ONE ON ONE TIME, PIZZA + MOVIE

1 ON 1 TIME READING WITH THE KIDS:
From what I have seen in orphanages in Mexico, one of the things that the kids lack is one on one time with an adult or parent.  Growing up I had one on one time with each of my parents. Every summer my grandma and grandpa would have me over at their house for a week to spend time with them in California.  It meant the world to me to spend that 1 on 1 time and to know that I was special to the adults in my life.

I've been taking different activities to the orphanages (pop-up books, encyclopedias, bingo, coloring activities, etc) to do with the kids.  It has been so much fun to really get to know these kids on a deeper level as I get to spend more time with them.  The kids love it.  Everyday when I get to the orphanage, the kids always come up and ask if I brought my books with me.  It is great, because the kids are having fun and learning!  If any of you guys have kids books in Spanish, feel free to send them down! :)  I've been reading kids encyclopedias with the kids like:

1 ON 1 TIME WITH JOSHUA:

Last Friday we had one of our normal Bible Studies with the 10 younger boys at Ministerios de Amor.  Normally each study looks like:
-One kid from the Green Team prays for the study // We read and discuss a story from the Bible // The kids do an activity (usually an arts & craft) // We talk about practical application of the story to our lives // We sing a couple songs // We practice a key Bible verse from the study // One kid from the Blue Team prays to close the study.

One of the boys, Joshua, was sick and could not come to the study this past week.  After doing the study, I went in to check on Joshua to see how he was feeling.  He had a headache.  Right as I walked in the bedroom he asked if we could do the Bible Study together him and I.  So I went and got the materials and we did the study together one on one.

It was so much fun to sit down with him one and one and talk and go through the study.  It is amazing to see what a 10 year old understands.  God really touched my heart through the 45 minutes I spent with Joshua.  The study was based on Josiah who was named king at 8 years old and how he learned that he needed the Bible and God to rule the nation.  The activity we created for the study said "Josiah understood that he needed the Bible.  Draw and write something that you need."

Joshua drew a huge heart and wrote:  
"I need to have the heart of God."

So simple and yet so deep.  We all need to have the heart of God.  We all need to love others as God has loved us.

PIZZA + MOVIE WITH 8 KIDS:

Lorena + I with our 4 younger boys

This past weekend we took a group of 8 kids out for pizza at Costco and a movie at one of the coolest malls in Guadalajara.  The 8 kids that we chosen were the kids that have behaved the best in the Bible studies we have been doing.  Check out the photos!

Pizza + Coke @ Costco

Darren + Justin with 8 boys

Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in these kids' lives here in Guadalajara.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

Vision Trip, Zoo Trip, Bible Study

Vision Trip with Jessie
Jessie came down last week for a 4 day vision trip to see the orphanage project and to see if this is something God is calling her to do.  It was a great time to really connect with her and share with her all that we have learned/experienced over this past year here in Guadalajara.  We talked until 1am in the morning sharing experiences, stories, and struggles.  She knew the first night that this is what she wanted to do.  All of her questions and concerns were answered the first day!  We are so excited for her to come back down soon!

Trip to the Zoo with Ministerios de Amor
This past week (Spring Break) we were invited to go with the orphanage Ministerios de Amor to the Guadalajara Zoo!  We broke up into groups and led the kids around the whole zoo.  It was a blast!  I took a group of 4 boys around with me, Jonathan (12), Hugo (11), Mario (8), and Juan (8).  It was a great experience for us to learn how to organize outings with the kids and how to divide into groups and plan lunch/ travel/ etc.

The boys.

Bible Studies @ Ministerios de Amor
We have been giving Bible Studies with the younger boys at Ministerios de Amor for a month or two now and we have been learning so much and have gained so much experience in how to teach and instruct children.  We are planning on taking out the 3 boys who have behaved/participated the best out to pizza and to movies.  So we have been keeping track of behavior, participation, attitude, etc.  Check out some of the photos below:

Folders we made for the boys.

Noah's Ark

How do you perceive God?

Group Activity.

Working together.

Singing a Song.

I really feel that this month we are starting a new stage in our ministry down here in that we are finally starting on our own project.  We are looking more towards our orphanage plans, designs, organization, etc.  Also, sometime this year we are looking to take a 1 month internship trip to the orphanage we visited in Aguascalientes (Dulce Refugio).  During this time we will live with the girls in the orphanage and see what daily life looks like at this orphanage.  We will also do a more in depth training with the director in office related tasks.  We are so excited for what God has in store for us.

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support that allows me to serve here in Guadalajara.  I could not be here without your sacrifice.  Thank you.

"YOU THEN, MY CHILD, BE STRENGTHENED BY THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS" 2 TIMOTHY 2:1