We started our morning around 7 am. We needed to be extra early to the food distribution this year because we had to meet a guide who needed to lead us through the mountain. We ate a quick breakfast at our hotel of eggs, beans, potatoes, tortillas and pan dulces before we hit the road. Usually we buy and pack the food ourselves for the distribution, but the kids at Creel went ahead and did it for us before we started our trip.

The drive up the mountain was very long and very bumpy. Most of the road is not paved, but Clifford somehow made it through. We arrived at a clearing with a few old buildings. People were slowly starting to arrive around the same time we did. A handful of kids from Creel wanted to come with us and help pass everything out. As people arrived, we passed out sports balls, stuffed animals, candy and jackets. Before we did the rest of the food distribution, some pastors that met us there gave a quick Sunday sermon and worship session.

While the songs were in Spanish, most of the sermon was in the native Tarahumara language. It was very cool for all of our travelers to be able to experience a new language. Both language are spoken in these areas, and a lot of the kids are fluent in both.

After the sermon, we began distributing food out to all the people who came. We ended up having even more food than we needed, so some people even got extra bags to take home.

It was a very successful food drive yet again, and we were glad to be able to provide at least a weeks worth of groceries for families in need. It always warms our hearts when the kids want to go out and volunteer their time to the food distribution, and we always have a large crowd of them wanting to go. Even thought these kids don’t have much, they always want to give to those less fortunate.

Afterwards, we headed back down the mountain on bumpy roads and back to the orphanage for some lunch, and so we could spend some time playing with the kids. Lupe, the director of the orphanage in Creel, made us some delicious enchiladas, mole, beans and rice.

We played some volleyball with the kids with a new net and ball that we brought, and played with all the new toys the kids received yesterday. By around 2 we were starting to feel tired from the days events, and made a quick stop to our hotel to freshen up and take a quick power nap. Soon enough though we were refreshed and ready for the rest of our fun activities planned for the day!

Our first fun activity was the annual Bingo game. We have asked the kids many times what their favorite part of us coming is, and we always expect them to say the Christmas presents. But no, the Bingo game is their all time favorite part. So of course we have to go all out for them.

A lot of the kids are really young here, and they sometimes don’t know all their numbers yet. So, each table will have at least two of us checking all cards every time a new number is called out to make sure no kid missed anything.

Soon enough all the kids were getting Bingos and claiming their prizes. One by one, we check all the winner’s cards before they can pick a prize, and soon enough all the kid’s tables were stacked with prizes. After a long two hours, the game finally came to an end, and all the kids ran back to their dorms to play while we cleaned and set the room up for movie night!

The movie for this year was Frozen II. The first Frozen was a big hit, so we knew we had to show the kids this one. There is no movie theater in Creel, so the kids don’t have access to all the new popular movies that come out.

We use a projector to show the movies since they don’t have a tv big enough for everyone to see. We popped some fresh palomitas (popcorn) and passed it out to all the kids. The kids also got extra glow sticks and mini flashlights for the movie. This had to be one of the most popular movies we have shown yet, and the kids could not stop laughing everytime Olaf was on screen. He was definitely a fan favorite for the kids, and me too.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. After the movie, we had to say our last goodbyes as this was our final day with the kids. We all lined up and got final hugs, handshakes and fist bumps as the they made their way to bed. They can always get a bit upset when it’s time for us to leave, and we are just as sad. These kids have a special place in our hearts, and we have formed close relationships with many of them. We love making them happy and spoiling them, and this is the reason we come back year after year.

We want to thank everyone again who donated to our trip, and I hope you all know just how much happiness you gave to these kids. We couldn’t do any of this without you, and we are very appreciative.

We are very thankful that we could make our trip this year, and can’t wait to come back next year and see all the kids. Today was a very fun and eventful day, and we need some sleep to power up for a little sight seeing tomorrow before we start driving back up North. Goodnight!