Trip Report

Mission trip to Colonia Santo Niño

February 19-21, 2016

Well our first trip in 2016 got off to a rough start. On the way down, part of the group stopped at the Denny’s Restaurant in Calexico just before the border. Tom picked up food poisoning that developed a few hours later. He went back to Murrieta, saw his doctor who diagnosed the problem, and health was returned on Sunday - but he was bummed that he could not stay with the team.Team- The others did well without him though, and here is the report of work accomplished. First of all, the team had three new members: Mike Knowles, Maria Lopez and Deborah Lopez (no relation, but both from the Friday Food Pantry Bible Study…Maria teaches the Spanish Language class). Returning team members included: Harold Higgins (also from the Friday Food Pantry Bible Study), Alvaro and Adeline Jackson, and Lupita and Satiago Alonso from First UMC of La Puente. A special thanks to Mike Knowles who took these pictures of the team at work.Painting- Paint was applied to the back ramp (we call it the Lupita Ramp in honor of Pastor Lupita Alonso. She dates way back to when she was an associate pastor for Pastor Tom Rothhaar at Light of the Canyon UMC. Pastor Lupita is in a wheelchair, and the ramp was originally created for her. The ramp was painted to match the brown trim on the Community Center.

Harold, Maria and Deborah got a little help from Pastor Miguel’s children and the ramp magically changed colors from blue to brown.Plumbing- Next, there has been a technical and safety problem with propane for the stove and water heater. Gas was heretofore supplied from a small tank which had been conveniently (and dangerously) placed next to the kitchen stove. Shown below, Harold is re-plumbing it to a large propane tank outside the community center. In the kitchen too, doors for a pantry were re-hung (when we put the new flooring in last October, we needed to cut off a little from the bottom of the sliding doors, but we ran out of time), so

Trip Report

Mission trip to Colonia Santo Niño

February 19-21, 2016that was fixed as well as a wobbly table. Some ceiling lights were replaced and more will be replaced in April.

Computer Nertworking- Mike Knowles was along on the trip to network the donated computers and hook up the donated printers. These computers are for an after school program for kids in Colonia Santo Niño. There is both an elementary school and a high school in the Colonia. Most of the homes there do not have computers so this will provide an opportunity for the kids to do research, write papers, and perhaps have a little fun. More computers are needed (Tower or Laptop PC with Vista operating system).Dental Clinic- While there, we met with a local dentist, Dr. Sofia Guerrero, who inventoried the tools and supplies. She was impressed at how good and plentiful the tools are. She suggested a short list of materials that we will attempt to obtain before our April trip so that we can finally get the Dental Clinic up and running. Three other dentists have been recruited, and it is our plan to have a rotating group of dentists along with dental students assisting. We are working on a plan to get one more dental chair so that students can be cleaning teeth while the dentist is performing corrective and restorative procedures.

Trip Report

Mission trip to Colonia Santo Niño

February 19-21, 2016Medical Clinic- Azusa Pacific University has been holding medical screenings at the Community Center and plans to have another one in March of 2016 (and two or three more during 2016). What a blessing!

Perhaps the best news of all is the dynamic energy that is being generated within the church. Largely because of the improvements to the facilities along with the encouragement that has been given to the pastor and the congregation, exciting things are beginning to happen.New Ministries: Since we were at the church in December for the Las Posadas, the following new ministries have been formed:

1. Four new Sunday School classes (for small kids that cannot read, older kids that can, teens, and adults). Our Sunriser group gave some great supplies for the children’s classes. There are also four Sunday School teachers.

2. A Youth Group is springing out of the Las Posadas, where there were some really cool kids worshipping, playing guitar, piano, and singing. These youth are starting a band for the church and are in need of a bass guitar and drums.

3. A Women’s Group is meeting weekly (on Tuesdays) to learn crafting. That goup began largely because of knitting instructions received from Rosie Guadarrama (from Ontario 1st UMC) during the Las Posadas trip.

4. And lastly, a Couples Group is meeting monthly to support each other.Church services are now so large that they must be held outside as the church is too small to hold the people…what a nice problem! A special request for your prayers…no rain in Colonia Santo Niño on Sundays…ever. Maybe someday we will have to build that shade structure after all!

Trip Report

Mission trip to Colonia Santo Niño

February 19-21, 2016

Movie Screen- Up until this trip, Movies for Kids on Saturday and videos used in the services have been projected onto a white sheet. The projector was generously donated by a member of the Murrieta congregation, but we didn’t have a screen. Members of our work team saw that need, and this screen was in place for the church service. God…and our team…are GREAT!

One other amazing activity: Maria and Deborah Lopez (remember this is their first trip), brought a supply of goodies and on Saturday went door to door in the Colonia meeting the residents, giving away the goodies, praying with the families, and inviting them to church on Sunday. I understand that Pastor Lupita also went on those trips as

Trip Report

Mission trip to Colonia Santo Niño

February 19-21, 2016did the youth. The Maria/Deborah team has also offered to make curtains for the windows in the Community Center.I think this trip has proven that God is working with us. Each seed we have sown is starting to grow. People are getting excited, and they are spreading the word. They are

generating ideas on their own and thereby watering the seeds. We have turned a corner now with God’s help, along with the help of Pastor Miguel and the wonderful people of his church. Please continue to pray for their church and the people of Colonia Santo Niño…I can’t wait to see what comes next. Thank you, God, for blessing this mission and for all the people who help make it happen.

Respectfully submitted, Tom Pilkington Home: 951-698-3515 Cell: 909-645-1212tompilkingtom@gmail.com