Thursday - Cadereyta

And the best of the best of the best has come...

Thursday was full of all kinds of experiences for the NSV team. Our original plans were to spend the day aat Cadereyta, a much larger version of the Rio - the home of the poorest of the poor. This area houses over 1000 people. These people were relocated after Hurricane Emily forced them out of their homes a couple of years ago. The government provided them new land and built cement blocks for them to begin rebuilding their homes (and lives) over from the ground up. Tarps, cardboard, and scraps would still be their means to build...but they were still looking forward to starting over again instead of meandering their way through the streets of Monterrey. Because of the intensity of the storms from the previous day and night, it was too muddy to work the full day at Cadereyta. So, we went back to Meme's Rio (the smaller squatter's village) for the 1st half of the day and spent time with the people there, did a food outreach, and got measurements to more securely affix the bridge to the ground that NSV helped build a couple of years back - the bridge that, by God's grace, saved many lives! The sun was hiding for most of the day and with our area to serve and love on the folks there now a small lake, it seemed to be a more sullen place. However, the kids brought the place alive, as did those who were intentionally seeking out others to pray for them. We were only there a short time so please forgive the lack of pictures!

We then took the bus about 25 mintues to Cadereyta. We stopped along the way at 7-11 to eat lunch and grab some snacks before heading over. Once we got to Cadereyta, we were immediately greeted by about 35-40 folks who were smiling ear to ear to see "los americanos". We circled up to get the history behind this area and ask God to be conduits of His blessing while we were there. We saw the beginning construction of a soup kitchen and church where we parked. The soup kitchen will help provide 2 meals a week for the adults and children there. The land alone for this cost around $7,000. B2B is still trusting God for the rest of the funds for this but are expectant that He will again come through for these people. Again, the reason B2B provides so much care for these people is largely due to the fact that many of the children that fill the children's homes come from areas such as these. Instead of coming alongside dozens of "rios" and dozens of children's homes, they choose to go a mile deep instead with 2 squatter's villages and 7 children's homes. We love that.

Here the pictures you see are of the team doing various things. When we first got there, a group gathered to fit kids for shoes. Most of the children were running around barefoot and were up to their knees in mud. A team spent time literally washing the feet of kids and fitting them as best as possible with a pair of shoes. Talk about major deposits of love into their little lives...

Others of us immediately began preparations for the meal we were going to serve them. That involved filling cups of water, cutting up cabbage, and setting up each station. They ate a meal similiar to tostadas. They had a large crispy shell with refried beans, "crema" - similar to sour cream, topped with cabbage and "salsa" - which accompanies ALL mexican meals in huge amounts, so we've learned! "Mas salsa, mas salsa, por favor!"

The high school guys immediately took to the young boys there. They put them on their backs and began racing with them down the street. Their energy was limitless. They were covered in mud from head to toe from running up and down the street but the giggles and smiles from ear to ear were priceless. The adults were awe struck watching them pour out their lives emotionally and physically and making enormous deposits into the hearts of these little ones. The pastor thanked them specifically at the end of the day saying he had never seen those kids smile so much. If you are a parent of one of the high school guys, you should be VERY proud!!

After Cadereyta, we went back to campus to pick up some of the ladies (and Chad) who were not feeling so great that day and stayed behind. We also picked up some of the little guys that hung out with the staff kids too. Off the team went to Pollo Loco - where they had chicken tacos and nachos and endless fountain coca-cola and coca-cola light!

After dinner, we braved the pouring rain and headed to the little palapa for last night of debriefing. It was clear that the Lord was already on the move before sitting down - the reality of the last night in this place was moving many to tears already. Because Chad was still really sick, Sally stepped up to take over leading worship by playing piano. Talk about a God ordained moment...it was a joy to have her lead us into worship and communion time. We missed Chad but it was a great opportunity to see the Lord raise up another leader!

During communion time, groups nestled together to pray and thank God for all He had done and we knew this was the beginning of a special night. I was in and out checking on Chad...and updating him on what God was doing...I'll let your friends and family give you specific details...but what I saw was nothing less than God's presence thick within our team. It was pouring rain and a group of guys stood outside the palapa anyway praying together and receiving from the Lord. The little girls did the same, thanking God that He worked in and through them this week. All in all, 13 team members decided to get baptized this night right on campus in the pool at B2B. Unfortunately, Chad and I weren't there to capture pictures...but we listened from our room to the celebration that followed each one - in fact, we thought it was the other team due to the explosion of cheering after each baptism. Thankfully the rest of the team took pictures! We also have some video of it and look forward to sharing that with you if you are interested!!

It was a great week...this team really connected...and experienced what deep, rich community is all about...pull them aside as you see them in Meijer, at Panera, or at NSV on Sunday mornings. Ask them what it was like to offer themselves, what God did in and through them, and how they are changed as a result. There is so much to share!! Thanks for sharing it with us on this blog...

The Powers' still have a few weeks in Monterrey, so stay tuned for more stories in the near future!!