Pouring the second story roof of the new orphan facility

Hi friends,

Praise the Lord with us!!!!

We poured the roof on the second story of the new orphan facility!!!! The bottom floor is the eating/kitchen area and the second story is one of the dormitories. A few weeks ago, 28 workers showed up at 6:00am and we started working. It was a much harder job this time as we had to walk up two flights of stairs to pour each bucket of cement.

This gets us closer to moving into the new facility within the next month or so, as this is what we are praying and hoping for. The facility will not be completely finished but we believe that it is the best thing for the children and for the family that cares for the children on a daily basis.

Below are many photos from the day that we poured the roof as well as other pics leading up to that glorious day.

I have also included a link to a 7 min youtube video of us pouring the roof. Take a look if you have a few minutes as I think that you will find it very interesting...to see the way that we work down here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR12yBxhGpE


This pic was taken on 8/16/09 which was one of the first days we began work on the second story...



Next two photos show more progress on the second story...






Supports for the boards that the cement will poured on for making the second story...



Pics of the boards from underneath and above...

The opening is where the staircase will be from the first story to second...

The tubing for the electrical cables for the building...

Can you say 150? As in 150 bags of cement that we used to pour the roof!!!!!!

I had the easier job of carrying the 100lb bags out to where we mixed the cement...I really had no desire to carry those buckets of cement up two flights of stairs!!!!!

A load of gravel...

A little aqua as well....

Mix it all up and then put it into some buckets...

Then off the guys went, climbing up the two stories...

First floor...

Second story...

Then they poured out each bucket...bucket by bucket!!!!

Then other workers would smooth out the cement...

This is the last bucket of cement that was poured....hallelujah!!!!

A photo from above! All those little dots at the bottom right corner are half bags of cement...

And then lunch...chicken, beans, rice, chile, and tortillas!!!! Um um good!!!

All the gang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all so much as we would never have been able to arrive at this day without all of your prayerful and financial support....blessings to all!

Order your 2010 Collage Calendar of the Orphans!

Hello everyone,

As you all know, over the past 2 1/2 years we have offered various projects and events that individuals, families and churches have participated in that have helped either raise funds or items for the children of the orphanage here in south Mexico. We had 100% success with the first floor tile project, received a whole bunch of brand new underwear/socks for the children from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Wylie, TX, and then there is the current event of the running of the Marathon of Miracles (i.e. White Rock Lake Marathon) this Sunday by a group of 12 crazy individuals to raise more awareness and funds for the children.

And now the newest effort to raise even more awareness and support...A 12" x 18" 2010 Collage Calendar!

And this time you actually get something tangible in return for your purchase (donation)!

This is what the calendar will look like...it is close to the final product.


(Won't let me cut and paste the calendar)


We are asking at least $25 per calendar but of course if you desire to donate more to help the children we won't turn it down! (and remember, all of your 2009 donations are tax deductible as our ministry is a non-profit)

We really want to order the calendars by Friday December 18 so that the calendars will arrive around the beginning of the year. If you desire to purchase one or more calendars, please visit one of the links below which will take you to our website so that you can either purchase by personal check or with your credit card using PayPal.

http://livingamongthem.com/coffeegiving.html#personalcheck

http://livingamongthem.com/coffeegiving.html#paypal

Thank you all for your continued support,

Lance, Sarita, Joshua, Caleb and all the children

Make a Smilebox slideshow

How big is our GOD?

Hello everyone,


So my mother and father came here to Teopisca for Thanksgiving (7 days in all) and we had a really great time.

And while on the airplane, my parents met a group from Canada and they began talking about the orphans and abandoned children we are working with. When the plane landed my mother told me that there was a lady in the group that really wanted to speak to Sarita and me. Her name is Louisette Gauthier and I believe she is the one that was in charge of the whole tour group. We also met her friend Rolland, who I believe works with Louisette...they are two very nice ladies!!!

We spoke for a few minutes and then she said that she had talked to mom and dad and that she wanted to give the children some clothes. I told her that I could give her our address in Teopisca but she said that she already had the clothes with her...she said that she brings things like this with her on her trips in hopes that she will cross paths with those in need.

She gave us an entire suitcase filled with clothes and she let us have the suitcase as well. She had clothes for infants, clothes for children and teens and stuffed animals. She even home made blankets, socks and hats that her mother had hand embroidered. They were so excited to give them to us, but I told them that they children would be more excited to receive them...especially from so far away.

Below are pics of the children receiving their clothes from Canada!!!!

Beto showing off his new sweater...

Chepe was all smiles...

Litte Nichita really liked her new vest...

The oldest of the bunch, Lucio, said his new shirt was COOL!!!!

Here is Rosa Linda with her hand embroidered blanket...

Nichita's little sister, Sarita, received a vest just like her big sister...

Saulo really loved this shirt as it has a GAP sticker and he is old enough to know that it is a "really awesome brand" (using his words)!!!!



Cristian and his new warm sweater...it is needed as it gets cold here in the winter...

And Saulo playing a joke with Cristian's new sweater....AS ALWAYS!!!!

Alex loved his new shirt so much that he never wanted to take it off....

Ricardo showing off his shirt and his smile!!!!!

Gotta love the look on little Araceli's face...it looks like she is saying, "you think I'm cute don't you!"

Pati and the other hand embroidered blanket...I don't think that I have seen her without her new blanket since this day...

Orlando needed, and received, a new jacket....

And last but not least, here is Esteban letting us take a look at his new long sleeve T-shirt...

Here is the whole gang saying thanks....THANK YOU LOUISETTE AND ROLLAND!!!!!

That's all for now....

Update #3 - Continued construction on new orphan facility

Hello friends,

Some more pics of the construction on the new facility. I went ahead and added some of the older pics along with the new ones to show everyone the progress to date.



Day 1 - unloading the bricks and other materials (this was right around the last week of April)



Day 2 - the first supports going up



Beginning to brick

Forming some of the cross beams

The cross beams after we poured the concrete...

These pics were taken last week as we are getting ready to pour the roof...which means we have to cover the entire roof area with boards and then pour the concrete on top of the boards to make the roof.

looking up from underneath...

Looking down at the boards were we will pour the concrete...

This pic was taken on 11/6/09 (Friday) and it shows that we are almost complete with laying the boards...

Here we are beginning the work on the septic system for all the bathrooms...

Laying the first blocks...

Getting ready to pour the roof on this little stucture...

The day we poured the roof...had to mix about 15 bags of concrete...BY HAND!

Here we are beginning the detached bathroom for use for church members when we move the services out to the property...

Another day of pouring the roof on the bathroom...it was really raining this day so we had to put up a tarp to keep the water off of the roof...messy business!!!

That is all for now...more to come later!!!