On Our Way to Ukraine

Well as promised Wendy and Christy I am blogging. I thought I better sign in while I have Internet and make sure my password is working. Guess it does. Yay!

Nothing like leaving the Country for six weeks and having a birthday in the same week. Everyone has been super, super nice to me. I leave feeling so loved.

Good thing I checked the tag on our bags. They had the wrong name and were sending them to Denver. That would have been the end of our luggage. Here's to the beginning of our adventure.

Thanks for all the Donations

Shelby, they are making your postcards. They were so cute. We did lots of crafts with the kids and they were a big hit.

One of the three computers that were purchased by donations from our friends. The kids took turns having typing lessons.

Donia reading one of the books we gave them. They loved to have us read to them.

Blocks that were donated for the boys at the orphanage.

Lunchtime at the orphanage.

Besides the orphanage, we stopped at different villages to give clothes, toys and hygiene kits to the children and families. They would flock around us. The little kids loved it.

The Beach with the kids

We took the kids to the beach one day. They loved it. None of them had swimming suits but they loved it clothes and all.

The one on the right is Mary's favorite, Jaritza. Morgan is on the left. She is Carlin's daughter, and has been so much fun.

We played volleyball with the kids and flew kites. They hadn't flown kites before and thought they were awesome.

Sister Paula at the beach.

These two were afraid of the water. Donia on the right, rode on my back all day. It was such a blast. I accidently tripped once and we both went under, she came up spluttering. The poor thing. I thought she would be done with me after that, but she laughed and hopped back on.

When they were on the bus ready to go, we gave them the friendship balls we had made. They loved them.

Cindy on the left and one of the teacher's from the orphanage on the right.

After the kids left to go back to the orphanage we ate dinner at a restaurant on the beach. I ordered a fish fillet and this is what I got. Yep, head, tail fins and all.

The Orphanage

The orphanage we are working with, is about an hour and a half outside of Leon in Nicaragua. It was built on the family property of Sister Paula.

After a devastating hurricane, Sister Paula was in the capital city of Managua helping out and was moved by the suffering of the orphan children on the street. She decided to take some back to her family home outside of Leon. She returned to her 100 year old mother with 7 extra children. Her mother told her it was no problem. Sister Paula attributes this to the fact that her mother had raised 17 children of her own.

The orphanage that started with 7 children grew. Sister Paula has built it into a haven and shelter for children in need.

We are staying in Leon and travel to the orphanage each day to work and play with the kids.

The outhouse

Cindy, Mary Jacqualine

Cindy and Jaqualine have both been in the orphanage about 6 years.

Angie talking to Sister Paula and one of the teachers.

The kitchen and cooking area

Erika and Dania- Two sisters in the orphanage. They are cuties and so much fun.

Church by Mary

The first day here we went to church we were a big spectacle! 9 Americans walking into a congregation with all native Nicaraugans:) (not to add that we were late)! Amy made friends with Julio who was sitting behind us by having me translate notes and passing them back and forth. That kept her entertained since she couldn't understand what the speakers were saying. We handed out candy to the primary kids and gave bags of clothes to the Relief Society President so that she could pass them out according to those in need. She has been RS president for 9 years! We asked her if she wanted to be released. She said yes, she was starting to have health problems. She told the bishop this, but he said it wasn't his decision it was the Lord's!

Sara is 12

This is the cake Lena made for Sara's birthday. I left to run errands and asked Lena to bake a cake for Sara. I told her I would help her decorate it when I got home. Imagine my surprise when I came home to this. Those are roses on top with little leaves. I asked her how she made the leaves. She said she found some outside and dipped them in chocolate.


When I asked Sara what she wanted for her birthday, she said she wanted cake in her face. I asked her why and she said she wanted to be like Eli in her birthday picture.



So I complied with her wishes and smashed cake in her face. She loved it!






She wanted her favorite, Chinese food for lunch.


And to go skating with our friends and family.




Sara is such a sweetie and all the little kids adore her. They are constantly crawling all over her and begging for "Sara." She loves it!


At the end of the day she gave me a big hug and kiss and told me thanks for being the nicest mom in the world. She said this was the best birthday of her life.

I feel blessed beyond words to have found this little sweetheart and can't imagine my life without her.

Rast Family Criminals

Ok I have been a terrible blogger for the last few months, but I had to record something that happened this week which was so funny.

When the girls first got here, they were fascinated with getting gas, so I taught them how to put gas in the car. Since then they have taken turns getting gas and get such a kick out of it. Good for me right? Especially in the freezing weather.

Well, last week we went to Roosevelt to visit my family and we stopped in Heber for gas. I gave Lena the debit card and went to use the bathroom. When I got back she was done getting gas so we drove away.

About an hour and a half later we were still en-route to Roosevelt when I noticed a car was tailing me. I sped up. They sped up. I wondered why they wouldn't pass me so I went faster and faster. Finally, I was going 80 miles an hour and very annoyed that the car was still tailing me. Suddenly red and blue lights were flashing. It was an undercover cop car and he was pulling me over.

He came to the window and I apologized for speeding. He said, "It's ok that is not why I pulled you over, I pulled you over for something that happened in Heber, do you know what I am talking about? "

I immediately thought, "oh no what did the girls do now." I told him unfortunately I didn't know what I had done.

He told me that we had not paid for our gas and wondered why. I started laughing and told him I let my kids do it and that I was very sorry. Thankfully, he was a cop with a merciful and kind nature and also got a kick out of my predicament.

So after talking to the Sheriff's Dept. I was able to pay over the phone and got away with speeding and stealing gas without even a ticket. A Christmas miracle.