Mexico

Dyana and her sisters took a trip down to Ensenada Mexico with an organization from Utah called Family To Family Humanitarian Expeditions. (www.ffhe.org) For 7 days she lived at an orphanage help build some very humble homes for a few very grateful families. It was a great experience that really helps you to be grateful for what you have. Some of the upgrades we badly want as we build our home seem less essential now. It was an experience of a life time to feel the spirits of those less fortunate than us, but see how happy they were. Material possessions don't bring happiness. Dyana learned that God, family and love are what make a happy people. She fell in love with one family in particular.


The Hernandez family consist of 3 children and the parents that lived in a humble 8x12 foot box built from plywood a roof built out of tarps and scrap metal and plywood floors covered in dirt. One light bulb and no running water. ( unless you count a hose coming out of the out house up the hill running water.) Our expedition felt somewhat like extreme home make over. Our group arrived at the house and started to unload the materials to double their house in size. The father and mother came out with tears filled in their eyes. They were not given any information prior to our arrival that they were selected to be a part of our project. The words the father said next were so moving. He said, I have prayed for months to God to know what I should do next for my family. You are angels sent from him to answer our prayers. Over the week the FFHE group grew to love the Hernandez family. We filled Backpacks with crayons, coloring books and stuffed animals. Everyday we arrived the two young boys filled with joy showed us what they had colored that day. The stuffed animals accompanied them to church and other social functions. Nevertheless tears were shed at the last day when the Brick walls were in place to double their house in size. Although we didn't speak the same language we shared our thoughts through broken language, smiles, tears, and hugs. They are children of God just like each of us.

Dyana loved to play with the children. She sang songs, played soccer, painted fingernails and toes and even let an orphan Jose paint her toes. Everyday was filled with hard work and labor, but in the end was so rewarding. We left 2 families with new additions, an elderly lady with a retaining wall to prevent water and mud from flooding her house and several orphans with smiles on their faces.




One night during our Points to ponder moment- a group member made a very interesting thought. He said it's easy to serve the people in Mexico because their needs are so obvious. You can see that they need a better home, better blankets, more food and clothes. It's easy to meet these needs because they are so easy to recognize. But, we have people around us who have needs-that aren't as obvious-yet they still need that love and attentions. I have made it my goal to find those who are silently suffering and be an angel and answer their prayers here in my home town.



Although the week flew by, Dyana was happy to put her feet on US soil and be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy living in this great land.