MBA Church Newsletter
February 12, 2003

Buenos Dias! (Good Day)

Hello again from the lovely El Oasis orphanage in Baja, Mexico. Much apologies for not checking in with ya'll yesterday, but we've been very busy. I will try and pick up where I left off in the travel log. Also, I'm currently working on getting some pictures up in an online photo album called MBA's Baja Mission Trip '03. Pictures will be up soon if not by the time you read this email.

Wednesday, February 12, 2003
The afternoon went very well. I, of course, spent most of it punching in your email addresses, but our group made some great progress on our main projects along with the other jobs we're getting too. The playground is finally starting to look like a playground. Jim Grossman has really got his kids working hard, but he's a great motivator. Several of the students working with him keep mentioning how much they love his team spirit. That's what he calls his group, "team." The sheetrocking has begun on the ceiling in the project house. Talk about a team effort. There's three guys drilling in the stuff while any number of people help hold the 64-pound sheets in place until they're significantly screwed in. Cortney Walstrom, Ashley Kitto, Amy Williams and Kenny Channer have been doing a great job getting all the insulation up also. Nasty stuff with all that fiberglass and what not, but those girls are stomping all around the framework of the roof just working away. They'll be finished soon. At 4pm the kids all have a chance to play for an hour, so many of our group take that time off from the projects to spend time with the kids. The weather has been very spotty—rain, sun, wind, clouds—so we never play the same game. It's always fun to spend time with the kids though.

At 6:30pm, we had the midweek worship with our group and the students. What an awesome time! Song service was great. These kids sing like they're in heaven already and it really does sound like a chorus of angels. Bobby Koorenay read scripture, Gina Alvarado did the first round of translating (her first time), Amy Williams and Becca Raettig gave the children's story. Caryel and Beth (the student missionaries here) gave the special music and I spoke along with the help of Eva Ortiz as my translator. The real highlight of the evening though was the gift boxes from VHM students to the orphans. Each child received a box specifically made for them by a VHM student. I have never seen such joy as these children displayed. Clapping and cheering for each other as their name was called out. Quite a few of us were welling up with tears. It was quite an experience.

Our group worship was short that night, but we had so much to talk about. Adan Gonzalez shared stories of some of the kids that he's been working with. Absolutely breaks your heart. I don't know how much this trip is affecting each student individually, but to walk away unaffected I think, is not possible.
We rounded out the evening with ping pong and a huge group game of hackysack. Annie Woods kept us all entertained again and even threw in a free-style rap now and then for good measure. None of us are that great, but we played for hours.

Thursday, February 13, 2003
Our third day on the job and we are starting to really see progress. This morning we finished the sheetrocking and insulation and have moved on to creating arches that we go around the outer porch of the house. Many of us (yours truly included) worked all day putting "mud" on the sheetrock. Basically this means you scrape a finishing goo over the seams with your arms above your head all day. We are all very sore! Yowza! It was great though to really see something getting accomplished. The playground was all but finished today. Only one slide to go. During play time, the children were already playing on it, absolutely loving it up! We're all getting more and more tired. Working hard, eating good, staying up too late and just having a blast! Today was really a grinding work day, but it felt so good because we all were working so hard with a sense of purpose. Luis Soto and James Dexter again amazed with their diligence and awesome attitudes. Mr. Witzel kept us all on task at the house and Mr. Dunn really got busy with the welder, which no one could really watch, because we'd end up blind. Still, it was cool to see a pro in action. It has been a humbling experience to realize how hard some people work everyday in construction.

We ate so good for dinner, enchiladas! It was a weird evening with a mix of rain and evening clouds against a clearing sky. The moon was incredible and the quiet here is so peaceful. At least until Jeff Richardson, Nate Henderson, Gina Alvarado and Luis Soto blast off another firecracker. Evening worship was great. Not much hackysack going on before or after...we're all so sore! However, we had a great time singing and playing guitar and sharing testimonies. I think I even saw a few spiritual lightbulbs clicking on. Mona Bascoy shared a wonderful thought about how she realized that we are all in this together. Pastor Sam wowed us with his guitar playing and afterwards we just chilled like family. Lots of talking and backrubs (thank you Neva) and good times. We're winding down on this trip, but we're definitely connecting with this place, and each other.

Friday, February 14, 2003
Happy Valentines Day! I can't write much because I've got to get back to work, but we love you all so much and we are doing so good. Today is the final push and we're getting as much done as possible. The playground is done and so am I. I've got more mudding to do. Take care and make sure and check our our online photo gallery: MBA's Baja Mission Trip '03.

Much love,

Jason Mustard

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