No Picture Friday

We finished laying the new tile floor. We could tell by looking into Maria's face that she loved it. After the floor we calked around the utility room, finished hanging a steel exterior door into the kitchen and did a few little touch-up jobs. We were done by 11:00 AM. Maria's life changed because of the work done on her home. Our team was very blessed to be with Maria and her famiey for the five days we worked on her home. May God continue to bless the Jimenez family. Thank you very much and God bless the people of the Pharr Community Outreach Project who give countless hours serving those less fortunate than themselves in Hildago County.

We went back to San Juan UMC and showered. After a short team meeting we decided to make lunch and head for home. We left at about 1:00 PM. We drove all day and night and arrived in St. Peters, MO at about 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 18.

I am very proud of our team and the work they did as the hands of Jesus in Hildago County, Texas. This area has much need. As you read this I encourage you to consider serving at the Pharr Community Outreach Project in Pharr, TX. You can contact them at 956-787-4529 or email them at pharrumc@sbcglobal.net. You can learn more at http://www.pharrumc.com/.

We plan on another mission next year. Please contact me at kargriff@sbcglobal.net if you would like to participate. I keep a contact list and will notify you several months in advance of our next mission.

Thursday - Hump Day

We thought this might be our last work day. Things have been moving along smoothly and were planning to leave a day early. This was not to be, and that is OK. We are called to serve and we will do so until the mission is complete. Below are a few pictures of the "Lawson" Bunkhouse where we sleep at night. This once was the education wing of the San Juan Church. Look closely and you will see the church in the background. The bunkhouse is named after Otto Lawson (the home repair coordinator) and his wife Darlene. Here is the touching part of the story. Otto and Darlene Lawson actually started this ministry at the Pharr/San Juan UMC. They belonged to a United Methodist organization called NOMADS (Nomads On a Mission Active in Devine Service). This group travels around the US in their RVS serving others. Otto and Darlene were NOMADS for about 5 years. They are from Northwest Iowa and wintered in Pharr, TX. While in Pharr they started the ministry we are serving. They built the facilities were we are staying inside the old education wing of San Juan UMC. In December Darlene was diagnosed with cancer and died in May. Our hearts go out to Otto and his family. Otto Lawson is a very special person to this team.

The men's dormitory. Otto designed the bunk beads so the lower bunk also serves as a bench.
One of the four-bed ladies suites.Brandy's black-out curtains.
This is what Brandy does at night. Crossword puzzles? Go figure.
The back of the house completed.
Brandy and Karl painting the last few pieces to trim.This kitchen ceiling is in bad need of repair. We took care of it this afternoon.

Otto, John, and Karl must be in very important conversation.

Here I am cutting backer board for the kitchen floor.

Here is Brandy stapling down the backer board. The kitchen floor is just plywood. The new floor will make it look really nice. We will finish the floor tomorrow morning.

Here is Juan Jimenez With our team He is the son of Maria who owns the house we are working on. Left to right; Chris, Brandy, Juan, Karl, Otto, and John. We are all friends. Before dinner Brandy lead our devotion. We discussed two types of mission. One to serve others with love and one to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. We had another great discussion. After devotion we went to Willies Bar B Q for dinner. Otto came with us.

Today was homecoming at Alamo High School. They had a parade in from of Willies just for us.I had the beef brisket plate. It was great.
Romans 12: 9-13 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Basilica

Today started with an extra treat. Carol made an egg casserole quiche. She also bought us several fruit-filled empanada. These were hand made and delicious. We are so spoiled. We arrived on the work site at about 8:30 AM. Brandy is painting the new front screen door. Chris is painting the trim on the car port/laundry room. We finished on the job site at about 3:00 PM and went back to the dormatory at San Juan UMC. Everybody showered, (thank you God) and got ready for dinner. Before dinner we had our devotion and read the crucifiction story from the book of Matthew. Dinner was scalloped potatoes and ham. For dessert blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It was "the bomb". After dinner we went to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine, San Juan. It is only 8 blocks from the San Juan UMC.We walked the Stations of the Cross at the Basilica. It was very moving to do this as a team just after reading the story at devotion time. This place is beautiful. We went later in the evening and each picture below gets slightly darker. I thinks there is a parallel message here. The grounds were beautiful. The bronze stations were so lifelike. We all liked it so much we are going back tomorrow. Following are pictures of each station. Enjoy, and remember....God loves us so much that he sent Jesus into the world.

Brandy's camera battery ran out of juice and she only took a few pictures. We will go back tomorrow and go inside the Basilica. It closed at 7:00 PM.

Tuesday - Making Progress

The morning started as usual with a 6:30 AM wake-up call. Everybody got ready and we went to the fellowship hall for breakfast. Carol prepared pancakes for us. After breakfast we headed for the job-site. First order of the day was to replace the front door.Here is Chris doing the DEMOLITION!!!! We all love tearing things up.
Here is the replaced door. We will finish the trim work tomorrow.

John and I are reinstalling the soffet on the side of the car port. We had to take it down yesterday to replace the siding. John.........Don't bend any more nails.

Several pieces of siding on this side of the house need replacing. On of the studs was cut in half during a previous repair. Here we are repairing the cut stud.

The siding under the front window was rotten. The old siding was removed.
The grandchildren had fun riding their trikes under the ladder.
They are also ready to collect some candy on Halloween. The Hulkster was really scary.
Here is the marker on the front of the house.
The team is really proud of the work done today. We accomplished a lot.

This team all served together at Camp Hope in Gulfport, Mississippi last year. We all wore our Camp Hope tee shirts today.
Here is Chris painting the siding we replaced yesterday.
The van was filthy. We took some time this evening to clean it out.

We have hamocks to swing on outside our dormatory.
The end of this day came quickly. Carol mad meat loaf for dinner. We also helped Otto make a copy of a DVD. After dinner we had devotion and discussed James 2:14-17, Faith and Deeds

Monday - First Work Day

This morning started at 6:30 AM when we woke up. Breakfast was waiting for us at 7:30 AM. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, orange juice, cereral, etc. What a great beginning. Otto Lawson, the Home Repair Coordinator met us at breakfast and explained our days work. After breakfast we traveled to our project in the "Colonias" in Las Milpas. Colonias are very poor areas where the housing dense and the people are very poor. Yesterday, Pastor Bob Clark explained the need in Hildago County, Texas. This is one of the poorest counties in the United States. The income level is very low. The per capita income is less than $10,000.

Here is part of our project. The siding on the back of the carport is rotten. We will remove the old siding and replace with new siding.
Here is Chris and John unloding the new siding we will use. Here is Brandy doing what she likes to do........DEMOLITION!!!!!!!
In addition to the siding, the roof leaks. Here we are cutting some flashing. This should help move the water away from the low spot on the roof.
Brandy is contemplating the next move.
Here is the finished product. The roof is patched.

Here is the Jimenez family we are serving. Maria is with her son and her two grandchildren, Junior (4 yrs. old) and Nicki (2 yrs. old.
Why is John attacking Brandy with a hammer? Check out the new siding.
Here is Otto Lawson. He is a really great guy. He is supervising us and is a great teacher. Ottow is the Home Repair Coordinator. Also another look at the new siding.
Here is Carol preoparing our dinner (or supper in the south). We had baked chicken, saled with strawberries, yellow rice, corn, and the best biscuits. What is Chris doing in the refrigerator? Is he looking for ice cream?
This is Joey. Joey is Otto;s dog. He is really cute.
This evening our devotion revolved around fathers. Brandy and Chris has a terriffic discussion about this. We also discussed setting aside time every day to communicate with God. Again.....an awesome day. God continues to bless us.