el camino

A Pre-School test...

Which way is the bus below travelling?

To the left or to the right?


Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again.

Thanks to Wes for this one...


"Social action without evangelism is empty;

Evanglism without social action is blind."


Couldn't agree more.

Steph and Wes, Armonia volunteers from the US are keeping a wonderful blog of their year with Armonia (starting shortly, but the blog has begun already!).

All the album links together....


Jalalpa Album 1

Forgot to blog this from my time in Oaxaca...

One evening on dish washing duties (which takes some time when you consider the group was around 60 people), I was chatting at length to Benito (one of the new older brothers of the Oaxaca house). 

He asked what my favourite bands were.  After admitting that I was somewhat out of touch with music of people his age (18) in the UK, he pressed me further to what I listen to.  When I mentioned I like to listen to worship his face lit up.

Here is a link to some photos from my time at Santa Cruz.

Uploading them here in this tortoise-like internet cafe took an hour and 45 minutes.

I will leave the other 2 albums until another day to avoid going completely insane!

Today is the first day back of the new school year for most Mexican primary school children.

These 6 are no exception.

L to R: Bryan, Edgar, Cristian, Jesus.  Front row: Angel, Javier

Despite some angelic names and lovely smiles, these kids have really had some tough battles to fight already in their short lives.  Last year 3 of them were excluded from school, and the other 3 have been out of school for a long time (if indeed they ever went).

After 2 long bus rides and a total journey time of 17 hours, I arrived in Guadalajara.  I was met by Arturo, one of the pastors of El Camino church (which has strong links with the work of Oasis).  He showed me around the church centre where I am staying, which is about 4 storeys high and quite a maze, but I think I am getting the hang of it! 

I then went over to the house (which backs onto the church building) and met some of the workers and most of the kids.  The kids are all boys, and a lot of the workers (that I've met so far) also male.  There are 9 boys living there (though 2 are away this weekend) and 6 of those are primary age.  They are typical little boys and a testament to the work done there as according to Jose, one of the workers, they arrive (from life on the street) like little animals.  It’s a work on a much smaller scale than Armonia, but beautiful nonetheless.  Jonny (from the UK) and Jose (Mexican) both seemed to have good relationships with the boys and were constantly smiling and laughing with them, but were happy to be firm too, which is no doubt what is needed to re-train the children as they come in from the streets and off drugs (as a lot have to).

Since I arrived we have been praying for Josias.  Armonia had been trying to contact him in his village, but to no avail.  He was due to return to Mexico City to re-start his course (having had to stop due to illness) and had to enrol at the latest on Monday (11th).  On Monday at the construction site, who should turn up but Josias and his parents (some 6 hours plus from Mexico). 

Any visitor to Armonia Oaxaca quickly falls in love with the chavos (youth) there and wants to get involved with the construction project to aid the project in moving forwards.  The students (and visitors) are currently housed in 2 adjoining houses away from the site, but the hope is that by Christmas the students will be living in their new accommodation on site.