GBCers in Mexico: The Salvation Army, 13 weddings, and Santa Catarina

Sorry everyone that it has taken us so long to update, its been a very busy couple of weeks. Since it has been so long, we just want to give you highlights of things we've done. So on Thursday February 12th, we went to the salvation army orphanage, to finish up the baseball field and to teach the kids how to play. While the guys finished up the field, the girls sorted through donated clothes and played around with the kids. Once the field was done, we headed up to play, but as things go down in Mexico, we didn't play right away. Some of us kicked the soccer ball around, and some of us played catch with the kids. About 30 minutes later, we were ready to play!! We had a great time, we were able to connect with the kids, learn new spanish vocabulary, and serve the salvation army!

Valentines day night, we went to the church, our host parents were renewing their vows, along with 9 other people and also 3 people got married!!! Later that night, we came home and made Lilia and Jose some hamburgers and french fries and presented them with a present! It was a very special night!

Sunday afternoon after church, we left for a small town called Santa Catarina. It was an hour and a half outside of Mazatlan, and about halfway, we stopped to have a small picnic and enjoy some shade. I think one of the things we have heard the most is "go to the bathroom before you leave the house, because you don't know if there is going to be a bathroom where we are going." Well i (morgan) thought that i could hold it, but by the time we stopped halfway i was dying, so i asked Lilia, "is there a place where I could go to the bathroom?" of course, she said, "no, but there is a forest if you want to climb that hill and we brought some toilet paper." So kelsey went with me and we climbed the hill! Yay for nature! Once we got to Santa Catarina, we went around the town and invited all the people, to a church service that we were going to have that day. *A little background as to why were were going to Santa Catarina: One of the pastors of Spirit and Truth (Pastor Jorge is his name) is planting a church in the town, and they have had a church service in his grandmother and grandfather house the last four weeks. We got up there a little early to help clean the area, and to help pastor jorge invite all the people in the town.* Kyle and Dana led worship with the Pastor Jorge and they did a fabulous job! After worship was over, we took the kids over to another little house to have sunday school. A woman from the church taught them and then preston and morgan administrated the games. We all had a blast, and it was a full day and we were very blessed to be able to be apart of what is building in that little town.