Yes, it is!  And you know what?  Now that we are all safe and sound back in the good ol’ U. S. of A. we can actually have some of that ice in our cold drinks!  Yep, the remaining 26 of us and our myriad bags of luggage made it back to DFW.  We were met by our families, friends, rides back home and even a funny lil’ sign that said, “Mr. Edward Barrett.”  I laughed because we saw signs like this everytime we arrived at an airport.  Thanks for the comic relief Mr. Barrett (the dad)!

Our day started plenty early at 3 o’clock A.M.  We all met downstairs at the Hotel Colon for the last time.  We were on the bus and headed to the airport by 3:30.  Sylvia, our Buckner Peru representative rode over with us and hailed porters to help us with our bags.   Every bag had to go through security; then every person had to go through security.  We were some of the most secured people by the time we made it to our gate.

Our flight for Miami left on time at 6:30 A.M. People who could, slept for the first hour or so of the flight.  We woke up to a breakfast of microwaved airplane waffles or omelettes and something to drink (but without the ice).  Throughout this trip, we have been going without ice to cut down the chances of ingesting water that could make us sick. 

After breakfast the airline showed a movie to help pass the time (some of us were kind of expecting a fashion show a la train ride from Cusco style, but that didn’t happen).  Our flight was 6 hours long; the last hour we received our last Inka Kolas and Peruvian bags of chips.  We clapped when we landed.

Once in Miami airport, there was a  certain terminal, that shall remain unnamed (actually I cannot remember whether it was D or E), that we were hoping to avoid.  We were not able to avoid, however, the rigors of security and customs.  Although some people were pulled to the side for odd shaped souevenirs and forgotten bottles of water in carry-ons, we all cleared customs and security.  

After everyone cleared and ate lunch, we met at a gate in terminal A and had a short wait for the final leg of our trip home.  Once we boarded we were greeted by this new-fangled, extremely modern aircraft.  There were plush seats with adjustable headrests (no greasy paper covers velcroed to the chair here), small screens on the back of every chair that were remote controlled (these also controlled the air and lights…someone told me this later).  The plane was also equiped with this navigational system that showed you on a map where the plane was going, at what speed it was moving and at what altitude it was flying.  And all of this could be replaced by an on-flight movie or tv show if you so desired (I’m not quite sure what the folks on the front row did but it was still impressive). 

About mid-way through the flight the attendents started peddling their wares ($2 for an oatmeal cookie).  There were no alpaca sweaters or ponchos, but there were ice cubes.  And where there are ice cubes, there is home.

Night night from Dallas safe and sound!!

Well, today was the last day of an amazing and incredible time in Peru.  We began the day by heading off to the Jesus Mi Luz Boys’ Home in Cusco.  There, the boys, who range in age from 6 to 18, had prepared a small show for us.  They started with a traditional Peruvian dance (which we have now seen several times!) that basically celebrates the protection of some of the holy places in the Andes mountains.  You can see the pictures that I have included – this dance can be quite “scary” because of the masks.  Although it is a very melancholy dance, the dancers look very odd!  After the dance, the boys sang a song they had prepared for us.  We then toured the orphanage and then held a VERY minimalized version of a day of VBS in about 40 minutes.  We had two stations – Bible story and free play.  Jennifer Sypert told the boys the story of Zaccheus, along with the help of several other team members, including Laura, who translated the story.

While we were at the boys’ home, we were each offered a cracker.  Peruvians seem to be very welcoming and always want to offer some token of appreciation for visitors.  The crackers were basically saltines without the salt, so they weren’t very good…but most of us ate them anyway, to show our appreciation for their hospitality.  However, some chose to “hide” the crackers…and that’s where the name for my blog comes from.  More on that in a minute.

After we left the orphanage we headed to the airport in Cusco, where we awaited our 12:30 flight.  It was at the airport that we began to realize the value of eating the crackers.  Maybe.  I teased those who did not eat the crackers all day long, insisting that bad things would happen since they chose not to eat the crackers.  All in jest, of course.  But when our 12:30 flight was delayed, I was almost sure we were experiencing some retribution for the uneaten no-saltines. 

We did finally get on our flight, which was fairly turbulent (evidently AeroCondor is not much more than a Peruvian puddle-jumper).  When we arrived at the airport and retrieved our bags, we discovered that one of the girls’ bag had been damaged during transport.  The crackers had struck again.

We anxiously waited (something that we are ALL learning to do more and more on this trip) while the bag issue was handled, and I gently pointed out that if people had only eaten the crackers, we would not be having this problem.

The cracker curse seems to have come to an end by now.  Most of us enjoyed a very relaxing couple of hours after we arrived at the hotel in Lima before we headed to an amazing restaurant for dinner.  We ate at La Rosa Nautica, a beautiful restaurant nestled on rocks jutting out into the Pacific.  The views from the restaurant were amazing, and the food was far and above anything we had in Cusco!

I’m now preparing to sign off, as we will be leaving in just a few hours (at 3:00 a.m., to be exact) to head to the airport here in Lima.  From there, we will make the long journey back to our home, leaving new friends behind.

I can truly say that this has been an incomparable experience.  We received a message today from the director of the orphanage in Lima with which we worked for five days.  She wanted us to know that the children are still talking about our visit…that they love us…and that they will never forget us.  Somehow, whether or not they forget US really doesn’t seem all that important.  We have seen God use us to do some great things this week by His grace.  It has been an honor to be a part of the work He is doing in the lives of children here in Peru that desperately need to know His love and compassion.

Sometimes the experience has been uncomfortable, even unpleasant.  The smells, the sights, the language barrier, the filth and poverty…all have been very humbling.  But I am reminded today of something that I have learned this week.  People are people.  We may look different, but we are all loved by the same God.  So I will try to remember, when a little boy with dirt on his face offers me a token of his gratitude for the time I have given to spend with him, to be sure to eat the crackers.

Today we had the incredible opportunity to visit Machu Picchu a day after it had been named as one of the new seven wonders of the world.  This was our one day of vacation on the trip, so we made the most it by starting with a wake-up call at 4:30 a.m.  Instead of spending four days hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, we opted for the four hour train ride and short bus ride to the top.  By the time we reached Machu Picchu, we had traveled by plane, train, and automobile in order to arrive at our destination. 

It was very cold when we left our hotel this morning, so a number of us were sporting our new alpaca scarves and hats.  Fortunately, it warmed up nicely by the time we began our tour of the site.  Our guide had us climb a series of rock steps to the most famous view of Machu Picchu.  It seemed as if we were sitting on top of the world looking down on the ruins with the vivid green mountains in the background and clear blue sky overhead.  Our guide wanted us to eat our box lunches at this site, but that proved more difficult than it might seem.

We were given a box lunch before entering Machu Picchu.  Our guide told us to put them in our backpacks, but he didn’t explain why that detail was so important.  There was confusion when entering the site because it is considered a sacred sanctuary and food is not allowed inside.  Those whose lunches would not fit in their bags were told they would have to leave them behind.  Our guide, though, was very insistent that we bring our lunches and it would be fine as long as they were in our bags.  When we got to the site of the most famous view of Machu Picchu, our guide told us to take out our lunches and start eating.  However, a guard came by and had a discussion with our guide regarding the fact that we shouldn’t be eating there.

After “lunch,”  our guide led us on a tour of the ruins.  In addition to giving us the history of the site, he also added his theories on some of the mysteries surrounding this ancient Incan city.  We then had the opportunity to walk around the site for an hour on our own.  We were all captivated by the beauty of the place and the fact that the Incas were able to build such amazing structures in the middle of such difficult terrain.  Upon departure, most of us stopped to have a special Machu Picchu stamp added to our passports.

We then took the bus down to the town below.  The bus rides to and from Machu Picchu were quite thrilling because we would meet buses head-on while traveling on a road that was not very wide.  On our way down, we were also followed by a local boy who was what they call a “runner.”  He took short-cuts through the vegetation and met up with us at various points along the road.  At the end of the ride, he came on the bus and collected coins for his efforts.

We were allowed to shop for a brief time and then caught the train home.  Fortunately, most of us took a lot of pictures during the morning train ride since it was raining and dark on the way back.  On the train ride home, we were entertained by traditional Peruvian folk dancing and a fashion show of alpaca garments that were for sale. 

 At the end of the train ride, we were met by a bus to take us back to the hotel for dinner.  When we did the head count on the bus, we realized that our translator was missing.  It turns out that she missed our train.  She had to take another train and a cab to get back to the hotel.   She arrived after we finished dinner.  It was ironic because our tour guide repeatedly warned us not to lose our $120 train ticket and to be on time.  We didn’t think we had to worry about our Peruvian translator in this regard, but she was the one who had trouble getting back.

 Although we started the day before the crack of dawn, we finished it up relatively early to be ready for another orphanage visit and our flight back to Lima tomorrow.

¡Hola, familia y amigos! Our day started out early as we were on the bus ready to leave at 7:30 this morning to catch our plane to Cusco.  We left this morning missing the kids TREMENDOUSLY and also mourning the departure of our friends, Ed, Stephanie, and Becky, as they traveled back to the U.S.  Our kids were spoke of often today, and the void of that relationship was on our minds
Our plane to Cusco left on time!  Hallelujah!  Not only did it leave on time, but it left the tarmac at exactly 9:35 a.m.  We marveled at God´s creation at lift off when we saw the sun again for the first time in several days in the air and the beauty of the top of the Andes Mountains just outside of Lima.  The view was breathtaking!  Many of us that were tired did not get any shut-eye because we were looking and taking pictures outside the windows.
Another one of God´s beauties is Cusco, Peru.  This city is amazing.  We were all in awe when we landed, and drove around with the Condor Travel crew (who is amazing and very helpful).  The altitude really got ahold of some of us off the plane and there was lots of laughter and slow walking.  We were advised to take it easy.  Our hotel´s name is the Royal Inka II, and the accommodations are tremendous.  Most of us have a view of the lobby from our windows facing the inside of the hotel. 
After a MUCH NEEDED rest, we had lunch at the hotel and then packed up on the bus.  We visited the El Buen Pastor orphanage, which consists of girls from ages 9-19 years.  Many are there due to abuse or the loss of their parents.  These beautiful and talented girls put on a show for us that consisted of several singing numbers including a young lady singing a song by Salena, a duet by girls singing the Back Streeet Boys, and a group number of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.  They also demonstrated two originial Cusco dances, and several modern dances with all 26 of us dancing with them for the finale of the show.  For the remainder of the time there, we went to their workshop where the girls knit and make original items like purses and dolls.  After spending time with these girls, we honored them as several of us bought the items that they made.  We left the orphanage knowing that had we spent the week with them, we would have become as attached as we were with the children at the San Antonio orhpanage.  These young ladies were precious and lovely.
We had some free time this afternoon before dinner in which we strolled the gorgeous streets of Cusco, and took in shopping or sight seeing.  In the middle of the city is a square where a major party was happening.  If you haven´t watched the news today, Machu Picchu was just recognized as 4 on the list of the 7 Wonders of the World.  They were having the celebration in the square with it´s remarkable Incan temples and mountains surrounding us.  We will never get an opportunity like we had today ever again!!
Our dinner took place at Don Antonio´s Restaurant, where we ate buffet style and got an impressive Peruvian dancing show.  The costumes were incredible, and it was a fun way to end a very long day.  Tomorrow will be even longer as we must leave at 5:30 a.m. to make the train to Machu Picchu.  Check back tomorrow for our adventures there!
We love you all!  Keep praying for us, including a safe travel back to the U.S.  Claire

Friends and supporters,

 As the moderator of our blog, I feel an urgency to clarify something that was posted on our blog yesterday.  I know many of you have been reading the blog daily, and we are extremely excited about all of the support we have received through your prayers and comments this week.  Thank you all so much!

We have had a different person on the team blog each day, and it has been fun to see different people’s perspectives on the trip and on what God has been doing.  Needless to say, this has been an absolutely AMAZING experience for all of us.  We could really never thank you enough.

That brings me to the necessary clarification.  For those of you who read the blog anytime within the past 24 hours, you may have noticed a title to yesterday’s blog that was unsettling and some information in the blog that may have seemed a little questionable to you.  Please let me explain for those of you who did read the blog…

When we arrived in Cusco yesterday, we were instructed to drink a local drink called Coca Tea, which supposedly helps with altitude sickness.  The drink is made from the leaves of the coca plant – NOT a cocaine plant, as was described in the blog.  The drink is NOT a drug, and it is NOT questionable for any of us to drink it.  It is simply a tea – very similar to green tea – and helps travelers to adjust to the high altitude (we are at over 11,000 feet in Cusco).  Some of our team members have found it effective, while others have not.

I felt it very important to make this clarification for a couple of reasons.  First, I know many of you have supported us financially, and I do not want ANYONE to think that we have handled that support irresponsibly.  Second, many of us realize that what was posted yesterday could potentially have adverse effects for us personally – in our relationships and our jobs.  Please understand that the posting was a misunderstanding by the team member that posted it.  Thanks very much.

Tag Green

As I am sitting here tonight, I am overwhelmed by so many emotions and as I try to share some of them you might want to grab a Kleenex.  I know I will need to!

I have had the privilege and honor to be the team leader for this group and for Buckner this week.  At times it has been challenging, but most of all SO rewarding.  I have been sad at times to not get the same kind of interaction with the children that the others have, but I get the amazing opportunity to see so many things that most of the group does not see.  And I just wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the beautiful things that I have gotten to see.

~Laura beautifully sharing the Bible lesson and teaching the children new songs.  While Laura is leading the songs, Lisa is picking up children out of their wheelchairs to dance with them.  You can’t imagine the smiles!

~Tara sharing a coke and a box of popcorn with a 3 year old who would often turn to her, smile, and touch her face throughout the movie.

~Andy carrying wheelchair-bound children up the stairs so they could participate in VBS activities.

~Edward up on a ladder with the Peruvian construction team finishing the roof on the therapy room.

~Tim passing a football to a little boy who couldn’t catch very well over and over and carrying around little ones on his shoulders during recreation time.

~Mike painting a little girls bathroom with the intent it was going to be done beautifully, because that is what they deserve.

~Charlie and Jen leading the Red (Rojo) Team and all the challenges that entailed (10-12 six year old boys with more energy than you can imagine).

-Ed and Stephanie leading free play stations and watching them blow thousands of bubbles and endlessly turn the jump rope and pass out coloring pages.

-Andrea and Ria tirelessly preparing yummy snacks for each team.  While that was going on, Ria was also taking team pictures for the children to keep at the end of the week (which she printed out one very late night).

-Normandy setting up the bowling pins over and over for the kids to bowl in recreation.

-Becky saying goodbye and sending all her love with the purple team as they pulled away.  They truly loved her and she was amazing with them!

-Marcos working with our in-country translators and forming a great relationship with each of them.

-D’Anna and Ralene teaching the Memory Verse to children who for the most part could not read.

-Roz pouring out her heart to the special needs children and always having a smile to offer our team.

-Melody was instrumental in organizing the packing of all the 150 gift bags we gave to the children on Thursday.  She also was instrumental in getting so many medical supplies donated for this trip.

-Sherrie selflessly cleaned toilets that were not pleasant but needed to be cleaned.

-John led a group-“The Toilet Crew”-to install over 35 new toilet seats in the children’s home.

-Sean and Claire making beautiful angels’ wings for the precious girls on their team.

-Harmony, Carol, and Tara leading the craft station-which was not an easy task.  Every day they managed the chaos and the children made beautiful things everyday because of them.

-Tag giving up endless hours to make this web page happen.  AND keeping us laughing-even at the tough moments.

-Annette and John showing extreme patience with one of the little ones that seemed to wander off and end up in the most interesting places.

I wish I could share with you all the amazing things I have seen this team do this week, but I just don’t have the space.  They have worked hard and long, they have poured themselves out, and they have brought glory and honor to our Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful for each one of them and what they have brought to this team.  It has been an amazing journey to walk through together and I am so glad I had the opportunity.  They have not only touched the hearts of many here in Peru, but they have touched my heart as well.  I can’t wait for them to share their stories with you-don’t forget your Kleenex!

Thanks for all your prayers and support-they were vital to our ministry here.

Much love and many blessing to you,

Jennifer Sypert

Wilkommen to dia numero 7

What an emotion packed day today was. It had all the usual trappings of rush go rush children bouning off the walls lots of singing, praying, stories about Jesus. But what was different you ask….well let me tell you.

The kids were moved from Hogar San Antonio to another childrens home somewhere in Lima due to the fumigators coming in. So we packed ourselves into the bus a little later than usual this morning (8:30 to be precise), after my usual stand and eat only the melon breakfast, and headed over to Hogar Ermelinda something or other. Something or other was her last name according to Tag. Upon arrival we walked through what was a surprisingly beautiful garden landscape with a few small buildings here and there and then approached the room where the kids were waiting. We knew it was the room because we could here them singing songs, which i cannot remember off hand what they were, but it left no doubt where they were.  So we, on the way to the orphanage, had a plan put in place by Laura Burgos, our beloved Bible Story teacher, which didn’t seem like it was going to work (as planned) once we got inside the room. It was packed with wall to wall kids all full of excitement. How excited you ask?? The caretakers informed us that the 125+/- children could not sleep the night before. But, you know, it didn’t show because they were not lacking for energy at all when we got in that room. Asu-madre (means whoa mama in peruvian spanish) They didnt sleep on account of knowing that they were for the first time in their lives going to leave the orphanage to go do something fun….as in go to the Cine to watch a movie. Hence the title!!! But before we get to that….We went into that tiny room, tiny for that many kids and sang I’m in the Lords Army, Jesus loves Me, and Hallelujah Praise Ye the Lord (with the up and down motions). We then got into the Bible Story part of Laura’s presentation which all of us who speak or try to speak spanish helped out with.

After that it was time to pack all the munchkins into the bus and we headed off to a cineplex that was exclusively reserved for us as a voluntary act by the owner of the cineplex. You know what else, they gave us a box of popcorn an inka cola and a movie ticket all for like 15 Sol’s. That is 5 bucks. What a DEAL!!!! So we got them all in there to the theater safe and sound.

THe donkey played by eddie murphy was 100% mexican in the spanish version. He spoke mexican spanish and had some funny mexican phrases. This was the first time i saw it. So cool. So afterwards we rounded them up and put them on the bus and sent them back. It was so emotional because it was essentially our final goodbye to them. Standing there looking around, you could see eyes welling up all around from translators to our team. I walked a young boy with polio to the bus and charlie grabbed him and give him a big bear hung and big ol’ kiss just before getting on the bus.

So i am getting tired and im sick and Jennifer is waiting to add a story from the field so i will fastforward or bullet point the rest:

• We had lunch in a park where the translators repeatedly warned us to watch our cameras and other valuables. 
• We went shopping in the Indian (Inca) market where a haggle-fest was unleashed by Tag Greene.
• We had our first farewell dinner here at the hotel. Although the food was anticlimactic, the fellowship and time we spent praying was so sweet.
• The sexy painters gave us an encore performance of the sexy painters song that has taken South America by STORM!! Latin grammy’s here we come!!!
• We prayed over our translators, the Buckner staff, and our beloved Jefa Jennifer Sypert.
•  We are now packing up and getting ready to go on our next adventure…macchu picchu. We fly out to cusco tomorrow morning at 9 in the a.m. I hear that a coca tea awaits us along of course with a boy’s and girls home.

More to come GOD willing.

Peace. The Z.

It started out as a normal day, breakfast in the hotel and we headed on the bus to the San Antonio orphanage.   When we arrived we learned that the teachers were on strike and that the children would not be going to school in the afternoon.  We started VBS and with the excitement of knowing that it was our last day at their orphanage (the San Antonio Orphanage is having some work completed on it and the children can not be on site during the day on Friday) and that they did not have school, the children had an extra dose of energy.  Yet, through the organized chaos of VBS, it was touching to see how the Lord was working in the lives of both the children and the members of our group.  

One of the most memorable parts of the day was when we were able to hand out the gift bags that contained items that we had collected and brought as well as their VBS crafts.  It was a joy to watch as each child was given their bag and was able to look at their new possessions.   These children have so little that is their own and our team was given a special gift in being able to give the children a moment of joy as they were able to have pictures of themselves, sunglasses to call their own and many other items. 

After lunch, we began on the projects that had to be completed before we left: 4 bathrooms needed to be painted with the final coat of paint and the outside 100 yard brick and mortar wall had to be scraped and painted.  Within a couple of hours, the bathrooms were complete and there was an “all come to the wall call”.  It was amazing to see the entire group with paint brushes and rollers in hand painting the wall.  We even had a Peruvian audience – what a site it must have been for 30 gringos to be painting a wall in their city.    While completing the wall it was evident to me that so many times we only see the brick that we are working on, but if you took a step back and looked from a different perspective, you could see an entirely different picture.  Just like VBS in those crazy moments when it seems like you are just chasing children, God sees how all that is going on is helping to create a beautiful picture of the love of His Son in the lives of those kids.   I am happy to report that the wall was mostly complete (a few minor details need to be finished by the orphanage staff), and we were excited about a job well done.   We look forward to tomorrow and seeing what God has in store as we spend our last day with the children. 

Our 4th of July here in Peru started out as usual. We loaded the bus and headed for the orphanage at 7:30.  Upon arrival we quickly set up our VBS Stations and started to get to work.  We were unsuccessful yesterday in getting all the teams to all the stations due to time constraints, but today we lead a very successful VBS and ended right on time at 10:30.

 After VBS the team loaded up the bus and headed out for a field trip during our lunch break.  To celebrate our independence, we had watermelon and visited Tottus Supermercado which is a combination Super Walmart and Home Depot in one place.  They even have these cool escalators that you can take your shopping cart with you.  Amazing!

 After our excursion, we headed back to the orphanage to get to work.  We continued to work on the 5 bathrooms we started painting yesterday.  We have all learned how you are not supposed to paint a room.  It has been a somewhat of a challenge to say the least just to paint these bathrooms.  Today we did make progress, and we put a coat of primer on every wall in hopes that the paint will stay on better tomorrow.  Please be praying that our painting tomorrow will be sucessful.

 Today we had a team of 5 that we called the “Toilet Seat Experts” – they were John, Ed, Tag, Claudia and Jennifer Switzer.  They put on 30+ toilet seats on toilets throughout the orphanage.  What a task!  Some of the little girls that were there after they had put the seats on where not quite sure what to do about their new “seat”, but it did not take too long to try them out.

The Therapy Room is coming along (slower than we Americans would like), but today Edward, Tim and Eric helped this afternoon get most of the roof framed. They are hoping to finish the roof, walls and floor tomorrow.

About mid-afternoon, we noticed something we hadn’t seen in Peru yet….THE SUN!  The sun broke through the clouds for the first time, and we were all glad for a little heat.

The team then scraped paint off the outside wall.  We are attempting to do the best paint job we can on the outside on the wall tomorrow. This will be a huge task given the amount of time we have left and the amount of work needed to make sure the paint will stay on the wall.  We are very optimistic, knowing that God can accomplish much through those who are willing to work – and we are all willing to work.

 Laura, Sean, Harmony, Rosiland, and Sylvia spent the afternoon with some of the Special Needs Children.  They sang and played with the children, some of which are severely handicapped.

Tonight we went to eat at El Bolivariano Retaurant.  It was true Peruvian fare.  We had yellow potatoes, chicken, beef, and cow’s heart….yes, cow’s heart…and most of us (those brave enough to try it) liked it.  We ended the dinner with a special Sweet Potato/Pumpkin Donut that they call Picarones.  Many in the team were calling for more. 

Tonight, Melody, Laura, Tim, Jennifer Sypert, and Stephanie put together the bags we are giving the children.  We filled them with toys, a Beanie Baby, toothbrush, sunglasses, etc.  These will be a big treat for each of the children.

We look forward to another great day tomorrow!

Our first full day in the land of the Inca´s as a complete team and it was off with a bang.  There was lots of scrapping, a little sanding and a whole lot of rolling and brushing at the San Antonio orphanage and some of us even managed to get some painting done.  It wasn´t for lack of effort, but our first run at painting the bathroom walls left room for much improvement and we´re all anxious to try anew tomorrow with fresh supplies and rested bodies.  Perhaps a different paint mixture or some guidance from Edward who managed the only redeemable room of the day will be the winning combination for our next swing at it.

Our focus has and will continue to be the children who make up San Antonio.  If you´ve ever experienced that niece, newphew or grandchild who repels at the first hint of a hug or a kiss, you wouldn´t find any of that here.  Hugs and kisses were always met with big smiles and there were never enough to go around.  These children are so welcoming of our affections that many won´t wait for us to initiate it, but will greet you right off with a smile and a hug.  And they´re a talented bunch.  One young boy, I´d guess 11 or so, drew a picture in ¨free time¨ that was worthy of more than just a refrigerator magnet.  I mean, I was impressed.  Another kid was able to maneuver a soccer ball much like Pele´.  Language barriers were broken along with the protective walls with which we surround ourselves.  The kids make it easy.  We look forward to the days to come.

Our first full day at the orphanage ended with an impromptu soccer match while waiting for paint supplies between the young bucks and old dogs and Í´m proud to say the old dogs won two out of two.  Teamwork from Mike ¨the Wall¨ Salas, Andy ¨the Flying Scott¨ Ferguson and a couple of semi-pro locals and the old dogs made venison out of the young bucks.

The day was a wonderful success and awesome experience for all of us and it is our hope and prayer that amongst all of the scrapping, sanding, painting and playing that Christ was evident in an obvious way. It is for His glory that we endure without whose provision none of this would be possible.