Mexico Photos, July 2001

Greetings Everyone! Our Mexico Mission 2001 team has returned to Pittsburgh with wonderful stories of faith, friendship, service and love. The home was successfully completed, but the rewards of the mission were so much greater than the accomplishment of completing the house. Our team will be sharing their stories over the next weeks and months with Waverly and with other groups and congregations in the area. The Mexico Planning Team, the Mexico 2001 Mission Team, the congregation of Waverly, and the many friends of Waverly who supported and championed this trip in so many ways continue to share in the growth of faith and love that this outreach provides.

On a personal note, I am so thankful and so proud to have been small a part of making this trip happen; the opportunity to help provided me with a focus on others during a time of personal struggle. Throughout the planning process, the Waverly members and friends, the Mexico 2001 Planning Team and the entire Mission Team provided wonderful ideas, hard work, tremendous support, much-needed encouragement, and the ever-present comic relief that we so cherish at Waverly. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity. Thank you God, and thank you Waverly, for letting me be a part of this experience.

If you have any comments, stories, photos (or new captions for existing photos!) or insights to add to this site, please send email to me at Jen@ExpressBitandBlade.com. I'd be happy to post anything you might have!

Blessings to you,
Jen Altmiller

Mexico Mission Photo 1

The day of departure - Pittsburgh International Airport - Our crew looks ready for an adventure!

Mexico Mission Photo 2

The day of departure - PIA - Our own Kelly Britcher smiling and ready to go!

Mexico Mission Photo 3

The day of departure - PIA - Gina, John, Kelly and Jim patiently waiting for their flight.

Mexico Mission Photo 4

The day of departure - PIA - Ben looking pensive as he eats his breakfast. Yes, it's a big job ahead, but we know you can do it!

Mexico Mission Photo 5

The day of departure - PIA - Tom Golightly, do you ever stop smiling?

Mexico Mission Photo 6

The day of departure - PIA - We're ready for boarding now!

Mexico Mission Photo 7

The day of departure - PIA - Mexico, here we come!

Mexico Mission Photo 8

The day of departure - San Antonio - We love San Antonio, but let's get going, we've got a lot of work to do!

Mexico Mission Photo 9

The day of departure - San Antonio - We are patient, we are kind.

Mexico Mission Photo 10

The day of departure - San Antonio - The Jims take a moment together.

Mexico Mission Photo 11

The day of departure - San Antonio - Look - it all fits in the van. The first feat of engineering showcased by Ben!

Mexico Mission Photo 12

The day of departure - San Antonio - Our own Bill Franko at home in Texas. Let's get going!

Mexico Mission Photo 13

Nick Vargas catching some shade. Smile Nick!

Mexico Mission Photo 14

Bill Crawford helping unload the van. That looks heavier than a cement block! What a guy!

Mexico Mission Photo 15

Our weary travelers, ready for some rest to prepare for the week ahead!

Mexico Mission Photo 16

We are patient, we are kind! Let's get our rooms!

Mexico Mission Photo 17

Blurry photo, but why leave anything out?

Mexico Mission Photo 18

Mexico - Tom, Pat and Jim B. handling some paperwork.

Mexico Mission Photo 19

Mexico - The Holiday Inn Piedras Negras.

Mexico Mission Photo 20

Mexico - Nice photo work Mark, but next time smile!

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Mexico - Love makes a home for all in God's creation.

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Mexico - Hardship duty in the pool!

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Mexico - Look at that spark in Kelly's eye! She's a real go-getter!

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Mexico - Andy Tinker enjoying a bit of sun by the pool - SPF 25 Andy!

Mexico Mission Photo 25

Mexico - Another committee meeting, but we're so glad to be here!

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Mexico - Still smiling!

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Mexico - Words of welcome from CPC.

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Mexico - Joel, Cindy and is that Kara in the hat?

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Mexico - Nick, Bill and Ben - So, what next Ben?

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Mexico - Let's build a house!

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Monday - Group Picture with our Mexican Family

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Monday - Bill C. and Nick with our Mexican Family

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Monday - Who is that behind those Foster Grants?

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Monday - John and Andy hard at work

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Monday - New Friends

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Monday - On the Job Site

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Monday - On the Job Site

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Monday - Group Photo

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Monday - Bill C., Jim C. and Kelly

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Monday - Mixed Reviews on a Hard Day's Work

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Tuesday - This Is How We Frame a Window

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Tuesday - Cindy, Please Stop and Drink This Water!

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Tuesday - Pat and Mark Smile for the Camera

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Tuesday - Housing Around the Neighborhood

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Tuesday - Around the Neighborhood

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Tuesday - Our Mexican Family

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Tuesday - Day Two Construction - Major Progress!

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Tuesday - Kara Keeping Up Morale!

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Tuesday - Pam, Stop and Drink Some Water

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Tuesday - A Break for Some Refreshment

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Tuesday - Big Smiles During SBC Application

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Tuesday - Cindy and Gina - Are They Level or Plumb in This Picture?

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Tuesday - Cindy and Gina Enjoying Their Work

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Tuesday - Cindy and Gina Working on a Window

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Tuesday - Don and Jim with a Cool, Juicy Watermelon Snack

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Tuesday - Jim Crawford Serving Up a Smile

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Tuesday - SBC In The Afternoon!

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Wednesday - Morning on the Job Site

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Wednesday - Looks Like a Line!

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Wednesday - A Neighboring Home

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Wednesday - Our Mexican Family - Mother Asaf and Daughter Alondra, Asaf's Sister Lourdes and daughter Michelle.

Mexico Mission Photo 62

Wednesday - Our Mexican Friends Enjoy a Quick Rest

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Wednesday - Big Smiles!

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Tuesday?/Wednesday - Ben and Dianne Inspect the Construction So Far

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Tuesday?/Wednesday - Pat Catching Some Shade

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Tuesday?/Wednesday - Debbie and Don Ready for Thirsty, Hungry Workers

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Tuesday?/Wednesday - Bill C., Ben and Dianne Enjoying Some Camaraderie

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Wednesday - Smile, God Loves You!

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Wednesday - Whistle While You Work

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Wednesday - We Love SBC!

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Wednesday - Bill F. Pours Concrete Into the Top Beam

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Wednesday - Working Hard On The Job Site

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Wednesday - Bill F. and Cindy Work on Rebar

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Wednesday - Kara and Nick Making New Friends

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Wednesday - Working on a Wall

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Wednesday - Kara's New Your Friend Asssists Her

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Wednesday - Working Together

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Wednesday - Our Mexican Friends - Staff Workers (L to R) Israel, Robert and Armando

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Wednesday - A Minute of Rest When Dianne Stops By

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Wednesday - A Young Helper

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Wednesday - Hard At Work, But Always Time for A Smile!

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Wednesday - John Looking for Some Shade

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Wednesday - Dianne Helping Out

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Wednesday - Bill C. and Kara Consulting During SBC Application

Mexico Mission Photo 85

Wednesday - Bill C. and Kara - Two Cool Cucumbers!

Mexico Mission Photo 86

Wednesday - SBC Again!

Mexico Mission Photo 87

Wednesday - A Fried of CPC and Waverly

Mexico Mission Photo 88

Wednesday - A Visit to the Children's Center

Mexico Mission Photo 89

Wednesday - A Visit to the Children's Center - Juan Carlos, brother of Asaf and Lourdes

Mexico Mission Photo 90

Wednesday - A Visit to the Children's Center

Mexico Mission Photo 91

Wednesday - Toys, From Waverly to the Children of Piedras Negras - Juan Carlos is breaking them in!

Mexico Mission Photo 92

Wednesday - An Enjoyable Distraction from the Heat - Swinging!

Mexico Mission Photo 93

Wednesday - Cindy, Bill F. and Nick Testing the Fun Factor on the Swings

Mexico Mission Photo 94

Wednesday - CPC Children's Center

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Wednesday - CPC Children's Center

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Wednesday - Pat Enjoying A Chat In the Shade

Mexico Mission Photo 97

Wednesday - CPC Children's Center

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Wednesday - CPC Children's Center

Mexico Mission Photo 99

Wednesday - Kelly - Love That Hat!

Mexico Mission Photo 100

Mexico - Artwork at the Medical Center

Mexico Mission Photo 101

Mexico - Dianne Davis at the Medical Center

Mexico Mission Photo 102

Mexico - Statue of St. Francis and Fountain at the Medical Center

Mexico Mission Photo 103

Mexico - Suzanne Hobby - A CPC Staff Member Assigned to our Group for the Week

Mexico Mission Photo 104

Mexico - Anna and St. Francis

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Mexico - The Exterior of the Medical Center

Mexico Mission Photo 106

Mexico - A CPC Homeowner Has Added On

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Mexico - Juan Carlos Playing with the Toys Sent By Waverly

Mexico Mission Photo 108

Mexico - Juan Carlos Playing with the Toys Sent By Waverly

Mexico Mission Photo 109

Wednesday - Juan Carlos Playing with the Toys Sent By Waverly

Mexico Mission Photo 110

Thursday - A Neighborhood Home

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Thursday - Getting Ready to Raise the Roof

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Thursday - Another House in the Neighborhood

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Thursday - Asaf and Alondra - Our Mexican Family

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Thursday - Bill F. and Pat Bolting on the Roof Panels

Mexico Mission Photo 115

Thursday - A Shot of the Neighborhood from the Roof

Mexico Mission Photo 116

Thursday - A Neighboring Home Being Built from Wooden Pallets

Mexico Mission Photo 117

Thursday - Another Roof Shot of the Neighborhood

Mexico Mission Photo 118

Thursday - Kelly and Israel Working on SBC

Mexico Mission Photo 119

Thursday - Our Friendly Helper the Neighborhood Chicken

Mexico Mission Photo 120

Thursday - Juan Carlos and his Toothless Grin!

Mexico Mission Photo 121

Thursday - Asaf and Armando - Our Mexican Family

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Thursday - Our Mexican Family's House Number Plaque

Mexico Mission Photo 123

Thursday - A Completed Room Inside the House

Mexico Mission Photo 124

Thursday - Pat and Cindy in the Lovely Matching Overalls

Mexico Mission Photo 125

Thursday - Don Taking a Tour of the Completed House

Mexico Mission Photo 126

Thursday -

Mexico Mission Photo 127

Thursday - Asaf and Her Sister Lourdes with Children Alondra, Michelle and Juan Carlos

Mexico Mission Photo 128

Thursday - Our Entire Mexican Family

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Thursday - Michelle, Juan Carlos and Alondra Smiling for the Camera

Mexico Mission Photo 130

Thursday - Tom Mixing SBC, Maybe for the Last Time

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Thursday - Final Touches on the House

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Thursday - Armando Showing Off His SBC Skills

Mexico Mission Photo 133

Thursday - Lourdes Sponging the SBC to Give It Texture

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Thursday - Anna Contemplating A Spot To Be Sponged

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Thursday - Kelly Enjoys A Moment of Reflection

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Thursday - A Neighborhood Cutie!

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Thursday - Cindy and Ben Doing the Final Spot of SBC

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Thursday - Bill C. and Kara Sponging SBC

Mexico Mission Photo 139

Thursday - Alondra Hazards a Smile

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Friday -

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Friday -

Mexico Mission Photo 142

Friday - Ben Gets the Traditional Gatorade Dump - Sans Gatorade

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Friday - Ben Again

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Friday - Dianne Gets A Confetti Shower!

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Friday - Armando Plants the Family Tree

Mexico Mission Photo 146

Friday - Pam Helps Plant the Tree

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Friday - Ben Helps Plant the Tree

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Friday - Lourdes and Michelle Help Plant the Tree

Mexico Mission Photo 149

Friday - Family Members and CPC Staff with Debbie at the Dedication Ceremony

Mexico Mission Photo 150

Friday - Armando, Asaf, Dianne, Tom and Kelly Participate at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 151

Friday - Armando's Mom and Relatives at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 152

Friday - Lupe, Asaf's and Lourdes' Mom, Reads the Bible in Spanish at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 153

Friday - Kelly, Kara, Don, Joel, Pam, Andy, John and Cindy at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 154

Friday - Tom and Dianne Read the Bible at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 155

Friday - Nick Watches Lourdes Read During the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 156

Friday - Cindy, Nick and Lourdes Smiling at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 157

Friday - Cindy Holds Up the Handprint Banner Made for Our Mexican Family

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Friday - Nick, Lourdes, Alondra and Armando Display the Handprint Banners

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Friday - Happy Faces at the Dedication

Mexico Mission Photo 161

Friday - Tom Presents A Spanish Bible to Asaf and Armando

Mexico Mission Photo 162

Friday - Asaf and Armando Receiving Their Bible

Mexico Mission Photo 163

Friday - Tears of Joy and Thanks from Asaf

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Friday - The Sign Dedicating the 300th House Built by CPC - Ours!

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Friday - Jim C. and Bill C. With Nuevo Amigo Juan Carlos

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Friday - Dianne Mixes American and Mexican Water for the Tree

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Friday - Asaf Waters the New Tree

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Friday - Asaf Waters the New Tree

Mexico Mission Photo 169

Friday - Tom Thanks Dianne for All of Her Inspiration During A Trip to the Children's Center

Mexico Mission Photo 170

Friday - Dianne Thanks Waverly for the Toys

Mexico Mission Photo 171

Friday - Gina - Watch Out Steven Spielberg

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Friday -

Mexico Mission Photo 173

Friday - Barbed Wire Atop the Children's Center Provides Security

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Friday - The Final Group Picture in Front of the Completed House - All Smiles!

Mexico Mission Photo 175

Friday - The Final Group Picutre Again - Can You Find the Difference?

Mexico Mission Photo 176

Friday - Another Group Picture and One More Difference

Mexico Mission Photo 177

Friday - Another Group Picture

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Friday - Asaf and Alondra Enjoy A Trip to McDonald's With Us

Mexico Mission Photo 179

Friday - Nick, Armando and Jim Enjoy SuperSize Drinks

Mexico Mission Photo 180

Friday - Juan Carlos, Lourdes, Juanita and Michelle

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Friday -

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Friday -

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Friday -

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Friday -

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