Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad! 

In this season we find ourselves 

 continually grateful for your ongoing support to our 

 ministry. We promise to spread this message of hope we enjoy at Christmas time all year long here in Mazatlan. 

Thank you for your investment in us, thank you for partnering with us in this message-passing-along mission, "There is a Savior and He is coming for you!"  Feel invited... join us in prayer, in person, or in gift giving. 

Merry Christmas! Praying for you and yours this season.

Gingerbread Fun at Rancho

Jose and Carlos kept taking the candy presents and the candy star for the tree.  Acting like they ate them, they refused to put them on the tree. Then, we would look back and one more present would be under the Christmas Tree:)  It was quite entertaining! 

We know when we go out to Rancho there will always be excitement.
We got there before the kids got home from school so we could mix up the icing.  We got everything set up for them ready to go.
Upon arriving home from Therapy/School, We had to pretty much body hold some of the children when they saw the candy. Luckily, Kelly and I, had two helpers with us for the day. They are from a local church here and have been wanting to help out on their break. They are both in High School. And until recently, they have never set foot inside a childrens home. As you can tell from some of the pictures above, they were having a blast!

It took a while for the kids to realize we weren't going to eat the house or the tree we were making, but that it was only for decoration. Needless to say, once again, they ate some of it:)

Going out to Rancho to spread any kind of joy is worth it. Getting the children to do something they might have never done in there life before and that is out of their routine normally comes with great results. And i would say this day was success:) 

Staff ladies night out

We all hopped in the car and went downtown to watch the Mazatlan Ballet preform                The Nutcracker! 

Before the show started the little girls were dancing in the aisles and excited to see the orchestra in the pit! It was so very cute!

The performance was wonderful. It went a little bit longer than expected but that was because it started 30 minutes later than it was supposed to. You know what we call that right? FLEXICO! 

We had some tired little girls with us afterwards!  

A fun night of getting dolled up and heading out on the town to watch the ballet:) 

Gingerbread House Extravaganza!

Today during our staff meeting we were asked what things are we thankful for. I couldn't help but have  monday pop into my head. 

Monday afternoon was set aside to go out to the Salvation Army home. A day of being relational with the children are my most favorite days. So, we went there to make some gingerbread houses! 

The kids had a BLAST! 
At the beginning of our time, we told them they shouldn't eat the stuff because it isn't very good for them. Well, controlling 24 children is hard when there is only 3 of us and lots of candy on each table:)  
Needless to say, they ate and ate and are continuing to try and eat their houses or their trees! 

This afternoon was fun because many of them had never built a gingerbread house before. We were all talking about traditions and how we wanted them to join us in a fun family tradition. 

The children were excited and eager to construct their houses and trees. We had them break up into 4 teams. 2 teams had a Christmas Tree to construct and 2 teams had a house to construct! 

So many smiles and laughter going around each table. 


What a fun afternoon with children we love:)

Christmas Cheer: Day 3

                                      

Day 3: 

We gathered all the goodies for the day and headed out to the Salvation Army home for the morning! Who knew a mountain of sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles could make kids so happy:) This home is always more organized than the other homes we serve at. This home had a decorating tree station, a cookie station, and a craft station. The children alternated between all of the stations. Thus completing Christmas Cheer at Salvation Army:) While the kids were alternating stations, our team was hanging decorations all over the dining hall  to brighten it up:) The children at this home always amaze me with their obedience. Notice how in the first picture (above) they are not GRABBING cookies out of the plate but patiently waiting for one to be put on their plate? 

The afternoon was set aside to bring Christmas Cheer to Floreser!
 They had all the decorations out and they were eager for us to get there to help put them up. 
When we took out the new ornaments for them, they were thrilled because we decided to make their tree a pink/purple ornament tree! Every all girls home needs a pink/purple tree! 
We did all the decorating around the house, the tree, and our sugar cookies. Then, because we had more time, we attempted to do a gingerbread house with the girls. It went over very well actually. The girls took turns with the icing that was hard like cement;) They also took turns decorating different things. Rodo kept eating the candy that was supposed to go on the house so we were short a few items, but we made it work! 

This day was a busy day indeed. Bringing Christmas Cheer to 2 homes in 1 day is a lot. Our group never let up though and was always 100% when it came to the kids and every thing else they did when they were here. 

What a wonderful day! 

Christmas Cheer: Day 2

Day 2: 

We started our usual morning and then grabbed presents, cookies, garland, cleaning supplies and all the things we would need for this day and set off to Rancho de Los Ninos. 

Hard to put into words how amazing this day was! We started by cleaning their bathrooms and floors. They needed the attention to say the least. 

Then after lunch we got all the Christmas decorations out and that is when it all started... 
Victor's sweet smile the entire time we were hanging Christmas lights on the tree.
  
Jesus Tigre and Julian (our wheelchair bound boys) excited for the touch of all things Christmas

Ricky helping me put HIS ornament on the tree and sitting right next the the Christmas music the entire time. 

Carina and Carlitos eager to help put the ornaments on the tree. 

Carlitos with his super activeness putting 5 ornaments on 1 limb. 

The older boys helping us reach the top of the tree and helping us hang paper chain garland over the whole house. 

The feeling of this day was like a normal saturday with a BIG family! The typical teenager laying on the sofa just resting. The crazy hyper active children running around excited because new people are at his home, While getting put in time out a couple times. The middle son playing his video games. Then time for lunch. Everyone sits together around the table. Then back to whatever they were doing.. chores, video games, sleeping! 

Getting the Christmas music out and jammin to it in the main room while decorating the tree with EVERY child that lives there, was beyond words. We had dance parties, decorating cookie parties, and tons of fun. 

We were blessed to end our day going room to room praying over each bed. In a couple of the rooms were some of the kids taking naps and we prayed over them specifically! 

This day was an impactful, emotional, and beautiful day! 

Blessed that i get to say this is my life!