Related Updates:
This morning we had teacher training for the Children’s Institute. We discussed today’s lesson about eliminating bitterness. After working on some Spanish words for our songs, we continued learning the hand motions for Philippians 2:2–11. These are the theme verses for both the curriculum and our team’s time in Mexico.
The training center
The late morning was spent on projects around the training center. In the afternoon, we took a break and prepared for the evening.
Several more children joined the Children’s Institute tonight, increasing the total number of children to 18 on three teams. While the Children’s Institute was in progress, part of our team worked on painting a 150-foot-long brick wall along one side of the orphanage. As we painted the wall with large brushes, the sun set with a thousand shades of pink and orange behind the mountains.
Horses remain a reliable means of transportation, and we pass numerous horses staked out on long grazing lines on our way to the orphanage each evening. The streets near the orphanage are made of rough-hewn cobblestones, and we will occasionally hear the clip-clopping of horse hooves as someone rides by.
The teachers commented tonight that the children were definitely more attentive as we shared with them the importance of forgiveness and removing bitterness from their lives. Thank you for praying!
Some distinct Fourth of July memories were made tonight as we sang patriotic songs while we bounced and jostled our way back to the training center. Each song we sang would be interrupted whenever we would go over cobblestone streets or speed bumps. We had a debriefing back at the training center before turning in for the night. Everyone remains healthy, which is a huge praise.
Tomorrow we’re planning to do teacher training early in the morning and then go to a nearby Mexican shopping area for a break.
A Children’s Institute team
Washing the van
