In five days, at 4:20 a.m. (I'll be ready, Paulette!) I'm leaving for Vicente Guerrero, Mexico!
If you click on the plus sign in the upper left hand corner, you can zoom in. For those of you that have been there before, you'll be able to see the mission, just zoom close and pan right....
I'll be spending a week volunteering at Foundation For His Ministry. It's an Orphanage in the Mexican Baja. I've wanted to go on this trip for quite some time. Members of our church go every year, and this is the first year I've been able to work out to go. There will be a team of about 25 people going.
I've been getting some stuff together. Clothes for me (I've bought a lot at Goodwill, so that when the week is over, I can just leave it down there to be distributed to those in need) and toys for the kids. Dear Diane from our local toy store (Tinker Tailor, on the riverfront) has graciously and generously donated many things for me to take with. Our wonderful knitting group has knit over 50 little hats for us to distribute at the orphanage. I just found a link for those that might want to knit something for the children in the future!
There is a video you can look at here that shows a glimpse of what FFHM does. Just click on whichever version you want to watch.
Other than that, I have no idea what to say! I have no idea what I'll be doing there, there are so many things that go into running an orphanage-clinic-macadamia nut orchard-kitchen-community outreach-wheelchair ministry! I could be doing anything!
I'm planning on taking a ton of photos! Check back after Feb. 2nd and I'll have some posted! Please pray for us while we are there, especially health and safety. Pray for our families too. I don't think Harrison has much of a clue that is life will be upside down for a week (a friend will be watching them while Tim works. They've never done any day care of any kind, but they do adore our friends where they'll be staying.) Iris mentions it pretty often. Several times a day. She can get herself pretty worked up about things, so it will be interesting to see how she reacts to this. She cries when I go "up north" for a few days.
I'm going to have a little note for Tim to read them each morning from me, and a little something for them to unwrap at the same time. Snacks, little toys, something like that. I'm also going to give them something of mine to hold on to for the week (nothing too precious in case it gets ruined, just something special) to help them feel connected even though I'm far away.
For myself, I'm going to take a little video of them and keep it on my camera for the week. Although, that might make me cry more!
I looked for a Youtube video about FFHM, but I could only find one that showed their milk & peanut butter ministry.
The area is a very poor area, and many kids are lacking protein in their diets. So FFHM distributes 11,000 gallons of milk and 5.5 tons of peanut butter every year!
*update My friend Heidi made a slide show after she went on this trip last year:
This sounds so wonderful, Amy! I will be thinking of you and praying. Look forward to the pictures! May His love shine through to them.
Posted by: Kate | January 21, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Have I showed you the slide show I made after I went last year? You can see it on Godtube: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=971090c7b08417fb30e2
I am so excited that you are able to go!!
Posted by: Heidi | January 21, 2008 at 09:28 PM
I'm sure you'll have lot of stories to tell and photos to show all of us when you get back. Have a great time!
Posted by: len20 | January 29, 2008 at 12:33 PM