Amanda and I with the new shirts she got us

I had the privilege of having my sister Amanda come visit me here in Juarez for the weekend. We had so much fun! Amanda is an amazing person with a huge heart. We laugh and laugh together, and I love how adventurous she is. The kids really enjoyed her stay as well, and I think she has made many new friends!

We had a full weekend of activities but also rested a lot too. Amanda provided a movie night for the boys complete with ice cream, soda, and other good junk food. We watched Mary Poppins and the boys were fascinated by it! The next day, Amanda helped me tremendously teaching my computing classes. With her help, I think it was the first time my younger class which is also the biggest actually finished all of their assignments. Later, we had a very authentic Mexican eating out experience in this awesome hole-in-the-wall place nearby. We got to sleep in on Saturday and then had a really fun afternoon downtown where Amanda bought me my “Made in Mexico” shirt! Later we got the VIP movie experience with a wonderful couple in the ministry and had a great relaxing with them there. Sunday morning we hiked a small mountain with the older boys and had a blast! We had a prayer time at the top, and on the way back, Amanda had a lot of fun riding in the back of the truck with all the kids. She also had a great time worshiping with us at church, and then later we had good ol’ American hamburgers with others in the ministry. We hung out at the house with some of the kids having fun playing the Wii, and then later that night we played an intense game of dominos as we had fun with some of the other staff members.

It was so hard to say goodbye to Amanda because we had so much fun catching up and laughing constantly together, but I am so happy to have had the honor of her visit, especially as her husband and two new twins are missing her very much! Thank you Amanda for the blessing you have been this past weekend and always. I love being your brother : )

Amanda bringing peace to Juarez

Amanda treated the boys to a movie night

Many hands hungry for ice cream and soda

They had so much fun!!

Once the sugar starting kicking in

We played a fun game to learn some English

Amanda awarded candy for a job well done

We hung out at the casa playing the Wii

We toured downtown Juarez

Inside the main downtown cathedral

One way to make a living is refusing to move until someone pays you

Another shiny guy, but this one didn’t move at all

We met one of our ancestors

Why did the chicken walk around downtown?

We hiked up a small mountain with some of the boys

The boys conquering the hill

We had fun exploring a cave on the way up

Finding peace in the cave

Jesus waiting for us at the top

View of Juarez and El Paso from the top of the hill

Very excited to have made it to the top!

Hunting for frogs on the way down

This is how we roll in Juarez

Amanda with some of her new friends

There’s always one that touches your heart profoundly

New friend Chuy

Some more new friends

Amanda saying goodbye

Amanda and I with the new shirts she got us