Feels like family...

One of the sayings at the Hogar is that when you are there, you are family. I love this mentality, and it definitely describes the atmosphere of love and acceptance that I always feel when I am at the orphanage.

This year, we were lucky enough to have some members of our family (and others who might as well be members of our family) with us for our El Sal trip! Ryan's younger siblings, Ashley and Cole, and one of my best friends from college, Kirsten, came along for the week of fun. They have heard about the orphanage for years, and it was so fun to introduce them to the kids.

Ashley is a fabulous seamstress (as is her mother), so she brought supplies for a pillow craft which she did with several of the girls. She printed their photos on fabric and then helped them embroider their names and stitch the pillow together. They love their photo pillows and carry them around all day!

I think the boys in the orphanage quite liked Ashley as well...these two fellas kept trying to hold her hand while she helped them with Bingo! (Watch out, Nate!)

Cole may not be a cute seamstress with crafty ideas...but he is a tough athlete with sports ideas. He kept the orphanage boys moving all week, as they tossed footballs, passed soccer balls, and even completed an obstacle course. Here he is with Edwin, racing through the obstacle course at top speed:

Here he is with Muscle Man Memo (who looks a little like Nacho Libre in this photo, might I add):

Although Ryan is not nearly as big and tough as his little bro, he had to get in on the Muscle Man action too!

My good friend and former roommate, Kirsten, is a fantastic singer, and she used that talent to keep the girls at the orphanage entertained. They were singing, "Hola! Hola!" all week!

Finally, I must write a word or two about two of my favorite new friends, Molly and Andrew Hunter. I met Molly and Andrew when I was in Provo last February recruiting for the orphanage project, and I knew right away that they would do a fabulous job as Hogar volunteers. I was right! They lived at the orphanage this summer and made such a difference in the lives of the kids. Andrew is a Therapeutic Recreation major and used those skills in his activities and interactions with the residents; Molly is a photography major and used her talents to capture the kids' spirits and souls through the lens of her camera. Not only is her photography going to be used for all of the orphanage's new fundraising materials, but she also hung a display of many of the kids' photos on the orphanage wall before she left:

In addition to being exceedingly talented, this couple is exceedingly fun. Check out the Dumbledore and Harry Potter outfits that they sported during our HP-themed scavenger hunt this week! Classic!

As a side note, I must also add a photo of Ryan's costume. He was the vicious Voldemort, whom the kids hunted and threw water balloons at. Frightening, huh?

Through my involvement with the orphanage in El Salvador, I am lucky to not only get to know such incredible kids, but also to get to know better my wonderful family, old friends, and new friends.

Thanks, hermanos, for a great great week of fun and laughs.

This is what love feels like.

Our first morning at the orphanage, I was greeted by Xiomara, who ran across the grassy lawn screaming, "RAAAAAQQQUUUEELLL!" and then threw her arms around me and wouldn't let go for about five minutes. I'd say that was a pretty happy welcome.

When I first saw Inecita, I was surprised that she burst into tears--a totally different reaction from Xiomara. Inecita can't talk, but she is very cognitively aware, so I asked her, "Ines, why are you crying? Are you sad?" She shook her head no. "Are you happy?" I asked. She nodded her head and then reached out for a huge hug. I think my heart melted on the spot. My sister-in-law, Ashley, and I took her to a secluded spot in the orphanage for some one-on-one time to make a crown and blow bubbles. She was all smiles.

And then there's little Carmencita Flores, who I can't help but squeeze and hug and kiss. Isn't she a doll?

This was my fifth trip to the orphanage...I've spent a total of about five months of my life there...and I love it.

An El Sal Birthday

Ryan celebrated his 27th birthday at the Hogar del Niño Orphanage on Thursday.

What a fun way to celebrar!

The kids and I planned some surprises for him, including a raucous, birthday wake-up call:

"Buenos dias! Feliz cumpleaños, Bryan!"

A birthday crown and t-shirt, which we forced him to wear all day:

And a little "surprise" fiesta in the evening, complete with a Batman piñata and some wild dancing:

These kids can shake it!!

Thursday was also the last full day of the current Hogar volunteers, Molly and Andrew (who are awesome by the way), so the fiesta was in their honor as well. I planned a game "Pin the Sombrero on Molly and Andrew," which was a hit:

Maria didn't seem to quite understand the game, but she still loved it, as you can tell from this video:

It was a great party and a great trip...I have many many more photos and stories to post and will do so at intervals throughout the weekend. (Too much to do all at once!)

Feliz cumpleaños a Ryan, truly one of the most patient, loving, and fun people in todo el mundo!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

When I finally got home from 24 hours of traveling, this sign greeted me:

It made me smile. I really missed Ryan.

To celebrate his being done with the Boards and my returning from Israel, we went out to dinner. I have been sweaty, greasy, and disgusting for the past 10 days, so I wanted to get all dressed up. Ryan wore his new birthday outfit from his mom (isn't he HOT?), and I wore my new skirt from Jerusalem.

A better view of the skirt, which I got in the Arab section of the Old City...I love it.

I miss Jerusalem and my dad, but it feels good to be home with Ryan again. I am headed out for another international adventure Thursday morning--but at least Ry will be with me for this one! We are returning to El Salvador for a week to see the kids at the orphanage and for Ryan to help at a dental clinic in the city. We can't wait!

Sacred Ground

My favorite day of the Israel tour had the most spiritual emphasis: We retraced the final day of Jesus's life and learned about the events leading up to His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Since Jesus lived about 2,000 years ago, it's hard to verify exactly where these events occurred (and there has been religious controversy about holy places over the centuries), but archeologists, historians, and religious leaders look at evidence and do their best to identify possible locations. It was all very fascinating.

We started the day at an upper room in Jerusalem similar to the one in which Jesus and his disciples had their Last Supper. While sitting in that upper room, our guide told us about the Jewish Passover, and it was very interesting to see how Christ did not destroy Jewish traditions, but instead revised and explained them. For example, they already had a tradition of breaking bread and drinking wine with Passover dinner; Jesus just further explained its symbolic significance as His body and blood.

After the upper room, we went to a beautiful, secluded “Prayer Garden” on the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem, and read about/discussed the suffering of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also saw a church that some Christians believe is near the place where the Atonement occurred.

After Gethsemane, we went to Caiphus’s Palace (which is now a lovely Catholic church) and discussed Jewish law vs. Roman law and how the chief priests of Christ’s time did not follow Jewish law in His trial.

Finally, we did a little of the “Villa Delarosa” (or final walk of Christ) from the remains of the Antonia Fortress (where he was condemned by Pilate) to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. We went to a church in the Old City of Jerusalem called the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that has been traditionally identified as the site of Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and Resurrection.

We also went to a different area just outside the city walls which many religious groups and archeologists believe is actually the place where those final, sacred events of Christ's life occurred. It was so so so lovely there--the highlight of the trip. I have to say, for me, the most spiritual moment of the entire tour was the moment that I first saw the Garden Tomb. The guide was giving his speech, and all of the sudden, he said, “And when they found a tomb that dates back to 1st century A.D....”and motioned with his arm. I glanced over---and there it was. Just like that. I felt like I lost my breath for a second, and all I could think was, “He was here.” I felt humbled and amazed and sure...all at once.

Seeing the physical evidences of Christ and His work during the past week has immensely changed and strengthened my belief in Him.

Thanks, Dad, for such a life-changing experience!

Underground Terror!

On our last full day in Jerusalem, we decided to go to Hezekiah's tunnels in the ruins of the City of David. We read in the guidebook that this ancient water system was chiseled out of solid rock around 700 B.C. to channel fresh water into the city. Today, although water still flows through the channels, it is part of a national park and open for tourists to walk through. I pictured some fairly wide, well-lit tunnels with emergency exits every 100 ft or so. (That's how it would be in the States at a national park.) What we found instead looked something like this:

You have to keep in mind that it was pitch black (the only reason you can see anything in the photo is because of the flash on my camera), and the tunnels continue for almost a mile without a single emergency exit.

FREAKY.

Before we entered the tunnels, some of the ladies got scared and decided not to go. I, of course, was too proud to admit that I am somewhat claustrophobic, and I decided, "How bad could it really be?" This was not a wise decision. After walking in these tunnels for about 15 minutes, the traffic got stopped up in front of us, and all of the sudden, I was stacked in a tiny tunnel with about a dozen people in front of me and a dozen people behind me...no way out.

I think I almost had a panic attack. Someone said, "Don't worry...it'll only be about 45 minutes more."

This did not help. Can you imagine walking for an hour in pitch darkness in a tiny, underground rock tunnel with no emergency exit? I tried to make a joke out of my fear when I posed for this photo, but I truly was terrified.

Before we had entered the tunnels, Oren (who is 70) said to me, "Now Rachel, if I start to cry in there, just give me a big hug!" In the end, it was me who needed the hug!

Cutie Oren in water almost up to his waist.

Note to self: If you are ever in Jerusalem again, skip the claustrophobic underground tunnels!

Daily essentials for Jerusalem in July...

1. Ice cream bars.

I don't know if you can tell from the small photo, but I am extremely sweaty and motley all the time here...and I am more than a little bit delighted by the ice cream bar melting in my hands. In the States, I don't even really like ice cream bars that much...but here, I am OBSESSED.

One of my favorite friends on the trip, Suzanne, is equally in love with the ice cream bars. She and I eat several every day!

2. An umbrella.

This is a candid photo I took of my dad while we were listening to our guide at all hilltop overlooking Bethlehem. This is a very peaceful and spiritual place...but MAN is it hot!

3. A hotel swimming pool

Isn't this beautiful?? Unfortunately, the pool closes at 6:00, which is about the time we get back from touring every day, so I've only been able to go swimming once. But it sure was a great way to end the day!

Speaking of hot...check out this young Israeli soldier. (Sorry, Ry!) I don't know if it's the uniform or the automatic weapon, but these young army guys are CU-TE!

And you may think it's only the guys toting the machine guns--but check out these young girls exchanging gossip over large piles of automatic weapons:

YIKES! (Every young person serves in the Israeli armed forces for two years after high school...crazy, huh?)

Today was our last full day, and we are exhausted but satisfied...it's been a fabulous experience. I've learned so much and have so so so much to write about...but it's almost midnight, and I've been in the heat all day, so I'm ready for bed!

Stay tuned...