This past week, in addition to English Clubs and intern studies, we were at the Salvation Army Orphanage with a number of students putting on a vacation Bible school. We had about 30 kids on the first day, and about 60 kids on the last two days. It was a great time with puppets, crafts, games, movies and hangout time as we learned about how God made us, God loves us, and God listens to us. You can see LOTS of pictures at my smugmug site. When we left, the kids said - “next time come back for a week, and sleep over!” I hope that we can do that; it is a very needy place with some really wonderful kids, some of them without parents, some of them whose parents couldn’t afford to keep them. In one of the crafts, the kids got pictures of themselves - seemed like for a lot of them it was their first time to have their very own personal photo.
On Saturday, we went to El Rollo, the infamous water park where I got six stitches last year. This time it was great, though, and we had about 20 to 25 people in our group zooming down slides and bobbing up and down in wave pools. I’m pleased that El Rollo lived up to its billing (as a quality certified ISO-9000 approved water park). Pictures of folks on the trip to Jojutla (try and say that: ho-HOOT-lah) are up at smugmug as well.
This week we have had a few visitors (maybe more on that later) and have had good English Clubs and hangout time. Yesterday we played soccer after the club, and just after we had tied 2-2 and were walking to the chemistry faculty to eat, we almost got struck by lightening. Glad we stopped when we did! After eating, we watched and briefly talked about Gattaca - maybe you have seen it? Lots to talk about there. Tomorrow we will have the last English Club of the semester and the farewell of our two summer interns, Abby and Meredith, and then we will have a sleepover so that we won’t have too much hassle taking them to the airport at around 3:30 AM. Ouch!
In the news for the near future - studying for next semester next week, then we have a team retreat in Acapulco, then RUF staff training in Atlanta for a week, then a visit to a supporting church in Athens (Georgia, not Europe), and then finally back here for a retreat before school starts and then school. Should be a full, fun, and exhausting rest of the summer.
Peter, this has been an awesome experience, or as I like to call it, ADVENTURE for Meredith and I just want you to know how much we appreciate the opportunity she has had to work with you and your staff! I’m sure it has been life-changing and the first of many such “adventures” she will want to participate in. Thank you for everything and I wish you the best in the days to come. I pray that the seeds that have been planted will blossom into new relationships with Jesus Christ! Thanks for the work you are doing in Mexico City and we will be following your future progress in the days to come.
Left by Linda on July 3rd, 2008
It’s been great to have Meredith here, and I’m sure her time has been and will be used both in her life and the lives of others she has come into contact with! Thanks for lending her to us for the summer; I hope we can stay in touch as we continue the adventure…
Left by Peter Dishman on July 4th, 2008
Athens is near Greenwood.
Left by Jeff on July 7th, 2008
True, want to come visit?
I think we’ll be there through Monday, leaving Tuesday AM at 6AM!
Left by pwdishman on July 7th, 2008