Last Day

During our week at Buenas Nuevas most all of the metal framing was completed.









Plumbing was "roughed in."









Electrical boxes and flex conduit were "roughed in."








According to our tradition a signature panel on a cross with a scripture verse was placed in the attic of the building.
























































































































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Last Day of Bible Clubs

The phrase "Be Flexible" has certainly been appropriate for the Bible groups this year. Things are a little different each day. One day Raul the Spanish pastor told us that the van would not be available to ferry our workers to the site of the "Garage Meeting". Our workers for that site did not know where the garage was located because they had ridden there in the back of a van. Raul was mistaken the driver did show up to take them to the location and I followed in the bus so that I would know where they were in case I needed to go pick them up. The first day was too hot in the garage so they met outside. Ask them about the flies and bugs!

Thursday the van driver was about 35 minutes late in arriving because the van wouldn't start. I could now have driven them to the garage but the van driver was the only person in the group that spoke English so we waited.

Tuesday Marie's group that met in the community center of the trailer park was locked out of their room because the manager had not unlocked that day. One of the mothers opened her trailer for them to meet. It just happened to be one of the few homes that had air conditioning so they were thankful. Wednesday and Thursday was a little cooler here with clouds and some rain in the distance.

As I picked up each group today I heard stories of good times and tearful good byes. We know we probably will not see any of these people again but will continue to pray for them and remember our visit here on the East Mesa.

This group taught at a trailer on Rhonda Lane.

This group taught at the trailer park just off Three Crosses Rd.

This group taught in a garage on Benavides Rd.

East Mesa Community

Iglesia Bautista Buenas Nuevas is at the foot of the Organ Mountains on the flat area known as East Mesa. This is their new building. Notice all the green grass around the building!



Las Cruces starts at the Rio Grande and extends up the slope to the Mountains.

This area is a part of the great Chihuahan Desert. There are no trees here other than those that have been planted and watered. The older parts of Las Cruces have many trees that have been planted.






East Mesa is a growing community with many new homes being constructed. Probably these areas will someday have trees also if the water supply hold out.


The homes in the immediate vicinity of Buenas Nuevas are primarily manufactured housing and the streets are unpaved. The soil is very course sand, gravel and rocks. I am told that when the wind blows hard the blowing sand is very irritating.



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Tuesday

Today we have a few pictures from one of the Bible Study Groups.

Yes, It Is Monday!

As is often the case for Monday Mission Trip work days not everything was ready for our crew. Materials were short and our guys did a lot of waiting today. Some stacks of drywall were moved to make room for interior walls.







Our men erected several of the interior wall panels that previous workers had assembled on the ground.









The Spanish mission church provided an excellent lunch for all the workers at noon.







The backyard Bible clubs were scheduled for 4:30 in the afternoon. It was a very interesting experience trying to get directions to the locations in the community. The pastor of the mission church speaks very little English and we understand very little Spanish! But all worked out well. Our ladies divided into three groups with one group meeting with kids in a church member's home, one group meeting in a garage and another group meeting at a trailer park in their community room. All three groups reported having very good meetings with around 12 to 15 kids and some adults at each location.

As Paula ended her session and loaded supplies back on the bus she discovered that one of the ladies there worked at our hotel and would likely be cleaning our rooms tomorrow.

I didn't get any pictures of the Bible groups today because of having to rush with the bus to get everyone delivered and picked up from their locations. The starting point was the mission church on the East Mesa from there the groups went to their individual locations. Two were in the community near the church and one was about 15 miles away near the downtown Las Cruces area. I will try to get pictures tomorrow.

Sunday Worship

Sunday morning at East Mesa Baptist church was a good time of worship with Daniel preaching. Of course the service was a little different from ours back home but not that much. This is the worship center at East Mesa.





East Mesa Baptist is located about 10 miles east of downtown Las Cruces at the foot of the Organ mountains. Daniel mentioned in his message that this is only the second time he has ever seen mountains.

The construction work will be for Iglesia Bautista Buenas Nuevas, the Spanish language mission of East Mesa.







Sunday afternoon was mostly free time to relax. Some of the workers who had helped at Truth or Consequences three years ago drove there to see their finished building. No one was around and the building was locked but it looked good from the outside. It was a good time to remember.




For our group meeting Sunday night at the motel we reviewed the day, shared some memories of past mission trips and considered the plans for tomorrow.



After taking care of business we were entertained by Morgan Quisenberry and her fiddle










assisted by her Grandpa David











Raney Penix











Ryan Hurt











and Robert Hurt.



Tomorrow the construction work begins.


There are a few more pictures in the
photo gallery - http://gvcandid.blogspot.com/ .

Saturday Travel

Saturday began early as the luggage was loaded into the trailer and the workers loaded the bus for a 5:30 departure. The trip went very well.



Those west Texas miles just seem to stretch out forever but the road was in excellent condition and the trip was completed in good time thanks to the updated speed limits.

After finding our rooms we had a short meeting in the motel dining area to go over initial plans then it was back on the bus for a short trip to Cracker Barrel for a good meal.






Here is Daniel finishing his last bacon slice.





Tomorrow morning we will worship at East Mesa Baptist Church with Daniel preaching.