Today we saw all the kids dressed for school. They have a fleece sweater uniform and a collared shirt. Unfortunately there was rain this morning so the flag ceremony was canceled.
A few of us went on a tour of the entire facilities. Brian led us through the entire compound including the boy and girls dorm. It amazing to see the kids possessions all fitting into 2 small cubby's. We saw the dining hall and kitchen. What an amazing job the workers do to prepare meals from limited sources. They were almost out of fruits and vegetables. Wednesday is market day. The children will be preparing to beg for donations. They take a 3 ton truck. On a good week they will bring the truck home full. Whatever they get will be their main food supply for the week. The orphanage can afford to buy some staples like rice, cereal, pasta but these are used sparingly to balance the nutrition for the children.
Today was our first work day. The team tackled several projects including building a large rebar box for the new septic tank sistern, putting up molding in a new worker appartment, painting the crown on the girls dorm, laying paving stones, fixing a retainer wall that was knocked down by a truck and starting to paint the outside wall of the girls dorm.
During recess we stopped all work to play and socialize with the kids. Break was around 10:45. Many of the kids had snacks to tie them over to then end of school at 2:30. They have their main meal at 2:30 and then the boys head back to their off site location.
We finished working just before 6:00. A solid day. For diner we had a hot dog roast and heard the testimonies of 3 girls. What amazing stories of broken families and how they came to the safety of Pan de Vida. A true blessing to us to hear how God works miracles.
A long day. I'm sure tomorrow will bring more excitement.
Greg
Monday, February 15, 2010
Feb 14
Valentines Day! What a day of love displayed today. The day started off early today. Most of the guys were up 6:00. We are blessed with having families on this trip. Marc won the prize for the most creative valentines. He spelled Heather and a heart with cheerios on the table. Larry shared his cards from home. Rebecca handed out Princess cards to everyone. Good thing Gerrid bought Val the rose yesterday. Clearly we are all blessed with love of family.
After breakfast, a group went for a walk up the road. Brian (head of Children of Hope) led the guys to see to new potential sites for the boys. One about 3-4 acres was right next door and another about 7 acres was a few properties down. Brian has had conversations with the owner of the 7 acres. Apparently his asking price is about $450k Canadian. Land is not cheap as the city is growing up to Pan de Vida. The next major purchase and build will need to be for the boys. They will be returning to Pan de Vida in 2 weeks from their offsite location. Pan de Vida can no longer afford to keep a second location for the boys. As the current boys dorm is limited they are trying to find homes or other orphanages for 10-20 of the oldest boys.
The boys began to arrive from their offsite location. After our walks we had Sunday School at 10:30. Bobbi and Ira shared their story of how they came to be living at Pan de Vida. What an amazing story of calling and commitment. They are just learning Spanish. I don't know how Ira handled all the negotiating for purchases, labour, etc without any Spanish the first year and half.
Church started at 11:30. With all the boys back the service had over 150 people (adults and kids). A great service of signing and sharing. Heather read a letter from Don McIIlwraith. A lady shared how she is on a mission trip to Rome. She was a child of Pan de Vida. What an amazing story to hear not only about her ministry but also how thankful she was for simple things in Mexico and Pan de Vida (water, showers, food, safety, etc). The service ran late due to all the extras.
We had lunch at 1:30. Spaghetti. After lunch we went to play with the kids. A group gave out stickers. A few kids covered themselves with the stickers. The boys played football. A few of us guys played football with the girls. A few of the Pan de Vida girls play on a flag football team. You have to see them throw. Thirty yards, straight as an arrow and perfect spiral. Others played tag, handed out heart shaped suckers and just visited with the kids. The 7-11 opened up for a while. It's a canteen for the kids. We shared snacks. There is a prize draw for free bags of Taci's. The kids latch on asking for the bag hoping to win a free bag. Before we knew it was 5:00.
A few of our team gathered to sign before supper. Supper was the best tuna fish in a pita I have every tasted followed by cake.
There as a birthday a week ago for one of the boys. After diner they strung 2 pinatas across the compound for the boys. What fun and excitement!. We were all out watching. After the pinatas we played chase, gave shoulder rides and visited with the boys. There was a new boy. Four years old who just wanted to be hugged and carried. He was here for about 1 week. The "Def" which is the child authority in Mexico rescued him along with his brother. He broke my heart.
The kids wore us out. We played until they had to go to bed.
After devotional Brian shared some of the current needs at Pan de Vida. It seems the biggest need right now is commercial washers. Currently all the kids laundry is done with used household washers. The team will decide in a few days about all our collections will go.
Everyone stayed up playing games tonight. I learned how to play spoon. It was a lot of fun with 10 people.
What a totally amazing day.
Greg
After breakfast, a group went for a walk up the road. Brian (head of Children of Hope) led the guys to see to new potential sites for the boys. One about 3-4 acres was right next door and another about 7 acres was a few properties down. Brian has had conversations with the owner of the 7 acres. Apparently his asking price is about $450k Canadian. Land is not cheap as the city is growing up to Pan de Vida. The next major purchase and build will need to be for the boys. They will be returning to Pan de Vida in 2 weeks from their offsite location. Pan de Vida can no longer afford to keep a second location for the boys. As the current boys dorm is limited they are trying to find homes or other orphanages for 10-20 of the oldest boys.
The boys began to arrive from their offsite location. After our walks we had Sunday School at 10:30. Bobbi and Ira shared their story of how they came to be living at Pan de Vida. What an amazing story of calling and commitment. They are just learning Spanish. I don't know how Ira handled all the negotiating for purchases, labour, etc without any Spanish the first year and half.
Church started at 11:30. With all the boys back the service had over 150 people (adults and kids). A great service of signing and sharing. Heather read a letter from Don McIIlwraith. A lady shared how she is on a mission trip to Rome. She was a child of Pan de Vida. What an amazing story to hear not only about her ministry but also how thankful she was for simple things in Mexico and Pan de Vida (water, showers, food, safety, etc). The service ran late due to all the extras.
We had lunch at 1:30. Spaghetti. After lunch we went to play with the kids. A group gave out stickers. A few kids covered themselves with the stickers. The boys played football. A few of us guys played football with the girls. A few of the Pan de Vida girls play on a flag football team. You have to see them throw. Thirty yards, straight as an arrow and perfect spiral. Others played tag, handed out heart shaped suckers and just visited with the kids. The 7-11 opened up for a while. It's a canteen for the kids. We shared snacks. There is a prize draw for free bags of Taci's. The kids latch on asking for the bag hoping to win a free bag. Before we knew it was 5:00.
A few of our team gathered to sign before supper. Supper was the best tuna fish in a pita I have every tasted followed by cake.
There as a birthday a week ago for one of the boys. After diner they strung 2 pinatas across the compound for the boys. What fun and excitement!. We were all out watching. After the pinatas we played chase, gave shoulder rides and visited with the boys. There was a new boy. Four years old who just wanted to be hugged and carried. He was here for about 1 week. The "Def" which is the child authority in Mexico rescued him along with his brother. He broke my heart.
The kids wore us out. We played until they had to go to bed.
After devotional Brian shared some of the current needs at Pan de Vida. It seems the biggest need right now is commercial washers. Currently all the kids laundry is done with used household washers. The team will decide in a few days about all our collections will go.
Everyone stayed up playing games tonight. I learned how to play spoon. It was a lot of fun with 10 people.
What a totally amazing day.
Greg
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Feb 13
The day began at 8:00 for breakfast. Pancakes and real Canadian maple syrup. Yes the bottle made it safe in my luggage :-). After breakfast Dave did the devotional. Next we planned the work for the day. The guys tackled the septic pump, a toilet, cleaned the workshop, some wiring and finally painting the crown on the second story of the kitchen, and girls dorms. The ladies cleaned the kitchen, dining hall and played with the kids. Not all the kids are here during the weekend as some are housed offsite.
I found out that some parents stay in touch with their kids. They are at Pan de Vida as the parents are having difficulties. Orphanages in Mexico are a combination of Child Services and Foster Care in Canada. There were at least 2 sets of parents that came to visit with their kids.
There are 115 sponsorable kids at Pan de Vida plus about 20 more that have become adults. The adult kids work here - teaching, care taking, etc. The kids touch your heart. They want lots of hugs and play. They are always smiling and playing. They could pushed in a swing, play tag, throw a ball etc all day.
Lunch was at 2:00. They have the big meal for lunch (fish today). After lunch we went to town to look around for a couple of hours. When we arrived back home we had diner. After diner we went back to town to see "football americano". Seven of the boys age 16 and 17 play on a competitive tackle football team. They play all out and tackling much harder than what we see in high school football.
Night devotional was done by Peggy followed by testimonies from Peggy and Heather N.
Everyone got lots of sun and a chance share love with the kids. A great way to start our time here.
Greg
I found out that some parents stay in touch with their kids. They are at Pan de Vida as the parents are having difficulties. Orphanages in Mexico are a combination of Child Services and Foster Care in Canada. There were at least 2 sets of parents that came to visit with their kids.
There are 115 sponsorable kids at Pan de Vida plus about 20 more that have become adults. The adult kids work here - teaching, care taking, etc. The kids touch your heart. They want lots of hugs and play. They are always smiling and playing. They could pushed in a swing, play tag, throw a ball etc all day.
Lunch was at 2:00. They have the big meal for lunch (fish today). After lunch we went to town to look around for a couple of hours. When we arrived back home we had diner. After diner we went back to town to see "football americano". Seven of the boys age 16 and 17 play on a competitive tackle football team. They play all out and tackling much harder than what we see in high school football.
Night devotional was done by Peggy followed by testimonies from Peggy and Heather N.
Everyone got lots of sun and a chance share love with the kids. A great way to start our time here.
Greg
Feb 12
Well as predicted I was packing late into the night. The little sleep I did get was broken with excitement and anticipation of the trip. It's seems we all slept about the same (go figure). Kim was a great sport when I woke her up at 3:30 so I could get a Tim's before boarding the shuttle bus to the airport.
The adventure began. Only 2 people with misplaced tickets. One when we were still in Waterloo (easy trip to get the ticket) and the other at the airport (it was in the backpack). One of the vendors I work with happened to be travelling to Jamica. He noticed first the orange shirts and then me. I appreciated the opportunity to share what we were doing.
This was my first trip to Mexico. For those that have travelled to Mexico before you can appreciate the “magic button”. If this is new to you let me explain. Once you have your bags and have cleared immigration you wait in line to push the “magic button”. If it lights green you are in the country – keep walking. If it lights red you get a special trip to the search police. Unfortunately the person in front of me got the red light. I eagerly stepped forward thinking there is no way that will light red two times in a row. There is only 1 officer station in front of me. But luck would have it I got red as well. My mind was racing. Fifty pounds of nothing but donation for Pan de Vida. How am I going to explain it? Well lucky for us the orange shirts saved us. The guard asked what was on our shirts (WMB – Pan de Vida 2010). I explained that we were going to visit an orphange. With that he put his hand in and out of my bags and said have a great day. The Lord is good.
Next stop, money exchange. Wow there are a lot of exchanges in the airport. I can't imagine how much currency must flow through here. We went looking for the best rate – 12 pesos on the dollar and exchanged our cash. We were met by Ira who is the caretaker at Pan de Vida.
Next was lunch. I wasn't daring enough yet so stuck with McDonald's and then off to the highway coach for the ride to Pan de Vida. Over lunch we heard how the septic tank has collapsed over the past few days. Ira said he was up to 2:00am trying to get it set up. Looks like we might have some muddy work ahead of us if the weather stays dry.
The coach took us through Mexico City on our way out of town. I'm not sure what I was expecting. When we flew in I saw poverty and skyscrapers. Dirt streets and lush boulevards. It reminded me of India with one tenth the population. You could tell that most people are lower to middle class and proud. There were almost no homeless and certainly no beggers. Little shops lined the streets selling car parts, drywall, etc (just like India). There were street vendors too (almost clean enough to try).
We soon left Mexico City on a highway to Queretaro. Three hours through the country side. The land is a dark sand/clay. The farms are small and look like they are managed by hand. The highway was smooth (90km/h) with proper ramps. Very America's.
We stopped in Queretro for diner and had Tapa's (not sure if I spelled it right). They are a small build your own soft taco. Basically shell, meat (chicken, pork, beef), a variety of sauces (hey Darren the green is chilli) roll and eat. A little rice milk (a most a sweet liquid rice puddingto kill the heat and your set to go. Totally awesome!
Fifteen minutes more on the bus and we arrive at Pan de Vida. It's in the country so totally dark. A few kids are out along with the team from Winkler, Manitoba to greet us. Because of the overlap of the 2 teams, we are sleeping in the school the first night. We unpack and then start roaming the grounds. There is a band practice going and kids are playing. The grounds are large (I believe 7 acres). There is an auditorium, dining hall, boys dorms, girls dorms, worker dorm and workshop and the school. They yard is mostly paving stones with some repaved asphalt. It's amazing that all this was built by volunteers over the past 10 years.
The night air was cooling so I went back to get my fleece. I notice something moving in the shadows …. A big pig and look there's another roaming the grounds. I thought they were allowed to roam but I was mistaken. Soon the kids noticed and the chaise was on to get them back in their pen. Using car lights to light the field the kids were running everywhere after the pigs. What fun :-)!
After a while of greetings and roaming, we had devotional (led by Sammy) and 2 testimonies (Larry and Paul). Ira popped in to say that the septic pump was not operating proper and that he was going to work on it. If he needs help he'll call us. It will be a long night for him. Then it was lights out at 10:30 our time. A long first day filled with new wonderful adventures.
Greg
The adventure began. Only 2 people with misplaced tickets. One when we were still in Waterloo (easy trip to get the ticket) and the other at the airport (it was in the backpack). One of the vendors I work with happened to be travelling to Jamica. He noticed first the orange shirts and then me. I appreciated the opportunity to share what we were doing.
This was my first trip to Mexico. For those that have travelled to Mexico before you can appreciate the “magic button”. If this is new to you let me explain. Once you have your bags and have cleared immigration you wait in line to push the “magic button”. If it lights green you are in the country – keep walking. If it lights red you get a special trip to the search police. Unfortunately the person in front of me got the red light. I eagerly stepped forward thinking there is no way that will light red two times in a row. There is only 1 officer station in front of me. But luck would have it I got red as well. My mind was racing. Fifty pounds of nothing but donation for Pan de Vida. How am I going to explain it? Well lucky for us the orange shirts saved us. The guard asked what was on our shirts (WMB – Pan de Vida 2010). I explained that we were going to visit an orphange. With that he put his hand in and out of my bags and said have a great day. The Lord is good.
Next stop, money exchange. Wow there are a lot of exchanges in the airport. I can't imagine how much currency must flow through here. We went looking for the best rate – 12 pesos on the dollar and exchanged our cash. We were met by Ira who is the caretaker at Pan de Vida.
Next was lunch. I wasn't daring enough yet so stuck with McDonald's and then off to the highway coach for the ride to Pan de Vida. Over lunch we heard how the septic tank has collapsed over the past few days. Ira said he was up to 2:00am trying to get it set up. Looks like we might have some muddy work ahead of us if the weather stays dry.
The coach took us through Mexico City on our way out of town. I'm not sure what I was expecting. When we flew in I saw poverty and skyscrapers. Dirt streets and lush boulevards. It reminded me of India with one tenth the population. You could tell that most people are lower to middle class and proud. There were almost no homeless and certainly no beggers. Little shops lined the streets selling car parts, drywall, etc (just like India). There were street vendors too (almost clean enough to try).
We soon left Mexico City on a highway to Queretaro. Three hours through the country side. The land is a dark sand/clay. The farms are small and look like they are managed by hand. The highway was smooth (90km/h) with proper ramps. Very America's.
We stopped in Queretro for diner and had Tapa's (not sure if I spelled it right). They are a small build your own soft taco. Basically shell, meat (chicken, pork, beef), a variety of sauces (hey Darren the green is chilli) roll and eat. A little rice milk (a most a sweet liquid rice puddingto kill the heat and your set to go. Totally awesome!
Fifteen minutes more on the bus and we arrive at Pan de Vida. It's in the country so totally dark. A few kids are out along with the team from Winkler, Manitoba to greet us. Because of the overlap of the 2 teams, we are sleeping in the school the first night. We unpack and then start roaming the grounds. There is a band practice going and kids are playing. The grounds are large (I believe 7 acres). There is an auditorium, dining hall, boys dorms, girls dorms, worker dorm and workshop and the school. They yard is mostly paving stones with some repaved asphalt. It's amazing that all this was built by volunteers over the past 10 years.
The night air was cooling so I went back to get my fleece. I notice something moving in the shadows …. A big pig and look there's another roaming the grounds. I thought they were allowed to roam but I was mistaken. Soon the kids noticed and the chaise was on to get them back in their pen. Using car lights to light the field the kids were running everywhere after the pigs. What fun :-)!
After a while of greetings and roaming, we had devotional (led by Sammy) and 2 testimonies (Larry and Paul). Ira popped in to say that the septic pump was not operating proper and that he was going to work on it. If he needs help he'll call us. It will be a long night for him. Then it was lights out at 10:30 our time. A long first day filled with new wonderful adventures.
Greg
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Welcome!
This blog will chronicle my journey to help the children of Pan de Vida in Queretaro Mexico. Thanks to my many supporters $4100 was raised.
Final preparations are well under way. The team will depart from 2 points on Friday - Tim Horton's at Davenport and Northfield Friday at 4:30 am and 4:45 am at Ottawa and River Road. If you want to send us off, I'll buy the coffee :-). The goal is to be at Pan de Vida by 7:00pm.
Greg
Pan de Vida web site: http://www.freewebs.com/pandevida/index_en.html
Supported in Canada through the Children of Hope organization: http://childrenofhope.info/
Final preparations are well under way. The team will depart from 2 points on Friday - Tim Horton's at Davenport and Northfield Friday at 4:30 am and 4:45 am at Ottawa and River Road. If you want to send us off, I'll buy the coffee :-). The goal is to be at Pan de Vida by 7:00pm.
Greg
Pan de Vida web site: http://www.freewebs.com/pandevida/index_en.html
Supported in Canada through the Children of Hope organization: http://childrenofhope.info/
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