July 2001-Adult/Youth Servant Trip
The thirty members of this year's Adult/Youth
Servant Team have a story to tell. We hope that you have read our
"Servant Team Reflections" which are posted in the hallway
next to the library and taken a look at our pictures. Here we'd
like to share the events of our trip.
Saturday, July 14th
Our
plane left on time and arrived in El Paso where it was 104 degrees.
Humidity or no humidity, that's hot. After a good lunch at a neighborhood
restaurant, Mi Casita, we set about the work of unpacking our nine
boxes of supplies, sorting the contents, and repackaging the craft
projects. We also did our first grocery shopping. The bill was only
$587. (We shopped every day, at least once.)
"When Jeff, Matt, and I arrived at the airport,
it was really neat to see not just Bruce but many others that came
to pick us up. It showed many cared that we are part of the family
at Ysleta."--Chuck Henderson
"I was impacted by the way our group stuck
together to get crafts done. We were family-like."--Jodi Arnesen
"Today was really about getting to know the
people that I'm working with and getting comfortable about my surroundings."--Bryan
Bandy
"It impresses me that our church would help
send us down here to reach people."--David Marks
"It was great to get back here. And we all
fell together as a family. We worked well together."--Jeff
Henderson
Sunday, July 15th
Pastor Schalk led the English service at San Pablo
and Pastor Ruiz the Spanish service. After lunch we
made our first border crossing. We walked through the Zaragosa neighborhood
around Santisima Trinidad inviting children to come to Bible school.
Pastor Hernandez led the service in Spanish, Pastor Schalk did the
preaching with the help of a translator, and the service included
a wedding, baptism, and confirmation. Again it was a very hot day.
"Worship and praise--we don't know the words
but we understand the meaning."--Chuck Kraft
"Nervous exuberance."--Stephen Marks
"The Spanish services were a great experience."--Paul
Carstensen
"We went to three church services. I didn't
understand a word in two of them. We saw people get married with
a lasso. I also had dish-duty again."--Matt Tobiasz
"I am amazed when we sing the same songs in
different languages--it is a reminder that our God is multilingual
and so big. Seeing kids we recognize and who recognize us melted
my heart. God is blessing this ministry."--Sarah Givot
"Holy communion3, sermons2, baptism, wedding,
confirmation--Praise the Lord!"--Pastor Schalk
"I got to see Flor and she made my day so
much better than it started."--Elizabeth Hartwig
Monday, July 16th
Today
is the first day of Bible school. We had 170 children in attendance.
Everything went very well. Preparation pays off. Many of the children
are with us for the fourth year of Bible school. After supper a
sand storm moves in from the southwest. The dirt limits visibility
and the winds blow down a large tree right in front of our dormitory.
Everyone's safe, but the heat seems even more oppressive.
"The dust storm came just after I came in
from running. I was able to help translate between Mrs. Ritchey
and a little girl she had met the previous year."--Ashley Hillard
"The most important event of the day was Steve
Marks' devotional. He gave a terrific informative opening, quoted
Scripture and explained it. Steve closed with a summary. His devotion
made my day."--Clyde McComb
"Help! I'm trapped in a servant team of obsessive-compulsive
'neatniks'! But they do a good VBS."--Ralph Carstensen
Tuesday, July 17th
Today Bible school attendance grows to 192. Again
we have a very productive day. It is amazing how
quickly you make connections with these children. In the afternoon
we finished repackaging our craft projects for the week. We've used
over 1,000 sandwich baggies, but it makes craft time so much more
efficient. There is still no break in the heat. You can wake up
at 1:30 a.m. and the bedrooms are still hot.
"It went so smoothly and successfully today!
My little five-year-olds really did great. I know we're getting
through to them about the word of the Lord."--Heather Hogarth
"My class of 59 kids was so good today. They
paid attention during the Bible story and they worked hard at their
crafts. I was so happy with them."--Rebecca Bunn
"Our kids showed an obvious desire to learn
about God. They're here because they want to be."--Lorrel Ritchey
Wednesday, July 18th
Today
we catch a break. There is a cloud cover in the morning and the
temperature will only reach 95. This made for a great day of Bible
school. Our attendance was 177. In the afternoon most of the team
visited Anapra, Mexico, where past teams from St. Matthew have worked.
We saw a Casa para Cristo house (only 11'x22'). These are improving
the housing in Anapra which is a much poorer area than Zaragosa.
"Today we went to Anapra and I discovered
that I take many things for granted."--Matt Henderson
"The kids were on the best behavior they'd
been on all week."--Will Kraft
"I was tired in the beginning, but the kids
gave me energy."--Nick Mullen
"After Bible School we traveled to Anapra
where many from St. Matthew have spent hours doing construction.
Was glad that I saw it, but was sad to think how these people have
to live."--Becky Kraft
"I think today was probably the best day yet.
The kids were unbelievably cooperative and sweet and communicated
with us well. Two of the girls, Corina and Caroline, made a card
for me in Spanish, complete with pictures. Pastor took us to Anapra
and we saw some of the Casas para Cristo and the clinic where St.
Matthew servant teams used to work. The conditions there really
made us thankful for all we have, but ashamed of it, too."--Laurie
Kraft
"Yesterday and today we told the Holy Week
story. Yesterday I asked the kids (8 and 9-year-olds) if 'Jesus
wanted to die.' They answered ' for me--Yes!' Today was Eater. We
talked about the 'buenas noticias" (Good News). They totally
'get' the whole Easter/Grace/Mercy/Forgiveness. The confirmation
Sunday was a boy who has been in my group since the first VBS--Ricardo.
The pride of seeing this faith step in one of 'mi amigos' was immense!"--Delaine
Scheistel
Thursday, July 19th
For the second day we are in the mid-90's. What
a blessing! Today is Ed Hillard's birthday and Pastor Hernandez
leads the 193 children in singing "Happy Birthday" to
Ed in Spanish. We had another good day of Bible school. In the evening
we went out to dinner at State Line, a restaurant which has its
parking lot in Texas and its restaurant in New Mexico. We also went
up into the Franklin Mountains to look out across the cities of
El Paso and Juarez.
"What a fabulous birthday to have 193 children
sing 'Happy Birthday' in Spanish. This is a day I will never forget."--Ed
Hillard
"After anxiously waiting to see if Mayra would
come all week, today was the day. I have known Mayra since the first
day of the first VBS. She carried a spiral notebook that day. She
was building her own Spanish/English dictionary. I gave her mine.
She is now 15 and in preparatory school. She plans on being an electrician.
I have prayed for her almost every day."--Linda Ritchey
"We had a great day at Bible School. The kids
were real cool and I got to know them better. We also had fun at
dinner and the lookout."--Peter Frank
"Karla was being so good and funny today.
And we stopped at the look out and took lots of pictures."--Jaime
Hartwig
"I can't believe this week is almost over!
It flew by. I really feel that we have planting the seeds of God
in these kids. This week is truly a success."--Lauren Gathman
Friday, July 20th
On our last day of Bible school the heat is back
and we have 230 children in attendance. There is not enough room
for them all to sit down. We make the best of it and the day goes
amazingly well. When the day is over, Pastor Hernandez leads the
children in a cheer for us. Another on-time flight gets us safely
back to Chicago, tired, but thrilled by the evidence of God working
through us to touch the lives of those children.
