7July2011
Posted by Chad under: Chad's.
So we are already about to leave. Again. This week a gone so quickly and there is so much to recap. I also have a handful of pictures to share with you. First I will share some of the happenings here at the home for the last few months.
I am sure you all notice that we are not updating the website very regularly. This is primarily because with us living in Texas now we are always a little behind on the happenings here in the house. It is always hard to share breaking news when it is really a week or two old and not even current when we write it. The alternative is that we are able to share information when we are here on trips, and when we have urgent news. This is the route that we have chosen for the time being.
So let me catch you up on a few things that you may have missed out on. This school year we had a smaller group of Students. This was good for Karina because we had just left. Then in August when we started to have the requests for new kids in the house, we had a visit from the Mexican DIF (basically family and child services here in Mexico). They put together a whole list of requirements that we had to meet before we could accept any new children.
We had a small team in November and another team in March. Between the two groups and the donations of many people we were able to make all of the necessary improvements to the home. Praise God we have now met them all. But the DIF continues to cause us a great deal of frustration. They have required Vida Nueva to hire a Psychologist to come to the home regularly and interview the children here. They have met with the parents of the kids. They have showed up without warning. Finally they are trying to dictate what kids we should have, which ones they feel don’t really need this home, and which ones we should kick out.
All of this is incredibly frustrating. Before last Aug they just came every now and again to make sure the kids are safe and that the home is a good place for them. Now it seems that they want to have all of the authority in the house. The Mexican Staff was telling us that every few years the Gov’t agencies change over with the elections and some are more involved than others. They told us to pray that the other party wins next years Presidential Elections. I am not sure that is the only thing we should pray for, but maybe it will help. Please pray for the leadership and staff of Vida Nueva as we have many decisions to make.
With all that said, we have an incredible group of kids this year. All of them are well behaved and have made good grades. The staff here said that this has been one of the least difficult groups we have ever had here. We had two students graduate this week. Reina, who will be going on the toughest College Prep High School in Parras and Mauricio, who is still deciding what he wants to do this coming year. We were able to be a part of celebrating both of their successes. This is a huge deal for each of these students.
Juanito finished his last semester of classes at the University in Saltillo. Pending his finishing his work internship he will graduate from the University next February. He was so blessed to find an internship immediately. He actually was only home for a week after school when he received a phone call interview. They were so impressed by his English that they hired him over the phone and wanted him to start the next day. Another blessing is that this is a paid internship (most are not) so he will be receiving some compensation for his work as a college student.
Finally Sheena Green, who has lived here since March will be ending her ministry internship here with Vida Nueva. She has been a great blessing to the home over the last few months. Pray that God will speak to her about her next step in life and ministry. I know that she is considering several things, but first she gets to return home and see family.
Tomorrow morning we will leave to drive back to Texas at 5AM CST. Please pray for our safety and that Makaila would travel well. We have a very packed car. We have Sheena and Karly packed in next to Makaila’s car seat. Enjoy the pictures.
God Bless! - Chad & Alise
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| Betin hanging out with Makaila |
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A new family photo! |
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| Reina’s graduation party. She is the second one from the left. |
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Mauricio’s graduation party. He is the one in the center. |
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| This is Mauricio and Gaby. I just liked the picture. |
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All the girls with Makaila! They had a great time playing all week. |
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| Makaila playing at the water park. She is far to brave. Here she is trying to touch the fountain. She is 18 months old now. Amazing! |
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Vida Nueva’s new Guard Dog Max! He is no Taz but I think he is going to do well. Roger and Carol sent him down from Texas, he is only around 6 months old! |
4July2011
Posted by Chad under: Chad's.
Hello Vida Nueva Supports,I pray that all is well with you. Alise, Makaila, and I are back in Parras for a week long visit as the Children finish up their school year.It has been an exciting year and much has been going on here. Sheena Green (Breakthrough Partner Intern) has been living here since March. She has had a great experience during her time here and has been a great encouragement to the Staff and Children here at the home. Feel free to check out her blog for a more detailed account of her time here.We will write more this week. I just wanted everyone who is praying for us that we arrived safely and that things are great. We have Karly Richardson from near Seattle with us as well.Pray that we all have a productive week and a safe drive back to Texas on Friday. Also check out the updates on the Vida Nueva Children’s Page. Thanks Sheena for compiling the new information and pictures.God Bless! - Chad Mason
24March2011
Posted by Chad under: Chad's.
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to take a minute to give you a small window into our week. We have been busy, busy, busy. We have complete everything on the list that the Mexican DIF gave us. Tomorrow, Alise, Makaila, and I head back to Texas, and on Sat the Wichita, KS folks start their long drive home. Please keep us all in your prayers.
We have been so blessed to have no safety concerns during our trip at all. We know that this does not mean that there are no dangers, only that God has blessed us thus far to keep us out of harms way. Please continue to partner with us in pray in regards to our safety as our team returns to the states over the next few days. Also pray for Alise as she has had flu symptoms today. Also pray for the general health of the whole team. I believe that everyone is tired and a little overheated so pray that everyone can get a good nights sleep here.
Here are some thoughts from members of the Wichita Team:
Being called to missions, it was only natural that I would go on this year’s mission trip to Vida Nueva. Ministering in a land mostly foreign to me is a fantastic blessing. I have a decent understanding of the language, so I can get around just fine, but the culture and poverty is not something I am accustomed to. God has been deepening my conviction about working full-time mission work here in Parras. I will share a little bit of my spiritual journey since I left Parras in 2010. Last year, as we were leaving, I felt God speaking to me that I must come back here and work for Him. Since I had only moved to Wichita a week before leaving for Mexico, once I returned I was neck deep in unpacking and getting settled in. The conviction I felt as I was leaving Parras was drowned out by how busy I was getting up on my feet and healing from a broken relationship. I was also playing the part of Jonah, running from the conviction. About two months ago, as I was working and worshiping (which is a great blessing), God renewed the conviction of my call to missions. Now that I am here in Parras, I am reminded how much need there is for missionary work in this area. God is working me over and over; preparing me for what I predict will be a lifetime of missions work. Please pray that I will continue to listen to the Spirit’s call as I move forward toward full-time ministry. Thank you!
In Christ’s love, - Adam Anderson
On this, our third trip to Vida Nueva, I feel the way I always do: I don’t want to leave. Hanging out and helping out here feels like home to me. We didn’t get to a couple of the projects I was hoping to, for various reasons, but I learned last year that flexibility is the name of the game on short-term mission trips. The last couple of days have been more relaxed, less work-oriented. They’ve felt more like normal days at the home. To a different personality type, it might be boring, but not to me. It feels like home.
Last night was our worship time with the kids, and I’m so encouraged at how easy it was to communicate. I left my Spanish dictionary in the car when we arrived, but I only needed to look up a few words to get my message across. Casual conversation has been going more easily too; I don’t get the blank stares that I used to, and I understand a lot more of what I hear.
Seeing some of the kids from last year is really cool, but knowing some are gone is a sad thing. I can’t wait for the day that the DIF gives Vida Nueva the go-ahead to enroll more kids. This mission trip was a huge part in bringing that day closer, and the pieces are in place for the rest to happen.
-Kyle Hoger (Metropolitan, Wichita)
It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. We just have one last evening with the kids, to play games like throwing water balloons (planned for this evening). I’m glad we have a few extra hours with Chad, as they have decided to leave tomorrow afternoon instead of the morning. Our discussions with him in chapel times have been meaningful and moving. It was interesting when four of us confirmed our desire to go into full-time mission work; we all felt called before, but today we testified that we desire to take the next step in serving overseas.
This has been a unique team, supporting each other. We had a nice, relaxing day today, including fun at the tank, the spring-fed swimming pool up the street.
-Charles Scrivener (Metropolitan, Wichita)
We have truly been blessed by the team this year and the past teams from Metropolitan Baptist in Wichita. I pray that God will make it possible for future teams to be able to come. Our chapels times have been inspiring for me. It is not often that more than half of a team expresses the desire to be in eventual full time missionary service. This blesses me like you would not believe. I believe my primary calling is to teach, train, and mobilize the body of Christ into global missions. It is exciting for me to around people with the same heart.
I have posted some pictures below for your enjoyment.
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Juanito and Makaila hanging out. She screamed when she first saw him… but they are cool now.  |
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Adam playing with Charrito. I am not sure who is having more fun! |
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| Glenda and Reyna enjoying the confusion around finding leaks in one of the water heater installations. |
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Sheena painting the laundry room. |
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| Makaila and Charrito chillin! |
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Megan, Gabi, and Charrito posing for the picture. Charro tries to be in every photo. |
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| Adam, Charrito, Gabi, and baby Josiah. |
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Reyna and Luz cooling down at the posito. |
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| Charrito stealing all of the photo attention. If only he wasn’t so cute :). |
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Karina and William doing puzzles. |
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| Jenrri sitting on a coffee can. Sounds uncomfortable to me. |
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Charrito doing his part of the painting. Apparently no one could reach above the door so we called in Charrito. |
I hope you all enjoyed this post. God Bless and have a wonderful day. - Mexico Team
22March2011
Posted by SheenaG under: Chad's.
Hello From Parras Mexico! We are doing very well and loving our time here. We could not feel any further from danger than we do here, now. It is very difficult to balance what we hear from the US Media about how dangerous Mexico is, when we look around here and it is normal people living normal lives. Praise God for his protection and his provision for us, this Children’s home, and the team from Wichita.
Let me take few minutes to introduce the team from Kansas. Kyle and Carrie Hogar are leading their 2nd team to Vida Nueva (though this is their 3rd visit). Since the day that they first heard about the home, they have done as much as they can to help here, and get the word out about Vida Nueva at their church and home in Wichita, KS. This team has 6 adults and the two Hogar boys, William who is 3 and Josiah who is 6 months. This year’s team is focused around the many work projects that we have around the home. You may remember that the Mexican DIF has required that we do some more repairs and upkeep around the home in order to be able to accept more kids. There are quite a few projects going on at the same time so it is keeping us all really busy. Everyone has been helping with either the projects, the kids, or the prepping the meals for 20+ people. We are asking a few of them to write our the site each day so that you can hear from them about what is happening here and in their hearts. Here are some thoughts from Amanda and Megan, two of the ladies that are here with us this week:
Several months ago, I had no desire to go to Mexico on a mission trip. Being a selfish American, I didn’t want to give up my Spring Break and spend time away from my family serving people I don’t know who speak a language I don’t understand. God quickly changed my heart and my attitude, and I am so glad that I am here! In the weeks leading up to the trip, there were times when I doubted my decision based on fear and uncertainty. Several times it would have been very easy for me to back out and just stay home. I would be forever filled with regret had I ignored what God was calling me to do. Before I even left Kansas, God taught me so much about faith and trusting Him. I’ve been in Mexico two days now, and the Lord has already opened my eyes and my heart to see that there is so much more I can do to serve others and share His love.
–Amanda H, Metropolitan Baptist Church
I was invited to go on this mission trip at the end of 2010, but I didn’t put much thought or prayer into the invitation. I assumed that I would have class during the week of the trip and that it would be impossible for me to skip a week of college, right after Spring Break. I quickly said that I would love to go, but there was no way that I would be able to. However, God had a different plan. I decided to change my major in January, but it was too late for me to get new classes in my new major. My advisor suggested that I withdraw from the semester and start fresh in the fall. I took her advice and withdrew from the semester, but by then I had completely forgotten about the mission trip. A few weeks later, I was told about the trip again and I realized that there was nothing holding me back now. I prayed about it and realized that I needed to go on this trip. Now that I’m here, I’m loving every minute of it. The kids are incredible and I’m very thankful that God made it possible for me to come here and share His love with them.
-Megan T.
We are trying to work as fast as we can in order to get as much done as we can this week. The kids did not return until Monday evening (because of a Holiday) so it gave us all a full day to concentrate on all the work projects.
Here is a run down of all of our work Projects for day 1.
- Install Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers
- Tile small bathroom floor
- Start wall demolition and repair in large bathroom
- Paint Laundry Room
- Install Water heater on upper bathroom.
It was a crazy day with a lot happening in different places at the same time, but it was amazing to see it all finished at the end of the day. We have added pictures below so that you can see some of the craziness yourself. The best part of the day was when the children returned to the home around 4PM and began to play with our team, their kids, and each other. They are always so great to see.
With Makaila, William, and Josiah, it has been awesome watching the kids interact with the Mexican children. They do not seem to even notice a cultural barrier. They talk to each other as if the other obviously understand, and the crazy thing is that they seem to communicate pretty well.
We are all having an incredible time. Keep us in your prayers and we will share more tomorrow.
God Bless! - Mexico Team
18March2011
Posted by Chad under: Chad's.
Here we go again :). When we get ready to go back into Mexico we get really excited. Our Mexico friends (like our family) are constantly on our hearts and minds. When we have the opportunity go and love on them some more, to play with the children at the home, and share the love of Jesus with any who will receive it, we are so blessed!
Every time we walk away receiving so much more than we can give.This trip had been planned from some time and we are super excited that we can host the 2nd team from Metropolitan Baptist Church out of Wichita, KS. This is the second year in a row that they have sent a work team, and we are very happy to continue to develop and grow friendships and relationships with the team and the church. I have attached the video from their visit last year so that you might remember some of the people and stories.
This year we are working on fixing a bunch of small items at the home. We will tile two bathrooms, install smoke alarms, paint some rooms, and if we are able remove a few roofs that will be rebuilt after we leave.
Please pray for both sides of the teams traveling. Us from Beaumont, TX tomorrow, and the Wichita Team on Sat and Sunday.Pray for our safety and for God’s leading and working on our hearts and the hearts of our Mexican counterparts in Parras. We will be making daily updates on the web so stay tuned!
God Bless!
Chad & Alise
