adios, amigos!

A few months ago, we took the children in to have passports made up for each of them.

Because... we had been contemplating a cruise to some exotic destination. But for a number of reasons, the cruise didn't work out. Still, we thought it was a good idea to have passports for the whole family, just in case we had some totally off-the-wall idea to load up the car on less than 72-hours notice and take off to some foreign country.

(You know, it's happened before.)

When our friends came over the other night to talk with us about the work that they were doing in Mexico and they asked us to join them - Charlie and I both eagerly said YES. This would be a fantastic experience for us - and an incredible opportunity to expose our children to another culture - another existence - and we hoped that it would nurture the compassion that is starting to bloom in their growing hearts.

And wow - how fortuitous that we already had their passports!

This was MEANT to be!

But then we went to bed and we slept on it. And when we woke up, we looked at each other like we were OUT OF OUR MINDS to even think about taking our precious children in to Mexico. Not because we don't think it would be a wonderful experience for them (because I'm certain it would) and not because we don't think that they would be helpful (which I'm think they might be) but because we're a whole lot nervous about voyaging in to a foreign country that at least on the news, is portrayed as an increasingly corrupt and murderous hell hole.

So, we decided instead that I would catch a ride with our friends and drive across the border to do a recon mission. And since I'll be traveling with people who go down several times a month, I feel a lot more safe knowing that if we get pulled over by the Federales someone can communicate with them effectively. Because I'm certain that if it was up to me something brilliant like, "Donde este ... uh ... pinata?" would probably come out.

Charlie will hold down the fort when I leave at 6:30 in the morning for what they tell me, may be an 18-hour day of traveling back and forth across the border. Despite what might take upwards of SIX HOURS travel time, I'm really excited about visiting and unloading several truck loads worth of supplies at the orphanage.

With me I'll have my two water bottles and passport and camera with 8GB memory card. And a First Aid kit because I never leave home with out it. And an Uncrustable. Or five. And maybe some Dove squares. Because I'm a little addicted.

Say a prayer for me, won't you please that I make it down and back safely? And also, that I don't get thrown in to some Mexican prison for trying to smuggle a dozen or more orphans out of the country.