Gracias/Thank you :- ) !!

I’m really grateful for the opportunity we had to be able to serve in Cancun for a couple of weeks. This opportunity was an answer to one of my prayers I made some time ago. I prayed that I would have the opportunity to serve in a missions trip in another country but at the same time that it would have to do something involving my major (accounting). God showed me how he can and will use what I’m studying to serve him, which is my desire. The last thing I prayed for was that God would provide financially, God is good and answered my prayer by giving me this opportunity.

Our time is Cancun was a blessing as we learned the needs of the bookstore and how we could serve there. We had some obstacles to get the project started but with God’s help we were able to overcome them and accomplish the project. We learned to work as a team, we had a diverse team from four different countries but we were able to put our ideas together. We worked long hours doing inventory, organizing the bookstore in alphabetical order and by categories, translating and designing the website. We were able to accomplish the main purpose of our trip. Our hope is that God will give the people that work at the bookstore the understanding to keep up with the work that has already been done. My prayer is that God will continue to use the bookstore as a ministry where people are able to come in and receive some word from God, through books, CDs or by the testimony of the people working there. Please continue to keep the bookstore ministry in prayer, that God would guide them, continue to use them and for future projects

I want to thank God that made all of this possible. He gave us the wisdom, perseverance, kept us safe and provided at all times during this trip. I also want to thank everyone that kept us in prayer and all the people that made it all possible. I’m very thankful for the Escobar family for opening their house to us, taking us in and sharing some of their testimonies. Thank you to all the team and professor Muckell. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the team leader.


Gracias

Blessings,

Carolina Simbana : )

My experience: Piero Gorriti

I left Cancun-Mexico last monday ; happy, but at the same time sad because of the friends I've made. This trip its been a great blessing in my life. Even though we have been working behind the scenes, Lord has taught the whole team that what we've been doing is more than just business-related work. More than that we have been working to improve the great ministry that the library offers to the city of Cancun. The different experiences that the owner has told me, about the people that has completely changed for just passing by the library.




Thanks God we've been able to work on the web-page and the inventory the last three weeks, the inventory is almost over, and the web page is almost ready to run. Gavin is working on the gateway payment (PAYPAL) this last days.



Sadly, I had to leave Cancun before everyone else, because I have to go to Peru for two weeks for a mission trip, with my church and visit some family (I am actually already here). The trip to Cancun, was surely an awesome experience, for spiritual growth as well as business related experience. Thanks all for your cooperation, and I am sure that this ministry will be a blessing specially for the people in Cancun.


God Bless,
Piero Gorriti

My Experience - Gavin

Well, here we are, our last day at work and 2 days until we leave. We all agreed that we would update the blog with a short summary of our experiences, so heres mine...

God has really spoken to me during my time here, He has helped me to understand some valuable life lessons. I am a Cross-cultural studies and Business major, so this trip for me was a great insight and good experience. Maybe not enhancing the productivity of a Christian bookstore business, but living in uncomfortable environments, trying to communicate with people and having difficulty understanding each other and having to adjust to other cultures and their ways of life will be things I have to deal with for the rest of my life. God has taught me much patience during my time here. In Cancun; trying to plan or sticking to a schedule is not something they like to do, but God is good, as frustrating as it can be God has helped me to be flexible and available.

At the bookstore, we have accomplished so much. They now have an organized store and stock cupboard. Everything is categorized, alphabetized and tidy. The owners now have an accurate account of how much stock they actually own and a website for selling their products online. Even more so the store owners and employees have been trained how to effectively use the system and keep the store organized.

The store owners and their family have been a complete blessing to us all. Hosting 5 young adults for 3 weeks isn't an easy job. However, Lupita, Mario Snr and Mario Jr have more than taken care of us. They have made this experience better than we expected. I will definitely miss Lupita's amazing dinners!

Just a final Thanks, firstly to the Lord for blessing me with this awesome opportunity. Secondly to the Escobar  family for their great hospitality. Thirdly to my team; Pierro, Carolina, Steph and Farrah, it was fun experiencing this adventure with you guys! Finally to all of you that kept us in your prayers.

Many Thanks and God Bless you all

Gavin :-)

PRAYER NEEDED!!!!

This week is becoming very long, and very tiring... The past 3 days we have spent sitting at a table, on our laptops, researching the products the store owns to upload them online. After entering all the CD's and DVD's on the shelves we have now started on the books. All of this is excluding all of the extra stock that needs to be added from the stock room. Days seem to be dragging because the work can seem very tedious and tiring. Our backs are getting stiff and eyes and hands tired! Also not forgetting that we have now been here for over 2 weeks and we are missing loved ones, Satan is definitely trying to get a foot hold. However, praise be to God, He spoke clearly to me today with this:

He who began a good work in me will be faithful and complete it! Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up....

For the rest of this week we will continue to work hard and try to finish entering in inventory...

You can check out the website at www.libreriaunidadcristiana.com to see our progress!

On another note we are starting to collect injuries here too, Stephanie fell playing basketball and scrapped her knee, Gavin stubbed his toe in the sea and split his toenail, Farrah slipped on the rocks at the beach and scrapped her arm, and just last night Pierro was playing soccer with some locals and hurt his ankle trying to block a shot... PRAY FOR CAROLINA!!!

We would like to ask you all to keep us in your prayers to keep us safe and protected and that God will give us strength to see us through until next Thursday when we leave here and return home.

To loved ones, we love you and are missing you... and to America and England congratulations on making it through to the round of 16 in the World Cup...

Thank you for your prayers to date.

God Bless you all!

Update!

An update of what we have accomplished so far. We started the fourteen day trial with volusion but with the trial we could only upload 100 items of inventory so Monday morning we were able to purchase volusion. We’ve had some technical issues with merging the trial and the program we got but are hoping that by tomorrow it will be able to merge in. The 100 products that we have on the inventory are in with all the details like pictures and prices. Farrah has been able to continue her work on the website and we now have a logo and its looking really good. While we wait to be able to put more inventory in the system Gavin and Steph organized all the CDs in alphabetical order and today we organized ALL the books in categories and also in alphabetical order. Piero and I have been working on translating the website. We have also been trying to figure out what to use for the sales online because of the Mexican laws it’s not as easy but after many calls and long research Piero was able to find one. As soon as we are able to merge with the new program and the trial we hope to add more inventory and complete this project successfully!

Good Job Team! : )

Besides work we have been enjoying the food, the blazzing heat lol, watching soccer games (Go Mexico! tomorrow), our friends (cockroaches and lizards lol): Farrah, Steph and Gavin continue to improve their spanish skills :)



Keep us in your prayers as we continue serving here.

Blessings,

Carolina : )

The past couple of days have been busy.. The team has been working hard doing inventory, we have a long way to go... as of now we reached 100 products in the system, and for the next few weeks we will be working long hours to get as much done as we possibly can.
All I can really say at this point is PLEASE PRAY for us...

Also those of you who have been watching the world cup, I would just like to say GO U.S.A.!!!
we did a great job not letting those english beat us.
Im Proud to be an American!

-Stephanie

For most of today we were all learning new things. The bookstore owners decided that they would like to go with the Volusion system as it would be most beneficial for their business. So we all spent much of today online, chatting to customer services about things we didn't understand. As the working day came to a close, we were clear on how the system works and how we were to go about setting up the system. After leaving the bookstore we headed over to the orphanage where a group of students from Nyack, including Professor Muckell, Gavin, Pierro and Stephanie, came and did some work in January. We can delightfully update that much progression has taken place, even in this blazing heat! The orphanage is looking better and better. We also met Pastor Armando (The guy incharge of the orphanage construction) he is hopefull that the Orpahnage will be in full operation in one year from now. They need to raise about 16,000,000 Peso's (about $1,000,000) to complete it.

Yesterday was the first full day of being at the bookstore and what a wonderfully busy day it was! 
The morning consisted of Mario and his mother explaining the ins and outs of what happens in front as well as behind the scenes at the bookstore. The conclusion of the morning meeting was that Mario's mother (the owner) is the computer, accounting system, inventory keeper, and manager ALL in one. Talk about a lot of numbers to keep in your head..
The afternoon meeting consisted of Pierro and I explaining the accounting/inventry systems the bookstore could invest in to make managing so much easier and organized.
After a very productive day we headed to the hotel zone for a great swim on the beach. It was BEAUTIFUL!
Today starts Day 2 of a fully day at the bookstore where hopefully we can map out a plan for our stay here.


God Bless,

Farrah

the adventure begins!

Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico!

Monday June 7 started very early for all of us as we made it to the airport (Newark) by 4am. Some of us didn't sleep at all, others sleep for an hour and Gavin traveled from London to NJ and the final destination was Cancun. We all made it safely to Cancun by the afternoon. As soon as we stepped out of the airport we were greeted by the blazing sun and humidity. After having some Subway lunch which included some extra ingredients like guacamole and jalapeno Doritos we headed to the YWAM base where we will be staying. We were able to visit the bookstore and we will be having a meeting today to learn more about the business and what we will be doing. We ended our day with some good Mexican food and drinks. So the adventure begins!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers that God will continue to use us and guide us :)

Blessings,

Carolina

Update News

Approximately two weeks ago I have received an e-mail from the General Manager of Kairos Bookstore located in Lima-Peru, one of the biggest bookstores in Lima. He strongly recommends Point of Sale Accounting and Inventory system and also gave us some hints for the designing of the web page. He is been using this accounting system not long ago, and he said this system has been and still very successful for his business. Carolina and I will be working on the translation of the e-mail before we depart from Newark to Cancun, then we will post it on the blog. Please keep us on your prayers. God Bless you,

Piero Gorriti (Member of the Cancun team)

Let the Festivities Begin!

In 12 days five talented students from Nyack College will arrive in Mexico for an unforgettable adventure. In the midst of each of our busy schedules we have been blessed with the opportunity of a life time, a Special Thanks to Dean Underwood for making all of this possible!
Over the past few weeks we have gathered information on new and improved accounting programs and webpage design to advance the technology of this Christian book store. As of right now the program we will most likely use for this company is from http://www.volusion.com/, feel free to check it out!
We are eager to start this new and exciting mission, our departure is quickly creeping up, Old Cancun Christian Bookstore, here we come!



Let the Festivities begin!

God Bless

Mexico Preparations

I just wanted to give all our followers an update as to where we are at right now.
As you may or may not know our team members are:
* Gavin Penny
* Carolina Simbana
* Farrah Michael
* Stephanie Azevedo
* Piero Goritti
We have met to try to figure out and research what accounting/inventory system would be best for us to use for the Christian bookstore. Piero is in communication with some bookstores in Peru who are helping us find good software to use for our project. If anybody knows of any systems like this that are Spanish please let us know.
We have confirmed the dates of our trip - June 7th - July 1st, 2010.
We also know that we will be staying at the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Cancun base, which does have wireless internet so most of us can stay in touch with loved one's by Skype... its cheaper!
We will be meeting with Professor Muckell soon to give him some feedback on our research and to try to pick a system that would work best for our project.
We have made communication with Mario, the director of YWAM Cancun, trying to finalize what we have to work with at the store and what we need to purchase and set up.
So progress is taking place. We would like to ask for you all to keep our trip in prayer. We ask that you pray for our safety, provision and protection, and that the project will be a complete success. God has been so good to us so far and we are all excited to see how he uses us throughout this trip - especially since 3 of us don't speak a word of Spanish :-)