Isaiah 55 Deaf Ministries

Off Weeks

Isaiah 55 is on "break" right now.  Our next team is scheduled to come July 7th.  We will then have three weeks of teams in a row. 

Our first two teams accomplished A LOT of work and set the standard for the teams coming in July.  So, if you are a volunteer coming to work -- get ready, we have work for you to do. We have good food and fun for you as well.  Above all we plan to provide you with time away from the "business" of life.  A time to be still and hear what God wants to speak to you.  For the I55 team our favorite time is on Friday night when the volunteers share what God has done in their lives during the week.  From the last two teams we had 2 girls get saved and 1 rededicate her life to God while down here -- Praise God!!! And that's just who we know about!

Please pray for the I55 staff:  Nono and Kate Beale (Bibb and Sadler), John and Kathy Clow (Abi, Bekah, Josiah, and Evan), Kim Kaiser, Erin Knoblach, Erwin and Laura Lopez (Melisa, Sara, and Ana), and Corry Moore.  Please pray for the summer staff:  Nick Byram, Amy Cortese,  George Harike, Casie Hewlett, Sarah June McCoy, Robert Morgret,and Courtney Whitworth.
Pray that we would have a restful break and be ready to welcome the teams coming in July. Pray for protection as some of us will be traveling.

Please pray for the volunteers that will be coming.  For their finances, safety as they travel, and for willing hearts to serve and listen to God!

Please continue to pray for our students and their parents as they finish out the school year.

SEE YOU IN JULY!

2nd Team: Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday

Orphanage:  Some of the "artists" on the team spent mornings at the orphanage painting some rooms and even a mural on the wall in the dining hall.  Making the orphanage a bright and happy place for children who's lives have been darkened and saddened by their circumstances.  "Oh Lord Jesus, may you shine and be the light and happiness to those precious children."

School: The team spent this week painting some shelves, laying the block for the walls of the second story, framing up for stairs, and then finished off by pouring the concrete to make the stairs.

Hospital:  The team has been building the walls that will make up the "Ronald McDonald type" dorm facility.  Across the street from the site is a Church.  A small team spent time helping them break up some concrete as well as built a frame for a second story addition.

VBS: Erwin presented a clear enthusiastic gospel message to the children using Child Evangelism Fellowship Wordless Book.  Crafts such as golden crowns with jewels, crosses, and the Wordless Book bracelet were good take-home reminders of each day's lesson.  The youth on the team provided recreation.  They also enjoyed singing with hand motions and sign langauage.
We don't have any photos at this time, but will try and post some tomorrow. 

Workdays - Monday and Tuesday

The team has been learning what sweating really is.  Thank you for your prayers for them.  Everyone is staying well "watered"!  The team continues to work at the school, hospital, and orphanage.  We still don't have any pictures from the orphanage, but will try and make it a priority to get some posted SOON.  Hope you enjoy seeing the below pictures. 

School: The walls continue to go up!

Hospital: 4 year old Preston helped moved lots of block!

Weekend update

We said goodbye to our first team of the summer.  The finished off last week with 1/2 day of work on Friday, 1/2 day of shopping after lunch, and ended the evening with a share time.  It is always encouraging for the I55 staff to hear what God has done and taught the volunteers throughout the week.  To those of you reading this post who were on the team last week:  Thank you for all your hard work!  Take what God taught you last week and continue building your relationship with Him and then sharing with others what He did and will continue to do with you.  Don't let your mission end just because you are back home!

As we took our first team back to the airport on Saturday we welcomed in our second team of the summer consisting of 4 different churches.  They all arrived safe and spent the weekend settling in and getting use to the HOT weather.

Please be in pray for the volunteers that they would remember to drink lots of water and take care of themselves in the heat.    

Sunday (yesterday) them team had a special time of worship together with a message given by Erwin.  After which was a time of orientation followed by a good Sunday lunch!  They then broke into two groups and spent some time playing with the kids at the local government orphanage.

Enjoy these few pictures from yesterday!

  Four churches worshiping as one in Reynosa, MX!

 
We are BLESSED with an incredible Mexican Kitchen staff!  Just take a look and what the team ate on Sunday for lunch!!!

John Clow and his birthday boy Josiah.  Josiah turned 6 years old on Sunday the 10th.  John will turn 39th on Saturday the 16th.

Thursday Night Cookout

Well....we couldn't find any pictures from the orphanage, but here are some pictures from the cookout from last night.  ENJOY! 

The last work day!

The past three days have been BUSY!  The teams have completed a lot of work on their jobs.  Today they will be working a half day and then after lunch they will be going shopping.  Tonight they will get a time to worship and share what all God has been doing in and through them this week.  Below are some random team shots from the hospital site and the school site.  We have also had a small group painting at the orphanage.  Enjoy these photos and check back later this afternoon for pictures from the orphanage.   Also check back later this afternoon for pictures from last nights cookout with the deaf students and their families!!!  Thanks for your prayers for the team this week. 
 

June 5th and 6th

The team has had two hard days at work.  It has been really hot with temps reaching 100+!  A small group has been painting at the orphanage;  the hospital site is going great and had a big concrete pour today; the second story addition to the school is going well and the beginnings of a wall  all around are being seen.   Check back tomorrow for some pictures on the last two days and for more details on the job site.  Tomorrow night we are having a cookout with the deaf students at the school.  It's always great to watch the students and parents interact with the volunteers.  We'll get some pictures posted on Friday so that you can see those interactions!

June 2, 3, and 4

SATURDAY:  The team arrived with just a few delays.  The team from FL arrived around 3p.m. and enjoyed a relaxing time of getting settled and enjoying a restful afternoon.  The team from AL arrived around 9pm that evening and was greeted by their new friends who helped them get their luggage up, had dinner ready for them, and then cleaned up after them so that they could get settled in.

SUNDAY:  Services were held in La Casa Verde.  There was a sweet time of lifting voices of praise in unison followed by a message from Erwin on Psalm 23

After orientation and a good lunch, the team walked down to the local government orphanage to play with some starved-for-attention children.  Just look at the smiles on both the kids and the volunteers!

MONDAY:  The team started work today!  After a full day of rest they were eager and ready.  The team is split into three different job sites.  1)Adding an office onto Instituto Isaias 55 (our deaf school); 2)Building a "Ronald McDonald" type facility for a local hospital; & 3)Helping a sister ministry with some construction needs.  Below are pictures from the first job site.  The volunteers enjoyed playing with our deaf kids as well as some good hard construction work!  The team ended their day back at La Casa Verde eating some traditional tamales and then having a time of worship before heading off to bed. It's time for rest for tomorrow is more work, work, work!