Day 4 Tuesday

Today I went to deliver food, and was touched like I am every year by the extreme poverty in which almost every family lid teens. I was amazed to watch the Mexican teens work with these kids and to just see the love they had for them. I realized that the teens at the home are surrounded by small children every single day, but they never seemed annoyed or frustrated at them. I loved the opportunity to watch the teens interact just like they had twenty or more little brothers and sisters. And then I realized that this is a family. It is bigger than most with more parents and children, but a family nonetheless. I love the feeling that I get while being down here, the feeling of love, unity and the utter lack of technology (with the exception of the blog). I am loving this feeling and I can't wait for what God has in store for tomorrow.
    - Biven Alexander
 

Turf battles are never good.  They can get ugly and mean.....especially when much is at stake.

Our enemies want to stop the Story, interrupt the Song, and weaken the Work.  Some of them are very visible.  Some are not.  And the enemy can be crafty.  They can work from within, find the slightest fault, and exploit it.  And the Apostle Peter warns us in I Peter 2:11 about our "sinful desires which war against your soul".  Our pride, fears, failures, and even successes can be used against us.  But we press on......

Many moments in the lives of our mission team were successful today.  A house is slowly becoming a permanent dwelling and home.  A community began feeling the pride of a newly painted school building thanks to 2 hard days of work by our team.  Several families have been given food that can stretch for several weeks thanks to the efforts of our food teams.

(and I feel shame for scraping my unwanted dinner plate food into the garbage)  Our puppet groups continue to amaze the little ones with their muscical Bible stories that capture their attention and imagination.  Do you see God at work in these photos?

 Our kids continue to amaze us with their compassion and their self-less devotion to being Jesus to others.  The comments at our night devotionals indicate a change in perspective and a deeper appreciation of "what they were meant to be".  Our energy levels are hitting a slight mid-week drop, but the power of God and the healing refreshment of a new "vista" on life helps to transform and "energize" us.  

                                                                                      Alexandria Arnette helps one of the Mexicano children during afternoon games.

True change is difficult.  Habits are hard to break.  The enemy knows a lot of our secrets.  And our bodies are, at times, weak.  But the One who is within us, is greater than the one who is of this world.  We gain confidence and energy through this power and through this assurance.  

  Erica Goslowsky (left) and Austin Lowe (below) were our recipients of the Festival of Sharing on Tuesday and Wednesday.  They were chosen by our 2 interns for their servant heart and behind the scenes help in their respective areas of work.

We have a choice whom we shall serve.  We do not have to be slaves to the world.  And our teens have chosen wisely this week.  I am certain they will carry the pictures that they take and the memories that they make back home.  Pictures not just on cameras, but etched into their hearts.  They love their families back in Murfreesboro,  and they love the families they are serving here.  And they are showing that they love the Author of their story.

I will end this entry with a quote from the Toy Story movie, from the little green aliens.  In our skit, the little aliens (played by 3 of the Mexicano children) have been rescued from their captivity from the  evil Darth Siniestro.  They are so grateful that they come up to Commander Marco Antonio and say what all of could be saying to our own "commander":

"You have saved our lives, and we are eternally grateful."

Amen to that.

Jeff McClain

Today's Fab Five:
1. Suzie is changing careers
2. Where's Waldo? at Waldo's!
3. Salt Shaker Trick
4. "See God Work"
5. "Would you, could you, with a mouse?"