Hasta Luego


We said  “Hasta Luego” to another team that has become family to all of us here at Pan de Vida.  The Waterloo/Seaforth team of Ontario Canada started coming when the Orphanage was in it’s infancy of being built.  As the years have gone by, many come yearly and some are coming for the 1st time.
The trip started out with the team going to watch several of the older boys play football.  There are about 6-8 of the boys aged 16-18 that are a local team called the Gigantes.  Spectators  wanted to know who all the “white” people were and it allowed opportunity to tell them about Pan de Vida, the ministry and how many teams come to serve God through it.
As the work week began, again we were faced with the challenges of the rain.  It has been extremely unusual weather for this time of year having it rain for a few days in a row day and night.  Work continued on the paving project behind the kitchen.  Again, due to the weather, the supplier was unable to keep up with the supply needed for this project so the team would get the blocks that were delivered down within a couple of hours.
Several had the not so pleasant job of digging the septic and getting it ready for concrete to be poured.  The temporary system has brought challenges of its own as the pumps do not work properly and have to be tended day and night.
The girl’s dorm received a facelift with a thorough and fresh coat of paint while the older boys dorm got shelving for closet space.  Also some wiring and lighting was installed to the outside of the dining area.  Also the retaining wall around the tree near the church entrance was completed.
The team worked while the kids were in school and then at recess time, they stopped to play with the kids.  There was floor hockey, football, soccer and guitars played throughout the week.  Each evening  the team ended with worship, devotions and testimony time.  Real nourishment for the soul.
Agustine and Geno ended the teams trip with a supper at the current boys home.  Since they will move back to Pan de Vida this week, they wanted to have one last “party” .
The team has left us with some great gifts as well.  They have purchased pots, pans, knives and other utensils for the kitchen.  A big hooray for industrial washing machines for the girls and boys, tires for one of the vans, support for Amealco ministry and more toward projects.  The worship band also received 3 new guitars.
It is a blessing to have teams come and pour so much of themselves into the ministry here.  We know that as much as they bless us, they too leave being blessed by the love of all the children. 
Philippians 2:17  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
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Meet Dave


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Meet Dave Bast. He is the newest addition to Children of Hope and a board member representing Eastern Canada.  He lives in Waterloo Ontario and has been coming to Pan de Vida several years with teams.  When I took this picture, I told him I would be using it for my post and he knew I would but it so reflects his personality thus the reason why the kids all love him so much.  We are Blessed to have him in our family!! 

Journey of Ministry


This past weekend a team from Waterloo Ontario arrived.  Like the other teams, some have been coming every year for several years while others have been here a time or 2  and many are here for the 1st time.  They are like family to us as Dave Bast, who comes yearly, is now on the board of Children of Hope. The fellowship has been spiritually nourishing for us as we all share in the work, activities, meals and devotions together. I will be posting about their ministry here but wanted to post a link to a blog they are doing along this journey so you can follow that from their perspective on a daily basis.

http://www.wennykpandevida2010.blogspot.com/

More Help


Another team from the Morden/Winkler area of Manitoba have been here for 2 weeks ministering through work projects.  A few of the team's members have been coming every year for about 10 years, having seen Pan de Vida built literally from the ground up.  One couple came 2 weeks prior to the team to get a longer break from the Manitoba winter and help in the daily activities of Pan de Vida.  There were also some team members that came this year that had been on prior trips and we were blessed to have some coming for the 1st time.
The weather has been very unusual for this time of year.  The 1st four days of the trip, it rained day and night.  This delayed the outdoor projects but the team was able to clean and paint from top to bottom the kitchen, dining area, all bathrooms in the boys and girls’ dorm and the kitchen and dining area of the visitor’s dorm.  Also the last volunteer apartment was  painted, cleaned and windows were made and installed bringing it almost to completion.  One team member brought some baby items and was able to do an outreach to a couple of girls in the surrounding community who are expecting very soon. 
 Once the rain stopped and the ground dried up some, the team continued with the ongoing project of the pavers behind the kitchen area.   Also, due to the amount of rain, our newly installed septic system suffered great damage.  The mud around the tanks and pumps washed out and in short, it was nothing but a mess.  The on-site volunteers worked around the clock during the rain to keep as much as possible saved and pumping all the excess they could to prevent further problems.  Once the rain stopped and the ground dried some, the team has worked on trying to get a temporary tank installed while plans continue to be done to repair the system.
As always, in 2 weeks so much has been done and we are blessed to have people who want to come and work so hard to improve the facilities.  The kids were also treated to a pizza party and fireworks.  Nothing like ending the trip with a bang!!
Proverbs 16:9  A man's heart plans his ways, But the LORD directs his steps.
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Evangelism


The leaders of The Levi Youth Group started 2010 off with a series focusing on Evangelism.  Most of the kids of Pan de Vida have been here for many years and under The Word of God.  They attend Sunday School, 2 church services a week and have prayer meeting and devotional nights.  With many of the youth having a personal relationship with Christ, the leaders felt it is now time for them to learn more about sharing their faith.  For the next few months, they will focus on stirring that desire and providing them with tools to do so.
The 1st meeting focused on Jesus' Great commission to all believers, not just "missionaries abroad".  No matter who we are, where we are, or what profession we are in, all of us are on a mission field.  The next meeting then focused on the 4 spiritual laws using "The Bridge" diagram to bring those 4 points together.  The youth will also be memorizing key scriptures over the series that can be used in any evangelical situation.
This is very new to the kids as they will be stretched to be bold in their faith especially with people they do not know. Pan de Vida is a home that orphaned, abandoned, abused kids come and are provided with opportunities they may have never been offered otherwise.  In the beginning the focus was to present God to them and pray each one would receive salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  God has blessed us all in so many ways and now as the kids get older, we realize how important it is to make disciples of these kids.  Prepare them to go into the world as ambassadors for Christ.  We can see His hand in this as many share their testimonies and are excited to serve such a great God.

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