Dia De Los Niños (aka: Kids' Day)

Alright, I am back, and this time I have something to write about!!
It's funny, I spent all of last week doing basically nothing and then, all of a sudden, I have a day where I seem to be so busy that there isn't time even to stop and catch my breath. That was yesterday.

I have mentioned before that Mexicans are famous for there numerous holidays. It's true. I think that they have more holdiays than days in the year. Of course, not everyone celebrates all of them, but they do honor enough of them to make me wonder how any of the kids learn anything in the schools when the classes are canceled all the time!

Among the more renowned of these "celebrations" is "Dia De Los Niños", or Kids' Day. This day is set aside for, you guessed it, the kids! Just like we have Mothers' Day (btw, Happy Mothers' Day to all of you wonderful mothers who are reading this!!!!) and Fathers' Day, Mexico has a day set aside for all of the kids.

When I first learned about this particular tradition, I was quite confused. It seemed weird to me to celebrate a day for the kids when all the days seemed to already focus all the kids. But, as the saying goes "When in Rome, do as the Romans" so, as long as we are living here, we shall have a party for Kids' Day.

I have been involved with the kids's ministry for 2 years now, and in this time I have had the opportunity to help out with more parties and events for the kids then I wish to count. Once you have done a few with the same group of people you kind of fall into a pattern and it gets a lot easier and... that's funny... I was going to say less stressful, but it really doesn't ever get less stressful!!

This year, because of the Swine Flu, the government canceled all events and meetings for two weeks as a preocaution to prevent the spread of the sickness. Since we had planned the party for Kids' Day on one of those weekends, we had to postpone the event for a few weeks. My Mom and I were to be in charge of the making of the cake (a MUST at any Mexican party) so, when we were told the Friday after the government had reopened all schools and public meeting places that they needed the cake on Saturday (in other words, the very next day) we were a bit rushed to get it done. Still, I think that it turned out well. What do you think?

On Saturday my Mom and I were up early to put the finishing touches on the cake (we had stayed up till 12 the night before working on it) and then my Mom took me into town for my French class. As soon as I got out of class (3:00p.m.) we rushed back to Boca del Rio and my Mom dropped me off at the church to help with the last-minute preparations while she went home to get the cake and pick up my Dad and siblings.

The event itself went fairly well. It was very hot and the kids were unruly, but no more than usual. I think that the final count on the kids was somewhere around 110... That's a lot of kids!!!

My Mom shared a Bible story with the kids.

Mavil, Karen and I lead the kids in some fun songs.

The Piñata!!!! Another MUST at a Mexican party.

After the event was over and we had done a quick clean-up (6:50p.m.), all of the youth headed out to a prayer meeting in Los Flores (like 20 minutes from the church). The prayer meeting went great, although there were not as many youth there as we had hoped to see. I enjoyed being able to meet some new people and get to know a little better the people that I had met on previous occasions.

By the time we got back to Boca Del Rio (9:30p.m.) we were all very tired and ready to go to bed, but the day was not over! We (I say we, I should be more specific and say my brothers) finished cleaning the church and then setting up the chairs for the service the next day. When they had finished we ate at a little taco stand right in front of our church and THEN we went home. I think it was something like 11:00 or 12:00 when I finally got in bed!

This morning we had a great service and right now my Dad is making hamburgers in honor of Mothers' Day. I can't wait to eat them!!! There is more that I could share, but I think that this is enough for one post. I hope to see you all around here again and soon!
May the peace and blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you!