Day One - Men's Monterrey Mexico Mission

After breakfast, we drove out to Renacimiento to meet with Marcos and visit each of our building sites. Most of the families understandably wait until the last minute to tear down any structures that are where we need to pour the slab. Sometimes it is their living quarters and sometimes their outhouse. So, it is important that we go out to assess their progress and make sure the build site will be clear and ready for us on Monday morning.

For the first time in our memory, one of the families has moved away since our last trip in February when we confirmed that they would be receiving a house. We don't know the situation, but their neighbors said they moved quite a distance away. We are now faced with the dilemma of choosing a replacement family. With the help of the ladies of Casa Samuel and prayer, we are confident we will be directed to the family with the most need. The selected family will only have Saturday and Sunday to prepare their lot, but where there is a will there is a way. Here are pictures of the other families we will be building for.


















This year we are undertaking an extra project above and beyond just pouring the slabs. Casa Samuel is building a new food distribution hut next to their main building (for which FPC helped provide funding). Last year we placed time capsules in the foundation of the main building in loving memory of Dan McIntosh and Jerry Silvers. Both of them made numerous trips to Mexico in service to others and we miss them very much. Our project this year is to put siding and two serving windows on the structure which has been built. Here is a photo of community families waiting for food distribution in this hut.



Our next stop was the lumber yard to order framing lumber for the slab forms.This is the same company we used last year because they provided good lumber and good service. Very much a mom and pop sort of place.




Our last stop was the concrete company to order and pay for 7 loads of concrete in cash. That is a lot of pesos. Of course, none of these places are close to one another so we did a good bit of driving which is always exciting in Monterrey. Successful driving in Mexico requires assertiveness that takes some readjustment in driving style. Thankfully, we made it through unscathed.

Tomorrow, we will go to pick up our tools from the storage bin at the church. This is the Presbyterian church that has been our our partner in this mission work for over twenty years. Marcos and Jorge worship there and their father Pedro was pastor there for many years. After we assess the tool situation, we will probably make a trip to Home Depot for any replacement tools we may need. Then we will drive out to Renacimiento to store the tools at Casa Samuel and make the selection for family to receive the seventh home. Hopefully our framing lumber will also be delivered while we are there.

The final task of the day will be to get our rental 15 passenger van and go to the airport to pickup the rest of our team on Saturday night.

We ask for your continued prayers that in everything we do we will glorify God.

Buenas Noches from Monterrey