Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I decided to just narrate some of what I´ve been doing with these photos. I hope you enjoy them.

(Note: I'm adding this post in 2009. I know that I have written out some great entries from my time in Mexico, but I can't seem to locate them. If I ever find them, I'll include them on here, but until then, here are some pictures and captions from some of those original email updates.)
Me and Manuel at the orphanage. I'm already in love with this kid. If I could bring him home I would. I happened upon him Friday while at the orphanage/womens shelter I´m helping with. (I only call it an orphanage, but none of the kids are orphans... their parents are simply in jail or drug rehab, etc.) Manuel was covered in food and gnats. I gave him a bath--or rather--hosed him down outside. He didn´t like it at first and cried, but then he had fun with it. From then on I found him some clean clothes and toted him around with me everywhere. We had fun. He´s probably 2 or so. Maybe younger, doesn´t talk much yet. Those eyes are so precious. Worst part about the orphanage is that the gnats are awful. They climb all over those kids. And they get in their cuts and all around their eyes and noses. Really sad. Can´t really process the intensity of that in my mind yet. Within a couple of weeks, Manuel began to call me Mommy. Turns out he truly believed I was his Mommy. Flattered me, but broke my heart at the same time considering I only saw him twice a week, but the love I shared with him in that short period of time was apparently that significant to him. And my relationship with him became my greatest passion during my trip.

Me and Jenya. Jenya is from the Ukraine. She speaks English, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish fluently! She´s amazing! She´s 20 and going through the FYM program with us. But there is a couple from Ohio that is here also who are called to be missionaries in Ukraine. So all three of them are seeing what FYM is all about to possibly start a program in the Ukraine.

Katie and I with some of our soccer buddies. She´s in my neighborhood WOW (Walk on Water) group and in the orphanage group with me. She´s a hoot. She´s 18 just out of HS. Oh, how God is using her here! Her spiritual maturity is teaching ME so much!!!

Shelley, Stacy, and I taking a break from pouring cement one day. Our home is also the church. But it´s very primitive and unfinished right now. We didn’t do much construction work during our time there. They have other groups that come in and work on the church, etc. But this day, Shelley and I shoveled cement into the mixer for almost an hour. It was VERY hard work! Some of the most physical labor I´d ever done I guess. But I volunteered for it and enjoyed the workout. Was sore the next day. A couple of the guys we have with us are scrawnier than I am, so it seemed harder for them than me anyways! I beat one of them in a pushup contest in Baton Rouge if that tells you anything! :) I´m trying to stay in shape here, sometimes the meals aren´t that nutritious. (FYI, I gained 15 pounds by the end of my trip!)A house and some other shack building that is behind our church. Similar to many houses around our colonia.

The outside and "inside" of the church. It doesn’t look like much, but God’s presence could fill that place as if it were a grand cathedral! The floors got cemented and the roof got extended for the second floor by the time I left in December. The church will eventually be a school as well.
The one with me and 3 others (soaking wet and freezing) is from Thursday. We arrived at our WOW group only to be met with rain and LOTS of sticky mud! My knee was killing me because it has been acting up. It was getting better, but on the way to our colonia Thursday (45 minutes before this picture was taken) a truck had started pulling out while I was crossing the road and it hit me... only hit my hand, but I jerked back and strained my knee again. So I got extra soaked that Thursday because I walking with a limp AND it was raining AND the mud was absolutely ridiculous! We are talking crazy mud here! It gets stuck to my sandals and my height increases 3 inches because I just take the mud with me with each step. It makes my sandals weigh about 25 pounds each it seems! OH, THE ADVENTURES!!

We are always locked out of the orphanage when we arrived... my hijo... my son... Manuel came to the gate looking how he always does when we arrive--covered in food, gnats, and needing his diaper changed. At least I know he gets cleaned up on Wednesdays and Fridays when I am there, but I wonder how long he has to stay like that on the days I am not there... It is sad.
There is a picture of the beautiful sky one dreary morning. Matamoros is beautiful! The clouds and weird weather paint the scenery so well! The sun was actually behind us when I took the picture, so it was like there was a little bit of heaven poking out at a totally seperate location. I tried to capture God’s beauty here despite the contrasting poverty, etc. But I truly believe that is how God wants us to live life. No matter the circumstances surrounding us, we are to be thankful for His creation, His love, His mercy…

A picture of me at the Youth Detention Center. I have only been once on a day where I did not get to go to the orphanage. I helped teach English and played some soccer with the boys there. These boys have done everything from stealing to stabbing. They seemed so nice though. They just need someone to love on them. I am glad we have another group of FYMs that go there to minister to them. I would have enjoyed working there, but I am glad to be at the orphanage.
And finally, there is a picture of a youth event we attended. The worship leader, 21-year old Jonathan, from the church has a band who played and they had a man who gave a message along with dramas, etc. It was awesome to see so many Mexican youth there crying out and giving their hearts to Jesus!! I pray the revival of this country continues as it begins in the hearts of these young people!