Busy Days and One More Week!

We have been crazy busy here in Guadalajara and I'm sure you can tell because we've haven't made a post in a long time!! Things have been going really well here, beside the constant feeling of exhaustion. It's hard to believe that we are close to leaving Guadalajara (in four days) and we are so glad that we had the opportunity to come here. This city is very beautiful and a lot different than Mexico City. This weekend we went to downtown Guadalajara and it was very European and very beautiful.

Going to a Mexican orphanage was a really good experience. All of the children that live in the home have been abused and it was evident that these children struggle with anger. All of their parents are either from the streets or are in prison. I (Jessica) was playing with a little girl and having a hard time with her constant "noooooo" every time I did or said anything. It was hard to try to relate to her and play with her, being that most 4 year olds are nothing like that. However, later that day one of the women that works there told me that Natalie, the little girl I was playing with, saw her father commit suicide. At that moment it was so overwhelmingly obvious to me that this beautiful four year old has seen and experienced harder things than I ever have and probably ever will. But the question I continued to wrestle with is, "How do you love these children?" I will not forget Natalie and her siblings that lived in the Casa de Hogar. Sitting in the white plastic chair I realized the significance of pursuing the hurting, the broken, and the unloved. None of those children deserved to be beaten, burned, abused, or even neglected. We have a responsibility to use our lives to help better others, to pour out Christ's love on those who deserve it, and Natalie now has an opportunity to break a generational pattern of hurting and despair and really live.

We have been so overwhelmed by the family that is taking care of us. They are living in a very small house that is connected to their church due to a church split a couple of years ago. They have 2 sons living at home, the grandparents, and their daughter who is 15 and has cerebral palsy, no to mention feeding and caring for 12 needy Americans . I have never once heard them complain or grumble, but instead smiles and hugs every time I walk into the house. Please pray for Luz and Fernando as the continue to take care of us. Fernando and a group from their church are leaving for a mission trip to Oaxaca on Wednesday, so please pray that Luz doesn't feel a heavy burden and that their time in Oaxaca goes well.

This week the schedule looks like:

Monday:
that's today, not important

Tuesday:
9:00-1:00 English Classes
2:00 Lunch
night: Dinner out
Go see the Mexican wrestlers (Luchadores)

Wednesday:
9:00-1:00 English Classes
2:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 Work Projects
Spend time with our families

Thursday:
9:00-1:00 English Classes
2:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 Work Projects
Spend time with our families

Friday:
9:00-1:00 English Classes
2:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 Work Projects
6:00 Dinner and closing celebration at the church

During the last week it has felt like all we were doing at our host homes was sleeping in their beds and using their showers! So.... this week we tried to make more time to be able to spend with the families and we're excited!

This is us with the group in downtown Guadalajara. The two girls in the white shirts are my roomies Jessica (the tall one, aka Francesca) and Melissa. Fer, Jordan's new best friend, is well.. the only guy in the picture so hopefully you can find him!





This is Jess and Natalie playing outside at the Casa de Hogar. I was shocked she actually sat in my lap!