| Update March to July 2010 |
Symphonies of Hope– Choirs of Faith
| Orchestras & Choirs Serving in God's Love |
| Update # 20 |
| Chris & Coleen Anderson Symphonies of Hope P.O. Box 1061, Pharr, TX 78577 In the U.S. : 608 - 313 - HOPE Message phone in U.S. : 956-781-5133 Email: chriscoleen@symphoniesofhope.org Email: chriscoleen@choirsoffaith.org |
| SymphoniesOfHope.Org ChoirsOfFaith.Org SinfoniasDeEsperanza.Org CorosDeFe.Org |
| Los Cristales |
| The last few months have been very busy ones. We have completed our journey from Wisconsin in the north back down through Missouri and Texas and were able to spend a couple of months working with the group in Pharr. We had several camper repairs to do in April. We have been doing a lot of video and music editing...preparing 3 videos from a visit with the home school orchestra in Missouri as well as 20 instructional videos in Spanish for the students in Guatemala. In Monterrey we have been working with the La Fama group as well as the new group in Los Cristales. Sarah and Jonathan were baptized this month...Sarah had her 13th birthday the same day. Elizabeth turned 20 on June 19th. The first of July we experienced our first hurricane and saw a lot of destruction in the aftermath. Chris has had a mysterious problem with his leg... He has gotten somewhat used to it but we hope to find a solution. We have continued to call the children in Guatemala and guide them over the phone. We are now preparing for a trip to Saltillo for the annual home schooling conference in Mexico. We will again be playing our instruments with the orchestra there August 15th -18th. After the conference we plan to return here for a few more weeks to work with the children who were gone on vacation. We will have a concert with all of the children here and the La Fama group before we leave. Then we hope to begin preparations for our trip on to Guatemala. We will need to return to Texas for a few weeks for supplies first. We are lacking in financial resources but are doing the best that we can. |
| Pharr, Texas Orchestra |
| The Chicken Plant Revisited |
After our time in Wisconsin in sub-zero temperatures the outer layers of our
camper were cracked and peeling by the time we reached Texas. It is never one
of our favorite jobs, but after two years or so it is necessary to peel off the old
foil from the outside of the tarp covering and reapply a new layer with spray
glue to hold it on. Then we paint it with exterior house paint to keep the suns
rays and the rain out. It is a rather tedious job but working together Elizabeth
and Coleen completed the job in a few days time. The other major job that has to
be done about every two years is to reconstruct the toilet. Chris has to cut the
pieces and glue, caulk, and foam it all together. It is a specially made toilet to
use as small a quantity of water as possible to flush, when we are in areas where
water is in short supply, and where a place to empty our tank is also a rare find.
This job is especially no fun because while it is being done we have to use
someone else's bathroom for a week while the foam and caulk cure. Our
camper is pretty easy to repair but like any other house there are always
maintenance issues.
camper were cracked and peeling by the time we reached Texas. It is never one
of our favorite jobs, but after two years or so it is necessary to peel off the old
foil from the outside of the tarp covering and reapply a new layer with spray
glue to hold it on. Then we paint it with exterior house paint to keep the suns
rays and the rain out. It is a rather tedious job but working together Elizabeth
and Coleen completed the job in a few days time. The other major job that has to
be done about every two years is to reconstruct the toilet. Chris has to cut the
pieces and glue, caulk, and foam it all together. It is a specially made toilet to
use as small a quantity of water as possible to flush, when we are in areas where
water is in short supply, and where a place to empty our tank is also a rare find.
This job is especially no fun because while it is being done we have to use
someone else's bathroom for a week while the foam and caulk cure. Our
camper is pretty easy to repair but like any other house there are always
maintenance issues.
While we were in McAllen and Pharr the owner of the chicken plant, where
Chris and the older children had worked a couple of years back, wanted a bit of
revision done on the program Chris had worked on. He provided a place for us
to park while Chris and Elizabeth worked there, and I was able to finish
rewriting our website in the new program during that time. Elizabeth enjoyed
working with some old friends again and was able to earn a bit of money to help
provide for her ongoing animal projects. Sarah, Jonathan, and Samuel were
able to focus on their schoolwork during that time as well. We were thankful for
their encouragement ...they have been supportive of the work we do here.
Chris and the older children had worked a couple of years back, wanted a bit of
revision done on the program Chris had worked on. He provided a place for us
to park while Chris and Elizabeth worked there, and I was able to finish
rewriting our website in the new program during that time. Elizabeth enjoyed
working with some old friends again and was able to earn a bit of money to help
provide for her ongoing animal projects. Sarah, Jonathan, and Samuel were
able to focus on their schoolwork during that time as well. We were thankful for
their encouragement ...they have been supportive of the work we do here.
When we arrived at Casa Hogar Douglas (an orphanage,in the Southern part of
Monterrey) we weren't sure what to expect. We knew there were almost 60
children living here from ages 2 to 15....But we had never worked with such a
large group. We were enthusiastic about getting started. Then we had a group
meeting in the Palapa... (An outdoor structure with no walls...only a roof of palm
leaves.) Nearly all of the children were very restless and the cicadas in the trees
overhead were deafening. have to break it into smaller groups and individual
lessons. Gradually we got to know the names of several of the children as we
began meeting with them. We did some singing, violin practice, and verse
practice with groups of 4 to 6 children. Then school let out at the end of June and
suddenly most of the children went away for vacations with family members. This
was a surprise to us as this is an orphanage... But many children have a relative
that takes them home for the time that school is out(July and 2 wks of August) We
were left with about 8 participants..some from the orphanage and others from the
neighborhood. So we have been working more intensely with them. They have
been doing very well...Learning their verses and their first songs. It is very
rewarding to see them learn and to see some come out of their shell. Some of
these children were abused and abandoned by their parents and weren't taught to
be kind to others. One little girl in particular is a real challenge. She was very
aggressive in the beginning but over these weeks has mellowed some. She
positively beams when given attention.
We are very grateful to those of you who helped to make it possible to get some
violins for the community in Los Cristales.
Monterrey) we weren't sure what to expect. We knew there were almost 60
children living here from ages 2 to 15....But we had never worked with such a
large group. We were enthusiastic about getting started. Then we had a group
meeting in the Palapa... (An outdoor structure with no walls...only a roof of palm
leaves.) Nearly all of the children were very restless and the cicadas in the trees
overhead were deafening. have to break it into smaller groups and individual
lessons. Gradually we got to know the names of several of the children as we
began meeting with them. We did some singing, violin practice, and verse
practice with groups of 4 to 6 children. Then school let out at the end of June and
suddenly most of the children went away for vacations with family members. This
was a surprise to us as this is an orphanage... But many children have a relative
that takes them home for the time that school is out(July and 2 wks of August) We
were left with about 8 participants..some from the orphanage and others from the
neighborhood. So we have been working more intensely with them. They have
been doing very well...Learning their verses and their first songs. It is very
rewarding to see them learn and to see some come out of their shell. Some of
these children were abused and abandoned by their parents and weren't taught to
be kind to others. One little girl in particular is a real challenge. She was very
aggressive in the beginning but over these weeks has mellowed some. She
positively beams when given attention.
We are very grateful to those of you who helped to make it possible to get some
violins for the community in Los Cristales.
Hurricane Alex
| La Fama |
The little group in La Fama has had some losses and some gains. Damaris and
Melissa have continued their violin studies with a teacher in the center of
Monterrey. They have progressed very rapidly during the past two years. Cesar
and Alejandro, (Pricila's other 3 boys from La Fama really don't have any
encouragement from their parents and so have gradually fallen away. There are
two new children beginning to come to classes recently. The small community of
La Fama has changed considerably. Many have moved away and there is no
leadership in the remaining families. It is so difficult in a community where there
is no encouragement from parents and no communication to keep the children
encouraged. Telephone communication in La Fama is very difficult. The cell
phones come and go... Usually there is no money for phone time. La Fama is a
very challenging place.
Melissa have continued their violin studies with a teacher in the center of
Monterrey. They have progressed very rapidly during the past two years. Cesar
and Alejandro, (Pricila's other 3 boys from La Fama really don't have any
encouragement from their parents and so have gradually fallen away. There are
two new children beginning to come to classes recently. The small community of
La Fama has changed considerably. Many have moved away and there is no
leadership in the remaining families. It is so difficult in a community where there
is no encouragement from parents and no communication to keep the children
encouraged. Telephone communication in La Fama is very difficult. The cell
phones come and go... Usually there is no money for phone time. La Fama is a
very challenging place.
| We have been little worried about all of the reports of violence in Mexico this year but not to the point of not going... While at one of our orchestra gatherings in Pharr we met a family who invited us to park our camper next to their house in another suburb of Monterrey. We changed our plans accordingly and passed some weeks at their house in Pharr while we did our camper repairs. Only a few days before our planned departure they got word that the spot where we planned on parking our camper was covered with building materials... Their neighbor was doing some building on his house...And so we would not be able to park there after all. At first we were dismayed. But while visiting a church in McAllen we met the founder of the Casa Hogar that suggested that we go there instead. It wasn't until several weeks after we got there that we saw what a blessing this change in plans was. On June 30 we were at our violin class with the students in La Fama when the rain began to fall... Our practice was outside under a large roof. By the time we left the school yard it was raining very hard. We had to pass the instruments over the fence to get them into the van... It was quite the operation in the rain! We took some video on the way back home of the roads which were rapidly filling with water. The riverbed here is usually a dry river. It had maybe a foot of water in it as we left. Little did anyone know that in a few hours the river would rise at an incredible rate. Over the next two days there was over 27 inches of rain in Monterrey...some reports were a few inches more. The dam above La Fama was not able to hold all of the water so they opened the gates and the water rushed through that night carrying horses, cows and many other animals along with it. Furniture and even cars in some areas washed away. As the river rose it began to erode away at the highways and bridges. Before the electricity went out we saw a news report that was startling. There were cars driving on the main highway as pieces of the next lane fell into the raging river. I couldn't believe that people would continue to drive on the roads while the roads were dissolving next to them! Many people were out of electric for days after the storm ended. We had outages at night for a couple of weeks after it ended. People who lived farther in the country couldn't get out by car and some are still waiting for the roads to be repaired enough to get out. We were very thankful that we were parked here at the orphanage. The people in La Fama were evacuated, and while their houses survived, it would have been difficult to leave our camper during the storm, and equally as difficult to try to move it through all that mud. The other location was also flooded. So we feel that the Lord kept us safe. We did have a river running under our camper for a week or two...but it wasn't dangerous, just inconvenient. |
We were very relieved recently to finish our work in producing 3 videos that
were part of a joint hymn project we completed with the Sing and Play His
Praises Orchestra and Choir of Missouri. Much of the final work on the
videos was accomplished during Hurricane Alex. The city of Monterrey was
at a stand still and with a river running under our house we were not able to
do much either, so it was a good time to catch up on computer work. After
final approval by orchestra members we hope to make them available in an
effort to encourage others to make God centered music that is special with
their children. We think that many will find the mini-documentary interesting
and inspiring.
were part of a joint hymn project we completed with the Sing and Play His
Praises Orchestra and Choir of Missouri. Much of the final work on the
videos was accomplished during Hurricane Alex. The city of Monterrey was
at a stand still and with a river running under our house we were not able to
do much either, so it was a good time to catch up on computer work. After
final approval by orchestra members we hope to make them available in an
effort to encourage others to make God centered music that is special with
their children. We think that many will find the mini-documentary interesting
and inspiring.
Quick Summary
| Home School Group in Missouri Making of 3 Videos |
We appreciate your prayers and thoughts for all of the children and families
we work with. Resources are very slim and there are many challenging
situations....but there are also many encouraging moments of beauty and
Christian fellowship.
As always we hope to hear from you all. We appreciate any news from back in
the states. May God watch over and bless all of you in a special way.
Love from all of us,
Chris, Coleen, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jonathan, and Samuel
we work with. Resources are very slim and there are many challenging
situations....but there are also many encouraging moments of beauty and
Christian fellowship.
As always we hope to hear from you all. We appreciate any news from back in
the states. May God watch over and bless all of you in a special way.
Love from all of us,
Chris, Coleen, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jonathan, and Samuel
| Conclusion |
| Our Return to Pharr, Texas |
| As we made our way to Pharr, Texas we had a chance to visit some families that have always been special to us. Some of you have continued to remember us in your prayers and thoughts for many years and that is very meaningful to us. We hope and pray that God keeps all of you well and safe until we have another opportunity to meet again.. |
One of our first priorities when we arrived in Pharr, Texas was to visit the
group of children we had started there 5 or 6 months earlier. It is always
difficult for a new little group to survive and progress once we leave, and we
worry sometimes that families or children will become discouraged. But in
every location in the US, Guatemala, or Mexico there is always a remnant of
very determined special families that holds strong. It was good to see the
children and families of Pharr again. While some had become discouraged
they actually came together quickly and became stronger than before with a
couple of new participants, which is always something encouraging to see. We
were able to host their first little concert and participate in several practices.
We are very grateful to Ms. O'neil who was able to give them some
encouragement. Pray for this little group -- they very much need more adult
involvement and a firm established meeting place where they will be welcome.
group of children we had started there 5 or 6 months earlier. It is always
difficult for a new little group to survive and progress once we leave, and we
worry sometimes that families or children will become discouraged. But in
every location in the US, Guatemala, or Mexico there is always a remnant of
very determined special families that holds strong. It was good to see the
children and families of Pharr again. While some had become discouraged
they actually came together quickly and became stronger than before with a
couple of new participants, which is always something encouraging to see. We
were able to host their first little concert and participate in several practices.
We are very grateful to Ms. O'neil who was able to give them some
encouragement. Pray for this little group -- they very much need more adult
involvement and a firm established meeting place where they will be welcome.
| Repairs |
| Guatemala Travel Plans |
| Continuing to Build the Music & Video Libraries |
| Sarah & Jonathan's Baptism |
A few days ago the 3 groups we started in Guatemala met for a weekend. They
received the award buttons and t-shirts we had sent to them from Missouri.
We made a series of videos for them to watch during their time together to
help them with several them to learn.(In Spanish) We finally finished the
documentary of the home school orchestra in Missouri as well to encourage
others to start their own music program.
received the award buttons and t-shirts we had sent to them from Missouri.
We made a series of videos for them to watch during their time together to
help them with several them to learn.(In Spanish) We finally finished the
documentary of the home school orchestra in Missouri as well to encourage
others to start their own music program.
| Sarah and Jonathan have been asking for some time when they could be baptized. We decided that are old enough to understand the meaning of it. They both wanted Pastor Long to be the one to baptize them. So on July 11 they publicly professed their faith and were baptized. The Union Church here in Monterrey has been a great encouragement to us. Elizabeth sang a solo that morning...It was a very special day for all of us. We really appreciate Pastor Dave and Sue Long... Our whole family has been greatly encouraged by them and by their congregation. On our next video I will include a part of their baptism. |
We would like to leave for Guatemala as soon as we are done here in
Monterrey if we are able but as of yet we are short on funds for gasoline and
supplies for the trip. We really should replace the tires on the camper before we
go as the tires are very worn and the road is very rough. We are anxious to
return to the groups that we started 2 years ago. We have kept in touch with
them by telephone but really would like to be able to reconnect with them. If
anyone is interested in helping with these needs see our Current Needs page.
Monterrey if we are able but as of yet we are short on funds for gasoline and
supplies for the trip. We really should replace the tires on the camper before we
go as the tires are very worn and the road is very rough. We are anxious to
return to the groups that we started 2 years ago. We have kept in touch with
them by telephone but really would like to be able to reconnect with them. If
anyone is interested in helping with these needs see our Current Needs page.
Sometime in June Chris noticed a small spot on his left thigh was going numb,
especially at night. He had a blood test which was nearly normal. He then saw a
neurologist who diagnosed it as a pinched nerve. After a few days it got much
bigger and he had a lot of trouble sleeping at night. The only mystery is why it is
pinched. The neurologist ordered an a MRI... which we delayed due to lack of
funds. We plan to continue with it soon. The important thing is to rule out some
type of growth that could be pressing on the nerve. Please keep this in your
prayers.Medical issued are always a bit alarming.
especially at night. He had a blood test which was nearly normal. He then saw a
neurologist who diagnosed it as a pinched nerve. After a few days it got much
bigger and he had a lot of trouble sleeping at night. The only mystery is why it is
pinched. The neurologist ordered an a MRI... which we delayed due to lack of
funds. We plan to continue with it soon. The important thing is to rule out some
type of growth that could be pressing on the nerve. Please keep this in your
prayers.Medical issued are always a bit alarming.
| Chris's Leg Mystery |
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| If the video is choppy please pause it and wait for it to load before viewing it. |
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