Coram Deo: 2007

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

New Volunteers

Mary Thorman, Ginger Ottoson, Bobbi and Ira Maxwell, and Lindsey Dunn

New Volunteers have arrived at Pan de Vida.

Mary Thorman from Minneapolis, MN and Lindsey Dunn from Pompton Plains, NJ will be here until July 31 teaching English, helping around and playing with the kids.

Ginger Ottoson from Lincoln, NE is helping with miscellaeous work and playing with kids until August 21.

Bobbi and Ira recently drove down from Nova Scotia, Canada. Bobbi is the vistor dorm room mom and Ira is doing maintanence.

Monday, June 25, 2007

football championships

Touch Football

Last Saturday, the Indians played against the Aguilas Blancas for their division Championship in Mexico City.

Unfortunately, the game was rained out in the 2nd quarter. The Aguilas were up 6 to 0. The game is rescheduled for this Sunday.

Full Contact Football

The Lobos Blancos defeated the Halcones 19 to 6 to win the Super Bowl for the 15 and older age division in San Juan del Rio last Sunday. Five young men represented Pan de Vida. Each player received a medal.

Cece

Cece is living proof of a transformed life at Pan de Vida.

Before she came to Pan de Vida, her mother had left the family and her alcoholic father was rarely home. Cece was being raised by her older sister, but her effort wasn't sufficient.

The state government decided to take Cece and her sisters and place them at Pan de Vida. Dario Hilbrands, the director of Pan de Vida, said that Cece was very shy and bitter.

However, God started to change her heart. Cece said she was exposed to the Bible and Christian love for the first time in her life. A year later, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

During her time at Pan de Vida, God has transformed her critical nature and has answered her “why” questions.

“I realized I was here for a purpose and that God is my Father,” she said.

Cece is thankful for the love and work of the volunteers at Pan de Vida.

“I like the love, community, atmosphere and being challenged and given the opportunity to succeed.

She is currently teaching junior high and studying pedagogy at Pan de Vida. This Sunday she will travel to India and live there for three years. She plans to study social work.

She said she would like to open a school or a children’s home someday.

"She is a remarkable young lady," Dario said.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Football cheer

The following cheer is a crowd favorite

Fan A: "Yo soy!" (I am!)

All the fans: "Quien!?" (Who!)

Fan A: La mama de Julio!! (Julio's mom!!)

All the fans: "Que si, que no, la mama de Julio!" (English?)

Repeat with Fan B

Football Sunday

The boys won their full-contact football games and the girls won their flag football game last Sunday.

There are 3 age divisions for the boys. The youngest age division game was cancelled for reasons unknown to me.

While taking pictures near the sidelines during one of the boys games, I was approached by a football league official that I needed to go back and sit in the stands with the fans. I was not happy about that because I wasn't in the way and my zoom on my digitial camera isn't that good.

I could have argued about it but instead I followed my wife's advice that it's better to make friends than to make enemies. I have learned that the hard way.

Then the concerned man commented that my Spanish is really good. I get that all the time. Many people are dumbstruck that there are foreigners who can speak Spanish.

The fans were more vocal than their American counterparts. Many of their parents were acting like cheerleaders in the stands. One man was playing his horn and one woman brought a bull horn. They cheered so loud and so often it was almost impossible to explain to Brenda, who is new to American football, what was going on in the game.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Super Tacos

Super Tacos Victor, a taco business in Queretaro, came to Pan de Vida today to cook tacos for the kids and volunteers.

All the kids waited patiently to be served.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

water ballon volley

A couple of weeks ago, the junior high students played water ballon volleyball during P.E.

However, one teammate tried to catch the ballon by himself

but the students worked as a team for the most part.

anixously waiting

for liftoff

Win

The Indians defeated the Warriors 13-6 today.

The Warriors are a university club from Mexico City.

Only one referee showed up and the game was nearly cancelled when 2 people offered to help officiate the game.

The Indians are now 5-1

No pics for now

I lost my digital camera cable so I am unable to download pics onto my pc at the moment. I am going to try to get a new one soon.

However, I will continue to inform you about what is happening at Pan de Vida.

In addition, I am going to post some old photos and videos that I have taken.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Fair

The children at Pan de Vida went to the fair today. They first watched a circus show and then they went on the rides. Then they heard a man show and tell an antique firetruck.

Pictures to be posted later

Loss

The Indians lost 15-14 in Mexico City last Sunday. The Indians were ahead at the end of the first half 14-13 but the other team got 2 points from a safety in the 2nd half. The opposing team coach bought dinner for the Indians after the game.

Interception attempt

Indian defense

starting the 2nd half

warming up for the 2nd half

The referees check a fan's videocamera on a doubtful call.

Indian offense

Friday, May 18, 2007

4 wins 0 losses

The Indians won 20-6 against the Bulldogs last Sunday.

They are currently in 2nd place in their division, only because the first place team was one more win.

They are looking for their 5th win in Mexico City this Sunday.

Teacher Day

last Tuesday there was no school because it was teacher day.

Some students threw a party for their teachers the next day during class because they either appreciate their teachers or they wanted an excuse not to have class. Either way, a fun day was had by all.

Construction Update

walls for auditorium are finished. The roof is next.

Construction of 2nd floor of school has started with

heaving bricks

one or 2 at a time

Friday, April 27, 2007

Paco and Elena

Paco and Elena each came to Pan de Vida from different paths with a passion to serve God.
God used that desire to bring them together.

Elena, who is from Texas, heard about Pan de Vida from a missionary. She wanted to serve God with her passion for the Spanish language and helpìng children. She came to Pan de Vida last June with the intention to volunteer for a year.

“I recognize the hand of God’s blessing on this place, ” Elena said.

Paco, who is from the state of Tlaxcala in Mexico, was praying for direction in ministry. He was invited by Tio Dario, the general director of Pan de Vida, to help in construction and maintenance. He came to Pan de Vida a day after Elena arrived.

“I felt God leading me here,” Paco said.

Paco started helping welding and maintenance and Elena starting teaching junior high and high school students last fall. They both teach Sunday School classes.

Paco and Elena and some other volunteers hung out in their free time. When the other volunteers left, they continued to spend time together. After prayer and fasting, Paco and Elena started dating last August. They wanted their relationship to be pleasing to God.

Their relationship grew and Paco and Elena got engaged last January and are getting married on August 11.

Elena and Paco are thinking of spending two more years at Pan de Vida to help meet the needs of the children. They would like to be missionaries and plant churches in Mexico.

They are committed to serve despite the sacrifices and challenges of missionary life.

“We want to give it all up for God,” they said.