Fairy Godparents

Every year on Easter Sunday, Pastor Hernandez holds a service that includes baptisms and confirmations for all of his mission sites at Santisima Trinidad. This year, like last year, Erin and I went to enjoy the service and meet the new members. This year had a bit of a twist though. One young girl who was going to receive her first communion was in tears at the beginning of the service because either her padrinos (godparents, or sponsors), were not there, or she did not have any, so her mother came up to Erin and I and asked us if we would stand up for her. I don't really know this girl, but like Jesus said in Mark 9, "whoever welcomes one of these children in my name, welcomes me", so we stood up for her at her first communion. The tears turned into to smiles as she realized that there were some people who would stand for her, and the service and events turned out beautiful. Off to Wisconsin/Chicago tomorrow.

It took Erin a long time to get her to look at the camera.

After she was baptized

Those baptized ranged in age from infant to adults

I baptize you...

Some were even baptized and confirmed in the same day.

Ruby getting ready for her first communion. She must have been unprepared, because she seemed to choke a little, but made it through.

More first communicants

Monica

Erin and I with Julia.

Erin, Pepe, Monica and I, not really looking at the right camera.

The week of March 12-19, spring break season at YLM continued with five students from North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.

The Hinojosa family, who you will be hearing a lot about over the next few blogs, is comprised of Gilberto and Dora, 3 of their own children, and 4 of their grandchildren–9 people in all! The NDSU group is the first of many that are slated to work on the Hinojosa compound throughout the spring and summer; first up was making some improvements to an existing structure on the property; stuccoing was the most time-consuming task but it looks great from the street now! One entire day was dedicated to pouring a concrete slab that will be the foundation for a home addition to be built this coming week. The Hinojosas are incredibly gracious and generous people. They brought water, lunch, and a Port-a-Potty for the servants, and even took off work to help on slab day!

The group’s final day of work was a relaxing one spent doing odd jobs on campus and then shopping at the Mercado Juarez on wheels

Erin putting on chicken wire

I HATE stucco, so I did a lot of chin scratching and pointing

They could have used the latter, but preferred to act like monkeys

Starting the first coat of stucco

Team stucco

Since I don't do stucco, I put the forms up for the slab we were going to pour on Wednesday

Team stucco continues. Erin loves to stucco.

First coat is done

Wednesday, we poured the slab for the next group to build on

Getting the volcano ready

Multiple volcanos, plus Genaro, plus making it thinner equals a 5 hour slab

Mixing in the wheelbarrow

Genaro taught me the mad concrete skills which I now have

Hanna and Erin were the smoothers

Even the family helped out a little

Team slab

Spring Break Servants

The week of March 5-12, YLM was pleased to be one of 4 spring break mission trip options for students from Michigan State University’s campus ministry, Martin Luther Chapel. Ten students opted for El Paso and were assigned the task of building a new storage warehouse at Iglesia Luterana Santisima Trinidad. It was designed exactly like a standard house build, except that instead of a center dividing wall, it got a shelving unit. The hardworking gang finished building AND painted inside and out in just four days, even amid multiple breaks to play with neighborhood kids and the church’s newborn puppies. Enjoy the pics, and I promise I am trying to catch up on these. Canada next Wednesday, excited for that, and my first trip to Chicago.

Where we built the new toolshop. Some of you may remember there being a round building here before.

2 walls already up, and not even lunchtime yet.

Pauline showing the size of the building

Monday, Blanca and Josefina made us tacos and bean burritos

This was a bit scary

This is what happens when you don't remind the cut team to watch out for the sawhorses.

Checking in on the workers from the roof

Hanging drywall on day 2

Some of my favorite kids watching us work

There is always time for a game of tag

Carlos is supervising from the window

On Tuesday, Blanca and Josefina made us chile rellenos and homemade tortillas

Hanging drywall over the window

Pastor Hernandez and I checking out the progress

One of the leaders, Abbi, and some of the kids that came by each day

Ruby, Joana, and Kike love to help us out whenever we are there

On Wednesday, Blanca and Josefina made us burritos de rojo y verde (Green and Red chili burritos)

Pastor Hernandez and Nelson checking out some of the final tasks

Winding down on Wednesday by building some shelves. Then it was finished. 3 days. Nice work Team Sparty

For some reason, whenever I paint, this ends up on the wall.

Pauline was getting after the sanding, since Erin was not there, and Erin LOVES to sand drywall, someone had to take over for her.

On Thursday, Blanca and Josefina made us tamales.

Building stuff makes you hungry. Look at all the corn husks Nelson has from his tamales.

Pauline had even more

Pretty much finished inside. Need to sweep though.

The team from Michigan State, Nelson, me, and the puppies

Check out the creeper in the window.

Jessica and Megan, with their new friends, and Ruby and Joana too. :)