The First Day! By Hannah Tytus

We're here!

I'm sure many parents and friends are anxiously awaiting the very first TMX blog post of the season, but let me just first warn any readers that not only have I personally been awake for the past 37 hours, but as a group we've also all been through 3 airports, chaotic security lines, and nonstop activities since 4:00 am this morning.  So bear with me.

We left this morning slow and bleary eyed, but excited nonetheless. All flights went by smoothly and actually ahead of schedule (if you can believe it), with only one obnoxiously crying baby and two short setbacks in customs. So in other words, far better than we could ever hope for.

We arrived at the house around 1 pm after what felt like two days of travel, despite it being only lunch time. The accommodations--met with many cries of awe from us first-timers--are incredible: our neighborhood is gated, the buildings whitewashed and accented with beautiful red roofs, surrounded by palm trees, and topped off with a gorgeous gazebo and pool in the backyard. It makes you almost feel guilty for having a place so nice for the week.

After introductions had been made and our hosts at Back 2 Back explained our schedules and graciously given us some free time, the families arrived. Three families made up a total of fifteen children, whom we met with mutual shy smiles. Now, I dont speak a word of spanish. Like many of us, the only weapons I had in my arsenal were "hola" and the errent "si si" when I hadn't a clue what was going on.

But in the end, it didn't matter. It didn't take any special knowledge or skills when the kids were asked to find buddies for lunch. Because when Paty took my hand and gave me a swift kiss on the cheek, indicating our partnership, the message was universal. Its amazing how everyone opened up as the afternoon progressed, moving from strained and awkward attempts at spanish to rolling with laughter at unspoken jokes that felt no language barrier (Paty and I spent our first hour together communicating primarily via enthusiastic cookie monster impersonations as we ate our burgers and by how many cheesy nachos we could cram into our mouths at once).

The majority of the evening was spent doing different stations to teach the kids about god, today's message being that all things are possible with faith in Him (Dios en espaniol). I think that us teens will retain the song and corresponding dance moves more than the kids will after all the times we've had to perform it! Apart from that, we learned though our craft table, where many young superheros were born as we created colorful masks and costumes, and our Imagination Station, which consisted of bringing the raised gazebo to life with the fizzing explosions of alka seltzer concoctions.

After regouping to restate the lesson of the day, we were all given time to swim and to play on the property. Lets just say that 33 minors + pool + humidity = chaos. Everybody bonded as Hannah (Garrison) coaxed Adela into the water wit her oversized goggles, Becca (I'm sorry hun, I cant even begin to guess which way you spell your name) played with little toddler Ruth and her dolls at the water's edge, and the boys posed for submerged model shots with the discovery of Ryan's underwater camera.

Now about an hour ago we finished our debriefing and worship. We sang the gospel with Nick and Eliza ( awesome highschoolers who live here full time with their family) manning the guitars, and afterwards shared our expectations for the week, any distracting burdens we were carrying, and our "mental snapshot" of the day. These snapshots, surprisingly, were more than just a summary of the past couple hours. 90% of us spoke of how memorable it was when these children's faces were lit up with joy by the simple act of us being here. And how contagious that joy was. Paty's elation when she jumped into my arms from the pool's edge, Jose's laughter as he bombarded Ryan with a water gun...these kids were over-the-moon happy just to have us here and to have our love. Everywhere you turn people are smiling, because it's wonderful the way God is working here in Mexico.

We are truly blessed to be here and cant wait for what the rest of the week will bring. Keep us and these families in your prayers as we leave the property tomorrow to pour the foundation of a house and to reach out to more children in the community.

Much Love,

Hannah (and everybody else!)

PS As I write this the rest of the group has just finished reflection and those who havent passed out from exhaustion are playing a rather competitive game of mafia. And by the sounds of it Sarah Mahler has just died an untimely death by way of a fatal pillow-beating. We'll miss you Sarah.

PPS there are monkeys in the woods outside screaming their heads off! things could get messy.