Water gone now get rid of the rock

Where is the rock pump? Oh well back to the jack hammer shovels and buckets.

Group at the spring

This is the group photo while we wait to drain the spring box. This is right before we get absolutely filthy.

Starting a new waterbox

To turn a spring into a water box you need to drain it then cover the walls with stone, then put a concrete roof on it so the water will stay clean.

Soccer at Alto Refugio

No outlet No problem

School kids in San Nicholas

In the well with a jack hammer

John in the well chipping away rock with a jack hammer

Puebla pyramids

These are pictures of the pyramid excavation

Church on the pyramid

This is the church that was built on top of the Aztech pyramid, and the view of Puebla from the church.

The Before Group Photo

This is the "Before" photo of the group in DFW at the start of the adventure. There were some tense moments because I30 was shut down and we were an hour late to the airport. We were so glad to make the flight.

Working on wells playing with kids

We left the highway and drove up and down a gravel road on the mountains for an hour.  We came to this village next to this large catholic church.  We met the pastor of the house church.  We split into two groups.  Jeff, Blake, Nick, Haley went with Randy to put the pump on  a well.  The rest of is went to the other spring and took turns working a jackhamer in the, waterbox and helping the masons and mixing concrete.  After lunch the kids were out of school.  It was many more kids than we prepared for but praise God it work out the men played basket ball with the girls.  There were all sorts of activities chalk drawings, jump rope, soccer, and more.  The big surprise came at the end when they killed a goat and and made us dinner.  It was a little uncomfortable but we accepted their hospitality.  So far everyone is OK.  It was a good day but we're all ready for bed.

Couple hours of sleep just like home

Good thing Jack has been training me for sleep deprivation.  There was gunfire this morning but it was black powder muskets in a parade.  Somewhat light day church followed by sight seeing and training for the puppet show.

Hola Mexico city

We have arrived in Mexico City.  We missed the 1am bus the next bus is 2:30 :(  It was a full flight so 4 team members got bumped to first class:).

Prayer needed

We need to pray about this... one of the Copeland's passports has not arrived yet. Katy has been in touch with the INS and hopefully they can get it sent out, but we need to pray that this roadblock is knocked down and we can get our entire team down to Puebla.

John S.

Added Google group to send email

Blogger does not support "subscribing" to a blog where you receive email of new posts.  To work around this I created a google group that you can subscribe to.

Change of plans - Destination Puebla

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From John Steczkowski:

I wanted to give ya'll an update on what the meeting was about (everyone  else was on the call)...  Anyway, there is good news and bad news.

First the bad news...

Due to some late breaking news in Monterrey, the church's international security consultant has recommended that we cancel the trip to Monterrey. But, the GO office has uncovered another opportunity for us in Puebla, Mexico (southeast of Mexico City). This area and logistics have been approved by the security consultant and has little or no activity that we've been reading about so much in the papers.

The basic trip will be to help construct "water boxes" in some villages to provide clean water to the village. After these water boxes are installed,the villages can expect to see a 98% decrease in water-borne illnesses.

We will also be training the children of the village about basic sanitation, etc.

We will also spend several afternoons working in an orphanage there.

Puebla is at 7,000 ft in the mountains, so the weather is mild, but we will need to be careful about sunscreen.

So the big question is.... are you still interested in going?   Jim - are you planning on going?

I need to get plane tickets taken care of tomorrow.

We will be flying in to Mexico City and then taking a bus to Puebla.  We will stay at a hotel in Puebla that is just down the street from the missionaries house.

1 Chronicles 16:23-33

1 Chronicles 16:23-33 (New International Version, ©2011)

 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
  proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
  his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

 25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
  he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
  but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
  strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

 28 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
  ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
  bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his[a] holiness.
 30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
  The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

 31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
  let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
  let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
  let them sing for joy before the LORD,
  for he comes to judge the earth.

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 NIV

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 NIV

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Getting Started

So much has happened since our last trip to Monterrey in 2008.  I changed jobs and our baby boy Jack was born.  That's is just what has changed in our family.  We have a new president and the downturn in the global economy has lead to increased violence in Mexico especially along the boarder.

This year we are flying in to avoid the largest risk in this trip which is the drive to Monterrey.  I feel that we will be very safe since we are going into places that no looks to go kidnap anyone.  Anyway we still need prayers that everyone stays safe but I don't want people to worry about Kendall and I.