Wednesday and Thursday - Playing Hard and Working Harder

The last two days have been full ones - full of awesome food, full of the love of Christ for these amazing kids and caregivers, and full of hard work getting our projects done!

Plenty of Chicken Dancing in the music station

The crayons and coloring books were a HUGE hit!

Everybody got to pick out their own coloring book and pack of crayons - these smiles show what a treat that was!

We played some soccer (yes, there was holding)

And some kickball

The kids had a blast designing their own hats

And we had a blast helping them

Ta dah!

And we even did a little Bunny Hopping!

We had an extra special treat on Wednesday and got to visit the new home of three young ladies from Hogar de Amor. Hogar de Amor continues to support these young folks even after they graduate from high school (amazing!) and these women are in university studying psychology and education.

They just moved into a newly donated house and were thrilled to host us for a dessert and show us around. It was awesome to see how Hogar de Amor stays with these kids and continues to encourage them as they launch into adulthood.

Oh, and we continue to eat well. Very well.

On Wednesday night we were invited to a party at Casa Galondrinas. It was a perfect fiesta - lots of rowdy games, a piñata, great food, and wonderful friends.

This is a game of "roosters" where each participant has a balloon tied around their ankle and everybody goes around stomping balloons until only one contestant remains. It's quite the workout!

The piñatas were a big "hit"

And there was lots of work to be had as we tried our darndest to complete all of our projects. We painted, we sewed, we welded, and we did it all with full hearts and mostly no grumbling :)

This team made it through some very hot, very challenging days and did it all for the glory of God and for the love of these kids. If you are friends or family to anybody on this trip, you have a lot to be proud of.

Paint, paint, painting

Almost done, now to start on the back!

Julie takes care of the finishing touches!

We also took on some smaller painting projects in Casa Matriz. Here we have 4 youth madly trying to add a new coat of paint to the infirmary, which badly needed some sprucing up.

It looks so bright now!

We also painted some Matriz ceilings

One of the volunteer rooms hadn't been painted in many moons (decades?) so we also took some time to make it worthy of the folks who dedicate their time to Hogar de Amor. The ceilings were... challenging... to the taller members of the team.

But the smaller team members loved painting a room that was just their size!

And team sewing took on a project to make plastic mattress covers for 18 baby beds in Casa Cuna (the baby house).

Dueling sewing machines

Ben delivers the completed girls' mattress covers

Cutting new curtains for Casa Matriz

Down to the wire trying to finish those curtains before dinner!

We are blessed to have a welder on the team. Shane and Pablo, one of the pastors of Grupo Amor, worked together to make an awning for a patio at Casa Galondrinas.

We've had long, hard, hot, and very rewarding days here at Hogar de Amor. As our trip comes to a close, please join us in prayer that

• our work impacts each child and caregiver's life here in a positive way and that they would know and feel God's love through our work
• our lives are transformed through this week of service - that we bring back to Utah a new passion for loving people as we have loved and been loved here at Hogar de Amor

Tuesday - The Projects Continue

Day 2 of work here at Hogar de Amor is complete! Our projects overall were much smoother today and we were able to make good progress on all of them.

The team at the Esparanza house pretty much finished the fence up so that now it's armadillo-proof and also mixed and laid concrete inside a toolshed that got all muddy during the rainy season.

The Experanza crew (minus Dan, taking the photo) with Pepe and his houseparents

Esparanza got some amazing volcano views today!

Brock, the concrete champ

Ben, Laney, and Shane secure the fence

Projects in the main Hogar de Amor compound also made good progress. The little house is about 2/3 painted and it looks great!

And Team Sewing moved onto the second project, making mattress covers for Casa Cuna (the baby house).

We had a fun privilege this evening and visited Adonai, the private school run by Grupo Amor where the kids attend school.

Adonai is a private school with about 700 students ranging from preschool through high school. The income from the local kids who attend goes to pay the tuition of the orphanage kids, which is huge because it means that these kids are getting an awesome education! It's just one more of the amazing things that Grupo Amor does to be sure that they're impacting their community for good and for Christ and also doing the very best they can for the kids of Hogar de Amor.

On the bus, headed for school

The end of the school day

And, of course, we were sure to reserve time to play with the kids and do crafts and activities together.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers for the trip. So far, we have had a blessedly smooth and healthy trip! Please pray for:

• The health of the team - we are so grateful that we are all healthy! Please pray that our bodies stay strong and our energy stays high.
• The fortitude of the team - Wednesday can be a hard day. We're tired, nothing seems like we're really going to finish it in just 1 more day, the weather's hot, and it's easy for tempers to flare or spirits to sag. In this midpoint of the trip, please pray that we continue to be gracious to each other and work with our whole hearts.
• That we would each make a special relationship here in Colima - whether it's with a kid, a caregiver, or even another team member, pray that we would connect tomorrow with another brother or sister in Christ in a special way.

Sunday's Playtime and Monday's Work

The past 48 hours brought two beautiful days - one nice quiet tourist day and one hard-working one! And, of course, both were just perfect.

We started Sunday with church service at Grupo Amor. We may not understand much of the sermon, but we sure love worshiping together!

Then we headed out to the country for a beautiful view and delicious lunch

Team photo!

And lastly the members of our team who haven't been to Hogar de Amor yet took an orphanage tour, complete with plenty of playtime.

And Monday was here before we knew it! Monday was our first full work day and like every work day at Hogar de Amor it included both time with the kids doing activities together and time spent making the homes as attractive and functional as possible for the orphans and their caregivers.

Activity time is super fun because the kids love it (of course!), we love being with the kids (double of course!) and it gives the caregivers some time when we can take care of the kids and they can kick their feet up. It's a really special way that we can bless these amazing caregivers who work so hard with a little time to relax.

The sports station made good use of the parachute today

In crafts the kids made nametags that they'll (hopefully) wear all week so we remember each child's name

And in games they made candy towers...

...and everybody had a great time with the Chicken Dance!

Stephen gave his transfixed crowd a short yo-yo exhibition

And then it was time to get to work! We have several projects that we hope to finish this week. We'll paint, we'll sew, we'll mend some (literal) fences, and we'll do whatever the houseparents want to make these houses even more lovely and functional.

Painting time!

This year's sewing projects started with transforming flat sheets into fitted sheets

This year we have the pleasure of working at a home we haven't visited before in the neighboring town of Esperanza. Esperanza is home to 11 kids and they have a problem - believe it or not, armadillos keep coming under the fence and entering the yard!

So we are working to lower and secure the fence and keep it armadillo-proof. And we're also hoping to see an armadillo in the process.

Check out the view from Esparanza - wow!

Working on the fence

Tonight we went to one of our favorite taquerias. There's a park by the taqueria, so while our food was cooking the kids took a ride on one of our favorite park features. We call it the Death Swing. We do not believe that anybody has yet died on the swing but it's only a matter of time.

And now we're hitting the hay with full hearts, happy tummies, and very tired bodies!

Please join us in prayer for the rest of the week - your prayers mean so much to us and we believe they are powerful and effective!

• We would dearly love to get all of the projects we're working on done this week. It's a lot - please pray that project planning and logistics go smoothly, that supplies are plentiful, and that projects don't get blocked or delayed so that we can make the most of our time here.
• Please continue to pray for the health of each team member. Pray that our bodies would be strong, our sleep deep, and that we can give our very best work for Hogar de Amor.
• The team has been working so hard and pitching in on every task. Please pray that this spirit of sacrifice and teamwork would continue and that each team member would give his best for the Lord, for the team, and for the kids and caregivers of Hogar de Amor.

Saturday - We are here, well-fed, and ready for bed!

After a 1 hour car ride, 3.5 hour plane flight, 20 minute taxi ride, 2.5 hour bus ride, and 10 minute taxi ride we are happy and grateful to report that the team is here!

And after 8 tacos al pastor, 8 tacos de chorzo, 8 steak tacos, 4 tacos de lengua, 8 quesadillas sencillas, 8 helpings of twice-baked potatoes, 8 gringas al pastor, and an unknown number of churros, we are one happy team.

Tomorrow brings church, and orphanage tour, a drive in the countryside, and preparations for our first full day of work.

The crew, looking good and ready to go at the Salt Lake Airport

The view of the volcano from the bus

Eating... a lot of tacos

Buying new treasures (a bubble blowing set)

And eating... a lot of churros

Please join us in prayer that:

• We are able to successfully navigate the city and countryside. This is our first trip without our trusty driver Peter and we could definitely use extra prayers that we get to where we want to go! Pray for safe travels, clear heads, and keen senses of direction.
• Our bodies stay healthy and we get great rest.
• The awesome sense of teamwork and camaraderie that the team has shown in these first few hours in Mexico would continue and magnify. Each member of the team is showing beautiful consideration for the others - they are such a blessing already! 

Estamos Listos!

It's go time for Colima 2016!

Dan and I arrived Wednesday night and have been prepping projects, gathering supplies, and are so excited for the rest of the team to arrive tomorrow!

So far, we have prepped painting, concrete, painting, welding, and painting (have we mentioned that?) projects for the team, in addition to a TON of sewing work. Thanks to everybody who has supported the trip financially. Today we purchased about $600 worth of wood, steel, paint, and fabric for the orphanage projects this week - your dollars sure make a big difference in the lives of these kids!

We bought about 120 meters of cloth today - we are ready for our sewing projects!

We also made a few candy purchases, you know, to keep our energy up.

The team flies in tomorrow. Please join us in prayer that:

• Travel is easy and there are no delays, customs issues, or immigration headaches
• Everybody's bodies are healthy, strong, and well-rested for the week
• God would prepare our hearts for the work he is planning to do in us and through us this week!

Almost Go Time

We've been planning, preparing, applying for passports, writing support letters, buying plane tickets, collecting donations, studying our Spanish, and praying, praying, praying and the time is almost here - it's almost time to go to Mexico!

This Sunday was our dedication Sunday where our friends and family at CenterPoint Church sent us off with prayers and their well-wishes and on April 2nd we board the plane headed for Colima.

We are so excited to go serve the kids and caregivers of Hogar de Amor. And we are grateful for your prayers and support. If you'd like to support the trip with donations, directions are posted on the "How Can I Help?" page.

Here are some prayer requests as we finish our final preparations:

• A spirit of teamwork and service would infuse everything we do in Mexico.
• Our families, church family, friends, and community would know that they are an integral part of this trip through their encouragement, prayer, and financial support.
• Both we and those we serve will be transformed through our service.
• Logistics simply work.  That health, transportation, lodging, dining, planning around our work projects, and the myriad of other details would reinforce, never detract from, God's work in and through us.