on our way
to finish vbs in the colonias in Peñitas….then come back to vbs in Principe de Paz.
United we stand!
So far our team has served in eight different cities across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Our main goal these past two weeks has been to be the presence of Christ , encourage churches through our service, and love others the way Christ loves us. Our actions have been preceded by our belief that Jesus Christ has died for our sins, redeemed our lives, and commanded us to share his love with others. Ultimately, only God will know the impact made on the lives of the individuals we have come in contact with. But the one thing I am certain of is that the love, tears, laughter, and goodbyes are something we will always treasure in our hearts. Thank you once again for all your support and prayers.
Daniel Armendariz
VSP-Adult Coordinator
Puppies and Puppets and Puns, Oh My!
This has been a busy week for Team 1. We’ve been split into three groups in the mornings, which is an even bigger stretch than our usual division in two groups! It has really taught us to rely on our teammates and be flexible. We all come back together at night to do VBS at First Baptist Church Alamo in Alamo, Tx. This post will focus on two of the groups.
The first group spent their mornings at Edinburg Children’s Hospital in Edinburg,TX. This hospital is the only one of its kind in the area, the next closest one is in Corpus Cristi, 3 hours away. It is definitely a blessing to have a children’s hospital that can be reached quickly in case of an emergency and that will not require a lot of money and travel for family and visitors.
Cristal Trevino from University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg has this to say about her experiences at the Hospital.”One thing we did to entertain the kids was acting out picture books as they were read aloud. Zaira painted her face to look like a puppy and kept the kids in stitches! Even the parents enjoyed it. We also brought crafts for them to make. This seemed to be very therapeutic for the kids and allowed both kids and parents to escape the boredom of waiting to see doctors and to connect with other people. Another thing we did was go to individual rooms and pass out blankets and books that were donated specifically for the kids. It really meant a lot to the parents to see that someone cared about their kids. We were not allowed to share the gospel with the families or kids so had to be content to do it with our actions. It was good preparation for missions in countries that are not open to the Gospel. I also believe that God has been using this experience to show us how much our actions really do matter.”
The group I was with this week spent our mornings in McAllen with a non-profit group called Mujeres Unidas(Women Together). According to their website, “For 30 years Mujeres Unidas has been providing emergency shelter and services to families who are fleeing from domestic violence in their homes. Currently, we are the only 24/7 shelter that operates in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. ” These services include counseling, legal advocates, community education, transitional housing and a rape crisis center.
The transitional housing center where we worked offers job training, childcare and other forms of support for families who have escaped an abusive situation and are not yet ready to be fully independent. We’ve had a group of about ten kids every day. In contrast to the hospital, we have been allowed to do a shortened form of VBS; bible story, puppets, Christian songs, sports and arts and crafts. The kids really seem to enjoy the program and are eager to participate in all activities. One little boy named Sebastian LOVES the puppet and plays with it when he finishes his craft early. One time, he made it bite Janet’s nose! We all had a good laugh with that one.
Mindy Lewis from University of Mary Hardin Baylor shared a few of her thoughts with me about working with the kids at Mujeres Unidas.
“You know, I thought I would be blessing the kids but I really feel like I’m the one who got the blessings. I know God has a purpose for their lives and I can see glimpses of joy in them despite the hardships they’ve overcome. It gives me hope that I can overcome any situation.”
Well, that’s all from the Valley Summer Project, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. We couldn’t do it without you.
Much love,
Blanca Fleischmann, Texas A&M Kingsville
P.S. Philippians 1:3-6
week one
Encouraging people to attend college and join Christian organizations like BSM.
A Life Changing Experience
Thank you all for your donation and prayer support. This week has been great. Though at times it was tough, there was always something in my day that made me remember the reason why God provided the means for me to be here. There is always a smile that lights my day and a kid’s hug that draws me into trying my best to make sure that the kids we teach at the VBS have an over the top time. Our team has shown great team work. We stay up late at night to make sure that everything is ready for the next day. Just as we have been encouraging the children, youth, and elders, they have been encouraging us with their outstanding hospitality and amazing generosity. We are learning as we teach. Thank you for your support, for it is helping us encourage the ones who need to be uplifted and helping us plant the seeds in the hearts of those that are in need of a Savior.
