this little girl was full of life...and trouble. she loved everyone and everytime someone took a picture she said, "aver"- "show me." here we are drawing before church starts.
one afternoon we played a game where she'd make a face and i'd take her picture. these are just 3 of the 15 pictures that i took.
there were other times when she was tired, or just wanted to be held. one of the older kids is holding her here and about 5 minutes later she was in my arms.
On Thursday we went to the "Home of Santo Nino," the Holy Child. It is the 3rd most visited religious sight in Latin America. Supposedly years ago a rancher was lost in the desert and dying when a child came to him and gave him food and water. He built the church below for the child.
People who want Santo Nino to answer their prayers carry rocks up the hill. The larger the rock, the more likely it supposedly is that your prayer will be answered.
The whole town worships this saint. The tarps are covering up their outdoor shops where idols are sold. You can also by a small religious icon if you believe that Santo Nino has given you a miracle.
These icons are given to the church there to make murals. This one has over 20,000 pieces--over 20,000 people believing that Santo Nino answered their prayer and gave them a miracle. There was an entire room with these murals.
There was also a building with letters, pictures, notes, children's clothing, etc brought by people as either an answer to prayer (to Santo Nino) or requesting prayer. Room after room.
This was eye opening to the powerful grip that Catholisism has on people's lives. It is illegeal to witness/hand out religious tracks in the town where this is. Steve and Amber used to have weekly Bible Studies there and the church would ring the bells so that people would close their shops and shut their doors. This town reminded me of the story in Acts 19 where Paul and the disciples were witnessing in Ephesus and the silversmith and the townspeople were enraged that they were taking away business from Artemis/Diana.
This is the outside of the children's home, where 29 kids are right now. They were so well behaved and it was great to see how the older ones take care of the younger ones.
They are on summer break right now, so they spend most of the day playing. They were able to entertain themselves very well. We ate breakfast and lunch with them most days were were there. We were able to help out, getting laundry done, cooking, cleaning, fixing things around the house.
Lena and Jaquelin taking a little siesta on the front porch. When the sun was out it was warm, but it actually rained most afternoons, cooling things off.
Azucena (like Suzanna) and I became friends. She's 12 and has an older brother at home. She has a speech problem due to being tongue tied until recently.
This was our whole team, plus Steve and Amber Benedict (and little Marisela)
Lots and lots of cactus...as far as the eye can see
We were several thousand feet above sea level; the sun felt warmer and the clouds closer
yes, those dudes are wearing sombreros. we were in a cowboy town and many rode their horses for transportation and cows used the road to get home
this is a snapshot of the "mision biblica" where the missionaries Steve and Amber bring people to church (they pick them up in vans) and Steve preaches and teaches. we were able to paint the inside of the sanctuary on Tuesday
