Pam Akihiro’s Blog

WOW!  How blessed are we?  At Nueva Vida church we expected around 100 kids for VBS (Courso Verano).  We had 150 and 40 helpers!  It was held July 25-29 from 9 am -1 pm.  We put a huge tent over the basketball court  and parking area in case of rain, but God was merciful and we didn’t have rain during the time we were doing VBS.  We want to put a permanent cover over the court because we are growing out of the church area we have.  What a wonderful, fun, tiring time!   The CMF interns,  youth and adults from the church were helpers and thank God for them!  8 women, including myself made a lunch for everyone.  I learned so much!  The first day we made hot dogs and guava.  The hot dogs had mayonnaise, ketchup and pickled jalapeños.  I learned that mayonnaise is put on EVERYTHING here, including pizza.  I know . . .yuk!  The 2nd day we made molletes, which are hard rolls cut in 1/2 and spread with . . . you guessed it . . . mayonnaise and refried beans then topped with cheese and toasted in the oven.  Yum!! (actually I prefer it without mayo)  We served that with cantaloupe.  The third day we made chicken taquitos, the fourth day–cheese quesadillas and the last day–tortas (sandwiches with refried beans, ham, cheese and . . . yep–Mayo!) and cookies.  The kids had classes in art, music, memory verses, English, Bible stories, and games.  They had a blast!  We had fun, but 8 women making a meal (not just snack) for 190 people in a very small kitchen took a lot of planning, organization and grace!  I was so thankful to be able to get to know the other women much better.  They were very patient with my Spanish and helpful in correcting me. The biggest clink in the works was the water pump went out one whole day, but after a lot of frustrating attempts, Greg got it going.  PTL!   On Sunday, the families were invited to the close of the VBS, just like in the US, to see their kids perform by singing and saying memory verses. We all wore our T-shirts.  The 3 beautiful women who came from the US donated money for the T-Shirts.  What generous women they are, with time and money!   Enrique gave a short sermon on being  godly parents.  Then they were provided a meal of Pozole—my personal favorite.  I don’t know the exact count of people who came but at least 250 people.  Most are not church members anywhere or are Catholics.    There are a lot of pictures.  Hope you enjoy.  The kids are beautiful!!  Please pray that God will water and make fruitful the seeds that were planted. Sorry but have had problems publishing this.  That is why it is so late.

My friends from FCCF left Wed. evening about 7:30 and I took the bus to Mexico City at 6:15 the next morning to do much the same health program in Las Aguilas as we did in Pachuca, except we taught a group of church members (all youth) only 1 day what we taught in Pachuca.  Jorcy had organized everything (one of her many gifts).  I taught injections, which we practiced on oranges, just like we did in Pachuca.  Pam DeLeon translated and help move everything along.  We had a health fair for 2 days and the youth there did an amazingly great job of checking blood sugars and checking people’s height and weight and doing so much to help.  Pam’s husband, Vic, and Rebeka, a young Mexican woman who speaks very good English helped translate.  About 56 people come for checks and health education in the 2 days.  All 3 days some women from the church fed us delicious meals.  The 3 beautiful women made many friends and showed the love of Christ the whole week.  They left of Sunday to go back to their homes and we all thank God for them and their willingness to share and be obedient to the Great Commission.  Please pray that God will water and grow the seeds planted this week in Pachuca and Las Aguilas and pray that He will bless his 3 beautiful daughters and keep alive their vision for showing the love of Christ to others.

On  Wednesday, July 20 the 3 women had a “cultural day” at the pyramids between Pachuca and Mexico City with Pam DeLeon and Jorcy.  I had a special day with 14 people from my home church in Florissant, Mo. (First Christian Church of Florissant–FCCF).  Though I didn’t know all of them, some of them are good friends and friend on facebook.  It was so great to see (and meet) them all!  They had been working, laying tile, at Niños de Mexico near Mexico City and took a “cultural day” themselves and visited Pachuca and this ministry.  I had been eagerly anticipating their visit ever since I knew they were coming.  Steve Ross (a minister at FCCF) and his wife Janet have been on sabbatical taking care of work groups coming to Niños this summer.  (I visited there a few weeks ago and blogged about it with great pictures and video).  They brought the group to Pachuca and we saw all the wonders of Pachuca–the clock, my house, and the church.  At the church we had a meal of (my favorite) Pozole.  After that we went to see Cristo Rey and Real Del Monte.  We got ice cream at Real del Monte–enjoyed by all.  It was a short visit, but I hope that some of them will come back, develop relationships with the people and work here in the near future!  

Monday, July 18 was the 2nd day of health teaching for the members of Nueva Vida who want to learn how to teach others.  We had less people (especially men who were working)  It started at 10 and ended at 3.  They people did return demonstrations of taking blood pressures and checking blood sugars with glucometers.   By the way, the 3 women were so kind to bring us more blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, glucometers (including necessary items for them), some 1st Aid kits and other things donated by their churches.  I am so thankful for God’s provision through His people!  All of us were amazed at how well our students learned.  Thank you all for your prayers and partnership!

Stephanie reviewing blood pressure concepts

Mary Ann supervising using glucometer

Adriana giving return demonstration of taking Jaky's blood pressure

After a day of teaching, we went to some great cultural places near Pachuca.  Cristo Rey (King Christ) is a huge statue of Jesus on one of the very high hills (mountains) about 20 minutes from Pachuca.  Real Del Monte is a silver mining town.  The British took over silver mining about 40 years ago, but finally gave up about 6 years ago when they had 25 years of no profit.  It is a very picturesque town built in the mountain and looks very european.  It is a great place to buy very nice silver jewelry and other hand made things of the area.  We had dinner at a favorite restaurant there and then went sight seeing and shopping.  I love to take people there and will surely take you there if you come!

3 beautiful women at Cristo Rey

view of Pachuca from Cristo Rey

downtown Real Del Monte

Catholic church near center of Real del Monte

fountain near center of Real del Monte

We are so thankful that 3 beautiful women felt God’s call to minister to people in Mexico.  Mary Ann Dierdorf and Stephanie Doyle (both RNs) and Connie Maltby (Dental Hygienist) came to Mexico through a CMF initiated medical trip to teach health concepts to the people of Pachuca and Las Aguilas.  They arrived very late Saturday July 16, were up early the next morning to attend church at Nueva Vida.  then, after a wonderful meal of pozole made by some women in the church, they spent 5 hours teaching people of the church (including our TIC volunteers0 how to check blood pressures, blood sugars, and how to prevent or live with hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes and have healthy teeth.  I taught how to give injections, which is something every doctor here prescribes instead of prescribing pills.  The people actually think that shots are the only medicine that work.  Many people give shots without any training and have caused major problems.  Pam DeLeon, and Vicki interpreted for the 3 and I stumbled through on my own (Everyone understood PTL).

After the sessions, we took a “tourist trip” around Pachuca and to my house.  We went to El Centro (downtown) and to eat dinner.

3 beautiful women at El Centro

Dinner at Restaurant

The next day will be the next blog.  Let me know what you think!  I would love to hear from you.