Yesterday and Today

Perhaps the title of this post should be "It Takes A Lot Of People" because it surely does take many to accomplish it all!

Yesterday, we took three vehicles to Mexico and each was loaded.  Two dressers, a bed, 2 nightstands, 2 beautiful old wicker pieces (they will house towels and blankets), plus bags of clothing and some dog food and ... who knows what all.  All of this was donated and delivered to the park.

Once everything was unloaded, it was time for Marylou to begin lunch -it is nice to give Dalia a break once in a while since she is there 24-7.   ML made a very good chicken noodle soup, served it with crackers but most of the children preferred the tortillas.

 Glee, Ellen and Marion were there to offer advice and sample.

 The children say a prayer before each meal.

 And then all of us are pressed into service making sure that nine hungry mouths are fed.

After the first bunch is feed, the school age children get ready (with Dalia's help) and we adults enjoy the same meal... most of us went for crackers.  The children who went to morning school come home, quickly change clothes and it is time for four more hungry mouths to be fed.  I captured this picture of Mia and her friend before they changed - Mia's class had a special celebration day and she was in traditional attire.

 All the students wear uniforms to school.  (White shirts for boys and girls are always needed.)

Throughout the day, the guys put up smoke alarms, fixed a leak in the roof (hopefully) and Mike got some help with putting together shelving.

Glee and Marion and I helped Marylou to sort and rebox and store clothing.  Some of what has been donated but can not be used at the house will be taken to a very poor area and given out within the next few weeks.  Papa Jack went with the guys to get drywall to replace a wall that has mold - that will be a whole day project and will have to wait till next week... no sense replacing the wall if the leak isn't found and repaired.  And Papa Jack kept the children content - they do love him!

 (This picture really was not posed - it just happened...)

And all of us adults took time to play with and just enjoy the children! And, or course, I took pictures.  It is the eyes of the children that keep me coming back.

 

And Then Today...

 

In January, there will be an outreach day, at which time nearly 400 children will receive a handmade bag filled with a notebook, pencils, pens, lotion, shampoo, soap, face cloth, a small pack of cookies, a candy cane, tooth brush and tooth paste, and a wooden cross.  Today 200 of those bags were filled.  Glee and two of her friends back in Minnesota make the bags and people from all the U.S. and Canada donate the items that go inside.

 

After set up and before the production line begins, Marylou instructs the guys on how to entertain with finger puppets...

 John proves he was listening.

 It only took the folks who came about an hour to fill the 200 bags.



 

The last items to go in were the crosses.  And then they were ready for  Jack to pack into boxes.  Later, when the bags are distributed, I will do an entry that talks about the "history" of these crosses.  In the meantime, thanks to the kids of Our Savior's Church in Cleveland, Minnesota for their contribution to these bags for kids in Mexico.

 







 

As you can see, the last two days have been busy ones.  Thanks to God for using our hands to help in His mission and thanks to you for your support.

 

Till next time, remember to listen when God whispers and respond when He nudges.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING