Chihuas

So I bet you might be wondering about the title of this blog. A while back, my mom told me that when she was a teacher, her ESL (English as a Second Language) students that were from Chihuahua Mexico called it Chihuas. Instead of 2 hua hua, they just made it plural. I tried to explain it to Erin when I said it earlier in the week, and I think she got it, so hopefully you will too.

Chihuahua City was were I spent the last week. Erin and I went there to interpret for a eyeglass clinic. I have been several places in Mexico, but never Chihuas City. We, along with a group of 12 from Illinois, Michigan, and Virgina stayed at Hotel Tovar. Actually it was in the parsonage and the house of Pastor and Blanca Tovar, but it was so nice, I kept calling it Hotel Tovar all week.

There was a small mix up with travel schedules of the group, so Erin and I actually got there with a full day on Saturday open. That worked out really good because we spent the better part of the day walking around the city. I would guess we had to have walked at least 5 miles, and I enjoyed every minute of it. What a great city it is. I would totally stay there forever if I could. Lots of parks, museums, old buildings and memorials to see, and we saw the better part of them, at least what was in walking distance.

Of course Blanca prepared amazing food all week, so it was probably good that we did a lot of walking on Saturday, and some other times during the week as well. Half of the MOST team arrived on Saturday, but due to weather, the other half missed the connection and didn't get in until Sunday night.

Monday through Thursday were spent at a local adult communtity center holding an eyeglass clinic. I was situated at the dispensing station where we would attempt to help the attendees find glasses for both distance and reading. We had 3 stations there, as well as a nurse station to check for eye problems, a reading test, distance test, fitting, and evangelism. After the 4 days, 804 people were blessed with improved eyesight. Today was spent on the bus coming back and getting caught back up in the office. Enjoy the pics and have a wonderful week.

Pay bathrooms in the Juarez bus station. I got in trouble for taking this picture.

Fountain inside Pancho Villa's house. There was a big museum there. It was cool.

From outside the museum. This was the house that he lived in. It is really big.

This is the car he was assassinated in, on July 20th 1923. We were actually their on the anniversary of his death.

See the bullet holes?

More bullet holes in the back.

The plaque by this machine said it is for removing corn from the cob. Pretty big machine.

This is a tunnel, that went underground downtown Chihuahua, to the Cathedral I think, which is about 20 blocks away.

Cool murals in one hallway.

More of the murals

At least one of them are presidents, but I think more are.

A cool fountain that we walked by.

Some gazebos in a little square by the big cathedral.

Fountain by the cathedral.

Big cathedral in downtown Chihuahua City.

More of Pancho.

I thought this was cool, there is something similar to it in Juarez. I think each big stake represents someone who was murdered, and they are asking for "ni una mas". Not one more.

Another memorial, next to the one above. I think it may be one for each killer?

Pancho mausoleum. His body was actually moved to Mexico City to a cemetery or something for heroes of the revolution.

There was a cooking school in Chihuahua City.

Another statue of Pancho. This has flowers on it because it was the anniversary of his assassination.

Our great nurses, Kim and Shirley.

Me talking to one of the attendees. This is actually the best picture of me working.

Our group. Most eyeglass team #929

Me helping Erin onto this half staircase. Our original plan didn't work.

Since the original plan didn't work, she just decided to hang out for a while.

Me wearing some hot pink shades. There are actually a bunch of pictures of me in goofy glasses, but this will be the only one you get to see.

Erin got interviewed for the local news, we watched it, she did great.

A couple times, some older gentleman also put on goofy glasses. This is my favorite.

My last house in J-Town

Another week, another trip to a mission site I have never been to. This week took us to San Pedro y San Pablo, the farthest mission site from the campus. It is another home site that is the mission family of Pastor Hernandez and Santisima Trinidad. Pastor calls is Kilometro 33, which means it is 33 kilometers from the border. I thought we would be driving forever, and it is a pretty good drive, but it actually seemed closer to me than I thought it would be. This was my last time working in Juarez with the summer groups, as I will be with groups in Chihuahua City or El Paso for the rest of the summer.

Not only were we working in Juarez, but we had 2 groups stateside. A group led by our winter missionaires, Dave and Paige Rohlf put in a huge effort in remodeling building number 1. Painting, tiling, ceiling work, and new blinds were hung. This building will be used for Sunday school, a pastoral study, the mariachi, and plans are being discussed about a gift shop as well. I went to take some pictures, but it was already locked up, so I will post those as soon as I can get them.

MOST ministries, (Mission Opportunity Short Term) also had a group working in Sparks and Horizon City. A VBS was held in the Sparks community center each morning, the afternoons were spent doing some repairs on home in Sparks, as well as some painting in Horizon City. This group came together from 3 different cities and worked together to have a great week here at the mission. Those photos will follow as well.

I am very excited today as I will be heading to Chihuahua City this evening, where Erin and I will spend a week interpreting for an eyeglass clinic being put on by another MOST Ministries group. We had a breakdown of communication and thought the clinic was to begin tomorrow, but the group actually doesn't arrive until late tomorrow night, so we will try and do some fun touristy stuff tomorrow. Maybe a market and lunch, or some cavern exploring, who knows. Although it is work, it is just extra exciting because we will be in a different city working at another site I have never been to. Enjoy the pictures.

Oh, and I lost a bet with Krysia on the MLB allstar game, so now I have to cook dinner. I would tell you what I am going to make, but I think she reads this blog, so I can't. If you really want to know, you can ask me to email you. Once we get back from Chihuahua, Erin's parents are coming to town and I am barbecuing smoked brisket, smoked porkloin, corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese (not barbecued), and rolls. Sorry you call can't be here, but we will enjoy it for you. :)

The 2 houses in the distance (the tan and the gray) are the actual mission site. We built a house for the mother of the family that lives at the mission, just a couple lots away.

This is the only picture of me working from the whole week, I don't know why, cause I worked a lot. The group only had 4 people at the start of the week, and a joiner on Wednesday, and they gave the record a run for it's money.

Pastor Micah from the group really liked this photo. The window and wall you see was the first time that Erin had laid out a wall with a window, and she did really good. Pretty soon she will be leading house builds on her own.

Growing up in Colorado, I saw a few regular thunderstorm tornados, but here we see dust tornados.

Erin learned about running electric, I forgot to mention the sawdust though.

More sawdust from the drilling.

A couple of coke bottles fell in between the drywall. They are forever part of the house now.

Erin and her awesome safety goggles.

Genesis, Josue, and Me

Me tickling Genesis. She said we could be friends, maybe I can get her to tell Jennifer from last week that I am a good guy and she can be my friend too.

St. Peter from Arlington Heights Illinois.

New shirt at the market. They will have bracelets soon and already have window decals for you car.

San Pablo wins award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- San Pablo Lutheran Church has been selected for the 2009 Best of El Paso Award in the Churches category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

Records were made to be broken

Who would have thought that during the hottest week of the summer so far, the record would fall for quickest house building. It used to be 3 1/2 days from start to complete, which would be the last coat of joint compound sanded on the drywall. This week, a great group of 7 people from West Bend Wisconsin shattered the previous record. For ease of communication, I will say it was done in 3 days, however it was more like 2 2/3. These were regular work days, no extra time spent working late, or starting too early. We usually started around 8:30 and finished before 4 each day. I was amazed at the energy and desire this team had to succeed.

Unfortunately, the size of this group had also shrunk due to the concerns over violence in Juarez. As basically every group before them, they had no fears at all after being here for a couple days, and were very dissapointed in how it being portrayed in the media. They all felt extremely safe and comfortable, and truly enjoyed doing His work for a wonderful family.

Due to the quickness of the build, they also built a bench for the family to sit on outside the home, took a trip to the Mercado Juarez, and had a nice relaxing siesta Friday afternoon. We celebrated the birthday of one of the group members at Andale Friday night, and returned back to the campus for some of my homemade apple pie that I had hinted to them about all week.

Even though the thermometer topped 100 each day, it was still a great week doing God's work. Anyone want a leftover piece of pie? I put a couple pics of Ninja and Bear at the end of the blog because I like them, and everyone likes to show pictures of thier kids right? Mine are just of the dog variety. Have a great week, talk to you soon.

Oh, PS, San Pablo won an award, I am going to steal Erin's blog and post it so you can read about it if you don't read her blog. Thanks Erin,

Cutting the last piece of siding for the last wall. This was before lunch ;)

I like this picture. It is looking out the framed window in the back of the house, and I just think it is a good picture, so I put it here.

Brenda and Hugo selecting colors for the house. After lunch on Monday, we knew we would have time to paint it. Basically, Erin and I got every color of paint card at Lowe's and she put them on key rings by number and now we show them to people we are painting for so they can choose exactly what they want and do have to say something like coffee brown, or milkshake brown.

Karen, the leader of the group helping to put the last couple rafters up.

After day one, all walls, rafters, and roof plywood. No wonder Kristine and I were tired when we got back to the mission.

The group out front after day 1.

Cutting some drywall to be hung by the door.

More drywall hanging.

Me tickling Jennifer. I asked her like 10 times if she was my amiga, and she kept saying no. Her mom tried to help the cause, but no luck :(. Maybe some day.

The excellent roofing crew, and they barely have any tar on them.

Texture too.

Me painting the "man room". The other room was pink, so Derek (the only guy from their group in Juarez) and I stayed away from that paint.

Kristine, Emily, and Becky did the second coat in the man room, nice contrast from pink room to blue room.

From blue room to pink room.

The happy family. Hugo, Brenda, Jesus, and Jennifer

Panchis, Kristine, and I. Panchis was in the middle, but I thought that would look weird, so we tried this. I kind of like this picture though.

The group, Kristine, myself, and the family.

Ninja

Bear