Work Days 6 & 7

....And the work goes on. So much is being accomplished and we thank the Lord for His help. We also thank Him for His hand on Philip Burch yesterday. He cut his hand badly requiring 10 - 12 stitches, but it could have been a lot worse. Of course, it didn't really slow him down - he came straight back from getting it stitched up and was right back to work.

Here's a few pictures of the guys working and of the delicious lunch the HIM church ladies fixed for everyone - enchiladas rojas (red enchiladas). They were fantastic!

Marc and Deron

Deron and Gerald

Mike

Aaron

But the guys aren't the only ones working. Here's Missy making great use of my clotheslines.

Caden loves everyone....and they love him!

Now we're just relaxing.....

Logan having fun with cousins, Braxton and Caden

Work Days 4 & 5 and the Weekend

Work Days 4 and 5 went great and much has already been accomplished. An extra pair of hands was available during those days - Jonathan and Renee Springer and children arrived late Thursday night and Jonathan added his skills to the work on those days. Renee and I had a great time visiting, preparing food, caring for children, etc. Our family fell in love with their adorable kids, Kylie and Korey! Thanks, Jonathan and Renee for taking time out of your schedule to come down and help us - we really appreciate it. And thanks, Jonathan for helping us sing on Sunday morning - that was fun.

On Saturday evening, 3 more pairs of willing hands have joined the team: Pastor Deron Fourman, Mike Butcher and Craig McLaughlin. They arrived at the building about 6:00 and literally minutes later, were assisting in the clean-up for Sunday. We all went to eat tacos al pastor together - I must say, they loved them!

Yesterday was a great day. The day started off in a fantastic way for me - my sister and family arrived!! Gerald and Missy, Braxton and Caden arrived on the bus from Reynosa, Mexico - an all-night ride, after having flown to McAllen, TX from Columbus, OH - and we were SOO happy to see them! It is quite an accomplishment to ride a night bus 12 hours with 2 little ones, but Missy and Gerald are troopers and they did great. Thanks, Steve and Beth, for your help on that end, helping them get across the border, get tourist papers, and on the right bus! Missy and Gerald will be staying through this weekend and of course, Gerald will be giving a full week of work at the project.

Pastor Fourman preached through an translator(Philip Burch, one of the best, by the way) at the HIM church in the morning, then Craig McLaughlin preached in our Bible Methodist Church in Cuchicuato last night (how great that he needs no translator!).

The ladies of the HIM church fixed us a meal yesterday - a soup called pozole. They eat it with tostadas spread with mayonnaise, lettuce, lime, etc. It was spicy, to say the least - but very tasty. Thank you, ladies.

Now it's Monday and work is in full swing. Our Bible Methodist pastor and assistant pastor, Bro. Sanchez and Bro. Cruz have arrived at the building and are spending this day working as well. We are so thankful for the great cooperative spirit that is being manifested in this endeavor.

It's time for homeschool for the boys and then Jordan will be spending his second afternoon working at the project today. The boys have taken turns assisting - thanks, guys!

Happy Monday!

Melodie

Work Day # 3

This is the third day of some pretty back-breaking, sledge hammer swinging, work going on at the HIM building that we will be utilizing for our Bible Institute until our permanent Bible Methodist campus is built.

John Dykes has arrived and he, Marc, and Philip Burch haven't wasted any time getting going - along with the great help of some boys who are just having too much fun to know it's work.

Looking forward to reinforcements arriving soon: Jonathan Springer (and family) sometime this evening, and others are on the way: My brother in law, sister and kids, Gerald and Missy Miller, Craig McLaughlin, Deron Fourman and Mike Butcher.

Nice chair, Marc

Think Logan's scared?

Mexican Flan...and Friends

On Sunday, we invited some of our friends from the church here in Salamanca, Tino and Yanet and their adorable very blonde little boy, "Faustinito" over for Sunday dinner. I served them roast beef, potatoes, and carrots, green beans, rolls.....the typical "Sunday dinner". I wasn't sure what they'd think but they loved it. I didn't take pics of what I cooked, but I had to take some of the dessert that Yanet brought to share with us - Mexican flan.

So beautifully done and "garnished", and it tasted delicious. I will say, I have had flan in the past that I didn't care for. This was different - very rich and creamy with a delicious caramel sauce over it. Yum!

Yanet helping me serve the Flan.

We had fun eating and visiting with our friends. They are so very kind to us, patient with our Spanish, and most of all, they both really love the Lord and their lives exhibit that love. When I was gone recently from Salamanca, Yanet helped me so much by teaching my Sunday School class for me and did a great job. The Lord is helping them grow in grace, and we are really thankful to have them as our friends.

Tino

What a cutie!

Dessert, anyone?

Work Weeks

Well, here I am, blogging a week later. Where did last week go?

This is an exciting day because it begins the 2 (or 3) work weeks that we are assisting with here at the HIM church/future Institute building here in Salamanca. We have a wonderful crew of workers on their way to help - they'll be arriving at different times throughout the 2 weeks and staying to work as their schedules allow them.

I'm really looking forward to fellowshipping with them and helping host/entertain/provide meals, etc. Collette Burch and I are working together to see everyone has a good bed and some good food to keep them going...smiles...

The workers I'm MOST excited about seeing are my brother in law and sister, Gerald and Missy Miller and my 2 little nephews: Braxton and Caden. They'll be staying a little more than a week to help work in the building and spend some time with us. I can't wait to see them!

Well, the homeschool duties are calling, so I better wrap this up.

Happy Monday to you all!

Melodie

Happy Grandparents Day

Happy Grandparents Day....a day late. My boys are so blessed with wonderful grandparents, because Marc and I have such great parents! Here's a photo of all of us taken last fall at the Language School Campus.

"We did tell our grandparents Happy Grandparents Day yesterday but my mom is just getting around to posting about it today. We love you, Papaw and Grandma Sankey and Papaw and Mamoo Miller!" - Jordan, Cameron, and Logan

Yesterday was a sad day in a way for me - it was the first Grandparents Day that I have not had a living grandparent. My Grandpa Miller passed away in the month of May, making the complete set of my grandparents to safely make it to their home and reward in Heaven. I miss you, Granny and Grandaddy Agan, and Grandpa and Grandma Miller but I know I'll see you in Heaven. I love you all!

Marc is blessed to still have one grandparent living: his Grandma Ferguson, and what a special lady she is! We love you, Grandma!

The Quiet Place

It's much sought after, isn't it? I know for me it is. And sometimes hard to find. Raising 3 boys doesn't allow for much quiet. I have to be purposeful about finding that quiet place, and how it calms me when I do. I remember one particular finding of that place this summer as we traveled. I found it walking the quiet country road that winds past the home of my in-laws. God's whisper made it's way to me through the breeze in the tall trees surrounding their home and I felt Him so close to me. Maybe one of these days the quiet place will be easier to find - right now, I'll enjoy it when I can.

(Pictured: my in-law's deck and back yard)

Work Opportunity in Salamanca

The last two weeks of September will be spent in continuing renovation of the building that will be temporarily used for our Bible Institute here in Salamanca. If you are interested in helping with manual labor: tiling floors, installing restrooms, installing and finishing drywall, painting, etc. please contact us by email or phone.

~ msankey@bmmissions.org or ~ melodiesankey@yahoo.com

956.566.3923

We know this is short notice, but God has just opened the financial door and we are walking through it with the hope of using the building for various functions, including the Central Mexico IHC, as early as mid-October of this year.

You will need to care for your travel expense to and from Mexico, but your food and lodging will be provided while you are here to work.

If you are interested in coming, please let me know as soon as possible - we are already putting the work personnel schedule together.

Thank you,
Marc Sankey

My 4th Trip to Oaxaca

Still growing! Still evangelizing! Still making disciples! These words describe our churches in the region of Oaxaca. Each time I make the trip, I return amazed at the sacrifice, dedication and success of these earnest-hearted people.

I was privileged to take part in a pastoral installation at the Oaxaca city church. One of our more recent graduates from the Institute, Benito Martinez and his wife Ana have heard the call of God to the pastorate. It was wonderful to see this family initiated into Kingdom work.

The Lord guided us safely to the mountain village of Jayacatlan for the evening service, where current student, Alejandro is pastoring until the Bible Institute re-opens. He was wonderfully saved a few years ago at a Bible Methodist youth congress and God has placed the call to the ministry on his life.

Monday, President Dolores Hernandez and I made the 6 hour trip across rather dangerous mountain roads to the region of San Gabriel. The next few days were filled with special things. Among them were two new church dedications. The congregations at 201 and La Cañada, with generous giving from their U.S brothers and sisters, have completed desperately needed structures to accommodate the souls of the community. What exhilaration to see these congregations march triumphantly out of their dilapidated and decaying places of worship, singing “Firmes y Adelante” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” on their way to dedicate brand new churches to God’s service.

Bro. Dolores and I shared in that joy as we preached, sang and prayed with seekers around the altar in various services. I want to thank God for His providence and protection from the effects of Hurricane Dean. We did experience a lot of rain, which made traveling on some of those already notorious roads a bit tricky but God guided us safely through.

One of the most heart-warming ministries I have found in Oaxaca is that of Pastor Desiderio’s granddaughter, Hilda, and her children’s ministry. She showed with great pride all of the children’s material that she and others have hand-made out of cardboard boxes to minister to hundreds of children in various missions and churches. As I listened God spoke to me and I knew that the children’s materials I had brought with me had found their home. She was elated to receive beautiful Spanish children’s choruses made and sent from the Tri-State WMS. If you have a burden for Mexico, I urge you to invest in and pray for Hilda’s ministry to children.

Please notice the photo of Pastor Desiderio proudly holding the brand new “Behold the Harvest” (Bible Methodist connectional theme for this quadrennial) poster in Spanish. Nearly all our pastors have received these posters and have them displayed in their churches.

Thank you for your sacrificial giving and praying that allows you to partner with this church planting movement in Oaxaca!

Marc Sankey

He's Home!

Marc arrived home safely about 10:15 last night - tired, but doing great. More details and pics of the trip to come....

Thursday Update

Well, we seem to have "survived" Hurricane Dean with little or no problems. Marc reported last night that it rained steadily and heavily at times in San Gabriel yesterday, making driving conditions pretty scary at times - especially the drive back down the mountain from our church in Las Palmas last night. But they made it down safely, and Marc is now on his way home! yay!

Oh, guess what? For all you who know how Marc "loves" seafood - he HATES it - he ate shrimp yesterday morning in San Gabriel! Shrimp and beans were on the breakfast menu and he decided to go for it. He said, "Melodie, it didn't taste half bad."

We got rain most of yesterday here in Salamanca, but today is sunny and 75 degrees!

Again, thank you to all of you who prayed for our safety. God certainly answered prayer and we thank Him. I'll be sure to let you know when Marc arrives home safely!

Our Bible Methodist Missions Secretary John Parker is arriving tomorrow to visit with us over the weekend - we're really looking forward to him being here! By the way, today is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Uncle John!

Wednesday Update

Just a quick update today - Dean has hit Mexico again, just south of the town of Tecolutla in the coastal state of Veracruz.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropical_weather

It hit as a Category 2 and is quickly diminishing as it moves toward and over the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains.

Central Mexico (where we are) will be getting rain throughout today, but that's nothing unusual for us as this is the rainy season. We'll wait and see what happens - there have been a few showers this afternoon.

I talked to Marc last night - all was quiet in San Gabriel, where he's staying, about 30-45 minutes from the Pacific Coast. He will be heading home tomorrow and hopefully Dean will have played himself almost completely out by that time, at least in the areas Marc will be traveling.

No Mexican lives have been lost, although many homes and businesses were destroyed in the Yucatan and lots of flooding is taking place in coastal central Mexico.

I am thanking the Lord for His protection so far and just waiting for my wonderful husband to arrive home safe and sound tomorrow night! Thank you for praying for us!

Update from Marc in Oaxaca

I won't recap the news, since I'm sure most of you are already following Hurricane Dean. Here's a link to view the latest if you haven't seen it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropical_weather

However, Dean has now made landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as the first Category 5 hurricane to hit in 15 years and is now weakening some.

I talked with Marc last night from San Gabriel, a town about an hour north of the Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca. He said no effects had been felt there yet, although the entire state is on an alert and Oaxaca City (pictured below), where he ministered last weekend, was in full preparation mode. Heavy rain and wind are expected there as Dean passes through. Please pray for our 2 churches, pastors and people there in the City.

Today through Thursday Marc and our National President, Dolores Hernandez, Pastor Desiderio Lopez and possibly others will be traveling on mountain roads to visit rural churches in the area where torrential rain and heavy wind are possible. Marc was confident that God's protection would be with them and wanted to thank SOO many of you who have emailed, commented, or called to say you are praying for his safety. I know God is in control of it all - we're in His hands.

I imagine that we here in Salamanca will feel Dean's effects as early as tomorrow morning. It appears that wind and rain will be the extent of it, but I'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks for your prayers and concern!

Melodie and boys

First Day of School

Well, Sankey Home School is off and running for this year! Here's a few photos from our day.

Everything's ready

Ready to roll

My 7th grader, Jordan

My 5th grader, Cameron

My 3rd grader, Logan

Hurricane Dean

I'm sure most of you are tracking Hurricane Dean as I am. (Use this link: http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm4/atl4projectedpath_large.html ) You may not be (hope not) in its projected path as we are here in Mexico.

If Dean continues his westward and slightly southward tilt, it should hit the Yucatan Peninsula in about 24 hours and its effects will be felt all over southern Mexico, which happens to be exactly where my husband is at the moment and will be most of this week. He is traveling to visit our churches over mountain roads and in very rural areas where Dean's fury could have the worst effects.

I am concerned as you can imagine. Please help me pray for his safety and those with whom he is traveling.

Thanks,
Melodie