These handsome Caballeros are waving good-bye in true Mexican style!

One last visit to the Salvation Army to say goodbye until next year (Lord willing), & this little one came with a costume on. Couldn't resist her smile! Even the iguanas seemed to be telling us "good-bye" !

We said our "goodbyes" to the children at the orphanage, and it tugged at our hearts to leave them. The ladies who work there are very good to the kids, and we see lots of improvements each year.

This was our last visit to the orphanage, before we leave Puerto Vallarta. I asked Maria if I could take her picture. She has been here most of her life, and we see her each time we come. Now she is a great help there with the younger kids.

Casa Infantil is still reaching out in their neighborhood to give family support, medical care, schooling, Bible classes, Sunday Church services, and feed over 50 children one healthy meal a day (they used to give 2 meals a day, but had to cut back for lack of funds), and so many other services. On this day, the lesson was how Jesus healed the blind man, so they made a craft & wore "glasses" they couldn't see with, & then after the touch of Jesus, they could see! (they were so cute)

Last week Peter & I helped with a fund-raiser for a new bldg. for the Casa Infantil Ministry in the poorest section of PV. We met downtown PV on the famous "Malecon" with some of the children and other volunteers, and collected alittle over $800.00 the 1st night! They have already broken ground, and hope to collect the funds by this summer, because they must move out of the bldg. they are renting.

At the Salvation Army's new facility, Sylvia, the cook is hard at work, cooking the lunch meal for 40-50 kids each day. They are given vitamins at this meal, and all are required to brush their teeth afterward. These girls are showing us their pearly whites!

I just HAD to send you a pic of this! Remember my posting back in Jan. when we went to brkfst.with a whole Mexican family? Well, I went to help at the Salvation Army to prepare lunch for the kids, & guess what was assigned for me to cut up to make? "monoodle" (sounds like) -the cows stomach lining!! I just started laughing, and my fellow worker almost got sick when I told her what it was. God has a real sense of humor, and I'm learning many things!

Yes, that is Carole with the dancers, and NO, she did NOT do the hula with them! (I'm afraid they would have all fallen down laughing if I had)! The others are more of the kids who live there.

We had the priviledge of attending a special "hula dance" performance at the orphanage in P.V., put on to thank all the faithful workers who come to interact with the children living here. They were an "outside" group of dancers, who included some of the girls who live at Casa Hogar (safe house).

Each time we visit the orphanage in town, this little boy runs over to Peter & wants to wrestle with him! He wanted me to show you his three little ruffians that are his favorites. It is so special for these children to interact with adults who they can trust, and who won't hurt them. The workers there are very loving to the children who live there.

Peter walked around the neighborhood where Casa Infantil is renting a bldg. to feed & reach out to this community with the Gospel, and found these kids playing in an old broken down car - which they also use to hang their laundry on! This Christian work is raising $$ to build a permanent place to do their ministry on a lot they have already purchased. We are helping with their fund raiser tonight in downtown P.V. If anyone reading this wants to help finance this bldg., we can assure you the funds will go wholly to this reach out ministry.

Peter & I were so excited when we asked at this place in Puerto Vallarta if they could use the other half of the Christian teaching materials we had purchased from Ga. They almost jumped for joy as they told us they had prayed that God would help them get this so they could teach their adults who want to know more of God's Word! Then our friends from Ct. donated two computers for this place to help the kids get started in learning how to use this for homework, etc. We are so thrilled at how God works, and He uses us humans to show us over & over again how HE is in control! Praise God!!

All ages are welcome to come to learn, eat, and have fun. No one is turned away. The children are taught good manners, and as soon as the sessions are over, they clean the tables, put everything away, & sweep the floors! (just like home - RIGHT?)

Sometimes these little ones just can't make it through a whole session. The one Carole is holding has an older sister who cares for him. His mother died about 1 1/2 years ago. So many sad stories, but we know that in Christ, we can have HOPE and salvation.

This little girl wrote: "Jesus loves me" inside the white heart! It touched MY heart so much, as I KNOW how much HE truly loves these little ones!

This was Valentine's Day weekend, so the craft was:cards, and decorating cookies!

On Wednesdays, we jump over to another food & Bible Study ministry at "Casa Infantil". Their facility is very cramped, in a rented building that looks like a garage, but you can just "feel" God's Spirit at work, as we sing, do various programs, and feed the children in this area as well!

Lots of classes are held in their new building for the kids. There are several kids whose parents won't let their kids go to regular school, so the Captain & his wife teach them & feed them each day they come to the Salvation Army. A volunteer from Canada is teaching an English class.

Carole helped serve the lunch, while Peter & the others were put on the dishwashing crew! Everyone was a great help.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta on Feb.5, and met with our dear friends, Bob & Nell, from Connecticut, who had their 17 yr. old grandsons here for a visit. We thank God for their aid in helping us get to Mexico, and for the Christian fellowship we enjoy together as we serve the Lord here in P.V. The next day we went to the Salvation Army, & the little kids had so much fun with the boys!

When we arrived in Barra de Navidad (about halfway to Puerto Vallarta), it had been RAINING (which has never happened in 5 years of driving down here), and in the morning, we had a pool of water up to our bottom step that went over our ankles. It stopped for about one hour, so Peter took me into town on our scooter, & on the way back, he went through the mud on the camp road, scooter slipped, & Carole landed right in the huge mud puddle! (Sorry, no one had a camera handy). It rained like a hurricane, and we were just happy to get on the road again toward Puerto Vallarta.

It's always fun & exciting as we drive through Mexico. There's always something new for us to see, & take pictures of!

As if avoiding the livestock on the roads isn't enough, you have to deal with the Indians, celebrating some sort of holiday!

We left our favorite village of Playa Azul, and started heading up the coast. The roads are very narrow, mountainous, and winding. To make it even MORE difficult to manuver is to try avoiding cows running down the highway!

We took our new friends with us to visit a mother & her 3 children who had come to "Concha's" restaurant to get shoes for her kids. Kate wanted to give the girls some dresses she no longer could fit into, & we gave each of them a Bible story coloring book & crayons. They were very excited! The little 4 year old reminded me of my grandaughter, Ashley.

Again, we see God's handiwork with this incredible sight! We are all amazed at the wonder of it all.