God's Benefits...

Here are some updated pics from the past few days.  We were able to finish pouring the floor today AND put up 12 trusses.  Today was extra special because we had some of the youth group kids out to help as well as Susie (the Vargas' oldest daughter), her husband Ricky and their three kids, who are visiting for the week.

Susie and her hubby working the shovels and dirt...

Becky, was home from college in Chihuahua...to handle some wheel barrel...

I've been thinking a lot about all the wonderful benefits the US offers...paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick leave, medical, dental, vision benefits, 401k, stock options, company cars, cell phones, per diems...the list goes on.  Now, having been here in Mexico and experienced a bit of work life down here...benefits aren't as much.  Most people work 6 days a week for hopefully 150-200 pesos (15 USD) a day.  Unless you work for a big company, most people have never experienced benefits, paid time off, holidays, etc.

Since our crew has worked so incredibly hard the past 7 weeks, I thought it'd be fun to give them a day off...PAID.  Luis shared the plan yesterday morning...with some incentives. If we finished the floor and laid some trusses, everyone gets Monday off...paid.  I think they all were a little shocked at what that meant.  However, reality settled in and they adjusted quickly to the thought of being paid for a day you get to stay home.  One gentleman shared, "...enough said...no more talk let's get to work." It was such a blessing to see the joy and smile on their faces, regarding something they've never experienced before...and yet at times, we can take for granted. I have also been meditating on what David wrote in Psalm 68...

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19).

Every day we wake up, the Lord LOADS us with HIS benefits.  And let me share with you friend, that they are FAR better than any physical benefit we will ever receive from our job or the USA.  Tomorrow when you wake up, think of God's mercies, that are new every morning.  Meditate on His grace, your salvation, the hope, comfort, provision and protection we have in a living and active God who wants to hangout with you and minister to your heart....THAT truly is a wonderful benefit package!

Rejoice In The Lord...

Things continue to go well at the job site.  We had another great couple of weeks working...still amazed at how quickly the Lord is putting together this orphanage.  The next phase in the building project is the floor and roof.  We have been making, cutting and welding trusses for the roof.  29  (25 feel long) trusses are needed and we have finished 18.  A brother in the church, Javier designed the trusses for us and Lico has been our welder.  I've been on truss duty and enjoy cutting and laying out the metal to be welded.  Lico even gave me a shot at welding...which wasn't my best work.  I'll stick to cutting.  For those of you who know about welding...remember to NOT look at the pretty light!

We also started pouring the floor.  After days and days of shoveling and leveling, it was time to begin pouring the 26, 15 foot wide slabs.  Rather then using 400 small bags of cement, we ordered 6, 1 ton bags of cement...which fortunately we did not have to lift or move ourselves...

It takes all nine of us, to pour a slab.  Our best time has been 48 minutes.  I'm on cement duty..filling 2 buckets full of cement.  Pastor Luis and Jose are on shovel detail, 33 shovels of dirt for the mixer, apiece.  Lico is the cement mixer driver who then fills 3 wheel barrels that Pelon, Jorge and Chayo deliver.  Florentino and Eloy finish things by leveling the cement.  Finally, the 3 amigos come in to smooth things out and make the floor look great...

Here are are the first 2 slabs we poured...

We have 6 more slabs to pour...and then need to wait until the plumping is installed, then we can finish the floor.  Next week we will begin welding the trusses to the building...WOW...this is really coming together.  THANK YOU Jesus for all that you are doing.  Can't wait for you all to come down, see the finish project and rejoice with us in the Lord...for His goodness!

"Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS...and again I will say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Church Family...

"..continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:46). I love reading about the early church...how simplistic it was, how much joy and fellowship took place while talking about Jesus and loving each other.  I saw a wonderful glimpse of the early church this past weekend. We had a wonderful time of ministry and fellowship.  Saturday night, was our quarterly women's dinner.  This is a time where ladies come out for a special dinner, worship and guest speaker.  We were anticipating maybe 25 gals...Praise the Lord, we had 39 ladies show up, and lots of new people!  6 brothers helped cook dinner and serve the ladies while a group of youth took care of the 21 kids.

Jackie sharing on the "Sufficiency of God"

All of the ladies...

We had a baptism planned for a month or so, but were worried we would have to cancel because of the rain.  Praise the Lord He gave us a gorgeous sunny day on Sunday and we were rejoicing that He made it.  Over 60 people traveled up to the lake to watch 5 ladies get baptized.  It was truly a most wonderful time.  I've been to a number of baptism' at our home church, but this was my first in a foreign country.  I must say there was something extra special about it.  We spent 3 hours fellowshipping, playing basketball, soccer, eating, and enjoying our church family.

"My chains are gone, I've been set free, my God my Savior has ransomed me.  And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace!"