Open Our Eyes....

Oh Lord, let our eyes be opened to what you have for us!

This was our prayer at we left for our wonderful vacation. We felt blessed to have the time and resources to take this wonderful vacation and wanted to be used of the Lord in our time.

So we made plans to spend our time at our first port, Puerto Vallara, Mexico, visiting at an orphanage.

So we stopped at, where else, Walmart!

Did you know that almost everything we saw here cost about double what it does in the states?

I had no idea.

Mexican's make much less on average than we do, but pay twice the amount for the same products we purchase.

Now we watched God in His wonderful Providence change our plans and replace them with more!

Ain't that just like Him!

As David asked me the exchange rate of pesos to dollars, this kind Christian couple, Rick (who spoke flawless English) and Rosie (who spoke very little English), stepped in with the answer. They asked if we had just come off the ship and what our plans were for the day.

When we explained our plans for the day, they were excited and asked if there was any way they could help out. They, at the last minute had run to Walmart for a few groceries and were pleased to have the opportunity to change their plans.

And a new friendship was started and a new adventure begun.

So with bags of toys in hand we started out, Rick letting David know we would be OK on public transportation.

Which is a leap of faith on it's own--LOL.

I don't think I will complain of crazy American drivers for a while--they drive very fast down very narrow roads, with few traffic signs, lots of cars, lots of pedestrians, all while starting and stopping letting people on and off and making change for people!

Our first stop was to a local government orphanage. We were told most of the children were street children.

When we arrived, most of the kids were at school. An opportunity they would not have in most cases. We found 4 boys home that day.

We were able to bless the younger boys with toys, but had brought nothing for the older boy. We gave him some money to go buy a soda.

Of course the little one here, he is 7, was quite the charmer.

But it was the older boy's hopeless look in his eyes that caught our hearts. He will be in our prayers for a long time!

Though we had hoped to see more children we were so thankful to hear they were in school.

Our treasures, Caleb and Hannah, were not afforded that opportunity.

Our next stop--

the trash dump--

where a large number of families make their home living off what they can scrounge and sell.

We found a few children walking around.

We gave gifts and asked where their 'amigos' were.

A few more--no school for these kids.

Do they look excited?

Now where did all these come from?

See the boy in the yellow--they were all running down the road like that!

News spreads fast!

The same boy, with his bubbles, off to sell their dump finds.

A young mom hoping to find something to give to her children. We were blessed to give her something to hopefully brighten her day a little.

Rick rejoicing with a little girl and her new coloring book.

What can you say?

Rick and Rosie helping to distribute coloring crayons.

Oh the joy that abounded--for all of us.

Children caring for younger siblings.

And younger children caring for even younger children.

Back to their homes (on the left behind the piled high trucks) with gifts and smiles and a prayer from our hearts.

A glimpse of a neighborhood a little different from yours and mine.
The school, for those privileged enough to afford the cost of tuition, uniforms and books.
Home.

We finally took a journey though the Puerto Vallarta the tourists do not see to find a small restaurant to treat Rick and Rosie to lunch.

And as we enjoyed our tacos, Rick and Rosie shared their hearts with us.

Let's just say marriage is as much under attack in Mexico as it is here.

I am sure they would love your prayers as well as ours.

We left with new friends and 4 hearts changed towards the heart of the orphan and those who spend each day just trying to keep family together.

The dump as seen from our ship.

Looks pretty innocuous.

Let our hearts look past the frivolous and become Radical for You!

Yes, we read the book on board ship--more on that later!

And with the setting of the sun, we sailed away leaving a little part of our hearts left behind with many young beautiful faces forever etched in our minds.

And two new friends in the Lord to pray for!