Week 5 -- Baltimore, Wisconsin, & Michigan groups

We had another huge group this week with 3 different churches, but everyone worked well together. There was a large group of youth that led praise and worship several times, and it was amazing. The Baltimore group was mostly women, so we had a ladies meeting in the city of Pompeya -- or as I like to spell it, Pompeiia :-) I translated a devotion that one of the ladies wanted to share. It was about never stopping when life gets in the way of what God wants us to do, but instead pressing on. They passed out some Crocs that were donated to the kids and their mothers. It was a great time of worship and prayer and fellowship; we had the service there afterwards. Of course, we had VBS in Pompeya and in La Bolsa for three days. Wednesday was our free day -- again we went to Real de Catorce -- and Thursday night we had service in La Bolsa.

God was mighty in encouragement this week. I had much to be in charge of after Roger took the Baltimore group on Thursday, but I pushed through it and received much encouragement along the way.

The work projects this week were pouring a concrete slab at the compound, digging an outhouse hole in La Bolsa, and putting up cabinet doors under the sink in the bathrooms at the compound. The Baltimore group left early on Thursday to go to La Haciendita to visit and minister for a day, leaving the other two groups in Arroyo until Sunday. Since they were here a little bit longer than usual, we had Saturday to do something a little different. We visited the city of Mier y Noriega and played volleyball and had a service later that night. The crowd wasn't as big as I'd have liked because of two quinceaneras (15th birthday parties) that were going on, but one man confessed his sins & came to Christ! The Bible says that one salvation is more precious than gold, and it was worth it to plant His seed and to see one life turned over to the hands of the Father.

Several of the summer staff left on Friday, which was sad. They were a huge source of encouragement and we had lots of fun, but God continues to work now that they're gone, and I can see how He has worked through them while they were here.

This week is our week off because a group canceled, so I'm spending some time in Arroyo, resting, and worshiping the Lord. The internet isn't working very well so I'm not able to put pictures up. I'm sorry; I wish you had the visual aid of what's going on, but what's more important is the story of what God is doing because that's where His witness is.

My biggest lesson for the week came from Youth Pastor Mike after praise & worship on Wednesday night. He says that sometimes we have experiences when we can feel the Holy Spirit move; we can feel His presence and we can worship in the midst of it. But that feeling may be gone tomorrow, and you'll wonder where it is and try to replicate it, but you can't. So don't try to replicate that feeling. It's not for us anyway, it's for Him. And the genuine heart of a Christian worships even when he/she cannot feel that presence. So add it to your testimony, and look back on it and remember it when you need to.
To that I say Amen!

Week 4 -- Ohio & Indiana groups

What a week! Everything seemed to go wrong -- at least according to our standards and expectations -- but there was a powerful lesson to be learned. Or multiple lessons, I should say. First of all, I was majorly stressed at the turn of events, but God spoke to me in my quiet time about not asking to be removed from difficulties but instead asking to honor and glorify God in these times. The times we learn the most are when we face the challenges that are presented to us. So early on in the week I learned to ask God how I could glorify Him through trying times such as leadership conflicts, scheduling problems, lack of organization, clashing of personalities, etc... Then, when things kept going "wrong" God really showed me that our expectations aren't necessarily right, and that even though things aren't going as we plan, HE is still in control of how they ARE going. Ultimately, His will is being done, no matter how we view the situation. So I had to change my view of the situation to recognize His sovereignty in all that was happening, and also to have patience through it. Thirdly, I learned that we must worship God first, and then He will answer our prayers. You can't stand under shelter praying for the rain to stop so that you can go out to worship and minister. God wants us to get out there and do it, no matter the circumstances. Then He will see how our hearts are devoted and genuine, and He will intercede. These are just a few things that stood out to me this week. It's easy to see the lessons now, but as a stumbled and struggled through the week, things seemed so much more overwhelming. Nevertheless, let me say that God was there with an encouraging word in my quiet time, or through a letter written to me, or a word of praise from a fellow Christian each time I got discouraged or uncertain. The most difficult week turned out to be one of the most valuable for me; Praise God my ears were open to hear Him speak.


Welcome to Dr. Arroyo!! I'm a little late on this picture, I know.

Randy from the Indiana group working with the kids and their VBS craft.

They made fish after learning the story of Jesus telling his disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat to catch the fish.

Translating another testimony at the service. I got to do two this week!

The Indiana group brought dramas and acted them out. This one is about hiding behind masks like beauty and humor. Jesus shows us our true identity and teaches us to love Him and ourselves.

So we poured concrete on the roof of the building at our facility and I forgot to take a final picture, but I will this week and put it on here later. I managed NOT to get concrete in my eye, although I do have some pretty sweet bruises, and I got some kind of dirty, too. This is me and Megan after lifting buckets of concrete ALL DAY!!! And I'm still sore haha

On Thursday we went a day trip to the city of Real de Catorce. There's a lot of indian influence in this city, I'm not sure of what tribe, but we saw and did some really cool stuff, and we'll be going back at least two more times.

Selling some corn, Mexican-style out of the truck bed
House in Real de Catorce w/the laundry outside

Me and Kirsten.... she's part of the summer staff, but she just left this weekend :( She's going to Belmont this fall, though, so she'll be in TN!
Narrow streets through the city. Reminds me of Spain :-)

We rode horses up to the ruins of a mining hacienda and also a ghost town built in the 1770's. Both were constructed around silver mining, which still goes on there.

Real de Catorce from above, and the wall built to keep out banditos (and to protect from falling/washing rocks)

On my horse, Mela, with the city of Real de Catorce below me. We eventually rode up to 8850 feet in altitude.

Our guide and some of the others who went horseback riding. The ruins reminded me of something out of the Chronicles of Narnia.
Peeking through a hole in the wall!
Joanne & I standing on top of the mining hacienda ruins.