What we are doing:
On Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays we work at a children’s home. The home is run by a couple (the man from the states, the woman is Guatemalan) who focus on giving the best quality care to the kids God brings to their lives. (Future blogs coming with more details.) We love on cerebral palsy kids at a local hospital in Antigua on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The other days are peppered with small groups and various service projects like cleaning or helping with children’s programs.
An update on Jenny…
You met Jenny in a previous blog. Thank you for praying for her and for us. I have yet to witness her outside of her cage in the corner, but Mange and I visit her once a week to pray and speak to her. We learned that she is a bit angry because they just cut her diet back since she is a diabetic. Apparently they let her out into the courtyard but it depends on her mood, as she’s hurt herself before in anger. She was sleeping when we visited her this week.
Relating to kids when common ground is foreign territory…
Over the course of our days at the hospital, I have fallen in love with several children. I’ve learned some of their stories – full of tragedy and heartache, and encountered kisses, hugs and smiles from angels. As soon as we walk through the iron gate, Roberto catches my attention with an enormous smile. He usually wants to be taken out of his wheelchair and his plastic boots removed. He loves to be held close and rocked yet wants a full view of all that goes on in the courtyard. His kisses are a bit like a suckerfish.
This week I met Gloria. Her dark hair was pulled back in a double French braid. She has the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen and a face like Audrey Hepburn. Her fingers are tiny, dainty and long. One hand is always moving back and forth to her mouth, like a signal to eat. According to Anita (a woman from the States who came to this hospital a year and a half ago and has returned seven times since), the nurses say Gloria can’t hear but if you hold her close and bring her hand to your heart she responds. Maybe she can hear the rhythm of your heart. That’s all I needed to know. Gloria was in my arms in two seconds. She was sopping wet. I carried her into see the nurses for a diaper change. They gruffly motioned to wait while they ate their lunch. I lay her out on an open crib, brought her hand to my heart and sang. Disney songs (inspired by her Jasmine socks), Hymns, and alas… the Sound of Music.
“These are a few of my favorite things….” Gloria smiled, giggled, stretched her legs and her eyes twinkled. A woman walked by and scoffed, “She’s the only one who can’t hear.” I sang anyway. Twenty minutes later a nurse came to change Gloria. She had a small bundle of cloth with her. I tried to work along side her, to partner and prod a smile out of her. All attempts were lost. The nurse with a firm frown and wrinkled forehead, threw off Gloria’s wet cloth and unfolded the new bundle – two pieces of fabric with a skinny strip of cloth to tie it – this was her new diaper. No wiping. New pants. Done.
I picked up the little princess and hugged her tight. More singing, more kisses, more batting eyes and giving butterfly kisses. It was time to go – but leaving was getting harder and harder. “I’ll be back Gloria. I promise,” I kissed her goodbye.
When I’m feeling sad … I think of a few of my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad. In honor of Gloria (and Maria from the Sound of Music) here are a few of my favorite things from this month in Antigua:
Grocery shopping in a foreign country (well, in any country). I LOVE seeing how they package food, what they have, and of course – how they sell their dairy products.
All milk in Guatemala is powdered milk.
Bath time at the orphanage. Upon arrival, we walk into Alex and Dany’s room (ages almost 2) and pick them up (multiple kisses). Then we head to the bath. The diapers are usually disgusting – thankfully my no-sense of smell makes me the perfect candidate for diaper removal and wiping. Then the two little ninos are joined by Manuelito (little Manuel) and splash around in the tub. This is hilarious.
Feeding time. I love feeding Alex. He has fetal alcohol syndrome so some days he is really slow and walks like he is drunk and other days he is super hyper. Meal time with him demands patience and making fun noises to open his mouth.
Taking pictures of our team interacting with the orphans. Each one of my teammates has an amazing ability to connect with the kids. Some have particular ones they are especially gifted with (like Angela B with Alejandra the diva who likes her bottle a certain way – I gave up after 20 minutes of shrills; or Angela A. with Martin, aka gordo; the guys have this special knack with Manuelito – I’m guessing it is a guy thing and much needed for him). These are priceless moments.
Mange and Martin
Anglea and Alejandra
Chelsea and Manuelito
AJ and Dany
Shannon and Martin
Zeb, Manuelito y Alex
Making tortillas with Judith and Elma (the nannies at the orphanage). When Judith said “I love you, Ginger” the other day I think my heart literally leaped.
Dancing with Judith (pronounced whoo-deet) in the kitchen.
I love bringing joy to their day – even if it is at a cost to my pride (stumbling with Spanish, cooking and dancing).
COFFEE! We’ve scouted some excellent coffee shops in town as well. The Bagel Barn (caters to Americans – burlap sacks and cows are the decor), Caminoes (run by our friends at YWam) and The Refuge.
Watching a movie in English on a big screen – thank you Bagel Barn!
Hearing a praise and worship songs in Spanish.
Bright colors – everywhere!
Attacking a hamburger like Neanderthals who haven’t had meat in years.
Singing (or rather watching my teammates sing) the Backstreet Boys with our van driver one afternoon. Gatorade bottles are great microphones.
Seeing a new born calf and visiting with the owner about cows, then watching the boys at the children’s home discover the calf.
Climbing a cobblestone hill on our morning walks to an overlook of Antigua.
Making friends with the young woman in the pen shop we pass every day. Seeing her outside the shop and interacting!
Encountering people from all over the world (England, Australia, the States, China) in our hostel.
Black beans! Wow, Guatemalan black beans look like a puddle of chocolate and are amazing (and surprisingly, not as intense on the gastrointestinal tract.)
Bananas and nutella – our favorite team dessert. Cheap and easy (and safe!).
Learning Spanish and trading greetings with the men (and woman!) who run our hostel (Alex, Samuel, Erik, and Lei).
The church we attend just started 6 weeks ago and is a Purpose Driven Church. When one of their flyers highlighted the Leadership Summit I had been exposed to at Calvary back home, I was super-charged. The messages have been exactly what I needed to hear. We check in and receive radio transmitters that translate the message into English. They have excellent graphics and communication pieces. What a surprise!
I’ve been surprised, and honestly a bit disappointed at some of the luxuries and “Americanism” found here in Antiqua. But this month has been more about team bonding – learning about each other, feedbacking, scrubbing with steel wool rather than sandpaper at times, and gearing up for the next few months. I’ve witnessed a very different orphanage style then I’ve ever seen and have been confronted with emotionally draining situations and hard questions. I know the hard questions are only beginning and are far from being answered – at least on this side of heaven. But I’m also ready to press in. I’m thankful for this month. I’ll miss it. I’ll miss the people. Who knows what is ahead of us … but God.
What did ya know, He had a surprise for us. We’re not going to Nicaragua anymore. Next month: Honduras.
Focusing on savoring these sweet moments this week with the kids, creating some more Favorite Things – which I’m sure I’ll be singing about when we have to pack up and head out in a little over a week.
Here’s to singing, faith and hope… and the Sound of Music.
Alex and me
*Special Note: We aren’t allowed to take pictures at the hospital – so you’ll have to imagine Gloria and Roberto 🙂
