Feeling Connected

Well, we have internet up and working (clearly since I'm writing this online) and it's a strange yet warm feeling being connected to those back home again! Not only are we connected online but as a group our connection has grown these past few days through different activities we've done whether that be working or playing. We have visited three orphanages so far, though a group of thirteen of us were able to visit another orphanage on Monday, however the name of the orphanage slips my mind. We spent Tuesday at Los Gazosos, a special needs orphanage that houses eleven children, doing manual labor such as weeding, mixing concrete, and organizing building materials that were left laying around. The main job was to build a pilla where laundry and dishes are done. The director of the orphanage, Maureen, has wanted one for years but could not afford one (it only costs $30 in American money). We also were able to bless them with a lawn mower! We had the opportunity to spend some time with the children there as well and what a blessing it was for me to feel stretched out of my comfort zone and for others as well. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to two different orphanages: Luz de Maria and Dory's Promise, both were extremely fun! At Dory's promise we spent most of our time with the older children (ages 2-11) out on the street playing soccer while some of the men got in touch with their feminine side. Lane and Brad were sporting pink and green fingernail polish on their thumbs and stick on earrings on their ears! I don't think the people of Guatemala knew quite how to react to them however with our amazing Spanish speaking skills (sarcasm to the extreme) we were able to overcome all obstacles! The children had so much fun and quite a few of us discovered how quickly you can fall in genuine love with a child that is a complete stranger to you. Lane, Nicole, Grant and Carter had the unique opportunity as a family to come back to the spot where they first met and finalized the adoption of their son, Grant. He was able to go back to the spot where he slept and see some of the workers that were there when he was an infant. What an experience! It was quite touching and surely an emotional experience! At Luz de Maria there are around thirty children under the age of five. The younger girls did so good here just holding the babies and cuddling the toddlers! Most of the children that live at Luz de Maria were abandoned on the streets. The youngest child they have there is Luiz Angel who is two months old. When he was brought to the orphanage he was only three pounds. Found on the street at one o clock in the morning by a police officer, this child now weighs ten pounds and sees to be doing very well! He was a favorite to hold of the younger girls on the trip (Shaina, Janessa, Mariah, Morgan, Tessa, and Makenzie). Language barriers don't hold up as the greatest language you can speak to these children is love; a touch of their hand, running your fingers across their face, playing with their hair. It's as simple as that! Last night we had so much fun playing games: a Haus tournament was set up as well as some crazy games of Zilch also known as Farkle. At one point I asked, "Why is everything so funny?" I believe it was a mix of being tired and the fact that we kept making so many funny mistakes. Just ask Gloria where she found Uno cards that have orange cards! Well I need to stop hogging the computer! We pray all is well back home! Someone else will be updating again very soon! (Thanks Karen for asking me to update today!) In Christ, Jenna Meyers and the rest of team