MEXIC08-SUNDAY!

Today was a GREAT day!!! The started off a little earlier than usual today so we could pack a few extra things into the schedule.

We started off like we will everyday having some personal quiet times and then some small group time. Back2Back does a great job putting together a devotional guide that we use all week long that is Biblically based and helps lead us through what we are experiencing!

We then got a tour of the Back2Back campus so we could see and hear about all the amazing things God has been doing down here! It's amazing to see how fast stuff is being built down here, students that were here last year couldn't believe the difference and for Jeff and I who haven't been here in two years, it looks SOOO different!

We then loaded up the bus and headed out to the Cadereyta. The Cadereyta is where the government has located several hundred families that were former squatters and given them each a small piece of land to call their own, although they still don't have any plumbing, running water or electricity. The team broke up into 3 groups and spread out through the community to invite residents to lunch and a church service at the under construction community center. It didn't take long till there were kids coming out of everywhere! Soon everyone on the team was carrying a kid, giving a piggy back ride and playing like crazy! It was over 100 degrees and the whole team was going non stop loving these kids even when their shoulder got tired! We fed the whole community a hot dog lunch and had some ourselves and then jumped back on the bus to head back to base.

After some quick showers the team got dressed up to take part in a Quincienra, which is a girl's 15th birthday party. Traditionally in the Mexican culture turning 15 is a big deal and many families will go "all out" on the celebration. She was presented with several gifts including a watch to remember the time that she has, a ring to remember the continuing love of God and a Bible to be able to stay in the Word. It was a very cool thing for the team to get to be a part of! After the ceremony it was time to celebrate with a big feast, dancing and Quincienra cake! It was great!

We're getting ready to head down to evening worship and then team debrief time where we will share all of your love and encouragement and talk through today! We'll try and get pictures up as fast as we can, but the internet can be "interesting" sometimes!

-John