I Apologize

I apologize that there has been no new blog post for a few days, but I have been busy changing diapers and singing kids to sleep. Tough life hey? I have been having so much fun spending time with the ladies and kids and gettin to know some of my team members better. I feel as though I have formed a few bonds that will last forever. So, for a re cap in my week so far... Sunday as always was parent visitation day. The kids whose parents came were so so happy, un fortunately, that also means that he ones whose parents did not come were so so sad. Poor little Sergio was sad and didn't want to do anything else other than cuddle.

After all the parents left the children took a couple minutes to adjust but then were happy again.

Monday the new team came and we met up. So far, most of the youth are doing really well with the children and they are bonding. I am excited to see how they are after the week ends.
Today so far has been pretty good, I have been able to hold the babies, cuddle my boy, dress and do the girls' hair, and hear "Ella, te quiero" many times. This day is wonderful, for this is the day that the lord has made.

Little girls all brushing teeth in a row :) 

New Team

The new tea, came this afternoon. They are youth from FBCH and are pretty nice so far, but tomorrow they head to Antigua for some sight seeing and such.

I went down to the market in San Juan today and bought some things to make salsa tomorrow. 

There is not too much to update on and it is much to loud in here to think properly, I will have a better update tomorrow.

Kevin

There was a puddle of spilt bubbles on the floors, they were having so much fun playing in it!

Good times on the playground today

Day of Surprises :)

I had another wonderful day! I slept in a little bit, catching up on some much needed sleep. When I finished getting ready and headed downstairs, I found a whole bunch of gringos around much to my surprise. It turns out they were a group from Georgia coming to spend the morning with the kids! How nice to have some more hands around. Well, the surprises didn't stop there, since it was Friday, as always, there is parent visitation day. I had completely forgot but all of a sudden tons of Guatemalans came through the doors to see their babies. With the other group here and the parents, there was at least 1 person to every child, amazing. Just at lunch though, everyone left and it was again just the workers and I. We fed and changed all the kids and got them to bed, then we had some lunch of our own.

Today was a definitely a day of surprises because as we were eating lunch, two of the workers (Dora and Abigail) announced that it had been their birthday yesterday! Wow! And, thanks to the team birthday the week before we had some cake left over to celebrate with! How fun :)

Tonight we played Bingo as always and I lost every time, it just wasn't my day! But we had so much fun. I am thoroughly enjoying my time with the ladies and kids. It will be so hard to say goodbye... But we won't speak of that just yet.

The little one is growing and growing, she has gained a pound since she has been here

We were playing peek a boo!

Recognize this little face? It is Elizabeth! She looks so much better already

The Power Of Love

What a wonderful feeling to be back in Guatemala and back at the center, as soon as the plane started to land my joy was un containable, I was so happy (and probably looked a bit insane!) the someone actually stopped me to ask if I was alright haha. Samuel was right at the doors of the airport when I got off and everything went without a hitch. The traffic was crazy being morning rush hour, but Samuel took me through all the back roads to avoid the traffic as much a possible.

Finally we got to the center, the highlight of my last 3 months! I walked into the doors and there were many arms running to welcome me varying from 2 years old to 50. I am so happy to be back. The smiles and joy these children have are contagious! There is no team here right now, but there are a few odd gringos here staying with me, I knew most of them from before, but it is always nice to see new faces :)

Today we fell right into the rhythm of feeding, playing, changing, feeding ect... and the fun doesn't stop there. I have had many good conversations with the ladies already so far and I cannot wait for more. The amount they feel they are able to confide in me is amazing, I just wish I could understand EVERYTHING they say, sometimes they talk so fast, or we are trying to talk about a subject I really have never heard of before in Spanish makes it so hard, but I just sit there trying to figure it out, praying for some epiphany to happen, but it's just then, that I realize I don't need to know, I don't need to have every word down to a "tee" because the simple fact that we are together gabbing (about who knows what!) in each others presence is enough. The fact that we can confide in each other and feel the tone, offer a hand or a hug when needed or a laugh and smile to add some joy. God gave us the ability to love, and that is more powerful than words.

We have our two twins today haha :)

School time!

Today, the Ducks were color coded

The Journey

Well, my trek across the continent has started! I got up (well more like jumped up!!) at 5 30am this morning and got on my first flight at 7 15, now I am in my second airport waiting for my flight to leave at 1 30, then on to the next airport for my long anticipated (not) 7 hour lay over till I get on my last jet at 11 59 tonight, when I wake up in the morning I will be in Guate!! Then an hour after that with my babies! I will be keeping this blog updated, so stay tuned for updates and pictures!

Also, Sonia Mendoza went to her new adoptive family (Dr Carlos, the center's doctor) yesterday, please pray for her to get well adjusted. I am just so happy she is finally with her new family and gets to start fresh!

We Did It!

Well, I made it to the night before off without going crazy from anticipation! I am so excited. I leave tomorrow morning and then get in (sadly) after 24 hours the next morning! Aside from the cruelly long flights and layovers, I am so happy to be able to just start and then get there!!

On a different note, which I sure you can notice form my fancy thermometer on the right, (I am sure you all noticed when I put it up) I have raised all my funds I need and more! From the outstanding generosity of my church and friends I have been able to raise almost EXACTLY what I needed, God is amazing hey?

I am of to bed now and just pray I am able to sleep through the excitement!!!

3 Dias!

Oh my goodness,
3 days until I get to cuddle my babies, 3 days until I get to hug all the ladies and tell them how much I missed them, and 3 days until I am back where God has placed my heart!

It will take me almost exactly 24 hours, with only about 11 of those flying, to get to those kids but man is it ever worth it!! I cannot wait to be there and back at the center. I am having a luncheon at after church on Sunday to raise some funds for this trip, I am really looking forward to that. I made two photo albums of the kids, the center, and Guatemala to show people when I am there. How good can God be? This trip came together so fast and was such a God thing, that I am down right amazed.

I am lucky enough to be able to speak with a few of the ladies over text, skype, and facebook (thank goodness for modern technology!) so they know I am coming and they are all excited, just as I am!

3 more days until I am home :)

11 Days!

Oh my goodness how time has flown by! I am all set to go! I leave on the 24th. I have my flight booked and everything! No turning back now (like I would want to, Ha!) I am so excited to get to run in and hug all o those little kids! I get into Guatemala very early in the morning so I will get to the center as the kids are eating breakfast I believe. That joy I will feel will be overwhelming. Those children and ladies will always hold a huge place in my heart. How will I have room to fit in my own children and family one day?! It's amazing how God gives us the ability to love un endlessly if we choose to give it.

In a prayer that St. Francis wrote he says:
"For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

For it is in giving that we receive. That in itself sums up the center, we go to give and in turn are given so many more blessings. 

Also in 1 Peter 3:9 it says "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

God gives us un failing love and un ending blessings so that we may give love and blessings to others. 

Please Pray

I have recently got news that a new baby was brought to the center today. A little girl named Norma. She was born 2 months premature and at 1 month only weighs 3 pounds. She is eating from a bottle alright, but needs a lot of help to be at the weight and development of a regular 1 month old. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.