Life here has been very busy, with no two days looking quite the same. However, after being here a little over a week I can finally share a piece of what we’ve been doing.
We got to Formavida late last wednesday night after a 10ish hr bus ride through the Andes Mts. Our sweet new friend Astrid picked us up from the bus stop and welcomed us so warmly. They had dinner prepared for us and we all sat down together and got to know our hosts Lucy and Ricardo as well as other staff/volunteers here. After dinner we got settled in our room for the month. a 10×12 room with 3 bunkbeds for us 5 girls. PRAISE for a real bathroom and shower.
Formavida is an incredible before and after school program that offers a safe place for kids to come. Some of whom come from troubled backgrounds. The kids have different school schedules, some go in the morning and others go in the afternoon So kids are here from 9-5 during the day. They prepare and serve meals to the 70ish kids here every day too!
The next day after we arrived we prepared for a weekend slumber party/retreat for the kids here. We chopped carrots, potatoes and green beans. Cut out crowns, blew up balloons and hung posters. Among other things. Then the kids came to stay until Sunday afternoon. We did different activites, sang worship songs (in spanish) and even did a really fun obstacle course outside! The whole weekend was saturated with the importance of family. Splitting up the kids into groups called “families” with a male and female leader as the “mom” and “dad”. When I joined the group I was affectionately called “tia” 🙂
Saturday night got pretty heavy when they gathered all the kids to watch a video showing their parents talking to them. Mostly they said things about how great & intelligent they were and how proud of them they are. Some apologized for treating them poorly but that was the only way they know. Others saying they were doing the best that they can. By the end all the children were crying. Lights came up and we gathered around them with the teachers and prayed over them. We then closed the night with more worship together and the kids each got a special gift from the teachers. The dinner for the kids was an extra special surprise! Lucy served chicken wild rice soup in bread bowls set out on matching dishes. The tables decorated with paper flowers and candy. We turned off all the lights and as the “families” came down one at a time we turned on the lights and yelled “sorpresa!”
Our first few days were more than I think we were expecting but man was it impactful to see and be a part of.
Our days this past week have been more “routine”. We all wake up and have personal quiet time before breakfast at 8. After cleanup we meet with the teachers and help them with english. Then it switches around and the teachers help us with spanish. We all help serve lunch plates, asking the kids what size they want (pequeno, mediano or grande). Two people from our team help out in the kitchen each day (we switch it up) while the others teach a half an hour english lesson to each of the classrooms.
This weekend we are ready for another “slumber party” / retreat group. This time for the older group! Please pray for this weekend and that we all have enough engergy & coffee to keep up 🙂
