Living the Dream (6/25-26)

Yesterday (Friday) we started out a La Bodegona (a supermarket with a mini-Nobbies upstairs) getting materials to set up a communication system for one of the older girls at Hermano Pedro. After we finished our shopping, we spent the morning at Hermano Pedro with the kids. There were hardly any volunteers there, so we had the opportunity to interact with many kids. We helped with feeding and diaper changes, and I got to spend quite a bit of time with Ariana, a sweet little girl who is so bland when left alone and comes alive when she receives any attention.  The kids I brought down in April absolutely fell in love with her, and you can see why!

We also got to visit the classroom sponsored by Bethel ministries.  Ninette is an amazing teacher who does much to help the children in her care become independent and successful.  Her room is about the size of an average American bedroom holding about 7 students and a helper.  Cozy would be the polite way to describe it.   Ninette's room seems to keep getting moved around, but she takes it all in stride.  She's an amazing young woman.

In the afternoon we'd planned to go back to the orphanage, but decided to lie down for a few minutes.  I'm embarassed to admit that we woke up at 4:45, and volunteers need to leave by 5:00, so we never made it back.  I suppose you could say that we needed the sleep, but still I felt badly that we didn't get over to help with supper. 

Today (Saturday) we took the morning off, and I got to introduce a new housemate, Kelsey, to the city a little bit.  She's from California, and will be studying Spanish here for 3 weeks.  Her enthusiasm is contagious and I'm really looking forward to getting to know her.  We did some shopping.  Donna had not intended to buy anything, but has done a remarkable job of finding keepsakes from her trip! LOL!

On our way home, we visited La Merced, one of the largest churches in Antigua.  Behind the church, there are ruins of a convent built there in the 16th Century.  I'd wanted to visit these on my last couple of trips, and today we finally did. I love the history that pervades this city. Though destroyed in an earthquate in the 18th Century, the courtyards are somewhat restored, and the view from the roof is absolutely breath-taking. This has got to be the best place in Antigua to just hang out with Jesus!  I think I'll be here often.

Mari was working in Guatemala City today, and asked me to "host" lunch for the students.  I'm really beginning to feel like part of the family.  Tomorrow I get to serve breakfast to the few students who are here over the weekend.  I'm so glad if I can make her work load a bit lighter.  She is up long before me, and is working long after I go to bed, preparing food and caring for all of us living here.

Spent the afternoon at Hermano Pedro.  Feeding kids, changing kids, brushing teeth.  The chores seem never-ending.  While I'm anxious to get started working on communication with the kids, I also want to support and encourage the nurses, who have a tough job that sometimes seems to overwhelm them.  Today, for the first time, a couple of the nurses were joking around with me like the do with each other.  I think I'm starting to earn some level of trust and acceptance from them.  Today I felt as if I somewhat "belonged" there from their perspective.  The charge nurse today even visited with me briefly before we left, thanking me for being willing to help them and not just "visiting" (and I'm sure getting in their way from their point-of-view).

Tonight we ate dinner in the garden.  Actually, dinner started about 5 when we returned from the orphanage and had "cafecito" (coffee and a snack).  Today we had a delicious type of fried custard and cookies with our coffee.  I told Mari that I've worked really hard to lose some weight, and she just laughs and puts more food on my plate, saying I work hard and walk alot, so need energy!  Today, cafecito led straight to dinner, bearing witness to the fact that this family firmly believes in the adage, "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!"  Actually, we also had fried platains for dessert after our meal, so I guess their philosophy might be more along the lines of , "Life is hard, eat dessert whenever you can!"

After dinner we just sat in the garden, enjoying the breeze (temp. about 70) and visiting.  This is my favorite time of day.  No one is in a hurry to rush off, and many stories are shared.  Tonight, Leo shared about the death of his first wife and how he met Mari.  They will be married 25 years this year, and still treat each other with such tenderness and care.  And they each tell me, at least a dozen times a day, how happy they are that I've come to live with them "forever."  It's hard to imagine that life can be better than this!  I do feel, at times, like I'm living in a dream!