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Post-Mexico Update
Thank you all so much for your continued support to our Mexico
team! It was an amazing trip, and we were so blessed by your thoughts and
prayers.
Summary of the Mission
The Riversgate mission team served in the village of La Purisima, Mexico from July 23 – Aug 3. The main
goal was to conduct an “extreme home makeover” for two
families in the village. The village leadership committee nominated these
two families, each of which consists of a grandmother raising her
grandchildren without any income or family support. Other projects
included:
·Host the third annual La Purisima
Soccer Tournament
·Complete flooring and windows for the church
·Construct a community shed to move supplies currently held in a
classroom
·Complete construction of community center and Catholic Church
bathrooms
·Host a seminar for training over 20 area pastors and leaders
·Offer a week of Vacation Bible School for the 150 area children
·Open a week-long clinic to provide basic dental care for the
village
·Offer a traveling worship ministry to reach out into nearby
communities
Trip
Diary
News on 7/23/08
Noon our time: having lunch in Sugarland,
around 2pm our time
Checking radar updates for any storms on road.
Will proceed w/ caution. Will be in Victoria at 3pm
our time.
Kingsville at 6pm our time. McAllen at 9pm our time.
McAllen has power and no major flooding.
One prayer request:
Marcus Anthony has flu-like symptoms. Other than
that, everything is great!
10:00pm their time: Safe at host church. Going to
have a snack and go to bed.
From Jeff at 5pm our time:
Are between Victoria and Kingsville. No rain/wind.
Cloudy. Expecting some rain as they continue to drive.
7:40pm our time: 30 miles from McAllen. Heavy rain
but fine progress.
Will be sleeping at a Church in McAllen tonight.
News on 7/24/08
Evening: Marcus and Lorrie Anthony are flying home
tomorrow because Marcus is ill. They will arrive
PDX at 8:30pm.
The rest of the group got through customs today and
will be spending the night in Valles. They are
a little behind because customs was backed up due to the storm yesterday.
News on 7/25/08
Morning: Last
night the team stayed at the Holiday Inn in Victoria. During the day,
they had taken a longer driving route on the way to La Purisima in order to avoid flooding. They are
refreshed this morning and looking forward to their four hour drive to
the village. This evening, they are hosting a soccer tournament and a
small fair for the children.
Saturday, 7/26
Jeff said the fair and soccer game last night turned
into a Mud Extravaganza due to rain turning the area to mud. He said
everyone had lots of fun with that.
This morning they put on the first VBS day for 100+
kids. This afternoon they will begin the first work project. Tonight they
will put on a concert in Axtla, a nearby town.
Weather is cloudy, showers, comfortable, & cool.
Tomorrow if he doesn't phone w/ an update it's
because they are enjoying themselves at the waterfalls or the river.
Monday, 7/28
Yesterday was a great day. They went to the river and
the La Purisima church service. They also put
up six cement beams to support the lights on the soccer field.
Today 180 kids came to the VBS, which is going on
right now.
They expect more tomorrow.
Dental clinic is running. Have seen 25 patients so
far today (within about 1-2 hrs). Are starting work
on the Extreme Makeover Homes: one from the ground up and the other which
will be getting a new roof and a poured cement floor. Will be painting
the walls of the elementary school and making an addition to the
community center. Womens' Ministry starts this
afternoon. Soccer tournament this evening. Ten of the team will travel to
Valles to put on a mini VBS for 100 either
today or tomorrow.
Pray for:
5-6 people which have stomach trouble. It is a
typical problem. Jeff is monitoring these people and keeping
communication open with them so he will know if it gets worse. It is just
slowing them down now but isn't serious.
Pastor Rob--who will be teaching 15 local pastors
today.
Update:
Tues, 7/29
Last Night: 24 soccer teams showed. Was insanely
fun! Played until 12:30am.
Incredible!
Yesterday’s VBS had 200 kids.
35 women came to the women’s ministry.
Normally, about 12 women attend the ministry time.
Saw 70 patients in the dental clinic.
The VBS in Vallez was a
good time. (Town, 1 hour away)
Rob A is speaking to 12 local pastors in a seminar. Going
well.
Hot weather. Everyone is drinking lots of water.
Worked on roof of one home in the Extreme Makeover.
Update, Wednesday 7/30
200 kids at the VBS again
35-40 women attended the Women's Ministry
Pastors seminar going well. Dental clinic going well also.
Later today, some people from the team will travel to
a remote village 1.5 hrs away to play with the kids and maybe play music.
It has gotten very hot! They are taking the afternoon
off to rest from the work projects.
The people with diarrhea are either a little better
or staying the same. To quote Jeff, "It's under control."
David R. has been suffering from the heat. He is in
good shape now, but pray for his complete
restoration.
Nathan N. got a bug bite on his ankle and was treated
with mild antibiotics just to be on the safe side.
Update, Thursday 7/31
Jeff reported a huge, thunderous storm last night.
They had to cancel the soccer tournament halfway through. There was lots
of storm activity but no damage and everyone is fine.
Having the last VBS, last Women's Ministry, last
dental clinic, last pastors' seminar.
The remote village visit yesterday went very well.
They put on a mini VBS for a very appreciative group.
Finished the roof, finished
painting the school. The church there will finish the second house.
Tonight: big
soccer tournament, concert, gospel message, feeding 2000 people. Pray for
tonight's message/reception of and for tomorrow's travel.
Health report: most everyone is better from the
stomach trouble. Only Nick O and Ryan C are still troubled by it. Jeff
assures us that it is under control and not serious.
David R. is going to the hospital in Vallez (sp?). It is a better equipped hospital. As
mentioned previously, he suffered from heat exhaustion.
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