Monday, the work begins

On Monday we had two teams, the truss team, stayed at Pancho Villa to assemble all the roof trusses.  This was a team made up of seasoned professionals and new recruits who together did an AMAZING job, and finished all of the regular trusses!  They proclaimed a record!

The second team went to the community of Girasoles, to begin framing the worship center/parsonage for the Dios Con Nosotros (God with Us) Mission.  By the end of the day all four outside walls were standing!

A smaller team was given the important job of building an outhouse!

Welcome Denver Adults 2013

On Sunday afternoon the adult team from 3rd CRC, Denver arrived in San Diego.  After dinner the group divided, the bus heading to the San Ysidro border crossing and the trucks and trailers to the Otay Mesa crossing.  The new bus lane at San Ysidro is pretty high tech with a large vehicle scanner and everything, meaning we had to unload everything off the buss and carry it through the luggage scanners inside the building.  The guards had pity on us and did not make us unload all of the bottled water and the truss gussets in the back!! The team met, unplanned, on the Cucapah just before arriving at Cristo Arca De Salvacion in Pancho Villa.  We are excited for a week of work and blessing!

Thank you Haven CRC, and Agua Viva IPR

The VBS this year was a team effort between the youth from

Haven CRC in Zeeland, MI

and Agua Viva mission in Tijuana.

 It is great to work together for the kingdom.  Even though we speak different languages, we serve the same Lord!

Thank you Haven CRC for coming all the way to TJ to help us!

Final days at VBS

We continued to have more children each day, 115 on Wednesday, and 130 on Thursday.  In total 162 children

and 12 mothers attended during the week.
Pray that what they heard about Jesus will stay with them as they grow.

The team helped again with crafts and games.

Tuesday

Tuesday was another great day at VBS, We had over 75 kids attend, many of them new.  The story was about Jesus calming the storm.

The craft was painting cars from "Toys for God's Kids" in Denver Colorado.

They also enjoyed a crazy relay with water balloons.

In the afternoon the paint team continued with the final touches, the electrical team continued their work in the kitchen, and the girls poured a cement slab for the 55 gallon water drum, and the washing machine.

For dinner, the ladies cooked another great meal of  beef, chicken, and vegetarian empanadas, with fresh fruit for desert.

First day of VBS

Today was the first day of VBS at Agua Viva.  The theme this year is stories about boats.  The story for today was Jonah, which was acted out as a drama with a whale that actually "ate" Jonah.

The Haven team taught the crafts,

was in charge of game time,
and helped out in each of the classrooms.
In total about 65 children attended VBS, and 8 mothers joined the ladies class.
In the afternoon the team worked on finishing painting the exterior of the building, running wiring to the new kitchen, and working on crafts and games for tomorrow.

Great first day!  We are looking forward to tomorrow!!

Sunday

On Sunday we worshiped at three different churches, Sunday School at Cristo Arca de Salvacion, Worship service at Agua Viva, and Evening service at Dios Viviente with the men from the rehab center.  All three services were a blessing and opportunity for the group to fellowship with different brothers in Christ.  After the evening service we visited Jesse's family in Terrazas de Valle, friends we made 4 years ago on the last Haven team.

Saturday

Today the group poured a cement side walk leading to the bathrooms, painted more on the buildings and doors, and worked on getting the VBS craft projects ready.

In the evening the ladies from Auga Viva prepared fish tacos, shrimp quesadillas, fruit salad and ice cream for our dinner. Great food!

We also celebrated birthdays Mexican style, with a piñata.

Welcome to Mexico, Haven CRC Youth!

This past Thursday a group of young people from Haven CRC in Zeeland, MI joined us to help at the Agua Viva mission.

On Friday they poured a cement pad in front of the new kitchen,

and began painting the outside of all the buildings.  They got a long ways the first day.

 They also helped move a pile of wood that was too close to the buildings for comfort in the fire season.

Thank you Oak Harbor CRC!

This morning the team finished up, crossed the border, and began the long trip home.

Thank you all so much for laboring with us this week.

Wednesday finishing up

Wednesday morning the group finished the first coat of mud on all the walls and the ceiling, something to celebrate!

During the morning break, all enjoyed raspados (deluxe fruit snow cones) made by friends Edgardo and Ada.

And for lunch, the ladies from Emanuel made Michiotes!

In the afternoon we took a cultural tour of Tijuana, including the border fence

and cathedral down town.

Tuesday more fun with mud

Today everyone worked hard to get the first coat of mud on the walls

and on the ceiling.

Corner beading around the windows was also installed.