Swinging a Hammer

The group...














Last night I arrived home from a whirlwind trip to Rancho de sus Ninos. This orphanage, affectionatly called simply "the ranch" is just off the highway between Tijuana & Tecate, Mexico. Over the past four years, since I first visited the ranch on a mission trip with high schoolers, this orphanage has found a place in my heart. I have been back a handful of times. Each time, I feel like a part of me has returned home. It is a unique place. I have written about this orphanage before - after our trip this summer. This time was different.

For the first time in the 21 year history, the orphanage has the supplies and money for a project before the groups arrive. They have been given a very generous donation to finish building the new day care buildings needed before their lease is up in just about a year on their current location. So a group from our church headed down late Thursday night and spent the past couple of days hammering on a new roof and hoisting beams for support for covered porches.

Friday we unloaded 45 trusses and carried them into the building, flipped them upright, and nailed them in place. Crazy heavy work. Then Saturday in to Sunday morning we layed plywood sheeting on top and hammered them into the trusses. This is a long and grueling process. My knees are sore and bruised from kneeling on the sheeting while nailing it down into the trusses.

yep - those trusses weren't there before we got there...














Mark & I nailing blocks in place between the trusses...














Me - on the roof...tool belt and all














CJ, McKenna, and me...it was a moment of downtime...what can i say???


















When we weren't working, we enjoyed eating with the kids on the ranch. I sponsor two sister in House 4. It is always a joy to see them, and love on them. Alejandra is alway ready with a smile, hug, and "Hi, Sarah!" Yaqueline is more shy at first, but warms quickly. She speaks more English and we are able to chat a bit by lunch on Sunday.

We headed back across the border on Sunday afternoon. Of course, no trip to the orhpanage would be complete with out a stop at In-N-Out Burger on our way back to the airport. We checked in for our flight with two hours to wait. I found myself sitting at a bar, sipping a rum and coke and chatting with some of the guys about the trip while we watched the last game of the ALCS and Sunday night NFL.

Our flight home was smooth and uneventful. I crawled into bed early this morning and fell asleep without any trouble.

This trip was something that I look forward to doing again soon. The building we worked on will one day house kids who would other wise be locked up in their house or left wandering the streets while their parents work 16 hours a day in the factories. It provides them with two meals a day and loving women to care for them. What a great day it will be when they can open these doors to even more kids who need to hear that God loves them.