A collection of memories from Morelia.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Emilee's Thoughts
I can't stop thinking about our 10 days in Mexico. It was one of the most amazing trips I have made yet. We had so many people in the group, yet we got along so well. God has an amazing way of working through and despite things doesn't he? My heart is so full of the beauty of the Lord's work. May God bless all of you in all your endeavors in the future. Let us strive to make every action one that brings glory to God. The love of Christ is evident in all of you.
In Christ,
Emilee Ladd
In Christ,
Emilee Ladd
Monday, March 19, 2007
Hola amigos!
So this trip was so amazing and i am so incredibly proud of everyone of you!! We finished what we went to do and we did it with flying colors! Despite all the crazyness that Satan threw our way we neverallowed him to get us down or anything!! We truely did work as one body!! And that is amazing!
I want you all to know that a few of the community members in morelia came up to me our last day and said that they saw Jesus in our eyes and that we have helped them so much spiritually. And that their city was a better place, and that we will always remain in their hearts and prayers. And that we need to come back soon. I know that this was such an encouragement for me to hear and i hope that it will encourage all of you!! The City of Morelia has been touched by us gringos and our ACU mark was made!! This group did an amazing job and we all grew so much closer as the week played out! I can truely say with all of my heart that i love each of the members of this trip so much and that each of them will always have a place in my heart!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Home
It is 1:30am Monday, March 19, and we are now home. Unfortunately our internet access through the week was sketchy so we were not able to keep this blog like we wished. However, we will hopefully get some post-trip reflections posted. Jaz also has more play-by-play to post.
In short, the entire project went very very well. Over 300 attended the community event at the newly renovated park on Saturday, and some incredible relationships were built through the week between the local Christians and the community. Quite a few showed up off the street ready to be handed a tool simply because we were there doing the work. The park looks fantastic. This team of dedicated workers did miracles this week. God be praised.
Pictures coming soon.
In short, the entire project went very very well. Over 300 attended the community event at the newly renovated park on Saturday, and some incredible relationships were built through the week between the local Christians and the community. Quite a few showed up off the street ready to be handed a tool simply because we were there doing the work. The park looks fantastic. This team of dedicated workers did miracles this week. God be praised.
Pictures coming soon.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Beaches and Shovels
Don't have much time to post at the moment, but it must be said that this blog simply does not reflect in any way the level of adventure had in Mexico to this point. However, roadtrip craziness, blown van motors, self-opening trailers, missed freeway entrances and etc have not stopped the big plans God has made for this week in Morelia.
It is Wednesday, and we have now been on the actual work portion of the project for 1.5 days. The park has already undergone a major transformation, and we have much more to do. An archaeological-style dig with a huge tractor has revealed missing portions of a walking trail, new layers of paint have transformed playground equipment and bleacher seating around a basketball court, tons of dirt, rocks, and debris have already been removed. Tomorrow will see the spreading of 12 massive truckloads of gravel on the walkways that have now been excavated. A large amount of gang graffiti will be gone or covered over. New plants, shrubs, and a memorial tree will be planted. The park will, after the close of day on Friday, actually be a safe and beautiful place for families.
Jack Walker, who is one of the major brains behind most of this, has made it very clear that in his 35 years of experience, this is the best Spring Break Campaign team he has ever worked with. You would agree if you could see how they have rolled with the punches and maintained a Godly kind of joy and grace in the midst of difficult circumstances and grueling work.
We did a sort of reverse Sabbath on Monday and spent the day at the beach near Playa Azul. No words can describe how amazingly beautiful the beach, sand, and Pacific waves were after 598 hours in two 15 passenger vans. It was reverse in that we had our "relax day" before the actual project, but the timing might have actually been divine because it was a needed break in between the very long travel and the work ahead.
Follwing are some photos (coming soon) and videos of our latest adventures for your viewing pleasure. There was supposed to be a post from Jaz with her version of some events, so we'll get that up soon.
Buenos noches,
Cary
One of our vans blew an engine right outside of Saltillo.
Jaz. Need I say more?
It is Wednesday, and we have now been on the actual work portion of the project for 1.5 days. The park has already undergone a major transformation, and we have much more to do. An archaeological-style dig with a huge tractor has revealed missing portions of a walking trail, new layers of paint have transformed playground equipment and bleacher seating around a basketball court, tons of dirt, rocks, and debris have already been removed. Tomorrow will see the spreading of 12 massive truckloads of gravel on the walkways that have now been excavated. A large amount of gang graffiti will be gone or covered over. New plants, shrubs, and a memorial tree will be planted. The park will, after the close of day on Friday, actually be a safe and beautiful place for families.
Jack Walker, who is one of the major brains behind most of this, has made it very clear that in his 35 years of experience, this is the best Spring Break Campaign team he has ever worked with. You would agree if you could see how they have rolled with the punches and maintained a Godly kind of joy and grace in the midst of difficult circumstances and grueling work.
We did a sort of reverse Sabbath on Monday and spent the day at the beach near Playa Azul. No words can describe how amazingly beautiful the beach, sand, and Pacific waves were after 598 hours in two 15 passenger vans. It was reverse in that we had our "relax day" before the actual project, but the timing might have actually been divine because it was a needed break in between the very long travel and the work ahead.
Follwing are some photos (coming soon) and videos of our latest adventures for your viewing pleasure. There was supposed to be a post from Jaz with her version of some events, so we'll get that up soon.
Buenos noches,
Cary
One of our vans blew an engine right outside of Saltillo.
Jaz. Need I say more?
Monday, March 12, 2007
Morelia Excursion Day 1
Thursday March 8, 2007
1900 hrs (7:00pm for you nonmilitary folks)- Departure time for Morelia from the tennis courst at ACU
1925 hrs- Still at the tennis courts waiting for people to finish peeing
1934 hrs- Departed for Morelia in our two white vans
2350 hrs- Arrived at the Mexico border. Everyone got out of the vans and got into line to fill out paperwork and get passports stamped
0138 hrs (one hour and forty-eight minutes later, entering Friday March 9, 2007)- Still in line to fill out paperwork and get passports stamped. Apparently you need all driver names on the van documents, so we had to call someone to fax over the paperwork
0200 hrs- Still waiting on the fax
0210 hrs- Explained the game of Mafia.
0220 hrs- Played the game Mafia...darn those killer Brazilians
0232 hrs- Played the game Assassin...Matt killed us with his seizure attacking eye
0241 hrs- Fax came, and we finished our paperwork
0249 hrs- Loaded the vans and finally left!
0301 hrs- Got pulled over. Jack did an illegal U-turn
0314 hrs- Must pull over and get out of the vans to get checked out again
0333 hrs- Trailer door opens incident #1. One bag fell out. Alex thought he was dillusional. Cindi didn't know what to do with the walkie talkies. Andy Dandy gets out to retrieve item after Poppy reverses down the highway to get closer. Item retrieved successfully.
0700 hrs- previous designated time and date for Spring Break Campaign to leave for Morelia
0830ish hrs- Stop at a gas/food place for food and bathroom break. No toilet seat or toilet paper in bathrooms. Motor broke down in Jack's van. Brushed our teeth ghetto style with water bottles out in the street. Jack takes trailer van to see if we can rent another
0905 hrs- ate in The Restuarant. Matt and Tyler left us to go to Mexico City...jerks
1013 hrs- finished eating. Jack is back. We all have to move our stuff to one van so we could fit as many people in to go to the dealership for the other van
1034 hrs- leave to go the dealership in Saltillo
1112 hrs- arrive at dealership
1200 hrs- still waiting at dealership, but being educated watching the Discovery channel in espanol. Jaz needed something out of the trailer, but had difficulty opening it, so Cary came and first had trouble also but later on was able to open it...it was scary though thinking about not being able to access the trailer!
1300 hrs- still waiting at dealership...and yes still being educated
1320 hrs- we got another van and are good to go
1355 hrs- Trailer door opens incident #2. We are in the middle of a busy street in Saltillo at a stop light (yes still in Saltillo). Lady pointed and laughed at us. One bag fell out. Andy Dandy and Janko go through traffic to retrieve item. Item retrieved successfully.
1410 hrs- on the road to Guanajuato
1600 hrs- Jaz needs to pee, but vans were told to keep going
1700 hrs- Jaz really needs to pee, but alas we must keep going
1920 hrs- finally stopped for a restroom break at a gas station supposedly 1 hour away from Guanajuato
(One day has passed...24 hrs later after departing ACU)
2030 hrs- supposed to be in Guanajuato...but not really
2130 hrs- ...still on road
2212 hrs- entering Guanajuato state
2213 hrs- our breaks overheated, smelling like fire plus the combination of urine
2230 hrs- arrived at La Arabadia...the wrong La Arabadia. Mexicans watch us try to turn around the trailer van. Andy Dandy pulled an Andy.
2235 hrs- mexicans still watching us still trying to turn around the trailer van.
2250 hrs- arrived at the correct La Arabadia. Climbed lofts of stairs, went through little hallways all the way to the east wing of hotel for our rooms.
1900 hrs (7:00pm for you nonmilitary folks)- Departure time for Morelia from the tennis courst at ACU
1925 hrs- Still at the tennis courts waiting for people to finish peeing
1934 hrs- Departed for Morelia in our two white vans
2350 hrs- Arrived at the Mexico border. Everyone got out of the vans and got into line to fill out paperwork and get passports stamped
0138 hrs (one hour and forty-eight minutes later, entering Friday March 9, 2007)- Still in line to fill out paperwork and get passports stamped. Apparently you need all driver names on the van documents, so we had to call someone to fax over the paperwork
0200 hrs- Still waiting on the fax
0210 hrs- Explained the game of Mafia.
0220 hrs- Played the game Mafia...darn those killer Brazilians
0232 hrs- Played the game Assassin...Matt killed us with his seizure attacking eye
0241 hrs- Fax came, and we finished our paperwork
0249 hrs- Loaded the vans and finally left!
0301 hrs- Got pulled over. Jack did an illegal U-turn
0314 hrs- Must pull over and get out of the vans to get checked out again
0333 hrs- Trailer door opens incident #1. One bag fell out. Alex thought he was dillusional. Cindi didn't know what to do with the walkie talkies. Andy Dandy gets out to retrieve item after Poppy reverses down the highway to get closer. Item retrieved successfully.
0700 hrs- previous designated time and date for Spring Break Campaign to leave for Morelia
0830ish hrs- Stop at a gas/food place for food and bathroom break. No toilet seat or toilet paper in bathrooms. Motor broke down in Jack's van. Brushed our teeth ghetto style with water bottles out in the street. Jack takes trailer van to see if we can rent another
0905 hrs- ate in The Restuarant. Matt and Tyler left us to go to Mexico City...jerks
1013 hrs- finished eating. Jack is back. We all have to move our stuff to one van so we could fit as many people in to go to the dealership for the other van
1034 hrs- leave to go the dealership in Saltillo
1112 hrs- arrive at dealership
1200 hrs- still waiting at dealership, but being educated watching the Discovery channel in espanol. Jaz needed something out of the trailer, but had difficulty opening it, so Cary came and first had trouble also but later on was able to open it...it was scary though thinking about not being able to access the trailer!
1300 hrs- still waiting at dealership...and yes still being educated
1320 hrs- we got another van and are good to go
1355 hrs- Trailer door opens incident #2. We are in the middle of a busy street in Saltillo at a stop light (yes still in Saltillo). Lady pointed and laughed at us. One bag fell out. Andy Dandy and Janko go through traffic to retrieve item. Item retrieved successfully.
1410 hrs- on the road to Guanajuato
1600 hrs- Jaz needs to pee, but vans were told to keep going
1700 hrs- Jaz really needs to pee, but alas we must keep going
1920 hrs- finally stopped for a restroom break at a gas station supposedly 1 hour away from Guanajuato
(One day has passed...24 hrs later after departing ACU)
2030 hrs- supposed to be in Guanajuato...but not really
2130 hrs- ...still on road
2212 hrs- entering Guanajuato state
2213 hrs- our breaks overheated, smelling like fire plus the combination of urine
2230 hrs- arrived at La Arabadia...the wrong La Arabadia. Mexicans watch us try to turn around the trailer van. Andy Dandy pulled an Andy.
2235 hrs- mexicans still watching us still trying to turn around the trailer van.
2250 hrs- arrived at the correct La Arabadia. Climbed lofts of stairs, went through little hallways all the way to the east wing of hotel for our rooms.
Morelia Excitement Video
This was our propoganda piece to con people into coming on this crazy trip. :-)
Morelia SBC 2007 Blog
This is a blog for all of campaigners to add there thoughts to so that our friends and family can see how things are going. God has blessed us with the opportunity to be here, we are thankful for his blessings.
Hopefully this blog will be updated with a few pictures of links to pictures that we have taken.
Please continue to remember the church in Morelia in your prayers.
Andy G.
Hopefully this blog will be updated with a few pictures of links to pictures that we have taken.
Please continue to remember the church in Morelia in your prayers.
Andy G.
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