Concrete Block and Fresh Fish

April 13, 2012
Dave DeMott

We have finished work on day 2 (of our work, day 3 of our trip) and
are getting ready for dinner.  Instead of eating out, which is just as
cheap as making our own dinners, we decided to allow the cooks among
us to show us their Martha Stewart skills.  On the way to the work site
we stopped by a market to get fresh fish and fresh vegetables.  The
fish had been caught within the day.  We brought the fish back and I
(Dave) just finished helping clean the shrimp; which were about as big
as I've seen.  (We saw shrimp boats off shore last night when we went
for ice cream.)  We will have grilled fish and a Mexican salad that
looks, well, Mexican.

At the site we worked to get more blocks up.  We are actually getting
the hang of it.  We are becoming masons.  Earlier we met a group of
ladies who have a Bible study that Joyce Reed leads.

The funny for the day was when Hulio, the pastor of a small church,
asked if Dave Morton (pastor at Rangely) and I were from the same
church.  Dave told him that we were from different churches.  Hulio
then came over and put his arm around me and pointed to our slightly
rotund midrifts.  I then jokingly patted his rotund midrift with a
trowel.  He then said that around here, his congregation calls his
midrift his pulpit.  That left me in a bit of a quandry. because I'd like to
get rid of my (personal) pulpit.

We had several Spanish lessons and when Ramon almost hit me with a
rock while I passed underneath his work on the second floor, we simply
exchanged almost-giggle smiles.  It's funny how smiles, like music, is
an international language.

We will give a more thorough overview of our trip when we get home,
but right now the fish are ready...

Our First Day of Work

April 12, 2012

Sherry Burns

Sherry Burns

Work day one was an illustration of what power we have in our lives if we wait on the Lord.  The Master’s hand is necessary for production.  We arrived about 10:00 ready to go.  Nine novice mason’s with all the knowledge we could possibly imagine.  We gathered all our tools and promptly passed about 200 cinderblocks up to the second floor with speed and agility working as tight brothers and sisters with a very efficient assembly line.  We were stoked.  We were going to hammer this job out in record time.  We got the cement mixer set up with a rope and bucket up to the second floor and began sending it up with four of our “best” professional masons on the roof.  After two hours of putting up about 10 blocks over and over again, trying to get them straight and level the true Master Mason and his two trained buddies showed up.  After checking out our work it had to come down just one more time.  The Master kindly picked up the block, laid some cement on the wall and tied off the strings to keep them straight.  Our “best” looked on in amazement as he placed the blocks with little effort and great precision.  Within three more hours, there were four walls in place, perfectly aligned and finished to perfection. 

Pastor David Morton

Seminary in La Paz

Isn’t that the way we are sometimes?  Don’t worry God I’ve got this one covered.  I don’t need to wait on you.  I’ve got all the knowledge I need to complete this task set before me.  We try and try of our own strength and knowledge.  We work and work and end up with absolutely nothing done right.  We finally surrender to the Master’s hand and with ease in our lives with no strength of our own, we accomplishes the task He chose for us.  Did you get that?  HE accomplishes the task using our hands and feet with no effort of our own strength.  He has the task already worked out, all we have to do is wait on the Master.    Sherry Burns

Hello from La Paz

La Paz, Baja, MX

April 11, 2012

Mike Oldham

It is my first trip to La Paz. I think I am experiencing a little culture shock. After spending a week in Chiapas, returning home for ten days, and now spending a week in La Paz.

There are so many differences. This is Mexico as I imagined it growing up: tall cacti, mesquite trees, lots of sand, and bad windy roads. We are also staying about three blocks for the Sea of Cortez.You can learn more about La Paz:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz,_Baja_California_Sur
•  images of La Paz

We are staying at a little pasada called Casabueno. It is run by an African-American who now lives in La Paz. He has a yellow (white) lab named Cracker, too good for words.

While in La Paz, we will be working on the seminary with David and Joyce Reed. We will be laying block, mixing concrete, and doing some electrical work.

There are nine of us on this trip. David Morton, pastor of FBC Rangely is the trip leader. Josh and Mike are from his church. Dave DeMott and Stephanie are from FBC Grand Junction. From FBC Delta, we have Mike and Sherry Burns and Rosa. I’m sorry I don’t have last names. I will try to post a group picture tomorrow.

Good night friends.