Final Update

This is the final update of Senior Mexico 2008. Don't go away totally, though. We will continue to post some messages about important events and messages in the future. Thanks for following along this summer. This is the update from the final night.

This morning was unusual in Mexico. For the first time in many years we were allowed to sleep on the roof, however around 6 a.m. everyone is sound asleep when it begins to POOR rain. Of course you can imagine what 50 plus people do while sleeping on a roof when it begins to rain. Then the day sort of begins people wake up scattered around the complex. We wake up, have breakfast, and begin to share our stories on how we got off the roof during the middle of a downpour.
After breakfast, everyone began their quit-times and packed up to head out. After quit-times and the vans were packed we headed back to Texas. As my van (Bullard) went through the border the officer there asked me, “What are you bringing back from Mexico?” Very instinctively I answered, “Full Hearts!” It’s a great description of how we all feel at the end of an amazing week. We have full hearts for each other, the Mexican people, and most importantly God.
We dropped the luggage off at the Church, and headed to lunch. Then again another strange thing happens. My van of course leaves before the rest and (Michele) decides to get lost. After driving for about 30 miles we get the idea to call for help. Although to find out after receiving help, Casey had told us to move the total opposite way away from the Chic-Fil-a. After all is said and done, we make it to Chic-Fil-a and then head for the Market. Once we got to the Market we split up and shopped for about an hour and a half. After we met back up around 5:45 we leave for dinner at Wallbangers (Real nice choice, I must say).
After dinner was over the vans went back to the church where we played a massive game of knockout (Casey lost at the end to Alex Reese). Group time followed where we sent out thank you notes for Sponser-A-Youth and signed up for Crew Ministries for next year. Now everyone has been doing the same thing for about 4 hours straight. We are playing basketball, cars, spinning in circles, still playing basketball, and not sleeping. It’s now really late and the early flight will be getting ready soon. Yeah so, that was our day. Everyone says goodnight.

DAN TYSOR AND CHRIS BULLARD and Suzanne Kirkland (sort-of)

Friday 7/4

Today is July 4th. At home in Raleigh all of our friends are inevitably celebrating with the typical 4th of July accessories: hot dogs, hamburgers, and fireworks. But here in Mexico those quintessential American traditions had no effect on our day at work.
Many of us sleeping in the sanctuary started our day with a scream as Bethany and Casey decided it would be funny to wake us up by banging pots and pans together. After two cups of black coffee and morning devotion it was time to head off to work. My group finished laying block on top of a house that we have been working on all week. It was really meaningful for us to finish this because we have worked on this house all week and we saw something tangible of what all our hard work was for.
After a hard morning of work and a big lunch it was time for my daily siesta. But as it seems to happen a lot around here, my sleep was rudely interrupted by a few people I won’t name. (Sarah Starbuck and Jessica McNeil.) I have found this week that nothing wakes you up like applying a fresh coat of sunscreen. So, with a new coat of sunscreen on, I began to shake off the drowsiness and I was ready for work.
In the afternoon we poured our last roof of the week. This was a big deal for a lot of people because it would likely be the last work they’d ever do in Mexico. So, with the undying motivation of going out with a bang, everyone took their places and began to work. My role in this afternoon’s work was being a member of the “dream team of shoveling.” The team consisted of Drew Bailey, Hunter Starr, Walt Roberson, Patrick Walthall, and I.
About halfway through the roof the sky opened up and it began to pour. I learned in English class this year that water symbolizes change or revival. So, with our theme this week being change I think that it is really fitting it has rained most of the time we have been here. The rain cooled our bodies and washed the cement off of us, giving us the strength to finish the roof.
Casey’s message tonight was a call to action. On the first night he challenged us to ask ourselves whether or not we are actually Christians. Tonight he called on us to answer that challenge. I was particularly moved by his sermon because he quoted some scripture I had read in my morning devotion. The verse was Luke 9:24, which says, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
It has been a hard week at work, and I know that we are all tired and ready for a fun day at the market tomorrow. I know that we will all miss the times we have had in Mexico, but we will never forget the love that the Mexican people have shown us this week.

Billy Wollman

Thursday 7/3 Hola!

Hola from MEXICO!
Today has been very busy but so much fun! In the morning, groups broke off into 5 different work sites. Doing various jobs such as pouring the ring of the roof, preparing for foundation, rebar and many more. Around twelve we met back at the compound for lunch and then the dedication of two houses we built. The dedication was very humbling because we realized the true impact it made on the whole family. Also we bonded so much with the families because we made real connections to their lives. After dedication we all went to pour a roof for a lady named Gabby. With our large group we finished quickly and had time to come back for Vacation Bible School. We played many games, sang songs and at the end we gave the ninos Bibles. Right after VBS we had a fiesta with the families in the neighborhood and the people whose houses we have been working on all week. During dinner we (Chelsea Queen and Rachel Ross) sat with a group of women who spoke no English. There was an obvious language barrier but we could still understand each other. We talked about the animals here and the horrible conditions in which they live. Towards the end of the meal one of the ladies asked if we were finished so she could save the food for another meal. We realized how much we waste and don’t appreciate. After everyone was finished eating and playing we had our group time talk where Sarah talked about “Surely we can change the WORLD.” It was really powerful because she showed us not matter what age you can still do so much. Mike led us in worship that was amazing as usual. We just got back from a mid night taco run and woo took us it was AMAZING. Bullard just showed up and he wants to tell everyone hello yahhh. We are having a great time and this week has gone by really fast and we are all really sad that tomorrow is our last day at work ;(. Hope everyone’s doing well and we love you all!!

Bullard is back and he says good night.

With mucho mucho mucho amor,
Chelsea Queen and Rachel Ross.

Wednesday July 2nd

Our third day of work here in Mexico was very eventful. We started out by splitting into our different work groups doing several things such as laying blocks, pouring floors, and digging a foundation. The process of laying block involves laying down large cinder blocks and using the cement for mortar. It is imperative that the blocks are straight and all the same height. Pouring a floor is very similar to pouring a roof. First you mix the cement, pass the cement along in buckets, and then pour the cement on the flooring. Digging the foundation proved to be very difficult as the ground is extremely rocky and tough to dig. After lunch, we had a short church service with the Mexican families we are building houses with. We sang songs together in Spanish and enjoyed spending time worshipping together. Then we were all surprised with a trip to the Rio Blanca, a river close to where we are staying, to swim and have a relaxing afternoon. We swam all the way down the river, over slimy rocks and mud, only to get kicked off of a private Mexican farm playground. On the way back down the river, many boys and Sarah Starbuck climbed up trees and jumped into the river. Playing in the river was a refreshing way to end our afternoon. Driving to and from the river, Woo, the driver’s ed. teacher who taught many of us to drive, was pulled over by the Mexican police twice. However after explaining that we were here doing mission work they let him off the hook. After our trip to the river, we held VBS for the Mexican children. We sang songs, played duck duck goose, and tie dyed t-shirts with the kids. It was fun for everyone as we all formed special relationships with the ninos. We ended the day with a delicious American meal of hamburgers and hotdogs. At night, Casey talked about changing the way we view the world and how we treat others around us here and at home. We are all exhausted and can’t wait to get a good night’s sleep so we can work hard again tomorrow.

Liz Sims, Becky Spitzer, and Katie Kelly

Tuesday Update!

As the 2nd day of work comes to an end, everyone is tired and exhausted from the intense roof pouring that went on today. The main purpose for today’s work was to pour a roof. The majority of people went to this worksite while a few people went to finish laying blocks for the walls of the house. After the people laying the blocks finished their work they came over to help the rest of the group with the roof pouring. Pouring a roof takes a lot of time and effort. To pour a roof you have to first mix the cement then pass it along a bucket line towards the scaffolding and up to the roof where it can be poured. This work is some of the hardest work you experience because you can’t take a break and you have to work through lunch. It is however rewarding when you finish and get to see the completed work and how thankful the family is. Today we poured the roof from around nine in the morning to two in the afternoon. After we came back and had lunch the workgroups split up and went back out to do work on different houses. Some groups went and did rebar, some dug foundations, and others laid block. For dinner tonight the group went to Granero Grill. We got to eat Mexican food consisting of meat and tacos. Towards the end of dinner many people decided to start to eat the jalapeño peppers. It started out with boys such as Walt, Stewart, Dylan, Patrick and Billy indulged in the peppers. It exceeded into a challenge between Bucky and Colby to see who could go the longest without water. The competition began with each eating a pepper; it then went on with each other trading spoonfuls of hot sauce, each trying to outdo the other. It ended with Colby not being able to down the last spoonfuls, and eventually in tears. Bucky is a man of men and should not be tested by anyone. Afterwards we came back to the colonia and hung out for a while before going up on the roof where Brad Gwinn spoke and challenged us by questioning us if we really were Christians. Everyone is exhausted from today’s work but cannot wait for tomorrow to come.
Bullard would like to let his mother know that he loves her and Molly wants to say that she misses her mom and will see her when she is a year older.

Colby Greene and partially Jenna, also accompanied by Woo, and the story of the competition was kept straight by the great Bucky.

Hola from Mexico Monday 6/30

Hey from Mexico! Today was the first day that groups began their work. They split us up randomly so that we could be with some of our close friends, as well as bond with some of the others we do not normally surround ourselves with. The work sites included: two houses being built up with cement blocks for their walls, a clinic where cement was poured into the foundation, rebar, and digging. At group time in the evening, we gathered in the sanctuary because Mexico had it’s first big rainfall for months-we saw a rainbow! In the sanctuary groups shared what they had experienced throughout the day and what their hopes were for the week ahead. In worship and devotion we talked about loving your neighbor as you love yourself and having a true desire for something more this week than what was experienced last year. We are continuing to live out the summer message of ‘surely we can change something’. Casey announced that we are going to all pour a roof tomorrow, which we are incredibly excited about. The niños were very energetic and excited for our return. The Millbrook boys found it necessary to teach the boys about teif (you don’t want to know). Woo decided to fly a kite at the worksite today, which broke just moments later. Casey Prince is proud to announce that he successfully fought and utterly destroyed Patrick Walthall. Colby would like to tell his mommy that he loves her and misses her dearly. Due to his incredible working skills his muscles are now even more “swoll” (if at all possible). Mrs. McNeil, we would like to inform you that Jessica’s air mattress is officially three stories high and furthermore cannot fit in her bunk bed…she’s sleeping on the floor. However, her circumstances are much better than Patrick Walthall’s, who is unfortunately sleeping on a pink pool raft for the remainder of the week. Can’t wait for the week ahead and stay updated for more stories. Special shout out DOOBIE!!! ☺ And Maria and Odom family, we love you all!
P.S. We designed the t-shirts and they are the best yet.
Adios Amigos!
Brooke Odom and Jenna Murray