Camp de Fútbol

So to start this blog off, I will give an explanation of Camp de Fútbol. Basically this big team of about 60 or 70 people come down from Washington to stay at the base, and they put on this soccer camp for the local kids. It's really, really big, and churches from the area get involved. Last year the base wasn't involved but this year we are, which is really cool because it gives us a different ministry to do and we're getting to know the team.

The camp is being run for 4 evenings (we've just finished the 2nd) and the kids (about 600-800) are split into groups. We do a bit of worship with them, small group stuff, and then play soccer!!

We've got a pretty awesome group of boys. Yesterday all they wanted to do was play soccer and didn't pay attention to any of the other stuff, but today they were quite happy to settle down and have a small group time, which was so awesome. I even spoke a little bit of Spanish to them, and then did a little bit of translation (Spanish to English) for one of the American guys. Which I'm pretty pleased about. I can now understand a fair amount. Just not speak it. :-(

So yeah, small group time was really good. Then we did some different fun drills with them, and played soccer. We had a really small group, so it was great playing. And then we played 8 kids against us 4 leaders. Was absolutely brill. So, so much fun!! We were playing beneath this amazing sunset sky, and darkening thunder clouds, and a lightning storm!! It was absolutely beautiful!! Such an awesome time. It is so much fun and so rewarding and just oh man, awesome lol.

I didn't take my camera as it's kinda a situation of take pictures and just watch what is going on, or not take pictures and be involved. And I would rather be involved now.

One of the teams I worked with last year with Homes of Hope are back down this year, and I'm gonna get to build with them again!! It's gonna be super fun! :-)

Did I mention how awesome today has been? Just so much cool stuff has happened, too much to write down!!

Humid and sticky...

So, a quick update.

Last week was the DTS and WISE school graduation, which was great to be apart of because I have got to know some of the students while I've been here. They're awesome!

Saturday I went to this 'secret' secluded beach with some friends. It was pretty awesome. Loads of palm trees everywhere. We sat in the shade of palm trees, went in the ocean, caught the sun, played cards, watched fishermen, and I played with my friend's young Border Collie and threw driftwood into the ocean for her. She loved it.

It was a great day all in all.

Sunday went to church (twice lol). The church I went to in the evening was a 6.30 service which made me think of home. Kinda different to our own service, but good. The sermon was about do we really know God? And how we need to ask for a revelation of who He really is and have blind folds removed from our eyes so that we truly see Him.

Monday (today) has been a busy day, although I did manage to find time to pop down to the Looney Bean :-)

This week will be busy with teams and everything, but great fun! :-)

A girl from one of the teams got stung today by a jelly fish, and for me, just knowing what to do and being able to respond to it quickly has proven to me that I really want to paramedics so bad, whether now or at a later stage, I'm not sure, but definitely sometime!

It's heating up now. Getting more humid and sticky now!

Secret beach

Secret beach

Jude (4) doing his dance. He's awesome

At graduation

DTS and WISE graduation

Mazatlan, here I am

So this is just a quick update of Mexico so far. It will probably be more pics than writing, as can't be bothered to write a lot! It has been very surreal being back, but is soooooo good! There have been many exciting hellos, good fun and laughs. I love seeing everyone again!! And being in Mexico feels like being home!!

I've been very busy at the mo with painting and other jobs, but it is so good to be apart of base life again. Tomorrow (Friday) we have a team of 50 arriving, so the next coming weeks are going to be manic but awesome!! :-)

Watching Mexico v France. They went insane when a goal was scored!!

One of my fellow DTS students, now on staff. Love the girl

My room

The lounge

That surreal feeling.

The first day that I landed in Mazatlan now seems like an eternity ago. It is so surreal to think back over that arrival and those events, and know that it seems like an age ago. Which, in reality, it was.

2 months and counting....

So the 2 month countdown has began. 2 months until I step onto a plane bound for Mazatlan, Mexico. Oh yes.

Lessons from a Spaniel: : Faithfulness

I love the faithfulness of dogs.

If we had half the amount of loyalty that they had, we would all surely be in a better place.

Spring is here (at least I hope!)

The last of the snowdrops

Crocuses

Baby daffodils

Morning dew on the grass (pic thanks to my bro)

Daffodil (opened overnight)

Spring looks as if it finally arriving. Fingers crossed.

Who knows what this weather will do one day to the next! Yesterday was raining.

Today the sun is shining.

My bro's birthday today, so he and I went for a walk this morning and I took some pics of the lovely looking spring flowers.

It's amazing how overnight the daffodils can open their sleepy eyes and then droop their yellow heads. One can actually begin to hope that warmer weather and longer days are on the horizon!

One can live in hope.