What's going on in Aguascalientes
There is a lot going on down here in Aguascalientes, Mexico. I want to keep you all informed with the highlights each month. Thank you to all who pray for and support these ministries. We are able to bless so many people and we couldn't do it without you. To God be all the glory. Gracias amigos!
January got off to a slow start but after a couple of days I got back into the rhythm. It was a nice break over the holidays but there's too much going on to stay in vacation mode.
We celebrated Ariana's 20th birthday. Her birthday is on December 26th but I was out of town, so we had to do it when I got back to Aguascalientes. We always joke about how difficult it is to have a birthday so close to Christmas. She wanted to go bowling so we went to a bowling alley that also had laser tag. Afterwards we went to a Brazilian steakhouse and she opened her gifts. It was a fun time celebrating her life!
Elvira, the other woman in our girl's home, had to get 2 wisdom teeth pulled (definitely not as fun as celebrating a birthday!). She was very nervous and it really shows on her face in the picture haha. My friend/dentist, Miguel, did a great job and did not charge us for his services. He has been a blessing for me and my girls...although Elvira probably didn't think so in that moment. She is currently recovering just fine and said afterwards that it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
I spent a week helping out at the Casa Hogar Dulce Refugio (Sweet Refuge orphanage) fixing things. They have been having lots of state inspections recently and even federal inspectors came this month to check things out. There were a lot of things to repair and I was glad to help. I fixed a lot of electrical and plumbing issues and also fixed one of the bridges on their castle/play area. The wood was very old and cracking. There were even a few holes in it. I replaced everything with new material and now it is safe for the kids to play. I was also able to hang a bunch of new white boards in different classrooms throughout their school. The kids were helping me with this project and we had a good time together.
As I was fixing the bridge at the orphanage, I accidently injured one of the kids. He was below sweeping and as I moved some of the wood, a piece fell directly on his head. He immediately started crying and I grabbed him and told him that he was ok. In that moment, blood started pouring out on his shirt and I got really scared. Luckily it was a minor injury and he only needed three stitches. I felt terrible! The next day he was all bandaged up and I took him to the store to buy him some treats...that made him a lot happier! We were joking that he was thinking I could injure the other side of his head so he could go to the store again. It's amazing how much candy & soda can change a kid's mood!
After all of the work, we got to have some fun. The entire orphanage was invited to Augusto's Italian restaurant and we got to eat for free! The owner of the restaurant, Augusto, is from Italy and has been so generous to Dulce Refugio over the past couple of years. He invites the orphanage every month or two and everybody leaves stuffed. May God bless Augusto for his generosity!
We remodeled the men's bathroom at the church I attend, CFC (Centro de la Familia Cristiana). I helped with the demolition, my favorite and the funnest part. After we cleared everything out, I helped with some of the tiling and then did all of the aluminum work for the stalls. It looks nice and now has a more modern style.
Before
After
And finally, please continue to keep fellow missionary, Chevon Clarke, in your prayers. Her recovery isn't going as well as we would like. She is in bed and unable to walk. We have 24/7 nursing care for her and a physical therapist coming six times a week. They are treating her for a nasty bed sore and making good progress but still have a ways to go before it is completely healed. It is a difficult time for her but thankfully she has people around her to help her with all of her needs. Please pray for her physical recovery and also for her will to continue to fight towards that recovery. Thank you all in advance. Take care and God bless!