We had a wonderful time in Mexico. I can't believe how fast it went (we were there for 15 days) and how slow it went at the same time. I was ready to come home after the short time spent there... tired, sore, and feeling the effects of being 7 months pregnate and on my feet all day working.
The orphanage we visited is called Casa de Elizabeth and it is located in Imuris, Mexico (near Nogales, Mexico). It has been there for almost 20 years and has been run by the same two people (Manuel and Gabby). Right now they have about 85 kids ranging from the youngest being about 4 to the oldest being 18. They do have a few older "orphans" that have been there since they were little, but are now old enough to be considered non-adoptable by the state, but continue to live there because they have no were else to go (but know that they can work around the orphanage and have food and a place to stay).
All of the kids were adorable (as you will see in the pictures). The only problem at the orphanage is there isn't enough adult supervision for them, so they basically solve their own problems by either hitting, throwing rocks, or teasing back. I tried to (in broken spanish mind you) tell them to stop, but since the adults are hardly ever around to stop them, they don't listen to authority too well. They'd either look at me and give me a bad look and contine what they were doing or stop, wait unitl I wasn't looking and then hit them with something handy.
The kids loved the camera (me taking pictures of them and them taking pictures) and were always asking me for it (if I didn't have it with me). The kids also loved the fact that I was pregnant and always wanted to know what the baby was doing (sleeping, moving, etc).
Our main project that Jordan, Ryan, and I accomplished while we were there was putting in a brick walk way for the little boys and girls to the basketball court and the older girls to walk out to the same area. The area will also serve as a play area for the little ones during the day and a place for them to go when they wake up at 5 in the morning (it's fenced in) and not wandering around the orphanage. It took a lot of work because the area was not flat (to put grass in), so we had to shovel it up and turn it over (like you would with a roto-tiller) and then rake it so it would be at a slope. Then we had to shovel a 2" walkway to lay the bricks down, fill the bricks in with sand (they didn't have enough money to put in concrete at the time), and then put more sand in the next day. Needless to say this was a very time consuming and very hard project. We had to wait on rain-delays (because the ground would be muddy and unable to work in or with), the opportunity to get bricks, and other things like that. But, we did get it finished and it looks wonderful.
Ryan being taught how to play the violin
Getting Ready for the pinata!!! Hannah, Suzzie, and Jordan (some other Americans that visit once a month) bring a pinata and cake for the children's birthdays in that month. All the kids go crazy!!!
These are just a tast of all the photos we took at the orphanage of the kids. Here are some videos from the orphange. Snap fish is a free site, you just have to "sign up" in order to look at the pics and videos. Hope you enjoy.
