Reynosa Spring March 30th

It's never easy to say goodbye! Our team left Texas and our hosts and missions partners Bruce & Paula on Friday morning.  We've returned to Portland and are preparing to celebrate Easter here with our church family.  Thank you everyone for your love and support of our team and trip! 

We'd love to share our stories and pictures with you, so please ask!

Here's a link to Bruce & Paula's blog, we thought they summed up our trip beautifully. http://hepburnsinmx.blogspot.com/

Reynosa Spring March 29, 2018

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

A Day to Celebrate!

The day began (after a yummy breakfast of course) back on the road to the Colonia.  We rode with Bruce and watched as he figured out how to obtain our last piece of furniture for the house.  Jaime to the rescue!  It struck me how Bruce and his team depend so completely on God to provide everything we needed for our project. Matthew 6:25 says; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”  Time and time again Bruce tells us stories about how God provided just what he needed in every situation.

Once we arrived at the work site, we began to fill the house with items collected by Paula and things we bought on our Walmart trips.  Quickly it transformed from a newly built house into a home.  How exciting it was to make the beds, set the table, stock the shelves with food for the family.  The day before I had seen the faces of Carla and Jose, 2 of the kids in the family, as they tried to peak through the door.  They seemed so excited to see their new home, but Paula shooed them away, saying “Manana.”  They had to wait until tomorrow.  That day was now here and I could not wait to see their reaction when they finally were allowed in. 

Dani began to draw hearts on one of the beams so that each one of us could write our names.  It felt like such a privilege to be part of the process and to leave our mark.

Soon the extended family, Sunset people, and Bruce and Paula’s team began to gather together.  After introductions, Jaime began with a word from 2Kings, sharing about how God uses miracles to help us focus on Him and to show his strength and power so that we would believe.  Later Lupita (sister to Liliana) would share how God saved her daughter Carolina, also showing God’s power to perform miracles.  Abby and Caleb led us, singing Te Doy Gloria and Jaime led us in a powerful song translated “His Glory is falling Over Me.”  Scott led us in a prayer of dedication over the home and Colin gave Liliana the keys to the house!  Bruce needed to explain the tradition to Jose Sr. about carrying his wife Liliana across the threshold.  So many smiles as the entire family was there to witness their joy.  There were not many dry eyes as we watched the family enjoy this moment.

We have been fed over and over again on this trip and today was no exception.  The family slaughtered one of their goats from their herd to serve at the meal along with fresh tortillas, soup, coca-cola, and salad.  Having never had goat, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  It was savory and delicious, similar to pork.

After our meal it was time to say our goodbyes to many of the people we met this week.  Braulia, Andrez, Luis, Jaime, the family and so many more.  Women who sewed our quilts and taught us to quilt.  Men who worked alongside us, taking us through each step of the house-building process with such patience!

Driving away from the site Bruce and Janet made the decision to take us to Progresso, a small border town filled with Mexican shops for us to experience.  Don’t be surprised if you receive a little something from Progreso from someone in the group!

Marlo

Reynosa Spring March 28 2018

Janet here.... I'm sitting in the "family room" of the house of Bruce & Paula Hepburn.  Most the teens are hanging out together on the warm Texas patio.  A circle of adults and one teen who were strangers less than a week ago, are playing a game together and laughing at the table near me.

So, here I am writing the blog.  

And I am happy to do this because it gives me the opportunity to tell you what pure joy it has been to travel with this team.

If we were to rewind to our team preparation you'd see me wondering about a team with so many rookies (13 of 15).  I wondered about taking a family of five, including an 8 year old. I wondered about the dynamics of a teammate who joined late and attended very little training.  I wondered if our relationships with the missionary partners would continue to grow or if the "honeymoon" period would be over (this my third trip here and Sunset's fifth). I wondered how it would be to co-lead with someone who I recently have been getting to know. 

The truth about me though is that I stopped being fearful of what God would do on a mission trip a while ago. Now I just wonder... I wonder what God is going to do. Because I know he's going to do something through us and something bigger in us. 

So here are a few WONDERful glimpses of our week together. 

- The 8 year old is a key member of the group, he contributes enthusiasm, accomplishes work and is insightful and thoughtful in his commentary on the trip. 

- A 16 year old led the women to begin affirming one another each night at bed time.  This has led to a unity on a team of acquaintances like I have never seen before.

- Adults who were afraid of giving up control have followed well, adapted and prioritized relationships over a solid plan.  

- A mother, invited by her daughter, has committed to growing in her faith and to being involved in serving more intentionally when she returns home. 

- The co-leader and the adults have become counselors and comrades. 

- A teen feels a call on her life to long term missions.

- Fathers have selflessly shepherded other peoples sons, young women have adopted grandmothers and second and third moms. 

- Competent and capable adults have done whatever was asked and found things to do that needed to be done. 

- The group ministered to one of our teens whose grandfather passed away while she was here. It was hard news but the young woman allowed herself to grieve in community. A lesson we adults could learn from. 

-  A young woman challenged me without knowing it, to memorize more scripture. 

- The missionaries and the Mexican builders have demonstrated such patience as we have sewn and built alongside of them. 

And tonight, one teen has shared that he's learned by watching our missionary hosts that he has been asking God's blessing on the things he wants to do in his life and here has made a decision to follow God with his whole life. 

Wonderful.

Shawn & Carla Estes, MaryLou Daniels, Paula & Bruce Hepburn

Tonight we shared our team time with our missionary hosts and some of their partners.  It was clear to me that the hospitality they show to us and the way they live their life responding to God's voice has had a impact on us.  The truth is this is a hard place to serve. It could easily seem that there is little reward on this side of heaven, but tonight we were able to share with them how meaningful it has been to be led by them this week, to serve with them and to learn their stories.  

It has reminded me again of God's design for His church. His plan that we GO and make disciples.  This week we have gone AND we have been discipled wonderfully by our hosts and one another. 

Much love, Janet 

Reynosa Spring March 27, 2018

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2018

7 AM the usual morning lineup

Woken up with fruit salad, egg casserole and breakfast brownies (okay, they were just brownies), we prepared for the day of work ahead. The drive through the border was uneventful at most, but it was of course filled with the fatally catchy songs of our favorite artists, JB and Taylor Swift. After the group reconvened at the Community Center, the guys in the group headed off with Bruce to work on the house. The girls stayed with Paula to help the ladies that meet every Tuesday and Thursday to sew quilts that they sell and gave to the missionaries to furnish the newly built houses.

Every Scrap of Fabric Counts

At first, only one lady was working at her sewing machine, but as 3 more arrived, the mood in the room lifted. Our team could communicate with the talented women in the room through laughter and shared love of patterns and colors. The team made 2 entire quilts from scratch, but with a lot of help from everyone in the room. No matter how many times a patch was sewn on incorrectly or a stitch was sewn wrong, all of the ladies were eager to help, and endlessly patient and encouraging. To work, laugh, help, and smile with these wonderful women was an honor for me, and I could see my joy reflected on my team members’ faces.

Not only were the ladies a joy to be around, but they were incredibly talented. They worked magic with their sewing machines, and could take the smallest squares of patterned and plain fabric alike, and create a miracle. I could see how happy they were to teach us – they had been as inexperienced as we were once. Kami used her talents to reach out to the 2 young girls that showed up at the Community Center. They played games, the language barrier no longer a setback for Kami, but rather a challenge as she connected so deeply with the girls. Through hand gestures, smiles, our limited Spanish, and our translators Abby and Marlo, we made quilts, and we made them for Christ. It was a day that would without doubt be remembered by everyone in our mission team and everyone we met today.

House:  Nearly Complete

Did just the guys finish the house today? Half the crew from yesterday quilted. Well, we rolled up our sleeves and saw what we could get done. Before we knew it, we had installed the front door with locks, rafters, the loft, and a good part of the electrical systems. The crew was working strong, but we missed the rest of our crew. It was a welcome sight to see the women, which meant it was time for lunch. The amazing food prepared for us by the family that we built the house for. The menu was empanadas (with delicious and very spicy salsa verde) as well as chicken and rice tacos. But what about the sandwiches prepared for us by Paula and Mary Lou? The food by our hosts was so plentiful we didn’t even think about the sandwiches. 

After lunch, we got back to work and completed the roof, trim, upstairs windows, outside awning, inside railing and 90% of the electrical. As we left, we were able to actually give the family the keys to their house (it was not quite done, but it looks it from the outside). 

The whole day, it was amazing to see various groups of people working together on each section:  Clint and Caleb tackled the awning, Pastor Jaime and Todd; the upstairs windows, Caleb and Scott; the front door.  Everyone else installed the rafters; Colin, Charles, and Ian did the inside railing, and the local crew were knocking out the electrical like they were experts.

Oh…and dinner: Paula’s amazing Meat Loaf and Cheese Potatoes, along with Lemon and Chocolate pie. 😊 What will tomorrow bring?  

Eva & Scott

Reynosa Spring March 26 2018

Waking up came very early this morning, everyone walked around like zombies before the devo which was followed by a #litttt breakfast. The breakfast consisted of cinnamon rolls, coffee, and more cinnamon rolls. We all frantically got our backpacks together, and dressed ourselves. We lathered our epidermis in sun burn preventing lotion (which also helps to save us from deadly skin cancer, being exposed under the unforgiving sun). Loading up for the day, we split up into the van of our preference. One van consisted of all the rambunctious people on the trip, (Caleb, Collin, and Dani) with lots of Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber. We began a tradition yesterday the singing of the song ‘Baby’ By Justin Bieber, with Dani and Caleb on vocals and Colin’s “fire” beatboxing.

After we crossed into Mexico we packed up the truck with some tools for the build site. Once we got our tools, some of us loaded into the bed of a pickup truck and grasped onto the sides as we continued in song. Arriving at the build site, there was nothing there except the concrete foundation, which made us feel a little bit intimidated at the work ahead of us.

We were greeted by the family, where we got to meet the mother Liliana, and her three kids Dulce, Carla, and Jose. They were warm and welcoming, and despite the language barrier, you could feel the love and care. Whilst building, one would think that the heat, close quarters, and sweat would make turn the team against one another. That was the complete opposite. Everyone worked together joyfully, resulting in more productivity and laughter. Everyone was willing to get involved in the hard labor and really work their hardest for God. After a few hours of working we were summoned to lunch in the family’s kitchen, where we saw their current house and opened our eyes to see how blessed we are to have above and beyond what we need, and how thankful we are that we get to serve this wonderful family. Lunch consisted of fresh made empanadas, enchiladas and cold Coca-Cola. We noticed how generously and joyfully they gave with what little they had, and were humbled by how much food they provided for us when that money could have been used going to the needs of their family.

 After lunch, the team continued to work their hardest, which resulted in all four walls getting up and having a very productive work day. After we finished for the day we cleaned up the site, and piled into the vans and had yet another fun ride with singing and a lot of laughter. Arriving back at Bruce and Paula’s most of us took the time to shower and reflect on the day, but there were a few crazy ones amongst the bunch that chose to go running. Running was ‘very refreshing’ despite the intense humidity and the stifling heat, claims one of the crazy few.

We were served an amazing dinner with homemade noodles, chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, and coleslaw. Just when we thought we couldn’t be any more stuffed, grapefruit Jell-O pie with whipped cream, apple fritters and cake were served to us. The team then talked and shared the best parts of their days, and a small fraction of us went on a Walmart trip to pick up some groceries for Bruce and Paula, as well as the family. The ride there had some more singing, and Walmart (being the happiest place on earth) was quite overwhelming to Dani, who had never been before. The endless aisles of anything anyone could ever possibly want left the team only 30 minutes to gather all the things assigned for us to pick up. Overall, the packed day was very eventful, tiring, and the best day ever. Cannot wait to see what the rest of the week has for us!

-Caleb V and Dani H

Reynosa Spring March 25, 2018

Sunday, Mar 25, 2018

Why are you here?

We gathered this morning bright and early after a late night to greet Bruce and Paula over an amazing breakfast. We thought it would be important to share a little bit of why we have decided to serve this spring, share a part of our testimony. Tam, Collin, Kami, Todd, and Abby all were able to share, it was amazing to also get to know Bruce, Paula, and the many other great missionaries serving with, and for us.  

Bruce shared the fact that he and Paula retired and working in Mexico and helping people is their retirement plan. They have trusted God to take care of them and serving is their life. He  claims that it’s more rewarding and impactful than a life of collecting sea shells and he hopes others will chose the same way.

Just food?

We piled into the vans and a truck after breakfast to head to La Colonia. The drive took a little while and we were a little bit nervous. Janet and Bruce emphasized that we needed to be quiet as we crossed the border and that we might have to leave the van if they needed to search it more extensively. It wasn’t clear to us if it was if was legal to take the beans and rice with us, though Bruce didn't seem to concerned.  We were hoping to just get a green light, but in our van, we got a red one. This meant that they might search and XRAY our van and they might give us trouble about the food. However, the border agent was super sweet. She opened the back of the van, looked, and then asked Bruce ‘Just Food’? And Bruce said yes. She just waved us through. What a relief! God was really looking out for us in this moment.

Wow- Who built this?

Upon arriving to Bruce and Paula’s meeting place in La Colonia, we were very impressed by the conditions of the building. Being in a place with much poverty and destruction we were quite surprised by the beauty of their facility. After asking Bruce how it became possible, he explained to us that several other mission teams were also serving in the La Colonia to help Bruce, Paula and the community. It was crucial that they were able to create a solid meeting place where they could worship, distribute food, clothing, and somewhere to build community. Prior to this structure, they were meeting in a small dirt-driveway. Now over 150 families are able to gather to worship the Lord and get the essentials needed for their families because of this place. We were inspired by the fact that missionaries just like us had funded and built this place.

Jesus came on a donkey

We were there early and had time for our own little Palm Sunday Service with Bruce. We sang some songs and he gave a sermon. It was short so he then asked if anyone else wanted to share. Todd shared an interesting fact which is that Jesus came on a donkey instead of a horse which means he came in peace not to take power over us. Historically kings came on horses which meant that they were showing power not peace.

Connect through play

Finally, the people showed up at the meeting place. The Mexican people we came to serve and meet arrived in bright cloths, many with kids in tow. We all (except Abby who speaks Spanish) felt a little bit of a barrier in the way of connecting with the people because it’s intimating to speak even a little Spanish when you just know a little, and you don’t want to speak English, because that seems like you’re assuming they will speak to you in your language. You just sit there and wish you had spent time studying Spanish before you came. However, we had played a game with our Mission Team, a ‘Minute to Win it’ which Tam brought along before the people arrived. The game is very light hearted and involves putting a piece of candy on two pencils tied together with yarn with tails. The tails go around your ears and you use the length of the yarn to pull the pencils close to your mouth so you can eat the candy. It’s harder than it sounds!

One of us had the bright idea to bring the Minute to Win it and to play it with the Mexican people because you can show people how to do it, instead of trying to explain it.  We engaged a few of the kids initially, but soon drew a crowd! The kids were laughing and talking and having such a good time. Dani showed a little girl and boy how to play, and she does speak some Spanish so she was also able to talk to them some. They fell in love with her and the next time they saw her during the food distribution they ran up and hugged her. We were amazed by how easily we connected once we gave up on a traditional way to connect (talking) and we just played with our new friends.

Thank you Americanos

We were lucky enough to have Pastor Jaimie come and preach in Spanish. He called us up and asked us to sing “Te Doy Gloria”. It was moving to sing in Spanish to our Mexican audience and to look out at them as we sang.  Pastor Jaimie gave an impactful sermon, though we couldn’t understand it, you could tell by the reaction of those who could. He also started chanting ‘Thank you Americano’s’ and a few other words indicating their appreciation of us. It was very sweet and made us feel so welcome.

Food and more food

The last event was to distribute the food. Bruce showed us a huge closet which was full of peppers, flour, rice, beans, oil, and juice. We carried it all out and set it up on tables. There was so much food, we kept thinking we didn’t need it all. Bruce mentioned that usually between 150 and 200 families come for food, and that they distribute it once a month. The rice and beans are free, God provided, and the rest is purchased for $1000 at Sam’s Club. Bruce gave up his health insurance to save enough money to support this effort. God said ‘give up health insurance and feed the poor’, so Bruce and Paula did.  

This distribution was supported by the money raised for our mission trip, so that $1000 came from all of you who sent us here. Thank you! People were very appreciative as they walked in with bags and boxes to carry the food in. We were sad to learn that the distribution only happens once and month and that Bruce and Paula are not always sure where the $1000 a month will come from.

The living conditions and life we witnessed today opened our eyes. We are here to do God’s will and to help the 8 missionaries working in La Colonia and Reynosa to create shelter, food, worship and community for the Mexican people.  God is working and we are thankful, Josie, Tam and Kami.

The countdown has started! 

This Saturday our Spring team leaves to serve in the Nopalera Colonia in Reynosa, Mexico.  This is the 4th family home Sunset has partnered to build with our missionary partners, Bruce & Paula Hepburn of Mexico Missions. 

This is our family! Mom, Dad (not pictured) and three kids, ages 15, 7 and 4.  They have completed the foundation and are waiting for us to come and complete the building of the home.

Our team is comprised of 15 members, 13 of them are first timers on a Reynosa trip.  Our team is made up of a family of five, a father & son, a mother & daughter, a married couple, 3 teens and myself.  Thursday night, March 22  is our team prayer send off and we'd love for you to join us.  7pm Room 209. 

Thanks for your prayers and your support of the Reynosa Spring Team!  We are taking 100 "houses" with us! Each house represents a household who is SENDING our team, through financial support.  We will hang these houses in the new home we build, to express the love and support of the Sunset family, and our team members families and friends.   Take a minute and subscribe to this blog so that you receive our team updates while we are serving! Thanks for all your love and support, Janet