After getting off the internet on Friday night around 1:30 a.m. I laid down on the floor to sleep until around 3. It was restless sleep but it was better than nothing. At 4 a.m. I went and stood in line to get my bags checked so I could go into the other part of the airport. Those chairs were much more comfortable. ha ha.
We took off at 7 a.m. I sat next to a man who was from Lima but lived in the US for 14 years now. He had his Bible on his lap and we talked quite a bit. The flight was 3-ish hours. Then we had the 3 1/2 hour layover in Panama City, Panama and I called my family from the payphone and ate some pizza.
Then we had the 4 hour flight to Houston, which was fine.
Then I had about an hour layover in Houston, where I had to go through customs, have my bags rechecked, and then run to my gate to board the flight, literally.
I landed safely in OKC at 8:45 and by the time I got my bags, my sisters Emma and Joanna were there to pick me up at the airport. It worked out perfectly.
They brought me oreos, which I gladly ate. We talked some but I was really tired. They stopped at Wal-mart to get lice shampoo to really make sure I did not have lice.
We got home at 11 p.m. and I shampooed and went to bed, around midnight.
We were up at 9 in the morning to go to my sisters house to paint all day. I went non-stop, painting, meeting up with friends, hanging out with my sisters, church, baptism, tennis, more helping at my sisters house, watching a movie, starting school, coloring and cutting my hair, going to the women's soccer game, getting a new phone, spending time with my best guy friends new wife, and a little in between, which brings me to right now.
It has been a weird transition. It has been fairly easy, which is what is weird to me. But I think it is because I have not had a chance to breathe. I really never felt the whole welcome home, tell the stories, show the pictures vibe. I was just thrown into the routine of things and haven't come up for air yet. Lots of logistical things being taken care of and my sister Joanna came in to see me and she has helped tremendously.
I miss the kids at the orphanage a lot. I wish I was there with them. But I am happy to see my family and friends and to get into this routine. It is just so different.
Thank you for the prayers, the support. I hope to be returning to Peru shortly =]
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Lima airport
So yesterday I finally got some time with the kids. After spending some great one on one time with Wendy, pastors wife, I played some basketball with the kids, one last time and then I let them eat and worked on some letters. Then I went and spent some time with the girls in house 2 for a little while and they began the idea of writing all over my hands and arms, Te amo mucho, etc. And then I went to the Bible study for an hour before returning to the kids house around 8:30. I remained there until 10:40 p.m. and it was soooo good. Just watching the end of their favorite show Al Fondo Hay Sitio, not my favorite show, ha ha. And then we played cards. It was so good to just love on them, hug them, and to take them all in one last time before saying goodbye. Then I stayed up SUPER late working on finishing up packing, writing letters, cleaning, etc. It was a good thing I asked Kevin to wake me up since my phone broke, because I would not have gotten up, lol.
He woke me up and I immediately went to give the last cards to House 1 and said goodbye to them. Then I went to House 2 to say goodbye and they each individually hugged me and some were saying, no, not today. And why? And then Maribel hugged me and handed me a wrapped gift. The last thing I was expecting and I got all teary-eyed. So I was walking back to my room and the kids are hollering at me, saying bye from afar and I get to my room and unwrap the present and as I see what it is, I just begin balling my eyes out. It makes me emotional just thinking about it right now. As I opened it, it was the shirt that the Casa de Paz orphanage workers wear! They had gotten one for me. And in that there was a page full of little notes from most of the kids at the orphanage! My goodness did I lose it or what!
To realize how much you love so many people and how much they return that love, an amazing beautiful thing. It was so hard to leave. So so so so so hard.
And now that I have left, like my dearest Aimeeta once said, If I cannot be in Pacasmayo with the kids, then I just want to be at home.
Kevin, Peggy, and Fred took me to the bus station. It took almost 10 hours to get here and I slept basically 7 hours. I watched some of Batman Returns. And then at the bus station I felt a little overwhelmed. I was like, how in the world am I going to get my bags up these stairs, there is no way. And then a man offered to help and I was like, thank You Jesus! And then a luggage carrier dude helped me get my bags out the door and there was a man standing there with his tags hanging from his neck and he took me to the airport.
I was freaking out a little when I got to the airport, on the inside at least. But there was so much going on and I felt so confused. Then I talked to a lady and she basically made me think that I had to wait out in the lobby to check in until at least 2 a.m. (it being like 10 p.m.) and I was like, there is no way. So then I talked to someone else and she told me I could go up where the food is and all and that is where I am at now. I also called Kevin and at first could not figure out to get his number right. I was getting frustrated because I was like, if I cannot get ahold of the one number I have then that is not cool. But it all worked out.
I ate food and walked around a bit but I am so tired that I came here to the internet thing to keep myself awake. ha ha.
Anyways, thanks for the prayers, please keep on praying!
He woke me up and I immediately went to give the last cards to House 1 and said goodbye to them. Then I went to House 2 to say goodbye and they each individually hugged me and some were saying, no, not today. And why? And then Maribel hugged me and handed me a wrapped gift. The last thing I was expecting and I got all teary-eyed. So I was walking back to my room and the kids are hollering at me, saying bye from afar and I get to my room and unwrap the present and as I see what it is, I just begin balling my eyes out. It makes me emotional just thinking about it right now. As I opened it, it was the shirt that the Casa de Paz orphanage workers wear! They had gotten one for me. And in that there was a page full of little notes from most of the kids at the orphanage! My goodness did I lose it or what!
To realize how much you love so many people and how much they return that love, an amazing beautiful thing. It was so hard to leave. So so so so so hard.
And now that I have left, like my dearest Aimeeta once said, If I cannot be in Pacasmayo with the kids, then I just want to be at home.
Kevin, Peggy, and Fred took me to the bus station. It took almost 10 hours to get here and I slept basically 7 hours. I watched some of Batman Returns. And then at the bus station I felt a little overwhelmed. I was like, how in the world am I going to get my bags up these stairs, there is no way. And then a man offered to help and I was like, thank You Jesus! And then a luggage carrier dude helped me get my bags out the door and there was a man standing there with his tags hanging from his neck and he took me to the airport.
I was freaking out a little when I got to the airport, on the inside at least. But there was so much going on and I felt so confused. Then I talked to a lady and she basically made me think that I had to wait out in the lobby to check in until at least 2 a.m. (it being like 10 p.m.) and I was like, there is no way. So then I talked to someone else and she told me I could go up where the food is and all and that is where I am at now. I also called Kevin and at first could not figure out to get his number right. I was getting frustrated because I was like, if I cannot get ahold of the one number I have then that is not cool. But it all worked out.
I ate food and walked around a bit but I am so tired that I came here to the internet thing to keep myself awake. ha ha.
Anyways, thanks for the prayers, please keep on praying!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The end is near...
I am sad to say that the end is in sight. Tomorrow morning I leave Pacasmayo, Peru for Lima.
These 10 weeks have been some of the greatest weeks of my entire life. Some very challenging. But I loved every minute of it. Surprisingly it was not hard to adjust and two weeks in, I felt like this was home. It was never hard for me and I did not miss home very often. It's not because I don't love the people at home, because I very much do, it's just that I think God has prepared me for this my entire life and I finally felt like I was doing something that could be a forever thing in my future. I felt at peace and not necessarily comfortable but at home.
I had enough inconveniences for it to still be a challenge and to still have to deny the selfish tendencies that I could allow to come out but coming here was never about me. It was always about those kids. Always for them. I did not come here to find a man. I did not come here to find myself. I did not come here to escape from anything.
I came here for God. I came here to serve the people of this country. I came here to love these kids. And I did and I do. I love these kids with every breath within myself. I want so desperately to take them with me. To adopt some as my own. I want to wipe away all their tears, to give them all the hugs and attention they need to last a lifetime. I want to instill truths into their lives and be a part of their everyday living.
I have been blessed for 10 weeks to share in that, to experience that. They opened their arms to me and welcomed me as their own and I will forever be grateful and indebted to them.
I would be lieing if I said I had not learned anything while being here. Because even though I did not come here for myself, I learned so much about myself, about life, living, about my future, past, and about people and culture. I would not trade this experience for anything.
If I could stay longer, I would but I must return to my friends and family and go to school. God has things for me in the States that I must take care of before I start my journey of the after college experience. I feel as though I shall return within the next year but I trust that God will lead me accordingly. For now I must clean, pack, spend time with the kids, say my goodbyes, and prepare for the next journey that is ahead, knocking at my door. School. Yikes. ha ha!
I leave tomorrow for Lima on the bus at 9:30. I should around sometime around 8 p.m. Then I will take a 45 minute cab ride to the airport. I will remain in the airport until 7 a.m. the following morning when my flight takes off and lands in Panama City, Panama. I have a 3 1/2 hour layover and will depart at 1:59 p.m. for Houston, Texas. In Houston I have an 1 1/2 hour layover before flying to OKC at 7:20 p.m. My sisters Emma and Joanna will be waiting for me at the airport around 8:45 p.m. Friday night and then we will take the 1 1/2 hour drive back to Tulsa!
Please keep me in your prayers as my journey will be long! I am starting to take some medicine today, please pray that it works so that I am not sick on my travels! I thank you all for your support and your love and prayers, it has meant the world to me =]
Sending my love from Peru to the States!
These 10 weeks have been some of the greatest weeks of my entire life. Some very challenging. But I loved every minute of it. Surprisingly it was not hard to adjust and two weeks in, I felt like this was home. It was never hard for me and I did not miss home very often. It's not because I don't love the people at home, because I very much do, it's just that I think God has prepared me for this my entire life and I finally felt like I was doing something that could be a forever thing in my future. I felt at peace and not necessarily comfortable but at home.
I had enough inconveniences for it to still be a challenge and to still have to deny the selfish tendencies that I could allow to come out but coming here was never about me. It was always about those kids. Always for them. I did not come here to find a man. I did not come here to find myself. I did not come here to escape from anything.
I came here for God. I came here to serve the people of this country. I came here to love these kids. And I did and I do. I love these kids with every breath within myself. I want so desperately to take them with me. To adopt some as my own. I want to wipe away all their tears, to give them all the hugs and attention they need to last a lifetime. I want to instill truths into their lives and be a part of their everyday living.
I have been blessed for 10 weeks to share in that, to experience that. They opened their arms to me and welcomed me as their own and I will forever be grateful and indebted to them.
I would be lieing if I said I had not learned anything while being here. Because even though I did not come here for myself, I learned so much about myself, about life, living, about my future, past, and about people and culture. I would not trade this experience for anything.
If I could stay longer, I would but I must return to my friends and family and go to school. God has things for me in the States that I must take care of before I start my journey of the after college experience. I feel as though I shall return within the next year but I trust that God will lead me accordingly. For now I must clean, pack, spend time with the kids, say my goodbyes, and prepare for the next journey that is ahead, knocking at my door. School. Yikes. ha ha!
I leave tomorrow for Lima on the bus at 9:30. I should around sometime around 8 p.m. Then I will take a 45 minute cab ride to the airport. I will remain in the airport until 7 a.m. the following morning when my flight takes off and lands in Panama City, Panama. I have a 3 1/2 hour layover and will depart at 1:59 p.m. for Houston, Texas. In Houston I have an 1 1/2 hour layover before flying to OKC at 7:20 p.m. My sisters Emma and Joanna will be waiting for me at the airport around 8:45 p.m. Friday night and then we will take the 1 1/2 hour drive back to Tulsa!
Please keep me in your prayers as my journey will be long! I am starting to take some medicine today, please pray that it works so that I am not sick on my travels! I thank you all for your support and your love and prayers, it has meant the world to me =]
Sending my love from Peru to the States!
Monday, August 10, 2009
House Mommin' It
Bubbles with the kids =]
Me, Aimeeta, and Karen
We took the girls out to lunch!
Aimeeta y Ratita, straightened hair =]
The kids give stickers to the house mom's...
Tuesday morning-Monday morning I was being a house mom in House 2 with Sendy while hermana Gina was on vacation with her family. Friday-Saturday around 5 I was by myself while Sendy got to go home to see her family. I had lots of fun. I really truly loved it. It was a bit stressful at times, that's for sure, but I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. Taking care of and loving on 21 kids is amazing, challenging, difficult, wonderful, and such a God opportunity. I am truly honored for the responsibility, the chance to be a part of these kids lives. I love them all so much, they are like family to me and it will be terribly hard to say goodbye.
I don't know what the future holds. God-willing I will return around February to possibly be a house mother but that's if God wants me. In my heart of hearts, I want to say YES, I am SO coming back ASAP but I don't know the plans God has in store for me and I told Him I would be willing to go wherever HE wanted me to go, not just where I want to go. I really believe I am not done with this place, that I shall return, God knows the time. He knows what needs to be done before I return. I am just along for the ride.
A typical day in house mommin' it is wake up at 7 (school days 6), get breakfast ready while the kids are cleaning up their rooms and changing their clothes. Breakfast usually consists of some sort of milk substance and two pieces of bread with some sort of jam or butter on it. After breakfast the kids have specific chores, the older ones at least. Someone sweeps and mops the kitchen and another cleans the kitchen. All the kids clean their own individual dishes, minus the really little ones. Then the kids usually go outside to play or have to work on homework. Lunch is around 1:30. That is chicken and rice with usually a different seasoning. After lunch, the chores resume and then it's usually a resting time for about 2 hours where the kids stay in their rooms. Then they come out again and they either go outside, watch tv or a movie, or have to do homework. At 5-5:30 is dinner. Dinner is leftovers from lunch. Or a soup of some sort. After dinner chores resume and that's when they usually watch tv or a movie. If they still have not completed their homework for the day, then they finish that first. And they take showers after dinner as well. They are in bed usually at 10 p.m. and then the day starts again the next day. Saturday and Sundays are a little different because of church activities and visitation days. And I was being a house mom during their break so they did not have as much homework as they usually do. Classes resumed today. We watched lots of movies at night and played cards in the day time. I had to run around after little 4 year olds, change some yucky diapers, shower off some poop from kids who pooped their pants, tell kids no, stop, don't do that, over and over and over again. But that's a normal thing. It's like a daycare or a school or something everyday because there are so many kids. In this house there are 3 kids under the age of 3. Two kids that are 4. Two kids that are 6, one 7 year old. Then there are like 11 kids that range from 8-12 and then a 13 and 16 year old! And there are two house mom's and each house mom is usually alone for about two whole days while the other house mom is at their home with their families.
I definitely feel like I could do it. The hardest thing for me was wanting other food than what they had. And the showers were freezing cold. And the fact that I got some sort of bug and was on the toilet a whole heck of a lot during the entire time, which was very inconvenient. But it was a real experience, I'm not going to lie, ha ha ha!
I don't know what God is telling me. I just know that I am going to return to school in a few days and I am sad to say goodbye to all of these people that I have come to love and come to call family (aside from the family I already have)! I am grateful for every minute of my time in Peru and will forever cherish every minute. These last days consist of me taking care of school stuff and spending as much time with the kids as possible. So that's all for now. If you want more details on specific things, feel free to ask and I will answer those questions!
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, I appreciate each of you so much!
Sending my love to you from here in Peru!
I don't know what the future holds. God-willing I will return around February to possibly be a house mother but that's if God wants me. In my heart of hearts, I want to say YES, I am SO coming back ASAP but I don't know the plans God has in store for me and I told Him I would be willing to go wherever HE wanted me to go, not just where I want to go. I really believe I am not done with this place, that I shall return, God knows the time. He knows what needs to be done before I return. I am just along for the ride.
A typical day in house mommin' it is wake up at 7 (school days 6), get breakfast ready while the kids are cleaning up their rooms and changing their clothes. Breakfast usually consists of some sort of milk substance and two pieces of bread with some sort of jam or butter on it. After breakfast the kids have specific chores, the older ones at least. Someone sweeps and mops the kitchen and another cleans the kitchen. All the kids clean their own individual dishes, minus the really little ones. Then the kids usually go outside to play or have to work on homework. Lunch is around 1:30. That is chicken and rice with usually a different seasoning. After lunch, the chores resume and then it's usually a resting time for about 2 hours where the kids stay in their rooms. Then they come out again and they either go outside, watch tv or a movie, or have to do homework. At 5-5:30 is dinner. Dinner is leftovers from lunch. Or a soup of some sort. After dinner chores resume and that's when they usually watch tv or a movie. If they still have not completed their homework for the day, then they finish that first. And they take showers after dinner as well. They are in bed usually at 10 p.m. and then the day starts again the next day. Saturday and Sundays are a little different because of church activities and visitation days. And I was being a house mom during their break so they did not have as much homework as they usually do. Classes resumed today. We watched lots of movies at night and played cards in the day time. I had to run around after little 4 year olds, change some yucky diapers, shower off some poop from kids who pooped their pants, tell kids no, stop, don't do that, over and over and over again. But that's a normal thing. It's like a daycare or a school or something everyday because there are so many kids. In this house there are 3 kids under the age of 3. Two kids that are 4. Two kids that are 6, one 7 year old. Then there are like 11 kids that range from 8-12 and then a 13 and 16 year old! And there are two house mom's and each house mom is usually alone for about two whole days while the other house mom is at their home with their families.
I definitely feel like I could do it. The hardest thing for me was wanting other food than what they had. And the showers were freezing cold. And the fact that I got some sort of bug and was on the toilet a whole heck of a lot during the entire time, which was very inconvenient. But it was a real experience, I'm not going to lie, ha ha ha!
I don't know what God is telling me. I just know that I am going to return to school in a few days and I am sad to say goodbye to all of these people that I have come to love and come to call family (aside from the family I already have)! I am grateful for every minute of my time in Peru and will forever cherish every minute. These last days consist of me taking care of school stuff and spending as much time with the kids as possible. So that's all for now. If you want more details on specific things, feel free to ask and I will answer those questions!
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, I appreciate each of you so much!
Sending my love to you from here in Peru!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saying Goodbye's are no bueno!
Sunday we had church and Karen and Aimee got up to say goodbye to the church body! Then Avis, Karen, Aimee, and I went with all the girls, minus the 5 youngest, to Chepen to eat at a restaurant! We had a really good time, playing with the kids on the playground, taking pictures, eating yummy food, and having ice cream afterwards! It was a real treat.
Then we hungout with the kids after we ate dinner. We watched King Kong with them and it was funny because they kept saying that I was the girl in the movie and so the kids kept asking me, Ratita, what are you doing? all energetically. It was funny. And then there was this huge beetle bug flying around and everyone started freaking out. I was ducking down but I didn't freak out, ha ha. Then it landed on me and the boys were pointing and laughing and Sintia saved the day. She grabbed it off SO fast, it was great!
Then we stayed up working on cleaning the house some and working on letters for the kids and things of that nature since Karen and Aimee leave in a few hours.
Today we woke up and Aimee is sick! No bueno! Please keep her in your prayers because she is really not feeling well and she has to ride in a bus for 10 hours and then she has to take an airplane back to America! So yeah. Thanks for the prayers.
We really didn't do much of anything today since Aimee is sick. I mean, I took care of my loans and my classes and my car and got the rest of the stuff for the house mothers and took care of Aimee and now we are just hanging out until they have to leave. Sad day.
Tomorrow morning I start being a House Mother in the other house until Sunday night. So I probably will not have the internet for the entire time. Monday (August 10th) I will work on my paper. Tuesday and Wednesday I will spend time with the kids. Thursday I will go to Lima and Friday (August 14th), I will leave Peru for the United States of America! Bittersweet goodbyes.
But no thinking about that for now! I will make sure I journal a whole heck of a lot so that I can write a really good blog about my experiences of house mommin' it! I am excited but scared at the same time. The first time was more practice, now this is more of the real deal. Yikes!
Please keep me in your prayers and know that I am praying for you =]
Then we hungout with the kids after we ate dinner. We watched King Kong with them and it was funny because they kept saying that I was the girl in the movie and so the kids kept asking me, Ratita, what are you doing? all energetically. It was funny. And then there was this huge beetle bug flying around and everyone started freaking out. I was ducking down but I didn't freak out, ha ha. Then it landed on me and the boys were pointing and laughing and Sintia saved the day. She grabbed it off SO fast, it was great!
Then we stayed up working on cleaning the house some and working on letters for the kids and things of that nature since Karen and Aimee leave in a few hours.
Today we woke up and Aimee is sick! No bueno! Please keep her in your prayers because she is really not feeling well and she has to ride in a bus for 10 hours and then she has to take an airplane back to America! So yeah. Thanks for the prayers.
We really didn't do much of anything today since Aimee is sick. I mean, I took care of my loans and my classes and my car and got the rest of the stuff for the house mothers and took care of Aimee and now we are just hanging out until they have to leave. Sad day.
Tomorrow morning I start being a House Mother in the other house until Sunday night. So I probably will not have the internet for the entire time. Monday (August 10th) I will work on my paper. Tuesday and Wednesday I will spend time with the kids. Thursday I will go to Lima and Friday (August 14th), I will leave Peru for the United States of America! Bittersweet goodbyes.
But no thinking about that for now! I will make sure I journal a whole heck of a lot so that I can write a really good blog about my experiences of house mommin' it! I am excited but scared at the same time. The first time was more practice, now this is more of the real deal. Yikes!
Please keep me in your prayers and know that I am praying for you =]
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Three major events in one post...
Azucena's birthday was wonderful. She looked beautiful. She cried when Pastor Auden and Avis spoke to her and it just touched my heart. They had a real authentic band that played (I have some on video) and she danced with Jesus, the drummer dude from church. He was her escort. And then she took pictures with each individual table and we ate lots of food. We had a good time. There was lots of preparation beforehand that I was involved in.
I was doing the whole House Mothering thing. But me and the older girls went down and cleaned the room. Some of the boys were already sweeping it out. I assisted and then we filled the room with water, cement floors, and cleaned the floors. Then we cleaned the chairs and tables. Then it was time for lunch. Afterwards the kids had to shower and stay inside so they wouldn't get dirty for the festivities. That was interesting. It was really fun watching the girls get all ready. The jewelry that Aimee, Karen, and I got Azucena for her birthday, she ended up wearing for the night. It was really neat how that worked out. Karen straightened my hair, with the assistance of Aimee's straightener ;) It was much appreciated. Although the kids thought it was no bueno, I still enjoyed the change for a day, even though I love my curls and I am completely sold out to them.
Okay, so the whole house mothering experience. It was great. It was hard. It was a challenge. But it was easier than I expected. I can see how it is draining and how I would have difficulties with certain things but I can also see that if God wanted me to do it, I could. With His grace alone, His strength alone, His wisdom alone. You know? It was difficult with so many little kids and having the language barrier. I think it would be a lot less difficult if I could communicate directly to them. The older girls do a lot. I felt like I wasn’t even much of a help and it was a different schedule than the norm because of Azucena’s party. It was really physically draining having to play with the kids and watch them for 3 hours in the sun. I wasn’t a huge fan of that.
I am really interested in doing it in the other house to see the difference, see if I can handle the older kids better. Because I really feel my calling is more towards the older ones, that God gave me a gifting in the 9-teen years. I really enjoyed the experience though, minus a few things here and there.We’ll talk more details later.
I still need to discuss the lovely camping trip. I'll just give some highlights.
1. Sitting on Aimee's lap for 45 minutes on a bumpy bump road makes for an interesting ride.
2. Using the bathroom in a make-shift see-through bathroom makes for some good laughs.
3. Playing Phase 10, Uno, and Skip Bo makes for some real good trash talking, ha ha!
4. Sitting anywhere makes for some ants in your pants, lol.
5. Going for a walk makes for some sand surfing down steep mountain hills ;)
6. Being a city girl makes for some warmer sleeping arrangements in the van!
7. Being a white girl makes for baking in the sun without sun protection!
8. Being a non-fluent Spanish speaker makes for a personal interpreter!
9. Not knowing the language makes for long repetitve instructions on games!
10. Youth camping trips makes for some really good messages!
Pastor Auden really talked on some good points about being aware of the choices you make and how it will affect the rest of your life. How if one is going to say they are a Christian, they should live the lifestyle and seek God daily. He talked on wisdom and the need for it. It was all really good!
Afterwards us girls went out for pizza and watched My Sisters Keeper.
I cried my eyes out. And now I miss my sisters like craziness!
“He comes where He commands us to leave. If when God said “Go,” you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself.” --Oswald Chambers
Sending my love to each of you at home =]
I was doing the whole House Mothering thing. But me and the older girls went down and cleaned the room. Some of the boys were already sweeping it out. I assisted and then we filled the room with water, cement floors, and cleaned the floors. Then we cleaned the chairs and tables. Then it was time for lunch. Afterwards the kids had to shower and stay inside so they wouldn't get dirty for the festivities. That was interesting. It was really fun watching the girls get all ready. The jewelry that Aimee, Karen, and I got Azucena for her birthday, she ended up wearing for the night. It was really neat how that worked out. Karen straightened my hair, with the assistance of Aimee's straightener ;) It was much appreciated. Although the kids thought it was no bueno, I still enjoyed the change for a day, even though I love my curls and I am completely sold out to them.
Okay, so the whole house mothering experience. It was great. It was hard. It was a challenge. But it was easier than I expected. I can see how it is draining and how I would have difficulties with certain things but I can also see that if God wanted me to do it, I could. With His grace alone, His strength alone, His wisdom alone. You know? It was difficult with so many little kids and having the language barrier. I think it would be a lot less difficult if I could communicate directly to them. The older girls do a lot. I felt like I wasn’t even much of a help and it was a different schedule than the norm because of Azucena’s party. It was really physically draining having to play with the kids and watch them for 3 hours in the sun. I wasn’t a huge fan of that.
I am really interested in doing it in the other house to see the difference, see if I can handle the older kids better. Because I really feel my calling is more towards the older ones, that God gave me a gifting in the 9-teen years. I really enjoyed the experience though, minus a few things here and there.We’ll talk more details later.
I still need to discuss the lovely camping trip. I'll just give some highlights.
1. Sitting on Aimee's lap for 45 minutes on a bumpy bump road makes for an interesting ride.
2. Using the bathroom in a make-shift see-through bathroom makes for some good laughs.
3. Playing Phase 10, Uno, and Skip Bo makes for some real good trash talking, ha ha!
4. Sitting anywhere makes for some ants in your pants, lol.
5. Going for a walk makes for some sand surfing down steep mountain hills ;)
6. Being a city girl makes for some warmer sleeping arrangements in the van!
7. Being a white girl makes for baking in the sun without sun protection!
8. Being a non-fluent Spanish speaker makes for a personal interpreter!
9. Not knowing the language makes for long repetitve instructions on games!
10. Youth camping trips makes for some really good messages!
Pastor Auden really talked on some good points about being aware of the choices you make and how it will affect the rest of your life. How if one is going to say they are a Christian, they should live the lifestyle and seek God daily. He talked on wisdom and the need for it. It was all really good!
Afterwards us girls went out for pizza and watched My Sisters Keeper.
I cried my eyes out. And now I miss my sisters like craziness!
“He comes where He commands us to leave. If when God said “Go,” you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself.” --Oswald Chambers
Sending my love to each of you at home =]
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