A New Church Building

Today has been a busy day.  For everyone. 

I took my Borger friends to the airport and then to the bank.  I came flying in here so that I could do payroll.  I decided to check my email and facebook.  While I chose not to share, there was a memory from five years ago that showed on my page.  It was a blog titled "The Last Sunday in July".   I read the blog and was reminded that the last Sunday in July in 2003 we worshiped in the brand new church building in Los Pinos.  On the last Sunday in July, 2005 we worshiped in the brand new church building in Santa Ana.

Today, the last Sunday in July, 2016, the Starkville group worshiped in the brand new church building in Tierras del Padre.  These guys have worked hard to get this building finished while they were here.  They were human concrete mixers.  I know they worked hard, but there was no complaining.  Each night in devotional they were tired.  Really tired.  But there was excitement in their voices as they shared of the day's events.

The church in Tierras del Padre was started about a year ago.  With much hard work, there has been steady growth.  With much hard work, there in now a new building in which they can worship. 

Youth Rally

Yesterday the teams from Nashville and Baton Rouge had a youth rally for the youth groups of Ojojona and Santa Ana.  It was to start at 1:00 p.m.  I spent most of the morning laughing.  Laughing at our girls.  They regularly go to youth group. They spent hours getting themselves ready for this youth rally.  I found two of them sitting in the sinks shaving their legs.

They were beautiful when they finally finished getting themselves ready at 1:15.  I knew their would be singing and a lesson and games.  Games like water balloon fights, tug-of-war, a slip and slide.

At 1:15, I was trying to rush us out of the door and did not get pictures of the girls in all their beauty.  Trust me.  The boys did not spend that much time getting ready.

We started with the fun song "Hip-Hip-Hippopatumus. And, then some other fun songs.

We did a lot of singing.  A lot of beautiful singing.  First a song in Spanish, then one in English.  Or vice-versa.  We sang many songs in both languages. The singing was so pretty.

After many songs were sung, Jaime Serrano spoke and had a meaningful lesson for everyone.   Nicole translated. 

 I loved the way the kids from Baton Rouge did not just bunch up with each other, but sat with kids from Ojojona and Santa Ana.  Language was no barrier.  It is sometimes hard for teenagers to sit with someone they don't know, when everyone speaks the same language.

After a short break, there were skits.   The youth group from Santa Ana did their skit first.  The kids practiced a couple of weeks on this skit.

 Yes, that is Jackson with the long black hair.  I did not recognize him until he began speaking his lines.  Then the kids from Baton Rouge did their skit.

After the skits were finished, the games started.  There was laughter and squealing for hours. 

Richard really got into the water balloons.

Haley was the first one down the slip and slide.

Emma liked to walk up the slip and slide.

 Jackson tried to surf. 

 Several times, Fernando went down with this little boy.  Finally, the little boy decided to go by himself.

 When Yesenia came to start cooking, Javier was with her.  Someone dragged him onto the slip and slide.  Though, he did not get on willingly, looks like he is having fun.

 Not only did the kids and I get in the van to go home, we asked all the people from Santa Ana to go with us.  There were so many people in that van.  When I looked into the rear view mirror, all I could see was Rosy's eyes.

This was a great day, with beautiful singing, a good lesson and tons of fun.  Many thanks to the Nashville and Baton Rouge groups for hosting this youth rally.  Adults and kids told me how good they thought it was.

Emma Kate

Four years ago today, Emma Kate could not wait to be born as she rushed into the world a month early.She spent the next several weeks in and out of the hospital, fighting for her life. 

Today, she is just as healthy as can be.  Praise God.  And full of spunk.  And energy.  And energy.  She has an endless supply of that.  She reminds me of her Uncle Nathan at the same age.

She loves for her family to all be home together at night.  She had a difficult time while we were in Texas.  After my mom died, and we tried to explain to a three year old, she said, "I don't like for people to go see Jesus." 

When Haley was in the hospital, she worried so.  She was very happy for the days we went to see Haley and she wanted to stay with Haley and Mommy in the hospital.  The day Haley was coming home, she was telling everyone that Haley is coming home.  Now she prays, " and I don't want anyone to ever go to the hospital again."

Emmy has her own way of doing things.  Sometimes, that is cute.  Sometimes, that is strong-willed.  She keeps us .laughing. 

This morning, Emma got up at 3:45 so that Nicole could tell her happy birthday.  Nicole was not up at 3:45.  She was ready for me to come up at 5:30 and tell her happy birthday.  She is not excited or anything like that about turning 4.  She threw her arms around Paige and said, "I want my birthday hug, Paigie."

She is so sweet.  And such a stinker.  But don't call her Stinker Binker Bear.

We celebrate tonight.

I am so thankful for that spunky, energetic, funny, strong-willed, sweet, little girl. 

Happy birthday Emma Kate.