THANK YOU MOM & DAD!Because I am so behind on posting I am going to skip a whole bunch that has happened. I will post about Christmas soon but I want to post about our amazing trip to Mexico first.
We went to Irapuato, Mexico to visit some small villages that our family has donated money to. We hadn't ever seen the project. What an amazing eye opening experience. WOW! To see how people live and to see that they are happy and content... amazing!
This was EVERYWHERE... Raw meat... Oh my gosh... the smell! I can't even explain what it smelled like... well - I could but I WONT!
We went to this house to visit a friend of our "guide" - Anna's. This picture is her WHOLE house. I was amazed at how clean and "decorated" it was. Even with nothing she made it her own. She had such a terribly sad life. We sat there and "listened" to her story. She of course spoke Spanish and we don't so Anna was translating most of it.
This is the lady that lived in that house. This was her front "door". It was a sheet - THAT IS ALL! She lost her husband 6 years ago to a sickness... it sounded like prostate cancer. His family gave them 10,000 pesos (about $700) for medical. She thought that she didn't have to pay them back but the day he died they told her that she owed them the money back... They said she had to pay them ALL of the money in eight days! She only had 50 pesos to her name. That is about $4. She has had a whole life of sadness just like this. She is not alone. Everyone that we met had stories just like this. What amazing people. They were so happy too. Even with nothing. They don't have toilets, running water, some don't have power to their village. WOW!!!
This is another house in one of the villages. Look how tall Steve is to it. This is their WHOLE house!!!
This is the medical center that Jarred and my Dad built 12 years ago when they went to this village. The family that still lives there totally remembered them. They brought out a "scrapbook" of Polaroid pictures from when they were there. They were teary eyed just talking to Jarred and Dad and meeting the rest of the family. What a humbling experience. They were amazing people.
This is Juan and Anna. They work for CHOICE Humanitarian that we do all of our humanitarian work through. They live in Mexico. They are such a great family. Juan just happens to be the Bishop in the ward there. We went to church on Sunday. We didn't understand a bit of what they were taking about but guess what. The spirit was still there (of course). We stayed through all three meetings. Jarred, Rachelle, Steve and I all went to primary to see how the kids were there. So great. They were so amazed that we live with in 10 minutes of a temple. They were so great.
One final picture... This was a kitchen in one of the villages. It was outside. With a rock wall all around it. The stove was a "griddle". You put a log of firewood underneath it and light it to cook. I just can't imagine... we have it so great. Even on our worst worst worst day we have it a million (or more) times easier than them.
What an amazing experience. I can't wait to go on a full humanitarian work trip now. I want my kids to do it too. Mom & Dad - thank you so much! I am thankful for the opportunities that you provide for me and my family.
I love you!
6 comments:
FINALLY ! I've been waiting for a new Post :)
I hope hope with all hope that my family is able to do this stuff too one day.
I would love to show them that there is a great big world out there and that it is our responsibility to take care of each other.
You are very blessed to have this opportunity, thanks for sharing it with us.
I think it is so great all the good you and your family do. Keep it up. Someday I hope to go on a Humanitarian building trip. It's amazing that we think we need so much. I remember after living in Taiwan, I couldn't believe how ridiculous we all are in thinking we need these big houses and cars and everything we have. So many people in the world find peace and happiness with so much less. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us.
Awesome! It is a great reminder of how blessed we are, but also how spoiled we are. And for what? These people seem to be happy with much less. I would love to see these pictures blowen up it is hard to see all the detail. Glad you were able to experince such a neat trip.
What a neat, humbling experience.
Thanks for sharing. What a great trip. We all need to see what little "material things" other people have or don't have to realize how blessed we are. It's a great thing to share with the kids.
All I can say is WOW! We have soooo much. What an awesome experience for you!
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