Thanks so much
amanda
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Prayer
Despite the constant blessings around me, this week has been a long and difficult week. It may be a mixture of being tired and missing home. But if you could pray for me that would be great. I have the next few days in Matagalpa for meetings with MCC and then next Monday and Tuesday is off for a National holiday, which could mean a great time of relaxation or more time to think about home. I am definitely missing home, missing having those conversations with friends and family where I can really express myself, or not say anything and be totally comfortable just spending time with them. I am also struggling with some insecurities and doubts. So really any prayer would be great if you think of it.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
One of the little girls during Horse therapy
Doing a sensory activity with one of the little guys: a nasty combination of cooked spaghetti, marshmallows, jello, and chocolate pudding
Friday afternoon activity: the water balloon toss which of course turned into a huge water fight with the older kids and some of the staff :)
Out rappelling at Flor de Pachote: 70m down
I apologize to all my devoted readers that it has now been like 3 weeks since I last posted! HAha Im just kidding.
Well as I said in the last post, Christmas is gearing up here. We are starting to make and hang up Christmas decorations at work. And I actually had a conversation with my host mom Layla about if she would like a Christmas tree for the house and she said that everyday is special and so many families dont get a Christmas tree but after I rationalized that it is like a birthday cake on your birthday....something extra to celebrate, she agreed and said if I wanted to buy a tree or some lights, we can definitely decorate the house a little bit. So I am not sure when we will do that, but I think we will get some lights and decorate the place a little bit. And Christmas music is going to start playing, as soon as I find some!
The last few weeks have been really great at work. There have been some struggles and differences in opinion as far as how to discipline the kids, how to position the kids and feed kids who require a lot of extra time (bottle vs spoon), but this last tuesday was the grand presentation! Gabbi and I gave a presentation on Feeding, Positioning the kids in bed, Providing extra sensation for those kids who dont respond to natural stimuli (i.e. music, lights, people around them etc...hyper and hyposensitivity), we also talked about disciplining the kids and how to re-enforce consequences when there are so many people that work with the kids and everyone has a difference of opinion. Especially for example in my case. It is tough to communicate with the kids as is, and the older ones really dont listen when I try to tell them what to do (i.e. not run in the street, pick up there garbage, dont hit other kids etc) and so it actually becomes a game for them. And everyone has a different opinion about how to have them listen, so just working through that and working with what I believe is appropriate as well. There was a lot of great conversation about all of the topics and we will see how things change....poco a poco I am assuming but still hopeful.
Last weekend I went rapelling with some friends which was sooooo much fun. I have never been and so it was a little exhilarating with a 70m drop. And yet another activity added to the list of tourist activities!! Javier my host brother came with us, but due to a slight miscommunication, he ended up coming even though he doesnt actually enjoy rapelling. I guess I forgot to actually tell him the activity when we were talking on the phone (which is really hard by the way when i can't act anything out haha)..oops again, but we went out to a movie the next day so I think it was a pretty good weekend in general. He is actually going to Guatemala for the week to play baseball so that will be pretty awesome for him, if all the paperwork goes through.
And actually tomorrow I am going to a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the American people from MCC which means I need to figure out a dish to make. Not totally sure yet as my family is sending stuffing in a care package and I plan on learning the lesson of sharing after I eat it!
So this next week will again be a transition as Gabbi has left back for the states and I am flying solo at Hogar Belen. I am a bit apprehensive about working solo with the kids, but at the same time I am thankful for the time she was here and excited for the next phase. However, I think it will be a good opportunity to get to know the ladies at Hogar Belen a little better and practice more Spanish.
I apologize to all my devoted readers that it has now been like 3 weeks since I last posted! HAha Im just kidding.
Well as I said in the last post, Christmas is gearing up here. We are starting to make and hang up Christmas decorations at work. And I actually had a conversation with my host mom Layla about if she would like a Christmas tree for the house and she said that everyday is special and so many families dont get a Christmas tree but after I rationalized that it is like a birthday cake on your birthday....something extra to celebrate, she agreed and said if I wanted to buy a tree or some lights, we can definitely decorate the house a little bit. So I am not sure when we will do that, but I think we will get some lights and decorate the place a little bit. And Christmas music is going to start playing, as soon as I find some!
The last few weeks have been really great at work. There have been some struggles and differences in opinion as far as how to discipline the kids, how to position the kids and feed kids who require a lot of extra time (bottle vs spoon), but this last tuesday was the grand presentation! Gabbi and I gave a presentation on Feeding, Positioning the kids in bed, Providing extra sensation for those kids who dont respond to natural stimuli (i.e. music, lights, people around them etc...hyper and hyposensitivity), we also talked about disciplining the kids and how to re-enforce consequences when there are so many people that work with the kids and everyone has a difference of opinion. Especially for example in my case. It is tough to communicate with the kids as is, and the older ones really dont listen when I try to tell them what to do (i.e. not run in the street, pick up there garbage, dont hit other kids etc) and so it actually becomes a game for them. And everyone has a different opinion about how to have them listen, so just working through that and working with what I believe is appropriate as well. There was a lot of great conversation about all of the topics and we will see how things change....poco a poco I am assuming but still hopeful.
Last weekend I went rapelling with some friends which was sooooo much fun. I have never been and so it was a little exhilarating with a 70m drop. And yet another activity added to the list of tourist activities!! Javier my host brother came with us, but due to a slight miscommunication, he ended up coming even though he doesnt actually enjoy rapelling. I guess I forgot to actually tell him the activity when we were talking on the phone (which is really hard by the way when i can't act anything out haha)..oops again, but we went out to a movie the next day so I think it was a pretty good weekend in general. He is actually going to Guatemala for the week to play baseball so that will be pretty awesome for him, if all the paperwork goes through.
And actually tomorrow I am going to a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the American people from MCC which means I need to figure out a dish to make. Not totally sure yet as my family is sending stuffing in a care package and I plan on learning the lesson of sharing after I eat it!
So this next week will again be a transition as Gabbi has left back for the states and I am flying solo at Hogar Belen. I am a bit apprehensive about working solo with the kids, but at the same time I am thankful for the time she was here and excited for the next phase. However, I think it will be a good opportunity to get to know the ladies at Hogar Belen a little better and practice more Spanish.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
FYI it is NOVEMBER
Yes another post is definitely needed. Just to clear up one thing from the last post. Gabby or Gabriella is a girl that is volunteering here for two months. It was really random and last minute how she ended up working at Hogar Belen, but she is a blessing to work with as she not only speaks and understands Spanish (she is American) but her and I get along really well and its always more fun working with kids when someone else is around to relieve you when you are a little bit stressed on patience. And we have been able to hang out after work as she lives quite close to me.
The last couple of weeks have flown by and I cannot believe it is November already! In fact the Christmas tree is up in one of the malls here....thats a little early for me, even if there was snow on the ground.
Okay so what has happened? hmm, all the ladies from MCC went up to Matagalpa for a ladies night two weekends ago which was a great time to relax, eat, make jewelery and get to know some of them a bit better. A few of us went to Selva Negra which is sort of a natural reserve area/ self sustaining community all the way from coffee plantations to a restaurant. There are also really beautiful trails to hike/walk and see some howler monkeys. Which we didnt actually see but did hear. And of course before we left we just had to try some home grown coffee ! And that Sunday was one of the families, sons 3rd birthday. So of course we celebrated and had a pinyata.
Unfortunately I was a little sick coming out of that weekend and this weekend as well. Not sure if it is the food or if I am not hydrating enough on the weekends, but its kept me from work for a couple half days. So while I sleep off whatever I have, I keep one eye open as my host dad thinks an injection shot is the cure for everything!! I have resisted him sooo far, but I am running out of excuses. haha
And this past weekend was really great. It started out with an awesome afternoon with the kids on Friday. We were told to think of a fun activity for them as Fridays we like to do something different both for the kids and the staff to enjoy. So I had some balloons which had been sent with me and so we decided to do a balloon toss with the older kids and have the younger kids just play with the water balloons.....which of course turned into a huge water fight between a few of us! Then some ladies from the community donated a Spiderman pinyata, Spiderman and Spongebob shirts for all the kids and followed it up with cake and jello! That is a good day no matter where you are working!
Saturday there was another fundraiser at the church in order to finish the floor, roof etc. This of course was a huge surprise to me as I thought there was just a drama being performed...but no, it was likely announced in church and I just happened to miss it!...again! Actually it was really great as there were a lot of specials performed (dramas and music pieces) and thankfully none of them by me...although I was told the last one went well, as I did it in both English and Spanish. Afterwards we went for pizza with my family...another surprise, but a delicious one as I could eat pizza for breakfast lunch and supper.
Sunday my host family and I went to the Masaya market for a little shopping and I wanted to buy a present for my host mom Layla as it is her Birthday on the 9th....so we got some new dancing shoes for her. Not actually for dancing, but new shoes nonetheless. The weekend was just a great time to spend with family here as I had been invited to go down to the beach with a friend but really felt like I should stick it at home for a bit. And I am definitely glad I did. I am so used to planning my own schedule and I like to be busy and doing things, but when I have slowed down is when I have had the chance to do some unexpected things...a little lesson I guess.
And yet again it is Wednesday. Time with the kids has been great...today I started writing out what I will be saying for the presentation we are giving in a couple weeks. And it looks like Friday we will be taking a few kids to the pool for some therapy. I really wish I had a bit more experience working with kids so that I could really focus on some development goals and have more of a clinical rationale behind what I am doing....but things are going well as I am learning what works best for each child, how to pace myself, and how to communicate with them.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
-If you could pray for health that would be great. As I said I have been sick a few times with nausea, cramping stomach and have just been really tired. I am not too sure what it is from either.
-That God would continue to work in me. I have a lot of things to learn....generosity for one. Also prayer. I am reading A Praying Life by Paul Miller (i believe), and so far it has talked about just coming to God messy. Not worrying that your prayers arent polished or focused, just come to Him with whatever you have. And learning to live your life in constant communication with Him....which also helps in keeping your perspective on whatever moments come your way.
-That God would guide my thoughts and show me how He sees me.
BUT Thanks be to God because I have seen Him working around me in so many ways, whether providing me with supportive friends, a great conversation (in Spanish) with my host cousin or a random event to lighten my mood (like a traffic jam caused by cows crossing the road).
Hope you enjoy the read and pictures will hopefully soon come however I dont like to have my camera out with me very often and so it is difficult to download pictures at a cyber cafe.
Lots of love
amanda
The last couple of weeks have flown by and I cannot believe it is November already! In fact the Christmas tree is up in one of the malls here....thats a little early for me, even if there was snow on the ground.
Okay so what has happened? hmm, all the ladies from MCC went up to Matagalpa for a ladies night two weekends ago which was a great time to relax, eat, make jewelery and get to know some of them a bit better. A few of us went to Selva Negra which is sort of a natural reserve area/ self sustaining community all the way from coffee plantations to a restaurant. There are also really beautiful trails to hike/walk and see some howler monkeys. Which we didnt actually see but did hear. And of course before we left we just had to try some home grown coffee ! And that Sunday was one of the families, sons 3rd birthday. So of course we celebrated and had a pinyata.
Unfortunately I was a little sick coming out of that weekend and this weekend as well. Not sure if it is the food or if I am not hydrating enough on the weekends, but its kept me from work for a couple half days. So while I sleep off whatever I have, I keep one eye open as my host dad thinks an injection shot is the cure for everything!! I have resisted him sooo far, but I am running out of excuses. haha
And this past weekend was really great. It started out with an awesome afternoon with the kids on Friday. We were told to think of a fun activity for them as Fridays we like to do something different both for the kids and the staff to enjoy. So I had some balloons which had been sent with me and so we decided to do a balloon toss with the older kids and have the younger kids just play with the water balloons.....which of course turned into a huge water fight between a few of us! Then some ladies from the community donated a Spiderman pinyata, Spiderman and Spongebob shirts for all the kids and followed it up with cake and jello! That is a good day no matter where you are working!
Saturday there was another fundraiser at the church in order to finish the floor, roof etc. This of course was a huge surprise to me as I thought there was just a drama being performed...but no, it was likely announced in church and I just happened to miss it!...again! Actually it was really great as there were a lot of specials performed (dramas and music pieces) and thankfully none of them by me...although I was told the last one went well, as I did it in both English and Spanish. Afterwards we went for pizza with my family...another surprise, but a delicious one as I could eat pizza for breakfast lunch and supper.
Sunday my host family and I went to the Masaya market for a little shopping and I wanted to buy a present for my host mom Layla as it is her Birthday on the 9th....so we got some new dancing shoes for her. Not actually for dancing, but new shoes nonetheless. The weekend was just a great time to spend with family here as I had been invited to go down to the beach with a friend but really felt like I should stick it at home for a bit. And I am definitely glad I did. I am so used to planning my own schedule and I like to be busy and doing things, but when I have slowed down is when I have had the chance to do some unexpected things...a little lesson I guess.
And yet again it is Wednesday. Time with the kids has been great...today I started writing out what I will be saying for the presentation we are giving in a couple weeks. And it looks like Friday we will be taking a few kids to the pool for some therapy. I really wish I had a bit more experience working with kids so that I could really focus on some development goals and have more of a clinical rationale behind what I am doing....but things are going well as I am learning what works best for each child, how to pace myself, and how to communicate with them.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
-If you could pray for health that would be great. As I said I have been sick a few times with nausea, cramping stomach and have just been really tired. I am not too sure what it is from either.
-That God would continue to work in me. I have a lot of things to learn....generosity for one. Also prayer. I am reading A Praying Life by Paul Miller (i believe), and so far it has talked about just coming to God messy. Not worrying that your prayers arent polished or focused, just come to Him with whatever you have. And learning to live your life in constant communication with Him....which also helps in keeping your perspective on whatever moments come your way.
-That God would guide my thoughts and show me how He sees me.
BUT Thanks be to God because I have seen Him working around me in so many ways, whether providing me with supportive friends, a great conversation (in Spanish) with my host cousin or a random event to lighten my mood (like a traffic jam caused by cows crossing the road).
Hope you enjoy the read and pictures will hopefully soon come however I dont like to have my camera out with me very often and so it is difficult to download pictures at a cyber cafe.
Lots of love
amanda
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