Hey Friends and Family,
Here's a few short thoughts and insights from the students about our time in Oaxaca so far this week...
The nationals here in Oaxaca are amazing, beautiful people. They are so hospitable and kind to us crazy gringos. We have tried to befriend them and love them, and as the days have gone by, they have began to trust us and return that love. That is priceless. In one "simple" wednesday night service, numerous people made decisions to follow the Holy Spirit. This was in a church with about 100 people... we DO NOT see this big of a response ever in the States. I have been blessed and they are not the ones building a house for me.
On a side note, do not try to get into a fight with a cement mixer. It will win every time. Why do I know this? The mixer dropped on my big toe today and I have ice on it as I write to stop the swelling. Good times. The end. -Lee Clarkson
My turn!! First of all, I want to say thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers. We are having an amazing trip, and we know that much of that has to do with the prayers that surround us. That being said, including today's work day, we have now poured cement at 5 different houses. This is more than any group has accomplished in such a short amount of time. Our team is incredible, and our unity came in handy when forming numerous assembly lines and getting the job done quickly. Our enthusiasm for the work was contagious, and before long, many local girls came to help us out. It was tiring, but incredibly satisfying. Thanks again for all of your prayers. Thus far, most of the team has remained relatively healthy and no serious injuries have occurred, praise the Lord! See you all in a few days! -Melissa Kazemier
Tammy's turn: Well, all you parents should be so proud of your kids. They are amazing with the children here. Loving them. Hugging them. Holding hands. Teaching them the Hokey Pokey and Duck Duck Goose. It is wonderful to see and brings tears to my eyes time and time again. I can't stop taking pictures. I have a month of fodder for my own blog when I return. It has been a pleasure getting reacquainted with some of the kids that I had in Kids Choir so many years ago, as well as meeting a new group. Their love for the Lord is evident in their actions over and over again. Their work ethic is admirable. I tell you, that Daniel Lee is one strong man!!! All the boys do hard hard work with the cement, while the girls do the next hardest with shoveling sand and rocks. I am getting quite a work out each day. Many of the local kids have started joining in the assembly line to return buckets for a refill of cement too. And praise the Lord for Mission Increase renting the port-a-potty. Otherwise the side of the road and a towel would have been it. No kidding. Next time, I am going to take an offering before I come to buy bags and bags and bags of dog food for the hundreds of super skinny scrawny dogs running around. A lot of them are heart breaking to see. The children here need so much love, and all of these fantastic college students are pouring it out in buckets. Praise God for this SEC College Group! Blessings to you all, Tammy or as they say here in Mexico, Tamarrrrra. (Dan is really good at rolling those R's!)
Megan Adams here! As I write to you all, I can hear the laughter of other group members coming from one of the hotel rooms. Not only have I been blessed by the beautiful people of Oaxcaca, but I have been blessed by the incredible young people in this group. Today was a long day for all of us, and to take a moment during that work to see the people that God brought together to serve His kingdom truly took my breath away. I have never seen a group of people serving with such love and compassion. To see the smiles on all of our faces and the reactions of the nationals who were with us was quite a blessing and an important reminder of how God wants us to live our lives each day; serving Him, loving others, and spreading His word. Thank you for your prayers and support for our group. We can hardly wait to come home and share with you (although I know it will be difficult for many of us to say goodbye to our new brothers and sisters in Christ).
As you can see, God is challenging us and speaking to us in many different ways. It is a joy to be a part of this ministry and this mission trip. Tomorrow we will spend our last day at the church doing the feeding program, finish up construction on a roof, and visit eight homes and deliver food baskets. With money that we raised for our trip, we have bought main ingredients and foods for eight families, and the Pastor of the church in the area where we've been doing the feeding program is going to take us to the eight families who have the greatest need tomorrow. Please pray that they would see the love of Christ through what we say and do and pray for our students, as they say goodbye to kids that they have so quickly fell in love with. Tomorrow afternoon and evening will be a fun time together in the Zocolos and surrounding area of the city, shopping and enjoying the local churches, dancing and food! Thank you for your prayers.
In Christ,
Oaxaca Mission Team
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