Apr

Spring Break with Bear Valley Community!!

DennisHBK on April 10th, 2009

Kevin (adult leader), Brandon (Youth Pastor), and Dennis

We made it!! Yes, spring break has come and gone and we are so very happy to report that everyone made here safe and sound, and our injury report is simply blank, well that is except for your small cuts, bruises, and sore muscles. We had our biggest group come last, and not only were they our biggest home building crew, but we also did some new things to the house that really made a big difference and presented some new challenges as well. Our last groups was from Bear Valley Community Church, Tehachippi CA. We have been working along side Bear Valley for many years now, and just so you get an idea of how long the youth Pastor Brandon Kirby was at one time one of the High School kids, and Brandon is also currently working on his Graduate degree at Master’s College! So yea, Brandon tends to make me feel old, but we like hang out at the concrete mixer and talk.

Terry serves up full platters of Stucco, way to go Terry!

As this group of 30 came together we presented them with the challenge of doing some new things to the house and as usual they were up to the challenge and did not stop until it was finished. The change involved adding 4 feet to the addition add-on, and we laid the plumbing for a future bathroom. The addition to the house was now going to be a 12′x24′ vs. a 12′x20′ and even though it was only 4 feet it sure presented a number of challenges (headaches) and we were working with a staff that is much smaller, and we even had a new staff member that was still getting the hang of the system,,,,so,,,,it was a long 4 days that had us all very tired by the time the two house projects were done.

The never endding task of sifting sand

Everyone worked very hard to make sure we finished on time, but besides the hard work that was done on the house the High School and College students had their devotions and sharing time that had to deal with “Sharing your Faith”. I think the project was actually easier than having to deal with this subject and to be completely honest with where you are at when it comes to “Sharing your Faith”. I guess one would think that that if you sign up for a missions trip you’d have it all figured out and know exactly what you need to do in order to share openly of who you are and who you stand up for. It seems however that this is an area most of the youth struggled with, and I’d also go as far as saying that many adults do as well. I’m sure as they head home

Yes, we even do the Windows! Good Job Megan!

they will continue to deal with this and hopefully the fact that they came all the way down here to Mexico to share of themselves in order to help provide a new home will help them in the process.

As the week progressed and the homes took a new shape and their size increased Patty and Christy became very excited as to what this meant to them. We always share how this for us is a construction project, but for them it means the beginning of a new life in their new home and it is now up to them, through prayer, to make it their “HOME”. Still there will be much for them to do and many challenges that lay ahead. They still have a septic system that needs to be completed, there is no running water or eletricity, and for the most part many of their closest neighbors are lizards and snakes, but the joy of the idea of having their own home is greater than the challenges that lay ahead of them.

Brandon presents Patty and Christy with new Bibles for their homes.

Patty has two children as does Christy, and Patty currently lives at Casa Esperanza while Christy is living in her new home. Both of the ladies will continue to do all they can do to make their new home “HOME”, and we forward to seeing that process grow as the children grow in their new homes.

It was a great week full of challenges and difficult times, but working alongside the youth and adult leaders is always well worth it. As I sit here and think of the three home building teams I think of their Themes and topic of studies and find it very cool how they all in their own and special way deal with the security issues that so many had a difficult time deal with. Cornerstone of Chandler Arizona—”Steel

Everyone joins together to pray and sing for Patty and Christy

Standing”, Salt Creek Baptist of Oregon—”Do Hard Things”, Bear Valley Community—”Share your Faith”. Despite what the media told Cornerstone of Chandler they are were “Steel Standing” as they built a Steel Stud house, Salt Creek saw the importance of “Doing Hard Things” and sometimes you need to go against the grain to get it done. Bear Valley knew that in order to share your faith means that you need to get up, take that step of faith, take the chance and to “Do Hard Things“, and in the end no matter what happens Jesus will make sure you are “Steel Standing” as you “Share your Faith!!!”