I've taught Sunday school with Dale and we've been in choir together for years I had never had the opportunity to share some of things with him that I did. We either worked too hard the day before or too efficiently this day because we completed our part of the roof early. Great thing about that was just getting to sit back and watch everyone involved with the kids and the VBS. We had guys doing just about anything to get the kids to laugh and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be doing them back home with their friends watching.

 

VBS with the kids

One of the biggest hits though during VBS time was the little girls getting their fingernails painted and them in turn painting our kids fingernails...some of the guys did partake; I won't name names but there is plenty of photo evidence.

The little girls were very thorough in their painting 

We really didn't get much siestaing done today partially because all us guy's stuff had to be packed away to make room for VBS in the church but also because the girls overran our space and were being chatty. But being that I am a guy and an adult I got volunteered to make trips to the stores with others just to be on the safe side.

Today's trip to the sports park was a lot of fun because that night there was an actual game in the stadium so there were tents set up all round the block with things for sale. So with all the extra people around it meant a lot more kids came out to play. 3 little guys stuck out to me playing today....1 played on the other team and his name was Juan (on the left in the picture) and he was my nemesis. Kevin is holding the ball and Messi is on the right. We never knew his real name but he was wearing a Messi jersey and even his friends called him that. We had fun celebrating their goals in all sorts of wacky soccer ways.

one of my favorite pictures from the trip

Many years ago I ran across a blog post about Mission Balls. These are soccer balls with various scripture verses on them and come in various languages. Ever since then I've wanted to bring soccer balls on a mission trip. We left the bag of balls and a couple of pumps and several needles with the pastor so he could keep the balls inflated. Cole showed him how to change the needles and hopefully someday we'll bring him some more.

Mission balls are a great tool

After our afternoon of soccer and games came to a close we took the time to check out the various tents to see what goods they had for sale. If anyone would like a recording of Brave in 3D in Spanish with Chinese subtitles let me know I can hook you up. We finally had the chance to check out the soccer jersey store because we were there late enough.....some of the stores close during siesta time and don't reopen until the evening. On the way back to the church we stopped at the little convenience store and discovered the world's greatest pop....Lift. It is apple flavored and amazingly amazing.

Cole enjoying a Lift

As it turns out we couldn't trust anyone on the trip and you had to keep an eye on everyone and constantly be checking yourself for clothes pins. Why clothes pins you ask.....because if you got stuck with one of them and it was on your person at the start of the evening meeting then you got to treat everyone with a musical interlude of your choice. Now by the end of the trip some of the guys were purposely getting stuck with them so they could show off their repertoire of songs. This culminated into the trio of David, Austin and Jacob dropping a little Miley Cyrus Party in the USA on us; much to the chagrin of Cole. 

Lizzy assumed I was taking her picture but it was really of the clothes pin

We would end each night with group worship songs and we always seemed to want to do one more because it was so great. But tonight we ended on the roof with an Iowa team meeting, another song and a circle prayer with our friends from Michigan. Once we were done it was group hug time and I reminded the girls I still hadn't showered and wasn't planning to either until we made it to the ocean. It technically wasn't by choice anymore because the water situation was still sketchy at best. 

Evening view from the rooftop