Christmas Day at the orphanage

On Christmas Day, we had the opportunity to bring many smiles to the faces of the children at the orphanage. We took them a present - a new 29 inch television and vcr/dvd player. As you will see in the pictures below, they were very excited and curious. It was such a rewarding experience to help the children at the orphanage during the holiday season. To be able to give back this time of year, is just so wonderful and especially to a cause like the orphanage.

We delivered the tv together with some friends of ours.
From left, Rosella, Cecilia, Bob, Isabel and Ed.

The children were very curious as to what was in the present.
You can see them peeking in the holes in the side of the box.

It didn't take them long to rip the wrapping paper off.

The children were very appreciative and were thanking us in this video.

Ed, Greg and Bob set the tv up.

One of the little girls helps Ed take the vcr/dvd player out of the box.

After the tv and vcr/dvd player were all set up,
the girls began to drag out carpets and pillows to get comfortable for watching a movie.

Some of the children preferred to play UNO with other visitors that came on Christmas Day.

Still other children preferred to play with their Barbie dolls.

At last a tv they can really enjoy! Their previous tv was only 12 inches. You can see another tv in the picture but it doesn't work. Unfortunately, the orphanage receives many donations of items that need repair, televisions are one. There isn't a convenient/inexpensive way to have these repaired so they just sit broken. They are working on trying to have such items removed and that is a project we are working on to help them out with.

We are looking forward to helping out as we can at the orphanage in the new year. Also, just visiting with them. They just love to have you visit and just give of your time too.

A "Posada" Christmas performance at Torres

Last evening, we enjoyed a "Posada" at Torres (our timeshare here in Mazatlan). A Posada is a Christmas festival originating in Latin America that dramatizes Joseph and Mary's search for lodging. It was held on the grounds of Torres and was performed by Torres employees with Mary riding on a real donkey. Baby Jesus was a real baby too. The costumes and props were very realistic with the story of Joseph and Mary being read from the scriptures. It was a beautiful performance.



During the performance, the children from one of the orphanages (The Salvation Army) sang for us. Below is a video clip of a very popular Christmas song here in Mexico. We don't know the name of it but we have heard it frequently during this holiday season and we are sure the song is about the birth of Jesus. Remember to double-click the picture to enlarge it. Enjoy!

Day at the Orphanage

This week we were at the orphanage to help with their Christmas lights. They seemed to have had a short in one of the extension cords so the lights wouldn't stay on.

As you can see in the video clip below, the children were busy sweeping, mopping and just cleaning up around the patio. They were getting ready for a group from one of the cruise ships that was bringing a holiday lunch for them and presents. They were very excited! The children are out of school now for the holidays - 3 weeks. They go back on January 7. We also took them some candy canes for their Christmas tree. You can see them hanging in the group picture below. Not all of the children were around while we were there so this picture only has a few of them. They have close to 30 children right now.

We will be going back again on Christmas Day. We have gone in with 2 other families here in Mazatlan and bought a new television and vcr/dvd player for them. They currently are watching a 12 inch tv and don't have a working vcr/dvd player. So we are hoping this will bring some happiness to their lives.

Enjoy.

Christmas sock tradition

In our family, there has been a tradition for many years now that Santa would bring everyone new Christmas socks and a group photo would be taken. When we moved to Mexico, the tradition of working with Santa to get the new socks was handed down to our children. They have been alternating the responsibility from oldest to youngest. Joel will be responsible next year. Good luck working with Santa Joel.

Last year, Josh had the responsibility. Here is the group photo. So much fun!!

This year Laura had the responsibility, but has had some trouble getting everyone together so her family had a mini sock party last weekend. Here is the photo that was taken. Just such a fun time!

Santa's Elves!

Please be patient, they take a few seconds to load. Enjoy!


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1337378937



http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1340351285



http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1340911732



http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1334708557

News about the orphanage

As you know, Greg and I have been spending some of our time here in Mazatlan helping out at the orphanage.

Just two nights ago, 3 more children arrived. It's an interesting story of how these children came to the orphanage. At one of the local grocery stores, the President of the orphanage was shopping and a lady approached her telling her that her children didn't have a place to sleep. We think Christina (the President of the orphanage) is probably well known here in Maz and this mother recognized her and knew she could probably help. Christina told her she would take her children to the orphanage. The children are, a little boy 3 and his sisters 5 and 7 years old. They came to the orphanage hungry, tired, with lice in their hair and in need of clean clothes. Their hair was cut, they were cleaned up and the orphanage is making arrangements to get them into school. Here is a picture of the children. The children at the orphanage love to have their picture taken so they looked pretty happy in this shot. It is a sad story but wonderful that they have a place to at least be safe off the streets, a bed to sleep in, with regular meals and the opportunity to go to school.

Another young girl, age 15, has arrived and she is pregnant. She is about 3 months along and won't be allowed to stay at the orphanage much longer as there is another facility in Maz that helps with issues like this. They have put her, sort of, in charge of this little baby boy (in the picture below) 1 year 2 months old, to help her start getting used to caring for a baby. Unfortunately, I could see, in the time I spent with her, that she is quite impatient with this little boy and this temperament could certainly be a problem with her own baby. She is just sooooo very young and, hopefully, she will get some counseling before the baby arrives. The baby may end up back at the orphanage, which would certainly be the best thing for the baby with the age of this mother. You just never know how these things are handled. Again, it is just wonderful there's a place, here in Maz, a young girl like this can go to get away from, what we understand to be, horrible circumstances at home. The picture below is of this young girl and the baby she is caring for.

Here is a picture of Greg lending a hand, setting up a crib for the little baby above.

We are just so happy all of our grandchildren are so well cared for by wonderful parents that love them so much. We know they're in safe, happy homes which is such a blessing. We know raising children comes with many challenges but each and every one of you are doing a great job and we thank you for that and love you all.

Pacifico Gran Maraton (Spanish spelling)

This weekend, we have enjoyed the Maraton here in Maz. It began yesterday, Saturday, Dec 1, with the disabled participants and the 3 and 5K runs. Last evening, they celebrated the beginning of the Maraton with fireworks all along the Malecon. They were just incredible!!

Today, Sunday, Dec 2 was the actual Maraton. For those of you who don't know, it's a 42K run (or 26 miles). You'll notice I said it wrong in the video. It's a national event here in Mexico held in Mazatlan every 1st weekend of December. Runners participate from all over the world.

The race began and finished at the baseball stadium which is just behind our condo. Alot of the event is staged there so we get to hear some very loud but entertaining music, etc. beginning as early as 5:00 am. The runners are at the 18 mile mark when they pass our building going down the Malecon. When they are coming up, they have about 1 1/2 miles left to the finish line.

Here are a few videos and photos we took this morning. We hope you enjoy them.

Santa arrives at the Smith's casa!!

Here is Greg setting up this 8 foot Santa on our terrace. He also has Santa rigged up to wave at all the little kids down on the Malecon. We are having lots of fun watching the kids wave back at Santa. Enjoy!