Well, I feel that it's definitely time to update, but I don't know where to start or
what to say!! The past week has been full of great things!
It was vacation week at Casita all last week, so there weren't as many kids there as their usually is. My little class only had 6 at the most every day. I've been so blessed to be able to be in the classroom with all of the little ones! Only Zoe can really talk yet, and it helps with my Spanish to practice the basics in there. Also, Melissa is the 20 year old teacher. She's so sweet and has also helped me with my Spanish a lot. She is always so patient and seems to know how to love those kids in just the right ways. Even though we can barely communicate most days, I feel like I've gotten to know her heart really well and it's so inspiring to see her with those children, how much they're drawn to her and how much they respect her.
^Seno Melissa, Luis, Bianca, Zoe, Chelsey, Joseph, Cami, Seno KellyIt was vacation week at Casita all last week, so there weren't as many kids there as their usually is. My little class only had 6 at the most every day. I've been so blessed to be able to be in the classroom with all of the little ones! Only Zoe can really talk yet, and it helps with my Spanish to practice the basics in there. Also, Melissa is the 20 year old teacher. She's so sweet and has also helped me with my Spanish a lot. She is always so patient and seems to know how to love those kids in just the right ways. Even though we can barely communicate most days, I feel like I've gotten to know her heart really well and it's so inspiring to see her with those children, how much they're drawn to her and how much they respect her.
Through prayer and talking with Jessica and Jasmine I've come to the
conclusion that we really have nothing special on our own to offer the people here. Nothing but
the love of God. Anything materialistic given to the kids mostly gets ignored or
destroyed within a week. And only being here for a short time limits the depth
of relationships we're able to form. Not to mention the language barrier. BUT, by loving these children and making it
as obvious as possible that we're here for them and want to help and love them
in the ways that they show need, God will do something with it. I pray that we're doing God's
work here, even though many days we don't feel very effective or aren't sure
what the right way to love here is. Through God's guidance I know He is working
here, though!
Also, life with the people at SETECA has been great! Everyone is so friendly
and welcoming. Saturday, a group took us to an extreme sports park. It was all outside in the middle of beautiful green mountains, and it rained on us, which made it that much more fun!
Every day that I'm here I truly feel blessed to be getting to know Jessica and Jasmine, the other US interns here: my coworkers and roomies. It's been so amazing to do this with them. We're always encouraging and supporting each other and we laugh so much that it's ridiculous. It's so amazing to sit down and read the word and talk about God in our lives together. He just always has his hand in these things, and he knew exactly what he was doing when he put the three of us together. Despite our backgrounds, where we're from, and the differences in the journey of our faith, God bonds us together like nothing can and it's been so incredible embracing these sisters God's given me here!
And then, there's Camila.
I don't know why I feel so drawn to this little girl, but God has definitely given me a heart for her!! If nothing else feels worth it to have come here, Cami does. This little girl is the sweetest little girl I've ever been blessed to meet. She's always strong and brave, and she's so sweet and full of love and kisses! She's a true blessing from God in my life. Leaving her will be so hard, because I look forward to picking her up and hugging her every morning, and I dread
leaving her every afternoon while she sleeps so peacefully during her nap time.
She's practically a little angel... :)
Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true
it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who
fear him and do what is right."
Acts 17:24-28 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your poets have said, 'We are his offspring'."
Here's a link to the Glick's blog: http://glicksguate.blogspot.com/
They talk about great things they're doing here that we've been privileged to witness and be a part of!
