The Armour of God

Daily Vacation Bible School with the theme "The Armour of God",  has been moved to the 1st week in August as opposed to the last week.  The kids and leaders have worked very hard in getting all the props and crafts finished.  I was amazed at how much was being done and the creativity of the art.  Paco and Kike (Key-Kay) came across many empty cooking oil tins that a company gladly donated.  They are connecting and painting them to be the towers of the castle as decorations for the event.  We pray much fruit will come from their labor.  Not only from those who have worked hard to have this Bible School but also for those who will be attending from outside of Pan de Vida.

Yesterday the rest of the boys moved to the hacienda.  I know everyone is glad to have them all together once again as a family unit.  Please continue to pray as logistics are still being worked out and transportation is still an issue for the large number of kids.  Also, it is about a 20 minute drive, so we continue to pray for safety in the travel between facilities.

The progress still continues with the building of apartments above the kitchen and getting the auditorium stuccoed.  Today there is actually a group of 18 here doing some clean up as Ira prepares for the projects that teams will be doing in August.  One is from Island  Gospel Tabernacle, which is from our home area.  It will be great to see people from our area and we know they will be blessed by the ministry here as much as we will all be blessed by their presence. 


 

Violeta painting props

  
Erika painting as well

  
a finished product

  
more finished products

  
Paco's creativity for the towers


  
stuccoing the auditorium

 
half way on one wall

  
starting on another section

 
one end finished

 
scripture painted on archway at hacienda

Flood relief!

After graduation, the kids were sponsored to a vacation.  It was the 1st the kids have had in about 7-9 years and for some of the newer kids, it was the 1st ever as a family.  We are very happy for them to get an opportunity to go somewhere and just have fun and see different parts of their culture.  Since it was done through the school, we weren't eligible to go but I will get some photos from another volunteer for you to see the joy of their trip.

While the kids were gone, I used the time to go to Aguascalientes. Carolyn from my hometown arrived to serve for a month.  It was refreshing to fellowship with the volunteers of Dulce Refugio and also as a spiritual retreat before the heavy preparation for the 3 teams in August begins.  It is like most events, most of the work can't be done until last minute before the team arrives. However, while I was there, I did spend some time at the construction site helping here and there.  Also, Erin, Carolyn and I did some flood relief work at Erin's and Skip's house when the rain literally poured in like a raging river.

Ira stayed at Pan de Vida to continue his maintenance work which is constant.  However, with the kids away, he was able to catch up on some things.  Brittany, who has been volunteering at Pan de Vida for the summer was also able to go to Aguascalientes and see the ministry there.

As always, when you are gone, it seems like so much happens so fast.  The construction of the apartments above the kitchen is progressing.  Melchor and Juan have left the ministry of Pan de Vida, so you will see some new faces.  Their names are Ferntino and Miguel.  They are working on the balcony of the apartments.  I have some pictures to post of all the things that have been happening in the last couple of weeks.


  

picking at built up cement from the old work area


  

Carolyn sealing walls and ceiling 


 
bailing the river against the flow 

 
Erin guiding it from the bathroom back outside


 

Carolyn really was helping....scooping water back toward the door as we tried to find tools to work with


  

Ira in the workshop working on a pump 

 
Brittany~the summer volunteer and another daughter in mexico



  

Cliff was in town and took us out to celebrate my birthday


  

the beginning of the posts for the balcony



  

Ferntino and Miguel 

 
the post have been poured, now the base is being prepared



  

view from the back near the girls dorm 



 

from the back of the kitchen

Graduation!

After being here a year, we are now posting events we are experiencing for the 2nd time.  This one is graduation.  This was the final week of school and the kids all worked very hard to practice skits, songs, recital of scripture and today they put all that work into action.  It was so cute to see the little ones dance around, the teenagers act and very moving to see the older youth do dramatic performances.

If you visit www.youtube.com and type in Pan de Vida graduation in the search box, you will see a couple of skits that were performed by the older youth. One is Everything and the other America.

Many children were recognized for moving into primary, secondary or high school.  The big event of course is that of the 6 students who are now High School graduates.  In addition, this year Pan de Vida had 3 graduates with the Bachelor of Pedagogy degree.  

I know that this is an exciting time in their life and everyone enjoyed the celebration, but they also have anxiety as they move to the next chapter of their journey.  We pray they will seek God's direction and there are lots of mentors as they move in that direction. 

Let the ceremony begin



 


ok~so you might see Tio in a tie often but the other 2...look out!  These are guys who can put all their personal belongings in a backpack and be content!!


 


Celene comes over with flat iron to help the girls all get ready for the day! 



the kids anxiously waiting for the performances to begin



 


here we go~the presentation of flag and allegience


 


the kids in action


 


another class performance 



doing a dance act


 


reciting Psalm 139


 


energy all around as Summer Loving was performed


 


the little ones...they always steal the show


 


the Mexican Fred Astair


 


you had to be here for this one~made your cheeks sore


 


the begiining of a "Drime"~I have the video and will post a link once uploaded


 

a random act



 


Lucy, Lupillo, Gaby, Maria, Irma, Olimpia~the High school Graduates



 


Lucy showing her diploma


 

Monica, Jessy and Ruben~Bachelor of Pedagogy Graduates 

Bible Camp

The Levi Youth Group of Pan de Vida is organizing a week-long summer Bible camp for the final week of August.  The camp will include all the kids from ages 4-15 in Pan de Vida, but we will also be inviting kids from the local colonies. The purpose is to evangelize to the local children who don’t know Christ.  Though the camp is still a couple months away, the youth are already working to get the ton of details ready  

The theme is the Armor of God.  Each day of the camp, there will be a Bible story (presented with big painted cut-outs of the characters), a song with dance movements to learn, a sport time, craft time, and kitchen time.  It will be very fun for the kids, and, we are praying the Word of God  will be made very real and applicable to their lives.

The leaders have already been working with the Youth Group teaching them the songs with their corresponding movements.  Also the necessary materials for the crafts has been collected, and they have spent hours tracing out big Bible figures and painting them for the lessons.  It is amazing at the artistic ability of many of the youth in painting! 

Please pray for the camp and those involved in making it a success.  We pray many kids will come, and that their lives will be touched by the Lord. Also that the youth would continue to be enthusiastic over the 2 months in preparation.

     

Dani

Pan de Vida has a new member of the family!  Justo and Elia are the proud parents of a daughter. For those of you who do not know, Justo is the son of the directors Dario and Elena.  He is married to the daughter of the Pastor of Santa Rosa church.  Justo is our Pastor, leader of worship, teacher and administrator in the school among many other things.  Elia is his devoted wife and works with the youth group and teaches at the school.  

The baby's  name is Elia Daniella Hilbrands Medina and will be called Daniella/Dani.  She was born June 11th and weighed about 6 lbs. Thankfully Elia had to have a cesarean because the umbilical cord was around Daniella's neck 3 times and with the complications, Elia had to have hysterectomy.  They can't have anymore children but feel very blessed with the 2 they have plus the 140 other kids here at Pan de Vida.

I haven't had a chance to get any family photos.  Elia was at her parents the 1st week for recovery but as she got home, I was able to get a couple of pictures of the baby and of course she was sleeping.  Luca is both loving and a bit jealous.  For sure Justo and Elia have their hands full.  The kids here are all excited about the baby but the visits have to be few and far between in the beginning.

Here are a couple of pictures and a recent one of Luca being the typical 2 year old.  As soon as I get opportunity, I will post a family photo.