ME is going to Tijuana.

So, I slipped into a little internet cafe-like place to let you all know that I am leaving Friday afternoon for Tijuana. We are in great need of computers and unable to afford them. It turns out that Lily 1 (the other orphanage) has an anbundance -I guess- and they are willing to give us 4 computers. I am traveling by bus for 24 hours with Brenda and we´ll be gone 6 days. Oh my. I just said 24 hours in a bus. Lang, remember the 4 hour trip in the back of the bus in December?! No doubt this will help both Lauren and I with our Spanish... but I´m gonna miss her. :/ To be honest, I wasn´t really excited about the trip, but Mama´ has arranged it so that I will spend one night in San Diego, California and be able to visit their host church. I´m not sure what I´ll do there, but I´m pumped. It will be neat to meet all the people I emailed prior to coming here and see some familiarity for just a minute or two. Please pray for our safety and that the trip will be refreshing. I´ve been feeling pretty weary this week. I had my first real cry today and I still don´t really know why. The needs here are so great and I´m feeling more helpless than ever. Still, I´m reminded of what Mama´ told me when we first got here... she was telling us how hard this lifestyle is for her at times, but she can feel herself dying to the flesh everyday. I want that more than I want comfort. ...but that doesn´t mean you should stop praying. Pray for Lauren while I´m gone as well. It´s an opportunity for her to be really blessed by the girls, but bedtime just might kill the girl.

A few highlights before I go:

>I endured the worst temper-tantrum I´ve ever seen... I put one of the girls in their usual punishment position (on her knees with her arms raised- so dumb) and she was flipping out. I held her there and said she couldn´t leave until she was done with her hissy fit and calm ("hissy fit" does not translate in Spanish)... ten minutes later she stopped... but only because she had fallen asleep. Why is nothing I´ve learned in "Parenting and Family" class at Seminary applicable here?!?

>Literally every time Lauren and I take the boys home Cachito throws something out the window.. everything he can find. Seriously, ask Lauren about the backpack (one of my favorite stories). Well, about 10 minutes into the trip home yesterday he´d thrown out two rags, a bottle and another piece of trash (that nearly landed INSIDE the car he was aiming for). THEN, he threw out one of the airconditioning vents from our van onto the bed of a big truck. Are you kidding me? I had to keep going, and it turns out that the air doesn´t work anyway. Adventures with Cachito.

>I helped tutor a few kids with their multiplication tables and learned that in english we have a verb, "to have got". I'm going to start using as often as possible... For example, "I have got a friend named Lauren."

>We saw a girl picked up yesterday by her new adoptive parents. It was both beautiful and painful to watch. I think everyone who is able should consider adoption.

That´s all for now. Sorry about all the parantheses and side notes. I´m writing in a hurry and I ain´t gonna proofread. Thank you all who have been so generous with your financial gifts and packages. God is using you to show us His provision! Also, my mom wanted me to give out her email address... it´s betsy.ross@insightbb.com
´My dad gets one or two more emails than her :) due to his work schedule. She may be a better candidate for questions.

Love you all!
Merm
PS- Any emails about your life are appreciated. In fact, I love them and want more. I´ll get back to everyone when I return from Tijuana.