The kids of Gabriel House trampoline. 

Sunday morning we left at 6AM, made it across the border safely ( even after getting in the wrong lane and had to get searched), went to a church service in Newport Beach and had lunch and then hit the road again at 1PM. We reached Garland at 3:30 PM Monday.

rest was needed, now we are refueled and ready to edit footage. God has created a relationship with Gabriel House for us and that was defiantly not our only visit. we all fell in love with kids and as we post videos, stories, and photos you will see why.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation, prayed, or kept us in your thoughts. The Lord blessed us greatly.

this is one of the workers of Gabriel House. i am unsure of his name but he is goofy and all of the kids love his presence. he gives hugs to everybody as he sweeps the room. He sings worship as loud as he can. Today i went to grab the camera battery off the charger when i looked out the window and saw him reading his bible as he prayed. There are workers here at Gabriel House that it is just a job, then there are those who have been transformed by Christ and love on the children as He would. The blessings God pours into this ministry with love is that, love. working here is not easy, I am so glad that Casa de Gabriel foundation is Christ and they build up their workers that way.

La Bufadora, the city not the blow hole. God’s creation is muy bonita.

This is dinner time. 5 o’clock every day, whether it’s being bottled or spoon fed, do it yourself, or making sure everybody stays in their seats the workers here do an amazing job each meal time ( which are 7AM, Noon, and 5PM)

tonight was tamales because of Christmas Eve!

( i know its blurry, Shawn is the master photographer… :) )

-hannah

early morning but of course the kids were up and playing. they finally got to go outside since it wasn’t raining and the mud had dried up some. we took some pictures then went to the La Bufadora to take pictures of the Pacific Ocean. its a market town, everybody was offering things but Angelica and Pancho told us “don’t buy anything, too expensive!” so we didn’t. then we went to the same taco stand as yesterday. they were still amazing.

came back to hear all the kids excited about how at 3 o’clock Santa was coming. took pictures of all the boys, then played ball/ trampoline/ hide and seek/ swings/ anything and everything. Santa was a bit late as the kids watched Inspector Gadget looking eagerly outside the window every couple of seconds. Tonio and Teddy continued to ask what time it was every five minutes until he got there. A family who visits often dressed up and brought gifts for everybody. dolls, walkie-talkies, bouncie balls, transformers, animals, and a DRUM SET! ( you’ll see pictures) it was heart warming, we were almost brought to tears. 

i am about to post tons of pictures and stories, so follow or add to bookmark. this is one of the best Christmas Eve’s i have ever had, even if we are all away from our family. God has ignited a comfort here and it is wonderful.

overwhelmed with love, simplicity, and of course the grace of God. 

we went to the grocery store again yesterday (these boys eat as if they have never seen food) , when we got out of the car we found out we had a flat tire. a quick $8 fix!  

This morning was the interview with the Favers then at noon we got 13 tacos and 4 sodas for $17! take that On the Border, it was delicious. 

We only have two more days left, it went by so quickly. the sun finally came out today so it will be great lighting for our last days of filming and photos. we will probably take a trip to the beach and la boufadora either today or tomorrow. thank you everybody for the prayers!

-Hannah 

 I also got to play for thirty minutes with the kids before lunch, i got tackled as you can see.

these are photos from the 18th and 19th, our trip up here was long but worth it.

pictures!!

of a full day at Gabriel House. 

we made it to Maneadero around noon yesterday. Our lovely guides Teddy, one of the kids, and Hannah, a volunteer missionary from Waco who comes here during break, gave us a tour of the house and introduced us to everybody. we got to know the kids a little bit, filmed a little, went to the expensive store…, then came home made spaghetti, edited, and went to bed.

Today- Woke up to the sounds of roosters and barking dogs and of course crisp air. packed up the car and took an adventure up and down the highway to find a good hill where we could see all of the city. took us about fifteen minutes but we decided to chance it as we took the Honda CRV up a steep incline (guestimation- 60 degrees). a couple churches stopped by Gabriel House to play and bring gifts, it was nice meeting and hearing the stories of where they are from. We also met with Ted Faver who gave us a very good perspective of what Gabriel House really needs with this video and how there is apathy in the modern church  for the broken. during Christmas Gabriel House is continually blessed with donations, but it is not consistent. this film will be for the kids and to help them. not for our own self gain.

then we went to walmart and Vaps ( worst enchiladas of my life) and realized that things are not cheaper in mexico despite what everybody says. back to Gabriel House.

We filmed for an hour, played games, then the kids got ready to eat. While dinner was going on another group showed up with tons of food. after talking to them we found out that half of them were from California and the other San Antonio. they usually make a trip to Gabriel House once a month with either gifts from the church or food donations. They have given everybody shoes, to birthday presents, and have gotten their church involved. tomorrow they are bringing over 100 presents for the kids! a couple with them are the pastors at a house church in San Antonio and have a special needs child. their commitment is humbling and breathtaking. 

I can’t speak for the guys but God is awakening simplicity and humility in my heart. none of these kids care how their hair looks in the pictures we take, that they don’t have the newest cell phone, or about if their enchiladas are gross or not. they are fed, loved, and taken care of. Gods love for the His children is being implanted into my heart and i am so thankful.