West Side Community Church Team Visit (7.26.12-8.4.12)

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(photos were not taken by Karl or I, but by members of the team or Loco Ministries)

We had a wonderful, work-filled, and moving week and a half with a group of 9 people from West Side Community Church (Traverse City, MI).  The team assisted with the work and expense of painting the inside and outside of our home and completed many repairs needed around the house.  They prepared the rooms for the 5 young woman who moved in on July 31st by cleaning, building wardrobes and beds, sewing curtains, and making the place a little more like home.  Many thanks to Laurie Pokas (my aunt & Godmother) and Dan Karlin who provided the funds via a book sale at church to pay for the much needed wardrobes (the girls' rooms are void of closets and storage space).

When we weren't working, we spent much of our time at Casa Hogar Lirio de los Valles (Lily of the Valley Orphanage) in Aldama and were able to have a brief lunch outing at Casa Hogar Adonai (another orphanage on the north end of Chihuahua).  We took some of the older girls (11 years and up) from Lirio to see the movie Brave (Valiente in Spanish), spent a day at the pool with the older boys (11 years and up) from Lirio, and had a blast at a water park named Tío Alberts with all of the kids from Casa Hogar Lirio de los Valles.

We did take a break to spend an afternoon in downtown Chihuahua where we enjoyed lunch, a little sight seeing, and a walk around el mercado del centro (downtown market).  Finally, we spent the team's entire last day at Casa Hogar Lirio de los Valles where folks were able to share their love, time, hugs, and good-byes with kids.  Many heart altering moments were had throughout their time spent in Chihuahua.

Karl and I are grateful for their dedication, hard work, positive spirits, and love for the kids and us.  It was an amazing 10 days.  ¡Muchas gracias a nuestros agmigos de West Side!