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Update #6 - NYE

December 31st

Tonight was our big New Year’s Eve party! We spent the day preparing food, activities, and the skit.  Caleb, Timmy, and I got to eat in the house of Timmy’s friend, “E.” It was a house full of 14 boys and the parents have one biological daughter.

It was a bit of a challenge to get the conversation going, but once I asked if any were in the carpenter or bakery programs they opened up and told us about what they liked about the programs.

“R,” the house dad, is learning computer programming so he and Caleb enjoyed talking about that stuff.

(Hannah went to a different house with another family on the trip.  She became the unofficial translator!)

After dinner, we continued preparations for the big fiesta. Children saw a drama we created about Jonah and the big fish and then rotated through water/Jonah themed activities. The smiles were priceless.


Timmy was one of the whale operators

Hannah was a Ninevite and also sprayed water on the crowd when the storm came



Kids constructed boats with popsicle sticks and hot glue guns and then raced them down the ramp

Human sundaes!


We ended the evening with a worship service and prayer time until 11:45pm. Fireworks were a huge hit for both the kids and adults.

January 1st

We got to sleep in until 8 today! We went to the orphanage church service and heard a special message on the Gospel (Galatians).

In the afternoon, we got to do my favorite thing which was to play with and love on the children. The girl in the white shirt below is my friend, “R.” She is 13 years old and has been at the orphanage for a few years. I believe God wanted me in this trip to show her that He sees her and LOVES her. We spent hours over the week making bracelets.

Caleb continued working on concrete and did some painting of the main building.  Look at the progress!


Hannah painted as well :)


Timmy played a lot more soccer and basketball with his friends. Many of the adults from the orphanage fell in love with Timmy and his positive attitude and good example for the kids. They said that is the favorite part of our team coming…watching the kids play together.

Hannah was very independent this trip, just jumping in wherever she was needed. She played ours of “te llevas” (tag), piggy back rides, volleyball, soccer, and hide and seek. She also helped paint the main building.




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