Today's Blogger: Pastor Don Bliss
Church: East Freetown CCC

    Whoever said “getting there is half the fun” has never made this trip. Thursday was a travel day for the group, and was full of misadventures. People taking wrong flights, fear of missing connections, standing in line for 2 and a half hours at Mexican Customs, a bus ride that could be featured on Most Extreme Videos, etc. The bottom line is that God took us in the palm of his hand and delivered us here in this strange land to proclaim the Kingdom. Mexico City is a huge sprawl, where every street looks like Blue Hill Avenue, only they go on forever. Out here Tepetitlan, the sights are spectacular, and so is the poverty. All are well, with the exception of Dottie who has a mysterious flu, that could be altitude sickness. We are praying, and she is improving.

Pictures from Thursday:





Today's Blogger: Sara Lawrence
Church: Rochester Congregational

    As we embarked on our mission trip we all soon realized that there’s more to life than the ways we live and are used to. Everyone made it safely to Mexico coming at different times and even states, to help preach the word of God and help the Mazahua people. All these missionaries are stepping outside of their comfort zone to serve God. 

    There was two groups one flying out in the morning and one in the afternoon. Unfortunately the first group had a bit of a bumpy ride. As the second group had a bit of a delay and didn’t get in till about five in the morning. As you can tell there was a few ups and downs but God helped us through.

     Today we started some projects just to name a few refurnishing the windows and gardening. The weather is perfect it’s in the 70’s. We will keep you posted as the week goes on.

Pictures from Friday:



Today's Blogger:  Nick Bessey
Church:  EFCCC

    We arrived Friday morning at about 4 AM.  Our flight to Mexico City was good, the only thing that could have gone better was our two and a half hour wait to get through customs but once through we met with Israel from the Mission.  Israel is the director of the hacienda with Noberto's absence.   I was releaved to see someone from the Mission and to know that our long journey was getting closer to being over.  We had a 2 hour bus ride from Mexico City to the hacienda. 

    We woke up at 8AM for devotional.  The service was wonderful with some really great music.  We struggled through singing songs in spanish and we were treated to an interesting arrangement of "As Pants the Deer" with a piano, a harmonica, a flute and a violin.  After breakfast we met to discuss the work we could begin that day.  A group of people began with sanding and staining windows and doors in the hacienda.  Many of the people who arrived very late that morning caught up on some sleep while myself, Pastor Don, Jeff, Chuck and a young Mazahuan named Reuben left for Las Rosas to upload updates for the website.  Las Rosas is a training center built by the Mission.

    Our initial attempts to post updates for the website at Las Rosas were unsuccessful.  They have a computer lab that was setup in conjunction with the Government to provide computer training.  Unforunately the lab was a little too well setup and had security measures in place that would not allow us access access the FTP server necessary to upload the website updates.  Although not being able to update the website was frustrating, God blessed us with an extremely fun pickup truck ride to and from the hacienda.  The trip to Las Rosas had Jeff driving with Pastor Don riding shotgun and myself, Chuck and Reuben riding in the back of the truck.  It was a very authentic experience riding in the back of a pickup truck through a mexican village.  Road conditions were far from ideal which contributed to a very exciting and bumpy ride.  On our return trip Pastor Don took the wheel for another fun ride.  We ran into rush hour traffic which consisted of various types of livestock sharing the road.  Even though unsucessful it was a great trip and I enjoyed my first trip outside of the hacienda.  The next morning Isreal, said "If you can drive that truck, you can drive anything!"

    This morning (Saturday) we took a taxi ride to San Felipe de Progresso to visit an internet cafe.  San Felipe de Progresso is the nearest large village to the hacienda and as you can guess we were a more successful at updating the website this time. 

Pictures from Saturday:
  


Today's Blogger: Grace, Priscilla and Laurie
Church: First Congregational, Braintree

    Pastor Don began the chapel service with song as the group trickled in. In his Bible reading from Hebrews, he expressed the need for Jesus in our lives and the importance of encouraging each other. Pastor Don told the story of  Willy and his Grandmother. Even though Willy felt he had made mistakes, his Grandmother felt that the only "trouble" was that they didn't have enough time together. From this story we draw the parallel that even though Jesus' time on earth was too brief, his love stays with us, even through times of trouble. We adjourned for a great breakfast, and shortly after, went to the marketplace in San Felipe de Progresso. We went via the local bus, which we packed into with enthusiasm and laughter. We had -

O verload
V ariety of wares
E ager sales people, from children to grandparents
R ide home with 30 people in a 14 passenger van
L egumes and fish everywhere
O verhead awnings
A dorable children
D ecisions to make

    Our ride home from the market was a prelude to transportation challenges we would encounter later in the day. Due to the generosity of the others at the Hacienda, we were transported to Temple Evangelico Bethel in San Pedro, arriving 45 minutes late. The three hour service consisted of a few familiar hymns, a song performed by our group, and a puppet show that took place for the kids next door under the direction of Marjie. The children entered according to height and gender. During the show, they were very well behaved, despite their excitement. After the show, we all went outside and played games with balls and frisbees brought by the Kantners. We took alot of pictures. We were invited by the elders to share a meal - fresh bread, fried tortillas, beans, feta cheese, jalapenos and pork rinds.

    Before leaving, we joined in a circle and sang Amazing Grace in English and Mazahuan. We all shook hands at the end, saying "Dios los bendiga" (God bless you.) The feeling of warmth and generosity was overwhelming in light of the differences in our cultures. We loaded into the backs of two livestock trucks for the trip back to the Hacienda. The washed out, rocky dirt roads are connected by short and abrupt bridges. After reaching the dark main road, we encountered many speed bumps. One of the trucks travelled back via the power lines. When we got back to the Hacienda, we learned that another dinner was waiting for us. We met up with Ann and Louise, who arrived safely, without luggage. We are grateful to Israel and Judith, the Mission staff for their excellent care.

Pictures from Sunday:

Today's Blogger: Anonymous
Church:

"'Porque mis pensamientos no son los de ustedes, ni sus caminos son los mios', afirma El Senor." - Isaiah 55:8

    A good slogan for a mission trip could be "Man proposes, God disposes". It is hard not to have expectations before you arrive. However, it does not take long to discover that it will all be VERY different from what you thought or planned. Being a servant of the Most High means putting yourself aside and being obedient to where He places you; whether it makes sense to you or not...giving up the big plans you come with and allowing God to work through the ordinary. What a privilege to be a small part of the ministry here at the Mission Mazahua; to see first hand how God is working in this place. I thank God for this opportunity; a chance to see how HE works all the details in just the right time.

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways', declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

Pictures from Monday:

Special Message from Nick Bessey:

    Early this morning we received some sad news. Pastor Don's Mother-in-law and Father-in-law passed away. Pastor Don left early this morning to return to Mexico City with the hopes of getting a flight home today. Norberto and Jeff drove Pastor Don to the nearest city where he could take a bus to the airport. We know that he arrived at the village and caught the bus to the airport. From there we don't know if he has been successful in finding a flight home but we are praying that he has and that he will have a swift and safe trip home. Our hearts and prayers are with you, Pastor Don and your family. We ask that everyone would pray for Pastor Don's safe return home and for Don, Lori, Melissa and their family in this time of need.

Although we are saddened by their loss we will continue to do the work that God has set before us, as we know that is what Pastor Don would have wanted of us. We have been truely blessed with our wonderful experiences here in Mexico, more so than I could attempt to describe with words. We thank the Lord for all that he has so generously given us.

Today's Blogger: Louise Scott
Church:

    Yesterday morning we left to visit one of the poorest of the villages that has been helped by Norberto and the Mission. We toured the village and saw several of the cisterns that have been built. The cisterns have been built with the forms that were purchased with the money raised by the church in Kingston, NH. Yet for all the "poverty" I sensed a feeling of community there. People came out of homes to meet and greet 12 American strangers. They shook our hands and wished us "Buenos Dios." Many were brothers and sisters in Christ.

    I felt serenity there. Giggling school girls as they passed. Little children with the most beautiful brown eyes yet only a few broken toys - a little green truck, a deflated ball, dust and sand everywhere. Oh, how much "stuff" our American children have compared to these children.

    Maybe the serenity I felt is just my personal feeling. God is in all the details of this trip... even the overdue luggage. Those duffle bags were way too heavy anyways!

Today's Blogger: Donna Silva
Church: EFCCC

Mathew 6, 1, 3-4:

    Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father in heaven, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

    In the excitement of preparing for this trip, it was easy to get carried away with what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to do it. One lesson I have learned so far is to let go of what I want to do, and how I want to do it.

    My hope, and prayer in taking this trip, was to become more Christ like. To be Christ like is to be selfless, not selfish. Selfish is doing what I want to do. Selfless is doing what God wants me to do.

    It's not easy being Christ like even in a small way. To give your all with no recognition, and, want it that way. Truely want it that way. Doing God's work is His glory not yours. It's an incredible feeling when you get it right!