3 of my days... i will write about the days before soon.. sorry im behind!

September 27, 2009- Saturday- Day 39

I woke up good time and got ready for church. The night before I had a horrible bloody nose that lasted for like 30 minutes. I hadn’t had one in years… it was gross but I prayed that God would heal me and I did good today.

It seemed that no one was ready on time and completely running late for everything. I waited and talked some of the older boys about the bike ride they did yesterday. Finally we headed to church and were like 20 minutes late… we got there for there last song in worship. But I knew the song! I was so excited… it was worthy is the Lamb. I sang with all of my heart and the teen girls looked at me but I didn’t care. Church was good… I only understand bits and pieces so I struggle through it. I notice that I get distracted cause I cant understand then I look over and some of the people i'm with are laughing at me struggling to understand. At the end we sang mighty to save and then headed to the van.

I was so tired when we got back I started to fall asleep on the bench outside so I told Emily that I would take a nap and she could wake me up when lunch was ready. She came but I slept through lunch then she came again to ask if I wanted to go to the Hospice. Then I finally got up… I don’t know why but I was so tired.

The older kids wanted to go with us to the Hospice… some had been they’re before but they wanted to see what we were going to everyday. We brought 4 girls and Bulmaro… I could tell by some of their faces that this was definitely tough for them to see. I noticed that I was super happy to be there! These people are not patients to me but they are my friends. They call me Tonya cause Tenielle is to tough for them… and they always talk about me playing guitar and singing. If I don’t have my guitar that is all they will talk about. I promised them that when I come back this week that I will bring it. Bulmaro seemed to take it kind of hard… it was to tough for him to see all of it. Personally most of the people where doing great today and seemed really smiling. One guy was outside that hadn’t been in along time and one guy was walking better. I was super happy and smiling today… I just felt so filled being there.

There is this older guy who is super sweet and he was sleeping in one of the rooms. I peeked my head in and he opened his eyes… he was so excited to see me. He kept going on and on… he had me come over and hug him. He loves when you just sit by him and let him put his arm around you. His is like a great grandpa! When I left he gave me the biggest hug and kissed my neck. He blessed me a lot. Oh how I love it there and long to go everyday! I’m so glad that God put them in my life.

September 28, 2009- Monday- Day 40

Today was a good day and kind of relaxing. This was the first day in awhile that I had time to myself to take a nap, read, think and catch up on some things. It was nice. Emily left today which I am going to miss her. She is such a sweetie and I’m so glad that we have become friends.

I played with the kids a lot today and talked to different people. I really didn’t leave the orphanage until Roberto asked me to go see his house and stuff. He is the brother of our cook Teresa. He has two boys around 16 that I am friends with and his wife is sweet. I checked out there basically one bedroom house that they are renting this month so that it is not as far for the boys to go to school. They are switching schools so they can actually live in there home. Roberto has a sweet spirit about him and he is very outgoing. We get along very well and it was good just spending time with their family. They invited me to go to there small church and to see there home sometime. I think I will go this weekend. There oldest boy David and I talk a lot… well we try but the language barrier is tough and he talks so fast. Haha but we try.

I got back to the orphanage kind of late and they had to unlock the gate for me. I’m glad some were still up. I watched wrestling with some of the boys and got a kick out of there impression of the moves. Today was a good day and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful new friends.

September 29, 2009- Tuesday- Day 41

Today I woke up and spent the morning with the kids. I helped them with homework, watched cartoons, and then ate lunch with them. Then Israel drove me over to the Hospice Center. I was so exited! These people have become some of my great friends. I went through saying my hellos and then helped one of the guys Alex make some lemonade. We were talking about some different things and he said you know who used to sing to God every morning? Satan… and he is so jealous that you are singing to God everyday with your great voice. I had never thought about it that way. I brought my guitar today and sang until they were ready for lunch.

I walked in to talk to some of the other people and noticed one of my favorite guys Matez was sleeping and didn’t seem like himself. Alex told me that we needed to check his blood sugar. So I was the one who had to poke his finger and check everything… it was super low and his eyes were like Jell-O. Alex got the stuff and we injected this sugar thing into his veins. Matez kept saying i'm finished and he was in a lot of pain… Alex said he was dying and if we hadn’t caught this when we did he wouldn’t have him with us anymore. I was holding a mans hand while he was near death… it hit me hard.

Finally after a little while he started coming back into him old self and stopped talking out of his mind. He did say ‘have that young girl sing to me’… so I started to sing him songs and we starting talking to him. He looked over at me as I said Hola and finally it clicked who I was. His eyes lit up and he started to smile. He said ‘Oh beautiful girl… and kept going on and on about how beautiful I was and how he loved my smile and that I was the girl who sang to them and played guitar and said if he wasn’t such an old man he would kiss me.’ We were all laughing. He is like a great old grandpa. He held my hand for a long time and then we got him to eat.

I left the room promising him I would come back soon with my guitar and thinking how blessed I am to know this man. I then went upstairs and sang to the men who mostly just stay in bed… then went back to Matez he smiled as I came in and he was trying to say my name but couldn’t understand it. All the people at the Hospice call me Tonya cause it’s just easier. It makes me laugh. I sang him and another guy some songs and then just talked with them Matez kept kissing my hand and telling me how wonderful my singing was and how he thought I was beautiful. They are so funny here… they say anything that comes to mind. They truly treasure you for who you are. Its great! After awhile Alex helped me translate some of my songs to Spanish and then I talked with the director Armando about his time in Bible College. It was a great day!

Israel and his family came to pick me up around six and then we headed back to the orphanage. It started to rain and became pretty cold… I ate some supper and hung out with the kids. After saying goodnight and giving them hugs I heard some loud bangs. I thought ok either that is gunshots or fireworks… but I doubt it was fireworks. Sitting my room a lot more went off and I heard some other noise. They sounded so close… I don’t know if I could ever really get used to the sound of a gunshot knowing that it was directed at a person.

hey sorry.

hey so life has been kind of crazy and i know i am behind but i hope to catch up soon and tell you all what is going on.

i have been sick but God is faithful and i have been truly blessed by Him. thanks for everything i will update you soon

tenielle

sorry... been sick BUT here are some days! saw a miracle!

September 12, 2009- Saturday- Day 24

I woke up early this morning to go to work with a group from California. It was awkward for a little bit when I walked up to the area where they were staying but I got used to them after a little bit. I introduced them to some of the kids and then Sergio came to show us the way to the building site. I love when Sergio comes, he is such a great spirit and always excited to see people. We always greet each other with a hand shake and a kiss on the cheek. I was able to ride with him to the site and we had some great talks. We talked a lot about what God is doing in our lives right now and how he is changing us. I can’t believe that he is 70 years old… he is like a rock! As we were driving we turned to head up to the hospital and he said “hey see that pile of glass in the street?” I said yes… he said “that is where the car was stolen.. so whenever you see that.. that is what it is… they broke out the window and stole the car.”

Interesting to think about… how different places are. We got to the hospital and started our work. I helped tape off rooms for painting and I mudded over nails in other rooms. After awhile one of the girls named Jordan and I went to take a break. We were talking about the first impression she had seeing Mexico for the first time… I noticed the trash everywhere and the dogs running in the streets. As we were talking these three guys walk through the site to the other side of the plot. I looked at them and one of them looked like my friend Jesus. But I thought that cant be Jesus he is sick...

--Jesus is 22 years and we met two years ago when I first came to Mexico. We became good friends and would talk every once in awhile through email and stuff. The second year I came back I found out that he was dying from kidney failure. He was really bad and they didn’t know if he was going to make it. Later I found out that things had gotten worse. It hit me really hard. –

Thinking through it I thought I was crazy. There is no way that is Jesus… I haven’t seen him in over a year and Sergio had said he was still struggling but doing better. It bothered me so bad so I decided that when I saw one of the guys again that I would ask him who that guy was. Well just a couple minutes later one of the guys walks over and I asked him who that guy was and he said Chewy ( a nickname for Jesus) and I said what!?! The Chewy that has kidney failure and he said yes that is him. He took me over to where he was and called him over. I was in shock! He looked so good! I said “hey Jesus! Do you remember me?” he said “of course I do!” we hugged and talked for awhile. It was so sweet! I said “you are walking around!!” He said “yah and I can run and I play guitar at church and everything… I am feeling better and I hope to get a transplant in 3-4 months.” I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it! We hugged again and said goodbye so we could get back to work.

I started crying as I walked back to the site… Jesus is a miracle! I couldn’t believe that I had seen a miracle of God right in front of me! I was crying and praising God for awhile. The group kind of looked at me and trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I told them its joy not sadness. I explained the whole thing to them and they were amazed too! God is SOOOOOOO good!

Later Sergio took me to see Jesus’ new house that they had built for him, his sisters, and mom. It was cool meeting his family and just talking with him again. He is so sweet and he has such a great spirit about him. We left there and then finished up at the new hospital. We got back to the orphanage and the group made dinner for the kids. They also brought them presents like bubbles! Which the kids freak out over. What a wonderfully amazing day! God is so awesome.

September 13, 2009- Sunday- Day 25

I was able to go to the big church with thousands of people in the congregation today! I really love the music. It is always so amazing and gives me chills. The worship leaders are great and the band is very professnial. We sang Here I am to Worship in Spanish… it made me smile.

Today wasn’t really a busy day at all… I just played with the kids and hung out around the orphanage. I have to say that I think I will miss these days the most… where I can just watch the kids do crazy things… or watch cartoons with them… or get tons of hugs and kisses. They feel like family and I can’t imagine my life without them.

i am so blessed.

September 10, 2009-Thursday- Day 22

Today was an amazing day and it broke my heart all at once. I first got up and played with the kids then finished some stuff for there website. Then Israel looked at me and said lets go… I will drop you off at the Hospice Center and pick you up around 3 or 4. I said ok! I was super excited and nervous all at the same time… I wondered… does anyone speak English? Am I going to feel awkward being there alone? But as soon as I got there and he left I started to play my guitar and sing for the people on the back patio. Things seemed to be going good and they liked it. They kept saying more. Some of the guys spoke English and so they would ask me different things and said that they loved me being there. Two guys told me that they remembered me coming to meet them last summer.

After playing a lot of songs my fingers were tired and I was super hot. It was pretty hot outside and I wanted to know what was going on in their lives. One guy had Parkinson’s disease and he was wearing a helmet. His name was David and he seemed so happy. He was walking on his own for the first time in years and he would talk to me in a studer. I liked him a lot. I went inside after awhile and went through the rooms. One man named Max had had a hip replacement but his body wasn’t taking it well… he was so thin that I could see all his ribs. They said that he just wanted to die. There was another man in there that used to play the violin. He was really quiet but would smile at me. There was another guy who was on crutches that was showing me around later I found out that he had Aids and had lost a leg. He showed me two ladies in the next room. One had diabetes and had lost most of her limbs… the other lady has lung cancer.

After seeing them I walked up the stairs to talk to Alex who worked and lived at the Hospice. He was one of the main caretakers and he was actually Sergio’s adopted son. Alex told me that he had been in prison for 5 years in the states and that is why he could talk such good English. He showed me the different people… there were four men laying on hospital beds in the main area up stairs. One was awake so I talked to him for a while… he had the bluest eyes and could speak some English. I found out that he used to be big into drugs. He was so bad that he blew out his veins and his body was super swollen. I guess that sometimes he would miss the vein and just put the drugs right in to his skin. They can’t put medication in his veins because of his usage and so it is taking him a lot longer to heal.

Another man has really bad diabetes and lost one of his legs… the one-foot he does have is curled under so he can’t walk at all. He scoots around on his butt to move if someone can’t carry him. The guy next to him has epilepsy… he sleeps a lot but really enjoyed me singing to him. Then there was an older man there who I found out can’t go to the bathroom because of a surgery thing that they did so he has a tube that is through his belly button and goes to a bag. Alex told me that if he doesn’t get another surgery he would die in less than a year.

Then Alex handed me a mask and some gloves. We walked through this white curtain into a room with a young man lying there. They didn’t know his name and they think he was around 18 to 20 years old. The general hospital found him lying in the street and someone had hit him in the head with something… he bled internally so they had to do surgery to fix him. One eye was swollen shut and he was basically a vegetable now. A breathing tube was going through his throat and a feeding tube straight to his stomach. He lay there in only a diaper (which all the men who were laying in beds only had a diaper on). Then Alex said you see that gooey stuff that is coming out under his breathing tube? We think he has tuberculosis. I was in shock… I had never been around anyone with that before. I said isn’t that contegious and dangerous to be around? He said yes but the blood of Jesus will cover us and protect us. He said he is looking at you. With the one eye open he would look and follow people… that was his only way of communication.

Alex left me with him alone while he went and got some things. I reached down and rubbed my gloves across his arm… he stared at me with such desperation. Through my mask I sang him some songs and just held his hand. My heart broke… Alex came in and had me clean out his breathing tube. When he had enough strength he would cough and his whole frame would shake. I wiped the blood and spit off his lips, then cleaned his face with a wet wipe. It was so hot and they couldn’t use fans in there because it would just spread the germs.

I left the room and he asked if I would like to feed someone. I said of course. I walked down the stairs and they handed me the food. He told me to sit down and showed me what to do. There was a boy around 22 years old who was mentally not there and was blind. I was able to spoon-feed him, as he would sway back and forth. He would reach for my leg when he wanted more. As I was waiting for him to chew I started to hum and he got super excited. He squealed and started moving around his little couch thing he sat at. Alex told me that his hearing was great and he hardly ever slept. He will scream a lot especially at night. They all call him the beautiful little boy and love him a lot.

I sat down at the table and was thinking through what I had seen… Alex told me about almost ever patient there. He said he is not the blessing they are. Then a man came up to me and shook my hand very tight. He was saying stuff but I couldn’t understand. Alex said that he was mostly deaf and schizophrenic. He usually nevers talks to anyone… to afraid but he must like you. Alex got some paper and a pen so that I could talk to the man. He read very well. He used to be a chemical engineer but got hit by a car and slowly lost his mind. He found out about me playing guitar and got excited. So we went upstairs and I played for him and some guys. I would sing then he would sing. It was sweet. Israel came around 5 to get me and when I was walking out that man stopped and said bye girl. He waved and stood there with a big smile.

I left that place SOOO blessed! I can’t believe that God let me be a part of those people’s lives. Israel said that I could go back once or twice a week if I want! I am excited to see what God is going to do. J

September 11, 2009- Friday- Day 23

Today I slept in to around 9, which I never do but I decided to since I was super tired. I felt bad but no one seemed to mind. I checked my email and played with the kids. I was able to help take them to school again today and then I just had the afternoon to have some God time. It was a good time of reading and thinking.

I went with Evelyn to take little Israel to his parents at their other house. It is their day off, which they get one I believe maybe every two weeks. We got some tacos and then visited with them for a while. Evelyn and I talked about what God was doing in our lives and she was struggling a lot with some things. Her family lives a long ways away and there is something going on. God is really working on her heart. I showed her later some verses that God brought me to in my time with Him. As I was showing her tears started streaming down her face. It was exactly what she needed! I felt like it blessed me when I read them but for her it was complete joy. She said I need to call my husband and tell him. It was a sweet time… she kept thanking me over and over.

The kids were super hyper tonight so we had them do exercises and run around to wear of some of the energy. They bless me so much with their laughter and smiles. My friend Jose Bulmaro came back today from visiting his house. It was nice to catch up with him. When he was talking with others and the kids were in bed I felt called to read some more. I got out my bible and was reading about fear of the Lord. Just before Jose and I talked about how he was scared to visit the Hospice Center… just to see everything. I need to realize more everyday that God is so powerful and mighty… he deserves my thoughts and actions. He is the One to fear not things here… He is in control.

I group came tonight from California and I get to help them work on the new hospital tomorrow. They seem really nice and I am excited to get to know them. I told them that I was just at the Hospice Center yesterday and it always touches my heart… I said those are the people we are making this hospital for. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do tomorrow… my prayer is that He will change me to be more like Him and less of me.

another great day.

September 9, 2009-Wednesday- Day 21

I woke up today believing that I was going to be able to sing to the people at the Hospice Center but it didn’t happen. I took pictures of the kids for the website and I had some very good God time. I was praying about lots of things and God showed me scripture that eased what I was struggling through in my heart. God is so good and all the time.

I was laying in my bed reading a book when I decided to listen to my iPod and just rest. As I picked up my iPod I noticed that it had a layer of dirt on it. I had used it just the night before… and looking around everything in my room was covered in dirt. My guitar case majorly was, my clothes, blankets, pillows, clock, bags, shoes, and everything! It was crazy… I thought man I will really be taking Mexico home with me… this stuff will take awhile to get clean. Then I thought wow this covering of dirt is like what God’s love is for me. It covers me from head to toe… every inch. So every time I look around and see that layer of dirt I think of how much God loves me.

Later I was able to go with Roberto and pick the kids up from school… some of them had to come back right away because there was no classes. That happens ALL the time. The teacher just doesn’t come… maybe sick or something else comes up so they don’t get their education at all. But the staff said hey its Mexico things are different. Tonight I spent a lot of time with Israel, his wife, and Evelyn. It was good hearing the side of the adults at the orphanage and their struggles. They are a lot of fun.

I walked in to their home after playing with the kids and saw little Israel drawing some stuff. I told him that it looked really good and he smiled. I asked him for a hug and he said that he was to sick and didn’t want me to get sick. Then he fake coughed. Haha he is such an interesting character. Later he did give me a hug and talked to me about airplanes. I love the way he talks… so serious.

6 days of blogs!

September 3, 2009-Thursday- Day 15

Today I woke up around 8 and hung out with the kids all morning. Later I was able to go with Israel’s wife and a friend shopping. It was good just spending time with them and everything. We got some different things and then I was back at the orphanage. Sergio talked to me about different things that he wants me to help out with. He said I would love for you to be a speaker for Baja Visions.

I was telling him that it would be great for there ministries to have supporters that will be praying for them and be faithful in helping them with funs. I said that you have so many people that have come down and lots of churches that have seen what it is going on that I can’t believe that they are not having these ministries as something they support monthly. That is when I realized why I believe one reason God brought me to Tijuana. I think that I am suppose to help them set up different support areas and get the word out there that they are in need, to just be a voice for Jesus for these wonderful people. There are a lot of needs but I know that God will fulfill them in His timing.

September 4, 2009- Friday- Day 16

I was not feeling all that well today and it was super tough for me to get out of bed. I don’t know what it was but I was constantly tired. Sergio had me go with him to drop one of the workers off at home. He told me on the way back that his wife is really not doing vey good. She is very sick and has a brain tumor. They don’t have the money for treatment stuff so they are hoping that they can figure this all out.

I took a long nap and felt somewhat better when I woke up. Later I was invited to get tacos with little Israel and Evelyn (a lady who is helping at the orphanage). They were great and I love the way that little 3-year-old Israel talks. He is a very crazy child who is trying to cause trouble and make people laugh. He is honestly one of the cutest kids I have ever seen. He kept yelling at me what is your name in Spanish. I would tell him and then he would repeat it and forget it and we would do it all over again. Later we went to take his parents some tacos and we stopped to buy some pop for them. Evelyn went in to buy the pop and we waited in the car. He kept on trying to honk the horn and I wouldn’t let him. He got mad and when Evelyn got back she handed me the pop then he told her that I drank all of it. He is so ridiculous but I do love his spirit.

We drove to Israel’s house that he is fixing up. Him and his family will go there for a day off or just get away for a little bit. A friend is living there right now. It is looking great. It is a trailer and they are fixing it up with new tile and different stuff. We left there dropping little Israel off and then I was able to dance with the girls at the orphanage. They make up moves to different songs and I was following along. They are super cute and were excited that I was joining them.

I was feeling kind of different today and somewhat homesick… I keep thinking that I am not doing enough for these people. So I got out my devotional and read what it was about. It was exactly what I needed. It talked about that if I want to be a missionary or just servant for Christ I need to be completely His. I have been reading through God’s smuggler and it has helped me tremendously. God really put that book in my life at this time for a reason.

September 5, 2009- Saturday- day 17

I played volleyball with a couple of the kids today and hung out around the orphanage. There is this family of 5 boys that live here and it is the youngest birthday in a couple of days so their mom came to visit them and throw him a party. It is interesting to me that she will buy him a cake, a couple gifts, and some piñatas but isn’t there really for their lives. She was bad into drugs and different things… I’m not sure the whole story but the boys were excited to see their mom.

Her bringing piñatas was the highlight of the day for most of the kids. It was a good time I believe for them and they shared the cake with everyone. Israel told me that those 5 boys would always live here until they are old enough to move out. Their mom will never be able to have them back. She is just not stable enough.

September 6, 2009- Sunday- Day 18

I went to a small baptized church this morning with the kids. And when I say small I mean like there was probably 15 other people in the congregation besides the group I was with. I didn’t understand hardly any of the messages but a couple of words here and there. Since the church was so small it was more like a small group setting and the Pastor called out on people for answers or reading scripture. He called out on me and I was like I don’t understand what you are even saying. He laughed and asked me my name. He couldn’t say it but he did try. They sang hymns with no instruments because I think no one there new how to play the worn out piano in the corner. The one thing that I noticed is that there were ants all over the tile floor. Tons, I don’t think that I have ever seen that many ants inside a building before but hey it’s Mexico. When the two-hour service was over everyone came up and shook my hand. It was an interesting time… I think I am going to go to the other church though next Sunday.

Tonight I was able to go to a Christian concert with a couple of the older girls and Israel’s wife. The main guy had a very wonderful voice but again basically the whole time I didn’t understand what was going on. I didn’t know any of the songs or when he would talk I understood like maybe 5 to 10 words after awhile. I just tried to take it all in and realize that I was able to experience something that they loved. Man I would really love to know Spanish better but to understand what was all going on there I would have to live here for years!

September 7, 2009- Monday- Day 19

This morning the kids woke me up at 6:30… I wasn’t very happy because I really wanted to sleep. But its ok it happens. I had an amazing God time and I feel like Christ is pushing me a lot!

There is a couple that lives at the orphanage name Roberto and Edith. They are pretty amazing people and I have loved getting to know them throughout my time here. Today their son, Alan, came and so I was able to talk with him. He is 22 and isn’t saved which is really tough on his parents. I talked with him a lot cause he knew English really well. Him and I talked about Jesus and what he struggles with. It was good and I hope someday he will believe. He said that he doesn’t understand that if there is a God why there is so much suffering and he also said that he had been hurt a lot so he never wants to love again. It was an interesting time of explaining why I believe what I believe and just hearing his story.

Later I was able to go around with Israel in the new van that someone had given to them. Well it’s not new but it’s new to us! We drove to look at different programs for his computer and just get some other things. I love talking with him because you can clearly see Jesus in him whenever you are in his presence. I was sharing with him some songs that had blessed me the night before as I was listening to my iPod. I was listening to the song Filled with Your Glory and I was so blessed that I turned on my light and danced around my room in worship. Haha sounds stupid to the world and I probably looked crazy but I felt so free!

We got back to the orphanage and I talked to my friend David who is 16 years old. He loves Christian music and so I was sharing with him some of my collection. I love his smile and his spirit… he is super crazy but caring underneath it all. I told him that if he gets me some blank CDs that I would give him some of my music. He was super pumped and we sat together for a long time going through everything I had.

Later Alan wanted to talk to me again and his friend was with him. They wanted to practice there English so that they could talk to people from America when they came to there work. Also they helped me a little with Spanish. Today was a good day and I feel like i'm learning a lot.

September 8, 2009- Tuesday- Day 20

I can’t believe it has been 20 days that I have been here. As I was driving with Israel he asked me how it has been for me. I told him that God has truly been working on my heart and trying to make me completely His. Also that I see Jesus in all the faces of the people and kids I work with.

Today I took a long nap and tried to not think about my stomach pain. For some reason I have been really sick with it and it is hurting me a lot. I have been praying that God would heal me so I don’t have to worry about it. I didn’t do all that much today besides some laundry and playing with the kids. I am trying to get pictures and things stet up for the City of Angels website. They need new pictures and want my help. I also have been just talking to different people that work here and I love them so much. I really like getting to know their stories and everything.

Israel is afraid that I am getting bored so he said he would take me to the Hospice Center tomorrow! Which I am really excited about! I haven’t been bored or anything… in my time alone I have been thinking and reading a lot. It has been good for me. I hope that tomorrow will be a great day filled with the glory of God!

SO i have been kind of lazy, busy, and really tired.. i will get new stuff up soon!

sorry!

love, tenielle

day 14 with these wonderful people

September 2, 2009-Wednesday- Day 14

The group was suppose to come but they canceled the whole trip and now the family doesn’t get a house for a while… I guess the next group is coming in December. It makes me sad to think that the family was looking forward to a home and its not going to happen. We are doing different things to the orphanage and making it better. Sergio is always improving everything and working really hard.

I left with Israel’s wife Marlena (sp?) and the two youngest boys to find them some shoes. We went to this street market and I held Pepino or Eduardo in my arms. I really love him… he is five years old and super silly. We got back and then I left with Israel and his 16-year-old son Alberto. We ran around getting some shoes and uniforms for school. He also bought me the most amazing ice cream I have ever had. It was a soft peach with sunflower seeds, raisins, strawberries, almonds, and caramel for topping. It was pretty grand. I love driving around with him because we listen to Christian music and he sings with all that he is. So the driving here is pretty ridiculous and I can’t believe that I haven’t died yet. Haha

We got back and I did some different things, hung out with some people, and then took a nap. I got sick last night and today… my hope is that I will be healed soon and that it doesn’t affect me as I work. I then just played with the kids and watched the men work on the new addition. I love joking with the people… I am learning more and more Spanish so it is becoming easier. J

Another hot but great day!

September 1, 2009- Tuesday- Day 13

It is day 13 for me in Mexico and I have loved it a lot. I woke up early because a group from America was suppose to be here to build a house BUT we got the days mixed and they come tonight and we work tomorrow. Israel and I visited with the family again and made sure the supplies were going to be at the site then we headed over to Sergio’s. I met his wife who has been sick and just visited for a while.

We left there to go get some breakfast and it was great! I had a Spanish omelet and this water with melon in it. I very much enjoyed the whole thing. We made it back to the orphanage and Sergio came by to get some stuff ready because we are building on at the orphanage. I left with him for a while to get supplies for that then took a nap.

I just relaxed tonight and the younger kids had bible study so it was not very busy. The two littlest ones got into the powdered concrete and covered themselves in it so that was fun. I guess a hurricane is coming my way and we could get some of it. Israel and I are looking at it everyday but he said he thinks that we will get some wind and rain. I’m not to worried about it… God knows what’s going on.

I noticed recently that when I hug these kids its like I get a glimpse of what Heaven will be like… with there smiles, laughter, and everything I feel like this is how Jesus wants me to see Him. I see Him in the suffering of everything to but when I do get to hold these kids’ hands or hug them and kiss their cheeks I realize this is exactly why I am here. No matter how hot it is or when my stomach hurts or that I have no privacy really… its all worth it!

day 12

August 31, 2009- Monday- day 12

It was hot again today but cooled off nicely this evening! I played with the kids and just chilled for quite awhile. I am trying to find out more about the pasts of different people and it is interesting. The government came today and gave some school supplies to the kids. I thought that was pretty cool. After awhile I helped Israel and his wife get some things organized then Israel asked if I would go with him somewhere. He showed me the site where we will be building a new house tomorrow. The family seemed nice but the foundation was pretty bad. The view where they live is amazing… you can see a great deal of Tijuana. J

I love talking with Israel cause he is always so real with me. He tells me about his bad times and what he thinks about things. He told me today that I will make a great mom one day… he can see it by the way I treat the kids and love with all my heart. He also told me he loved my singing and he was glad I was here. It was his birthday and he promised one of the boys who is 15 that they would go out for dinner. They invited me it was a great buffet. Before we went back to get the orphanage Israel showed me his house that he is fixing up and we also gave strangers rides. It was pretty interesting that he will just pick up people but he says I just trust God and it is a good way to witness. I said in America it is not a good thing and he said in Tijuana not good either but some people just need help.

I got back from supper and hung out with a couple of the older boys and some adults. We watched pro wrestling and I was laughing so much. That stuff is ridiculous but they love it here. I am really excited for tomorrow and I can’t wait to meet the group!