Perspective

Hacienda El Refugio 2001

Hacienda El Refugio 2011

La Cocina 1999

La Cocina 2013

The Entrance Gate 1999

The Entrance Gate 2011

The Scholl Family 2001
(photo by Jackie Woods)

The Scholl Family Christmas 2012

While cleaning out my office recently, I found a bunch of pictures in my files that I wanted to share with you.  Isn't it fun to see the change ten years has brought both in our ministry and in our personal lives.  But really, as you look at the photos what do you see?  For every person, it is going to be something different.  One person will focus on what was, while another will choose to focus on the present or even into the future.  

When I asked Howie, what his perspective was when he quickly scanned the photos, he said, "Look at all the change, doesn't that just testify to the faithfulness of God." Then he quickly shifts to talking about the future and what those photos will look like ten years from now.  He is a big picture thinking type of man.  For me, (Mary)  I look at the photos and I think about all the stories that happened in between.  For example, the shot of the kitchen, I think of our grandson Anchor.  You may think that is crazy, but hold on and let me explain.  When it came time to put the roof on the patio, we had a group scheduled to arrive and complete the project.  When they arrived we were surprised to find out they were a group of senior citizens who travelled all over the world to help ministries.  Quickly, it became apparent it would be a little dangerous to have those people go up on a ladder and work on a roof.  Howie had to shift the project for their safety.  He also learned how important it was to ask good questions about each group before they arrive.  OK, more to the point, one of the gentleman on the team had the name Anchor.  Bridget was pregnant at the time and I was talking to her on the phone and told her I had heard the most unusual name, and there as Paul Harvey would say is "The rest of the story".  

Each of you has your perspective and a story to tell.  I know many have gotten frustrated because you can not leave "comments" here on the blog (glitch I think)  If you would like, email me your thoughts at schollseven@gmail.com    I would love to hear your thoughts.

"The Last Group of the Summer" / "El último grupo del verano"

     August 8th was our last work day of the summer with work teams from the States.  Much like the last day of school, there was a celebratory atmosphere in the air.  When we found out it was Aurelio's and Pedro's Birthday's we decided to have us an impromptu Birthday party at our break.  The work team was from Westover, a church in North Carolina.  They had planned to spend the afternoon on the zip line and climbing the wall, they graciously invited the workers to join them and that they did.  Pedro who is 63 years old told Howie he was very scared but very excited at the same time to climb the wall and make it to the top.  He also said he was "very sore the next day."

We are so thankful for all our work teams who came and served so selflessly.

The church from Westover had the distinction of being our last group of the summer, small but mighty!
Pictured above:  Westover church, Howie and his staff, Mary and her staff, and summer interns.  

Erica and Ryan Coryell, helping to lift the sand and rocks to be poured into the cement mixer.
In their free time, Erica handles all of El Refugio's finances and Ryan does a great job of leading our interns.

On the final day of groups, we also celebrated Aurelio and Pedro's Birthdays.
Angelica made them each a cake, which we enjoyed for our "snack"

Howie, Pedrito, Mary and Aurelio

Wouldn't be a birthday without some cake smashing in the face would it?

Finished our final day of "work" with some wall climbing.
Aurelio

Enrique

And yes, dare you believe it, Don Pedro!

Birthday tradition to throw the person celebrating the Birthday into the pond.
Don Pedro was loooooooong gone........