Busy, Busy, Busy!

These past few weeks have been busy!!!

The staff retreat went really well - it was so nice to get out of El Paso for a few days and 'recharge.' The staff and families went to the Guadalupe Christian Camp in New Mexico. It was literally in the middle of nowhere...so far into nowhere that the cows were free range ha! But it was nice, relaxing, and productive for the staff members.

The week after the retreat, we went on a build with a team from Grapevine, Texas Abundant Life Church. Back in February when Mikell and I drove to El Paso from Georgia we stopped in Colleyville where the Grapevine Team through us a wedding shower. They are an awesome team with some great Godly men! They were a blast to hang out with - I know Mikell really looked forward to building with this team.

Last week, Mikell and the executive director, David, headed to Phoenix to be on a radio show promoting Casas por Cristo. They were on KPXQ and they were able to raise about $600 towards the construction of a house.

As for my job searach - last week I substituted at a private school, St. Clements, for 6th grade science and 8th grade spanish. I have really enjoyed working at this school. In the past they had sent groups to build in Juarez but with the recent violence they have taken a step back from building but are very active in raising support for Casas. I was in a teacher's classroom 2 weeks ago going over with her during lunch what she wanted me to teach and the 6th graders were having a community servive meeting in her room. They were talking about bringing in clothes for the families in Juarez and raising money to buy supplies for Casas staff. It has been nice to work in school that supports the ultimate reason why we are out here. (I would LOVE to be full time at St. Clements, but right now there is not a position open.)

Next week, Mikell and I are headed to Georgia - YAY!! We have been asked to speak at our college's campus ministry, Christian Campus Fellowship, at their fall retreat. We are very excited about this opportunity to share our faith with college students and to tell them how our journey has brought us to El Paso.

THEN, in the middle of November, Mikell and a few other staffers are going to the Youth Specialties conference in Atlanta. This is an awesome opportunity for Casas to get some teams to come build. There are still over 500 families on the waiting list for a house and Casas has had to stop taking applications. Please pray that this conference opens some doors and plants some seeds in the hearts of people. Juarez and Acuna have an incredible need for housing. It is starting to get cold down here and many people die every year because of the cold weather so the need for teams gets greater and greater as Fall turns into Winter.

That is a little wrap up of what has been going on here! Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to go to Georgia. And like always, pray that Casas can get some teams!

Build a Home...Save a Life.