Family Trip to Nogales, Mexico 2014 Cuirim Outreach

It may surprise some of you, but we are back from our family trip to Nogales, Mexico!  This was our

youngest's, Blane's first trip.  We were waiting for his passport, on the day we were leaving, and it never came!  Our friends were leaving the next day, so we asked them to bring the passport along.  The passport came in the mail, but our friend's daughter threw up in line at the airport, so they ended up not coming.  We were bummed that they couldn't come, but have to trust God that he knows better than we do.  Anyway, we

were able to cross into Mexico without even showing our passports.  However, we needed the passport to cross back into the States.  The authorities would have thought we found a cute little Mexican kid to bring back home!  Our friend, Jon sent the passport overnight mail, and Mike was able to cross back to AZ on Sunday to get Blane's passport, so we came across the border on Wednesday with all six passports.  Praise the Lord!  We felt covered in prayer the whole time.

In AZ, ready to go.  Psalm 90:1, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.  Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (NIV)

In Mexico, ready to travel to the Cuirim House.  

The work begins.  Mike, Jedrek, and Slade built a pavilion at the Cuirim Outreach, so that large groups can sit in shade when they eat.  

This is the before picture, where the pavilion will be.

Jedrek and Slade making pancakes for the group of students serving for the week.

I worked with Celia and Elena in the kitchen.  We prepared meals for the 15 students.  It was fun getting to know the leaders and students.  It was a pleasure to speak Spanish with Celia, who serves with her husband, Carlos.

On Saturday, we went to one of the Kid's Cafes where the leaders serve a meal to the children and lead in song and Bible teaching.  This is Mari, who leads this Kid's Cafe with her husband Miguel.  We presented this Honer guitar, which was donated by Bob Coffey, from Coffey Music in Westminster, MD.  Mari gives guitar lessons to the children.  She only had her guitar, so this will be very special to the children of Mexico.  

We played with the children, Mari led in song, the other women taught Bible lessons, they prayed for the children and sang, then we helped serve the meal and washed dishes.  It was a special day at the Kid's Cafe!

This is Elena with her friend she plays with every time she visits.  Her name is Elehandra.

Jeremy and Slade

Saturday evening, we had a meal together at the Cuirim House, with our dear friends.  The truth of Psalm 90 was very real.  Miguel is sick with a liver problem.  Bill and Tammy just lost their three year old son, Will.  Carlos and Celia lost their son, David, to cancer.  The afflictions of life are very real.  Psalm 90: 9-10 says, "All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.  The length of our days is seventy years-  or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their  span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away...Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Relent, O LORD!  How long will it be?  Have compassion on your servants.  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (NIV)

This is New Life Church which is the local church Cuirim Outreach works with.  The pastor, Ramon is leaving to begin ministry in the south.  So his son, Michel will continue the work as pastor. Michel will enjoy playing the new guitar that we bought at Good Will.  He plays guitar in church as well as at the Cuirim House for retreats.  Mr. Lester Hess from Hess Music in Manchester, MD donated a guitar bag to protect the guitar and make it possible to get the guitar to Mexico.  

Our dear friends, Jackie and Christian, who serve the Lord at one of the Kid's Cafes.  We are in their house that Mike built in 2007 with a group from RVR.  Psalm 90:16, "May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children." (NIV)

The pavilion, almost complete.

Celebrating at Burrito Haas with Celia and Carlos.

In front of the finished pavilion.

Psalm 90 was very special to us on this trip.  Pastor Paul preached from it before we left, and then Brian taught from it in chapel at the Cuirim House.  Psalm 90:17, "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-  yes, establish the work of our hands." (NIV)