This year we have been putting a real focus on reducing our trips to Mexico to save money so our trip in for the Hat Project was a big one. We took in 5 cars and the trailer along with 25 passengers (think I'm off on that, but don't have my list with me).
The trip down and crossing went great and arrived at our favorite Chinese restaurant, but not to eat. We decided on this trip to share our meal with everyone at the orphanage so we ordered fried rice, broccoli with beef, sweet & sour chicken, white rice and chop suey for 110 people. Before we left the states we packed up enough coke for 110 plus a few so that was to be our meal. We placed the order and then delivered the team to the orphanage to start setting up. Two of us jumped back in the car to pick up the food and after returning started putting out the food. Turned out we had approximately 130 people, but the food fed everyone with some of us not getting cokes, but all was good and there where leftovers. Chinese restaurants down in Mexico serve huge orders so all was well. Of course lots of prayers where said over the volume of food before we ordered and while we served as we haven't done this before. As a side note it cost us $166.00 dollars for all that food and I'm guessing you haven't accomplished that in the states before....
One of my bees Marty was in charge of the hat, scarf and poncho part of this day and she had approximately 12 tables set up and placed all the hats, scarves and ponchos on them for everyone to be able to pick what they wanted while Ken the coordinator of Caring Hearts called out families and small groups of children to come through so it wouldn't be a crazy mess...
After cleaning up and loading up in our cars we traveled into the Oaxaca area to hand out more hats, scarves and ponchos.
Adalberto the Bible school director had gone out during the week and let the people know we were coming so when he went ahead of us to let them know we were actually on our way we knew we would be meet by those already waiting. Ken was the leader of the pack and when we arrived sure enough there were 20 or 30 people already there. We got busy setting up tables and handing out numbers. Ken set up his PA system and started his part of the ministry as the crowd grew. By the time the program was over and it was time to pass out hats and such we had over 120 families. Marty and one of the other ladies with us walked through the line and passed out some really nice booklets telling them about Jesus while we had the families come through to pick out what hat or poncho suited them. Many happy and interesting faces will be on the website for you to see and like me you will begin to recognize them from time to time. By the end of the line we where out of ponchos and scarves and am guessing we only have a small start on our needs for next year.
We packed our things and again mounted our seats in each vehicle for our trip back to the states leaving traces in the dust of the village from our footprints and tire tracks. Its my hope the traces we left in the hearts of those along for the project remain longer than those left in the dirt we left behind. We were once again blessed with a crossing so we didn't have to stay in line but for a short time.
An extra happy note is that when Ken prayed the prayer of salvation I noted that we had hands raised again this visit, but as Pastor Rich reminds me a raised hand doesn't mean acceptance of the Lord and that time will tell if we truly have a harvest. That gives you hope of things to come and you know your efforts will in time come to fruit if you continue to water the fields.
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