Guatemala 2012 - Day 5

DISCLOSURE - Picture overload!

Today was our first day at the orphanage, Casa Angelina. If you want to know more about the vision of the orphanage from Ivan Tait, go to

http://www.whatmattersmm.org/orphanages_guatemala.php

Craig and I decided to day was the day to take Dramamine before we left. I am glad we did. We had a nice ride up to the orphanage. It is a great opportunity to visit with people and get to know them and their stories. I really appreciate that time we are allowed. Why is it that you have to be stuck in a small space for a period of time for you to talk someone about their life and get to know them on a deeper level? I am not sure exactly but it sure does something to you.

As we arrived to the orphanage and the gates opened, this is what we saw. All the kiddos dressing in their school uniforms and so happy to see the buses pulling in.

The first thing we did was go into the eating area and have orientation on what the plan was for the day. We had the opportunity to hear from Ivan's family and just learn the ropes per say. Shortly after that we divided up and we went on a tour of the orphanage.

First stop, the school! This is the older kids and they were working on math.

These two peanuts were so adorable. This little guy was my first hug at Casa Angelina. He hugged everyone in the room, even Craig! He was so full of love, joy and appreciation it just bubbled right out of his little body.

Isn't she beautiful?

This is Leah's house. Finished kitchen and the kitchen cabinets that our team went down a second time to finish. Beautiful!

This is one of the boys bedrooms, I love the McQueen curtains.

One of the boys bedrooms. Those bunk beds were amazing!

This painting hangs in one of the houses. I fell in love with it, it is beautiful.

After the tour of the orphanage we all headed out into the nearby village to see the widows houses and distribute some of the donations everyone brought. This was the first little boy we gave a soccer ball too. I wish I could share how his face lit up when I gave it to him. He was very surprised and thankful. Look at that smile! Not sure who is smiling bigger, myself or him!
This was the 2nd ball we gave a way. We were getting quite the mob of kids and I leaned over the Craig and said, "the next ball goes to the child that is standing back and shy". I thought of Craig because he doesn't like crowds and I thought, you know what there are kids like him out there, let's find one!

We sure did and what a beautiful little girl she was. She was standing with her daddy and when I bent over and gave it to her, Brent told me that her daddy lit up like a Christmas tree. He was so happy for his little girl. We took a picture and her daddy said something that I didn't understand of course. She walked back to me, so I bent down expecting a hug and I got the sweetest kiss on the cheek. In that short amount to time, she melted my heart that is for sure.

Jason learned quickly that this is why you don't stop. He was in trouble and it was Bindi to the rescue!

We went up to the widows house that that SD team built. She was there and very very sweet to us. She even sang us a song. It was awesome. I believe this is the same widow that after the group was finished with her house, prayed for God to bless the people who made her house possible because she was not able to repay them. Sounds like it was quite the emotional prayer.

Kathy was there the year they worked on her house so we snapped a photo!

Such a sweet lady

This is a picture of them making real tortillas. It was interesting. They had a few different colors and everything was from scratch. No, we didn't eat one.

This is a house we passed by. Yes, I mean a house that they live in.

This widow's house the SD team helped build it as well. These were two of her boys. She had many children. We gave them a new soccer ball so of course we had to get a picture!

This little girl was hiding behind her mother. I snapped the picture because it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart to see such pain in a little ones eyes.

My buddy Peter, right at home, we walked along side of a field. Yep, he's a farm!!

Kathy and Mindy with a family in the village

This little guy had it goin on!

Grinella and Anna from Sweden with one of the orphans at the orphanage.

After the village, we went back to the orphanage for lunch. Holy smokes, the meal was amazing and I so didn't expect that! I assumed PB&J was on our list, but no, it was great!

We ate then we settled in for the kids programs. Each house hold had the children create a program to a song. It was super cute and they all did a fantastic job. Then it was time to play with the kids.
It was def a day of moments of heartache and pure joy. It was so hard to think of the back stories of these children and know that they have gone through more in a very short period of time than we will see in a lifetime. How do you combat that so you build these children up to be wonderful adults? Ivan Tait has made that possible, with the grace of God!

I did manage to play some soccer with a few little boys and there was a girl from a team out of Pennsylvania. So the boys made sure it was girls against boys. Yep, they won 4 to 2, but it came to a close fast as one of the boys fell and skinned up his knee pretty good. He was good as new after the medical team took a look at him.

I don't know if we have fully processed this experience today. I have no words coming to my mind about that so I am going to say good bye for now and we will see what comes to mind tomorrow. I do know that Craig & Jason Shaw are going to be doing electrical stuff and I am their apprentice. Could be interesting!

You all have a great night and I will talk tomorrow.

Love ya!