It's our first Sunday on the sunny island and it is beautiful outside and a wonderful day in the house of the Lord! It's been a busy week and we look forward to a day of rest.

Thursday and Friday we sent two separate groups to Bochachica. It is a beach about thirty minutes from here. Shannon travels there bi weekly to spend time with the children there. The family these children have send them to the local beach to shine shoes for pesos. It is a sad situation because the money is taken from the children on most occasions and they do not have the opportunity to go to school. Many different elements come into play to make a very saddening situation. We had the oppportunity of buying lunch for the kids. On Friday we played baseball with the boys and the Canadians got owned! These boys are awesome at baseball! We pray that God used the things we said and did those days to show His love.

Saturday we went to a Batay where the Sugar Cane companies used to be. It is called Monte Choca. The place is full of poverty - the worst of poverty. We had the opportunity to bring soccer balls and other toys and spend the day with the people. One of the things we are quickly learning is the importance of building relationships with the people around us. They just want to spend time with them and love them. It is in this time of acknowledging these people in poverty as people with hearts and and dreams and desires that we begin to see the barriers break down. When we can't speak espanol we know that the love of Christ will be declared in the love and works of our hands and hearts.

Today as we were blessed to take part in the worship service at Iglesia Biblica Chrisitiana, I was reminded through the message and the worship of the people that the Church is not contained by a denomination or a country or race of people. The church is made up of all of God's children around the world. We come from so many different backgrounds and so many different economical situations but God is the Lord of all. It is amazing how welcomed we are here with people we don't even know and find a home and a family. What binds us together is the acknowledgment that God is our Father, our Padre. I was overwhelmed today in the service to look around and realize that these men and women are beloved children of God. They are my family. I don't even know them but they are my family in Christ. It's beautiful! And absolutely in every way how God intended the Church to be.

Dios Bendigo
Ashley <3