Hola mis amigos!
Yesterday the van got fixed (it needed a new engine) the adult leaders and youth decided the money which was allocated to build a tool shed was better spent on the repair of the van. The director, Candi and assistant director, Lulu spend the majority of their day driving kids to / from the Children's Home, school and this time of year, picking them up for Vacation Bible School (VBS) and running errands. So yesterday when it was time to pick up the children for VBS, I took the truck and picked up children in the closest village to the Home (Venadillo) - there was great excitement as I drove - children were lined up in the streets waiting to be picked up to be able to spend 3+ hrs here to play, sing, and have fun while learning about the Good News of Jesus! Candi took 2 trips to Felicidades to pick up the rest of the children - we had over 70 kids at the VBS!! Our craft team had taken individual photos of all the children and printed them on our photo printer we brought down to the Home. For many it was their first photo they ever had of themselves!!! It was fun watching them look at their photos!!! They then put them in their EBV (VBS) 2010 backpacks we gave them!! We have the kids in 4 age groups (5-7 yrs, 8-9 yrs, 10-11 yrs and 12-14 yrs) and they are also in color categories for their name tags and backpacks. This makes it easier for all of us to help them stay in their groups. All 4 of our VBS teams have been doing a terrific job of facilitating their groups - I'm so proud of our U.S. Team!!!
Late last night/early this morning we had a BIG thunder and lightning storm which lasted about 1 1/2 hrs...(but seemed to be forever) - I have never seen the lightning so bright or the thunder so LOUD!! I left at 640am to head to go shopping for additional items for the health kits the children will be making today for the craft station - our youth wanted the children to make one for themselves and a 2nd one to give to someone else, so they can share the Good News of Jesus with another person. I then stopped by Office Depot to make more copies of our worship service/VBS program for Sunday. By the time I got back our US team had finished breakfast and were heading on an excursion to Icebox Hill (the highest point in Mazatlan mainland) to get an overview of the city and then to stop by the downtown market. I decided to stay back and catch up on the blog (including adding photos to previous days). The children from the Home have been busy sweeping and cleaning up from the storm last night (our youth have been doing most of the chores lately, but their director feels it's important for the children to also be doing chores while we are here.) Juan y Luis Alejandro even washed my truck!!! There is a cool breeze this morning (very unusual as it's usually the hottest and most humid in the morning) the sounds I hear are 2 boys jumping on the trampoline (brinkoline), 4 children sweeping and the pump filling up the cistern.
It's hard to believe AJ and I have been here for 3 weeks - in a way it reminds me of being an exchange student - living in a country doing/eating/sleeping the way people sleep. I am grateful we have air conditioning at home, though I really doubt if we'll use it when we return - the dry heat of Utah will feel so much cooler than the humid heat down here. We head home Tuesday. Until then we have 2 more days of VBS. Tomorrow morning we are going out to eat brunch (first restaurant experience for our group) afterwards we are giving each youth $50 pesos (approx $5) and will break into small groups to go "shopping". They are to find an item for $50 pesos or less which represents this experience for them. When we return to the Home, we will all take turns explaining the items we purchased and how the items will remind us of this time together. Monday we are taking the 70 children from VBS plus the adults who helped out and our group to a water park. This is a small waterpark (the only one who gives us a discount for the Home) it has several small pools.
Oh - did I mention that our Craft Team Translator, is AMAZING?? She is a Kindergarten teacher with 2 small boys and does so well with the children - our craft team is grateful for her help!! Our 2nd translator - Alberto helps out with our Bible team and is also enjoying himself. They are both wonderful Christians and I feel God brought them to this Home and they are committed to working with these children! We also have Alberto's wife, Diana and several parents who help with the various age groups. Molly and Steve (from Minnesota) have been helping us out as well. GOD IS SO GOOD TO US!!!!!
In Christ's Love and thankfulness for your prayers and support,
Barb
Yesterday the van got fixed (it needed a new engine) the adult leaders and youth decided the money which was allocated to build a tool shed was better spent on the repair of the van. The director, Candi and assistant director, Lulu spend the majority of their day driving kids to / from the Children's Home, school and this time of year, picking them up for Vacation Bible School (VBS) and running errands. So yesterday when it was time to pick up the children for VBS, I took the truck and picked up children in the closest village to the Home (Venadillo) - there was great excitement as I drove - children were lined up in the streets waiting to be picked up to be able to spend 3+ hrs here to play, sing, and have fun while learning about the Good News of Jesus! Candi took 2 trips to Felicidades to pick up the rest of the children - we had over 70 kids at the VBS!! Our craft team had taken individual photos of all the children and printed them on our photo printer we brought down to the Home. For many it was their first photo they ever had of themselves!!! It was fun watching them look at their photos!!! They then put them in their EBV (VBS) 2010 backpacks we gave them!! We have the kids in 4 age groups (5-7 yrs, 8-9 yrs, 10-11 yrs and 12-14 yrs) and they are also in color categories for their name tags and backpacks. This makes it easier for all of us to help them stay in their groups. All 4 of our VBS teams have been doing a terrific job of facilitating their groups - I'm so proud of our U.S. Team!!!
Late last night/early this morning we had a BIG thunder and lightning storm which lasted about 1 1/2 hrs...(but seemed to be forever) - I have never seen the lightning so bright or the thunder so LOUD!! I left at 640am to head to go shopping for additional items for the health kits the children will be making today for the craft station - our youth wanted the children to make one for themselves and a 2nd one to give to someone else, so they can share the Good News of Jesus with another person. I then stopped by Office Depot to make more copies of our worship service/VBS program for Sunday. By the time I got back our US team had finished breakfast and were heading on an excursion to Icebox Hill (the highest point in Mazatlan mainland) to get an overview of the city and then to stop by the downtown market. I decided to stay back and catch up on the blog (including adding photos to previous days). The children from the Home have been busy sweeping and cleaning up from the storm last night (our youth have been doing most of the chores lately, but their director feels it's important for the children to also be doing chores while we are here.) Juan y Luis Alejandro even washed my truck!!! There is a cool breeze this morning (very unusual as it's usually the hottest and most humid in the morning) the sounds I hear are 2 boys jumping on the trampoline (brinkoline), 4 children sweeping and the pump filling up the cistern.
It's hard to believe AJ and I have been here for 3 weeks - in a way it reminds me of being an exchange student - living in a country doing/eating/sleeping the way people sleep. I am grateful we have air conditioning at home, though I really doubt if we'll use it when we return - the dry heat of Utah will feel so much cooler than the humid heat down here. We head home Tuesday. Until then we have 2 more days of VBS. Tomorrow morning we are going out to eat brunch (first restaurant experience for our group) afterwards we are giving each youth $50 pesos (approx $5) and will break into small groups to go "shopping". They are to find an item for $50 pesos or less which represents this experience for them. When we return to the Home, we will all take turns explaining the items we purchased and how the items will remind us of this time together. Monday we are taking the 70 children from VBS plus the adults who helped out and our group to a water park. This is a small waterpark (the only one who gives us a discount for the Home) it has several small pools.
Oh - did I mention that our Craft Team Translator, is AMAZING?? She is a Kindergarten teacher with 2 small boys and does so well with the children - our craft team is grateful for her help!! Our 2nd translator - Alberto helps out with our Bible team and is also enjoying himself. They are both wonderful Christians and I feel God brought them to this Home and they are committed to working with these children! We also have Alberto's wife, Diana and several parents who help with the various age groups. Molly and Steve (from Minnesota) have been helping us out as well. GOD IS SO GOOD TO US!!!!!
In Christ's Love and thankfulness for your prayers and support,
Barb
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Hola!
I've still been having a good time since I last checked in on the blog. My skin got nice and fried at the beach. I didn't plan on ending up in the water on Stone Island, but I couldn't resist the urge. Boogyboarding was pretty intense and the free drinks were great likewise, also, as well. I love our little excursions every day. For example, yesterday the skit team and I headed over to paint the water pump about a kilometer (being down here for more than a week has made me switch to metrics!) away and the little store is practically across the street from it so we got some delectable treats and such. Today I bought a poncho at the market and some other goodies for my home-bodies.
VBS has been interesting to say the least. My fingers hurt so much from playing 57394 songs every day on guitar with the music team. My favorite age group of the kids are the 8-9 year olds because they are the most enthusiastic with their singing.
Mom, you told me to bring back the most adorable kid here and I've found him. His name is Fernando. He will tell me an unintelligable story in Spanish and act like I understand every word. I want to just stuff him in my suitcase when I'm leaving! And Bryce is going to buy my guitar!
I know I am sort of an outsider to this group and church, but I feel like I've really bonded with these people. We're all friends! It's really great!
I'm having fun and all, but I'm about ready to go home. I miss my family, dog, friends, bed, guitars, etc. Only like two days left if you really think about it! When you really cut out sleeping and everything, it's like 20 minutes!
Signing off,
Tyler Finley [A.K.A. Travis (A.K.A. "El Gigante")
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