5 on 5: Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving edition of 5-on-5 may be late but it is full of firsts…..

The new Academy students have arrived for their three months in Mexico. The first week we spent some time doing team building and orientation. Here they are trying to solve a brain teaser problem as a team. This is the first year we have opened up the program to a larger group and we have sixteen young adults spending time volunteering and learning about social justice, leadership and personal development topics.

We spent several days in Ensenada and Tijuana for the application process for their American tourist visas. This included the girls’ first stay in a hotel, which I made sure had a hotel for them to enjoy. And praise God, in the end they were approved for multiple-entry visas to visit the United States.

After being approved for the American visas, we spent one extra night so that the girls could spend a bit more time with their birth mom and half-brothers. This meant that Pedro and I had our first mini-vacation together which we spent in the touristy area of Rosarito, sipping drinks under a cabana on the beach and eating lobster.

This past month the girls also learned what the big M means. We had to get some work done on the car while in the city for a doctor appointment. It was super hot and I was melting so suggested we walk to the nearby McDonalds while we waited. Ice cream, air conditioning, an indoor playground for the girls and wifi and an armchair for me, and we were happy to wait while the tires were balanced.

For my birthday we went to one of my favourite restaurants and gardens in the area.