Last Day in Santa Cruz & Trip Home

We were able to get the trench dug and they began to lay the water line to allow enough water flow to the girls' house for a hot water heater so the girls could have hot showers for the first time! Hopefully it was completed soon after we left and they have already had hot showers!



Filemon worked despite the rain to get the wall completed because the scaffolding had to be returned.  Here they are beginning to tear the scaffolding down to return it.



The completed wall . . . now it needs some paint!

The brick painters!

The hole diggers! (This was for drainage at the school.)

Another hole, to be used for a septic tank for a new bathroom also worked on.

A few more games together.

A thank you to the Cimarron KAYS group for the money raised through a 5K Walk/Run Fund Raiser for Talita Cumi.

Bibles were given to the Tias (ladies that work with the children).  They were sooo grateful!

We gathered around the Tias and Tios (workers) and prayed for them.

A goodbye program with the children at the orphanage.

Then the tearful goodbyes!

Travelling home!

We kept our Bolivian tradition of travel and took a trip to the beach since we had a layover in Miami overnight!

A nice way to end our trip . . .

Thanks again for caring and praying.  It was definitely felt and appreciated!

Home Sweet Home!

Team Bolivia 2012 made it home safely!  Thanks so much for ALL your prayers for us!  Our flight into Miami was on time (about 3:50 pm on Wednesday).  We were able to go to the beach for a little while and enjoy the ocean, some team members for the first time! A nice way to celebrate being back in the USA! 

This morning it was EARLY again as we were to leave the hotel at 5:00 am. That is when a few challenges began . . . we found out Morgan had been up vomiting all night . . . would she be able to travel?  Thankfully, the vomiting subsided and Morgan and her family were able to stay with the group. We also noticed on the flight board at the hotel that our flight had been changed from 7:40 am to 8:10 am.

Well, we all made it to the airport and checked in and then found out the gate had been changed.  Went to the new gate and got some breakfast and then found out the gate had been changed again . . . so we were off to the new gate.  Finally got to the correct gate and boarded the plane.  The flight was FULL and therefore they made us check some of our carry-on luggage as the overhead bins were full.  We sat on the plane awhile and then taxied for a long time.  Eventually, we took off, but were late now.  We were supposed to have 1 1/2 hours to change planes in Chicago, but we saw our time quickly ticking away.  The closer we got to Chicago, we saw we had a challenge on our hands.  We realized that the plane we were going to was a smaller plane (about 50 passengers), which meant we would make up 1/2 of the plane.  Our hope was that they would not take off with the plane 1/2 empty. We landed in Chicago and made a mad dash to the new gate and they were waiting for us.  We walked on the plane and were off!  Praise the Lord, we made the connection.  In looking ahead, there were 1 or 2 later flights to Wichita, but they were all full.  So, we are SO THANKFUL that we made the connection and made it home safely! 

Unfortunately, one of the carry-ons that they made us check in Miami didn't make it all the way to Wichita, but stopped in Chicago.  So, the Rempels are hoping it won't take too long for them to get it to Cimarron. It was an unexpected checkin with toiletry items and medicines. 

We will try to post some final pictures yet, but wanted everyone to at least know we were home safe and sound!  THANK YOU AGAIN for caring enough to follow along on the blog and pray for us.  It was definitely felt and needed!

Tuesday - Our last day in Santa Cruz

Today was a good day, but hard.  We did accomplish a lot of work along with times of sad goodbyes.  We would love to tell you more and share pictures.  However, it is already 9:15 pm and they are beginning to load suitcases at 5:00 am.  Our flight actually doesn't leave until 8:50 am, but we have to get to the airport, clear customs, security, etc. with a group of 25 people.  There is only one flight a day out of Bolivia to the USA and this is the one.  So, please pray that all goes smoothly in the morning.  We will arrive in Miami at 3:50 where we will spend the night and then fly back to Wichita through Chicago on Thursday.  While we are sad to leave our friends here (especially the children), we are anxious to get back home to family and friends as well.  Thanks for all your prayers.  Please pray that our travel home will go as smoothly as our travel here.  We would greatly appreciate it!

Hello 'whomever'......hopefully I got my grammar correct.  Today has been 'mojado'!   That would be 'wet'!  Most days start with a shower (weather) but usually clear up and the rest of the day is great, but not today.  Fortunately most of the work at Talita Cumi was able to continue.   So in spite of rain we were able to paint, do concrete work, and the big event of the day was to complete digging out the concrete and rocks that were being hammered on to create a small tunnel for a new water line to be installed.  When the last rock was removed we cheered and took pictures.  You may wonder why so much enthusiasm accompanied that event but it took a day and a half to dig about twenty feet (about six inches wide...six or seven inches deep).  Literally concrete and rocks the size of large potatoes and some larger than that.   That in and of itself may not sound very exciting but one of the girls, Fanny (who is in a wheel chair), cannot take a shower presently because the water line is too small to get enough pressure to her bathroom.  Also they wanted to install a water heater and the new water line will provide enough pressure for that too.  Can you imagine, the girls have not had hot showers 'yet'!  I would love to be here when they get their first chance to shower with hot water.    Any one want to complain about our circumstances? 
This morning I was having my devotions and in I Peter 2 I read that Jesus was 'rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God'.  Wow!  I don't know if you catch the connection but I couldn't help but think of the kids here who face so many rejections every day.  But the rest of the verse just blessed my heart....CHOICE AND PRECIOUS in the sight of God.  The kids are just that.  The relationships have been so much fun to renew for me and make new ones.  That is what it is all about.  Relationships.  Oh yeah, I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow.  I knew the trip would go quick and so it has.  Tomorrow evening we say our goodbye's and have to come home on Wednesday.  I have to say I could stay here a month or two.  But the time here has been absolutely fantastic!  I will not forget these kids. 
Ken Penner

I spent the morning at the school, and we are making some progress despite the rain. Most of the plumbing got finished today, and I think we will be able to start installing the toilets in both the boys and girls room tomorrow. Again we saw that the hole I dug for a drain definitely works as a drain, however we haven't been able to finish laying brick up along the entire wall for support since it has been full of water. However, we trust that God is in control and everything will work out for his plan. Because of the the drain being full of water I got to spend the afternoon at Talita Cumi. It was great to be able to work with different team members and of course spend time playing with the children. Its fun to see little "jokes" and "pranks" I did as a little kid being done to me and other team members by the kids. Their favorite to do to me right now is point at "something" on my shirt and when I look down move their hand up to poke me in the face. I "fall" it almost every time just to see and hear the great laughter they have from getting me to look. Its hard to believe our time here is almost up but it has been wonderful so far seeing God's love being spread in a different part of the world.
God Bless,
Aaron

Sunday in Bolivia!

Loading up to leave for church.  Much togetherness!

Our skit in church - Ken is Jesus & Kaitlyn is Mary.  Ken has just risen from the dead! (The lady in the background is the translator.)

Doing crafts with the children during Sunday School.

The older class at church doing crafts as well.

The cathedral near the Plaza.

Outside the cathedral.

In front of the cathedral.

The Plaza

Games at Heidi's.

We started our day out at Church followed by Sunday School Class.  Everyone enjoyed the
crafts and the message we shared.  Lunch followed at the church where they were serving
lasagne as a fund raiser f.or more construction on the church.  The church is growing and
more room is needed for Sunday school classes.
We had the afternoon off and we went downtown Santa Cruz and enjoyed the sights and
sounds.  A little souvenier shopping and best of all was the ice cream shop. 
Tomorrow we resume our work at Talita Cumi and the school.

We have been so touched by the children here at Talita Cumi.  They are amazing and so
gracious.  They are so excited to have us here.  They are so free with the hugs and love.
God is blessing us more than one could ever begin to imagine.  (blog by Linda, Darcy and
Caden)