Our Mountain Hike by Shawn!



The mountains in the distance was our destination!



Today was pretty tiring. When we got back to the room at like 5pm we both took a 2 hour nap. You will know why when I done. The woman that we met here at the church, Eva, invited us to her Christian Children’s home that her and husband runs. Mainly to give us something to do for the day and to meet some really cool kids. Parents that are having a tough time with finding work or addictions, or anything difficulties with caring for their child come to the center and they help anyway they can. The main way they help is when the parents have to work two jobs just to stay afloat and battling an addiction; they give a place the kids can sleep, eat, and learn. So the kids stay, play, learn, and eat all at the center for them during the week and the parents that are still involved will take them on the weekend. The centers’ focus is not to take the kids from their parents, but to rather help the parents with whatever they are struggling with in their life so they can keep their family together. The center has 4 shows a year and during that time, they try to witness to the parents about God. Through this program, they have been able to get parents back on their feet and into church.  

                This center was a great facility for these kids. We went early in the morning, so only the preschoolers were there. They were awesome, so full of life and spirit. It made us really miss the boys. Especially all the little toe heads running around. We got the grand tour of her school and then we were asked if we would like to take a little walk with the kids. Our response was SURE!  WE would LOVE TO! That was a mistake! They said a walk, not a 23 mile hike through the mountains. Haha. It wasn’t that bad, but man what a walk. We walked through this big field and up this big hill to where we stopped and had a little picnic. The kids loved it. The hike there was probably 2 ½ to 3 miles there and the same back. I’ll tell ya, those kids never complained once.  Man we just wanted a huge glass of water and a nap at the end of it, and those kids were still a mile a minute. The scenery was so beautiful. The pictures don’t give it too much justice. All we kept saying to each other was, “The boys would love this.” Man that was a big “little walk”, but we really enjoyed it.  It has been nice enjoying the walks everywhere.

                After all that fun, we left for the orphanage to see Eryna. She was in such a better mood today. She seems to have gotten over her little stomach bug. We got to have a great time with just her doing puzzles, and English flash cards. We have another video today with her sitting on my lap doing English letters and talking on her fake phone we got her. She always gets shy when she knows when we’re taping or taking a picture of her.  We got to spend a good couple hours with her today. I love our one on one time with her but it’s not always like that. A lot of times her other class mates come barging in and they want to play too. It’s nice but it takes away a bit from our bonding as parents and child. I still feel every day we have that we get closer and closer as a family. Everyday Eryna takes more and more of me with her. She is our little girl. (We will post the videos tomorrow, the internet was not cooperating)

Shawn helped all the kids get up the moountain

Someone lined up rocks that were a symbol of "I love you"

The houses in the distance is where we started!



Allison's new loves! We want to bring them all home!!




The front of the Children's home. They just got funding
to insulate the building right in time for winter!



The playground that was built from the church
Eva was raised in Switzerland.