Street Kids

Yeah I know this is early but I want to tell you all about what I did last week. While we were on Vacation back in August I met a couple that is friends with Marcia and Guillermo. They told me all about their ministry here. They are also from the states! They work with the street kids. These kids have really bad backgrounds and have lived on the street all alone. They have to do whatever they can to make it. Some of them have been thrown out of their homes and most of them have done drugs at some point. In this ministry they go out and find these kids and help them. They get them in school and help them with their homework. They have a system they have to go through and then once they are ready they get to live in this house with a full time caregiver, Jaqui, a 24 year old that is pretty much their mom. She works at a school so they all get to go there on scholarship. Their day starts at 5 am when they all wake up and get ready for school, this runs like clockwork, the each know what they are to do and do it, if the finish early and while they are waiting for breakfast they read their bibles. The transportation comes at 6:30 and they leave for school. The cleaning and cooking lady comes at 9 and makes lunch and cleans the house. Then at 12 they are home and ready for lunch. During meal time they each take a turn praying and have a seating arraignment. After lunch they take a nap from 1 until 4, and then homework starts. They work very hard with presentations, reading, and other homework. Before they came none of them could read and now they all can read to me! (lots of hard work and dedication) After homework is done it is time to play. I had fun playing a random marble game, I still don’t think I totally understand nor did I ever win! We also listened to music and danced, this was probably my favorite thing all week. One night we played volleyball but I was no good at that! ☺ These kids may have come from a rough background but the love of Jesus is all around. They are really good kids, polite and very respectful. Jaqui has a worked very hard with them. After play time there is an hour every night that they have bible study, this includes bible reading, prayer and some nights a message from Jaqui, she has such a heart for these kids and keeping them on the right path and sharing her love of Jesus with them. Next is bed time because 5 comes earlier than anyone wants it to!
One day while I was there the dog was acting very abnormal but I did not know what was going on so I went back in side, a few moments later one of the kids came and told me that the dog was having puppies! We all ran to the back of the house and sure enough there they were. I have never seen anything quite so gross! She had four all back puppies. SO CUTE!
I had so much fun this week and did not really want to go back to Marica’s even though I missed them. These kids were so great. I did not always understand them but my Spanish did take a really big step forward! I am really wanting to spend more time with this ministry so hopefully next month I can go back and spend more time with them. One funny story was that while I was there they were all asking me what kinds of food we eat in the States and one of the little girls asked me if we had eggs!!! LOL! I tried so hard not to laugh and answer but it was hard! Oh also there are five kids living there currently but Jaqui wants to go back out and start getting more. They also want to bring me out on to the street and meet some of the other kids they are working with. Marica said this will be really hard for me because I will want to bring them all home with me but can’t. I will probably cry when I get home too because Jaqui does every time she goes out.
I now ask you all to pray for these kids. They have come a long ways but still have a long way to go. I only spent a week there and already love them and know they each have a special place in my heart. God really is at work here!
Thanks for the prayers and for reading this!
Love you and miss you all!

September: my month of firsts

I am sorry this is late but it has definitely gotten a lot busier around here in the last month. In September I had many firsts. I had my first Sunday of understanding most of the sermon at church. This was a huge blessing and encouragement in my Spanish learning. I have understood more and more every passing Sunday. I also had my second outing without the family to the movies and mall with Catherine and her friends from the university. We went to the movies in Spanish with no English subtitles. This was a first as I did not understand most but caught on after Catherine explained some stuff to me. Next I had my first alone time. The family went to another town over night and I stayed here. As scary as this may sound it was very relaxing and a welcome break, once I got over being in the house alone and all the lights were out! Another first was my grammar classes with a lady in the church. I was meeting with her everyday for 2 hours but now she has to watch her grandson so we meet on Sunday mornings for 2 hours. Not as much but I am still learning a lot! Probably the most exciting was my first concert. It was the longest day of my life and my feet hurt so bad after but that is nothing different than what I have experienced in the US. It was loud, there were TONS of people there and it was all in Spanish. ☺ I went with a group of young people from here and Catherine (my translator). I did catch a few things but this mostly just wore me out and I am still recovering! ☺ At the beginning of September we went to the river for the second time but this time I played volleyball with a group of the people we were there with. I knew Aunt Launa and the girls would appreciate my effort at the game, however my team did not win! ☹ Another frist was my trip to the University with Catherine. She was signing up for her English test. This was much different than my experience at Northwestern. She first stood in line to get a paper and then we went to the bank on campus to put money in and then we went back to the first line and handed in a different paper from the back…just in time before that window closed for lunch at 11am. Then we waited for a lady to give the paper to that said she had paid for the test. Then we rode the bus (another first) and then ran around trying to find a place her dad had mailed something to. I was very lost! Then we rode a taxi home. So many new experiences here that make me realize how easy life in the US is or just maybe how lazy we Americans are.

Well school has started. The kids are gone by 6:30am and return at noon just in time for lunch. Then after lunch we rest and then have class with me and then spend most of the rest of the evening doing homework. I help with what I can. I even helped David with his and it was all in Spanish. We never miss an opportunity for my to learn Spanish. In the morning I fill my time doing things around the house for Marcia and making lunch.

One more thing I hope you all find funny. The stores started setting up for Christmas this month (September 15th) . Marcia says this is early but normally they start at the end of October because they don’t have thanksgiving here and Halloween is growing but still not that popular. So now I have 3 months of Christmas! Does this mean I can listen to Christmas music now?

Prayer requests:
God is working here and long with that comes requests.
*I want to start an English class but I need students. May God provide them for me. I have already had one failed week. ☹
*The church and the challenges it is facing. They are building a new roof, safety and a smooth project. Leadership challenges.
*The ministry I am involved with, there are many things and I am getting frustrated, may God work these out and may this ministry truly glory him and may he use it for his kingdom.
*The Foundation that the church started is facing challenges. May God guide them.
*My friend Catherine’s friends at the university, they are not saved. Pray that God would speak to their hearts and open them to his free gift also that they would ask questions. I would love to see them accept the Lord while I am here and I know God can do it!
*The kids, they get very overwhelmed with school and homework. Sara gets very upset over this. I pray that God comforts them and helps them with their studies. They are very bright children! I love working with them! ☺

I think that is it for now. There are no pictures…sorry but I don’t have a camera. ☹
Thanks for everything and for your prayers.
Until next month!