Monday - Projects Day 1

Today was the first day of activities with the kids and the beginning of our work projects.  We began with a craft project where the kids decorated their own canvas tote bag, that could be used for school books or to hold things on their beds.  We had fabric markers and lots of bling stick on's to fancy them up. :)  Mark even started a new fashion trend the kids all loved!

Our sports activity today was 9 square in the air, which is a game the North Carolina team brought down and the kids really haven't stopped playing it since, they absolutely love it....

After clean-up we started on our projects, part of the team is finishing up a project started by Team One, sealing the roof of Casa Famoso.  They are also painting the outside 3 staircases. The other half of our team, worked at the main orphanage today doing some paint repair at Casa Leonel and painting the room the visiting Dentist uses as his clinic. 

We will also be painting the office building at Casa Matriz on the outside which is a big project we are hoping to complete by Thursday. Everyone is working very well together and we are really enjoying this time to serve and love on our family here.

We are so thankful for the time we are able to spend with the children and look forward to seeing them tomorrow!

Sunday in Colima

Team Two, Day One

Today was our first full day as a team, it started out with our second Spring Forward for the year, yes we lost another hour of sleep! 

We attended church and loved the worship today, it really drew you in.  The majority of us do not speak, or sing, Spanish but many of the songs are the worship songs we know only the words are in Spanish and you could feel the heart of the worship.  The message seemed very intense, the congregation was very quiet and non-responsive at times, and the Pastor seemed very serious.  When we were back at the hotel tonight discussing our day, one of our team members that is fluent in Spanish shared with us his notes from the message.  It was a very intense message, calling us to live our faith, and specifically the men of the congregation.

After church we took a group of 11 boys from the Adoloscentes home, and 11 girls from the Senorita's House, and one of the young ladies who was raised in the Orphanage and continues to live there helping with the children. We went up into the country to Monte Real restaurant, for a wonderful Carne Asada lunch!  We enjoyed this time with these kids so much.

After returning to the Orphanage, Stephan took some of our new team members on a short tour of the different homes and gave a history of the homes. 

We finished the day off with a party with the caregivers and kids of Casa Famoso and Casa Golondrina's.  We were treated to some home made tamales made by the Papa of the Famoso house, Antonio.  They were some of the best tamales our group had ever had and his home made salsa should be bottled and shipped home! Muy Caliente!!

Please pray for health and safety for our team as we start our projects tomorrow!

Friday trip to the lake and Comala, saying Adios

We finished off our last day before heading home with a trip to a local lake and then a visit to the small Comala.  While at the lake the team had the opportunity to paddle board, kayak, go for a hike or just relax and enjoy each other company.

After our day of play and relaxation we got to go to Casa Matriz eat dinner and do everyone's favorite activity, spend time with the kids and care givers before bedtime.

Week 1 at Casa Matriz

This smile says it all, we love our Hogar de Amor family in Colima

 As week 1 team's time in Colima has come to a close for this trip please keep this beautiful place in your hearts.  What they do here is truly amazing giving these children a chance to gown and know Gods love.  Please keep Hogar de Amor in your prayers through the year so that the kids and staff may have good health, safety, happiness, and know how very much they are loved and thought of on a daily basis .

do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

                                                                                                       Philippians 2:4

Thursday: Projects day 4

 Today was week 1 teams's final day of projects.  The kids were being treated to a movie today by a local theater so we did not get to have activity time with them this morning prior to beginning our work.  We pushed hard to be able to complete and see the end result of this week's work, as you can see below many hands guided by God can accomplish much!

We got some cute help painting furniture

CenterPoint artists hard at work

So much painting to to in the multipurpose room

Part of  the sewing team with the new curtains they made for Casa Leonel

cleaned and organized bodega

What was cleaned out of the bodega

Painting Casa Golondrinas

Please pray with us that even though we have finished these projects the kids and staff of the Hogar de Amor homes will continue to feel surrounded by love each day and feel just a little more joy when they look at their fresher surroundings.