Happenings...

In preparation for the September 15 Independence day parade here in Valle, the nearby high school formed a band and practiced numerous hours a day. The mostly persussion's frequent practices inspired some of the kids from the Finca to create their own band--using cans, buckets, bottles etc as instruments. One of the boys took charge as band director, and they got a rhythm going that sounded pretty good. The following is a short clip from their first night of practice.

Many of the elementary age kids were away for the week so one night I had a sleepover with most of the remaining girls--only 9 girls!

 

The parade consisted of various elementary and high schools w/the same thing--people carrying the flags, girls waving batons, and of course percussion bands.

And on Friday night we celebrated another birthday.

That's it for now. Peace!

Pictures from Dia del Nino

Here are a few pictures from the Dia del ninos celebration on Friday.

Two of the clowns for the day.

 Water balloon volleyball

 more water games

Trips, activities, and holidays

Because of the way my schedule is working out I decided to go for my visa renewal trip 2 weeks early. This past week I headed off on a 13 hour bus trip to Costa Rica. The three days in Costa Rica were relaxing, very quiet, and a bit rainy. I enjoyed being away for a few days, but was also ready to come back to the finca--where I don't have as much time to relax and rarely is it very quiet.

This week and next week there is more activity that usual going on here at the Finca. This week we are celebrating Dia del nino (Day of the child) and next week we will be celebrating Dia de independencia (Independence day). For dia del nino I am in charge of organizing some fun group games for the kids. On dia de independencia I will probably take a group of kids into town to watch the parade. The elementary kids also have the week off of school next week so hopefully we can do some fun activities as well.

I'll try to take and post some pictures of these activities and festivities!
Peace!

"The greatest of these is love"

Sometimes there are days when, for some reason, it seems like whether or not I try to be nice--I end up yelling at someone, run out of patience with a kid, or say something that I regret. Days like today--the very day after I was talking to God about this and asking him to help me act and speak in love to the kids. The love that I have for these kids is from God--they aren't my children, but God has laid a burden on my heart for them, and has called me here to show them his love, and invest in their lives. When I let my own human attitude and tendencies  override the power of God working in my life--I end up frustrated with my own human weaknesses and needing to remember that I am forgiven and redeemed by the grace and love of God, and not by my own actions or accomplishments. I can't minister to these kids through my own strength--but only after I first focus on God--and start to understand how he feels about me, and how He feels about each of them can I begin to truly minister to those around me. So, I continue to ask God to show me his love, and show me how to love the way that he loves me.

Love is patient,

   love is kind. 

      It does not envy, 

          it does not boast, 

             it is not proud.  

                 It is not rude, 

                      it is not self-seeking, 

                          it is not easily angered, 

                              it keeps no record of wrongs.  

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

       It always protects, 

              always trusts, 

                   always hopes, 

                       always perseveres. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Moving and other things

On Friday I took the Friday night group to a friend's house, from the Berea church. One of the kids who rarely goes to my house Friday nights had a birthday this week, so I decided to combine getting out and celebrating his birthday together in one. One of the guys took him to the house and we suprised him when he entered the house, it was fun, and a good opportunity for the kids also to interact with a few of the older youth from the Berea whom I had also invited.

Here in latino culture, and especially living here at the Finca, one never knows when someone will stop by and stay for an hour, or three. :-) It reminds me to keep trying to put relationships first. the agenda and list of things to do need to be laid aside as I try to focus on the person and what they are talking about, instead of figuring out if i'm going to do lesson plans or wash the dishes first after they leave.

I have moved! I am now getting settled into my "new" house. Many of the kids who have seen inside the house have commented that it looks alot nicer now that it is repainted--I agree--I certainly prefer light blue walls as opposed to yellow, crayon marked walls. :-) (And thanks to Harlan and children, and Keith and Sara, and Sidey for helping to paint the house.) So far this house doesn't seem to have as many spiders, or rats, or bats, as my former house--but it has more than its share of cockroaches and termites--slightly more tolerable critters in my mind for some reason.
Have a great day!
Peace!

Library

Monday through Thursday evenings I open the library for kids to read, play games, and do puzzles etc. I usually have around 15-20 kids in the library every evening, with many coming and going throughout the hour or hour and a half that I have it open..

Even though a library is supposed to be a quiet place, this library is rarely quiet. I'm usually pretty relaxed with them until someone screams...I do not tolerate yelling-it is too small of a room with too many kids for me to allow it. I believe that the library is a much better alternative to watching TV, so I'm glad to open it up and let kids come and go and play, and I get to interact with the kids then too--whether that be reading a book to a younger one, playing a game, or looking for a specific book for a homework assignment.

Reading books

Playing games

Hanging out

 

Doing puzzles

Have a great day! Peace!

Bible Study

This week for something a little different, and a change of scenery I took my Bible study groups over to the other finca and we sat in the shade of a tree for Bible study. It was nice to get out....especially since the kids who are in high school have had most of the week off of school because the teachers are on strike (I believe this happens almost every year. The government doesn't pay the teachers, and then the teachers go on strike.)

Some of the girls looking up verses about the characteristics of God and how He feels towards us.