Chapelwood UMC Global Missions: The days are flying by

Reddan Green, one of our team members, reminded us on Tuesday night that we should take in our time in Tapachula very deliberately, being intentional about living in the moment. It seems that before we know it, we'll be headed back home to Houston, and not even know where an entire week went. Even as we have worked at that, the time is indeed flying by -- it is already Thursday!

Flory did our team devotional this morning after the boys had been fed and were off to school. She talked about how the question, "How are you?" is so common in our culture, and even in the Mexican culture. Most times, the response is, "Fine, thanks." But if you really want to get someone's attention, give them the answer, "I'm thankful," or "I'm blessed." They might look at you a bit strangely. But this is a good response for a couple of reasons. First of all, we need to be reminded that we are indeed blessed, and should be thankful for the blessings which we have received. The other good thing about this answer is that it can lead them to ask you for more information, and you might even be given the opportunity to share your faith in a meaningful way.

Through devotionals like this one, our team is being bound together in an amazing way. There is a spirit of cooperation in all of our tasks, and this makes it even easier to do the work we are here to do. Each team member is assigned to do a children's devotional during the week, which we do in the evenings after dinner, and a team devotional, which we do after breakfast. The different perspectives are refreshing, enlightening, and thought-provoking most of the time, inspiring some really good discussions.

Today our duties were more diverse than usual. Three team members helped our missionary, Steve Shearouse, paint his newly-enclosed work space which is located in the yard behind the boys' home. Steve has needed a good place to store his tools here, as well as a place to work. Our team has nick-named this space "Steve's man-cave."

The rest of the team worked inside, cleaning, chopping, cooking, and laundering. The boys who go to school in the afternoon also helped out, after they were finished with their homework. Everyone is always busy. There is plenty of work to do and the house parents do not allow for "idle hands" at any time. Play is, of course, just fine!