We just got back from a quick weekend trip to Mexico! A group of dental students and faculty went down to Ensenada to provide free dental care for the Reino de Los Ninos orphanage and the surrounding community. Spencer and I thought it would be great to bring the kids along, hoping it would motivate them to speak more Spanish, besides being a cultural learning experience. It worked like a charm, they played and talked with the orphans all day and went to church on Sunday. Spencercito even offered the closing prayer in his class, the teacher said it was very sweet.
I must say I was worried about their safety before we went, thinking a kidnapper would be waiting to snatch them at any opportunity. However, where we stayed in Ensenada was very safe (La Villa Fontana) and close to the beach too. The orphanage was also safe, and the sweet orphan girls played with Lily and Emma all day while Spencercito played with the boys, all with the staff supervising. There were two pet dogs at the orphanage that were a big hit too, letting Lily do practically anything to them without getting upset.
We got lost going to church-we bought a map and opened it up to find that it was mostly blank, with hardly any streets on it. The streets that were on it had changed names so that wasn't helpful either, not that it mattered much since about only one-third of the streets actually had signs. It also rained all night Friday, and about half the day on Saturday, flooding the streets and making driving in Mexico even more crazy.
Even though it was only a few days, we came back more appreciative of the simple blessings we have here of family, safe and available drinking water, an abundance of food, street lights and signs, and heaters to name a few. This was a great experience for all of us to see how others live and make things work. The orphans were so happy and well-behaved that although I wanted to take them home with me I knew that they were content and well cared for by each other and by the staff at the orphanage.
Here are some highlight pictures from the trip:
4 comments:
Nothing like a little discomfort to make the blessings of home more evident. Does this mean everyone is finally healthy? Yay!
Wow, Hermana! You're SO brave - in many ways. Taking your kids along is the one I'm thinking of. You guys are awesome for going there to serve. Did it feel like the mission? I'm jealous of you being in Mexico speaking Spanish, etc.
It did feel a little like the mission, it was so easy to slip right back into speaking Spanish (it helps that I speak it at home-but kid spanish is different than actual adult conversation). I wish we could spend a whole summer there and let the kids have more time to experience everything. And, surprisingly enough we are all currently healthy! Hooray!
Looks like a lot of fun! From the pictures I can't tell who made the kids happier, Spencer or your little kiddos. Mexico was lucky to have you all visit.
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