Woodland Hills May Day Four (Tuesday)

Blog from Monday, May 17:

     Phew!  Today has been a crazy day!  I cannot believe I am FINALLY back here at Esperanza Viva after a long two years waiting to return!  Our group started the morning by making French Toast - we tried to crush cinnamon sticks since there was no powder...big fail.  After we ate breakfast, Rodrigo came and picked us up to bring us to do our work project on the new land that Esperanza Viva got!  We began to mortar/cement bricks to the top of the control booth (I even got to use a power saw...whoa!)  It is so great to see what God has done for this place!  Having been involved with teams here over the past six years, it is so great to see the progress that has occurred here!

     Around 1:30 we returned to the orphanage for lunch and crafts with the kids.  We brought about 30 containers of playdough and fifteen sticks of bubbles.  Let's just say things got a little crazy and by 4PM  there was just once giant blob of brown playdough.  The kids had so much fun!  I got to spend a little time with Brian, the boy that I sponsor here - I cannot believe how much he has grown!  Already 15 years old! 

     The team and I mozied on back to the guest house where we ate dinner then went to the best ice cream shop en todo el mundo (in the entire world)!  The woman who owns the shop is such a cute old woman!  She always remembers me too, even though I only make it here every couple of years.  We went back to the house around 8PM and we literally sat and talked for four hours.  Our group has bonded so well!  Most of us didn't really know each other before the trip, but our group has been an amazing fit.  We have all pushed each other to grow in our faith and really experience the beauty of Esperanza Viva.  I couldn't have asked for a better group to come along with me to my favorite place in the world.  :)         ~Todd

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Blog for Tuesday, May 18:

     Wow.  It does not even feel like we have been here five days!  This trip has been incredible and beyond words.  This morning we woke up and had delicious pancakes that Kayla and Emily made.  Then we headed to the new land and went to work.  We finished putting mortar on the cement blocks for the control booth, and then we started making cement Mexican style.  The ingredients for cement are tricky and takes much practice, but in the end we definitely got it.  After working on the land we went to Esperanza Viva and ate lunch.  We were served salad, croissants with cheese, and spicy noodles.  Then we began to prepare the candy houses for the children.  We had so much candy and the kids had the biggest eyes when they saw what we were giving them.   We gave them graham crackers, jelly beans, gummy bears, Reese pieces, M&Ms, fruit loops, frosting and peanut butter.  Let's just say the kids were on quite a sugar high!  It was also enjoyable to help them build their candy houses and to see their masterpieces.  After we filled all the children with sweets and candy, we headed home.  Around 5:00 the Esperanza Viva staff came over and led us in praise and worship.  Some of us couldn't understand the lyrics to the music, but we could feel the power of the words and of the amazing and inspiring brothers and sisters surrounding us.  During the service, which they call a "CIA", some of the staff members prayed over a few of us on the team.  The presence that we felt from God and the Holy Spirit was overwhelming and indescribable.  Then we got to say how this trip has touched our lives as a team member.  Also, after that, the entire Esperanza Viva staff prayed over us for our vocations and for our journey through life with Christ.  We felt truly blessed as a team to have shared the faith with the staff and to have been prayed over and blessed by them.  After the "CIA", the staff left and we ate grilled cheese.  Then we sat around the living room and bonded as a team again.  Our team feels the prayers and love that you have all been sending our way, and we appreciate and love you all so much for your support.  Christ is truly working in our hearts right now and molding us into His servants walking into His light.  We cannot wait to see what else is in store for us and our extremely blessed lives.  Please continue to pray; we love you all so much and are praying for you as well.

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Working on the land in the morning.

Activities with the kids in the afternoon.