This Christmas I was able to spend some time with my family in Arizona and California.  It is always a blessing to be able to spend time with family and friends especially around the holidays. Being far from home, I have really learned to appreciate the time I have with family.

Christmas with my dad and brother

Christmas with family in California

These past few months have been such a blessing as I have been able to slowly transition into YWAM as I will be starting my DTS Training the first week of March.  Honestly at first I wasn't too excited for my DTS because I really wanted to dedicate all of my time to the Love in Action orphanage.  However over these past couple of months God has been really confirming to me the importance of taking this time to seek Him and what He wants me to do at Love in Action.

The first 4 months of the training is the Lecture Phase and the last 2 months is the Outreach Phase where we will put into practice what we have learned in the Lecture Phase.  The cost for the Lecture Phase is $2500 USD.  The Outreach Phase cost will be determined once the location for the Outreach is set.  With the donations that I am currently receiving I will be able to pay a percentage of the Theory Phase, however I still need to raise funds to complete the Lecture and Outreach Phase.  Please join me in praying that God would provide for my DTS in His perfect timing.  And if He puts it on your heart to join me financially in this time of training, you can do so by donating on the Orphanos site.  

One of the most exciting parts of this DTS is that the oldest girl at Love in Action (Marisol-19 years old) has felt God calling her to this training as well.  It has been such a blessing to spend time with her and disciple her over these past few months and I am excited to see what He does in and through her.  I am also looking to help her raise funds for her DTS as she doesn't really have family or friends to help support her.  For her the cost of the Lecture Phase is $1250 USD.  You can also donate to her through the website above.

Back2Back Conference in Mazatlan 
This past week I along with the team of directors from Love in Action were able to attend a conference put on by Back2Back Ministries in the city of Mazatlan.  The conference was about "Building Trauma Competent Care Givers".  It basically focused on training us as leaders to train our care givers on what it looks like to care for children who have undergone trauma in their lives.  It gave us a lot of practical tools and advice on how to better guide, lead, love and instruct our kids.  It was a great time to take time to learn as well as to come together as a team.  

Activity- learning how to see through the kids' eyes

Team of Directors (missing 2)

It has been such a blessing to spend time at Love in Action and really get to know the kids and build deeper relationships with them.  I have been strategic in spending time with them and getting to know them better as I continue creating a profile for each child as we put together the foster care/ adoption program.  I have been focusing on one kid at a time: interviewing the child, the teachers, psychologist, house parents, other directors, etc..  Please join me in praying for these kids and that God would continue calling and preparing families for them through adoption/ foster care.

 

Juliana selling Ice Cream (cups of muddy water) out of the back of her bike

Marisol and Camila

Alfredo painting his little sister's nails (Camila)

I think the funniest part of this month was when I walked into the bedroom to see Alfredo (4 years) painting his little sister's nails (Camila-2 years).  About 10 minutes later I return to the bedroom and Camila has nail polish all over her fingers, hands, mouth, cheeks, eyes and hair.  Apparently nail polish works for make up as well!  Nothing a little (or a lot) of nail polish remover can't fix.