We've had a wonderful time recording our trip here, but now that the groups expanding we're going to pass the blogging torch to the church at large--feel free to follow at mbc2013missiontrip.blogspot.com. We could never thank all of you enough for you love, support, comments and prayers, and are excited to see more familiar faces soon. Love, Allison.

Today was a very exciting day. It started out with the 6 of us passing out flyers for Memorial's VBS and the weeks activities, followed by a giant waterbaloon fight at the CTC, and concluding with the arrival of the Gaines family, Eric, Brent and my dad! We got a head start on the house, laying the entire foundation and beginning on the base for the floor!

It might have been the most productive day we have had so far!

Love,

Sam

Hello all--this morning we split up boys and girls as usual to our respective vbs programs, by far the most tiring and rewarding part of each day, in my opinion. After lunch we had what was likely our last afternoon at the warehouse, and we spent it sorting through books Buckner plans to donate to kids near the end of the summer. Our evening was pretty relaxed and we can't wait to have a few familiar faces coming down tomorrow. Keep all those traveling in your prayers, we love you so much! Allison

The team had another day of vbs to go to. Some kids from the guys group were at the girls one today. Then we all met for lunch and in the afternoon David went with Sam, one of the Buckner leaders, and picked up all the materials from the construction sites. The rest of the group sorted books at the warehouse and moved more stuff around. After that we came back and rested and got ready for vbs again! Hannah and David did crafts and the rest of the group did rec. We are all very tired by the end of the night but loving that God put us down here. Can't wait for the church to come!

Sincerely

DAvid

Today we were split boys and girls for the morning again--both groups are doing VBS this week, girls at flames of fire and boys at the CTC. The kids at both places loved on us and in the afternoon the group worked together at the warehouse again moving shelves and cooling units. We're helping out at another VBS at the church of some Buckner friends in the evenings this week from 6-8:30, doing crafts and Rec. We're excited to see some familiar faces at the end of this week! Love and miss you-Allison

Okay, I promise we will get back on schedule with blogging! There's not too much to say about the past couple days. We went to South Padre Island on Saturday and had a really good afternoon at the beach! We ate at a restaurant caller BlackBeards, and it was so good! But we did end up spending wayyyy to much money, at least it was worth it!

Sunday we went to church with Diego and Sam. We all really enjoyed the service. We spend the afternoon relaxing. In the evening we split up. Hannah and David went back to the church for a chili cook off and the rest of us stayed behind and watched National Treaure and played basketball! Afterwards we all came back together for devotion then went to sleep!

This week is about to be pretty crazy! Someone will blog tonight! Love you all--Sam

I would like to say that we have been too busy to keep up on blogging the past couple days, but we've actually just been lazy! We all napped for a couple hours yesterday and then again for a while this afternoon. We finished up the week working with a construction team from Wood Lawn Baptist church painting the inside of 2 houses. This weekend we are going to take it easy, resting up for the next week. We ask for prayers regarding focus and direction. Thank you all--Sam

First off, today was Josh's first full day of work! Josh and I started the day going to all of the construction sites and interviewed/evaluated several people at each site to gain a better understanding of how other groups were experiencing their trips. Meanwhile the girls worked VBS again, and David worked at a construction site all day! To end the workday Josh and Matt took measurements for houses and the girls painted at a church! We went to dinner with a church group from Austin, and after went to play put put! --Matt

Yesterday was a long day, at least for the girls. We were pretty much shuffled around from one place to another, and there was never any real work for us to do. The guys on the other hand spent the day delivering lumber to all of the construction sites. We were a little bit jealous to say the least.

This morning was far better for me, Hannah and Allison. We spent the morning at the church up the street doing VBS. There were around 60 kids, and it was crazy! We were pulled around, sat on, hugged and kissed all morning.

This afternoon we are all going to eat Whataburger with Diego, then going to pick up Josh from the Airport!

This is the half way point in our trip, and we are defiantly feeling the homesickness, but also the love from the people we are serving as well as the love and the power of Christ! We can't wait to see all of you!

Love--Sam

Hello all! This morning we went to the church of a some friends we've met working at the CTC over the past few weeks. The church is called Templo Bethel, and the service was entirely bilingual. Although initially we had a few reservations about culture differences, we came out with a beautiful reminder that God's love is completely universal--that it isn't held by language or worship style. The picture is just to prove that we haven't gone completely rogue down here! Love you all--Allison