Wednesday and Thursday- Finishing up our Projects

Wednesday continued with fun activities in the morning.  In the craft area, the children all made really cool foam frames for the pictures that our professional photographer Sam, took for them with his polaroid camera.  We placed magnets on the back so they could hang them on their metal bunk bed frames. As orphans many do not have pictures of themselves, so they loved creating these to put on their beds.

Creative Artists

Sam the official photographer

Perfecto!

There was also lots of music and games going on!

Karlie leading out

Juan having fun

Yum- fruit snacks

While Soccer or Futbol was also being played in the field. :)

We all continued on our projects until we left to head over to Casa Famoso who graciously provided us all a delicious lunch, of ribs and rice, bean soup and watermelon with a birthday cake to top it all off for Jamie's birthday! :)

Ben and Mark hard at work on screens

Lots of painting to complete

So many clothes to sort

Brick pavers being laid

Ryan finishing off the door and half-wall that was done

Beautiful new curtains for Casa Galondrinas

Delicious lunch

After lunch we returned to Casa Matriz and our projects until we stopped for the evening. Those who had any spare energy, headed into downtown Colima's shopping market for some souvenir shopping, before we all came together again at the Orphanage and had a party for the children. :)  There was pizza, spaghetti and another birthday cake for Jamie.  All the kids sang her happy birthday and managed to smash her face into the cake when she took the first bite!

Little Caesars for the win!!

Julie and Ashley

Push-up challenge

All the boys loved watching themselves in slow motion video

Lenzie is the arm wrestle champ!!

What ends a party better than 3 pinatas filled with candy?! The kids had so much fun taking turns trying to destroy them and get to the treats inside.  We even had some heavy hitters on our team that helped to that end. :)

Today brings our last full day of work at the orphanage and we are busily trying to finish up all of our projects they requested to help make life easier for them.  There is a whole lot of painting, patio paver laying, cabinet repair, sewing and screen replacement going on at a frenzied pace. :)

 Please continue to pray for strength and endurance for our team, as we put in long days in the very hot sun. It is very draining, but also extremely rewarding at the same time. 

"You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16




 

Tuesday- Day 2 of projects

Day 2 is now complete and with it we are continuing to make good progress on many of our projects that were started yesterday! There is lots of sewing, painting and screen repair going on, as well as the door that was being framed and hung being completed today!! ;)

Two completed brand new window screens

Karlie and Karen's mad painting skills

Jenny has been sewing non-stop

We also had lots of fun this morning with the children doing crafts, games and music activities! They had fun doing chalk-art ornaments and keeping their balloons in the air during music time, as well as playing musical chairs. 

They loved this!

Brock and Devin leading the way

Budding Artists

 

 

The Boy's all loved the robot

This evening we were given the privilege to go back to the orphanage for dinner with the caregivers. We were treated to bottomless tostadas and were delicious!  The children arrived back from school around 8:00 pm and we had a very special worship and prayer time with them (with of course lots of hugs and laughter). 

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for this trip.  So far we have all been blessed with good health and lots of energy to complete our tasks.  Please pray that this continues and that we finish out the week strong, able to complete all of the jobs necessary to bless Hogar de Amor.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5

Monday Funday!

Wow, what an amazing and full day we had our first full day interacting, playing, laughing and serving the children of Hogar de Amor! We started the day with games, music and singing and crafts. 

There was also a whole lot of fun rope swinging going on!

They all had fun crafting and creating cool name badges to help us newbies to get to know their names. One of the things that has really touched my heart as a first-timer, is seeing these children come running up to those who have been on the trips before us and knowing their names and the HUGE hugs they give out!!

Once the fun and games were over and the children were preparing for school, our work projects began in earnest.  There was a patio laid with dirt, sand and lots of paver's.  Window screens to be replaced (thank you - you tube videos!), a door being framed and hung and lots of beautiful curtains started and in process.  And that's just day one!!

We headed out tonight to a taco stand that has been a past favorite and were not disappointed by the many different types of tacos we devoured. :) Carne Asada, Tongue, Cherizo and some sort of meat and potato dish that you roll into a tortilla as well. Very delicious!  Afterwards, we went to a beautiful park where the kids all tried to make each other as dizzy as possible in this Mexican Merry Go Round, for lack of a better term. :)

Our first day in the books, and can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! Please continue to pray for our time here in Colima, we value your prayers so much.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4-16

Saturday and Sunday- Travel and Tour

After 3 forms of transportation, car, air and bus, our team (and all of our luggage, yay!) arrived in Colima just in time to drop our things in our rooms and head out to downtown Colima for a nice dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Traveling can work up quite the appetite and we were happy to partake of some of the local food.  The most popular items were the ribs, enchiladas and quesadilla's! 

We went to the countryside outside Colima and were able to see the Volcano a little closer! We were blessed to take along the house parents from the different houses of Hogar de Amor.  They are so filled with love for these children, and are truly doing God's work here. 

Please pray for our teams tomorrow as we engage with the children through all of the activities, sports and crafts.  Pray for health, endurance to pace ourselves and stay well hydrated in the heat, and that we would all build lasting bonds through our service here.

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

All prepped and ready to go!

As we are down to T minus one day until we all head out for Colima, Mexico, our hearts are filled with thanks and gratitude for all of those who so generously donated all of the items and funding for us to bless the children and caregivers of Hogar de Amor!

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 1st we board the plane headed for Colima.  

Jamie, Dan and Scott left this past Wednesday as part of an advance group on the ground to prepare logistics for the larger group heading out Saturday.  They made if safely and we look forward to joining them soon!

Here are a few final prayer requests as we finish our trip preparations:

• Safe travels to and from Colima for the duration of the trip
• A spirit of teamwork and service would be evident in everything we do in Mexico
• That God will use this time to show himself both to us and those we encounter

For you are called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13

Countdown is on - Prayer Requests

Hard to believe we are less than a month away from heading out for Hogar de Amor and serving the children and caregivers at the orphanage!  We have been busy preparing our hearts and minds to serve and would like to ask for your prayers for our group as the time gets closer and preparations get more busy.

Here is a list of things that you might consider praying for before we leave and while we are gone:

• prepare our hearts individually for what He wants us to do in Mexico - and that our learning, growing, and stretching would begin even now!
• prepare the staff of Hogar de Amor for our visit - thinking of ways to use us, but more importantly prompting them with ways we can be and serve together and learn from them
• protect our bodies, minds, and spirits while in Mexico from any harm, temper, sickness, accident, violence and fatigue
• work in the team dynamics, bonding us together as the body of Christ. That we would love each other well, and discuss any issues quickly in truth and love
• make logistics smooth, easy and never an issue :)
• continually refresh and equip Jamie as she chases down all the logistics and handles all of the changes, trying to smooth the way for the team. Please pray for her stress level as this is a huge task!
• open up chances to just be with, fellowship with, learn from, and enjoy the caregivers and kids

One thing is for sure, we will not be hard to spot at the airport because we will all be wearing these cool shirts!

Front of Shirt

Back of Shirt