Riverside Presbyterian Youth

Sophie ann

2008-06-14T15:40:38Z

We leave Mexico today on june 14, the one year anniversary of my
diagnosis with leukemia, and I am truly grateful to have been part of
such an awesome experience. One thing I have learned from my personal
experience as well ad from the people I have met in Mexico this week
is that pity is not what helps people.

The amazing women I met this week and worked with ( betty, aricelli,
luyame, miraella) are often pittied because of their poverty.
However, I have learned that the true meaning of "mission" is to form
relationships with these women, my sisters in Christ. ( MIS hermanas
in christo)

They have all taught us so much about what it means to be strong and
gracious. As we left, aricelli wept and gave each of us a big hug. She
has been working hard on other peoples houses this past year and on
Monday they will finally begin on her house. Talking to women like
aricelli this week has taught me that instead of feeling sorry for
them we can live them as hemanas in christo!

Adult leaders

2008-06-14T12:20:05Z

Rob the builder and roo-ger

One team

2008-06-14T12:14:37Z

One team, one group, one mission

Mexico

2008-06-14T11:24:23Z

Roger and kendra....the cutesy baby in world!

Pouring roof

2008-06-14T11:20:35Z

Pouring the roof...relaying buckets of cement!

Pouring roof

2008-06-14T11:17:45Z

Pouring the roof with the bucket relay

Making cement

2008-06-14T11:08:26Z

A little cement....28 loads sand, 28 loads rock, 12 bags cement

Dinner on lady night

2008-06-14T11:04:40Z

Parker, joey, William and. Colin

Karaoke with addy

2008-06-14T11:02:15Z

We love addy, our volunteer from Texas!!

Fwd: colette

2008-06-14T10:59:38Z

>
>
>> Colette duchanois
>> Crossing the border
>>
>> People said as soon as you crossed the border, you could
>> automatically tell you were in Mexico. I thought this was a bit
>> exagerrated, but it was completely true. The closer we got to the
>> border the less fast food restaurants, gas stations, and shopping
>> centers we saw. And when we crossed over, the landscape completely
>> changed, there was trash everywhere and it was very barren.
>> It was so sad to see houses that were the size of my room. And it
>> was a shock to see where we were staying. But we all adjusted
>> quickly. As soon as we got there the girls in the youth group
>> started playing with a bunch of little mexican girls. We played a
>> game where we all held
>> hands and danced around in a circle and sang a song and once the
>> song was over the person in the middle had to to tag someone. It
>> was such a cool exprience to get to play with the mexican children
>> right away. It was so much fun. It was so cool to see how mexican
>> children and american children laugh and play in the same way. It
>> was also so cool to know or languages didn't keep us from playing
>> together and understanding each other. I'm excites to see what the
>> other days in mexico have in store.
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone. MTb
>>

Mex

2008-06-14T08:20:54Z

John stiefel expert wheelbarrow guide

* Email entry *

2008-06-14T08:01:58Z

Don ward and hillary Riley

Mexico

2008-06-14T00:20:06Z

Franswa and Carter doing the Macarana

Mexico

2008-06-14T00:13:59Z

Parker, Joey, Collin, William, and Bryan at karaoke night

Hillary continued

2008-06-13T18:44:49Z

....But I really enjoyed being able to make an impact in these
children's lives.

Sent from my iPhone. MTb

Hillary Riley

2008-06-13T18:40:32Z

My favorite part of this mission trip so far has been meeting and
playing with the Mexican children. After an exhausting days work at
our work site, we come home to shower and have the opportunity to
interact with the children that come from the surrounding
neighborhood. All of the kids are adorable! Even though they can't
speak English we learn to communicate with them in different ways.
Last night (Thursday) the women in the neighborhood came for a meeting
at the place where we sleep and brought there kids with them. I think
michelle said there were about 50 in all. My arms were sore by the end
of the night from swinging so many on the tire swing, but I really
enjoyed
Sent from my iPhone. MTb

Hillary riley

2008-06-13T18:24:44Z

Hillary Riley

My favorite part of this mission trip so far has been meeting and
playing with the mexican children.
Photo: mike, Sam, nelly and April (ages 6&8)

Mexico

2008-06-13T17:53:24Z

Brooke Davis

Photo: Mir'ella

Goooooaaaaallllll

2008-06-13T03:02:00Z

Don STeifel

Gooooaaaalllll, after a hard days work many of us have used our free time to play football with the local mexicans. Football and soccer has been a lot of fun. With every preceding night more mexicans show up for the game. The mexicans are really good at soccer but luckily we have Collin Flynn who in the last game scored 4 of our 5 goals. So far we lead the series 2 to 0 but tonight the competition will be tough. Like us, the mexicans are exhausted after a hard day of work but we all find an escape in our nightly soccer game.

Food

2008-06-13T03:00:00Z

Brian Weaver

The food in mexico has been super. Each night we return to the church as tired as can be . The only thing that can energize us up is some legitimate grub. The native mexican women prepare this food for us. One night we had 1/2 of chicken and bbq pulled chicken, another night we had mexican beef stew, next night mexican meatballs, tonight quesadillas and steak. Each night these entrees were accompanied with refried beans and rice with corn and tortillas. We are truly grateful for the food that replenishes us physically and spiritually.

Riverside Presbyterian Youth

Sophie ann

Adult leaders

One team

Mexico

Pouring roof

Pouring roof

Making cement

Dinner on lady night

Karaoke with addy

Fwd: colette

Mex

*** Email entry ***

Mexico

Mexico

Hillary continued

Hillary Riley

Hillary riley

Mexico

Goooooaaaaallllll

Food

* Email entry *