Sweet Refuge =)

So today I was thinking about my summer....

I miss Mexico.

For those of you that don't know this I went to Mexico this past summer with my church.

We went to Aguascalientes and stayed at the orphanage Dulce Refugio.

IT WAS SO AWESOME!

The people I met are going to be a part of my life forever. Not just the orphans. The people that went on the trip. I think I knew like 4 people before the trip. I mean I knew who most of the people were. I would be able to recognize them.

But I didn't actually know them.

The Mexico trip was amazing because of the life changing experience that it brought. It also introduced me to some of my new, closest friends. I know that I could approach any of the people who were on that trip and I could talk to them about my deepest darkest secrets. I know that they would support me and love me.

I love all of you!! :)

I also miss the orphans.

I was cleaning my room and I found a card that the orphanage gave every member of the team. Mine's made out of pink construction paper. On the front it says (upside down exclamation point) Gracias! por Todo. A couple of the orphans signed their names on the card. There's a group photo of all the kids from the orphanage on the inside.

Every time I look at that picture (or any pictures from the orphanage for that matter) I literally almost tear up.

I miss those kids so much.

I think that we as wealthy North Americans have misconstrued views about many things.

One of these things is mission trips.

When we are getting ready to leave on a trip like the one I went on to Mexico, we think "Awe yeah. Ima show so many people Jesus. I'm gonna bring Jesus to these Mexican kids."

Not gonna lie... That's what I thought was gonna happen. I figured that we would be teaching them a lot about God.

I was wrong.

Being around those kids was the most incredible experience of my life. They taught me so much about the love of God. It wasn't like we had deep, meaningful conversations. No. I only knew "me gusta, no me gusta, si, and hola." They taught through me through the way that they lived their everyday lives.

They were always giggling and smiling and filled with joy.

It was incredible.

When you think of an orphanage you usually think of a place of sadness. A place of despair and hopelessness.

That's not Dulce Refugio.

Those kids were always so pumped! They had beautiful smiles and were almost constantly smiling.

I think one of the most amazing moments with those kids was at their Sunday church service. They were playing worship songs that all us Canadians recognized. Except the words were all in Spanish.

It was so beautiful closing your eyes and just listening to the music. The Canadians singing in English and the Mexicans singing in Spanish.

Wow.

I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it was.

Seeing how joyful those kids were was truly inspiring. Even though I couldn't speak Spanish, and our communication was mostly based on hand signals and failed attempts to speak one another's language, I had a deep connection with those kids.

Especially one little boy named Jose.

I actually miss him so much! He was the cutest little boy ever! Saying goodbye to him was one of the worst moments of my life. I picked him up and hugged him. I told him how much I would miss him. He hugged me back tightly and kissed me on the cheek.

I was already on the verge of tears at this point because of how unbelievably cute he was.

I set him down and turned to leave, still trying not to cry.

As soon as I had turned around little Jose burst into tears. At this point resistance to crying was futile. I picked him up again, hugging him tightly. We're both just bawling our eyes out. I eventually was able to leave him.

I still remember sitting in the van driving away from those precious kids and feeling this horrible heartbreak.

I'm so happy I went on that trip because I learned so much about what it means to love God. Those kids don't have earthly parents. Yet they are still able to be happy every day because they know that they have their heavenly Father looking out for them.

I miss those kids and that orphanage every day. I want to go back. I think I will one day.

Once I have money.

I guess that's all I have to say.

Later Internet.