House of Mercy

In November we flew to San Antonio to see Steve's dad and his brother Ted.  On the weekend, we went with Ted and his wife Colleen across the border to Piedras Negras, Mexico.  Ted and Colleen go there most weekends to help at an orphanage (House of Mercy - Casa de Misericordia) and a nearby church.

Birthday party with piñata

The orphanage was very well run by a very dedicated couple who have three children of their own.  Although each child had a sad story of why they were there, it was a place where they could feel safe and well-cared for.   The children were always eager to talk to us and play games.

This was a good preview of Peace Corps work for us, as we will be working with people in Panama who are similarly poor and disadvantaged.   It also gave us a chance to sharpen up our Spanish skills, as we had to speak Spanish all the time.