Here are more pictures from our last day at MVM We are in the airport in Mexico City about to board (sorry for the delay but we've been short on time and internet access the last two days)

Our last day at MVM included,

VBS

VBS group photos

VBS graduation

English Classes in town

The Sewing class graduation

US vs Mexico Girls Soccer

Confirmation

Yesterday we were at the water park in Ixtapan. Everyone got waterlogged before going to the hotel where we had dinner. Afterwards some went to the Zocolo (central square) and the others to see Nancy's house.

Most slept on the bus today to Mexico City, but there has been much shopping in the airport. See you soon

Todd

¡Hola!

Hey everybody! We had a great time at VBS and english class and painting and the health fair continued today! The kids were so fun and were full of energy. They were even chasing us around! The food is excellent (we had cactus yesterday) and the cooks always have smiles on their faces. We´re not too tired yet but Rick is getting there, and he loves gumby and watermelon. The English class was only six kids yesterday but today the class doubled in size. Katrina types SO FAST. It has only taken 20 minutes to write this! Yesterday some of us went on a hike. The view was amazing. The weather has been fantastic with an afternoon rain everyday. We have been playing hockey socks (hacky sack) nonstop. Everyone has been playing, even the adults. After VBS there is a lot of free time so we all have been playing different games, including basketball, hacky sack, and soccer. The men on the trip were surprised with gifts from the midnight chicas! They each got a picture of them drawn by hand surrounded by compliments, a bracelet, and a native painting on handmade paper. We miss you all in 115 degree heat while we are here in beautiful weather! Cannot wait to see you soon! Adios!


Love,
Sammy, Katrina, Kari, Heidi, Megan, and Ricardo (Rick)

Day 4 Continued

Maren and Meagan went to teach english at a school that MVM is associated with. They were impressed by how eager the students were - the older kids wrote down everything in a notebook they brought.

The day concluded with Family time where an inspired gave the devotion!

Tomorrow brings more of the same except the doctors will be attending a health fair sponsored by the DIF

Many Directions and Tasks

Day 4: Many Directions

Today the group split up to work on several different projects-

VBS

A visit to the Rehab center

Prep Work for Painting the New Playground Set
Painting at the Bible Institute

English Lesson in Atlacomulco

Here is the Auditorium all set up for VBS. It is the cleanest it would be all day. Everyone who worked with VBS said it was the most organized that it has ever been. Many mentioned working with the kids as their God Moment for the day (family time) Derek saved the day with his technical skills and set up the computer and projection system (because his Dad forgot to set it up before he left to see the Rehabilitation Center.)

As you can see, the playground set is already getting heavy use. The group prior to ours built it, but were unable to finish it. Work continues (sanding, minor revisions for safety, etc) to prepare it for painting on Wed and Thurs.

(sorry, picture will be in next blog)

Here is the group that traveled to see the Rehabilitation Center in Atlacomulco. It is the only one in the county and surrounding 5 counties and has over 1300 visits per month. Jayne is standing with her two residents - Hector and Angelica - in front of the entrance. The DIF is the Mexican equivalent of our Social Services and it is run by the Mayor wife Dr Lilia Aguilera. They have had a fund raising campaign for the last year to build a new facility and have collected over $250,000. They have started building and will dedicate it in December. Their logo is an animated crutch and each of those attending got a stuff toy and Tshirt with the logo on it. The residents were busy taking notes as they have to present at Grand Rounds when they get back. They also will try to see if we can get support in the form of used equipment for the new center.

Day 4: Sunday

We took a half hour bus ride up into the mountains to attend church at Mt Sinai Church whose pastor had invited us for church and lunch. One of the highlights was having Matt Knopf give the sermon.








We sang several songs up front in the church and actually sounded pretty good (per Dennis who was filming from the back of the church)

Jayne continued the health fair after church with blood pressure screening.

The teens played games with the kids and had great fun despite speaking different languages.

Here is Dennis enjoying the great meal they served us - freshly made tacos made from blue corn tortillas fresh off the grill.

Finally a group shot of everyone there at Mt Sinai Church before the goodbyes began (much like the long Minnesota goodbyes)

Day 3: Here are Sally and Tacho in front of the MVM prior to the Health Fair which ran on Saturday. The fair was attended by the neighbors - usually the kids came first, then they would drag their other siblings and parents in later. There was lots of time for bonding in the group with Hacky Sack leading the way. Later Soccer and Basketball were the rage with the locals including the US vs Mexico on the soccer field.

People attending the Health Fair were greeted by smiles no one could resist. We had several stations set up to do screening for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, body mass index (obesity), dental health, and womens health.

We had lots of free samples to give away, but the most popular at least among the kids were toothbrushes.

Jayne had two of her residents doctors along on the trip who both were born in Mexico and were fluent in Spanish. They were a tremendous help and very good with the fair attendeees.

Music has been another aspect that has unified the group and as a means of sharing with others.

More Pictures

Here are pictures from Day 2: We spent the day around Mexico City to acclimatize to the altitude. In the morning we visited the pyramids at Teotihuacan. Later we went shopping at the craft market then drove up to Atlacomulco to stay at the MVM.

The young adults atop the pyramid of the sun


The young women in a reconstructed temple near the Pyramid of the Moon

E is for Esperanza
The Schutts atop the Pyramid of the Sun