What's going on in Aguascalientes
There is a lot going on down here in Aguascalientes, Mexico. I want to keep you all informed with the highlights each month. Thank you to all who pray for and support these ministries. We are able to bless so many people and we couldn't do it without you. To God be all the glory. Gracias amigos!
April was full of lots of fun activities. I also got to meet/work with a bunch of fellow gringos down here. And there was a major advancement with Chevon. It was a great month, with a minor setback at the end but I'm still very grateful for all that is going on.
I hosted a team from Indiana at the orphanage. This team, "Indy Premier," used to come every year but since covid I haven't seen them. It was good to have them back! They are a soccer team that comes down to play with local Mexican teams but they always save some time to come by the orphanage and help us out with a project. This year we had them smash some holes in a structure that was on the property when the government gave us the land. The structure will be converted into a snack shop for the school. They also helped paint a new extreme exercise station that the director's son built. It looks pretty intense so I hope the kids are careful. After the work, the team left a lot of donations for the kids. Thank you Indy Premier!
My girls were on spring break! They had a 2 week vacation from school so I planned a bunch of different activities for us. We went to the movies. We went to a professional soccer game. Necaxa is the name of our team here in Aguascalientes. We had fun even though they lost. We also climbed "Picacho," which is a local mountain. And we went to the San Marcos Fair. The fair comes every year for a couple of weeks and it is a huge event for Aguascalientes. It was really fun going on the rides.
Amidst all of the fun activities, I was able to get some smaller projects finished. I installed a window at the church I attend. The pastor had mentioned that he wanted a window in the production room. Summer is coming up and with no ventilation it gets really hot in there. I got to smash a big hole in the wall (my favorite part) and two guys from church helped me make the window. They wanted to learn how to work with aluminum so I was happy to show them.
I was able to help my friend/dentist, Miguel, by installing lots of things in his house. Miguel has really helped me and the women in our girls home out over the years. He has given us free dental service and in return, I have done lots of jobs in his house. This time I installed a big, 3-part shelf on his wall. I also measured, cut & installed all the doors for his work cabinets. Everything came out nice. What a blessing to have this friendship/work connection!
Chevon is advancing! We had an appointment with a gastroenterologist and he took out her feeding tube. Chevon is now eating everything on her own. We still have to blend up her food but she is eating a lot more and is hungry in between meals...that's a good sign! She loves "Pinguinos" which are like a chocolate cupcake that we buy at the store. She looks forward to her snack everyday. Her physical therapy is also going very well. She can walk on her own now and she can even make it up and down the stairs. Thank you for all of your prayers! Please continue to pray for Chevon. She is doing well but we still have a long way to go.
And sadly, I finished off the month very sick. And because I was sick I had to miss the annual "día del niño" (kid's day) event at the orphanage. The last day of April in Mexico is "día del niño" and the Casa Hogar Dulce Refugio always puts on a huge event for the community. Hundreds of people line up and they bring in the kids in groups of about 25-30 at a time. The kids pass through multiple stations and they receive a meal, candy, toys, entertainment & most importantly, a gospel presentation. It is an awesome event and the director of the orphanage, Marce, always does a great job. I have gone and helped every year that I have been down here but couldn't make it this year. But I'm happy that it was a success and that so many kids were blessed. Congratulations Marce and Dulce Refugio!
And as I currently write this new blog update I am still sick. I went to the doctor and they gave me antibiotics but they didn't work so I believe I have a virus (either the flu or covid). Please pray I recover soon so I can get back to the ministry that God has for me.
