I was nervous about having to communicate in Spanish for a whole week...I struggle enough with English! I can't write in Spanish, or read in Spanish or even talk in Spanish! Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, a lot a bit. But I do struggle with it. It's very common for me to misspell words, or not pronounce words correctly and I often make up words that don't exist anywhere other than in my Eileen brain. But not being fluent in Spanish is not that bad; several members of our team didn't know any spanish other than "Si" and "burrito." But what is bad is that I was in charge of translating our play for Daniel and the Lions Dens. Yeah, A+ to whoever came up with that idea! Oh, I'm just kidding. I know a more Spanish than I leading you to believe.
So I worked hard to translated about 1 out of the 4 or 5 pages for Daniel and the Lions Den before I delegated the work to my sisters. They each took a half the story to translate. They complete threw away my translation. Apparently, unlike me, my translation was not awesome. But they translated it perfectly! So thank you to Mary and Lupe for all your hard work (even though it look easy when you did it) on translating the story. The play was great, the kids had fun and it couldn't have been done without you.
I also wanna give a big shout out to my main man Jesus (as in Jesus Christ Son of God, not as in every other boy I went to school with Jesus AKA Chewy) for allowing me to speak Spanish surprisingly well during this trip.
Moochewsgrassyass to you guys! That's the proper way to say and spell "Thank you" in Spanish, right?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, Saturday and Sunday Recaps
On Friday evening we visited the Colonial Zone for a couple hours and did some touristy things: walked up and down the streets checking out all the side walk vendors, went into shops, took pictures and I chased the pigeons that were gathered around a statue of Duarte. Those pigeons were way tough! Total Rambo status! They didn't even budge, so I kicked one! Oh, I'm only kidding, but on video it looks like I kicked one. It goes without saying that it's a pretty hilarious video, hi-lar-i-ous! After tormenting the local pigeons we went to a pizzeria and shared a meal with our Christian brothers and sisters from the local MCC church plant. Their company was awesome and the pizza was dee-lish! After dinner they gave us a tour of Parke Duarte which is a safe haven for the local GLBT community. You can count all the places there are for the GLBT community to go to on 1 hand. Many of them are in the closet and you can't blame them. It made me aware of freedom that I'm blessed enough to take for granted in America. After our tour of the park we piled back into the gua gua and sang praise songs all the way home. Once back at the Candil we stayed up late talking, taking pictures, causing havoc on neighboring hotels and bonding over the roaring of thunder as we stretched our mosquito ravished bodies out on towels on the roof of the hotel. We talked of evolution and Creation, beats, the Chinese language, the many names of God, Joseph with his colorful coat, Billy Bragg songs, Callamas and the impossible task of counting stars. They put on a show for us as one by one they raced their way across God's expanse. I couldn't count them all, whether shooting or stationary, but trying to made me think of the enormity, beauty and perfection of God's creation. We got 2 hours of sleep and 1 set of bags under our eyes.
The only thing on our plates for Saturday was worship service at night so we managed to get permission to go back to the Colonial Zone for a few hours in the afternoon. This time I didn't chase any pigeons. Worship service with the church plant group was AMAZING! It reminded me of how the bible tells you to remember what your faith was like at the beginning when it was fresh, bold, unwavering and you would follow Christ even unto death. It was a powerful service! They were so nice and friendly and so energetic that I couldn't keep up! They gave a sermon on the bible and homosexuality. It was very informative. Heck, if Rick Warren was there we might have converted him! The choir was amazing! It was as if they would die if they stopped singing and dancing! So they didn't! Their hospitality afterwords was just as beautiful. We sang worship songs on the way home again. Saturday would be our last night together and we would have to be up by 5AM so we decided we shouldn't even bother going to sleep. We can sleep when we're dead!...or at least when we get on the plane. We rested on the roof until about 3AM when a sudden down pour of rain sent us scurrying like rats down the stairs into the dry safety of our rooms. We checked in for another 2 hours of sleep and another set of bags under our eyes.
Sunday was our last day in the DR and I found it extremely difficult to leave, not because I wasn't ready to return home but because I didn't want to wake up! We drove to Santo Domingo and waited for our plane. Then we waited for our plane some more. Then we continued to wait. I don't know why we kept waiting... the original plan was to skip the plane and stay in the DR. Our plane had a flat tire and our flight kept getting delayed every hour and a half. We waited for 8 hours. Wow! Funnzies! Really, but not really. Tim was on the phone all day working with the airline and our travel agents to re schedule flights for everyone. He earned his paycheck that day, that's for sure! I mean he would have, if he got paid, but he doesn't, so i guess he didn't. Anywho, we eventually managed to leave the Dominican Republic and fly to Miami International Airport. I had the longest fight ahead of me because I'm on the West Coast and everyone else is East Coast, so i was the first to go. I snapped a few more pictures and flew home to California...
The only thing on our plates for Saturday was worship service at night so we managed to get permission to go back to the Colonial Zone for a few hours in the afternoon. This time I didn't chase any pigeons. Worship service with the church plant group was AMAZING! It reminded me of how the bible tells you to remember what your faith was like at the beginning when it was fresh, bold, unwavering and you would follow Christ even unto death. It was a powerful service! They were so nice and friendly and so energetic that I couldn't keep up! They gave a sermon on the bible and homosexuality. It was very informative. Heck, if Rick Warren was there we might have converted him! The choir was amazing! It was as if they would die if they stopped singing and dancing! So they didn't! Their hospitality afterwords was just as beautiful. We sang worship songs on the way home again. Saturday would be our last night together and we would have to be up by 5AM so we decided we shouldn't even bother going to sleep. We can sleep when we're dead!...or at least when we get on the plane. We rested on the roof until about 3AM when a sudden down pour of rain sent us scurrying like rats down the stairs into the dry safety of our rooms. We checked in for another 2 hours of sleep and another set of bags under our eyes.
Sunday was our last day in the DR and I found it extremely difficult to leave, not because I wasn't ready to return home but because I didn't want to wake up! We drove to Santo Domingo and waited for our plane. Then we waited for our plane some more. Then we continued to wait. I don't know why we kept waiting... the original plan was to skip the plane and stay in the DR. Our plane had a flat tire and our flight kept getting delayed every hour and a half. We waited for 8 hours. Wow! Funnzies! Really, but not really. Tim was on the phone all day working with the airline and our travel agents to re schedule flights for everyone. He earned his paycheck that day, that's for sure! I mean he would have, if he got paid, but he doesn't, so i guess he didn't. Anywho, we eventually managed to leave the Dominican Republic and fly to Miami International Airport. I had the longest fight ahead of me because I'm on the West Coast and everyone else is East Coast, so i was the first to go. I snapped a few more pictures and flew home to California...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Obamakalama (and other inexplicable mission trip notes)
First, I would like to give thanks to:
My memories from Mission Trip 2009 include:
- God
- Our sending partners and home churches for funding this trip and praying for us
- Our Dominican staff for keeping us well fed, safe, comfortable, and providing on-time, reliable transportation
- Cindy Acker for her Bible study curriculum
- Rev. Jen for the pre-mission planning work
- Regional Elder AJ for her leadership and faith in our MCC youth
My memories from Mission Trip 2009 include:
- the heat (the DR1 news service reported that June was a temperature record breaker)
- overdosing on electrolytes (who knew?)
- the pool, the roof, the colmado, and all points in between
- a year's suppy of bactine
- sabrina and our free doctor visit (and tour!)
- charles leading the el tamarindo parade in his hip hop, pipe cleaner, designer glasses
- eileen's crazy camera angles
- jermaine (no explanation needed, my friend)
- pancakes en la manana
- news flash: the mosquito population posted a code yellow due to lack of blood donors since the departure of the mission team.
- tmsbc (too much sabrina butt crack, i am now in therapy)
- ruddy, the mighty stump remover
- angel's dominican posse
- big boys do cry....
- the crushing six hour delay at SDQ
- braids and tats
- pulling an all-nighter at la clinica with amanda, carlos, and our dehydrated leader
- prom night in a box
- reflections in the pool....
- rachel takes a dive
- $1,500 youth gift to school
- kelly takes a fall, and another, and another
- ruddy taking out the stump (is that a repeat?)
- jonathan, our scholarship recipient, standing by the gate on departure day
- my attempt to end hunger in the DR by ordering 12 super size pizzas
- MJ - gone too soon.....
- falling asleep in church
- magnetic bracelets
- $1,200 youth gift to mcc santo domingo
- amanda singing at mcc santo domingo
- rev jen's emergency notebook
- big girls do cry....
- the carnival -- absolute pure JOY!
- the ultimate youth labor violation - packing 90 gift bags for the kids in a super hot room
"I had a great time today, but I really stink right now."
"Where's Ruddy?"
"If you are going to get me to the hospital, you are going to need a better plan than trying to carry me in that chair!"
"Amanda, telephone!"
"I am not calling home because I am afraid my Dads will make me leave early."
"He's your boyfriend, REALLY?!?"
"No, I don't think God made us miss our flight because we broke the Covenant."
"No entrego a Señor Daniel"
And, finally, to the 2009 Mission Team, here is my prayer:
Dios,
Please allow Amanda, Angel, Sabrina, Christian, Alex, Eileen, Rachel, Jermaine, Kelley, and Charles to continue being who they are, giving of themselves, so that others will continue to be blessed, by You, through them.
Amen y amen.
After a long night's sleep
I am feeling a little refreshed this morning. Ready to spread the word about the DR and their needs to others. All week we discussed the need for water. We needed to drink water; the people in El Tamarindo needed water; AJ needed more water. This morning talking about the water situation makes it seem even more dire. When we visited the houses on Tuesday afternoon we tok a very long walk to the poorest parts of the town. On our walk I saw 2 small children playing in water coming from a broken pipe in the ground. This was the same water that we were afraid to wash our cuts and scrapes in; that we wouldn't even brush our teeth in; and one of these children was filling a cup with it. Not only were they inviting the germs from the water, but also from the dirt street around the pipe. The question I asked this morning is how can we help get clean water to the whole community?
As you may have heard, our flights home were not without complication. We spent 8 hours in the Santo Domingo airport waiting for a new plane since our apparently had a flat tire. Although we were all tired and wanting to get home, I was happy to have the few stolen hours with my new friends. My new family. In these few short days we have supported each other through 2 trips to the hospital, loss, tears, fear, countless bug bites, homesickness and laughter. I was just not ready to let everyone go yet. As our flights were all rebooked we got disconnected in the Miami airport. Checking in had caused some of us to miss saying goodbye to others. Since this would just not do, those of us with a little time made a frantic search to find our comrades' gates for one last hug. I fell short by 4 people. I travelled the D concourse from end to end, twice, searching for the familiar faces. Finally I had to give up and sat down at my gate to wait for my group to be called. Just as the group before me was called, Rachel came hurrying through the concourse with tears in her eyes hoping she had not missed my plane. This was the sight I needed to dry my tears and leave with a smile. A hug from a friend to send me home to my family ready to share our experience with the world.
You guys are one of the greatest gifts that I have received from this trip. Thank you, each of you, for the love and encouragement. I assure you that our relationships will continue and that together we will begin to change the world.
As you may have heard, our flights home were not without complication. We spent 8 hours in the Santo Domingo airport waiting for a new plane since our apparently had a flat tire. Although we were all tired and wanting to get home, I was happy to have the few stolen hours with my new friends. My new family. In these few short days we have supported each other through 2 trips to the hospital, loss, tears, fear, countless bug bites, homesickness and laughter. I was just not ready to let everyone go yet. As our flights were all rebooked we got disconnected in the Miami airport. Checking in had caused some of us to miss saying goodbye to others. Since this would just not do, those of us with a little time made a frantic search to find our comrades' gates for one last hug. I fell short by 4 people. I travelled the D concourse from end to end, twice, searching for the familiar faces. Finally I had to give up and sat down at my gate to wait for my group to be called. Just as the group before me was called, Rachel came hurrying through the concourse with tears in her eyes hoping she had not missed my plane. This was the sight I needed to dry my tears and leave with a smile. A hug from a friend to send me home to my family ready to share our experience with the world.
You guys are one of the greatest gifts that I have received from this trip. Thank you, each of you, for the love and encouragement. I assure you that our relationships will continue and that together we will begin to change the world.
Home safe...but not quite sound
So let's take it back...i haven't blogged since Wednesday night. Thursday was our carnival day with the kids. And we had such a blast! Streamers hung around their 'yard', we had classic carnival games everywhere from knocking down bottles to tossing sponges through hoops. There were crafts and face painting and the kids just couldn't get enough. Smiles from ear to ear, every last one of them.
But thursday was also our goodbye day. And those smiles faded as the day progressed. We had an ending worship service, all the kids, teachers, and us crammed into the little room downstairs. I sat with Meling on one side, my boy Darwin on the other, and Melanie in my lap. I was good, I was fine, really...ok, i was managing to fight back the tears decently...at least until AJ began her sermon. She kept asking the kids 'do you know you are special? Do you know you have hope? That you can do anything you want?' 'SI!' the kids responded in unison. No doubt in their minds. 'Do you know you were created by god just the way you are? Do you know you are loved by god?' 'SI!' And...tears...silently and quietly trickled down my face. I tried not to make it obvious...as soon as we become upset, so do the children.
But they knew what was going on, it didn't take much more for them either. Diana and Ana sat in front of me, and Diana suddenly wrapped her friend in her arms as Ana began to shake. I couldn't see their faces, but I knew...tears. When Melanie saw this, she turned toward me...tears streamed down her face too.
The teachers called each of us up, and showered us with various little gifts, crafts, certificates. Maybe two of us weren't bawling by then. To see all the children, gathered together and screaming and clapping as each of us was called up...i can't even described the mix of emotions. Laughter shown from below the tears, but only momentarily.
We become attached to these kids so fast, so easily, as they do to us. But why? Why is it so hard to leave children Ive known two weeks out of my life in the past two years? Whats so different about them from the children I babysit, the children in my sunday school class? What makes them so special? ...perhaps it is unconditonal love. Absolutely immediate and absolutely genuine love from every one of the kids. They just cling to you, they want you to hold them, to tell them 'Bonita, mucha gusta' (beautiful, i like it) when they hold up a picture they've drawn. They jump on your back, they desperately grasp for your hand. Or perhaps it's that they put such immediate trust and faith in us, when they know us for barely a week. They show us their homes, they tell us their secrets. ...or perhaps it is both. Or perhaps it is just the kids smiling faces and beautiful souls. Perhaps it's that they teach us so much about love, hope, and faith in the power of God.
I don't know what it is, but as Jen and AJ began pulling us away, telling us to get in the van, we had to go...my heart broke. Broke because I don't want to leave them, broke because I hate the way they must live, broke because there will only ever be so much we can do to help.
Climbed in the van to find each one of my friends, the youth on this trip, in tears. Even the big tough boys...even the butch lesbian...even our body guard Rudy...tears. I sat between Christian and Charles, my hand clinging to Christian's, and Charles' arm wrapped around me, holding me close. And the three of us sat in the very back of the van, and bawled and shook together as we pulled away. Chritian said something later that I will never forget. It embodied how we were all feeling in that moment. I had a heart painted on my cheek from earlier in the day during face painting, and Christian said he watched as a tear slid right down the middle of it, and wiped away the paint as it fell, and left the heart on my cheek broken in two. About as symbolic as it gets.
Friday we had a bit of a day of rest, then met with the young people from MCC Santo Domingo as the second phase of our mission began. They are gay and lesbian youth living in the Dominican...and they certainly don't have it easy. We had a blast with them over dinner, talking, laughing, getting to know each other through broken spanish and broken english. One of the most hilarious, flamboyantly gay men I have ever met, Gregori, told me that 'No'...he didn't have a boyfriend. Everyone told him he was ugly because his skin was too dark. In the Dominican, if your skin is dark, they associate it with being Hatian, and being Hatian is a terrible thing. Even if you are fully Dominican, the natural discrimination is awful. Top on being young and gay in a country that entirely disapproves of if?...Gregori doesn't exactly have an easy life. (but he gave me his email, and he wants me to find him a Canadian boyfriend...any takers?) :)
We worshipped with them in their regular service Saturday night, as they concluded Pride in the Dominican this weekend, just as we concluded our Pride celebration here in Toronto. We were supposed to march with the youth from the 'gay friendly park' known as Parque Duarte in a candle light vigil, but they coulnd't get an official permit or permission, so running into trouble was a definate possibility. Our leaders just couldn't allow us in that potential danger...understandable. They didn't run into problems though, and we experienced a wonderful worship service with them. They sang and praised God just as we would... their songs were in Spanish and incredibly beautiful. The service moved me, made me happy, showed me that God's love and people's faith in God are universal. Go anywhere, and you can find God's true and steadfast love for everyone.
I am home now with very little sleep, a bit of confusion, but mostly filled with thanks. I have been so blessed to be on this journey, to meet and bond with such incredible friends, and know what is wonderful...? I know this is only the beginning. Now the true journeying begins...as I figure out what everything I've seen, heard, felt, smelt, touched, tasted, experienced means. I am off to Montreal this morning (i know...quick turn around much?!) for a softball tournament. We'll see how reintegration goes eh?
Please continue reading the blog and praying for each of us, for the children, for the Dominican, and for all those around the world. We are all God's children, all one under God...and as Eileen would say...'God is good all the time, all the time God is good.'
Love to everyone...rach
But thursday was also our goodbye day. And those smiles faded as the day progressed. We had an ending worship service, all the kids, teachers, and us crammed into the little room downstairs. I sat with Meling on one side, my boy Darwin on the other, and Melanie in my lap. I was good, I was fine, really...ok, i was managing to fight back the tears decently...at least until AJ began her sermon. She kept asking the kids 'do you know you are special? Do you know you have hope? That you can do anything you want?' 'SI!' the kids responded in unison. No doubt in their minds. 'Do you know you were created by god just the way you are? Do you know you are loved by god?' 'SI!' And...tears...silently and quietly trickled down my face. I tried not to make it obvious...as soon as we become upset, so do the children.
But they knew what was going on, it didn't take much more for them either. Diana and Ana sat in front of me, and Diana suddenly wrapped her friend in her arms as Ana began to shake. I couldn't see their faces, but I knew...tears. When Melanie saw this, she turned toward me...tears streamed down her face too.
The teachers called each of us up, and showered us with various little gifts, crafts, certificates. Maybe two of us weren't bawling by then. To see all the children, gathered together and screaming and clapping as each of us was called up...i can't even described the mix of emotions. Laughter shown from below the tears, but only momentarily.
We become attached to these kids so fast, so easily, as they do to us. But why? Why is it so hard to leave children Ive known two weeks out of my life in the past two years? Whats so different about them from the children I babysit, the children in my sunday school class? What makes them so special? ...perhaps it is unconditonal love. Absolutely immediate and absolutely genuine love from every one of the kids. They just cling to you, they want you to hold them, to tell them 'Bonita, mucha gusta' (beautiful, i like it) when they hold up a picture they've drawn. They jump on your back, they desperately grasp for your hand. Or perhaps it's that they put such immediate trust and faith in us, when they know us for barely a week. They show us their homes, they tell us their secrets. ...or perhaps it is both. Or perhaps it is just the kids smiling faces and beautiful souls. Perhaps it's that they teach us so much about love, hope, and faith in the power of God.
I don't know what it is, but as Jen and AJ began pulling us away, telling us to get in the van, we had to go...my heart broke. Broke because I don't want to leave them, broke because I hate the way they must live, broke because there will only ever be so much we can do to help.
Climbed in the van to find each one of my friends, the youth on this trip, in tears. Even the big tough boys...even the butch lesbian...even our body guard Rudy...tears. I sat between Christian and Charles, my hand clinging to Christian's, and Charles' arm wrapped around me, holding me close. And the three of us sat in the very back of the van, and bawled and shook together as we pulled away. Chritian said something later that I will never forget. It embodied how we were all feeling in that moment. I had a heart painted on my cheek from earlier in the day during face painting, and Christian said he watched as a tear slid right down the middle of it, and wiped away the paint as it fell, and left the heart on my cheek broken in two. About as symbolic as it gets.
Friday we had a bit of a day of rest, then met with the young people from MCC Santo Domingo as the second phase of our mission began. They are gay and lesbian youth living in the Dominican...and they certainly don't have it easy. We had a blast with them over dinner, talking, laughing, getting to know each other through broken spanish and broken english. One of the most hilarious, flamboyantly gay men I have ever met, Gregori, told me that 'No'...he didn't have a boyfriend. Everyone told him he was ugly because his skin was too dark. In the Dominican, if your skin is dark, they associate it with being Hatian, and being Hatian is a terrible thing. Even if you are fully Dominican, the natural discrimination is awful. Top on being young and gay in a country that entirely disapproves of if?...Gregori doesn't exactly have an easy life. (but he gave me his email, and he wants me to find him a Canadian boyfriend...any takers?) :)
We worshipped with them in their regular service Saturday night, as they concluded Pride in the Dominican this weekend, just as we concluded our Pride celebration here in Toronto. We were supposed to march with the youth from the 'gay friendly park' known as Parque Duarte in a candle light vigil, but they coulnd't get an official permit or permission, so running into trouble was a definate possibility. Our leaders just couldn't allow us in that potential danger...understandable. They didn't run into problems though, and we experienced a wonderful worship service with them. They sang and praised God just as we would... their songs were in Spanish and incredibly beautiful. The service moved me, made me happy, showed me that God's love and people's faith in God are universal. Go anywhere, and you can find God's true and steadfast love for everyone.
I am home now with very little sleep, a bit of confusion, but mostly filled with thanks. I have been so blessed to be on this journey, to meet and bond with such incredible friends, and know what is wonderful...? I know this is only the beginning. Now the true journeying begins...as I figure out what everything I've seen, heard, felt, smelt, touched, tasted, experienced means. I am off to Montreal this morning (i know...quick turn around much?!) for a softball tournament. We'll see how reintegration goes eh?
Please continue reading the blog and praying for each of us, for the children, for the Dominican, and for all those around the world. We are all God's children, all one under God...and as Eileen would say...'God is good all the time, all the time God is good.'
Love to everyone...rach
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Short DR Recap
Wow! What can I say that hasn’t already been blogged about? When I first arrived at the airport and met my teammates, it was awesome. I didn’t hate them! They were all genuinely super rad peeps. And I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve had with them to get to know them as friends. Now enough yaking about them, let’s get to the school.
People who know me well might find this as a shocker, but I loved the kids at the school. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with them and I wish I could have more time with them. It broke my heart to leave them yesterday. But we did our jobs, and completed our mission with them. We gave them what we came to give, and they gave us more than we could have expected. Other than that, it’s been uber hot, I’ve drank more water in the last few days than I have in the last four years of my life, I have 172 mosquito bites on my legs, one on my pointer finger, and at the end of every day I smelled pretty ripe…including right now…tmi. What else do you need to know?
God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
People who know me well might find this as a shocker, but I loved the kids at the school. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with them and I wish I could have more time with them. It broke my heart to leave them yesterday. But we did our jobs, and completed our mission with them. We gave them what we came to give, and they gave us more than we could have expected. Other than that, it’s been uber hot, I’ve drank more water in the last few days than I have in the last four years of my life, I have 172 mosquito bites on my legs, one on my pointer finger, and at the end of every day I smelled pretty ripe…including right now…tmi. What else do you need to know?
God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
Jermaine's Blog
My week at el tamirindo
My week at el tamerindo it was very chanlenging I met a lot of new people the kids were wonderful. The crazy thing about el tamirindo is the kids and the community there were very grateful. And I realized how ungrateful I am. I witnessed the way the kids live . it was very heartbreaking, some didn’t have their own rooms let alone their own beds. Some didn’t have roofs on their houses so when it rained it was like sleeping outside. Some live next to the sewage pond so when it rained it would overflow and come into their houses. But working with the kids it touched my heart. I work with kids in the US and I wish I could stay here and work with the kids at el tamerindo. We also threw a prom for Rachel where I cried. It was the fact that total strangers could get together and throw such a loving event touched my heart. Call me a softee if you will but I feelings, I am a man I deserve to cry. Even though I didn’t win prom king, I was voted for, for prom queen. Then we all threw each other in the pool with all our clothes on. We had a lot of fun. But the last day at the school I knew I was going to cry but I tried not to. I cried anyways. It was hard to fight back the tears. Im gonna miss this place very much, although we had a fun time the most time I enjoyed was at the school. Also me and Charles was a rollercoaster to the kids. We were airplanes to them. I also listened to a lot of Spanish music. This was really better than the rap music that I listen to everyday. I also learned a new song in Spanish. I also met some of the natives. Ruddy has been a big help with teaching me Spanish and vice-versa me teaching him English. And I also adopted Charles as a little brother. Timon is just awesome, he makes me laugh. Rev. jen and rev. Arlene are just wonderful people and I am glad to have spent this wonderful week with them. This weeks experience ive learned to be more greatful and more appreciative for what I have. Even the little things not just the big things. And I wish I could come again next year.
My week at el tamerindo it was very chanlenging I met a lot of new people the kids were wonderful. The crazy thing about el tamirindo is the kids and the community there were very grateful. And I realized how ungrateful I am. I witnessed the way the kids live . it was very heartbreaking, some didn’t have their own rooms let alone their own beds. Some didn’t have roofs on their houses so when it rained it was like sleeping outside. Some live next to the sewage pond so when it rained it would overflow and come into their houses. But working with the kids it touched my heart. I work with kids in the US and I wish I could stay here and work with the kids at el tamerindo. We also threw a prom for Rachel where I cried. It was the fact that total strangers could get together and throw such a loving event touched my heart. Call me a softee if you will but I feelings, I am a man I deserve to cry. Even though I didn’t win prom king, I was voted for, for prom queen. Then we all threw each other in the pool with all our clothes on. We had a lot of fun. But the last day at the school I knew I was going to cry but I tried not to. I cried anyways. It was hard to fight back the tears. Im gonna miss this place very much, although we had a fun time the most time I enjoyed was at the school. Also me and Charles was a rollercoaster to the kids. We were airplanes to them. I also listened to a lot of Spanish music. This was really better than the rap music that I listen to everyday. I also learned a new song in Spanish. I also met some of the natives. Ruddy has been a big help with teaching me Spanish and vice-versa me teaching him English. And I also adopted Charles as a little brother. Timon is just awesome, he makes me laugh. Rev. jen and rev. Arlene are just wonderful people and I am glad to have spent this wonderful week with them. This weeks experience ive learned to be more greatful and more appreciative for what I have. Even the little things not just the big things. And I wish I could come again next year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
