Let's go to Mexico to have some fun!

We can't wait to go to Mexico and hit the beach, soak up some sun, and view all the tourists attractions.....oh wait, that's some other *normal* family! (I'm pretty sure our family is a little insane!)

Some of you may be wondering what we are really going down to Mexico to do. Well, let me tell you a little bit about the ministry that we are joining. Foundation For His Ministry (or FFHM as I will refer to it from here on out) is much more than just an orphanage. And while we often refer to the orphanage, that's not really the best term for it. Think of it like more of a large group home for children. Some are actual orphans, but many are foster kids. Those kids have been removed from their families due to abuse or neglect. I believe right now they have around 50 kids in the children's home. The children are divided up into smaller households (casas) on the campus, staffed with house mothers to provide the children the individual attention they need to begin healing from the trauma they have endured.

FFHM provides its own elementary school on campus for kids in grades K-6. Why? Many of the kids that arrive at the orphanage are between the ages of 8-11 and have never had any schooling before. Many Mexican public schools are underfunded and it would be difficult for a public school teacher to give those types of kids the individual attention that they need to learn the basics and try to get caught up to the grade level they *should* be in. So the orphanage school exists to try and make that possible. Class sizes at the FFHM school are small, many as small as 4-5 kids per teacher. But if you think the teachers have it easy, you need to realize that each kid in a class may be at a different academic level and the teachers have to individualize every single lesson to tailor it to each child's need. Approximately half of the school is made up of children interned at the orphanage and the other half are kids of volunteers/missionaries serving at the campus. Around 20 of the children are learning all their subjects in English, with an hour of Spanish a day. The rest of the children learn in Spanish, with an hour of English a day. Naomi, Shay, Autumn and Bekah will all be attending school with other English speaking kids. Eli is already quite advanced for a kid going into kindergarten, so we are seriously considering putting him in a Spanish speaking kindergarten class. That way, he can be our interpreter before the year is up! (Kids learn languages so fast!) Gabe will be serving as a teacher for some of the English speaking children.

In addition to the orphanage and the school, FFHM also has other programs. They run a daycare program for mothers in the community who must work, but cannot afford childcare. Mexico does not offer special education classes in their public schools, so the ministry began the Disabled Children's Learning Center on campus. They bring in children with special needs on a daily basis for education and care of their medical needs. FFHM also teaches trade skills through sewing classes, a computer lab, and auto and welding shops. They run a medical center nearby where thousands of people have received medical, surgical, dental, and optical care free of charge. They organize Bible studies and outreach opportunities to teach kids and adults in the community about God's love and grace. I have been told that Hannah is welcome to attend the daycare in order to free me up to serve in some of these other ministries. I'm excited to see some of these ministries (and more that I didn't even mention here) when we arrive down there and see how God can use me to bless the children and the people in the community.

So while I am sure we may have opportunities to have fun and go sightseeing over the course of the next year, that is not at the forefront of our desire to go down there. (I haven't the slightest clue what, if any, tourist attractions are going to be near us down there!) Our primary goal for going down to Mexico is to be used by God to encourage and build others up. I know that our own lives will be enriched in the process and look forward to seeing how God grows and matures our family's faith.