Texas Update #6 6/27

I had to look back at the previous post in order to remember which update this was.

We've been here so long to this point that all the days are starting to run together.

5 AM prayer has been a staple of our schedule, and it has been amazing!

After prayer we ate breakfast.

Following breakfast we went to church, only to find that one of the women in the church made us breakfast burritos. Only then to find out another lady brought us in donuts. Only then to find out another lady made us more breakfast burritos!!

We definitely had enough to eat for breakfast.

We cleaned up the church for our last morning work day.

Following work we came back to church for a siesta.

A couple hours later we headed out, amazing race style, by splitting up our groups to do some church visitation.

Afterwards we headed over for a barbecue to end the night.

Check out our flickr gallery for more.

Texas Update #5 6/26

We are officially half way through our week!!

It's hard to believe that! This week has absolutely flown by. But at the same time, we feel as though we've done so much and have been here forever!

This morning started out just like every other morning so far. 5 AM prayer.

It has been such a great way to start the morning. Despite being tired. We have seen the hand of God move because of our dedication and time in the morning.

After prayer, breakfast, and maybe a quick nap we were off to our first ministry site.

Upon arriving at the church students and translators began painting, cleaning, and reorganizing the children's wing.

We worked for about 2 or 3 hours.

Around 11 a group of 7 of us, some natives of Texas, other from UBC went on a visitation.

The woman in the visitation was a newly wed, and was also expecting a baby!!

We prayed for her, and we prayed for her marriage as her husband had not yet made a decision to follow the Lord.

After the visit it was back to church for lunch.

We ate lunch, and then we practiced a little bit for the Wednesday evening service.

Siesta was waiting for us as we arrived back at the hotel.

Wednesday, on the Harvest Trips is mandatory nap day.  Joel, our leader, said he's been on many trips and Wednesday is a key day, and fatigue and tiredness begins to set in, so he requires everyone at least try to take a nap.

I am writing this first half of the blog entry in a dark room with two sleeping students. One of which assured me he would lay still for an hour but, and I quote, "Nick, I guarantee I won't fall asleep." Two hours later he is snoozin' like a baby!!

After our siesta we went to the church's Wednesday night service.

Pastor Joel preached.

We had a part of the service as we performed a drama that we performed this week. Also Jessica and Kenzie shared somethings God has done in their lives.  It was very powerful!

Take a look at the video from the performance and pictures on our flickr stream!!

Texas Update #4 6/25

Hello from the great state of Texas!!

Today has been very similar to yesterday. We woke up at 4:45 in order to make it to 5 AM prayer. Due to the fact we were out til about 10 at the fiesta from the previous day, it made prayer very difficult.

I know I was having trouble staying away.

It is very hot today, and has been all week. It is very important that we continue to hydrate ourselves.

After prayer we all came back to the hotel and slept. We didn't have anywhere to be until about 9 AM.

We were back at the church and today we painted the interior of the newly acquired and remodeled children's wing. It looked great and our students worked hard.

Others helped clean out the church kitchen and wipe down toys and cribs that were used in the nursery.

After lunch we came back to the hotel for our siesta.

The evening consisted of a couple of house visits. One group went and prayed for a lady who was ill. The other group prayed and visited a family that has just recently decided to follow the ways of Jesus.  We encouraged them and prayed with them.

The night ended again with very good food, friends, and community as we sat around a table, joked, talked, and prayed for the family who served us our dinner. Not only did they serve us our dinner, but they have fed us lunch each and everyday at the church thus far.

They are a huge blessing to us.

Please continue to pray for us, for strength and for divine appointments to spread the name of Jesus.

Please also pray that this would not just be a spiritual high for our students, but that they would be called to something much greater!

PS: To look at un update on the photos, click here!

Texas Update #3 6/24

Today we had our first experience with the 5 AM prayer. The alarm went off at 4:45 "en la manana" (In the morning).

We went to pray at the church in the pitch black for an hour. The church here believes that the best way to start your day is in the presence of God. How great is that? Do I believe that? Yes! Then what keeps me from praying at 5 AM? On a typical day, my desire to sleep. Kinda convicting.

After prayer we came back to the hotel to eat breakfast and do some devotions.

Following breakfast we went back to the church we painted and hung out with students from their church.

Daniel steam cleaned the carpet all by himself in an un-airconditioned room.  He worked very hard we are all very proud, and glad that he did the job so we wouldn't have to.

A family from church cooked us lunch and we ate, and learned fun facts about the Spanish language and that blue frosting cake stains your mouth.

As lunch came to a conclusion we arrived back at our hotel to take siesta.

As dinner approached we went to a couple a visitations.

First, we went to a family who was older, and in poorer health so we were able to minister to them.

Finally the night ended at a family's house who just recently accepted Christ, they fed us (a ton of amazing food) and we played with other students from the church.

It was a great time.

I'm writing this at quarter to 11 knowing I will need to be up in 5 hours. So at that I am going to sleep!

Take a look at our full picture stream!

Texas Update #2 6/23

Today was Sunday. Church day.

We woke up, ate breakfast and headed off to church.

Church was really good. The worship  music was incredible! And the spirit in the room was very full, people were very into the music, clapping, and dancing. Even some of us got into the groove!

The service was completely in Spanish (see, told you this was a cross-cultural experience!)

After church we ate at an authentic Mexican restaurant, CiCi's Pizza (that was sarcasm), nevertheless, it was delicious!

After that we had a siesta time. Some napped, some swam, others, like myself, went to wal-mart to buy snacks.

After we went back to the church to get a rundown for the week, and the ministries we would be involved with.

Finally, a member of the church was having a birthday party at a local park, so we went to that.

We all found out very quickly that volleyball is not a sport that God has blessed us with abilities to play considering during every round-robin tournament we were the first team eliminated. We still had fun.

It is really cool to get to know all the people from this area! They are incredibly helpful and hospitable.

We were there until it turned dark, we ate food, had drinks, and cake.

It was a good day.

Monday morning begins with a 5 AM prayer time followed by a morning of construction and work at the church and an evening of in home Bible studies.

Please continue to be in prayer for our group!

We appreciate your support.

To see MANY MORE PHOTOS check out our flickr feed.