Favorite part of my day...

Ok- I know I posted already but I just have to dish about bedtime tonight. So the routine with the boys is getting smoother everyday- they potty, put on their pjs and brush their teeth. By smoother i mean i dont freak out as much about the potties and bodily fluids that are evrywhere. Most of them are potty training if that gives you any idea of how bathroom time goes. We stick them in the bed or crib they belong to and hug them good night. Oh, and Kevin and I usually lead the boys in the longest version of yo tengo Gozo. We're gonna need to learn a new song soon! Meanwhile, tonight the girls had already done the potty/pjs/teeth business and were hopping from bed to bed when I waltzed in to their room. They tend to play for a little while before lights out. Anyway- tonight the music continued and we sang all the Spanish songs I know. (minus alabare- I don't remember the verses to that one) here's the fun part- they wanted me to sing them in english. So, we'd sing Jesus loves me in Spanish, then English. Same for tengo Gozo (I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down inmy heart) he's got the whole world, Jesus loves the little children, and more! Here's what I love about traveling and praising God all over the world- He is so much bigger than languages. We can sing praises in Spanish, English, creole, Chinese.....He hears and understands them all. Makes me feel kinda small, but at the same time so loved knowing that He delights in the songs sung by our sweet Guatemalan babies and me, that silly gringa. I can't wait to hug their necks and tell them Buenos Dias in the morning! UPDATE: Sergio ate all his dinner tonight! He refused to sit in a chair, but sat in my lap and directed me to the frijoles and chicken soup with tortillas. He's not wanting to be put down- still prefers to be held, but is doing much better. :)

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

No- we didn't. There was an earthquake in El Salvador a few days ago and around 12:30 that night tremors could be felt in Antigua and here in San Juan. I guess we were so tired and sound asleep we didn't wake up for it. That was Wednesday night, I believe and so much has happened since then! Our team was so amazing! So many projects and jobs around the center were accomplished! KellyAnn stuck with little Sergio ( our sick Pato) and made sure he felt loved. The puppet and rec teams did a phenomenal job playing with the kiddos and making them laugh. I stuck around the boys a lot this week and just loved to hear them sing the songs they learned earlier that day. It made hectic times like bath rooming and changing at bedtime less stressful and more fun. The kitchen is now a bright cheery yellow thanks to our maintenance team and others who helped them, all the grass was mowed around the playground equipment, and all our kids we're loved on. An update on Sergio, our sick little duck. Yesterday he ate a bowl of fruit for dinner- he had previously not been able to keep food down so this is great news! He doesn't have a fever and can be around the other children now. Yay! A brother and sister who recently came to the center (like the same day we did) are experiencing a little homesickness. :( Their names are Albino and Myra. Please pray for them to get healthy, make friends, and to feel more at ease here. On Thursday our team left the center for Antigua. I am so thankful they came to the center to be used by God. He put the right people together I just the right places. What a great way to begin our stay here. That evening Lucky (the lady in charge here at the center), our interpreter Vanessa, and the day shift ladies all went to the fair in San Juan. What an experience! We rode there on tuk-tuks- a motorcycle/taxi with seats In the back. They are pretty fun to ride, but have trouble going up steep hills. Yes, we did have to exit the vehicle and climb the large incline in town. The fair had lots of games and some familiar rides. There were three ferris wheels, a zipper, bumper cars, and those dragon swing rides. Lucky put us on the dragon ride- which lasted approximately 14 minutes! We played football- there were so many tables! Marianna and I dominated. Then we hit up the trampoline, and played loteria. Next up was a shooting game- basically you use a 22 to hit a target to win a prize. We are pretty good shots (at five feet away). For dinner we ate churros with chocolate, then rode the bumper cars. It was a great time of fellowship with the ladies we work with each day. We had a blast talking and laughing with them in a completely different environment. Friday, the next morning Vanessa left to go home. She was amazing and we will miss her dearly! It was a visiting day- parents can come on Fridays and Sunday's to visit their children. Many were excited to see their parents for a little while. We hung around in the Comedor with the children whose parents couldn't make it. So, we didn't get to interact With them but we did get to wave and smile to them as they released their children back to the routine of the center. One grandmother grabbed my arm to hand off her granddaughter who had started to cry. It seems a little easier on the younger ones, but for the older ones who want to go home it is hard to see their family for a brief time and be left here. I took her hand, rubbed her back and led her into the Comedor for dinner. I can't imagine what the older children must feel. On a happier note- one of our Patos (Ducks) went home on Friday! Miguel- who we will remember for teaching him "stinky, stinky, stinky!" was able to leave with his family. Can I just say my heart melted when the other children ran up to give him hugs and waved goodbye to him! Adorable! They are a family here- even if not by blood they love one another. After that it was back to dinner and time for Ropa de noche. We continue to get to know the night staff here by playing bingo with them. It's a blast. Our time here is so special and we are enjoying every second of it! Pray for safe travels for our next team as they are flying in to Guatemala today. Also, a new baby has arrived in the canaries room. The interns are reading Not a Fan- its really good so far. A challenge to ask yourself if you are a true follower of Jesus, or just a fan. Keep praying for us! Muchas gracias!

Yo tengo Gozo, Gozo, Gozo....

Ok- so the kids know the song " I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,down in my heart." we sing it a lot here. Know what can make your heart melt? When we're (kids) eating dinner and trying to get everyone to eat (everyone doesn't like frijoles) and all of the sudden a child starts belting "yo tengo Gozo, Gozo, Gozo Gozo en mi corazon!" and keeps signing all the way to his bed....love it!! Even better, the other boys join in with the, and it makes dinner time (very messy!) so much fun! With so many people at the center this week there are so many projects getting accomplished. What a blessing! The interns and I have settled in. We made brownies tonight and feel very at home here at the center. Im Still trying to get the hang of all the kiddos names! Just as you learn the ducks, or the squirrels for that matter- they change clothes and it completely throws me off! It didn't help that all the ducks (boys) were dressed in red today. I. Working on it, though. Also- incredibly impressed with the patience and calmness of the staff with the children. Kids can be crying, running around, and just being kids and they Are completely in control and make sure everyone gets fed and cleaned and put where they need to be. It's incredible. One off our ducks is sick- please pray for him! Buenos noches!

One wild and crazy day!

Today began with a 5am walk around Antigua. Breakfast was shortly after and then I led the group with a devotion. we read in Luke about Mary and Martha- when Martha is like, why is my sister not working and just hanging out with Jesus. We are reminded that "ministry takes presidente over projects." Next we hopped on the coasters- us interns brought along our luggage- and drove to the Malnutrition Center. Cynthia led us on a tour of the center and we got to see our awesome dorms. We have bunkbeds and a really nice kitchen and bathroom (separate of course, but both really nice). Then, everyone just jumped right in with the work- we had a maintenance team, puppet crew, and the ducks and squirrels had craft and story time. It was great. After lunch I got to do the same devotional with the ladies at the center using a translator. All in all it was a fantastic day. The four interns cooked quesadillas- really Marianna did- and we ate with some of the women here and Vannessa our translator for the week. We are so excited to be here (finally!) but also worn put from a long day. Hasta luego!

Sunday-Funday!

Here we are! Finally in Guatemala and the past two days have flown by. After a turbulent plane ride we landed in Guatemala City late Saturday evening and headed into Antigua to a late dinner. Let me back up and mention that in Miami we met up with part of the team (from Louisiana and Cananda) and Mariana and I had a lovely plane ride entertaining a couple of Guatemalan youngsters. We practiced our Spanish on them and discussed important things like their favorite Disney character and ride at universal. (goofy and the Hulk in case you wanted to know.) Anyhow...after a quick dinner Saturday night, we awoke early Sunday morning to down some breakfast and have a brief orientation before some of us headed out to: zip lining, a coffee plantation, or Mayan ruins. I choose the Mayan ruin adventure along with 21 of my new friends from all over Louisiana, Texas, Canada, florida, north Carolina, and Missouri. This is a big group. We had to drive about an hour and a half outside of Antigua to see the ruins. Mt. Fuego (a volcano) was sputtering smoke so we caught some great pics of that along the way. I enjoyed catching a word or two from conversations between korina and Samuel on the coaster- korina works for Orphan's Heart and is an amazing on-the-spot interpreter/tour guide. So, when we got there we explored the ruins and wandered around the area. There is still a spot where people in the area burn incense there. By the time we finished exploring it was after noon and stomachs were growling. We ate lunch at Paulino's. We ate family style and they kept bringing out more and more delicious foods. We ate nachos, shish-ka-bobs, fajitas, various meats( steak, sausage, chicken, ribs), potatoes, and approximately 54 avacados that were used to make all the guacamole that accompanied all the aforementioned food. We were stuffed! What a fun experience! As we exited the restaurant we encountered some families selling fruits and i bought a pound of blackberries and these small plums for a dollar each. There were giant limes- not key limes, strawberries, pears, and some other tropical fruits that looked fun. They measured out the fruits using a homemade balance. We had a worship service complete with worship, testimonies, and a message from Pastor Dennis. The there was more orientation, dinner, and WOW time. It was great to hear how God provided for everyone's trip and orchestrated the circumstances and timing of everything. Tomorrow is day 1 at the center. :) Our group has broken up in to teams to take care of different areas at the center and we are all very excited to see the child's and use our gifts to serve them and the women there. The interns will be satay in the afternoons s the team leaves. Eeeee! The excitement and adventure continues! Pictures are soon to come!

Orientation and another trip to Target

We better leave for Guatemala soon or I'm going to think of something else I left behind and I might need while I'm gone! It's been a little over 24 hours since all of us interns have met and we've already bonded over two shopping trips to Target. In the morning we're hitting up the Goodwill down the road, and I wouldn't be surprised if we hit the Targ once more. Our team of awesome interns includes: Kaysey, Rachel, Marianna and myself down in Guatemala, and Anda who interned last year at the OH office in Miami. Exciting news: the Heat won the NBA finals so everyone is sporting their Heat jerseys. We slept quite comfortably through the fireworks! What's even more exciting is that we have discussed what areas we'll be working in this summer. I recognized some names on our list, so I know there will be some familiar faces waiting in San Juan. I've got my Spanish/English phrases card to study on the plane over so I can be ready to chat with those little ones! The team from Wauchula going to the Dominican Republic with Orphan's Heart is here in Miami too. It was great to see them before they head out early in the am- 4:30 to be exact. Pray for them to get rest and for safe travels. We'll be meeting up with our team in Antigua tomorrow afternoon/evening. Keep us all in your prayers!

Making a list & checking it twice

You know the night before Christmas when there's all this excitement that has been built up and you just can't wait to see what tomorrow holds? That's how I feel about going on this mission trip. I've been waiting and planning and waiting for this day to come and it is finally here! Yay!! That said...my procrastinating tendencies have gotten the best of me and although I am packed, I hope I have everything. Last night I even checked put some travel blogs to make sure I was packing to maximize my suitcase space. Please pray for the other interns who are traveling as I type down to Miami. Also pray for others from Wauchula who are traveling with Orphan' Heart on Saturday down to the Dominican. God has great things in store for us this summer. Pray that we will be used by Him for His glory.

Florida Baptist Children's Home: Youth Mission Trip

We've just got back from our youth mission trip at the Florida Baptist Children's Home Lakeland Campus. It was an amazing week of hard work, sweat, and the beginning of many friendships. Not only did our youth get to work on many tasks at the campus, they were able to befriend the children who live there and capped off our week adventure at Busch Gardens.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were spent sweating and completing every kind of task Mr. Joe (the awesome maintenance guy on campus) had for us to do. We painted, weeded, pruned, raked, sorted, loaded vans/trucks, unloaded donations, mopped freezers, moved a swing set (and a fence to move said swing set), moved picnic tables, picked up limbs, and probably a few more things I forgot.

Painting the walk-way that leads up to the gazebo.

This whole trip was one of those, "God-is-in-control-why-did-I-ever-fret-about-it" kind of trips. From our housing: we got to live in one of the cottages on campus! How cool is that?! To our Busch Gardens trip: the cottage our church supports was able to come with us! :) YAY! And lots of other behind-the-scenes kinds of things that were so seemless it is incredible and only a God kind of thing.

Freezer: Before

Freezer: After

There was even another group there from North Carolina putting on services in the evenings so we could worship with them and the Children's Home at night.

I love these kinds of mission trips where you get to know everyone better- at one point we had 14-16 girls sharing 2 bathrooms! The best part was the friendships established between the youth and the kids in the cottage. We've had a few events in Wauchula together, but this trip sealed the deal. I mean, you really get to know someone's personality after spending hours waiting in lines at a theme park or hoping that an orangutan will do something impressive.

This cute little wallaby and his friends held us captive for a while! 

What I'm taking away from this trip is that the reason we do missions is to "help others fulfill their purpose...which is to know God." :) Thanks Pastor Alan! We could have painted every piece of concrete on that campus, but if we didn't interact with anyone it would have been fruitless. I am so excited to see what God has in store for our youth group and the Dorothy-Miller house at the FBCH.

The group checking out the apes.

Today I read Ephesians 4:1. It says, "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."  I'm praying today that my actions, speak, and thoughts are in line with what God has called me to do. I pray that the Lord enables me with wisdom to make the right choices, and that I will use my time wisely and effectively for His glory. Consider what your calling is, and if you are living a life worthy of that calling.

God Bless~ Sarah

Testing...

Hello friends! Just seeing if this blog actually works. :)
-Sarah