08/03/2026
ANNA’S FIRST RUN IN WITH THE LAW
First full day and we are back and better than ever! After an early bed time last night, our students were rested and ready for all that was in store. Which includes water leaks, snakes, and Russian! Keep reading for more.
Our travel day wiped out students, so we had some sleeping in which featured Kristinas beautiful Russian sleep talking. But Eli was SO ready for first full day of the mission trip that he was up and at em at the terrifying hour of 3am. For those of you worried about us leaders, do not woe we were able to pop over and grab some Starbucks for to liven ourselves up, but nothing could compare to the excitement everyone had for nothing other than Hotel Rosita breakfast featuring OMELETTES AND CHILAQUILES!
After a delicious breakfast in our Sunday best, we were ecstatic for the bus to arrive so we could head to church. Once getting on the very dark bus (mentioned by at least 10 students how dark the bus was) and reading all your amazing comments (pls give us more embarrassing comments, Angela don’t hold back), we were set for a peaceful bus ride to the church, minus the motion sickness that came for Kait, Sav, and Jadyn. DON’T FRET, no puking occurred.
Once we made it in, all was well and hearts were full, as we greeted old and new friends and prepared for a sweet morning at church. Shoutout Kennedy for being the biggest social butterfly of the day. As we finished week 6 of La Vida de David along with the rest of Gold Creek, our students learned what it means to live a life of legacy and honestly, what could be more fitting than that as we enter a week of service.
Once service was ended, we walked out to the tree and prepared for our favorite photo op of the trip. But the leaders were bored and decided that all we needed (especially Jadyn and Sav’s motion sickness) was a quick ride on a spinny. Which gave us the energy to get the tent up.
Before we knew it, Jack used his spiderwebs to fly up to the roof to begin his journey of becoming the MVP of tent set up. A special shoutout to Carlie and Eli for stepping up and stepping in wherever they were needed with happy hearts. Though the poles were hot, there were less students, and the knots were being difficult our students killed it on tent set up.
Before we popped it up, the boys got bored and decided they were ready for a game of parachute under the tent, so they hung out under the hot tent for 5 minutes (though they told us they were getting the big poles up). With the tent popped up and everything cleaned up, we were ready for the best meal, food from the Mexico moms. Today’s meal of choice, tacos and pasta.
With our bellies full, it was time to get back on the bus and we were wiped. Lots of naps were had, rest was taken and mama Janine came in to separate a debate between Pastor Jadyn and Jason as we prepared for an afternoon on in the city, but not before the plank challenge of the century, where Addison held a 3:51 plank. After a quick change, and potentially not enough showers, we headed for the town. What was planned to be a beautiful day out, turned into an amazing rainstorm in PV!
Luckily the first group made it into the restaurant before, while the second group got those showers they missed earlier. Thank goodness. While everyone chose Pepe’s, the best tacos in town tonight, Cooper enjoyed the best tacos along with rain water leaking on his head, he specifically told me this was his favorite part of the day because who doesn’t loved being rained on. He also had to sing Don’t stop believin at full volume after losing the odds, so Cooper had a GREAT dinner.
Our groups headed out to shop and honestly, I’m impressed by our students bartering skills, Kristina’s ability to dye her hand with a hibiscus popsicle and Chris and Janine’s ability to say no to a woman chasing them down yelling massage. We finished up shopping and made our way back to Hotel Rosita, we stumbled upon our new friend Arnold, a 100 pound snake that would almost lead to Anna’s first run in with the law. While free to hold, Arnold was not free to take photos with, but this did not stop our queen Anna. (However they were smarter than we expected).
Once back, we settled in for a night of service! shoutout to Savannah and Jason for leading worship and a fire message from Pastor Jason talking about divine appointments and divine connections and being ok with the unexpected! Small group time was filled with a loud thunderstorm and lightning and meaningful conversation about how to have an open heart this week!
We just crossed the street for our nightly 9pm McDonald’s run and we are ready for VBS tomorrow! Prayers appreciated, we miss you all!
