An addition to the addition

You may have read the blog that I stole from Erin talking about our rush to find a slab to pour so the group from St. Matthew in Barrington that teamed with St. Luke from Montgomery (we didn't know until this year that they had been coming together for 4 years) to build. Since Satan never quits, and sometimes you get curve balls thrown at you, you hope they are the kind that hang up in the zone and you can crush them over the fence. Crush it we did.

The group was about 20 people smaller than their annual average, but that did not hinder them from attacking their goals of putting on 2 VBS's here in El Paso, an adult bible study in El Paso, sponsoring a VBS at Santisima Trinidad in Juarez, and building a house. For information on the VBS's and bible studies, see Erin's blog. I handled the house crew this year, and their big goal was to not have to go back on Friday morning (Their flight left on Friday afternoon, and last year, they needed to finish painting in the morning). I kept that in mind as we attacked each day with a gusto, and for a minute, there was talk of the record falling, but don't worry St. John's, your record is still intact.

You may remember the Garcia family from the raking leaves blog, and they were anxious to have even more space. This week, when I went into the original house to use the restroom, I was amazed at the space that had opened up, and can't wait to see it when it basically becomes the kitchen and dining room. The family's plan is to try and put a bathroom in between the two new additions, let the three girls share one, and have the "master" and living room in the newest one.

This week we have 2 groups here, both doing 2 construction sites and VBS in El Paso. So far, no action from the threats of the cartel for a second car bomb. Please continue to keep Juarez in your prayers, as well as our missions there and in El Paso.

Here are some pics of the house, and of course, I had to throw in one of Vivi. Have a great week.

Oh, I almost forgot, we had the BEST site organizer ever. She was so on top of it, sometimes the scraps disappeared from your hand before you even knew they were gone. Thanks Camille. I want her to come for the whole summer next year. :)

We went to the dorms to look for her Nina, but she wasn't there, so Vivi met the Barrington group instead

Nice slab poured by team YLM

Measure twice, cut once

After day one

Checking out the sheetrock work

Putting in a wall piece (Yes, I really do work)

That's ok, I got it

Nadia, Dora, and Elizabeth

Nadia inspecting the work

Hi

After day three, just have to hang some doors, trim and paint tomorrow

Pretty cut* eh? (In order to protect my manliness, the only thing I am allowed to fully call cute or adorable is Viviana, thus the star.)

Each of the family members got a cross from one of the group members

The construction crew with Mom and girls, Dad had to go to work

Testing their new spritzer toys on Earl

Shot from the street as we are getting ready to leave