A Job Well Done!

The time is getting near and we all are trying not to think about having to leave! You know, if we don't go there it won't happen? The rains have come after a big day of work! Only one part of the front wall did not get put up. The forms are made though. We did not get all the hairpins made either! Almost all of the wire has been cut, but there is still a lot of bending to do. I think we got done a lot more than we thought we would so we can go home happy! I think the boys were thinking 5 truck loads of cement to fill all the walls! We had fog roll through earlier today! Something I have never seen before. As I was working up on the hill making more "hairpins", I noticed in the distance what I thought was dust! I thought to myself, "How can we have this much dust when it has rained quite a bit this week?" We had to break for lunch and when I looked out the window the fog had rolled in and you could hardly see in front of you! It was really neat! The temperature has dropped too! A little bit cooler than I like! Right before the rains came we all got together to send you a message Marshall's! Here's to you! Luv ya!

The Great Wall Of Mexico

Look what we did MOM! (or should I say Marshalls!) It was a very good day yesterday! We have all the forms up except the special ones that have to be built today! The tying of the hairpins will have to be done after we leave, but at least the hairpins will be made! I think Julie was thinking 362 hairpins need to be made and tied! The one picture of Becky is her trying to cut our wire with the he-man wire cutters! Tell me that isn't going to give her some muscles! Emy found us some cutters in the shed that was more our size so hopefully her arms wont wear out as quickly! The two pictures are of the forms put up and the last picture is just how they get those forms up there! A lot of man power! It definately takes a team to do things here! Thank you all so much for all your thoughts and prayers through out the week! Lots of Love!

And The Walls Go Up!

Here is a sneak peak at your walls Marshalls! I just love coming down from up on the hill to see all that they are getting done down here! Not to mention I get a break from bending and straightening those hairpins! Tony has been busy trying to keep the forms going and Mike, Steve & Jazzmin have been holding up walls and nailing them together. Now they are all working 3 high so it takes a few more bodies! Our first picture is of Steve & Mike trying to bend and twist the hairpins to hold the back and front walls together! The second picture is just a view from behind. The third picture is of the Marshalls house and they are laying 3 high here. The last picture is of them holding and nailing. As I said before, still so much work to do and time is running out for us! Please pray that we get all that God has intended for us to do done! I think the rains are coming to an end so I better get back up on that hill and start straightening and bending! Adios Amigos!

A Few Quiet Moments!

Today we have all been busy! There were a few and I mean only a few moments of waiting right after lunch. Getting ready to go only knowing that the rains are only a few minutes away. The storms have come and we have a few minutes to blog. Teresa & I got news that Tony & Steve made it down off the wall before they became our dinner! Lightening and rebar do not go well together and the boys think if they stop, maybe they won't get going again? Knowing there is only one day left after today makes us want to get so much done! We don't like just standing around knowing our time is limited! Becky, Shirley & Norma finished the hairpins for the forms today or so we thought! Cirino brought us 4 more rolls of wire to straighten and bend so when the rains are done we have a mission! We already scoped it out and have a plan! Teresa & Maxine are still helping with the building of the forms. Also, Emy has not been feeling good today so please say a prayer for her! Lots of Love to everyone!

SUPRISE!!!!!

You have a wall! Okey, not quite a wall, but the forms are being set! Still so much work to be done! We are all working so hard! We had an afternoon shower yesterday that put a little damper on our work, but we still accomplished a lot. Angie & Jalynn stayed out in the rain to finish tying the rebar! Shirley, Becky, Emmy and Norma finished the spacer bars and now we have started making the ties that will hold the forms together! Of course, nothing here is simple! Shirley & Emmy spent the last part of the day unrolling the wire and cutting it & Teresa, Becky & I spent it straightening the wire and bending it to fit the forms. Meryle spent a good part of the day digging a trench to keep the water off the wall. Maxine spent a lot of her time cleaning the bottom of the wall with a scrapper and an old paint brush! Also, Teresa & Maxine have to go back and forth with the forms crew! (Tony, Steve, & Mike) I think they said, 13 more forms to build and then all the special ones! (You know, different sizes.) Unfortunately, the fatigue is setting in and our bodies are all getting a little tired, so with all that said, please stop & take a little extra time to say an extra prayer for us today to keep us strong, safe and that God's work will get done! God Bless!

After the Storms

We had a really good rain last night! It thundered & lightninged until the early morning. Once again we were all so tired we didn't hear it for very long. The nice thing is that is settled some of the dust flying around here! Mike & Shirley and a few others got to spend a short time at the market yesterday. They really enjoyed seeing all the different things! A treat that I think everyone coming to visit needs to experience! The rebar is still not done! They broke the news to me last night that spacers had to be cut & bent and then tied to the rebar. So, today we have Shirley cutting the rebar and Becky & Emmy bending it. The kids got the day off from school so we put them to work too! I am thinking some of them are thinking they would have been better off in school. Poor Angie's arms are all scratched up from climbing the rebar walls and tying up top! Martita's job was placing our space bars for us and helping bend the ties. Jalynn & Jazzmin were put to work with Angie tying! Josiah even got to do a little painting! He also helped out by taking a few of these pictures! Unfortunately it is raining again so it put a halt on our work! We have one section that we are removing the dirt from the bottom and then they are going to start placing the forms! The rain is much needed, but if it would just hold off until evening. We have a euchre tournament planned for this evening! I will let you all know who wins that! Let the games begin! Hola to everyone!

Standing Firm!

These pictures are of the forms team! The first picture is of the wood that they are using. The second picture is of Tony & Steve cutting everything to fit. The third picture is the second part of the team hammering all the pieces in the middle & the last picture is of some of the forms already built. Also, after each one is done, Teresa & Maxine paint them with oil so they can be reused. This wood will be used many times after this! This job is not an easy task either, since the boards here in Mexico of course do not come in the same thinkness nor do they come all even! That is okey, we have a crew that is taking care of all that! I wish I could put the sounds on here! It is almost like God is playing music here! To hear the sounds of the hammers hammering and the saw buzzing, the generator roaring! The music the Lord sent us here to play! Then you have little Ana who sings to us everyday! The kids holloring and screaming outside as they play a game of soccer (football) or volleyball or just play with each other! It is just a fabulous sound! Well, greetings to all and to all a good night!

The House Upon the Rocks!

What a day! We have had a few little showers today. Nothing to bad. I worked through the first one, now I decided to take a break during this rain. It is coming down just a little harder and I didn't bring a change of clothes! You know, the dryers here just don't work like in the states! The first picture here is of the rebar ties. These are just a few piles we go through. Each one of those has hundreds of ties in it and we have to bend them two different ways before wrapping them on the rebar. Which is the next picture you see. We wrap every intersecting bar! I forgot to show you the great tool we use to twist them. Then the next pictures are of just how many we have been wrapping! Mark & Lucy, you owe us big! I don't think this wall will fall down!

Doing God's Work

This is some of the work that was accomplished yesterday. The girls are thinking we should be done tying rebar today! They are thinking that half of the forms should be built today and maybe by tomorrow we might be able to start setting them! We finished the day yesterday with no major injuries! I don't know if anyone really slept good last night, I think we were all so exhausted we just slept! Thank you to all for all your thoughts and prayers! The Lord is truly with us!

Greetings From Mexico

Hola from Mexico! What a great day we had on Sunday enjoying the family! The van ride was not so fun! Very hot!!!!! 15-17 people crammed in there for 2 hours! That was only one way too! I will have to say, the kids did very good! We got to go on what you would call a boat ride down Venice! Not quite Venice, but very nice! Very relaxing! We finished at a restaurant that had a little of both worlds. We got to our rooms early and got to relax before the work was to begin! As I am sitting in Julie's office using Ashley's computer and I am looking out the window at Rosa hanging laundry! I had the honored privilege of doing dishes this morning! Not fun either! It seemed as if they just kept coming and coming and coming! Becky, Emmy, Maxine, Teresa, Shirley & I have been tying rebar all morning! We have our system and we are quite the pros! The boys are all working on building the wood thingies to use for the walls! Yes, being princess #2, I don't really know what those wood things are called and I guess I really don't care! :) Although, by the end of the week, I just might be able to build one just as good as the boys! We have just had lunch and the kids and the girl adults are all enjoying some bingo time. Then it will be back to the grindstone! A few cuts and scrapes is all so far! Lots of dirt, but that was to be expected! That is all we have for now! If we get a chance before dinner someone might try to return! Adios amigos!

Just a quick note to say we are here! After a few bumps in the airport, we had an uneventful flight and a long trip home! We arrived at the hotel and were finally in bed around 11:30 PM. For some it was way past our bed times and for others, they were just fine! A lot of tears this morning seeing everyone! After checking out all the work that has been done here since our last trip & preparing ourselves for our task at hand, we had a good breakfast. We then concluded with a small church service! It was so nice seeing the kids play their instruments and sing to us! Josiah played the drums with much enthusiasm! Victor did a fabulous talk and now we are all preparing our lunch for our day on the town! Sorry, but we forgot the lap top today so I will try to put pictures on tomorrow! We will try to get back later tonight. 32 of us are all getting ready to leave so ta ta for now!

IT'S THE FINAL COUNT DOWN!

Oh, what I could do with this blog if only I had the time! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The week actually went by very fast and we are approaching our final hours! Did I pack enough clothes? Did I remember all that I think I "NEED"! What else can I possible cram in this suitcase? You know, I have 50lbs to use and by golly I am going to use it! I do not like wasting! (Just ask my husband!) Ok, yes, I like pushing the envelope too! I think this is the only trip that my husband doesn't mind me over packing for because most of it gets left in Mexico! Tomorrow will be a double edged sword for us! We are so excited to get there, but once it starts it will be over too quickly and we will all have to leave! Shopping, packing, weighing, packing some more (to fill that extra space!)(Or in Becky's case, taking some weight out!) Here it is , 10 o'clock & I can't see becuase my contacts are dry & I am ready for sleep! Looking forward to posting tomorrow! We will be sitting, sitting, sitting & sitting some more! See you all tomorrow! Good Night!

The Reason Is Clear....

Last year as my family was preparing for our first trip to Mexico, our thoughts were of the wall that needed to be built! Little did we know that these children would change our hearts forever!


Little Ana: Miss Independent! Ruth: Who dresses like a princess, but plays like a boy! Caleb: Mr. All Play! Joce: Loyal & Drama!

Why We Go...

Now as we prepare our suit cases for this trip to Refuge Ranch our thoughts are not really about the wall, it is really about the kids! To see, to hold, play & love on is what my family is looking forward to on Saturday!





Josiah: The Leader! Fidel: Quiet & All about the look! Martha: Helpful & Behind the Scenes!

Is Because of You !!!

This one is for the kids who welcome us with open arms, no conditions, no preconceived plans & no strings attached!
















Marthita: Beauty & Musical! Diana: Jokester, Kidder & Laughter! Angie: Loving & Loyal!

Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.