It has been a little over a week here in Porvenir. The first 6 days it was just Dan, me, and Christina but the rest of the group just arrived a few days ago. The house is full... and healthy (knocking on wood as i type that). The past week has been so good. I wish I could explain just how good. First, our time with Milades and baby Allison and the rest of the kids has been so amazing. Allison is so cute and getting bigger. At first she was shy towards us but now as soon as she sees us she smiles and reaches out to us. It was a little sad and hard when we first got here because Milades brothers family who we are close to are in a really tough situation. Fanny, their mom left and so did the father. For a short time their three children lived with a woman who physically abused them severely. They then were brought to Milades house for Milades to raise them. She now has 11 people to feed. 11 people to care for under one very small roof living in extreme poverty. I am now more glad than ever that we were able to make her a bunkbed last year. Still, it is only 3 beds for 11 people. And her husband is out of work. It is clearly hard there. We did hire her husband to work with us on the tables we made for the kinder and we have her to wash our clothes for them to make some money while we are here as well as took Milades to the grocery store to buy groceries. The effects of the physical abuse on the children though is clearly lasting. Josue, one of the children is two and one of our favorites here, and definitely one of the cutest, has clearly emotionally taken a beating and is very quiet and reserved now. He loves and trusts Dan and goes to him constantly and just lays his head on his shoulder. It is so sweet, but so sad. He needs his dad.
On a lighter note, the twins and their family are doing great. They are so beautiful and so fun to play with and love Dan in such an obvious way. It truly is a blessing to watch. Also, missionaries came to Porvenir to build a new Kinder since before it was held at multiple peoples houses. It is amazing. I will post pictures when we get back to the states. We finished the tables for the kinder and they are also amazing. Victor, the man who helped us with the bunkbeds last year helped us with the tables and I am so thankful. They look so good. Also, we went to Cayos Cuchinos today. They are the same islands that Dan and I went to last year. Today was so much fun. The islands are the most beautiful ones I have ever seen and the experience is so amazing each time. We snorkled, swam in amazingly clear water, and took a thousand pictures.
I feel like I am rambling. I just want to write about everything. But I cannot and I am sorry if this blog is overwhelming. Most importantly we are having so much fun and the Lord is revealing so much to me in my quiet times with him and also in every moment during the day with the families we spend time with. Dan and Is bible study starts Monday as well as the kids camp we all are putting on for the kids. We are about to go eat dinner at the restaurant on the river. It is a personal favorite. Keep praying! We still have so much ahead of us. Love and miss you all.
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