Hola!
Greetings from north of the border! We made it safely in and out of Mexico with no problems whatsoever! We thought about leaving a couple of kids there, but relented at the last minute. So they are all present and accounted for. In all seriousness, it was hard to tear some of them away!
After a few days of traveling in a hot bus, we arrived to an even hotter Mexico. It was 112 degrees the day we crossed the border. Before heading to the Mission, we made an important stop at Pancho's where we enjoyed the authentic Mexican taco stand experience - complete with Mariachi singer and all. With our full stomachs, we headed to the Mission. That night was mostly about getting settled and oriented. Rich and Jon, the guys that look after the orphans - filled us in on all the necessities - what to do if you see a rattle snake, or a tarantula and explain what jobs we would be taking on while we stay there.
Responsibilities where broken up in such a way that everyone got a chance to put in some hard labor, as well as a chance to have some hands-on time with the orphans. The hard labor included everything from raking, pulling weeds, disassembling and cleaning a stove, cleaning bathrooms... The list goes on and on. Working with the orphans encompassed feeding them, swimming with them, changing their diapers, putting them down for bed and everything in between. The kids did us proud. It's not easy to keep on plugging away in a hot field with a smile on your face, or to help with a disabled person as you feel totally out-of-your-league. But they did! The staff members at the Mission kept talking about how blessed and refreshed they were by our kids being there and contributing to that ministry.
This update is being typed partly on a bus and partly in a hotel BINGO room. The bus ride back was a pretty cool debriefing time. It's so col to hear them talk about what the Lord showed them , how much they really fell in love with the orphans and how little it bothered them to change a diaper when they felt so much love for the ones they were helping. It is a blessing i can't describe to hear them talk about these orphans with such sincere love.
Jim shared this morning (now yesterday morning technically) about the lessons that can be learned just two days at that unique place. He talked about the blisters he had on his hands, and how it reminded him of the nail holes in Jesus' hands, how we all spent hours sweating in the hot sun, while Jesus sweat drops of blood in His agony, how we picked thorns out of our hands when our savior had thorns pressed into His brow. It was a perfect end to our time with these precious loved ones. The lessons these orphans have taught people over the years are potent and countless. It's a blessing to see our kids touched by those who are truly helpless. Only in God's economy could a little group of handicapped guys and girls have such a powerful and eternal impact.
So now we are off to Burbank where we will stay for the next couple nights.
We should be getting more regular posting out now that we have reception and are out of Mexico. WE ARE AGAIN SORRY FOR NOT POSTING REGULARLY, I AM TRYING TO UPDATE THE BLOG EVERY DAY NOW, SO KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR NEW POSTS!
Thank you for your prayers for the kids on the trips, we have already been blessed in so many ways!
Until next time-
God Bless!