Day 6 & 7

Hi all, it's Jill again.  We are off to Antigua today and I wanted to get a little post in before we head off.  Sunday was wonderful!  It is a day of rest, and worship.  Church at Casa Bernabe is always so energizing. Pete said it well:  as the little ones dance joyfully for the Lord during the time of praise,  they are dancing for the Lord and moved by the Spirit.  It was a great day of fun with the kids after church as well.

I thought I would give you a glimpse into a day in the life at Casa de los Angelitos - the baby house, as all of the women are serving there at some point during this trip.  The men are continuing on with the plumbing project (now both the men and women are not able to use the toilets in the dorms...but the say it is going well, haha!)  They all have been working very hard, and the boys of Casa Nuevo Pacto have been trenching with our team each day.  The men are really enjoying getting to know them.

We are so appreciative for the amazing house parents in the baby house - they are doing such a great job with the children!  It is definitely a calling on their lives.

7AM - down the mountain.  All is quiet.  We enter the home and Russell leads the workers and missionaries in a time of Bible reading and prayer.

After that - 12 babies up!  Diapers are changed, clothes put on, all are seated at high chairs and ready for breakfast.  Breakfast yesterday was bread and bananas with atol, a milk and grain drink.  The babies all get a bottle, and the older ones, a cup of juice after they finish all their food.

After breakfast, most of the children try to go on the little potties.  Sara, the house mom, has done a great job of potty training them!  They get a sticker if they go "po-po" on the potty.  I am amazed to see two year olds doing this!

Then - play time!  Sara splits the babies up into groups - the bigger boys, bigger girls, little girls and babies.  One group yesterday did play-doh, while another other group did puzzles and coloring.  Another group did Legos, and the little ones were in the house getting a time of physical therapy and exercise.  All of these group activities are to be a time of learning.  We were constantly counting, doing colors and speaking with the babies.  Pete came down to visit Judy and Amy and I during the morning, and got some great photos.

Morning is fairly structured.  Snack time found everyone sitting on the trampoline eating apples.  The babies love the house dad, Russell, who is a very soft-spoken man, and they all want to be with him! "Papi,Papi," will be heard anytime Russell is around.

At 11:00 it is nap time, and the babies are ready!  We change them and put them down with lots of kisses.

1:00 it is time for the afternoon shift.  Again we get the babies out of their cribs, get them all settled in their high chairs and it is time for Almuerzo!  This is the big meal of the day.  It usually consists of rice and veggies and a stew-like main course.  After they eat what is in their bowl, they get their tortilla - the staple of the children's diet.  They love their tortilla!  After this they get juice or a bottle.

The afternoon is more of free-time play.  The babies ride big-wheels, and play outside on the Little Tykes playset.  George came down and played hide and seek with the little ones - they loved him! It was wonderful in the afternoon when Susan, Alyssa, Kristen, Josh and Lindsey all came down play with us. (Stacey went to Walmart to get us some supplies in the afternoon).  Russell led us on a fantastic hike - we went up the mountain behind the garden. The hike was very steep. Most American parents would never try this. We carefully trekked over roots, rocks, and logs. We ended up on the soccer field - the little ones were really troopers.  It was really fun.

When dinner time rolled around, we were all feeding babies.  Kristen and Alyssa stayed during the night time feeding.  After the babies were fed, Sara led a time of Bible reading with the babies.  The babies were so attentive as she shared the story of Noah with them.  Then was the highlight of the day - a time of praise and singing!  The babies loved to sing to Jesus! It was beautiful.  I want to video this sweet time some time!

Then, jammies and sitting on the potties, then many hugs and kisses and off to bed!  We finished the night by cleaning out the bathroom, potties, and all headed back up the mountain.

At debriefing in the evening our team shared a lot of high lights from the day.  Susan has a special baby on her heart and in her prayers. (Susan here - I am head-over-heels in love with her and want to adopt her!!!!)  Stacey also has a special little friend in Casa Lamar that she has grown close to as well.  Mike and Josh are enjoying very much working closely with our guy in Casa Nuevo Pacto as well.  It is so great to see the relationships that are being formed between our team and the children here.

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the day at the baby house!