GOODBYE

It is with sad hearts and tear-filled eyes that we will say good-bye to everyone at Casa Hogar tomorrow. Though these kids are used to saying good-bye, we are not. Our flight leaves early afternoon, so we will spend the morning packing and saying good-bye to our new friends. Today is Josh's birthday and was our last full day here in Acapulco. We spent the morning at the beach and ate lunch at a restaurant nearby. We swam and packed some this afternoon; then just hung out at the orphanage. Melissa brought a cake for Josh. We had pizza with the interns. Then Josh and the interns went to the older boys' soccer game. We will get home late Friday night. Please pray for our transition back to the U.S. and the busy-ness of life in Baton Rouge. It is a strange feeling to be sad to leave but happy to go home. I don't know how to process it right now.... in time, I guess. No words can be written of the amazing experience our family has had. Our hearts are full, and we thank God for giving us this opportunity. We will miss our amazing interns who were the hands and feet of Jesus with the orphans this summer. They ministered to me in so many ways without even knowing it. I'm so thankful Ben and Meg could see these college-aged interns denying themselves and serving these children all summer. The interns leave Monday, so they will be saying good-bye in a few days. We are looking forward to seeing our friends and family and worshipping at our church again. We thank all of you who read this blog and prayed for us all summer. We know people were praying.... What a mighty God we serve!

With loving and grateful hearts,

the Martins

On The Mend

Well, we have had a sick house since Friday night, but, thankfully, we are better. Josh wrote that Ben was sick and then I got it. Today I actually was able to be up a good part of the day and eat a little. This virus really wiped me out. Meg woke up with it Monday morning and around lunchtime today she was up and around feeling better. Josh is the only one who hasn't gotten it. Please pray that he won't get it. Even our friends upstairs had it go through their family. It is a nasty virus.

This week the kids at the orphanage are attending a music camp at the church, so the interns are having to fit Bible School in whenever they can. They are also trying to do a weekly bible study & games with the teenagers. I mentioned previously that they are holding a soccer tournament for the older kids as well. The first game was last night, and they tied. Josh was on one of the teams. There will be one or two more games this week and some next week along with the championship game. A few of the kids have been picked up by their parents. Some will leave tomorrow too. It is hard to say good-bye, but it is better for them to be with their families if it's a good situation. Some families are just too poor to care for their children so they bring them to Casa Hogar. If their financial situation changes for the better, they come and get their children and take them home. It is still sad for everyone to see them leave, especially if they've been at the orphanage for many years. Josh and I often talk about the difficulties these kids must face emotionally with people coming in and out of their lives. It hardens some- we see it in several of the teenagers. Not just their own families leaving them, but teams from churches, summer interns, us.... We come to spend time with them and love on them, but then we leave. And they see this year after year. There's no answer to this. It's just how things are. I pray that these children will come to understand and embrace our Heavenly Father who will never leave them, who they can trust, and who loves them unconditionally. This weekend will be our last in Acapulco. I knew the time would go by fast but not this fast. I assume it has been that way for most of you. Summer always seems to fly by. Just today Josh and I were already talking about our schedule in the fall- mainly the kids and all their activities! It has been nice to have a break from all that, but lo and behold, it is around the corner. I hope I remember how to drive!!

Love to you all,
Sara Parks

Sunday Highlights

Domingo - Sunday - The Lord's Day. Today started out slow. We were thankful that Ben slept till 9 after throwing up the entire night before. He and SP stayed home from Church. He was mostly better, but just needed more time to rest. Meg and I rode the bus to Jesus of Nazareth Presbyterian Church. When we arrived we learned that they were closing what must have been something like a Synod meeting of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. There were about 6-7 presbyteries represented. It was a long service with 2 different choirs performing. There was a sermon and someone gave the history of God's work through these presbyteries. I couldn't understand any of it, but couldn't help getting a lump in my throat when I saw these brothers together. At the end of church we all held hands and sang a song about unity. I know it sounds cheesy, but I kept thinking about Psalm 133 - "Behold how good a thing it is when brothers dwell together in unity."

Pray for Sara Parks. When Meg and I got home from church at 3:30, Sara Parks was in bed apparently with what Ben had the other night. She has been really sick all day. Pray that whatever it is would run its course quickly, that she would be able to sleep tonight, and get rehydrated soon

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. It has been a great summer. We have just under two weeks. Pray that we would be able to finish strong.

In Christ,
Josh

An Update From Meg

Hi! This is Meg again. And I just wanted to tell you I went to the Emergency Room yesterday to get stitches. I will tell you how I got the cut. There's a stage at the orphanage. I was playing soccer with my friend Adai and fell off. I only have one stitch and it is on my face above my lip. I was nervous about getting stitches, but it turned out a lot better than I thought it would be. My Dad and two interns - Rebecca and Lauren - came with me to the hospital. The doctor was very nice. I have to get the stitch taken out in 7 days. Today my family and I are going to eat lunch at a new restaurant called Las Americas. I'm pretty excited. Thanks for praying for us. We only have a few weeks left in Mexico. I'm going to be very sad to leave. I miss everyone back home and love you guys!

Pamela's college graduation

Our friend, Pamela, graduated from college Saturday night here in Acapulco! Pamela has grown up at Casa Hogar. One thing that makes this so special is that she is the first girl at Casa Hogar to graduate from college! Pamela is a dear Christian girl who has a special love for the younger girls at the orphanage. Instead of sharing a room with the older girls (2 being her teenage sisters), she shares a room with the little ones because of her desire to be a role model for them. With tears in her eyes, she told me how much she wants to be a good example for these girls. She hopes they will take their education seriously and want to go to college. It is common for many of the young people to drop out or choose not to go to college at all. The staff at Casa Hogar tries to encourage the kids and provide opportunities for them to get a college education. Sadly, many do not see the point of having a college degree. Pamela speaks great English, so we have loved getting to know her. She is allowed to live at Casa Hogar for a year and a half after college graduation to give her time to find a job and place to live on her own. This is a policy they have at the orphanage. Please pray for Pamela that she will find a job that pays enough for her to support herself and for the other children to want to follow in her footsteps not only in education but in their spiritual lives as well.

Love,
the Martins

Rain Rain Go Away

It has been raining nonstop here for a couple of days. Another tropical storm has come through. Though it cools things off, it also keeps us indoors with little to do. It rains hard for awhile then will lighten up a bit. We have learned to just go out in it- meaning walk to the orphanage in it and just stay wet. Our clothes have been "drying" on the roof for several days now. I can only imagine the mildewy smell they will have once they dry. The kids at the orphanage finish school today- finally they are out for the summer! The other night we got with the interns and planned several activities for the next few weeks to do with the kids. Some days will be like a bible school with games, crafts, and a bible lesson. For the older kids, we will have a soccer tournament with the winning team getting a free dinner out. The interns will take the kids to the beach and hopefully to some other fun places. We only have three weeks left which is hard to believe. I hope all of you have a fun, safe 4th of July weekend! I know my extended family is leaving for a week at the beach- have fun you guys!

love,
Sara Parks

Meg's Blog Post

What's up guys? This is Meg! I miss America so much, but Acapulco, MEXICO is way cool. The orphanage is very fun. I've made lot's of new friends. Here are my four closest friends 1. Amber 2. America 3. Adai 4. Nati. My 2 favorite sodas are Yoli and Manzana Lift. My #1 favorite food is Tacos el Pastor, and my #1 favorite restaurant is %100 Natural. I hope you like my post. I miss everyone back home!

Ben's blog post in Acupulco

Hi, this is Ben and I'm writing my own blog post for this summer in Acapulco, Mexico. I hope you enjoy it! Some of my friends at the orphanage are Gaudencio, Misael, Leo, Raul, Graveal, Erick, Andres, and Lizondro. We like to play soccer and dodgeball together. My favorite food is Tacos el Pastour along with my favorite soda Manzana Lift, and manzana means apple in Spanish. Our apartment has cool things. We get to see Iguanas and our pool outside and a good view of Acupulco on our roof. Every night when we leave from the orphanage we'll see fruit bats everywhere. Thats all for now. I hope you'll like this blog. Goodbye!

Goodbyes and Hellos

The team from Trinity Pres from Harrisburg, PA left this afternoon. This team was made up mostly of teenagers with a few adult chaperones. You could tell they didn't want to leave. They worked really hard this past week, and it was very refreshing having them here. We hope and pray they will continue their long tradition of coming to Casa Hogar and be back next summer. One of the orphans left to go back home today as well. Olimar is a teenage girl that has lived at Casa Hogar for around five years. She's got a great smile and a fun sense of humor. She has called me "Johnathon" all summer - knowing my name is Josh. This was a bittersweet time. We are happy for her to go and be with her family, but we and the other orphans were sad to see her go. She will live in a rural setting without great education and church opportunities. Please pray for Olimar during this transition. Pray also for her dear friends that she left behind at Casa Hogar. Her three younger siblings who also live at Casa Hogar will be going home next Friday, so that will be another emotional goodbye. We look forward to being with Jesus where "partings are no more."

As we said in our last post, Rebecca Clark made it safely. Her addition to our team has been seamless. She interned last summer, so that is a huge help. She also has excellent Spanish skills, which gives her a huge leg up in ministry. This week we also welcomed David Gonzales back from visiting his daughter and new grandson in Chicago. He and his wife Laura serve as house parents at Casa Hogar. Last night we got a glimpse into how much the "house parents" mean to the children at Casa Hogar. When David came into the main courtyard he was swarmed by children with hugs and kisses. One of the dearest welcomes came from Fernando, an older boy who has lived at the orphanage for several years. He hugged David and rested his head on his chest. It was a simple expression of love.

We have just under a month left here in Acapulco. Today gave us a taste of how hard it will be to say goodbye to this place. I want to thank God for what a blessing this summer has been and continues to be for my family and me. James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Love,

Josh

Rain, Rain

The first half of the week meant lots and lots of rain. In fact it was a tropical storm- which just meant constant rain. The positive thing was that it cooled off and felt great. Otherwise, not much to do when it rains. The Pennsylvania team is here this week. They have been able to paint indoors. Thankfully there was work to do even in the rain. Today was clear and the team's day off. We went with them to the market, ate, and went to the mall. The team went to play paintball and took a big group of teenagers from the orphanage. We didn't go but heard it was a lot of fun. We met the team for dinner at a really cool place called 100% Natural. They have so many of these restaurants around the city. It's delicious, healthy food and a fun atmosphere. We got to sit out on the pier which was lovely and breezy. Tomorrow is the team's last day which means the big farewell party tomorrow night that the orphans put on. Fun! Our 5th intern, Rebecca, arrived this afternoon! We are glad she is here. She is fluent in Spanish and knows the kids really well. It will be nice to have her with us for the remainder of our time. Hard to believe it is already Thursday. Even though it rained and slowed things down, the week still has gone by fast. Will write again this weekend....

love,

Sara Parks

Josh Made It!

We are happy that Josh made it back to us on this Father's Day!! He brought back encouraging and wonderful remarks of Allison and Grant's wedding. While he was gone it rained a lot. We went to the beach after church today, and it rained off and on but everybody still had fun in the waves. I have to say that I have taken space for granted living in the US. When we are crammed in a hot bus driving around Acapulco, it is stretching for me personally. When I say crammed, I mean people sitting on top of one another and standing in the aisles filled to the max! I found myself looking around at all the kids who are used to being crammed in the bus to go to school and church. They are still happy and singing and laughing. They don't know any different. It convicted me quickly of my selfishness. Ben and I shared a seat with two sweet boys, Luis Angel & Santiago. The kids are so intrigued by our sensitive, white skin. They don't have to put on sunscreen, so they watch when we put it on. And if we get sunburned and start peeling, they like to look at it. We had some delicious soft tacos tonight and then just hung out. Our fifth intern, Rebecca, arrives this Wednesday. She actually interned here last summer and decided to come back for part of this summer. We look forward to meeting and working with her! Hope everyone is doing well out there wherever you are. We miss you and love you, Sara Parks & fam

Team Arrives!

Friday afternoon at 4:00 the team from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania arrived! We were excited to meet them, and of course, the children from the orphanage were thrilled. This church team has been coming for 5 years, so the children have gotten to know and love them. The team is made up of mostly high school kids and their youth pastor and another lady from their church. They are great with the kids and jump right in to serve. The construction they will be doing will be painting some rooms and tearing down a building (which they are thrilled about- Demolition is always fun). In the afternoons, they do planned activities for the children. This afternoon they did a puppet show and skit all in Spanish. I couldn't understand any of it except Dios which means God so I know it was evangelistic! Then they had several activities like decorating pillowcases (the children at the orphanage Love art/craft projects), games, and face painting. Tomorrow we will all go to church and then the beach for the day. Josh will get back about 5 pm- YEA!! When a team comes it brings fresh energy and different faces, so we enjoy having them, and I know the children do. What a testimony to see these high school kids coming to love and serve at Casa Hogar. I'm thankful my kids can see this, and it encourages me as well. I will end with a typical Meg story: This morning Meg woke me up and said "Mom, I have a gift for you". She was holding a small white bag or napkin- it was a blur because I didn't have my glasses on. I said, "It better not be a bug" (while I was opening it); of course it was one of those flesh-colored baby geckos with the bulgy eyes, and Meg had torn its tail off already (I found it later on the dining table-ugh!) Why she loves catching these things and pulling off the body parts is beyond me!

Love you all, Sara Parks

First Big Rain & Birthday Party

Good Morning on this Friday! Yesterday afternoon we had our first big downpour. It lasted about an hour. We were at the orphanage when it happened. Everybody ran for cover. The kitchen's oven stopped working, so we waited around for dinner. By the time dinner was ready, the rain had stopped. Apparently June starts the rainy season. I'm hoping it will mostly rain while we sleep because it's no fun being cooped up. One of our interns, Hardy, turned 21 yesterday. Melissa brought 3 cakes, chips, and drinks to surprise him. All the children loved it, and when he walked in the dining hall, they broke out into a loud Spanish Happy Birthday song. It was lots of fun, and I've never seen children mound their plates with so many Doritoes before. Wow- they love chips and cake!! These children are so wonderful; even the simplest of things makes them smile. The small challenges of living here quickly vanish when we are with these children. If any of you or your churches are looking for a place to do a week-long or 2 week-long mission trip, Casa Hogar needs you and will welcome you. Or, if any of you or your church are looking to sponsor a ministry financially, Casa Hogar needs funds to provide for the children's food, clothing, education, etc. Josh and I hope to get the word out even more once we get back to the U.S. God is at work here, and all of us can be a part of this special place in one way or another. These children will get into your hearts and never leave. Ask anyone who has come to Casa Hogar. They will tell you. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there!!

Love,

Sara Parks

It's been another great day at Casa Hogar. Our interns are working so hard and well with the kids. They are each finding their niche and learning how to use their gifts effectively. We have a team coming in a couple days. There will be more hustle and bustle from everyone as a result. Hardy and Jesi had a sweet time with the Sobre El Puente street ministry today. On Wednesdays the folks from Sobre El Puente bring food to the families of people who have been admitted to a local charity hospital. The people that go here for medical care can pay only a minimal amount. Their families often miss work to stay with those they love. The food is a much appreciated help to caring for the sick and their families. Hardy and Jesi got to visit a young girl (8) who has Leukemia. Some of the Sobre El Puente staff were able to pray and share the gospel. It was a moving afternoon.

Our love and care for the children at Casa Hogar continues to grow daily. These are special children with huge hearts. One of the challenges that Casa Hogar faces this summer is less short term teams coming from the US. On the surface this may not seem like a big deal, but with each team comes individuals who fall in love with this place and these children. They in turn tell folks in their churches, send money to sponsor kids, and promote this special work that God is doing. Pray that the money, vision, and care for Casa Hogar would grow and blossom this summer, even though there are only a fraction of the teams coming.

I'm heading back to the States tomorrow for Allison and Grant's wedding. I'm looking forward to being with them and celebrating their marriage. Pray for the family as I am away for a few days. After this I should be in Acapulco for the duration of the summer! Call me on Friday if you are bored. I might actually answer.

-Josh

Wednesday already?

This week is flying by. Josh leaves again Thursday to go to Baton Rouge to officiate Allison & Grant's wedding. Sweet, sweet... glad they are almost married!! Please pray for safe travel for Josh over the weekend. A church team from Trinity PCA in Pennsylvania is coming this Friday for a week. We are looking forward to meeting and working with them. Jesi, one of our interns, is from this church, so she is really excited about them coming. Her brother is one of the team members. Josh and I think it has gotten hotter this week. We are used to sweating all day but now even more. We walked way down the hill for a late lunch today and had the hottest salsa ever. It even burned my chin. The food was great; just heavy. We usually go to the orphanage at 5 pm to help with the children's homework. Yes, they are still in school through the end of June. Crazy! Though I can't help much with homework, it gives me some time to learn a few Spanish words here and there, visit with the children, and visit with Laura (house mother) who I have come to love. Then it's soccer, soccer, soccer! These kids know how to play soccer! The younger ones will play other games too. They are very creative since toys, video games, and TV are not readily available to them. The interns are doing great and seem to have gotten into a routine. Ben and Meg are doing so well when we eat at the orphanage. They are having to eat foods that they normally wouldn't touch. They are being stretched in a good way. We feel like the days go so fast. Josh does a Sunday night bible study with the interns and I get to be a part. The kids watch a movie during that time. We are studying the book of Acts, praying together, and just discussing the joys and frustrations of ministry. Please pray that we will all learn to communicate well as we work together this summer. Thank you again for following and praying for us. We are so grateful for your love and support!

Sara Parks

Josh is back!

The kids and I were glad to get Josh back late this afternoon. He brought back wonderful reports of Drew & Anna's wedding! I loved hearing the details and am happy they are married and on their honeymoon!! The kids and I were well taken care of while Josh was gone. We played a long game of monopoly and hung out at the orphanage. Saturday, Melissa picked us and the interns up and headed to her family's rental house for us to stay for the day and night. On the way, guess what we got? Gelato! Yes, I got my wish, and it was delicious. I got the Bon Bon flavor which was chocolate and hazelnuts. Oh just writing it makes me want more. I have said since being here that one of the main things I've missed in the United States is frozen yogurt (specifically chocolate with roasted almonds on top). Gelato is even better. We spent the day swimming and relaxing and eating Mexican food. Melissa has been so gracious to provide us with fun places to go on our days off. Today we went to church and then rode back to the orphanage with the kids in their bus which is jammed packed and of course no air conditioning. Needless to say, the kids and I were so hot when we got back that none of us were even hungry for lunch. Dinner at the orphanage was tamales. Maybe they weren't as good as the ones we used to have in the Mississippi Delta, but I enjoyed mine AND Meg's. We start a new week! Hope everyone has a good one. love, Sara Parks

weekend

Josh left yesterday to fly back to Baton Rouge for the weekend. He is doing Anna & Drew's wedding which will be so wonderful. I hate that I am missing it. The kids and I stayed here and I was nervous the last few weeks thinking about being here without Josh. But over this past week God gave me a real peace about it which I know came through prayer (thanks to many of you who prayed for me about it!) Last night was fine- I actually slept through the night without waking up at all which is rare these days. Josh got safely to BR and hopefully will get to see some of you over the weekend. The interns, kids and I are invited Saturday/Sunday to spend the day and night at Melissa's family's house that they rent out. There is a pool close by and hopefully we will eat some yummy Mexican food. And I'm craving gelato- maybe I will ask if there is a place near the house? One of Ben's friends and his siblings are going back home to their parents at the end of the month. I'm not sure how long they've been at the orphanage- maybe 5 or so years? Most of the orphans at Casa Hogar have living parents, but they are either too poor, were abusive, in jail, or living on the streets and can't take care of the children. In this these siblings' case, their dad went to jail for a drug situation and their mom couldn't afford to care for them. Now the dad is out of jail, so the kids get to go back home. Unless it is an abusive situation, most children are usually excited about going home. As we get to know these children, we learn some of their stories of how they got to Casa Hogar. Some are so sad that it just makes us want to love on these children all the more. I am so thankful for Casa Hogar, and the safe haven that it is for children who need a home. And not just any home- a home where they are loved, cared for, and taught God's love through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for Casa Hogar that God will provide the funds needed to care for all of these children. Also pray that He will work in their hearts so they experience the transformation of the gospel and know God's love that will neither leave them nor forsake them.

Much Love,

Sara Parks

Busy Weekend

Our weekend started off with a Friday night program and farewell party put on by the children at the orphanage. This was for the church team since they would be leaving the next day. Several children played the flute or keyboard. Then they danced and sang. We all ate hamburgers and hotdogs and finished the night with a dance party that lasted for hours. They love to dance!! A lot of the music was American. We had a great time. Saturday morning we said good-bye to the team. They were wonderful and will be missed. The and interns and our family were invited to Melissa's family's clubhouse and pool which overlooked the beautiful bay. We spent the day there. Sunday we went to church and then after they had "dinner on the grounds". We were served several different kinds of quesadillas, some had pork rinds and some were VERY spicy. But all very good. In the evening Josh did a bible study with the interns. They are studying the book of Acts and reading through and discussing Tim Keller's book, Counterfeit Gods. Then we went to the orphanage where they were all excitedly watching the Mexico vs. El Salvador soccer game. Mexico won 5-0 so everyone was especially happy. We ate what seemed to be sloppy joes and bread pudding. It was a great weekend. No team this week or next so the interns will be doing other things around the orphanage, going to the street child ministry, and doing some office/PR work at the Casa Hogar office. I hope all of you had a restful weekend. Remember, we post pictures on Facebook so please check there!

Love,

Sara Parks

Cold Showers Never Felt So Good

The last couple days have been full and fun for us. Yesterday (Wednesday) was the Westminster Pres team's day off. We joined them for some ministry and fun around Acapulco. We began by visiting the New Horizons school. This is a private Christian school that is about 4 years old. It was started under the supervision of long time Acapulco missionary - Ellen Barnett. She is a delightful woman who has a deep love for children and the Mexican people. Several of the children from Casa Hogar go the the New Horizons School. It was nice to see them on our tour. Next we made our way up a mountain to the Chapel of Peace. It reminded me of Pretty Place Chapel at Camp Greenville. But, instead of looking over beautiful mountains, we could see all of Acapulco - the city, the bay, and the Pacific Ocean. It was amazing. What better way to follow up such a sight, than by eating lunch at McDonalds. That's right, and it tastes just the way it does back home. After lunch we went to a mall and the movies. The best thing about both was definitely the air conditioning. After an authentic Mexican dinner, we headed to see the famous Acapulco cliff divers. They were truly breathtaking.

Today meant more construction for most of our interns. Jesi and I, along with four others from the Westminster team, went to Sobre El Puente - a street child ministry. Basically, street children can come from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm every day to get a hot meal, shower, have a devotional, sing, and learn some basic life skills. There were 6 young men. They were tough, but had respect for the staff and for us. There were three girls - one 19, another 16, and another 8 months old. Yep, one of these two teenagers is a mom who lives on the street with this little one. It's our understanding that these young people choose to live on the streets because of the freedom it gives them. Please pray for them and for us as we seek to minister to them throughout the summer.

We ended the day with about three hours of homework, crafts, soccer, and free time with the kids at Casa Hogar. This seems to be one of our key times for loving and caring for the kids at the orphanage. Pray that we would be able to communicate the love of Christ to them in our words and by our actions. After all that, who needs hot water? Cold showers never felt so good. Thanks for reading, and keep praying.

We love and miss you guys,

Josh

Activity at Casa Hogar

Yesterday was construction day for the team and interns. Josh helps as well. The kids and I (mostly me) swept and mopped. Meg did mop the bathrooms which helped me. At 12:30 we went over to Casa Hogar to eat lunch with the team and interns. There is a lady here that cooks for us all week at lunch when a team is here. She is well-known for her delicious cooking. We had delicious guacamole/pico de gallo and quesadillas and watermelon. Then all the interns came back to our apartment to relax, use the internet, and swim. I'm so glad they can come over for down time and hang out so we can get to know them better. Then it was back to the orphanage where the team had a water balloon activity and craft time for the kids. We had fun with that. AT 7:30, Melissa brought yummy Mexican food to our apartment where we had dinner, chocolate cake, and then it was an orientation time for Melissa and Josh with the interns. They had their meeting on our roof because it was nice and breezy and the view is just so great. We had really loud thunder and rain during the night. The power went off for a little while but thankfully came back on. This morning Josh went to work at the orphanage. We did some laundry which goes a lot faster when everyone helps. Cliseria (sp?) is cooking for the team, interns and us all week and made delicious chicken tacos and that homemade guacamole. Lunch is a meal we look forward to these days! We are having "siesta" time now and later will do some activities with the children. I hate that I can't upload pictures, but you can look on my Facebook page where I try to upload pics often.... Hope everyone had a fun Memorial Day.

Love, Sara Parks

domingo (Sunday)

Our Sunday started at 9:30 am. We walked to the orphanage to wait for the van/bus with all the orphans, interns, and church team. We left at 10 to head to church which takes 30-40 minutes. We were piled in there for sure. And thankfully we could open the windows, bc it is so hot. We were greeted warmly at church with everyone visiting on the porch outside. They had sweet breads (Josh would say danishes but I don't like that word!) and some kind of rice punch that I didn't try. Then we went in to a big AIR CONDITIONED room for the service. We were given headsets by a man there who translated the sermon for us. The singing was all in Spanish but we sang out the best we could. The words were on an overhead projector which helped. There was a band and Melissa (works at orphanage) led the singing. She has a beautiful voice, so we really enjoyed the singing. After the service we put on our bathing suits, piled in the bus, and headed to the beach with all of the orphans where we spent most of the day. It was so fun playing in the ocean with all of the kids. The waves were huge! For dinner tonight we ate with the interns and church team. We had Dominos pizza which tasted just like the US Dominos. Then we joined the orphans in the courtyard where they were having races. Meg joined right in and quickly made a name for herself because of her speed. Normally Ben would have, but he ate so much pizza and was too full. This boy's appetite gets bigger by the day! It was a lovely day. Tomorrow starts construction where the church team & interns will start at 8 am. Josh will join them as well; I'm not sure about the kids and me. Maybe we will go down and help some too. We have mopping to do. In Mexico, they sweep and mop every single day. I'm already behind. Hope all is well in the US. We love all of you. Hasta Luego, Sara Parks

Interns & Team

Today was full of action as our interns and a church team from Johnson City, TN arrived. Our interns are living at the orphanage in a separate section. They came over to our apartment so we could get to know each other and hang out for awhile. They are all wonderful and I think we will get along great this summer. Then we headed to the orphanage to meet the church team and help them unload. The church team consists of men & women, ages 18 - 54. They are staying in another part of the orphanage. It was fun getting to know all these "new American friends" who are all here to love and serve Jesus by loving and serving these children. Melissa fed us and the team lasagna (!!) for a late lunch. Then we all just played and played outside in the courtyard with the children. They are full of energy and welcome our attention. Meg plays chase with the girls or joins Ben and the boys for soccer. Josh jumps around playing soccer, throwing the football, or just messing around with the kids. I just wander around and try to learn these kids' names and learn some Spanish from them. We had a late & delicious dinner with Donna & Irving (upstairs neighbors) - takeout Mexican food that consisted of pulled pork, onion, cilantro, & pineapple piled on a tortilla with hot sauce- absolutely delicious. I lost count of how many I ate! Tomorrow we head to church with the orphans, our interns, and the church team. Then they always go to the beach afterwards and spend part of the day; so we will go with them. We are looking forward to it. I continue to be amazed at how God has prepared this time for us. Each day brings new, wonderful experiences, and we know it's God's hand at work in us and in the ministry of Casa Hogar (orphanage). Thank you for reading this, praying for us, and truly caring about our time here. It really means so much-

love,

Sara Parks

Update on Meg

I realized after our last post that we forgot to give you an update on Meg's health. We gave her an allergy pill yesterday morning and she seemed to be fine the rest of the day. We gave her some Ibuprofen before bed for her sore throat. Today she feels fine. So we are thankful that it doesn't seem to be anything major. She has allergies anyway, so we hope that her allergy medicine will suffice. Thanks for praying for her. We are about to head over to the orphanage and meet our interns! More later.... have a nice Saturday-

love,

Sara Parks

Family Wash Day

We started off the day with Josh cooking scrambled eggs. It's the first time we've used our stove. We don't have an oven, but we do have a microwave. Today was "family wash day". Our apartment is wonderful- just no washer/dryer. Instead, we have this room off the hallway that is partly enclosed except for the ceiling which is open. It is a concrete floor (like a sidewalk) with a big drain in the middle. There is a deep, concrete double sink and a hose. We bought detergent and our laundry is washed in the sink. All of us, with Josh in the lead, washed, rinsed and wrung. Then we carried all the wet clothes to the roof where we hung them on clotheslines. It was quite a sight, and a learning experience for us. This will be our family chore. We ate leftover quesadillas from the night before, which we love. Then Josh cut up a watermelen and we enjoyed it immensely. Josh got word that our interns' flight was delayed. They were supposed to get in to Acapulco at one today. Instead they are not getting here until 10:30 tonight. We are anxious to meet them tomorrow! Meg got to participate in a young girls (age 10-12) bible study group that our friend, Donna, upstairs does for the orphans once a week in her apartment. They visit, eat popcorn, have a bible lesson, draw and play with Donna's three babies( 2 year old Micah and almost one year old twin boys, Joshua and Jonathan). She loved it! Then we all went to the orphanage and played around with the kids until dinner. Yes, we ate dinner with them. We were nervous about the food but it was fine. Not gourmet, being hot dogs, rice and beans but they did have turtle cheesecake for dessert! We are trying to learn all the kids' names- 60 in all. It will take awhile, but we hope to spend a lot of time with them and build friendships! Buenos Noches! Sara Parks

Interns Come Tomorrow!

We are thankful for another day of getting settled and used to life in Acapulco. This morning our family was able to go to the beach for a couple hours. It was nice, but we were bombarded with vendors selling their wares. There is a huge hill near the orphanage. It's fine going down, but coming back from the beach we were huffing and puffing. It should be a good work out for us. Today I helped Melissa get ready for the arrival of the interns tomorrow. These are the students that we have been sent here to pastor. Pray for their safe travel and transition. The family is slowly getting used to life in Acapulco. Meg is still having some headaches. Tonight before bed she told us her throat hurt - so please pray for that. There is a short term team coming from East Tennessee on Saturday, so our schedule is about to get cranked up. We are studying Acts as a family and with the students this summer. It's been good so far, pray that it would continue to be a blessing. Sorry about not uploading pictures. The internet connection is slow and can't seem to handle it.

In Christ,

Josh

Getting Settled

First off, I'm sorry we are having an unsuccessful time uploading pictures to the blog. I will keep trying, though. Here is a little update:
Our first night went great, mostly because we can run our air conditioners at night. This is huge!! Today was mainly getting unpacked, cleaning, walking around and going to the bank to exchange American money for pesos. We have a pool at our apartment, so the kids did some swimming. Little Micah (age 2) from upstairs is their new playmate. He mostly speaks Spanish but understands English since his parents speak both. We met two American girls who teach at a school here in Acapulco. They also give piano and flute lessons once a week at the orphanage. They are moving back to the US this summer. Both are getting married. Tonight we went over to the orphanage to hang out. Ben and Meg love going over there and playing with the children. They had races, played soccer and basketball. I am so proud of them for jumping in even with the language barrier. The kids are so friendly and excited when we come visit. We ate quesadillas at a taco shop up the street. It was pretty funny trying to communicate with the cook/waitress. With some hand motions we were able to figure it out! Apparently some iguanas(our temporary pets) live around us. We've only seen one but hopefully more will come visit. They stay around the pool area. Donna and Irving (live upstairs) continue to be wonderful in helping us and making us feel at home. They had us over last night for dinner- tacos. Their tacos reminded us of taquitoes in the US. They were delicious- the salsa was so very spicy so we dipped slightly just because it tasted so good and fresh. A prayer request- please pray for Meg. She has had a headache off and on all day today and went to bed with one tonight. We have made sure she was hydrated all day and gave her some meds. Please pray it will go away and not be a problem all summer. Thanks and love to all- Sara Parks

We Made It!

We made it to Mexico about 12:30 today. The trip went so smoothly; thank you for your prayers. Melissa met us at the airport. She works at the orphanage. We got to our apartment and it is great! Above us is an American lady, Donna, who is married to a national. They have three young children. They have been wonderful- they fed us lunch and dinner. Her husband took us to Sam's (yes they have a Sam's) and the grocery store. We got to go down the street and get a tour of the orphanage and meet the children. It was really fun. They were so sweet and giggly trying to learn Ben and Meg's name. I'm sure they were laughing at our English accents, too. It is hard not knowing Spanish but we hope to pick up as we go. Sorry I don't have any pictures to post yet. We are pretty worn out. The hardest thing to get used to is the heat. But thankfully our bedrooms have air conditioning. We can sleep!! Good night and we will be in touch soon!

love,

Sara Parks

We are off to Mexico

Our plane leaves at 7 am Tuesday, May 24th (Happy Birthday, Mom!) from Baton Rouge. Acapulco here we come! We have been anticipating this trip since December. It is hard to believe the time is here. We are excited and a little nervous... but mostly excited! Please pray that our travel and transition would go smoothly. We will have a day to get settled in, and then the interns will arrive: 3 girls, 2 guys! We can't wait to meet and get to know them. Please also pray that our group will "click" as we work together for the summer.

Fitz, Claire, and Kate will be living at our house in Baton Rouge while we are gone. They will also have Hannah the dog. We are so thankful they will hold down the fort; this gives us peace of mind. If you are in Baton Rouge, stop by and see them and pet Hannah for us!

Josh and I plan to update this blog often so you can read about our journey and hopefully see some great pictures. Thank you for caring for our family and praying for us.

Love,

Sara Parks