We began the day with breakfast as usual, and then we were told what we would be doing. We were going back to Douglas. In the morning, we were planning on doing a few work projects and then once the kids got home from school, we would be having a cookout. It was going to be much less stressful than the day before with the 8 hour babysitting job.
We arrived at the children's home and split up to do our projects. Jenna and Kendra jumped on board to make a picnic table and a bench. Back2Back ministries helps the children's homes become self-sustaining, by creating businesses for them on their campuses. Douglas has a garden/wood-working business, so they were helping to build some of the orders that had come in for yard furniture. The rest of us headed over to one of the boy's dorms to paint the walls. We had to stack the beds on top of one another to get to all the walls. I helped with the cutting in near the floor and then at 11:30 am, Jessie and I headed out to start grilling hot dogs. Once the charcoal was hot and while Jessie grilled, I went in with Todd (the Executive Director of Back2Back) to set-up the kitchen. All the older kids and caretakers had gone to the burial for Francisco in the morning, so we were going to have to pick up the kids from school, and then we would be cooking out for EVERYONE. Picking the kids up was not a big deal though, since the school was just a walk up the hill.
Once the charcoal was started and hot dogs were grilling, we headed up to the school to get the kids. They were so excited to see us!! It was very awesome to be able to spend three separate days with these children. We were definitely forming relationships with them, and they knew our names and faces. We picked them up and walked them back to their dorms where they changed into play clothes and dropped off their backpacks. Excited about the day ahead, all the children piled into the Comedor for lunch. All the caretakers returned from the burial and it was time to feed all 100 people!!
We made soooo many hot dogs, but there was no problem getting rid of all of them. I really have never seen people so excited about hot dogs in my life. Honestly, though, I was excited about them, because I was so hungry!! After lunch all of the kids went out to play or do their homework. We had a period where we had to clean-up and then set-up for a movie that we were going to watch. Fantastic 4, the sequel in Spanish!! I hadn't even seen the first one in English, let alone the second, and now I was going to see the second in Spanish!! We arranged the Comedor like a theater centered around the huge projector screen that was up. We also had popcorn to pass out, just like a real movie!!
We started the movie at 2:30 pm, and the kids loooooved it. So did the caretakers. It was really cool to provide something like that for them... They never get to go to movies, so this was definitely a treat. I sat with Tere, and 18 girl who has lived at Douglas her whole life. She is the sister of Monica, who had her Quincinera the first day we were in Mexico. Tere has the biggest heart of any person I have ever met. When the movie first started she made me sit down next to her, and she rubbed my back for around 30 minutes. I told her over and over again that she didn't have to do that, but she insisted that I rest my head on the table, and she would continue to rub my back. I was totally humbled!! I wanted to just be like, "I'm supposed to be helping YOU!!"
After the movie was over, it was just time to get the kids inside to do their homework and time to clean up. We were leaving at 5 pm, so we only had about 30 minutes to clean and say our goodbyes. Liliana, the girl that I had danced with last night came up to the chapel with us. The chapel at Douglas is an awesome open area at the top of a sort of mountain. Once you get to the top, it's beautiful. You can truly feel God as you look out over the mountain range. We slid down the huge cement slide, said our goodbyes, and walked back to the property.
Once we got back, we took showers, debriefed, and left for dinner at Tacos Fede. It was amazing. A lot of the younger staff got to go with us, so it ended up being a great group of people. Shane and Bill from University of Miami Ohio also surprised us with Theta Alpha t-shirts that they had made. It was hilarious. After dinner, we headed over to this awesomely cheap ice cream place and stuffed ourselves even further.
After a great dinner and dessert we headed back to the property and finished recording the Live in Mexico CD. I had a bunch of people sing with me on Amazing Grace for the last track. Jessie and I stayed up with Caroline until about 3 am to finally get everything finalized and burned. Since we have to be up by 5 am, you can imagine that I did not get much sleep!! It was a great last day in Mexico... I wish I could stay.
.kristen.
PS - Check out my Music MySpace for the CD!! - http://www.myspace.com/kristenrupert
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