What's Normal?!?!?

So, I was going to post a blog about the sleepover I had with one of the groups of girls last night. Then I thought, 'I always do posts on the "special" activities that I do with the kids, and hardly ever write about the "normal" things I do'. As I was thinking about this I thought about how my "new normal" IS doing all those "special" things. Yes, I continue to have two English classes a day four days a week, open up the library, have nightly devotions with the younger girls, Friday night game night, and two weekly Bible studies. But even these normal weekly activities are sometimes put aside in order to do something different with a certain group of kids. It keeps life interesting.

Enjoying baleadas at 10:30 at night.

Picnic Time!

Today I took "my girls" over to the other Finca property for a picnic and to play. Some of the girls were especially excited to know that they were going to eat sandwiches (a special treat) instead of the soup that the rest of the kids were going to eat for lunch. 

We also had fun playing soccer. We started out pretty energetically...

...and quickly got tired...or started trying to use the goal posts as a jungle gym.

One of the girls, Andreita (Andrea +ita --ita means little) had my camera for awhile and took alot of pictures. I thought I'd share some of the things she found and chose to take pictures of...

 (Andreita)

 One of the things that the kids like about going to the other Finca is getting huge lemons...and eating them plain, or perhaps with some salt. (You can see the size on the photo below and also on one up further.)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! With the start of a new year life is a little more calm here at the Finca. A bunch of the kids went to be with their families for the month of January, and there are not as many activities going on; but its still pretty easy to keep busy finding things to do with the kids. :-)

This past Thursday I took a few girls with me to visit Ceder, and elderly home in Teguc. I believe that its a great oppurtunity for these youth to get out of their comfort zone and reach out to these elderly people. I wanted to combine the time of reaching out with fun too--so after spending time at Ceder we ate lunch at a restaurant and walked around centro.

 This past Friday we celebrated another birthday..and a "new member" of the Friday night group.

Celebrating Christmas at La Finca

Here at the Finca we celebrate Christmas on the 23rd. It was a full day of activities. It unofficially started really really early in the morning when some of the kids found candy hidden in different areas of the Finca property. Then after breakfast the kids received a new outfit, which was picked out previously, and the showers and hairstyling etc began. Around 10:30 we took a big group picture,

and after that we had a program which consisted of a few different music selections, and dramas.

 

 The following clip is part of a song that the chimes group played. (Audrey-this is for you!)

Then, of course, there were pinatas...and this time it wasn't limited to just the younger children...the 18, 19, and 20 year olds were there on the ground scrambling for candy as well.

 

Then we went back into the church for presents!

After presents we all ate Kentuky Fried Chicken in the comedor (dining room).

We relaxed for the afternoon...

...and in the evening we had a campfire, singing, a drama, torrejas (traditional Christmas dessert), roasted marshmellows....

(The following clip is of the group singing a song...its hard to see them because of it being dark-but the sound is really good.)

 ...and enjoyed playing with new toys...

..and had a fun time.

Thank you God for loving us and sending us Jesus and the gift of eternal life with you!

Christmas Party Round 4

Last night I had a Christmas party for the 18 and older kids. It was by far the most calm party that I've had of these rounds of Christmas parties (it was also the smallest group and oldest kids).

Christmas Party Round 3

Last night the leaders from the youth retreat had a Christmas party for the youth. It gave the kids an opportunity to get out of the finca and be in a different setting. We played some games, and Ronal made some amazing tacos.

Christmas Party Round 2

After three weeks of asking me when we were going to have a slumber party, I decided to have my house 3 girls over last night. Despite the late start (due to presenting a drama in a local church) we had a great time. We made cookies (the highlight of my night), ate the cookies with hot chocolate, read the nativity story, and watched a movie. There are many times, at any random time of day, that the girls will ask if they can go to my house to color...something I did occasionally last year. So I gave each of them a coloring book and packs of crayons to share....and now I have various colored pictures on my refrigerator. ;)

Making cookies

 

Anxiously waiting for permission to eat the cookies

 

coloring