VBS, Medical Clinic, Sports In Motion, Construction trip June 12-21 ,2009

June was welcomed with a group from St. Pius Church, of Louisville, Kentucky and a group from Illinois. The group brought many familiar faces as well as several new ones, totaling 53 volunteers. Focuses for the week included Vacation Bible School with the area kids, medical clinics, Sports In Motion work and construction projects.

Sunday morning’s waterfall service set the tone for the week with a beautiful message given by Mark. The message reminded us that the years that will someday be represented by the “dash” on each of our gravestones and what we did during that time is what really matters. Spending a week in service was an excellent way for each of us to evaluate what we want our "dash" to represent.

Following the service we visited the Senior Center in Usutmatlan, where we were greeted my many smiling faces appreciative of our visit, as well as the mayor. The mayor came to thank HIM for the hard work and helping hearts they provide to the town.

Throughout the week clinics and VBS were held, typically simultaneously, in the villages of La Fragua, Aldea El Chaguijon, El Remolino and El Arco. During the course of the week 1,145 people were seen at clinic and rougly 300 kids participated in VBS!

Vacation Bible School Fun!

The Director of SIM joined us for the week and headed up continued work on the basketball/tennis court in Valle del Motagua, as well as did some initial planning for the soccer field. The court got a new coat of paint and looks wonderful! Dusk to dawn lights were put up on the electric poles surrounding the court, to allow for night play. The first night the lights went on the court was greeted by nearly 40 people ready to play!

Check out the tranformation of the basketball/tennis court!

The court, pre paint.

Jack and Glenda, hard at work!

Lights for night play going up.

The results, including addition to the future tienda (store) area.

Be sure to become members of both Hearts In Motion and Sports In Motion on Facebook!!

Construction teams worked diligently on putting up a wall to separate a room in the Nutrition Center to allow the rooms to be more well utilized. Additionally, 6 junior beds, 6 cribs, and 4 playpens were constructed and varnished for the daycare at El Maguey. The temporary bodega (warehouse) at the Nutrition Center was torn down and the contents were moved in the new, permanent storage space.

Furniture construction

Delivery of furniture to El Maguey

Our mission work this week was a perfect example of the kind of importance of the dash in each of our lives. Hopefully each volunteers work with HIM was a catalyst for the continuation of the work that REALLY matters.

We all look forward to another blessed trip with this crew in 2010!

And remember to keep living out your "dash!"