Saturday

Well we are back from our whale watching expereince and we saw some great up close whales and dolphins today. Way better than last year when we went. We had one whale come up out of the water and splash his tail and we had 4 dolphins that swam with our boat. It was totally awesome. Ok, well that's all I wanted to say for now. Hope all is going well at home in the snow. I know, I know....I am awful.

Friday

I was finally able to add some pictures today. The pictures of the kids are from our time passing out backpacks and the picture of us in the truck is one of our school runs. Imagine riding in that on bumpy, dusty roads and you will begin to get an idea of the wonderful world of off road transportation in Mexico.

Today we get to hear from Eden Seller on her thoughts about our day.

Hey everyone!!!
Today was an amazing day, it was a very long and tiring day but so rewarding. We were able to distribute backpacks to kids from two different schools. The kids were so excite and so grateful for them, their facial expressions were priceless. Today was our last day with the kids and working with the church and the organization. It was so hard to leave the kids that we've made friends with, our time with them has seemed way to short. We all wish we could pack the kids up in our suitcases and take them home, we're going to miss them. Time has gone by so fast the last couple of days. Tomorrow is our day off, we have another early morning because we are going whale watching. Lets hope we see some whales or it might just be a long, hot, four hours.

Well I am headed to bed. I hope you have enjoyed our team updates. Please pray that our flights are on time and we can arrive home at our sheduled time.

Thursday

Today we are hearing from Phyllis Jean Robbins...

It is now Thursday evening. I am whipped!!! We have been having a great time. This morning we went back to the dump schools and fed the children. In total we fed six schools. Three this morning and three this afternoon. The kids crowd around you and many ask for more than one drink. It is hot and I am sure they are thirsty. I am amazed at how well we can communicate without knowing the language. Sign language helps. I think the thing that has struck me most is the Bible studies for the moms and children. They have such need but in spite of the physical needs there is joy on the faces of those who know Jesus. The little children have nothing and the simplest things please them. Even in their poverty the people are generous with what they have. You can´t imagine the amount of dirt and dust. It is so thick even the leaves on the trees are coated with it. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Phyllis Jean for the team

Ann here again...

Another day is over and the team is back at their hotel, hopefully getting some much needed rest. Tomorrow should be a fun day for the team as we will have the opportunity to give out the backpacks that we raised the money for back home. Each backpack is filled with school supplies and we will be able to bless over 150 kids with these much needed items. We are all looking forward to being able to give these gifts.

Tonight the team had the privledge of eating dinner on the street at a taco cart. Everyone needs to have this expereince in Mexico. The place is called the Happy Ant. And yes, I do think the ants that live near is cart are very happy most nights. We have some great pictures, as the owner let Dan and I get in the cart to chop up the meat. Ok, there wasn't a lot of chopping, but by the looks of the pictures I was close to losing an arm to Dan and the meat cleaver.

It has been an awesome day. We are doing really well as a team and we thank you for praying for us and for our team unity. I can tell that your prayers are working and this has been a great trip so far.

Wednesday

Today Vicky is bringing you the team update....

Hola,

Greetings from far far away. The weather is beautiful here and the country is amazing. Where else in the world can you see palm trees adn mountains? (Don't worry I have taken hundreds of pictures to show you.)

Its a lot of fun trying to communicate in Spanish. (the whole two words I know). We rely on Dan for all of our translations. (Thanks Dan)

The kids just giggle and laugh at our attempts. Kids are kids no matter where in the world they live.

Today we made sandwiches-lots of them. Ham and cheese with a little mayo. We took the sandwiches and delivered them to the local schools around the dump. Its hard to believe how poor these schools really are. I am not sure if their are any schools in inner Detroit that can even compare.

The best part about our day was picking up left over food from a cruise ship and bringing it to the school children in the poor part of Puerto Vallarta. We fed around 250 happy kids today. It was a great expereince.

I would rather do this any day than be stuck in Michigan with 10 inches of snow. HA HA

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BOY ETHAN!

Gracias....Vicky

Tuesday

Today's update is coming from me...I know you want to hear from someone else, but they are all in bed and so it's just me you are stuck with.

Today started with a tour of the dump for all of team except for me. I was going from bank to bank to bank trying to cash our travelers checks so that we could pay for the hotel and eat for the rest of our time here. I walked about 3 or 4 miles in this amazingly fun process, but finally did succeed in getting the checks cashed and our bills paid. No evictions from our rooms today.

The team had a tour of all of the various ministries that Children of the Dump are involved in and had their eyes open to the way other people live. After the tour we went to a home in one of the neighborhoods near the dump and did a kids program and I spoke to the moms. After the programs they were all fed a hot meal and the moms were given good to take home for the family. That was a great time and all of the team were impacted by this event. It has been a high point of the trip so far.

I would love to keep writing about all of the other crazy events that have taken place today, but I am literally exhausted and am headed to bed. Hopefully tomorrow you will hear from someone else on the team.

Until then...

Monday

Today's day is being sponosered by Brandon Robbins...yeah boy...that is Brandon's most common saying on this trip. Here is today's update in Brandon's own words...I'll be back at the end to wrap up the details.

Today's day, Monday, February 4th we went to go eat breakfast and then we caught the bus to go to the school of Champions and cleaned up the place for four hours and while we were there we saw the dump and it looked horrible. Houses made our of cardboard pieces and houses half way done. We actually met some of the kids there and they didn't look the best, but they were dressed with some kind of clothing and that's what counts. And one more thing...it was cool because Ruban taught me how to do some sweet moves with the soccer ball.

Well for those of you who don't know...Brandon is our 13 year old who is doing an awesome job serving the people down here and making us laugh all of the time. Today he lead our devotion time and was our designated prayer for meals.

The day was a good one. We did work hard at the school and got most of the classrooms cleaned. Some of the team also helped powerwash the rest of the school. We spent some time putting together the backpacks that Colonial Woods raised money for and we will be giving those out to the kids on Friday.

So far we have all had pretty good health and no real injuries. Tomorrow we head out to the dump again to work with kids doing games and a bible story while I give a devotional for the kids moms. After that is over we will then help serve a hot meal to those working in the dump. It will be a longer day that today so please pray for us that we have enough energy to go all day.

One thing that the team prayed for today was our relationships with each other. If you could add that to your list that would be great. As the days go by, those unique things about each person that seem endearing in the beginning become, shall we say....less endearing and so we are praying for this stuff before it ever becomes an issue. Just so you know...we are all getting along just fine.

Well until tomorrow...

Sunday

Today Bev Snyder is our writer...here are her thoughts on today.

Today was a great day! We started with breakfast at the Malibu. Next we got on a bus and zoomed thru narrow streets to the church, Perdon y Amistad. The worship service was awesome. All in Spanish of course. You could sense the power of the Holy Spirit as we worshiped together in different languages. Some of the songs were familiar. We had head sets to listen ot the preaching and met lots of new people. church started at 11 and we returned home at 2. Then we went to lunch, spent some time walking on the Malicon enjoying the sun and the sand. Like I said, it was a great day! God is so good!

ps. Tomorrow we will be going to the dump to clean the school and the grounds.

Blessings, Bev

Friday and Saturday

So today Dan is going to catch all of you up on the fun side of air travel...here's Dan...

So I want to share with you all the adventures of the Mexico team 2008. If nobody has ever travelled with Ann you need to sign up as soon as you can. I have never met a more capable person to lead a trip to somewhere in the world but for some reason on her trips you always have an adventure. So on our first day we met at the church at 2:30, oh yeah did I mention that was in the am not pm. So if we met at the church at 2:30 that means almost everybody was up by 2 if not earlier. Oh yeah so we met at the church before the crack of dawn was even in sight rearing and ready to go. Our flight was to leave at 6:15am and we were to head to the great area of Denver Colorado. AT this point the adventure began. We show up at Detroit International Airport excited with smiles on our face only to find out as we our standing in line that our flight has been cancelled due to weather. Not a horrible thing because they say that the next flight we can catch at 7:45, oh yeah did I mention they meant pm not am. Oh yes so we had the amazing honor of being in travel mode for 18 hours and only traveling an hour and fifteen minutes from home. You may ask what did you do in that time? I´m glad you asked we stayed at the airport the whole time because the weather was so bad we couldn´t go drive around. I tell you what though it was a great time getting to know each other and seeing how well people react on no sleep whatsoever. Any whoo... we made it to Denver that night and had to stay at a hotel. Oh yeah did I mention that because the weather cancelled the flight and not man that they don´t compensate any hotels. It´s ok though we got to stay at a red roof inn and that is an adventure too. The next morning we flew out of Denver to head to beautiful Puerto Vallarta, oh yeah did I mention that our flight got delayed an hour and fifteen mintues. But its ok we finally made it with good attitudes and a readiness for our own beds that you have never longed for in you life before. Regardless of all this God has been faithful in all of what He has done. Satan has tried to keep us from doing the Lord´s work but we are persevering through it all to do the Lord´s work. In conclusion the adventures of missions with Ann is always a treat and this team is looking forward to many more adventures along the way. This short excerpt was brought to you by Dan Hamrick and I am speaking on behalf of Brandon Robbins, Phyllis Jean Robbins, Vicky Brown, Bev Snyder, Eden Seller and Ann Harrington.

We have arrived!

Well after two days of travel, that was suppose to be one, and way too many meals in the airport in Detroit and another delay in Denver...we have finally arrived in Mexico. We are safe, have been well fed and are exhausted and on our way to bed. Thanks so much for the prayers. We will be heading to church tomorrow and then find out what the rest of our week looks like. Starting tomorrow we will give you a team update on our day. I think one of the team will give you a more detailed account of our many hours of waiting and learning patience in the airport. Until then...keep praying

Mexico 2008

Well it is 1:28 am on February 1st and the Mexico team will be meeting in one hour to head to the airport. Yes, I did say 1:28 am...I know....who booked these flights??? Anyway...each day we will be updating you on what is happening and how God is moving as we serve the Children of the Dump outside of Puerto Vallarta. Each day someone on the team will give you their perspective on the trip and a daily update.

Please pray for us as we travel. We are hoping to miss most of the snow and of course safe flights are always awesome. I am someone who hates to fly so this prayer requests is near and dear to my heart. Carolyn Parr gave me a verse yesterday that she said made her think of me when she read it. It is Psalms 107:30...it says..."He brings them to their desired haven." I like that!

So as I head out the door to start the month of February...and where did January go? Between starting grad school and planning this trip, I think I missed a month. As I was saying....as I head out the door I will thank you ahead of time for praying for our team. We cannot do this without all of you standing in the gap for us. The next post will be coming at you from...hopefully warm and sunny...Mexico.