John Mark & Moorea

 Organizing the donated school supplies to give out at all four missions

We had a great day on Saturday at San Ignacio. We had a breakfast that morning. Some of the older American and Canada couples come to La Fuente at 6:30 in the morning on the Saturdays we do breakfasts. They make 250 sandwiches for the four missions. John and I picked up the sandwiches and Pastor Keith's daughter who came up to San Ignacio with us. We served sandwiches and green oranges (not unripe, just a different kind) pickled jalapenos and lime tang. We were also suprised by four more of the La Fuente youth showing up to help with the breakfast and hang out with the kids.

 La Fuente youth leading worship for San Ignacio

 Eating together

Playing at the park

 We didn't have classes for the kids that day, so we all went to the park to play soccer, volleyball, and jump rope while the adults had Bible study. After Bible study, we returned with the kids and handed out school supplies, used clothes and shoes. School started here on Monday. Most of these kids come from very poor families and would not have had many school supplies, or any new clothes for school. It was fun to see how excited they were to get some new things. It was a really good day.

New school supplies

Picking out shoes

Monday, our day off, John and I were invited over to lunch at our downstairs neighbors/La Fuente pastors. It was really fun to spend some time with them outside of our daily interactions at church. It is one thing to work along side someone, it is another to have good, uninterrupted conversation. We went to Vallarata in the afternoon and walked around El Centro (downtown), got some ice cream and watched the waves. It was a nice time.

 On a swinging foot bridge to Isla Rio Cuale, Puerto Vallarta

The famous Catholic church, Our lady of Guadeloupe, Puerto Vallarta

 

Today, I started helping Pastor Keith and Maya home school their 13 year old son, AJ. I am teaching History and Geography to him for an hour and a half twice a week. The curriculum they bought is in English, so I am helping him with pronunciation and comprehension as he reads English out loud. He is a fun kid to be with, and I am happy to help.

 

Pulling up the bricks

  John working at La Fuente

Construction on the sanctuary/multipurpose rooms is continuing. Up till this point, they were using a rope and a pulley to move thousands of pounds of gravel, sand, concrete, etc to the roof of the second story. I have never seen John Mark as tired as he was on the days that he was manning the pulley. And he is used to working hard. Some of the other guys aren't used to manual labor and were having an even harder time. In order to conserve their labor resources, Keith came up with another way to move the material three vertical stories. They strengthened the pulley supports and rigged up a few wheel barrows to hang from hooks. They are now using the truck they bought from the Plumbing Doctor in Yuba City to pull the rope that lifts wheelbarrows full of gravel and sand to the roof.The extra costs in gas will be worth it because they will be able to move so much quicker now that more material is being moved with less man power. John is pretty happy about the change.

Iguana at church

We are doing well. It rained hard last night, which cut the heat. It is very nice when it is cool. Tonight, we are headed out to San Ignacio to help with kids classes for the little ones. My Spanish is getting better poco a poco, as they say here. Thank you for your prayers and support. We have not suffered from the digestive problems that are common to foreigners who live here, and the allergic reaction I was having in my (many) mosquito bites has gone away. We appreciate all of you who think of us and take the time to keep up with our lives.

Blessing to you,
Moorea