Wednesday, June 18th - by Elyse Lee

Today, Wednesday June 18, 2008 the weather was warm but cool, and gorgeous.
We started off the day with another Vacation Bible School. Today’s theme was “Help”. The crafts and storytelling surrounded the theme of Rainbow Fish. During crafts, the older kids created a “rainbow” fish with tissue paper and aluminum foil. The younger kids did the same with construction paper instead of tissue. They also watched the video of the Rainbow Fish, and learned to share. The number of kids increased to nine, from seven yesterday. More kids were engaging in activities and bonding with the youth and adults. The VBS ended with songs and lunch and was overall a good morning.

Some other members of the church, including Christine, Josh, Pat, Wayne, and Susan made a home visit to Merlinda. Merlinda was a widow who recently lost her husband. The church members talked and spent time with her, and even had a taste of her delicious tortillas. The construction crew placed another window in the building. Others weeded the roads, picked up litter, and an old shed was torn down.

After VBS, the youth traveled to Taos. Along the way, we stopped at a creek and chilled there for a while. We then visited The Rio Grande Gorge, where we experienced the beautiful view. Unfortunately, shortly after we left a man had past away by parachuting off the bridge. When we came to Taos, we walked around the town plaza, and ate ice cream. On the drive back, we visited the Earthships. Earthships are homes that are “off the grid” meaning they are separate from the government with electric power and other supplies. The Earthships are “green-friendly” homes with solar power, water harvest, and solar heating. Tomorrow we have plans to explore an actual home.

While the youth were at Taos, the adults visited a Pueblo. At the end of the day, the youth met back up with the adults in Penasco for dinner, which the church members prepared for us. The day ended with the youth doing separate devotions from the adults, for they were exhausted. Overall, the day was eventful and good.