Thanks for Your Prayers

Thanks to all our All Saints members, families and friends for your support and prayers for our 2010 Mexico Mission trip. We felt God's presence throughout the week and were so grateful for the safe border crossings and time at Nuevo Laredo along with a "relatively easy" trip home. We couldn't have done this trip without you and we are all very grateful!

God's blessings,
Your 2010 Mexico Mission Trip Team

Leaving Casa Hogar

After a very late night of dancing, we got up and had our bus loaded by 7:30 am. Leaving is always bittersweet - we had a wonderful week playing with the children and accomplishing some projects. But the leaving is always emotional. The children always run down the street and try to "block the bus" from being able to leave. There are hugs and tears - but also the joy that comes from being so blessed by our experience at Casa Hogar. As we talked about throughout the week, we go to serve but come back blessed by the children and their love for us.

Dancing Up a Storm!

The Fiesta!!!

The Ceremony at the New Church

The ceremony was held at the new church at the site where the older boys live. This site is also the place where the tilapia farm is being built. (See post on Proyecto de vida). The older boys were working on the tiling of the new church floor all week while we were there. While the back wall was not completed, they put up the cross for the ceremony.

The Quiceañero

A Quiceañera is a coming of age ceremony held on a girl's fifteenth birthday, comparable to a Sweet Sixteen celebration. While the Quiceañera is traditionally for girls, if there is a ceremony that includes young men, it is called a Quiceañero.

From left to right: Jazmin, Daniel (Fresa), Juana (Juanita), Isac, Yaneth, Raymundo (Leyo), Anya, Fernando, Dulce (Candy)

More Party Preparation

As the afternoon wore on, there continued to be lots of preparation - from preparing the skirting around the banquet table to the final hair styling before the girls put on their special dresses.

Proyecto de Vida

A very exciting project is taking place over at the site with the new church and the older boys dorm. It is called Proyecto de Vida or Project of Life.

The project will create a "cycle of life" farm system at Casa Hogar that will be a prototype for self-sustaining missions around the world. The system integrates aquaponics with agriculture. They are building a greenhouse that houses aquaponics, contains birthing chambers for Tilapia fish, and serves as a training center.

The 3 grow-out tanks will serve to farm thousands of fish. The 15 raised beds will be the initial steps in growing fresh vegetables that are fertilized from the waste water of the fish in combination with the composte material already being collected. Rabbits will be raised for consumption and fur as part of the cycle of life.

The goal is to raise the level of nutrition for the kids, create a marketable industry within the orphanage that brings income, and develop a training center.

Pastor Antonio had a chance to take a tour of the new project with Mama Lupita.

Getting Ready For a Party!

There has been an absolute flurry of activity today as the entire staff and all the kids prepare for the Quiceanero for 5 girls and 3 boys tonight. The courtyard has been cleaned, the cars have all been washed, food is being prepared and tables and chairs set up for the dinner and the fiesta after the service. You can feel the excitement - everyone will dress up! (See Beto in his handsome orange shirt). We are all very excited to be a part of this very special ceremony!

Hanging Out With the Kids

A big part of our days at Casa Hogar are just spent hanging out with the kids. Special connections form and the children are so eager for love and hugs. Because of our longterm relationship with Casa Hogar, we have literally watched these children grow each year. It will be very hard to say goodbye tomorrow morning!