School

It's hard to believe I've been home almost a month and half. I'm back to Miami next week, and already dreading it. It seems like summer was so short. I'm eager to go back next year. I'll be going to Mexico in October this year, which I am way excited about. God continually makes a way for me to back to the place I fell in love with. I would ask for your prayers with continued adjustment as I go back to school.

Yo tengo tanto tanto tanto!

Ana

My last day in Mexico with Ana

I met Ana at the start of my time with Back2Back. She was very shy and sat over in the corner at church. She did not really want anything to do with me. The following Tuesday I spent two days, at Douglas and really got to know her. It took a long time for her to warm up to met. She feel, and scraped her knee. She cried for almost an hour. After, our overnighter Ana and I had a bond. Everday I came over to Douglas she ran up to meet me. I met her siblings, and learned about her life. She is five years old, and has only lived at Casa Hougar Douglas since spring. Every Sunday at church, I entertained while we sung songs I did not understand. I held her in my hands with all the strength I had. I prayed over her, and was just with her. She started crying one Sunday, and I just took her out the deck. I sat there with her. It was a strange concept for her, I think she expected me to just walk away. I poured my heart in to Ana over this month. About midway through I felt God calling me to sponsor her. I needed that personal connection. She views me much like a mother, and I view her like my daughter. On our last day together, I gave her a doll and wrote her a letter. She was crying when I left. I wish she could just come home with me. I prayed layer of blessing over Ana, and hope to come back to see her really soon. She is definitely one of God's gifts to me.

Update(:

Hard to believe my time is half way over here. God has really been stretching me with new experiences here.

Here's a brief update of what I've been up to

-Intern outing to Chimpique. Encountered a baby bear, from ten feet away.

-Had a mystery dinner here with Interns

-Visited Plaza Sesamo with Del Norte. Made a friend named Kevin, and rode the same roller coaster 10 times!

-Gave our new groups a tour of B2B.

-Had a pool party, and grill out with Del Norte.

-Led the Hope Church kid small group everyday this past week.

-Used a pick axe to prep an area for a new concrete pour.

-Douglas' stove was replaced, and we power washed the comedor.

-Definitely improving my Spanish. Ordered at many resteraunts, this has forced me to get better.

-Slept 3 hours due to a broken air conditioner and a room full of tweleve girls. awful.

-Had a pool party with Imperio de Amor.

-Met the sweetest 5 month old baby named, Lupita. It broke my heart to have her go back to the Children's home.

-Went to see Pirates of the Carribean 3 today. Pretty cool.

I'm working on really listening to God while I'm here. There are so many great supportive people to be around here. It's amazing to live in a Faith Community. We have worship every night, and get to pray with each other.

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us then what could stand against?"

Love. xoxoxo.

Douglas

Tuesday morning I left for a sleepover at Casa Hougar Douglas. This entitled taking care of all the 60 orphans there with the help of Back2Back so the workers could go on a retreat. This was the experience. I'm gonna give you a brief synopsis of what this looked like.

9 am- Arrive at Douglas. Start laundry. 16 loads in one day for the home.

10 am- Encounter about 100 cockroaches while cleaning out an old kitchen. Officially freaked out.

11 am- Pre-schoolers arrive.

12 am- Middle school and high school arrive.

1- Lunch for all.

2-Time with my girls. I'm with little girls ages 2 to 11.

3-Homework time for older girls, swingset with my little ones.

4-English class.

5-Play time.

6-Dinner.

7-Shower time

8-9 Try to get all 8 girls to fall asleep. this ended around 10.

10:30- I try to fall asleep while being eating alive by mosquitos and fleas. Meanwhile, I'm being infested with head lice.

5:30 am- Wake up. Today my youngest four don't have school.

6 Desperate-spanish for wake up. Get the girls out of bed

6:30 Comb all their hair. Brush teeth. Send them to breakfast.

7-Breakfast.

7:30am- Little ones get up. Feed them breakfast, and watch more barney

9 am- Take the little girls swiming at Back2Back.

11- Go back to the orphanage. Prep lunch.

12-Older girls get home.

1-Lunch

2-Chores

3-Homework time.

4..Ice Cream Party. I have a sweet little girl named Wenday asleep on me, some of the older boys started a fire in the Bell tower. Quite the event. We literaly burned the place down

5 start preparing dinner

6-Caregivers finally arrive.

I was completely worn by this experience. God made grow. Thats all for now. AllthingsNew.

The Real Work Begins!

Our first group arrived yesterday, while the interns where preparing dinner for Casa Hougar Douglas! We made pica de gallo- cliantro, tomatoes, onions, and lime all blended together. Along with guacamole. You heat up a torrito, put a hot dog on and a scoop of guac, and pica de gallo and eat it. Quite interesting. Today I also went to a little taco place, with Molly and the all to fabulous Kathy Couch.

Friday was filled with training. Learning how to give tours to the group, and a mock trial with the staff. The evening ended with a community grill out.

Saturday was more mopping of the dorms for our groups. I feel like I'm a pro at mopping now seeing how I've mopped every dorm at B2B. Our first group arrived yesterday, while the interns where preparing dinner for Casa Hougar Douglas! We made pica de gallo- cliantro, tomatoes, onions, and lime all blended together. Along with guacamole. You heat up a torrito, put a hot dog on and a scoop of guac, and pica de gallo and eat it. Quite interesting. Today I also went to a little taco place, with Molly and the all to fabulous Kathy Couch.

Today I'm off. I enjoyed church at Casa Hougar Douglas. I love seeing those kids there. I will be spending the night there Tuesday night, with one of my favorites know as Gabrielle. Tonight, I'm headed for Pollo Loco, another one of my favorites here in Monterrey because of the unlimted chips and salsa. Along with Pespi Kick!

I'm working for the rest of the week, will talk as I'm able(; Much love, and thank you for helping me be where God leads!

Bodega

Bodega pretty much sums up my day. The bodega is a tractor trailer that is a permanent part of the property where we keep all the construction materials. Unfortunately, during the year it has got quite messy. Armed with four interns, and Todd Gukenberger we began to clean up the bodega. Molly and I sorted screws for 3 hours. It was quite the task. The bodega is in good shape, and I mopped all of the main room. And cleaned the chairs. Can't forget the big rock pile Molly, and I made by moving rocks from one end of the campus, to the other.

However, relxation has set in now in the evening. Pina Colada's were served compliements of Kathy Couch. Pool party with the interns and nannies set for tonight.

It's pretty chill tonight(:

Here!!

I'm here in Mexico.

With the rest of the Interns, we are living in a house of our own. Well,y more like a floor. Tomorrow is a general work for staff here to get ready for the groups. I'm so happy to be here, and looking forward to some much need rest.

Subway and Dominos were the food of choice for the day. No Mexican.

I'm at peace here, even in the sweltering heat.

Internet is very shaky. My day off is Sunday for all of you at home. Not sure skype will be possible because the connection is so bad.

Love you all!