I will try to make this as brief as possible, but here is an update of our latest Mexico trip. A lot of funny and awesome things happened that need to be mentioned to the world.

Friday, was our goal to leave. We did, but when we stopped at Target to get water and last minute needed items. We got to the car and realized that Susie's car had a flat. Therefore, we had to put on a doughnut and go get a new tire. After that 2 hour delay, we were talking galore and realized we passed the 19S exit on the 10 and that we were on our way to El Paso. Oops. The border wasn't a problem this time, so that was a HUGE blessing, but by the time we actually got to the "Big House", it was 6:00 when it should have been around 2 or 3. Oh well. We didn't make it far before we saw ton of the kids on the playground equipment. It's so awesome to see all of their faces when you haven't in 3 weeks, or in 2 months like Susie's case. It is amazing that some of the little one's recognize me so fast; they were new last month. It was awesome that some of the kids that usually play hard to get, didn't... they just came over and embraced us with open arms. The little boy that I am now sponsoring knows. He didn't mention it, but he smiled and his eyes lit up like I have never seen before. We continued to play with the kids and help them walk up the slide and put them on the top of the playground equipment and essentially play the role of an elevator... our arms felt like they were going to fall off, but how could you stop when you see their smiley faces... until I felt like I was going to pee my pants from laughing so hard.... The rest of the night was awesome, and we got to catch up with a lot of the older kids.

Saturday, we got there early in the morning. For some reason, it seems like throughout the day, we get with older and older kids. So, naturally, we were with the really little ones (3-6 yrs old) in the morning. Playing with them is a huge joy, and they need so much love. We got out the water guns that we had brought and gave them to a bunch of the kids, and then we filled up a ton of water balloons. We had a huge water fight, and some of the older kids dragged us to where they could soak us with a hose. Oh what joy..... :) A local church ended out coming over and doing a church service at the kid level. A local blind girl sang her heart out for 2 songs. The kids were playing bingo, and it helped me learn a few new words. Well, it started raining. We didn't bring any clothes to wear in the cold, so we had to go to Magdalena. We got some clothes, then sat down for lunch when some of the older boys from the orphanage approached us. They were with 3 of the 5 girls that were staying at the orphanage for 2 months this summer. Well, we asked them if they were hungry and they said no. Then when we asked them if they wanted to sit down, they did. So, Hector, Eduardo, and Marcos sat and ate lunch with me and Susie. The other 2 boys were with the other Americans. It was a beautiful time because we got to treat them without "choosing" which kids to bring with us. After we were done eating, I ended up at the table with 2 of the boys that don't know English very well. Well, Eduardo recognized a UofA shirt on a guy that walked by and pointed it out to me, knowing I was from AZ. Ah! Something to talk about. I proceeded to explain to him in my broken Spanish the rivalry between ASU and UofA, and he actually understood. A bonding moment, and something to communicate. Wahoo! We ended out all going to get ice cream afterwards, and they loved it. They don't get treats like that very often. 2 of the boys actually asked us if they could ride back with us. Totally. More small group times. They pretended to like Susie's oldies CD's. We had them help us pick out the cakes for that nights birthday celebration. We weren't sure if we had enough candy for the pinata because Adrian wasn't with us. He seems to check on everything for us. Well, as soon as we get back, Angel attacks us with hugs and then we find Adrian. He thought earlier that they still had the pinata from last month, but then he realized that they used it at their swimming party a week earlier. So, back to the SuperVal to get a pinata and candy. Adrian went with us, and I was hoping to take Angel as well, because I could tell he needed some extra attention. Yet, after getting permission to take Adrian and trying to take him, I couldn't find him. So, the newest Jesus asked, and surprisingly to us, Manuel gave us permission to take Adrian (14), Max (15), and Jesus (5) to the supermarket with us. They all agreed on the dog with a mane... I mean lion pinata and picked out their favorite types of candy for it. While we were buying the stuff, we told them they could each pick out one thing for themselves that they would have to eat before we got back. They each got a pint of ice cream, and they were able to eat most of it while we were stuffing the pinata in the parking lot. *Priceless moment # 1: On the way back in the car, Jesus says, "The girls were working while we were just sitting there and eating ice cream." Then he started to bust out laughing. It was so cute. Time to go back. They ate dinner, then we had to start our birthday celebration before it was too dark to see. Angel (10) and Max from earlier, helped me and Susie wash 120 Styrofoam bowls, forks, and spoons so we can speed up the process. Talk about hard and fast workers. These kids are such a blessing. There's no asking involved, they just come and do it. We had a frosting fight near the end, and it was so much fun. We couldn't find any rope, so we had to use the hose to put the pinata through. It worked out great until one testy person decided to turn the hose on. No fear though, the boys on the roof got it under control and just directed the hose away from the kids and the pinata area. The kids all got plenty o' candy, and were on their way...... to a long night from so much sugar. Yet, these kids are seriously amazing. They might have "stayed up longer than they should have"... but they were just sitting, talking, and hanging out. One of the newest boys, Ramon, who comes from a family of 7 that were just dropped off a couple of weeks ago... just came up to me and laid down on me. He's so cute. I think he's 8. He almost fell asleep. Elizabeth (who we always called Lisa....oops), is the only special needs child there. She has always put a distance between her and us, even when we have tried to spend time with her and love her. Well, that time has passed and she straight up protects us and tries to get out attention now. It's so awesome. Finally, time for bed.

Sunday, rise and shine. It's time for church. It always runs a little bit late, and this time, they made the girls sit on the left side and the boys sit on the right. Gabi taught. It supposedly was a great message... I couldn't understand most of it. But, I did catch a couple of her points that were good and right on. She talked about the cost of being a disciple. The little kids gave a little show from the story that they learned about. Lunch time. After lunch, there were a bunch of new people sitting on the tables by the playground. I thought they were from the church because some of them were there the day before. After watching Angel interact with one of the women, I asked someone else if it was his mom. It was. My precious and favorite Angel... his mom and his sisters are here? I had no idea what that meant. He wasn't smiling as much as he does normally, and he was very different with them. He didn't deny his mom's kisses though and one time he actually had his sister move over so he could be on his mom's lap as well. He pushed his littlest sister on the swing. They had a ton of people, and they stayed for a good 3-4 hours. Then they left and he stayed. They left by giving him and 3 of the other kids watermelon, and then they drove away. I don't get it. He seemed to handle it well, I think he did a lot of emotional preparation for that. He likes to know exactly when people are coming and going. Earlier in the day he had asked me when our next trip was. I always try to tell the kids, because it reminds them that it's never goodbye. Precious moment # 2: Eli is a 4 year old little boy that only knows the color white. On Saturday, he told Shelly to look at the sky, that it was going to rain. Well, here it is on Sunday and he said, "Look at the sky. That is not the color of rain, that is the color of hail." Well, no less than an hour later, it hailed. It hailed like I have never seen before. Darn, more excuses to hang out with the kids. :) Some played Skipbo, others played jump rope and karate with a bendable tent stick, others just goofed off and had a great time pretending to want to go out in it... Never the less, the hail stopped and it's time to start saying goodbyes. I went down the girls dorm and said by to a bunch of the little girls and one of the littlest boys. Two of the older girls kissed me on the cheek. It was so cute. We continued on with our goodbyes and see you soon's, and then it's off to the car. Angel, who we were curious on how he would be doing, and Macario came to see us off. Then, a few more kids came. Lastly, Adrian and Max. Adrian and us have a mutual ministry to each other, so Susie, him, and myself all have a special bond. He serves as our interpreter a lot with the younger kids, and he's truly amazing. He's one of the most mature 14 year old boys that I have ever met. Max is very special as well. This is the first time he had a serious conversation with us and let us in. I had more special moments with him and his 3 other siblings than I have ever had before. It's like they were all waiting for consistency from us before they would let us in. Carolina, his youngest sister, just came up to me earlier in the day and sat on my lap. That doesn't usually happen. Anyway, back to Max... he was there to see us off? He was one of the last kids that would be there at previous trips. Yet, this was a time where we did get to have special time with him. We gave the younger kids that were around the little golf caddies that my sister brought on the last trip and weren't able to give out. The kids all left and said "Thank you"... not gracias. So cute. Well, the emotional goodbyes continued as Adrian was going to cry and Max actually showed a lot of sadness in his face. Till next time boys....... The ride back should be easy, but of course, it's not. It is just as interesting as our trip down. Again, we were talking and paid no attention to where we were supposed to turn to get into the lines to cross. We tried to cut in at the bottom, but of course, no one would let us in. It took us over an hour to go through that final push into the states. A las, home. No more flies all over my body....

Now, here it is on Monday morning, and I am left with 5 mosquito bites, joy from the memories that were made, and sadness and eagerness until I see these kids again.