Hola Mexico!

12 hours after leaving home in Randolph, WI we arrived at the airport in Guadalajara. We were met at the by Narum Gutierrez, a 26 year old Chemical Engineer, whose father is the director of Hope House Orphanage, located in Ixtlahuacan de Los Membrillos. Yep, that's the name of the city and it's in the state of Jalisco. Narum will act as our interpreter and volunteers at the orphanage.

After arriving at the team house, Kina Dutro told us how she and husband Rodney came to Mexico 13 years ago and some of the challenges they face over a traditional dinner prepared by their neighbors. They're raising their four daughters here, and started Hope House, a boys only orphanage in 2008.

Kina is a breath of fresh air with a background in teaching and counseling.  After a couple of hours of conversation we already are thinking about ways we might be able to help. They recently lost a great psychologist who counseled her for about a year because they lacked the necessary funding to keep her. In her short time here she made a big difference for both the children and those who provide care for them. Counseling for abused orphans is a big priority for the World Orphan Fund.

Tomorrow we head over to visit the orphanage which is currently caring for seventeen boys between the ages of 3 and 17.