A coming home....

This was my fifth trip to Casa Hogar - four times with Sirva and one time on my own with my family - and it was a truly wonderful experience.  This group of "Sirva-ers" was incredible - full of fun, compassion, depth, dedication, and generosity. I am blessed to be counted among you all.  Thank you.
 
There were two things that struck me more on this trip than on the previous ones.  First of all, it felt like I was coming home.  The time that we have put into building relationships with Cecy and Modesto and with the children has resulted in a rich harvest. We trust eachother and we care about eachother.  There was no hesitant renewal of friendship time - rather it was like greeting your favourite relative who you only get to see once a year.  That felt like such a beautiful gift to me - to be wholeheartedly and unreservedly welcomed into their home and hearts is a great honour that I cherish.  Secondly, I was struck by some odd contrasts - like a flock of lime-green butterflies that rested on a pile of grey dirt and rocks, or a group of us walking through a field, toting our cell phones, ipods and mp3 players, as we passed by our dear friend Moises who was slowly tilling the ground using a plow pulled by his two mules.  I was especially struck with this contrast one day as we travelled in the van along the rutted, dusty road that leads to Casa Hogar.  Here we were, a bunch of rich, white, North American folks, happily listening to Queen's "Fat bottom girls you make the rockin' world go round" as we passed by these homes that we would describe as shacks that line that dusty road and hide in the shadows of the surrounding mountains.  I couldn't help but wonder what life was like behind those walls.  Were those people happy?  Sad?  Suffering?  Content?  It would be terribly ethno-centric of me to assume that because they didn't have the 'stuff' that we surround ourselves with that they must be unhappy.  Who knows what love and sorrows live behind those walls?  Would it, would they, be so different from me?  I was struck more than ever on this trip that we are all divine image bearers, we are all equally loved children of God.  And our one and only advantage, that of material wealth, is not an advantage at all, but can be a burden and a barrier.  Do I truly trust God as my provider?  As my source of joy?  As my source of identity and self-worth?  If so, why do I strive so hard to prove myself, why do I surround myself with so much stuff?  My material wealth should not so much be seen as my right for my hard work and intelligence - after all, who could truly say they work harder than Cecy and Modesto - but rather as a gift from God that comes with an obligation:  to share with my fellow image-bearers.  Hans demontrated this concept in his humble way as he stopped at one of those homes on the side of the dusty road and gave them gifts with no fan-fare, no thank you's needed - just one child of God sharing with another.  So simple, and beautiful and right.
 
I experienced one final study in contrasts as we returned to the land of riches and privilege.  As we walked along the tree-lined Riverwalk in San Antonio, i noticed a man who seemed out of place.  As well- dressed people walked and talked or sat to eat in one of the restaurants that line the riverwalk, this man sat and just watched people as they passed by, seemingly oblivious to his existence.  They must have noticed him, an old, bearded homeless man in a Santa hat; he was terribly out of place.  I passed him by too, but ten steps past him I hesitated and went back.  "Hello Santa," I said.  "Are you taking wishes?"  'No," he replied, "I'm all out of wishes."  I stood and talked with him a while, two image-bearers sharing  thoughts for a moment.  He was wise, articulate, and kind.  He took my hand and noticed my wedding band.  "Cherish your relationship"  he said to me and he encouraged me to look up a poem by Robert Frost entitled "Master Speed" and to read it aloud with my husband.  I promised that I would.  I gave him some money and looked into his eyes as I thanked him and said good-bye, all the while wondering which of us was the good Samaritan after all.

Alana

The Master Speed

By Robert Frost

No speed of wind or water rushing by
But you have a speed far greater. You can climb
Back up a stream of radiance to the sky,
And back through history up the stream of time.
And you were given this swiftness, not for haste
Nor chiefly that you may go where you will.
But in the rush of everything to waste,
That you may have the power of standing still—
Off any still or moving thing you say.
Two such as you with a master speed
Cannot be parted nor be swept away
From one another once you are agreed
That life is only life forevermore
Together wing to wing and oar to oar.

Settling back in....

As I get back settled in to the craziness of 3 kids (who are sick), work, and the never ending responsibilities, I am haunted by Jon’s words on the emotional crash of coming home.  When I was at Casa Hogar I was overwhelmed by the unconditional love that Cecy and Modesto give to the children there.  Learning more about some of the children there and the history of the orphanage and watching how truly happy they can be with so little was very inspiring.  The physical work was very rewarding and I enjoyed every day I spent there.  The group that went was nothing short of exceptional.  They were fun, sometimes crazy, ok quite often crazy,  all the while working tirelessly.  Most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to sit on that roof, while cutting tile and learning more about myself than I thought was possible.  I can only hope that what I’ve learned about myself there I will never forget and will make me a better person…

Colleen

A name to a face....

Just wanted to let the group know that as much as they try to get away, they will always be a part of me :-)  Last year Sirva was completely different for me than this year.  This year I wanted to work as much but also wanted to enjoy more of the surroundings.  The views of the mountains, the members of the group and especially the kids.

I made a point of taking the tool belt off and getting to know the names and faces of the kids.  Their pictures will be on my fridge again but instead of calling them the orphans I can use names like Sylvia, Gabie, and Jaqueline.  When you can put a name to the faces the experience becomes that more real.

For the group, just want to say you are very special and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.  It can be said again that this trip is more for our us than it will ever be for the children.

Thanks again Hans.

A permanent fixture....

Kirk and I left San Antonio at 6:15 AM on Tuesday while the rest of the team continued to enjoy the sleep number beds and hotel cots. The weather was fantastic, the wind was at our tail and at 10:07 AM the text message from Marion advised that the Apple Store in Fort Worth had a Airline Adapter in stock. A detour through Fort Worth to pick up the adapter, a little something in a pink bag that Princess can't wait for the movie star to model and we were on our way again. In keeping with the team theme brunch and lupper stops were at McDonalds. We made great time and found ourselves well into the cold of South Dakota, in Sioux Falls, for the night. Wednesday morning we were on the road before 8 and stopped in Fargo for an early lunch where we were the victims of a random act of kindness as Andy, in a booth across from us, paid for our meal. He was gone before we knew so we have no idea if it was a case of mistaken identity, wrong table or really meant for us. Regardless, it put a smile on our faces.

We had no idea how the border crossing would go. We hoped and prayed for the best, but were fully aware that a thorough examination of our cargo was a real possibility. Surprisingly, it seemed they know we were coming. After the regular "How long? How much? Where? questions the gal asked, "what group were you with?" We answered, "Riverwood Church". She replied, "The rest of the group flew home yesterday?" We confirmed and then she asked if I knew that I was responsible for the contents of all the bags. I said I did and at that she instructed us to have a safe trip home. WOW! Four border crossings without a bag being opened. Coincidence? I think not!!

For me, this trip was a watershed moment. Serving at Casa Hogar has changed from "let's get this done" to "this is a relationship that can last a lifetime". My resolve to learn enough spanish to be able to communicate has strengthened and I now imagine myself a permanent fixture on this trip.

Thank you to everyone that supported us, prayed for us and blogged back at us. Thanks to God for allowing us to experience His goodness in new and exciting ways during this trip. Until next time ....

Arturo

A world turned upside down....

As a first-timer on a Sirva trip, I am surprised at how my experience of coming home has been. I am very happy to see my family and friends again, but my own culture seems to have become so unfamiliar to me. Wednesday, our first day back, I went into a mall to pick up a few things where I discovered for the first time the individuality of our culture here in Canada. Not one person looked up as we passed each other in the parking lot to greet me "Hola", "Buenos Dias", or "Como esta?" As I watched people, I noticed for the first time how people lived in their own worlds… a lonely world where people feel overwhelmed and stressed to meet the deadlines of our complex culture that many of us cannot achieve by ourselves. Another surprise that hit me was my lack of desire to shop. I am a major shopper… I LOVE to shop. But all at once I was confronted by this feeling of how pointless the new shirt and pair of mittens that I held in my hands were, and left the mall empty handed. I could not steer my mind away from those precious children at Casa Hogar and how happy they are with the little they have, despite the atrocities that many of them have suffered.

My time at Casa Hogar feels almost like a dream--a dream that is continuously brought to reality through surprises in my suitcase. My pink water bottle has become one of my most prized possessions as it has the names of a few children from Casa Hogar scribbled on it, and is surrounded by splashes of light yellow exterior paint. I have read the complete blog about three times and have looked through all 309 pictures two times already. As I unpacked, I was surprised to see flecks of yellow paint all over everything, including my orthotics. (how did that get there?) Every time I look at my scabbed arms I am reminded of the beautiful mountains of Mexico and smile and laugh as they are as a result of my tumbling into a cactus! Painful, but a really funny story that I can look back on and laugh.

I thank God that he gave me the opportunity to go on this trip and hope that He will bless me with this opportunity again sometime in the future. God has taught me so many things and changed my life in ways I never expected. As I reflect on my time at Casa Hogar, it seems impossible that I could be so blessed by my time there, when I really went down to bless the wonderful children of Casa Hogar. God is so amazing.

Jenna

Home...

So I'm officially home, my luggage is opened and clothes are strewn about my room in a frantic attempt to find things, I've attended my second day of school since we got back and my first shift back at work was tonight, so I've already been forced into a routine. Sirva 2008 seems ages ago in after the whirlwind of things that greeted me when I got home.

Though coming back feels like jumping from one moving train to another, it also feels like the trains are moving at the same speed in the same direction. I can still see the passengers in the other train and recall the memories and amazing experiences from it. And though I am sad to see the distance that separates us, I know (from past experience) that I will jump back to the other train one day and it will feel just like home.

-Anja

Five times and counting....

SIRVA, five times!  I am so grateful to have had the experience of working on Casa Hogar all these years and to be able to participate in finishing its second floor and the beginning of a second building.  But the physical is only one realm in which building has been going on.

 

The shared experience of serving has given many opportunities to see growth in the lives of those who travelled with us, in the lives of the children and caregivers at Casa Hogar, in the lives of my family, and, yes, in my own life.  I have more and more become aware that it is a great mystery of giving that, when done in the Jesus' name, one receives more than one can give, that God gives unity of purpose to those who keep their eyes on Him, and that prayer is very necessary and effective.  SIRVA can be a challenging trip in many ways, but there is always the wonder of the common experience of working hard, sometimes harder than one thought one could, sometimes with people only beginning to know each other, and receiving back the satisfaction of work well done and the enjoyment of new, true friendships.   

 

I spent the last afternoon shovelling sand for the cement mixer as we poured two floors for rooms in the new building.  The sand pile, which had been sitting in the field for a bit, had many hidden inhabitants, who were all anxious to vacate their residences as our shovels came close to their respective homes.  Salamanders scurried off (one minus the tip of his tail, which had been too close to the end of my shovel), quite a few little grey frogs, and one lovely specimen of a scorpion.  They provided interest and entertainment during the hard job of keeping pails of sand topped up for the cement mix - Jon was setting a very fast pace in an effort to finish for the day.  

 

At the end of the afternoon, the various creatures had all gone off to find new residences, and the freshly poured floors of the new building held promise for a new residence for disadvantaged but loving kids who would some day be able to live, rest and have fun there.  Hmmm,  I'd like to meet them - I think I'd like to go on SIRVA again...

 

v.i.o.n.n.a.

Sirva photos are up!

You can see most of our Sirva pictures now at the following address:

http://www.riverwood.cc/sirva

We're home!

Well...thank you everyone for coming on the journey with us. We will still post a few blogs of people summing up their experiences so keep watch if you want....we arrived home safe and sound last night at 10:30 PM and we were greeted very well by a bunch of Riverwood'ers and family members. It was a great reception!

I just got word that our luggage made it across the U.S. / Canada border and is on its way back home. Hooray! Thank God for a safe journey for Art and Kirk.

What a great trip & a meaningful time. Stay tuned for some reflections and more pictures!

Juanito

Monday eve....

hello everyone!

As the days have past, post Casa Hogar. we are all left here with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. I heard it brought up more and more this trip than every before, the phrase ' we are alone'. 'Alone in these mountains', 'no one is out there thinking of us'. I had never thought of the seclusion of Casa Hogar. They are in the middle of a mountain range about 20 minutes in on one of the worst roads in Mexico. On the last day at the orphanage we said our goodbyes and Jon had given a speech at the end. He had said "you are not alone". And the emotion in the hearts of Cesy and Modesto was thick in the room. They were touched. And it made me feel like we had done something. Sure we poured tons of concrete and grouted several miles of tiles, but we had reached out, and grabbed hold of a lone hand in the dark. These kids needed us, they all needed us, and I believe it is no longer a choice to go on this trip for me, rather a mission.
Thank you for all your support! and mom you actually made it to the blog page, your boy is proud! Love yah all!

Andrew

Hola hermanas y hermanos en Winnipeg! (Hey sup my homies in the Peg City) We're headed home and it's a happy sad experience. We have to leave the kids and the orphanage behind until next year but I feel more than ever that we are taking them home with us in our hearts and that we'll be closer to them than we have ever been before. As Andrew mentioned loneliness is a big issue and my hope is that will just drive us to work harder to fill the physical distance between us and Casa Hogar with our love.

On a completely different note, I'm going to write this just in case Jon forgot to mention it in his last blog: Kari, Samuel has been looked at and photographed... with me... and there may be an arm over the shoulder involved. Just sayin' because every year it gets better. We also saw Pedro, I'm not sure if Jon mentioned that either... But he didn't work with us this year which was sad.  So I'm excited to see everyone but I'm not excited for the snow that will great us back home as well. See you soon, lots of love,

Anja

WE MADE IT!!

We are now in San Antonio. The border crossing was smooth and easy. We didn't get pulled over at gunpoint this time around :-) We had a smooth trip right to the hotel and are now just finished supper....have read the blog comments (thanks!) and are getting ready to head out to the Riverwalk. I will post a few more pictures and later we'll get a few people to reflect on the last couple of days. What an incredible experience we have had. And best of all....my wife is still pregnant....one more sleep and I'll be home dear....keep that baby inside. Thanks so much for all your prayers over this week and today. We sure have felt them.

So many meaningful experiences....so much work done....and many many laughs. The team has really become family and we have so enjoyed and benefited from each member here. Thanks Sirva team!

Just wanted to send a quick update so you knew we made it across safe and sound.

Lots of love from the San Antonio riverwalk....

Juanito

p.s. Spencer still needs his mom's advice...
p.p.s. Chili...I posted a picture in your honour....can you guess which one.
p.p.p.s. Pray hard for Art and Kirk as they head out early tomorrow morning with the luggage for their drive home...
p.p.p.p.s Ryan...we still miss you tons here.

More photos.....

More photos.

Quick update

Wow...we have had a full couple of days. Yesterday we had a chance to
attend church which was a wonderful experience once again. We also
met up with Dana and Andrew Willms and family and had a great visit.
They came to church and had lunch and got a tour of Casa Hogar.
Thanks guys for making the trip!

We had an incredibly meaningful time with the kids and with Casa Hogar
Sunday night. We threw a huge party with BBQd hot dogs and tres
leches pastel (cake like you've never tasted before). We had a chance
to bless Cecy and Modesto and give them a gift with enough money to
get home to Nicaragua to visit their family. They were speechless.

Our connection with the kids and the caregivers felt like it was so
deep....goodbyes were hard....and we left with a feeling of
satisfaction that we had finished the jobs we set out to do....we
worked incredibly hard.

Sorry this blog is short....we have had no time to update in the past
day....right now we are about to leave to cross the border....a more
in depth blog will follow. Pray for our border crossing which will be
around noon.

Thanks....here's a few pictures I couldn't resist posting.

Juanito

A few Pics...for now

Saturday...the last day of work!

Thank you to each and everyone of you who have sent us words of encouragement and humour.  Sharing of the "blog" is definitely a great way to end our day.  The weather has turned colder today - going down to 8 tonight - going to be a cold one!  Tomorrow we are finally going to get to go to church and it's party time with the kids.  For those of you who have never attended church in Mexico, it is quite the experience.  They sure do know how to have a good time.  Tomorrow will also be a bit of a sad day for us having to say goodbye to the kids and the three awesome people who take care of them.  Briggie thanks for collecting the toiletries for the kids, tomorrow's the day they will get them.  Can someone do me two favours:  1) Please call Murray and Debbie Moffat and tell them to blog Beckie - she thinks her mom and dad would never send her an online message.  She has been singing to us as we write our encouragement cards (Andrew also has singing talent - his shower songs are really quite good); 2) can someone please tell Marlene to respond to Spencer's note he left for her on the blog - he is desperate for advice.  Good night and again thank you for your prayers, kind comments and humour.  See you soon!

Maxine

Today I had my Sirva "Yay God moment". The other night we heard how one of major challenges for the orphanage was sponsorship for the children. Since then we've had considerable thought and discussion about that.  Anyway, today I went over to the second building to dig out a rectangle for a second concrete pad. Before leaving I asked one of the fellows to send someone to come get me for lunch. Didn't happen. Instead, I got to "work and fast" while another Mexican group on the grounds was "prayer and fasting". For whatever reason, the thought that kept running through my mind was the the folks at the retreat needed to hear about the needs at the orphanage. Shortly after that a fellow from the group, David, who had pitched his tent on the pad we poured yesterday came over and chatted with me. My few spanish words and his few english words coupled with his curiosity of who we were and what we were doing allowed me to share our commitment to building and the need for sponsorship for the children. Very cool. We also got the extra rectangle dug and poured so we won't be leaving a lot of unused cement behind to get hard in the bag. 

Art 

p.s. Yes, please, someone contact Marlene to help Spencer out. He just seems so distracted. 

p.p.s. I'm very glad I treat every meal like it's my last!! 

Would I really go public with my girl problems...?

Spencer

So I'd just like to say thanks for all the blog comments, they are a highlight in our meetings. A few key points of the last few days are that I've been initiated as a cougar cub by the cougars of the group (they may include the two 35+ year olds in Spencer's previous post), after 5 years of Sirva trips the kids are actually learning my name, even if they do call me "Ana", it's better than nothing, the shower in our room has not broken down once, but twice and then we set the one next door on fire... Yes, we set a shower made of concrete on fire, we had pancakes for breakfast and they were delicious, all our concrete pads that we dug at the second orphanage are filled plus the one Art dug by himself (!!!),  Brett held a scorpion all by himself and tried to feed it to Spencer, and we went to La Estacion again and Jon ordered for all of us what we all wish we'd ordered on Wednesday night.

So it's late and the boys are waiting for me to finish this post but I'd like to say: Kari I haven't even touched the mustaches yet but tomorrow there will at least be one picture with them, I hope. Buenos noches!

Anja

Well....it was an incredible last day of work!  We pushed so hard all day and we completed ALL the projects we started out doing....right at the end of the day....everything came together.  The second floor is looking BEAUTIFUL!  What a crew we have....digging deep on their 6th straight day of hard labour and without a complaint.  It was a remarkable day for us as a team all around.  We were able to take Moses and his family out for supper last night and treat them (something that they probably haven't done since we did it last year)....and then when we came together for our meeting we were awestruck by what God has done amongst us....by the incredible care the children receive....and also by the need that seems so apparent at Casa Hogar.  One of the things that struck us was how alone these caregivers are that care for the children day and night everyday without a break...ever.  Their lives are totally consumed by what is happening there....and yet they never complain...they are always full of faith.  We thought of how meaningful it has been over the past 5 years to not just support the orphanage with work and labour....but to have that relationship that feels so deep developed with them....and how that relationship is SO important to Cecy and Modesto, the caregivers, to let them know they are not alone and have a church in Canada that cheers them on...and supports them.

Last night was a sweet one....one knowing that we gave everything we could....that we pushed the second floor to inches within being lived in....and that we have continued to build an incredible depth of relationship with Casa Hogar and the children.  I for one went to bed very proud of our team and our church.

On Sunday, we have the special opportunity of going to church and then throwing a party for the children.  We're BBQ'n hot dogs and having tres leches cakes....they are amazing and made locally here.  Also, Andrew and Dana Willms who are Riverwood'ers living in Mexico about 4 hours away from where we are will be visiting with us on Sunday.  We are so excited to see them!

Anyway, I'll post a few pictures of the day and we look forward to Sunday very much!

Dios les bendiga mucho Riverwood.

Juanito

Sat pics again

Sat pics more 2

Sat pics more....

Sat pics