Sunday morning we went to the San Pablo church where we worshiped together and Pastor Brian from Calhoun preached. After the service, we gathered on the roof of the church (soon to be the new sanctuary of the church) for lunch--rice, beans, beef stew and nopales (stewed cactus!). After eating together...the church had games planned--and it was a blast to see the American young people who spoke no Spanish playing, dancing, and laughing together with the Mexican young people who spoke no English! Indeed, there is much in our life of faith that goes beyond language!
Monday morning we hit the seminary at full tilt, taking over where the Asbury UMC (Tulsa, OK) left off in replacing the first floor of the seminary. About six of the youth from San Pablo joined us all as we pulled up the old floor, put down the new flooring, laid the tile, painted the walls, stained and put down trim.... It was a lot of work, some of it quite tedious...but we all pulled together for a wonderful finish.
In the afternoons, after a late lunch and a little rest, we went over to the San Pablo church for afternoon Bible schools. The children were wonderful...and the youth from Calhoun put together some rather creative story-telling to share the Good News of the Bible. Our children--Jesse, Megan and Andrew--did all of the translations for these Bible Schools, and did a GREAT job.
Thursday night, we joined San Pablo for a Communion Service...and for the "Good-Bye." After only one week together, wonderful friendships had already been forged...and many tears we shed. The Calhoun Youth and the San Pablo Youth overcame the language barrier through that greater universal language of love. Even though we all said "good-bye" that evening, it wasn't over yet! When the Calhoun team got to the airport to leave the next morning, the San Pablo youth showed up there...posters and pictures in hand...and they sat in the airport and sang a farewell song for the Calhoun team. Another time of tears and good-byes...and the Calhoun team had to go to the gate.
Of course, we laid a beautiful floor at the seminary...and we taught children the eternal stories of Scripture--but the greatest part of the trip may well have been the relationships that were formed between people of differing lands, cultures and languages. Both Calhoun and San Pablo will never be the same, all because 10 teenagers (and five adults) in north Georgia gave up their "Spring Break" to travel to Monterrey. Thank you, Calhoun First UMC...for coming, for giving, and for sharing your love and the love of God with us here!
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