so, as some of you know, i am terrified to the core of my being of lizzards. yes, it is true. mrs. landrum knows first hand... there was an incident in ap english with a very LARGE lizzard and an open window. well, there are two variations of lizzards here. one is iguanas and the other is geccos. there is a gecco that has taken up residence in my room and i am waiting for it to fall onto me at night. although, i have not seen it in a while and i am hoping that means it is dead or gone. either would be great. well, last friday the kids found three baby iguanas. now the problem here was that i could react to these iguanas becuase if i did i would be terrorized by them for the rest of the night. it took every fiber of my being not to run for my life. :)
it is interesting to see which kids the teams interact with. it is usually the younger ones that are outgoing and friendly. it seems like once the boys get to a certain age they fall through the cracks. but they long for a hug, someone to talk to, and attention. some of the older girls are like that too.
two of those older boys helped with construction today. jonathan (14ish) and josue (15ish) we joked around and had fun but it was amazing to me how they just lit up and were so happy to be helping. they were smiling and laughing and having a good time with me. they just wanted to be noticed and enjoyed, just like everyone else. i know i have written something already like this but it has been weighing on my heart. it frustrates me that some of the teams do not see the older boys. so, orangewood, you now know... i am asking that when you come dont attach yourself only to one cute little kid. reach out and get to know some of the older ones, especially the older guys. they are just as much fun and need you just as much.
pray for the newest boy that was dropped off last friday. his name is alejandro and my guess is that he is 12ish. he is having a hard time adjusting. and bless his heart, i dont think he realizes that i have no idea what his is saying when he talks to me. he speaks 300 miles an hour and just talks his little heart out. but i just dont have a clue what he is saying. thats ok... if he wants to talk to me then i will look like i am understanding and give him my full attention. :)
i am still struggling through the language! aaaahhhhh.
Monday, June 25, 2007
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5 comments:
Youre breaking my heart. Im praying for Alejandro right now. Im laughing about your gekko story. HAHAHAHa! Do you need anything? Anything personal I can send down with the team for you? Perhaps some cat pee gum? Im wondering if they have there in Mexico?
Oh, those lizards! You're such a brave soul! Thank you for speaking out on behalf of the older children. How familiar that sounds to what I've seen in Ukraine. Everyone loves the cherubic faces and mannerisms of the little ones, but its the older children who particularly need our love and attention. Their chances of finding homes are slim to none. They are so much closer to leaving the safety of the orphanage and trying to make their way in the world on their own. Now is the time to show them how loved and worthy they are. God bless these forgotten ones. Love on a few for me today, Rachel.
Rachel - thanks for giving us O-wood people directions when we get there. As you might have heard, I'm coming! And I get to determine the Bible Story time lessons. So, here's my question to you -- what do those kids need to hear? i'm sure they've heard the gospel/bracelet/wordless book thing a hundred times. So, what would be a good message for them this summer? Especially when compared with all else that they've heard. Or with what they are dealing with.
No time pressure -- we'll probably figure it out the wednesday before (ok, not that late, but still!)
Excited to see your heart in action there in Mexico!
Truly, debby
I’m having visions of The Sound of Music where the children torture their nanny with toads and spider in her bed. If you just suffer through they’ll love you all the more. What really gets them going is when you do squeal and run away. Rachel, you’ll never look at a lizard the same again.
I’m proud of you, Rachel. I think it’s important to say that. In reading Shiver’s blog the other day and talked to your mom last night; it got me thinking – again – about you. I don’t know that I compliment, congratulate and affirm you and others like you (the “easy” relationships) enough. It is easy to acknowledge accomplishments when people struggle to overcome difficulties, either out of their control or of their own making. Those triumphs are recognizable on a larger scale. You have consistently exemplified Christ in both your words and deeds, your attitude is one of grace and kindness, and you are emotionally stable and mature. This should not diminish your constancy and the everyday life you lead. You are amazing and I love you – not for any specific reason but because you are so worthy of being loved. You should know that and I should tell you, not assume that it is understood. Watching you is truly a joy and a blessing. So thank you for being you, for being willing to be used and for allowing me to witness it. I am so very proud of you.
Rachel you have officially made me cry. I really feel like I am there with you. That is so convicting what you said about the older kids. Although I did hang out a lot with Lupe and a couple of the older boys, I definately drifted to the younger kids in all the down time. Thank you for being honest because that is something I may not have discovered on my own.
I've been keeping up with your blog and then relaying it all to Andrew but I felt like he needed to read what you wrote about Euclides so I e-mailed that section to him. That was so sweet. That child makes me laugh.
Another thing I appreciate so much about reading your blog is that you're keeping my heart in it. It's so easy to go throughout the rest of the year and forget about Casa Hogar until the next trip comes around. Hearing from you makes me so excited to get back down there. I just wish it would come faster! I cannot wait to see you and I know Andrew is looking forward to it as well.
One last thing..I was laughing really hard when you talked about the video games at the birthday party hahaha maybe for the next birthday you could rent some anime movies haha Glad you're doing well!!!!!
-Emily
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