Last night a storm came through acapulco and all the lights went out. After slipping and sliding in the rain us interns all got together lit some candles and worshipped our God.
During our last 3 weeks... can you believe it?? we're gonig to be setting a lot of ministry time just us interns with the kids. we have a ton of fun games and talks we want to have with the younger kids. with the older kids we're doing a soccer tourney and splitting up girls and guys to get on a deeper level with.
being here is a blessing. everyday i'm living with 60 plus of my favorite people. I came here to serve but I've been served more through these kids love. Even just the little things... I took a little girl Liz to the tienda down the street and she said "you bought me sabritas... i want to buy you a taco" and she held out 4 little pesos (the equivalent of 40 cents).
Continue to pray for energy and God's will to be done <3
love,
jesi
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Heart of Worship
Today one of the girls who has been here for about 6 or 7 years left Casa Hogar. She went back with her family. Her name is olimar. I miss her so much. It's so strange to have her gone... The other girls who live with her cried a lot today. Pray she has a comfortable transition back to home. Me, lauren and Rebekah (the fifth intern who just came in yesterday!!) spent the night up in the girls dorms last night. I love spending the nights up there :] They pull out three or four mattresses and a bunch of us huddle on them and fall asleep squished in the heat hahaha but its so fun.
Trinity also left today... Thank you Trinity for all you did for Casa Hogar. Thank you so much for leaving us leftover food and shampoo and conditioner hahah <3 you guys were such a blessing to have here. They conducted VBS and games for the kids most nights. One night they took the kids out for some paintballing. I went, too. It was... AWESOME. The older boys especially enjoyed it. Again, you guys were such a blessing to have here! Thank you for coming! It was hard to say goodbye, especially, as some of my close friends and brother had to leave me. But I know they'll go home and tell everyone how God worked in their lives.
What we really need to stress is the return of teams. Teams mean more to these kids than just finances. It's a time where they can be loved by others (the staff here loves the children SOOOO much! but they can't always run around like teams can or buy and bring them gifts as Casa Hogar isn't rich).
So, I have been asked to update my blogs more so that's what I will do :]
Love,
Jesi
Trinity also left today... Thank you Trinity for all you did for Casa Hogar. Thank you so much for leaving us leftover food and shampoo and conditioner hahah <3 you guys were such a blessing to have here. They conducted VBS and games for the kids most nights. One night they took the kids out for some paintballing. I went, too. It was... AWESOME. The older boys especially enjoyed it. Again, you guys were such a blessing to have here! Thank you for coming! It was hard to say goodbye, especially, as some of my close friends and brother had to leave me. But I know they'll go home and tell everyone how God worked in their lives.
What we really need to stress is the return of teams. Teams mean more to these kids than just finances. It's a time where they can be loved by others (the staff here loves the children SOOOO much! but they can't always run around like teams can or buy and bring them gifts as Casa Hogar isn't rich).
So, I have been asked to update my blogs more so that's what I will do :]
Love,
Jesi
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Hands of the Potter
Casa Hogar.... it's indescribable. Being here and spending time with these children is an endless string of words describing joy hahaha <3
Pray specifically that Lauren and I would be able to bond and get into deeper relationships with the older girls. Also, pray that Eric and Hardy could find a way to make strong relationships with the older boys. It is a constant desire in our heart.
Love,
Jesi <3
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Update!!
Dear friends,
There is so much to say but so little time.
I'll begin with the children then talk about what we are donig here and then how God is changing my heart.
These children are so precious. Yes, they have their bad sides (one child comes to mind specifically hahaha), but all in all it's hard not to fall completely in love with them. There are children who live here and there are teenagers and young adults. Casa hogar is a home. It is a place where children who are unwanted can live. They can't be adopted however because Casa Hogar IS their home.
Some live here because their families were too poor or in too bad of a situation to raise their children so chlidren are brought here to Casa Hogar. However, a majority of the chlidren come from sad backgrounds of neglect and abuse. You can see the evidence in their physical scars and emotional ones. A lot of them were brought up learning that hitting is how to teach others. They remain very quiet about whatever is wrong in their life, but just being there for the kids or teens or anyone here is enough.
Despite their pasts, the kids are normally very joyous and playful. They play soccer frequently. They play with eachother and with us interns :] The staff here has an immense amount of compassion and are so easy to talk to! (Btw, all this interaction is improving my spanish immensely :D )
Normally, during the summer teams from the states come here to Casa Hogar for a week to spend time with the children and help with construction. Sadly, most of them aren't coming due to the economy and their fear of the drug related violence in acapulco :/ So this summer will be different from past interns summers. We do construction without teams and help prepare meals for the kids and clean around Casa Hogar. Us inerns visit sobre el Puente (a ministry for kids who live on the streets as they remain involved in drugs and other various thing and can't live at Casa Hogar) and help out there. Many stories from Sobre El puente. Most of our time is spent loving and being with the children (my favorite :] ). We do homework with them and hang around and play soccer and games and it's my favorite. I get to know the kids the most during these times and get so much closer to them. I get to see sides of them I had never seen before (like sadness, anger, jealousy) that I get to be involved in with love. But they continually show their little angelicness too :]
Lastly, God is working on my heart immensely. My time here gives me so much one on one time with God. Also, the orphans have been a tool God has been using in me. I keep seeing his Mercy... that's the biggest one.
In future blogs I will not summarize but rather tell stories of what's going on here. It's much more powerful that way. basically.... God has placed me in a place full of love hungry orphans. Through all this God is molding me.
Until next time.... Love,
Jesi
There is so much to say but so little time.
I'll begin with the children then talk about what we are donig here and then how God is changing my heart.
These children are so precious. Yes, they have their bad sides (one child comes to mind specifically hahaha), but all in all it's hard not to fall completely in love with them. There are children who live here and there are teenagers and young adults. Casa hogar is a home. It is a place where children who are unwanted can live. They can't be adopted however because Casa Hogar IS their home.
Some live here because their families were too poor or in too bad of a situation to raise their children so chlidren are brought here to Casa Hogar. However, a majority of the chlidren come from sad backgrounds of neglect and abuse. You can see the evidence in their physical scars and emotional ones. A lot of them were brought up learning that hitting is how to teach others. They remain very quiet about whatever is wrong in their life, but just being there for the kids or teens or anyone here is enough.
Despite their pasts, the kids are normally very joyous and playful. They play soccer frequently. They play with eachother and with us interns :] The staff here has an immense amount of compassion and are so easy to talk to! (Btw, all this interaction is improving my spanish immensely :D )
Normally, during the summer teams from the states come here to Casa Hogar for a week to spend time with the children and help with construction. Sadly, most of them aren't coming due to the economy and their fear of the drug related violence in acapulco :/ So this summer will be different from past interns summers. We do construction without teams and help prepare meals for the kids and clean around Casa Hogar. Us inerns visit sobre el Puente (a ministry for kids who live on the streets as they remain involved in drugs and other various thing and can't live at Casa Hogar) and help out there. Many stories from Sobre El puente. Most of our time is spent loving and being with the children (my favorite :] ). We do homework with them and hang around and play soccer and games and it's my favorite. I get to know the kids the most during these times and get so much closer to them. I get to see sides of them I had never seen before (like sadness, anger, jealousy) that I get to be involved in with love. But they continually show their little angelicness too :]
Lastly, God is working on my heart immensely. My time here gives me so much one on one time with God. Also, the orphans have been a tool God has been using in me. I keep seeing his Mercy... that's the biggest one.
In future blogs I will not summarize but rather tell stories of what's going on here. It's much more powerful that way. basically.... God has placed me in a place full of love hungry orphans. Through all this God is molding me.
Until next time.... Love,
Jesi
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Splendor of the King
I do not have much time. However this place is glorious! we are rebuilding the orphanage and getting accustomed to our new family (the orphans and the staff). Prayers: be able to build strong relations with the children and staff based on God. Strength.
I'm loving every second of this internship. But I know hardships will come. The children are loving little sweethearts now but I have been warned that as they become accustomed to me I will see their "bad side".
The other interns are absolutely wonderful! And so is the mentor family! I'm so thankful for the teammates I have. I wish I could say more but just know God is so gracious :]
adios!
con amor,
Jesi
I'm loving every second of this internship. But I know hardships will come. The children are loving little sweethearts now but I have been warned that as they become accustomed to me I will see their "bad side".
The other interns are absolutely wonderful! And so is the mentor family! I'm so thankful for the teammates I have. I wish I could say more but just know God is so gracious :]
adios!
con amor,
Jesi
Thursday, May 26, 2011
God supplies
God evidently wants me to be in mexico. People are constantly going out of their way to ask about ways they can help support me. I should have stopped worrying about how i was going to raise support and the materials i need for myself long ago. Watching God talk to me and care for me makes my heart well with joy! he is holding me. i am simply a vessel enjoying the splendors of God! he sends strangers along side me to enourage me and unprompted encouaging words from loved ones. He is gently showing me to trust him.
Pre-field training in North Carolina ended today. Tomorrow we board the plane to acapulco, mexico at 9:15. I can't believe this is happening to me! I am so blessed! This is the life!!
some quotes from training:
"unless you are comfortable being you, you are an obstacle to the gospel"
"deception is at the root of insecurity"
'superiority cloaked in the desire to serve is still superiority"
Romans 8:32 <3
Pre-field training in North Carolina ended today. Tomorrow we board the plane to acapulco, mexico at 9:15. I can't believe this is happening to me! I am so blessed! This is the life!!
some quotes from training:
"unless you are comfortable being you, you are an obstacle to the gospel"
"deception is at the root of insecurity"
'superiority cloaked in the desire to serve is still superiority"
Romans 8:32 <3
Monday, May 16, 2011
Leaving This Weekend
It. has. come. hahaha.
I'm actually leaving this weekend and I can barely believe it. As I realize I am about to leave for Casa Hogar I'm feeling a lot of sensations like excitement, joy, enthusiasm and readiness! But, at the same time, I'm also feeling fear, worries and nervousness and I'm already missing all my loved ones tremendously. Luckily, I am extremely blessed with friends and family who encourage me in Christ. I would just like to share a few verses God's recently highlighted in my life.
Psalm 56: 3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you"
Psalm 37: 3-6 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday"
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"
Jesi Zinn
I'm actually leaving this weekend and I can barely believe it. As I realize I am about to leave for Casa Hogar I'm feeling a lot of sensations like excitement, joy, enthusiasm and readiness! But, at the same time, I'm also feeling fear, worries and nervousness and I'm already missing all my loved ones tremendously. Luckily, I am extremely blessed with friends and family who encourage me in Christ. I would just like to share a few verses God's recently highlighted in my life.
Psalm 56: 3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you"
Psalm 37: 3-6 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday"
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"
Jesi Zinn
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