WEEKEND--The campaign officially started on Saturday evening; but we were up early on Saturday to meet the Valley Baptist team for breakfast after their red-eye flight from LAX. Happily, the hotel had agreed to allow them to check-in when they arrived at 7:30 a.m., so all but two of them opted for rest rather than breakfast. It didn't matter, though, because breakfast at Capistrano is always good and even better when sharing it with friends like Nelson, Rosemarie, Fabi, Camila, Don Laity and Gary Nelson. It was a great start to the week.
The team from Oakland Baptist Church, Corinth, Mississippi, arrived at the hotel about 2:30, and barely had time to check-in before leaving for the evening campaign. Stephen headed out with them and the group from Valley.
There was still had so much VBS prep work to do that I didn't go along; instead, I stayed back and worked on curtains, buttons and sashes.
Sunday mornings during a campaign are one of my favorite times of worship. It is so amazing to see how worship unites the body of Christ across all barriers--cultural, language, economic, etc. Pastor Nelson didn't have a translator so he did his own translating--first point in English, followed by first point in Spanish. It was kind of a simultaneous translation by the same person. At the end we had a sweet time of prayer for VBS.
Sunday night the Oakland Baptist group left for the campaign at 3:30, while the rest of us set Colossal Coaster World VBS in the hotel salons. I think we were half crazy by the time we finished!
I'm sure nobody is worrying whether or not our bus made it to Guatemala City, but, just in case, I'm letting you know today (2 days after) that we arrived on time, well fed and in one piece. The trip was awesome from start to finish. We left our house at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the bus station (inside the Hotel Sheraton) at 5:45; got checked in and made our way to our seats--second level, first row. Before we left the station, they distributed our breakfast which was warm pancakes from San Martin (one of our favorite restaurants) along with orange juice, coffee and water.
The passed out blankets and pillows, so I slept for the first two hours. Stephen watched the movie. About 8:00 we arrived at the El Salvador border and the immigration employee boarded the bus and reviewed our passports. After he cleared us, we all exited the bus, walked about 250 feet to Guatemala and presented our passports at their immigration window. There were no lines so we were all back on the bus and on our way in 10 minutes or less. The rest of the trip passed without event--Stephen watched the second movie while I read a book.
We arrived on time at the Holiday Inn in Guatemala City--Rosemarie picked us up. We arrived to a houseful of VBS helpers and joined right in painting, taping, cutting, etc.
I was able to help Haisey, one of the women in the church, understand the leader guide and Bible lessons (written in English.) Although, it's a bi-lingual VBS, she is working with the 3-4 year olds who, of course, have all of their stories and activities in Spanish.
We've been working hard and eating well these last two days. Wednesday night Rosemarie made pupusas (go El Salvador) and last night we brought home from Del Puente, a new restaurant close to the house, and ate them with homemade french fries. Cross cultural eating--suits us fine.
Last night Rosemarie and I worked on a baby quilt she is finishing for a baby shower tomorrow!. We made the bias binding (if you're a quilter you'll understand) last night. Today, she is going to machine quilt it. Just one of the many small, regular-life projects in the middle of the VBS prep.
Today, I've cut 22 yards of felt into the sashes (think boy/girl scouts) that the kids will put the "badges" on. Unfortunately, we need to buy another 20 yards or more and repeat the process. Once they're all cut, we have to sew them together. Stephen managed to find time to play the piano and even gave Javier his first piano lesson this morning!
Tonight, Nelson returns from the states where he's been sharing in the mission conference at Blue Springs Bible Baptist Church in Blue Springs, Missouri.
Please pray for the kids who will be coming to VBS, November 11-15. This is a major evangelistic outreach for the church, and they are working hard to invite kids who don't know Jesus.
