Some Final Remarks

I am sitting in a hotel room in Dallas on the layover before our last leg home. This will be the final entry to this blog.

Last night we got together for one last debrief. We went around the room and each person talked about how God had spoken to them during our time there. I listened and quickly realized how much this trip has had an impact on all of us in some way or another. Some spoke of wanting to return, some of how showing love to a little kid transcends all language barriers, and some spoke of how we have so much particularly in light of the poverty we saw around us. When my turn came, I shared how I love to see people using the gifts God gave them to further His kingdom and of how I had seen that so clearly in everyone through the trip, and how as their "papa" I was very proud of them and how my heart felt so good to see God honoured by what they had done.

So to the parents of the team members I pass this on to you. You can be justifiable proud of what your son or daughter did while in Hermosilla, they were truly amazing. They reached deep, worked together, always unified, always cheerfully, and always prayerfully. Well done!

For the 2013 Hermosilla team this is Papa Neil. Out.

Life's a Beach, We're Just Playin' in the Sand

Today was our long awaited beach day. All 15 of us piled into the van for a long and blistering hot ride to the beach. The scenery on the drive there was full of cacti and flat sandy desert. When we finally got there it was a mad dash for the water. Even though the salt water burned our eyes and tasted disgusting, nobody seemed to care. We were all having a good time! A few of us also went tubing and it was worth every peso. 

We went down the coast to get a bit of shopping done and as we passed the beautiful houses we talked about how we were all going to buy a house together and move down for the winter! We bought a few more souvenirs, and headed back to the beach. By then it was time to go. We piled back into the van for the long drive home a little sandier and hotter than we had arrived. 

Over this week we got to know the Mexican youth and built friendships with them. Since tonight is our last night here, the goodbyes are difficult but unavoidable. We will all miss them very much. Since tomorrow will be a very early morning, we are hoping to be done packing soon and getting to bed early. 

This trip has been an amazing experience, but I think it's safe to say that we're all ready to go home. We miss you all back in Canada and we'll see you soon!

Written by Inge and Nicole

2009 Hermosillo Day Care Center Fire

Hola,

This afternoon our group went to the site of a day care fire that took place in June 2009. On this tragic day, 49 children died. Corina (Shelli's Spanish name) told us about 18 children that were seriously injured and how the church is still connected with these families. She has had many opportunities to share the gospel and has led some to Christ.

Below is a link with more information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Hermosillo_daycare_center_fire

When I was standing there I felt extremely overwhelmed; my heart broke for those familes. Please pray for the survivors and the families of the ABC day care fire.

Gracias
Sophia

The Vesa View

Hola everybody, yes the spanish stops after hola, I know the essentials and I do not think you want to hear me screaming bano (bathroom). My much more talented sister could probably lay down a few sentences. Basically the only thing we have done is played soccer. Just kidding but sincerely we are still continuing to have lots of fun. We saw the government buildings and a cathedral. We also went to the mount for the virgin of guadalupe and learned about the lies that fester there. Seriously though there is something confusing about three virgins all similar and all the mother of jesus. Just to clarify her name was mary :) The girls got to experience some shopping while the boys tried to establish barriers about spending so they did not overdose on the trinkets. Mom for the record, I am leaving rae here and bringing back one of the beautiful mexican girls. As far as food goes it continues to be delicious. It was weird not having to do kids club today but nice to just grow as a group. See you all soon and I will now hand it over to the lesser vesa, I mean raeanne.

Hi family and fellow bloggers, since my very funny and creative brother covered most of the things we did today, i will avoid that subject. Sorry we didn't get to blog till now(two days before we leave) but don't be concerned we are perfectly okay, okay well maybe not perfect, have you seen jord's hair? Ahaha oh boy, don't worry it's growing back fast. THE FOOD IS AMAZING HERE, i'm sorry mommy but it really does hit the spot. The orphanage was amazing, i was speechless the whole time there was the cutest girl there, her name is barbra , but everyone called her "budda budda." JUST SO YOU KNOW, I am perfectly with being left here and exchange for a wife, cause let's get real there's probably no girl in Canada for jordan. I love the culture and the people here, and the boys obviously, so i am okay being left behind, just don't forget to write. Kid's club was alot of work and the language barrier was really hard at the beginning, but by the end I feel I reached out to a lot of kids, one time for kid's club, kristen, mac and i ( and some mexicans) went in a van with a bunch of balloons and went to the places called "cardboard box houses" it was soooo sad and heartbreaker, well everything i breaking my heart here, but that was the first that did. I will tell you more about it when i get home, tell bandit i love him, and i will see him soon.

LOVE YOU GUYS SEE YOU SOON xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Beanbag toss at the carnival

Baseketball at the carnival

Group shot on the top of a mountain overlooking Hermosillo

Catholic Cathedral Downtown

Papa Neilo fills you in.

Pretty fun day today. We started off the day a little frantically as we were getting ready for the Kid's Camp fair. Each of the team was responsible for a fun booth (we knew this back in Stonewall) but we had to quickly get going and prepare for the onslaught. In the end we (and the kids) had loads of fun. Lots of water balloons and pistols, some basketball stuff, lots of other things. I appreciated working with Inge doing balloon animals.

After lunch we broke up into teams and with some Mexican youth as our guides went into downtown Hermosillo on a photo scavenger. All the clues were in Spanish and our guides weren't supposed to interpret, so there we were using out limited Spanish to ask our way around. Actually it was a great way to see the downtown. I realized as I walked around that there are no Sauna stores here for some reason. I may come back and open one up. I figure if you had one you could go in there and cool off once in a while. Yep it folks it's hot here, but you know the expression it's a "dry cold," well it is dry hot here and we are acclimatizing quite well. After the Scavenger Hunt we were driven to a lookout for a scenic view. There has been a few comments that this is "just like Winnipeg, but Mexican." I can't disagree.

Tonight we had a party/praise night with the Mexican youth. Great night again. Every day, every event the relationships with our hosts get closer and closer. 

Everyone is healthy and well. I am certain it is because of your prayers. Thanks everyone.

Eli's First Birthday

The youngest member of our team turned 1 today!!!  Here's a quick visual representation of Eli's day :)

Started out the day by wearing my birthday hat at breakfast (for 0.2 seconds)

My babysitter, Annelise

Chillin' with Nicole

The birthday boy

Pooh Pinata

I was scared of it and cried most of the time :(

Meghan M

Inge

I was very tired at the restaurant and did not want to wear my hat.  The team sang happy birthday to me in the restaurant.  It was a good day!

Tanner & Josh's Take

Over the last few days, our schedule has slowed down just enough to find time to hang out together and connect with the team.  Tonight we went out and had a good supper at an authentic Mexican taco restaurant.  On the way back we stopped at a Mexican convenient store (Oxxo) for snacks.  The temperature rose to close to +45 today and we filled sand bags for one of the missionaries, Lane's apartment that leaks when there are heavy rains.  Today was the last day of regular kids' club and though it ended late, it still went very well.  Please pray for us as we put on the carnival for the kids tomorrow morning.  I (Tanner) enjoyed hearing Mexican country music today while painting at the church which is close to a construction site.  In Josh's words: "I'm sleeping good, the food is good, I'm feeling good, the club was good...everything is GOOD!"  We are looking forward to going to the ocean on Monday.  We are also doing a scavenger hunt through the city on Saturday which we are looking forward to.  I (Tanner) would like my mom to know that I still have all my hair (unlike Jordan)!         Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

Helping prepare the craft during club yesterday.

Filling basketballs with air along with Greg and Shelli's oldest son, Talson.