December has been very blessed with a busy month here at Pan de Vida! Ira and I were orientated with our first official team from Samaritan's Purse. It was a youth team of 16 from Ontario's Brampton Christian Academy and 4 adults as leaders. Their primary project was to lay the patio pavers outside the new addition to the school. These youth were definitely troopers at pitching in to get the work done. The area was dug out and then the team leveled and laid the bricks. Not only were they able to get that finished, they did odd and end jobs of cleaning , pouring concrete in needed areas and even did the finishing touches of the paint job on the visitors dorm. We also had 3 eye clinics in nearby colonies. The list is endless and the joy that they displayed in doing the work ministered to each of us here.
Each morning started with prayer and devotion and the evenings ended in testimonies and prayer plus some fun time with games. We really enjoyed having them here and are excited to see what God will do in their lives from this experience.
The team left the 22nd and immediately we were into the preparation for Christmas. Of course we had a wonderful meal on Christmas Eve followed by great entertainment from the children. The young, medium and older kids each did a performance. The new youth Group, The Levi, had an amazing production with props included. A lot of hard work went into the program and it testified to the unity they have as a group.
We would like to say congratulations to Jeremy and Ana on the arrival of their son Benjamin. They have been here a little over a month and will return to Aguascalientes after the New Year. Please follow Jeremy's blog www.xanga.com/childrenofhope because that is where you will get all the Mom and Dad brag photos. I have to say...he is a sweetie for sure!!
We also have our daughter here visiting for the holidays and are very excited about that. Plus other family members of the volunteers have been here as well. It has made our first Christmas here at Pan de Vida a memorable and meaningful one.
It is so easy to lose track of dates living here at Pan de Vida. We were well aware that Christmas was approaching but the decorating seems to start earlier and earlier each year in Canada so in my mind, it still seemed like November. However, as I ventured into Centro Querétaro, I was faced with the decorating that happens here.
There are several animated displays in the plazas which relate Biblically to the time before Christ and also His birth. The Mexicans have included themselves into the different scenes. They demonstrate their travels during the day and stop every night in different places to sleep. Along the journey they are confronted with hardships and evil, for which there is a display. There is an authentic name for the journey but I can't remember at this time. The total journey is 10 days and including the nights, it basically represents the 12 days before Christmas. The nativity scene is also on display minus baby Jesus. He will not be placed in the manger until Christmas Eve.
Adam and Eve in the garden
fiesta with Piñata
Piñata
depicts Hell
shepherding the sheep
the 3 wisemen
transporting clay pots (possibly water)
shepherds of the sheep
more travellers
the Nativity scene
Christmas decorating has begun. The youth group has the large task of decorating the kitchen/auditorium and the boy's and girl's dorms are starting to show signs of the upcoming season. Since this is the first year to have long term volunteers in the visitor's dorm, there isn't a tree designated for the house. Being the sap that I am, I really wanted a tree but knew that to start from scratch could be a bit expensive. Being worse that a kid, every time we were out and I saw the lights being installed in the stores and decorations on shelf, it made me want one even more. Ira and I decided to get a small tree, probably because he was tired of me whining. We have placed it in the house on a small table from the workshop. I told the kids I really needed some decorations and before the end of the day, I had enough to decorate. I was so excited and started sharing the news with everyone, so much that one volunteer reminded me that I had told him 4 times already. Oh well, something about the lights on a tree at night just stirs my spirit. I have a couple of pictures to show you how beautiful it is! We don't have the official top yet because one of the older girls is making that and it is going to be something we can use each year.
this is a bit blurry but gives you an idea of how spectacular it is
