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It’s really hard to describe how beautiful the training center is! Perched off the main road, the facility overlooks Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico. Just behind the property, a large range of rugged hills rises seven hundred feet above us. On some mornings, the early morning rays shine through fog clinging to the hilltops. It is beautiful. The views are incredible. Brightly colored bougainvillea and fica and mango trees are common occurrences along the local roads.
The power at the training center abruptly went out for several hours on Friday because the power company disconnected the power to our building. The Pharisses quickly resolved the situation, and we learned a bit about the Mexican utility system in the process. You may never receive your bill, even at your billing address, and you cannot pay for your bill if another owner has an outstanding contract for service. To be safe, you have to mark your calendar and go down to the power company office. This little wrinkle in plans made us more grateful for consistent electricity in America!
Kitchen prep for the banquet
The kitchen at the training center was a happening place today! This Sunday, our team will be serving a banquet to the Itzlavakan church, so Leah and five girls tackled the cooking and preparation needed for this project.
At 9 a.m. today, some of our teachers began the final day of the Children’s Institute. Despite feeling a little weariness building from the week’s adventures, everyone seemed to do a good job. We are excited to see the Lord actively at work. Remember the boy we prayed for a few days ago? Well, he didn’t show up at first and we wondered what the Lord was doing. Then, he arrived just before the first large group began on the topic of salvation. Later in the afternoon, our translator Enrique talked to the boy for quite a while and felt that some significant progress had been made.
Children’s Institute crafts
The orphanage staff was very grateful for the team’s work in painting and the Children’s Institute. Dean and Nelda are an older couple who have operated the orphanage for many years and are planning to turn over the reins in a few more years. Nelda estimates they have worked with hundreds of orphans in their lifetime.
After returning from the Children’s Institute, the group played volleyball until dinnertime. Dinner was corn-husk tamales, a rare treat back in the States. After watching a slideshow of the pictures from last week, everyone headed for bed.
As the team reflected tonight on the trip so far, Hannah Kinsel said, “I have learned so much in the short time I have been here! We all really have no idea how good we have it in the USA. Yet the Mexicans have something we don’t: contentment with what they have and close-knit communities.”
Tomorrow kicks off a busy week! On Monday and Tuesday, we plan to teach at an orphanage in Guadalajara. After a Wednesday break, Thursday will take us to another orphanage. Friday we plan to leave for some of the coastal areas. We are excited to see what the Lord will do! Thanks for your prayers. We are mindful that you are a vital link in ensuring this trip is as effective as possible in the children.
Lunch at the training center
The Chalapa Children’s Institute group
