Children's Room in San Marcos

Each day work began around 7:30 AM... Ricky had to leave our house even earlier because it's a hike just to get there

(above: the room before)

(left: ceiling is done, walls are fixed, and gravel is down.. now ready for the cement.)

Tuesday & Wedneday, Days 1-2 of cement project:
The adobe walls were patched and plastered. Then they tore up the dirt floor using some tools which really aren't for the job, but were something like pick-axes.

(Above Right: Victor's father, owner of the space we are renting)

Interesting story from day 1:
While tearing apart the dirt, Ricky came across something that turned out to be a little ceramic tea cup and plate. Victor's dad saw what he had found, took it and reburied it, saying that the dishes were given as "pago a la tierra madre" (payment to mother earth) when the house was originally build some 40-50 years ago. The "pago a la tierra" is an Incan tradition that is still practiced today. He said it would be really bad luck if the dishes were removed... so they were reburied and are now underneath our cement floor... somewhere.

(Left: break time)

Thursday, Day 3 of cement project:
the sand, rock and cement bags were delivered. They were dropped off (more like dumped off) in two truck loads to the road, which has no name, that enters San Marcos. The only thing is that the road is above on the hill, much further above the place where we actually needed the stuff. So this day was spent shoveling the materials into bags and carrying them down several stairs and over to the room.
(Left: hanging out with Rosa, the mom of some of the kids who come to the kids service.)

Friday, Day 4 of cement project:
the guys laid the gravel, then began mixing the cement with the sand and rock mixture. There was no official "place" to mix, nor were there really any tools even, just a few shovels and buckets. The mixture was made on the sidewalk outside the room...and mixed by hand (see pics above). In the early morning, Amy and I hiked up and brought sandwiches and soda to the workers this day. It was a good time to take pictures and for fellowship!

(Right: Jim, a 3 year old from our children's ministry, looking on as the men work.)





(Below Right: Jim and Erik; Erik showing me his lion face)

Some of the kids asked me if I worked too. I just chuckled because I doubt I have the strength to do what the guys did. "No..." i told them, "i just kept busy praying that it wouldn't rain!"

(Left: the cement has been dyed red)

Saturday, Day 5 of cement project:
we dropped off 3 kilos of red powder, which is used to color the floor, instead of leaving it cement grey. The powder, mixed with sand and cement, was added as the top layer, leaving a nice red floor.

Tuesday, Day 6: The following week we returned to paint the walls yellow...

While painting, several people stopped in to check on the progress (and to see , and each time they would ask the most obvious question, "hmmm...yellow huh?" Apparently some people didn't care for the color. But we agreed that it is a good color for a kid's room...

We have been blessed with 50+ kids each Saturday . We are glad to have a place indoors for when it rains... and the rainy season has just begun. We are just praying that we can fit all our kids inside. Soon, we will need another place, even bigger, but we are trusting God to provide it in his timing.

Saturday, October 28th will be our first official day.

our small church family

Here are a couple pictures of our small group on Sunday mornings... They are for the most part new believers; for the first time learning worship songs and basic doctrine about faith in Christ.



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it's raining children!

Yesterday, the 7th, we had almost 50 kids in San Marcos. There were 20 kids in my group alone...

We have begun splitting up the kids into 3 groups. Ages 1-5 with Amy, 6-8 with me, and 9+ with Ricky. Julia, Jose and Jhon have all come to help out, but aren't taking over their own group (yet).

Here we are playing some games to get started. I hope you can see the expressions of joy on their faces while we play.

I absolutely love the look on Malena's face in this picture (left). She is the little girl in pink in the foreground. She seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself!

construction project progress

Do you remember the room we are going to rent in San Marcos for ministry? Here is what is used to look like. And here is what it looks like now. The contruction isn't finished yet, but the ceiling is done, and the walls have been fixed (for the most part) and just need to be painted. Lastly, the dirt floor will be torn up and cement laid, which will be started this week. Keep watching for more updates.

Guitar Lessons

Here is Ricky with Jose. Ricky has begun teaching guitar to Cesar and Jose. Jose's parents even bought him his own guitar! He is practicing a lot in his free time. So these are probably some of the first worship leaders of the new church

paint project

amy and i painted a room downstairs to use it as a children's room. A few adults that come on Sunday's bring their kids, but we don't have sunday school for them yet, so they would get really bored. I would give them pages to color or activites/crafts to do, but they didn't have a good place to do it. They really needed a place of their own. We had a room that was being used for storage of ministry supplies and our children's materials for San Marcos. We have begun transforming this small stark white room... to a, tah-dah, kids room.

we first painted it with a creamy base color, and then we sponged on a brighter yellow overtop. They don't sell the proper sponges here, so Amy handmade imitation sea sponges by tearing apart a regular bath sponge.

now all we need is some children's furnature, like a table and chairs. We'll also be looking for a used tv so we can put on kids' dvd's like veggitales or somethings.

praying by name

These are some of the people we're praying for. Here they are by name so you can join us in prayer if you'd like.

Victor began coming on Sunday mornings. It is such a blessing for us and especially for him to be around other brothers in Christ. He is more bold about sharing his faith with family and friends (old drinking buddies).

Jhon is a new believer and has been a part of our group for less than 2 months. He came with us last saturday to San Marcos and helped with the kids. We hope he continues coming and becomes a vital part of the children's ministry as a "tio".

Julia (and 6 yr old daughter Jossy) is growing in her faith and a part of our core group. She is serving as a helper with the kids in San Marcos, though it may be a little difficult for her now that we are meeting on Saturday afternoons, because of work responsibilities.

Cesar is Julia's 15 year old son. Pray that he continues growing and sharing his faith with friends, and that the temptations of the world don't pull him down.

Jose is Cesar's friend from school, who came to know Christ in August when Cesar shared with him. Pray that he also is strong in Christ to stand up against temptation.

Jose (Sr.) is Jose's dad, who 1 month ago began coming to Bible study. He has expressed his faith and desire to grow more in the Lord. Jose's wife is 8 1/2 months pregnant and also has expressed interest in learning more, but just hasn't come yet.

Ivette is a school friend of Cesar's. She is still seeking and learning more about what it means to become a Christian.

Sandra and Erik are brother and sister, also school friends of Cesar, who have come a few times to prayer night. Pray that God puts a desire for Him in their hearts.

Alex and Zoraida (and 3 yr old daughter Mel) were some of our first friends here, who have been off and on as a part of the church. Zoraida is a believer whereas we are still praying for Alex.

Luis and Sheyla are also inconsistent in coming. Luis is Zoraida's younger brother; Luis is a believer who is struggling to commit as a daily Christian. Sheyla, his new wife, is not a believer and at this point hasn't come at all or showed an interest in the Lord.

Adriana and Victor, Adriana has came to prayer night a few times a few months ago. She wants to continue, pray that God makes time in her schedule and puts a desire in her heart.

Sra. Julia (Julia's mother) is a believer, but hasn't gone to church or congregated with other believers in many years.

Julia (23 yr old), we met at Luis' wedding. She is interested in getting close to God and helping with the youth. Pray that God fans the flame of this desire that it will grow and that she will come and seek the Lord.

Estefani (14 yr old) and mom, Juana, who lost her 20 month old, Antuane, to cancer last week. Estefani is going through a terrible time; things a 14 yr old shouldn't have to deal with. She needs friends and Christ.

Daniel and Sandra, who came over one evening for coffee but haven't come again. We still visit them in their business.

Oscar, Jose, Roger, Miguel... university students who came over one evening for a youth activity, they said they want to know more about Christianity, but haven't responded to our invitations to come.

Washington and Aida, the owners of our home. Washington is a non-practicing Catholic and Aida is a Jehovah's Witness.

Victor's father, sister-in-law, and nephew who have seen the change in Victor's life and are showing interest in Christ, but haven't yet made decisions to follow Him.

Michel and Luz Maria are friends we met in San Marcos. We're praying for their salvation.

For all the parents of the children in San Marcos.

Madison Leigh

Isn't she beautiful?