Reactions, Praises, New Shoes, Dance Parties, and more!

Estudios Biblicos-Weekly Bible Studies with the Kids:
We have been leading Bible studies every night at the orphanage and we have really seen growth in the kids!  The other week I talked about the passage in John 1 (Juan 1) when Jesus is calling His first disciples.  The Word says that Jesus called them;  they went, left everything; they saw Jesus; they stayed with Jesus.  They made a decision to react to Jesus' calling.

We talked about how we have to react to what God is telling us.  And I asked the kids, "What is a reaction?".  Silence. Nobody responded.  So I figured I would demonstrate what a reaction is.  I stood up and went over to one of the older kids (Victor) and flicked his ear.  Needless to say, I got a really confused look from Victor and the kids burst out laughing.  They finally started to get it.  If we react to little things like that, then we need to react to God's calling as well.  A few days later I was working in the office and Victor came up to me and and hit me on the head.  I looked up and gave him a confused look.  He told me, "That is a reaction.  Just like our reaction to God."  HA!  He got it!

La Escuela-School:
The kids are off to a great start in school!  Last week one of my kids (Julio) received a note from the teacher saying that she wanted to speak to me.  So I went into the school, expecting the worst.  To my surprise, she wanted to share with me how well Julio has been doing in school!  He is scoring 10s (As) on all of his assignments and is showing respect to the teacher and classmates!  We are excited to be able to reward the kids who are doing well in school!

Abraham is the first kid in the orphanage to make it past elementary school.  He is currently in his first year of middle school and is loving it!  He asked me the other day to take a picture of him in his BRAND NEW uniform and shoes.  He is so excited!  This is the first time he has ever had something new that is especially for him.  He wrote this letter to all of you thanking you for helping send him to school:

"Hi, I am Cristopher Abraham Luna Villanueva.  Thanks for sending support from the US to Mexico.  I am SO excited for my new uniform.  I also thank Erika, Darren, Blanca, and Justin and also the secretary, Elizabet, and all of you because if it weren't for you, I would not have had a uniform and I could not go to school.  Thank you and God bless.  I will always be praying for you.  I am 13 years old.  Thank you."

The joys of working with kids-Dance Party Anyone?
The other day we were putting all of the younger kids to bed and I noticed that all of the older kids were missing.  Never a good sign.  Jaja!  So I went downstairs and to my surprise I found the living room and the dining room empty.  I walked into the kitchen and I found all of the older boys dancing to a Christian hip-hop song (Musica por dentro--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42j-BDWi5A8).  I burst out laughing!  My fear was that the kids were fighting or getting into trouble, and yet they were dancing to Christian hip-hop!  I love it!  These kids are constantly surprising me!  We have so much JOY working with them.

Journeyman International (501c3) came down to do a service project at the orphanage.  Here is a short video showing what we did:


THANK YOU. I am truly grateful for the opportunity that God has given me to serve here in Guadalajara long term in starting an orphanage.  I also thank you all for support and prayers in partnering with what He is doing here.

A New Beginning at Niños en Victoria

Bed Time Stories
I'd have to say that hands down my favorite part of the week is getting to put the kids to bed at night.  They eat dinner, brush teeth, get blankets and lay down in their new beds.  Normally I'm in charge of the younger kids and once they're all laying down and quiet we tell a story.  I start off with a basic sentence (Once upon a time there were 5 turtles, 3 butterflies, and 1 king...).  And the kids each take a turn to add the next part to the story.  Over the next few weeks we've told stories about: time machines, dinosaurs, deserted islands, etc.  It is so much fun giving the kids a chance to stretch their imaginations and work together to write a story.

Dining Room (Comedor)
We finished redoing the comedor last week with the arrival of the tables and chairs.  The project entailed: painting walls, putting up artwork, building a wall and putting up mosquito nets, and putting in brand new tables and chairs.  For the first time in the past 9 years that this orphanage has been open they can finally all sit down at once and eat a meal together with everyone!

Back to School
Last year there were 4 of the 24 kids enrolled in school.  This year 21 of the 24 are enrolled in school!  We have learned so much in the process of enrolling the kids in school.  For a good week I ran around town with the orphanage secretary enrolling the kids in school-- writing letters, obtaining past school records, obtaining birth certificates, meeting with government school board workers, school directors, talking with teachers, getting backpacks/uniforms/school supplies etc.  Definitely a hectic week or two, but I learned so much about what the school system looks like down here.  The kids are so excited!

Angel
Angel is probably one of the cutest/funniest kids I've ever met.  He is so incredibly excited to start school.  This is his first time ever attending school.  He is 8 years old.  Every morning he asks me if tomorrow he is going to school and today I get to walk him to his first day of school!  And every afternoon he checks his backpack to make sure he has everything he needs; and every afternoon I assure him that we will get him whatever he needs for school.  He is so excited to learn.  He has been carrying around his "special blue notebook" for the past month asking us to give him little homework assignments.  He loves it!  It is so encouraging to see a kid so eager and excited to learn!

Women's Bible Study
This week I will be starting a woman's bible study with my roommates, the director's wife, and I am inviting some of the kid's moms as well as some neighbors/friends.  I'm excited to really dig into the Word with these women.  The theme is freedom.  It is based on Galatians 5:1  "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Pray for these women.