The kids are gearing up for football season. This year the kids are playing in area leagues within the city. This is allowing the kids to meet others and build on their teamwork and sportsmanship. The older ones are especially thrilled to use it as an opportunity to share their faith. They show commitment to the practices that have to be fit into their schedule of chores and school. They have a real passion for the sport.
The Pan de Vida football field is also getting some grooming as the season opens. Grass was planted on it a couple of years ago but this past fall the thorn bushes took over. Now that we have a septic system that can be filtered properly to irrigate, the plans are to have the next team sod the field and then it can be maintained properly.
Having a field on-site not only allows the kids to have an appropriate place to practice, but it also allows us to host other teams and testify to the great things God is doing. This past weekend the girls had an "away" game just outside of Mexico City. They did not win but we had a typical cultural experience. The game was sceduled for 3:30 so they left Pan de Vida at 11:30. They stopped to meet the other team members who showed up an hour late. They then went for gas and waited for another vehicle of girls. Then they got lost and it took 2 hours before getting proper directions. So the 3:30 game started at 5:30 and the kids had not eaten lunch and were hot and tired from being in the van so long...but hey...just another day in Mexico!
Well, the boys have all moved back in and Ira is keeping them busy. When the teams were here in January and February, the rainy season hindered much of the outdoor projects. Since it is crucial the projects get done, he has recruited some of the boys to help out. It is amazing how they have responded so positively to the work. You can tell they mostly love the time being spent with them. Ira has become a peer and they never get enough of wanting to feel important. Also, many of the boys aren't thrilled with the academic part of school, so Ira has turned this into a vocational project and incorporating needs for them to use math through measuring, weighing etc. Even when the work for the afternoon is completed, they just spend time hanging out with Ira waiting for him to do something else that they may be able to help with.
They have been working on both the pavers behind the kitchen and the septic. Ira decided last week he wanted to treat the boys to hamburgers so he took the names of all the ones that helped and had a list of 9 boys. As we gathered in the van, a few of the other boys asked where we were going and they told them for hamburgers and the reason why. Of course then a couple of the boys said they had helped, and maybe they had, but it had been half an hour here or there in the beginning but then they quit helping. But the boys going wanted everyone who had helped to be included, whether they worked the whole week or not. It reminded me of the Parable in Matthew 20 where the workers were paid equally whether they worked 1 hour or the whole day. However, in this case, it was the opposite. The kids taught us a lesson as the boys wanted anyone who had helped to receive the outing and burgers and before we knew it, we had 12 boys and Ira said we had to hurry and go or they would have us taking spectators too.
We usually go to a "hole in the wall" hamburger place but it was closed and we ended up going downtown to a Burger King. Well, just the excitement of them getting to have a coke with ice and free refills was enough to make the trip worth it. One of the older boys seemed a bit more concerned over the frequent visits the younger ones were making to the soda machine, but I assured him the refills were free. I think one boy told me he drank 4 and he left with his cup full of ice, something they never get at Pan de Vida. They all behaved so well and impressed us beyond measure with their thankfulness. Little do they know we were the blessed ones.
We all know music ministers to the soul as many of our hymns were inspired by The Psalms of the Bible. Paul even tells us in Ephesians to use music in giving thanks to the Lord. I personally remember almost all the childhood songs and any time I hear songs from when I was in high school, they are like blasts from the past and I can sing right along. So what better way to for the kids here to be ministered to as music is also very educational. As Ira and I take Spanish classes, our teacher asked us to bring Spanish music so we can play it and pick out the parts we are understanding. We know once we learn some of these songs, many of the words will become more familiar to us.
Worship is a huge part of our Church services on Thursday and Sunday. Actually music is a big part of everyones lives here. I love to listen to it when I do laundry because it is very motivational. I rarely go to the dorms that there isn't any music playing. Even the Tuesday night prayer meetings usually end with the kids belting out praise through song.
This past December, several of our kids sang in a symphony choir organized in the city. One of the girls here has always had a dream to be a bigger part of the symphony and play violin. When she shared this with Brad Dyck of the Manitoba team, he bought her a violin of her own to persue this passion. God provided her with a teacher of the violin who is a missionary here in Mexico and comes every Friday at no cost to help her learn to play.
Last year the Waterloo team had bought Miguel, one of the older boys a guitar, and when they saw how it had blessed his life and ministry they came this year with 3 new guitars. Justo, who leads the worhip team is now having lessons with the kids who are interested in learning to play. It has been a huge blessing for the congregation as now the members of the worship team are altenating in playing to minister in music to us. So now our worship team has guitars, drums and bongos. Once we get a keyboard and someone to play it, we will be all set. Personally, I look forward to the music and praise of our Saviour each service and am very thankful to those who have a gift in music to present this on our behalf.
Ephesians 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here we are with more changes yet again. It has been interesting to see how when we are faced with decisions, that God brings choices that can be difficult to make but end up developing growth. In the process of preparing for the boys to move back, we knew that space would be limited since we had more kids than before having the 2 facilities. But it seemed evident from the past 1½ years of the boys being in other locations that the best solution is for them to either be back here or somewhere very close. Otherwise, it was starting to feel like 2 different ministries and with lack of volunteers in the 2nd home, it made coordinating meals, school, transportation and activities more difficult.
Also, the Directors had been faced with making a decision regarding the older kids. When these kids came to Pan de Vida, many were 5-7 years old and before they knew it, they became adults. After graduating, many have been enrolled in the Bachelor of Pedegogy Course, some in vocational school and the older boys started a piñata business. There has always been the idea of a "transition house" being tossed around but nothing ever really developed. But as meetings were held about bringing the boys back, the reality came to be as they thought now is the time for the ideas to come to frutation.
So this past week as the younger boys moved back, 7-8 of the older boys remained in Los Angeles to continue their piñata business and 6 of the older girls that teach in the school at Pan de Vida and take the Bachelor of Pedegogy course, moved into the house that Ira and I rented in a nearby community of Santa Barbara. It is an exciting time of their life but also anxious time. They will now be able to be more independent and work out schedules to juggle home life and teaching but also they will be responsible to pay rent and household expenses. With the encouragement and support of everyone, we feel it will all work out very well for them. When I talk to them, you can see the light within shine brighter. It is a huge step as Pan de Vida goes through growing pains but we know God has His hand in it and this brings us all more peace.
Here are some pictures of the girls transitioning into their new residence. Please continue to pray things will go smoothly and they will find balance of living in a different location.
painting over the graffiti
getting a facelift
loading their belongings at PdV
ready to go
unloading the stuff
now to sort it
some donated furniture
organizing individual rooms
all settled in
feeling more like home
preparing a meal
their 1st meal in the new place
