Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Lovely...
Today was so good... It was my second trip to the feeding center, and this one was exponentially better than the first. That day, I felt a little motion sick after practically off-roading to get to Manos Extendidos, and I was struggling with a migraine or at least a really severe headache.
Anyway, after that, I seriously considered backing out and giving up my spot in the rotation of volunteers. It's definitely an overwhelming experience to be in a small-ish room with 150(+?) LOUD and rowdy kids who only speak Spanish. We take turns leading the Bible story or songs, crafts, and games, and I really started to think that my lacking language ability meant that I have nothing to offer, but I know that the kids don't care, and most of them run up to hug you or just say hello and touch your light skin... When I looked at the schedule that I received in an email a couple of weeks ago and saw that our group was actually only able to go two more times before semana santa, I figured I could stick with it...
So a little more than a week ago, we sat down to plan. For the next six sessions, both of our rotation teams will be teaching about the life of Joseph. That meant today was the introduction along with the stories about his coat of many colors and his dreams...
A "coat of many colors" was purchased at the thrift store.
I was selected to wear said coat while leading "Jose Dice" (a version of Simon Says - but instead of Simon, I was Joseph...) IN SPANISH!!!
Have I mentioned that I do not speak Spanish?!?!
Even though I had a list of Spanish command options (like touch your nose, act like a duck, bark like a dog, etc), I was not confident and therefore not excited.
The songs went well and the story-telling was good, although it's practically impossible to get a class of 22 Honduran fifth graders to sit quietly and listen - much less 150ish Honduran kids, ages 0-13, all crammed in a room and sitting on top of each other, holding cups and spoons to eat out of after the lesson...
Even though the room was extremely warm, I put on the coat of many colors...
Some of the other leaders tried once again to get the kids to be quiet and listen so that they could hear to play the game, but in the end, it was just like, "Well... They're not going to get any quieter than this. I just need to lead the game, and if they want to play, they'll listen to my commands..."
I stepped up, faced the crowd, and a vibrant, expressive, happy, Spanish-speaking(ish) gringa took over my body for about five minutes... I HAD SO MUCH FUN. God is so good. I felt a little silly beforehand as I prayed and asked Him to help me lead the game, but He is faithful and He empowers us to lead these kids, to create a fun and safe environment, and to love them and build relationships with them so we can tell them about Him...
Jose dice salta como una rana! (Joseph says jump like a frog...)
Toque su nariz! (Touch your nose)
No! Jose no dice!!! (No... Joseph didn't say!)
The SUV that we climbed that mountain in got blocked in for a little while, so we ended up hanging around a little longer than usual. It's crazy to me to see what the kids are so excited to be eating... I honestly have never asked what it is, but it looks a little like rice in milk. That doesn't seem right, but like I said, I have no clue.
It was nice to just sit down outside and talk to and play with the kids. They are so loving, and they just walk up to you and sit in your lap or right beside you. One girl played with my hair, and I loved it... A lot of them noticed my freckles today (see below) and I tried to explain that they are called "pecas" in Spanish. In fact, I'm pretty sure I spoke more Spanish today than I have cumulatively in the last month. Days like today inspire me to study.
Here are a few pictures from today, courtesy of Sarah... The other gringa in the picture is Emily who is also from Birmingham and a member of Brook Hills. :)
Anyway, after that, I seriously considered backing out and giving up my spot in the rotation of volunteers. It's definitely an overwhelming experience to be in a small-ish room with 150(+?) LOUD and rowdy kids who only speak Spanish. We take turns leading the Bible story or songs, crafts, and games, and I really started to think that my lacking language ability meant that I have nothing to offer, but I know that the kids don't care, and most of them run up to hug you or just say hello and touch your light skin... When I looked at the schedule that I received in an email a couple of weeks ago and saw that our group was actually only able to go two more times before semana santa, I figured I could stick with it...
So a little more than a week ago, we sat down to plan. For the next six sessions, both of our rotation teams will be teaching about the life of Joseph. That meant today was the introduction along with the stories about his coat of many colors and his dreams...
A "coat of many colors" was purchased at the thrift store.
I was selected to wear said coat while leading "Jose Dice" (a version of Simon Says - but instead of Simon, I was Joseph...) IN SPANISH!!!
Have I mentioned that I do not speak Spanish?!?!
Even though I had a list of Spanish command options (like touch your nose, act like a duck, bark like a dog, etc), I was not confident and therefore not excited.
The songs went well and the story-telling was good, although it's practically impossible to get a class of 22 Honduran fifth graders to sit quietly and listen - much less 150ish Honduran kids, ages 0-13, all crammed in a room and sitting on top of each other, holding cups and spoons to eat out of after the lesson...
Even though the room was extremely warm, I put on the coat of many colors...
Some of the other leaders tried once again to get the kids to be quiet and listen so that they could hear to play the game, but in the end, it was just like, "Well... They're not going to get any quieter than this. I just need to lead the game, and if they want to play, they'll listen to my commands..."
I stepped up, faced the crowd, and a vibrant, expressive, happy, Spanish-speaking(ish) gringa took over my body for about five minutes... I HAD SO MUCH FUN. God is so good. I felt a little silly beforehand as I prayed and asked Him to help me lead the game, but He is faithful and He empowers us to lead these kids, to create a fun and safe environment, and to love them and build relationships with them so we can tell them about Him...
Jose dice salta como una rana! (Joseph says jump like a frog...)
Toque su nariz! (Touch your nose)
No! Jose no dice!!! (No... Joseph didn't say!)
The SUV that we climbed that mountain in got blocked in for a little while, so we ended up hanging around a little longer than usual. It's crazy to me to see what the kids are so excited to be eating... I honestly have never asked what it is, but it looks a little like rice in milk. That doesn't seem right, but like I said, I have no clue.
It was nice to just sit down outside and talk to and play with the kids. They are so loving, and they just walk up to you and sit in your lap or right beside you. One girl played with my hair, and I loved it... A lot of them noticed my freckles today (see below) and I tried to explain that they are called "pecas" in Spanish. In fact, I'm pretty sure I spoke more Spanish today than I have cumulatively in the last month. Days like today inspire me to study.
Here are a few pictures from today, courtesy of Sarah... The other gringa in the picture is Emily who is also from Birmingham and a member of Brook Hills. :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
The past two weeks...
The past two weeks have been overwhelmingly full of exhaustion, more work than I may have ever done in my life, meetings, prayer, tears, frustration, hope, dedication, resolve, strength, weakness, behavior plans, parent conferences, and more...
In last night's Esther Bible study video, there was a quote that said one of the toughest things about being a woman is feeling like you're too much and not enough all at the same time.
I think that's part of the reason why I tried to take some time off from blogging. Because I've been struggling with being not enough in my classroom, I've realized that my emotions and over-analysis of everything are just too much...
While today wasn't too terrible, my daily circumstances aren't very likely to change in the next four months, so I'm not sure how often I'll be blogging anymore.
When I started this, it was to share my journey; to document adventures; and to reflect on global missions and the ways the Lord is working here in Honduras.
I know He's still working, but my missionary adventures have settled down and become much more like the struggle of everyday life as an elementary school teacher. That just doesn't seem fun to document. At the end of the day, I now prefer to just let it all go than to hold onto it and spread it around...
On the bright side, we're half-way through with February! And today, I helped a kid understand the word "slobber." Oh the joys of teaching second language learners.
In last night's Esther Bible study video, there was a quote that said one of the toughest things about being a woman is feeling like you're too much and not enough all at the same time.
I think that's part of the reason why I tried to take some time off from blogging. Because I've been struggling with being not enough in my classroom, I've realized that my emotions and over-analysis of everything are just too much...
While today wasn't too terrible, my daily circumstances aren't very likely to change in the next four months, so I'm not sure how often I'll be blogging anymore.
When I started this, it was to share my journey; to document adventures; and to reflect on global missions and the ways the Lord is working here in Honduras.
I know He's still working, but my missionary adventures have settled down and become much more like the struggle of everyday life as an elementary school teacher. That just doesn't seem fun to document. At the end of the day, I now prefer to just let it all go than to hold onto it and spread it around...
On the bright side, we're half-way through with February! And today, I helped a kid understand the word "slobber." Oh the joys of teaching second language learners.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Ffh - What It Feels Like (2009 Video & Lyrics)
So as it turns out, this song tells the story of my 2009-2010 year.
WOW.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The best...
I have the best daddy in the whole world.
It may have taken him 25 years to realize he's the daddy of girls, but he's really showing off these days.
Tonight, he encountered all the silly Baptist women of the north Birmingham area to meet Beth Moore and get her new book signed for me.
How many daddies would do that after a long day at work?
I think maybe the main reason I wasn't a crazy fifth grader like some of the kids I see everyday is because of the differences in our families.
It may have taken him 25 years to realize he's the daddy of girls, but he's really showing off these days.
Tonight, he encountered all the silly Baptist women of the north Birmingham area to meet Beth Moore and get her new book signed for me.
How many daddies would do that after a long day at work?
I think maybe the main reason I wasn't a crazy fifth grader like some of the kids I see everyday is because of the differences in our families.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Laying Low...
I'm a mess, and laying low may be the best way to clean up. We'll see.
Just one question that was posed at tonight's Bible study...
"Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?"
A Day of Disappointment
Today is February 1st. All of my application materials were due today for the program at Alabama. I thought maybe this day could be the beginning of a new opportunity until I received this email:
Dear Jamey,
Thank you for expressing interest in our graduate programs in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Alabama. From your application we understand you are interested in pursuing a career as a Child Life Specialist. Though our department no longer offers a graduate program in Child Life, our undergraduate program is thriving. We would be more than happy to consider your current application for one of our other graduate programs (i.e. Human Development, Family Studies, or Marriage and Family Therapy). You may want to visit our website at http://ches.ua.edu/
Thanks again for being interested in our department, and please contact us if you have any questions about our department or about eh graduate programs we offer. Best wishes as you continue your education.
They no longer offer the program... I never saw that coming.
Now what?
I'm frustrated by my discontentment and uncertainty.
In my blog searching yesterday, I found a blog written by a 23-yr-old girl who is teaching for a year at a different bilingual school here in Honduras. Her blog posts ring with familiarity, but I envy her joy.
I wish that this was everything I thought it would be. I wish I didn't feel like there's something wrong with me. But I know there is - I'm a sinner. Maybe I'm just being selfish and disobedient.
I just don't know how to fix it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)