Live Big...

Yesterday I celebrated my 46th birthday here in Mexico.

We worked up at the new youth center in Tricci, cleaning a new soccer field of rocks and weeds. We then spent 2 hours serving saltines wTuna, cookies and juice to about 90 wonderful elderly people. They all sang me happy birthday and I received a beautiful hand sewn cloth. Several ladies rushed up to wish me Feliz Cumpleanos and one told me she was 82. She told me I have many more years to ¨Live Big.¨I like that. It was a great time of visiting with all of them, praying over them, and listening to Nani share with them.

In the afternoon the girls were challenged to use the new soccer field and play against a Mexican team of girls. 5 on 5. It was sooooooo much fun even though we lost 8 to 5. Actually, we were thrilled that we got the 5! Lots of laughter and fun times...we finished the night with homemade tamales and quesadillas and a great time of fellowship with Nani, Cheryl, Charlie, Vicente, Anali and Jose (who lives next to the youth center). OHHHH...my morning started at 5:45 with Cesar sticking his head through the living room window (literally!) and singing me a traditional Mexican song of celebration at the top of his lungs. After being scared out of my mind that a drunk man had somehow gotten into our house, I heard ¨cumpleanos¨and knew that it must be a friend. And what a good friend he is. He was on his way to Ensenada and wanted to celebrate my birthday. I am blessed.

So yes, yesterday was a good day, but so were the others previously! Some things we have done are...

Worked at Padre Kino camp twice...just love those kids there!
Worked in the Outreach Kitchen at the Orphanage.
Moved and stacked 700 chairs from the concert. (Yes, we´ve gained muscle!)
Visited families.
Went on outreach-child evangelism with the mission.
Cooked homemade meals for our friends.
Taught our friends ¨Mafia¨and played many, many games of it.
Learned that we can survive the week with bucket showers of cold water.
Learned how to cook on a propane stovetop, change a propane tank, and buy water containers at the store.

The Lord has blessed us this week. Our hearts and our lives are changed and we are thankful. We are going to Smokies for tacos tonight and enjoying a night of visiting friends. Those who know me know that my heart is becoming heavy thinking about tomorrow being our last day here. Please pray for us as we invest in lives here...and as we leave, leaving yet another part of our hearts behind.

I will write more this weekend when we get to San Diego.

Dios les bendiga!
Jenny