Back in Mexico!

The title may be a little misleading.  I wasn't and am not actually back in Baja, Mexico but my husband was for the past week.  It  may now be more clear what inspired my "Sometimes when you're a mom" post.  Single parenting, homeschooling, 4 kids taking turns being sick may have been a factor.  It wasn't all that bad though and I am very happy that my husband had a chance to go visit our second home and family. 

I'm also happy that he is now home with me and the kids.    

I am posting these pictures as I eat dried pineapple coated in "chili" powder.  I am living vicariously through my husbands trip.

{Three faithful, selfless FFHM staff. }

A couple weeks ago we found a cheap flight ($300 from Calgary to San Diego!), booked it, and he made plans to catch a ride down to the mission with his good friend who drives the supply truck down from CA. each week.  

The above photo was taken at the Tijuana house (a place for college students to stay once they "age out" of the children's home).   I've never been there but I know quite a few of the kids from the orphanage who are now college students in Tijuana.

{Little tastes and sights of Mexico.}

 Nathanael only spent a few days at the children's home in Baja but he was able to spend some time with the kids who we already have built relationships with over the past 6 years.  He did some helping out with work, but this trip was much more relational than project oriented. 

I had hoped that this trip would be one of refreshment, fellowship, and encouragement for him.  It sounds like it was all of those things.  His goal was to in some small way be an encouragement to our friends/ staff at the mission and to reconnect with the kids there.  

Below is one of the orphanage staff who is a wonderful father figure to the children there.  

I don't know him all that well but I've seen him with the kids for a number of years now and you can see how much he loves what he does, and loves the kids he cares for.    I don't know what they were laughing at but this picture makes me want to laugh too.   On the video there were little boys wrestling all over the floor like puppies.  Maybe he was just enjoying watching them.   He looks like Jesus to me.  He will probably be embarrassed if he ever sees this blog but I think this pictures captures what joy and love look like.

My little "sobrina" Magai  and " sobrino" Alex at the children's home.  

As "Tia and Tio" (sponsors) we have the amazing privilege to play a small role in these kids life.   We pray for them, help support them, send (and receive) gifts and letters, and of course spoil them with attention anytime we visit.   You may recognize these two from many of last years posts.  

I miss them SO much!

Aili's little amiguita Nancy has grown so much and is no longer a "Cuna" (nursery) baby.

I miss ALL the kids.  They are  growing  and changing so fast, as kids tend to do. 

It happened to be a cool , rainy weekend when my husband arrived but I don't think it dampened his mood too much.

Color!  Flowers!  Oh how I miss nature that isn't either snow white or ca ca mud brown.  

Many of you who have been reading here for a while will remember "the kids who call me Tia".  For lack of a better description.

Quick history.   Kids that we used to sponsor at the children's home.   Went back to live with mom.  Found them again living in squalor, neglect and other heartbreaking conditions.

We prayed, cried, and implored God for guidance and help.

We started looking into options to build them a house.

A house was miraculously provided for and built by an IDT group.  

We spent the rest of our winter loving on, helping, encouraging, and checking on these kids.   

They are "our" kids in Mexico.

There are 6 of them total.  I miss them SO badly.  

The older ones raise and care for the younger ones and by all appearances are doing a very good job.

So encouraging. 

When you pour yourself into loving children sometimes you wonder , especially if it was only for a short time, what difference it could possibly make.   We are realists when it comes to this.  Giving, serving, and loving is complicated, tricky, and takes a lot of wisdom and perseverance.  It is also simple.  As simple as being available. 

Loving isn't a fairy tale always filled with happy endings.  We can't   help everybody.  We can't create perfect carefree lives for anyone.  No matter how hard we try we will never build a utopic world of prosperity and peace.  God doesn't promise any of us any of those things in this life..much less built  by our own hands. 

  

He does command us to be His hands, His feet, and His heart genuinely and lovingly poured out in this hurting world.   I can do for one, one child, one family, one situation, what I wish I could do for everybody.  Sometimes that effects a positive, spirit transforming, life altering change, sometimes it's nothing more than a pair of shoes on bare feet or a much needed kind word.

At the time it seems SO small and insignificant, like just a few loaves and fishes offered to the Lord to use and multiply for His glory.  

So often we don't get to witness how God uses what little we have to offer.  We obey, sacrifice, and step out in faith.

On occasion God does give us a glimpse of what He is doing.  I fall to my knees  in awe as the Spirit of God transforms, heals and makes new,  proving once again His glory in my weakness.   His sufficiency meets my simple trust and blooms into something only God could design.  

It is amazing to check back  a year later and see a 14 year old  still in school,  looking after the needs of her younger siblings, and  a marked up pink bible sitting open on her  kitchen table.  

The oldest two are still in school and working hard. 2 years ago Minerva (the oldest) had never been to school and now she is in 5th grade.  So many cycles being broken.  I pray that the chains of poverty, hopelessness, abuse, desperation, and spiritual bondage are being loosened in this family.   

 I told them last year that we would be their Aunt and Uncle forever.  We are family.   

I am praying preservation, protection and purpose for these kids in a world that wants to exploit, toss aside, trample, deceive, and lure them.   

Life is hard, it always will be.  

I am so completely humbled and filled with gratitude for what God is doing in these kids...and that He has let us witness that.

I pray that we can spend time with them again next winter.

They were so completely surprised when "Tio" (uncle) knocked on their door last weekend.  Little Carmela  in the brown skirt answered and started shrieking "TIO! TIO! TIO!".  My husband was a rockstar surrounded by children "loosing their minds". 

He took them out a couple bags of fruit and a small care package from Auntie Carla in Canada.

Little Louisa has grown so much and was loving her new little backpack.

My handsome boy with his gorgeous smile.  He looks so much older.

I am not the least bit jealous or resentful of my husband, in fact I am thrilled that he went, but it is hard to look at the pictures and not be able to squish and smooch these kids.  

 The beautiful backdrop of the Children's Home.  

The  little man below (our "nephew") at the Children's Home spent a lot of time hanging out with, and generally playing shadow to Tio Nathanael.  

It was so encouraging to hear how well this boy is doing.  He arrived at the children's home last year, with a past that was cloaked in mystery and sadness.  

We spent a lot of time with him last winter but quite honestly he was a challenge to have around.  Feral is the word that comes to mind.  His house parents are saints I tell you.  The many house parents who work  day in and day out here are the ones who deal with the brokenness, damage, training, teaching, and nurturing.  They are doing a wonderful job with this precious boy.  We are just the proud Aunt and Uncle.  

New School Uniforms!

In Mexico school uniforms are as essential for school attendance as pencils and notebooks. Without the appropriate uniform children cannot attend school.
Since leaving the Children's Home Minerva and Alvaro have began attending a school in their own neighborhood. At 11 and 13 they are both in 2nd grade. They had never, before being interned at Hogar Para Ninos, attended school. They were unable to pay the fees, buy the needed supplies and they were expected to watch the younger siblings.
They have been attending school without uniforms (because it is a very poor neighborhood they make acceptions temporarily) but they had a deadline to have the appropriate attire.
These two are loving going to school but I can't imagine how humiliating it must be for them to be dressed in rags when every other child has matching school uniforms. No child wants to stand out that way.
Some money was raised (by a Sunday school class I think) and given to a friend of ours , who helped to dig the foundation for the new house, to help these kids. We decided to spend the money on something that would have the most impact on their lives.
Education.
The key to bring their generation out of extreme poverty.
So many doors open up for them if they can manage to graduate highschool.

This morning we had the privaledge of taking Minerva and Alvaro out shopping at "globos" in San Quintin. It was such a fun little outing that included snacking on churros and bags of fresh fruit pieces (with chili and lime of course). After leaving the market we went for lunch at a taco stand. It was amusing to watch skinny little Alvaro wolf down a huge torta. It was fun to treat them in such a small way (each meal was less than $3) before we go home. I know they were hungry, fruit is a luxery, and a whole pile of beef on a bun (a torta) is more meat than that boy has seen ....well probably since the last time we took him out. It was kind of like old times. Us and our two extra kids. They are such sweet kids, so gracious and appreciative.
I can't even describe how thrilled they were about these new outfits. Can you see it on their faces?
Just watching them look themselves over with pride was so entertaining.
I was amazed at the transformation myself. They are such gorgeous kids.


Here is Alvaro trying on shoes at "globos". I had such a fun time helping him find just the right shoes. He needed black shoes for school but finding the right size was tricky.
The little stores that set up only on Saturday don't typically have a lot of sizes in stock.
The handsome black leather shoes were such a contrast to the too-small worn out sandals he was wearing. I don't think I have ever seen ,or may ever see again, a boy so proud of a pair of shoes.

They are so proud of their new head to toe outfits. We made sure to get them with plenty of room so they can use them next fall too.
Little brother and sister are proudly sporting some "new" hand-me-downs as well.
I am starting to sort through and purge the clothes that we have worn all winter. Our cupboards will be pretty bare once I weed out all the worn out, too small and very sun faded clothing.
Did you notice the flowers they have planted in the little flower box? And the little Canadian flag?
Its nice to see them take responsiblity for, pride in and make improvements on what they were given. I think they must have gotten the little flag from one of the people who built the house. The funny thing was that the flag was upside down origionally. It makes sense , a leaf hangs down from a tree not up. A Canadian friend made sure to fix it before the picture was taken. I kind of thought it was cute.

Louisa has ,what looks like, her own little school uniform. Actually, she is the fourth little person to wear this outfit. It was given to Roman (last time we lived in Mexico), by some American friends who were leaving some clothes at the Children's Home. Then, a few years later, it was passed onto Silas...and from there this little girl with a huge smile. It was such a good quality little outfit that it was still in good shape!
I was glad to see Louisa healthy and smiling again. She was really sick last time we visited. She is such a little doll. I miss them already. I am going to miss them so much when we go back to Canada!
Next week here at the orphanage is a "Fiesta de Te" a giant tea party put on for all the little girls and their dolls. The cafeteria will be beautifully decorated and the little girls dressed in special dresses saved and made for the occasion. There will even be tables set specifically for their dolls (so I have heard anyway). Aili and I have have made arrangements to bring both Carmela (the girl standing behind Louisa in the striped shirt) and Minerva. I am SO excited to take these two girls, who have never in their lives had a birthday party, dressed like a princess, or even had a tea party ...to the giant princess themed fiesta.
I wish I could have captured for you the look on Carmela's face when I told her about it. I can't even describe the look of sheer awe and ecstacy on her face. I told her to bring her princess Belle doll (the one she recieved for Christmas). Now I just need to find some dresses for them.
I am filled right up to the brim with warm fuzzies right now. Sometimes giving and compassion here is a tricky thing and often leaves the giver feeling less than good about the situation. Often I feel even more helpless or sometimes even taken advantage of. There are all kinds of issues with and a very delicate balance between helping meet peoples most basic needs and creating attitudes of entitlement and dependancy. It's not all warm fuzzies. Sometimes there is compassion that in the long run is not all that compassionate.

It was fun to do something with someone and have it be just fun....and at the same time know that it's pouring love into their life.

Kids with kid stuff

It all started with these two. Alvaro and Minerva. I had no idea , when we were forging a new friendship and falling in love with these two many months ago ,that it would take us to this place or that we would have the privalege of seeing them in this house. We assumed we would continue our normal role as sponsors "Tia and Tio". Once we returned home would write to them, send them little gifts and tokens of our prayers and love for them. Our role changed and suddenly we lost what we thought we would be able to keep with them. God had other plans. There weren't just 2 kids that were in desperate need of an auntie and uncle , there were 5. I feel so humbled and honored to be here at that moment in their lives. I never would have guessed where this would lead us, that last week we would be standing with all 5 kids inside their new house.

These are some neighbor kids and a woman I was visiting with. She has four beautiful little girls. She followed Silas around petting and playing with his hair. The poor kid is getting used to being caressed by amused strangers.

My shy, timid , little princess Louisa.

Carmela and Louisa having some fun with the little gifts the IDT group left behind for them. I just noticed the floating foot in the picture. I think it might be a Silas foot. He was SO filthy that day. He ran around with the pack of neighborhood kids through dirt and the black remnants of old cook fires. Its kind of amusing how easily he fits right in. He's my little albino Mexican. At that age he has no idea he's experiencing a completely different culture or witnessing poverty. He's just a kid playing with other kids.

In the childrens room, the group of youth that came from Lethbridge Alberta , left all kinds of treats, some hand knit sweaters, and little toys. The kids had a blast looking through all the treasures and hiding them all away in the drawers of their first dresser.

New house for Minerva (photos)

 

 

 

 

New House for Minerva!

This is the before picture. It is very tiny, smaller than most American bathrooms. The floor is dirt and the walls and roof are a patchwork of tin, carboard and plastic. The climate on the North Baja penninsula of Mexico gets very cool and windy. It can hover around freezing at night. We are also having quite a wet winter which leaves all the kids wet and cold. There are 5 children. One died before we came (from what Minerva told me, it sounded like swine flu or some other nasty respitory and high fever illness). There is also a mother and another baby on the way. The inside of the house makes the outside look nice. It's hard to even describe the sights and smells.

The two oldest children ,Minerva and Alvaro, lived at the childrens home here where we are working, for a few months. They were returned to their mom by a gov't agency just before Christmas. It's a strained and uncertain situation at home still as nothing really changed. During the time they lived at the childrens home our family sponsered Minerva, however both kids called us "Tia and Tio" (now all five do). We spent a lot of time with those two and they became part of our family here. If we went somewhere , they went with us. When the children unexpectedly left the childrens home (we all expected them to be here for a very long time) our financial sponsorship of her ended but our role as Tia and Tio didn't. I told them as they tearfully drove away, not knowing if we would ever see them again and heart broken for the situation they were returning to, that we would always be their Auntie and Uncle.

We were determined to find them again. To make good on our role as auntie and uncle. Once we saw the conditions our kids were living in we knew we had to do something. I wasn't going to go back to my comfy house in Canada while kids I love huddle in dirt trying to keep warm. The problem was we didn't have a clue how we would get them a new house. We don't have the money. My husband has the skills as a Journeyman carpenter but we would need help. We took the whole situation to God and stepped out in faith.

An nearby organization called IDT facilitates groups of volunteers who come down and build houses in this impoverished area. The wait list to get a house built is long though. We talked to IDT to see if we could get help with getting a slab poured and we could worry about the rest when the time came. One thing lead to another and pieces all fell together. A youthgroup from Alberta Canada came this week to build their house. This group has been working toward, raising money and preparing for this trip for 3 years. For some reason they were coming but at the last minute had no one to build for, the house they were supposed to build fell through. God had other plans. I think he had this figured out three years ago when they started dreaming about doing the trip. IT's been really cool to witness how God has so completely provided.

We also had a couple big hearted family members send us some money to help out with the house. We still needed to level the lot, haul in gravel and are providing some basic furnishings. So far God has used a whole lot of different people. We didn't send out letters, beg or knock on doors. We had decided to just go ahead and see how God would provide. It's been amazing to see how God's people answered the call.

My hubby has been working with the group this week offering his construction knowledge to the willing hands and servants hearts that came with the group of youth. That was part of what IDT needed to get the job done...a construction supervisor for the project. One of the peices that just fell together perfectly. It's making a busy week for him as he balances responsibilities here and out at the house project.
I havent' been out to see the work being done during the day but he did take some pictures for me.

This is the group that is working hard and is even providing some VBS and games for all the curious neighborhood kids.
Thankyou SOOO much to the Lethbridge youth! Thankyou for making this happen. God has used you this week! You have been an answer to many prayers.

Last night we drove out to see the progress. I was amazed at how much had been done in two days! They are also doing repair work in the neighbor house (the one that lost its roof in the big rain storm). They still have at least another full days work...probably most of two.

It was incredible. The last couple times I've been out to visit the oldest two (Minerva and Alvaro) were at school. Upon arrival Minerva met me at the car door with a huge bear hug and a "I missed you Auntie!". She was one big smile as she showed me her new house. I was just as giddy as she was as we disucussed where their bedroom would be and where she would put her new little propane stove.

Tomorrow is the dedication ceremony and fiesta. Minerva made sure to tell me I had to come on Thursday. I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Los Ninos

At the end of every month, at 4 O'clock in the afternoon there is a special service led by the children who live here.
All 7 "casa's" are represented as a few children from each house shares something about their life, asks for prayer or shares a bible verse. Any new children are introduced by their house parents and they are prayed for. I have been to quite a few of these services but for some reason this time it really effected me. I don't know if it was the dawning realization that we may not be here for another end of month childrens service or just the fact that these kids have left an impression on me. Probably both. We have known many of these kids for 4 years now. Some for a decade (since I first came to this orphanage).
We , in just a small way, have been a part of each others lives.

As I listened to the 10 year old girl share how she came to the childrens home at the age of three when her mother died of stomach cancer....
As I listened to a brother and sister ask for a miracle (a visit from their father)...

As I listened to a 13 year old boy with HIV thank God for another year of life....

My heart filled with emotion and my mind became clear.
This is why we are here.
The children.

Little Mayra tried to share but a severe attack of the giggles prevented her from sharing anything but laughter.

I almost lost my control of the tears that threatened to flow when three little girls nervously, with big smiles on their faces and ribbons attached to their hands stood at the front and sang for us. They sang a song of praise to their heavenly father. The one who will never abandon them.
Brenda who has cerebral palsy walked with awkward jerky steps as she pushed her walker up to sing as part of the trio.
She stood unaided with her hands in the air doing the actions, holding her ribbons, and singing her heart out.
She was in a wheel chair when we first met her 4 and half years ago.

Each one of these kids has a story.
So many of them have experienced in their short lives more than we ever will in ours.
They come because they are orphanaed, neglected, abused, or abandoned. Some have a parent that loves them dearly but is unable to care for them. Some have a parent that has chosen drugs or alchohol over their children. Some parents seek out help because of poverty.
Their lives have been difficult.

There is also joy. They are loved, they are living in families, they are educated, fed, clothed and they are taught that the God who created them also loves them dearly. They have value. They are not lost children made to face the world alone.
They have a friend who will never fail them.

I sat beside Alejandro (the boy we sponser) during the service. He has definately worked his way into my heart. He is a 6 year old boy full of energy , big smiles, curiousity and mischief. Much like my own son. The one difference is he comes from 6 years of neglect and abuse.

He has not been overly affectionate which is natural given his upbringing. The only time he has recipricated affection was when I brought him a birthday present on the day that was invented to be his birthday (no one knows when he was born or how old he really is). On that day he planted both his hands on my face and kissed my cheeks. That was a great thankyou.
Other than that I have to chase him down for a tickle or a playful hug. He definatley loves to play.

As the service went on ,and he saw Silas snuggled up on the other side of me, he inched closer and closer. I had my arm draped across the pew behind him and gave his shoulder a squeeze once in a while, aware of not making him feel uncomfortable. After a while I put my arm down and my hands on my lap.
Next thing I knew his face was on my shoulder, then a few minutes later his arm was resting on my arm, finally as the service ended he was holding my hand with his fingers entwined with mine.

The kids. They are why we are here.

If you want to sponsor one of the children who live at the childrens home visit the website.

http://www.ffhm.org/

Let me know if you sponsor a child from the Baja orphanage and I'll sneak in some extra photos of your child ;)

My favorite part of Christmas Day

Later in the morning, after we were finished with our own gift opening and family time, we set out to vist our other kids.
They were expecting us and were all standing by the road waving when we pulled up. It was so cute. They were all dressed in their best clothes and their mom had even saved some dinner for us. Pazole con mole, y pollo. It was a "muy rico" meal for them and I felt very honored that they were sharing it with us. They had also bought a jug of Coca Cola to pour for us. It was one of those moments when I knew we would most likely be very ill should we recieve the gifts offered but at the same time we were very very grateful for the gesture. Awkward decision. We prayed silently for protection as we chugged coke from grimy cups and exclaimed that the meal was delicious.

Minerva and Alvaro had seen children open gifts while living at the childrens home so they knew what to do, but the three little ones just held their boxes and smiled. Aili ended up opening two year old Louisa's for her eventually (Inside was a big snuggly stuffed puppy and a little backpack). Ramiro just sat grinning from ear to ear holding his pretty box. It was so cute! It gave me a taste of what it must be like to distribute the Samaritans Purse christmas shoe boxes. SO rewarding to witness. Just look at that smile and he hasn't even opened it yet! He just sat there giggling.

One of the most remarkable things was how excited the children were for each other. Alvaro was oohing and aahing over his little sisters doll dresses and his big sisters scarf and purse. They were so happy for each other and will undoubtable share everything they recieved.

Most of these gifts came from "stockings" sent down to all the kids at the childrens home from a couple of churches. Since Minerva and Alvaro left just before recieving theirs we were able to deliver them the gifts. We had to send back the cloth bags( the gifts came in)so we decided to wrap the gifts up in boxes. The donors were so extremely generous that between the two stockings we were able to wrap up a box for all 5 kids. I added a few things from our own toy stash and it came out just right. I also bought and wrapped up a few more items of clothing for the kids and bought a gift for the mom.
There were a few more big gifts that came in the mail for Minerva and Alvaro from their other sponsers. After a lot of thought, and discussing it will some others at the orphanage, we decided to save the other gifts (unopened) until they have a house to put them in. It would have just been too much considering the neighborhood and the complete lack of space to store "stuff". It would have been appropriate to open that many gifts at the orphanage but out in this neighborhood it would have just set them up for problems.

They will be getting a new house built in February!! They will have beds, chairs, a table, a door, a floor, and a propane stove! Just the thought of them all being able to sleep out of the dirt makes my heart happy.
We initially had no idea how it was going to happen, but God has totally provided a way to have a 2 bedroom house built for them this winter through IDT. It is a house building organization. There is usually a long wait list but there was a cancellation. A group is coming to build a house and they need a family to build for. We will still be very much involved with the build and I'm looking forward to "outfitting " the house for them. We will need paint, blankets, sheets, furniture, dishes, cutlery...we will be doing some shopping at the local market for the items. I want their house to be homey and a little oasis of some beauty. Can you tell I'm VERY excited for them?

This is one of the gifts sent in the stockings by a donor. We have no idea who sent the gifts but I would love to thank them.

Every little girl deserves to feel like a princess. The Belle doll came with a little tube of body glitter. Her big sis explained, as she rubbed a little on Carmela's cheeks, that it was to make her sparkly like the doll. What a smile when she realized that she and her doll would both sparkle! The doll came with 3 extra dresses too. I told her she was as beautiful as a princessa. She just beemed me a huge smile and said "Si!" (Yes!). She felt beautiful. Something as simple as a princess doll. Every little girl I know has some sort of princess doll. Usually boxes full rarely touched and stuffed into a closet. The ornate beauty of the doll was such a stark contrast to the dirt and signs of misery all around it. I don't think there will ever be a Belle doll so appreciated though. No, she doesn't need "stuff" to be happy but every little girl deserves to feel special, loved and to imagine beauty and parties in a palace....and because of a thoughtful stranger she experienced that. :)

Noche Buena

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas even festivities in Casa #4. Christmas Eve "Buena Noche" is the big event here. This is when they have their Christmas feast and open their gifts. They all dress in their best Christmas outfits and prepare for the event all day. We had the honor of being invited to join the kids in house 4 for the evening. The food was delicious. We felt so welcomed and included in the event.

A nina with her new baby. She was so cute! It came with a little bottle and she rocked and fed that baby like a little mama.

The house mother, her son and my hijos checking out Silas' new little soldiers. This house mom is the kindest most generous person I think I've ever met. She has some very serious and debilitating health problems of her own but she and her husband care for a house full of little ones. She never complains but always excudes peace and joy. Which is a complete phenominon to me with so many children to care for. She shows so much love toward each one of the children and has even found room in her heart to reach out and be an encouragment to me. I can always count on a big hug from her.

Our little Alejandro. We popped over to Casa 5 for a brief visit and to take our sponsor son his gift. He is new to the childrens home and I would strongly suspect this was his first Christmas surrounded by family, food and gifts. He was over the top excited. He reminds me so much of Roman , just bursting with enthusiasm and energy! He keeps his house parents on their toes I think. :) He is a sweetheart though and always has a huge smile for his Tia. Inside the bag is a Gold colored soccer ball and a Bionicle robot guy.

It was a late but very memorable evening.

On Christmas day we spent the afternoon in a third casa. House #1 invited us to share some more amazing food left from their Christmas Eve meal. It was SO good. We spent most of the afternoon visiting with them while the kids watched movies and played lego with the other kids there. I so enjoy being in the casa's and getting to know the kids and the "families" in each house. They have all been very welcoming to our family.

our kids

We found our kids! On Friday we stopped by after our caroling excursion to check in on Minerva and Alvaro. We were also able to meet, for the first time, their three younger siblings.

"Tio" found them a couple nights before and reported their living conditions to me. He wanted to prepare me ahead of time for how they were living. He choked up as he told me that they lived in a tiny, cold, filthy, fly and rodent infested shack. They sleep on a damp mattress on a dirt floor. 5 kids, their mom and her boyfriend.
Nothing really prepared me to see these beautiful children in their "home". I can't even describe to you the inside of the house. All I can say is it makes the outside appear nice. The whole property is on the slope of a hill and I can't imagine what their floor looked like during last weeks rains.
They were thrilled when their Tio showed up in his car though....that someone cared enough about them to come find them. He said he'd never had hugs so tight or seen smiles so big.
I hesitate to even write about their home because I feel somehow I am betraying my sweet Minerva who deserves so much more. I was nothing but smiles and positive words while I was there. I would never let her see my heart breaking as I look at her home. I could tell she was embarrased and that killed me. The home she works so hard to keep. She cooks, she cleans and she cares for her siblings.

We have now visted them twice. Once while the mom and boyfriend were there, and this morning while just the kids were there.

Our beautiful and kindhearted Alvaro. You can see Romans soccer ball next to the house.
They don't even have a wash board. She washes all their clothes on a piece of broken cement set on top of a stack of tires. What a hard life. All the things we take for granted. Running water, hot water, a fridge, a floor in our house, beds, rooms, toys, food, a bathroom, showers, clean water, clean clothes. So much we don't even think to appreciate. So much this family lives without.

Minerva (right in pink) with her little brother Ramiro , sister Louisa and her mom. That boy is gorgeous! The biggest smile I have ever seen on a child.

Ramiro and Carmela. They are the sweetest kids. These two soaked up the attention. I sat myself in the dirt and these two both snuggled up on my lap. They just about started purring as I hugged them, caressed their hair and rubbed their backs. They were like little affection sponges.

This morning I came with some bags of food and some sweaters dug out of my kids cupboards. It gets cold here at night this time of year. It gets down to just a few degrees above freezing and it's a damp ocean air cold too. At night we all wear our fleece sweaters, pile on the blankets and turn on our propane trailer furnace to 15 degrees c. Last night I could hardly sleep thinking about those kids huddled up in the dirt. I laid awake thinking about which blankets I could spare, which sweaters my kids didn't need and what food I could take from my cupboards.

We are hoping to build the kids a better home before we leave. We have started looking into what it would take and getting the neccesary land information and documents. I wish I could pack them all up and bring them home with me this spring, but since running two different borders with 5 kids would be illegal, we will have to settle for doing our best by them while we are here.