Here is the end.

First, I wanted to show you a few pics and video from the recent Christmas outreach, and then are lots more from my last days at the orphanage.


Navidad en la Calle- Lily's Christmas Outreach. I've never seen an orphanage put on event of this magitude. Or heard of it, really. What God did through Lily of the Valley was pretty amazing.


Shacks in the neighborhood where the event was held- Colonia Soledad.




The choir girls getting ready. (Merm and I missed a lot of the prep because we were picking up lots and lots of chicken and mashed potatoes...some of these are Samuel's photos. He was a picture-taking machine that day.)




Lorena.




Merm actually took this while we were on the road that day. I think she mentioned earlier that Mexicans can strap anything to a truck. Example number two.




More of Colonia Soledad.




The crowd. This shot was taken by Irela.




Mama and Papa addressing the crowd.










A sea of people waiting to eat.




Brisa (totally staged) serving food to the kids.









A group of friends with their yummy food. I said to Mary Ellen, "Isn't that boy in the middle cute?" And she responded, "He came through the gift line twice, trying to lie and get extra gifts." Can't blame him, I guess.




Marcela and Rubi hanging out during the festivities.




Lots of this.




Every kid loves some candy.




Brenda and Mama, the two women that worked so hard to make this happen.




Paloma, a good friend of Mama and Papa, is trying to work with the huge crowd ready to received their gifts. She's awesome.




Mary Ellen ran into a boy named Axel, who lived at the orphanage briefly, and is now back with his family living in this community. Here he is with his family after they received their gifts.




This is hilarious to me. Mama wanted him to take a picture of her with EVERY kid as they received their gift. The woman is nuts.




Okay, now on to the "last days" portion. I took tons of pics, with each one wondering, "Will this be the last?" So here are a few.


Karla and I one morning before school.




Samuel and the girls that love him.









Rubi and I. I road the bus to school with the elementary kids one day last week. At one point the kids pushed me down into my seat and all crowded around me so I couldn't get up. They had the driver of the bus go a little faster than normal over one of the giant speed bumps to watch me fly into the air. The kids thought it was hilarious. This was taken right afterwards.




Irela, Ana, and I on the bus.




My two favorite girls- Andrea and Jaci.




Andrea LOVES carrots.









I found Joanna one day just chilling in the sandbox by herself.




I'll miss these sunsets.




This one. Well. There aren't really words to describe it. I don't really know what Brenda (left) or Flor (right) were thinking. You never know what they're thinking.




I LOVE this of Rebecca. She was running to catch the bus and was asking if I'd hold her Barbie for her while she was at school. Such a pitiful face. I said yes, but what I didn't know is that minutes early she asked Mary Ellen, who told her no. Woops.




One of those- this might be the last picture together- pictures. (Brisa and I)




Jasmin lost a tooth!




I'll miss this, too.




Miriam and Leticia, two girls that really tested my patience but I loved, on the road home after an adventure into Chihuahua.




This was taken several weeks ago, but I never posted it. On Saturdays the kids don't do their hair- don't you love their bedheads? (Brisa, Cielo, Gaby)




Here's Brisa, explaining that we're at Oxxo and that Vito's inside buying food. When Cielo and Gabi see him walking out of the store with chips that are possibly for them they gasp and say, "Papitas (chips)" simultaneously. Nothing exciting. I just love watching our kids.






Those animals...

Here're a few videos I wanted to show you weeks ago but wasn't able to. Here, Marcela, Karla, and Flor are admiring the pigs. They asked me if pigs bite (I think), and then proceeded to tell me that one time Daniel (an elementary kid) got bit by a pig. What do you think, girls?




This one is my fav. If you didn't know, Flor is an animal lover. She's feeding the goats, and then I asked her to count them. She counted six. But there were only four. Poor thing.






Actually, this one might be my favorite. You can hear Marcela's laugh, which is so distinctive, and Flor's silly personality is really shown. Karla is with the two girls and they're all demonstrating their goat-feeding methods. Oh, I miss these kids!!! Don't know if we mentioned it, but Flor and her sister Jasmin actually left. A week or two ago I said they were leaving, but they didn't. They ended up leaving the day Merm and I were supposed to fly home. I didn't even get to say goodbye... I just pray that their homelife is better than the orphanage. I worry that it isn't.





Speaking of Flor, here are a few of her back over the summer. I just love the girl.









Ana, Flor, and Jasmin goofing off with me instead of picking up trash.





I've been staring at photos for hours, sorting through those that I want to frame on my walls and put into an album. And I have to tell you, it's hurting my heart. My days are somewhat busy, as I'm trying my best to settle back into being home. Unpacking, catching up with friends and family, and sleeping are all priorities each day (because I'm unpacking really slowly). And so an hour, maybe, can go by without me thinking too much about where I came from. For that reason, studying these photos is just awful. I can't stop thinking about the kids and wonder what they're doing and how they're doing. I wonder about the staff- if they're having a good day, or if they're in the middle of something stressful. And more than that, wondering if I'll go back. I hate it. I want to look forward- to the ministry I coould have here in my hometown, opportunities to work and to serve, but my thoughts keep backtracking. I went to church this morning, and while it was awesome to be back- to sing songs in English and fully understand the sermon- I was overwhelmed with emotion when the service began. For five months, I prayed and sang with a hundred kids and several amazing staff every single day. And as much as I missed community in Louisville and to worship in my own language, I miss Lily. I miss praying with the staff for the kids, and for protection over the house, and for whatever was on the hearts of Mama and Papa. Don't think I'm not praying for them now. Because I am. But I miss being a part of it. What does all this mean? That I'm gonna go back and do it all over again? I don't know. Mary Ellen shared the song with me about the girl who was exposed to orphans in Africa and is now compelled to do something with her knowledge. I guess I feel the same, but right now I can ONLY think about the kids at Lily. My question to the Lord is, what do You have for me now? Do I only support the orphange through financial donations and continue with life in Kentucky, do I go back down to work again, or will I adopt one day? These are all very likely options, and I'm just ready to know what it's gonna be. Do you sense a little impatience? I'm encouraged by those of you who have maintained a relationship with Lily and pray that Mary Ellen and I will be the same way. We hope to connect the Louisville area with Chihuahua so that even more hands can be a part of what God is doing there. I want to say thanks so those of you who've supported us financially, through prayer, or words of encouragement. I never felt alone because I knew that so many people back in the states were concerned for us and wanted good things for us.

Please pray for the staff this holiday season because December is a busy time. The kids are invited to lots of parties (many of which are at the orphanage) and while it's fun for the kids, the prep work and cleanup makes lots of extra work for the adults. Also, pray for protection over the kids, as many of them will go home to visit family for Christmas.



This is my prayer, and I pray the same for you:

Teach me you way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

Psalm 86:11
Salmos 86:11

Instruyeme, Senor, en tu camino
para conducirme con fidelidad.
Dame integridad de corazon
para temer tu nombre.





Can't believe this is it. Thanks again for supporting us through this journey. I'm sure I'll being seeing you.


Peace,

Lorena