Monday, June 1, 2009
Today flew by yet was 4 days long!
To recap, we went to VBS at the orphanage this morning where all the kids played together, sang, did crafts. We came back to the hotel for lunch and siesta which was spent by the water for a few minutes.
We returned to the orphanage and bagged rice and beans. Several of the kids stayed to play with the children at the orphanage, both residents and neighbors. Two interpreters, Justin, Emily, Sarah, Ben L, BenM, and I went into the neighborhood to hand out food. We were greeted with such warm reception. At the first home, 3 teen daughters invited us in to sit with them, then asked for prayer for their ill father. At the next home, one of the girls from VBS was there with her grandmother who invited us all in to her home. She asked us to pray for all her sick neighbors and family. We were able to give out 15+ bags of food this afternoon and meet many neighbors.
It was a blessing to have the interpreters. Tricia found Carolina, the 15 yr old, and was able to ask her about her life. She became pregnant by a boy from her school. The father does support them somewhat meagerly. Carolina lives with her mother and seven siblings. The mother of Carolina is not home as she must work to support the children. It appears that Carolina cares for the baby by herself (with the help of neighborhood children) as well as cares for her siblings. We pray for Carolina and her young baby girl.
Augua Negros, Black Water, named for the adjacent sewage “plant” which is actually 4 large rectangular lakes of sewage, is across a harbor from the orphanage’s neighborhood. A ferry is the mode of transportation. Let me define ferry. It is a wooden boat, probably not unlike what Jesus may have ridden in, with a rope that goes from one side of the harbor to the other, powered by bananas (a 20 yr old man who is nourished on bananas). The baseball field where Sammy Sosa learned to hit home runs overlooks the harbor and the large manufacturing plant. Old tires are the bases, the backstop is scrap metal, and tires form the fence that separates the baseball field from the basketball court. I am going in reverse order because we left the slum via the ferry under the cover of sunset which was beautiful. God is an incredible artist. We were accompanied by several children continuing to play with us as well as a few men who were simply escorting us. One man in particular, probably in his 30s, was the recipient of a food bag. He was quite protective of our group.
We arrived at the slum via Majic Bus and Mission JesusTruck. As we egressed from the bus, flocks of children, men, and women came out of the woodwork and sheet metal. Several pregnant women were there. LOTS of children that appeared to be school age, toddlers. We parked by the shore which is in stark contrast to the hotel which is kept clean by men whose specific job is to pick up trash, stray leaves. Here, there is trash everywhere. As if a dog came along Norman Drive, dumped all our trash everywhere, let it wash up on the beach, and there you go. Kids are playing in it. The industrious (probably hungry) ones are looking for treasures such as food as well as scrap metal. Several kids are naked. Fortunately it is the little ones. One of the girls noted that when we initially arrived, we were stuck together like hotdogs in a package. We were surrounded as we had bags of food and clothes. Quickly, they were dispersed. After that, the tension fell away and the walls dropped. I went with a group into the slum and just visited people “Dios la blendiga” which I know I am butchering, but is God Bless you. We were universally greeted with smiles, hand shakes, warm inviting eyes. There were a few homes built of concrete, meticulous, with TVs and furniture. Then there were more homes built of scrap metal and wood, still with couches and TVs. All windows and doors are open as it is 85 in the shade so everyone is outside or at least looking outside. One woman was sweeping the dirt of her dirt porch. I thought of several of my friends who keep a meticulous home. She is no different from them.
As we returned to the beach/parking area, the sound of singing girls filled the air. Our girls were doing pattycake with these girls, kids were on the truck playing pattycake type games, our girls learned a leap frog game from them. Laughter filled the air. The proverbial ice had been broken. Our boys (all bigger than me!) went to the court to play basketball. It took them a little while to figure out the rules, and initially they were getting spanked. Rebounds are free for all. Holding, jabs all allowed. Street ball at its finest. Basketball is the universal language. A large crowd gathered, a row or two deep, around the court. Our interpreter told us that normally there is not a large crowd as often fights break out frequently. But there were smiles on the faces of adults and children alike.
We were able to meet a little girl, probably about 6 or so … the size of my youngest daughter, who lives in the slum but is connected to the orphanage. Her mother died in the last several months of AIDS, so she is currently living with a relative along with her 14 yr old sister. She will live in the girls’ orphanage which Mat Whatley is leading to build (pray for that please!!!!!!!!!!!!). She is beautiful, smiling, full of joy which the lord has given her is in His special grace. She dons a sweet white tulle dress, covered in dust. She rushed up to Brad and embraced him. She has spent time at the orphanage during the day, but the government will not allow for girls and boys to inhabit the same building in an orphanage. Pray for protection for her and her sister.
Jose came yesterday to the orphanage to hang out. He speaks English, loves NY (someone had graciously included hats in their gift to us and this went to him!), and loves to play baseball. He is a leader amongst his peers. Pray that the Lord will develop him, pull him to his heart. I believe it is jose who said that jesus is sooo god to him.
Today flew by yet was 4 days long!
To recap, we went to VBS at the orphanage this morning where all the kids played together, sang, did crafts. We came back to the hotel for lunch and siesta which was spent by the water for a few minutes.
We returned to the orphanage and bagged rice and beans. Several of the kids stayed to play with the children at the orphanage, both residents and neighbors. Two interpreters, Justin, Emily, Sarah, Ben L, BenM, and I went into the neighborhood to hand out food. We were greeted with such warm reception. At the first home, 3 teen daughters invited us in to sit with them, then asked for prayer for their ill father. At the next home, one of the girls from VBS was there with her grandmother who invited us all in to her home. She asked us to pray for all her sick neighbors and family. We were able to give out 15+ bags of food this afternoon and meet many neighbors.
It was a blessing to have the interpreters. Tricia found Carolina, the 15 yr old, and was able to ask her about her life. She became pregnant by a boy from her school. The father does support them somewhat meagerly. Carolina lives with her mother and seven siblings. The mother of Carolina is not home as she must work to support the children. It appears that Carolina cares for the baby by herself (with the help of neighborhood children) as well as cares for her siblings. We pray for Carolina and her young baby girl.
Augua Negros, Black Water, named for the adjacent sewage “plant” which is actually 4 large rectangular lakes of sewage, is across a harbor from the orphanage’s neighborhood. A ferry is the mode of transportation. Let me define ferry. It is a wooden boat, probably not unlike what Jesus may have ridden in, with a rope that goes from one side of the harbor to the other, powered by bananas (a 20 yr old man who is nourished on bananas). The baseball field where Sammy Sosa learned to hit home runs overlooks the harbor and the large manufacturing plant. Old tires are the bases, the backstop is scrap metal, and tires form the fence that separates the baseball field from the basketball court. I am going in reverse order because we left the slum via the ferry under the cover of sunset which was beautiful. God is an incredible artist. We were accompanied by several children continuing to play with us as well as a few men who were simply escorting us. One man in particular, probably in his 30s, was the recipient of a food bag. He was quite protective of our group.
We arrived at the slum via Majic Bus and Mission JesusTruck. As we egressed from the bus, flocks of children, men, and women came out of the woodwork and sheet metal. Several pregnant women were there. LOTS of children that appeared to be school age, toddlers. We parked by the shore which is in stark contrast to the hotel which is kept clean by men whose specific job is to pick up trash, stray leaves. Here, there is trash everywhere. As if a dog came along Norman Drive, dumped all our trash everywhere, let it wash up on the beach, and there you go. Kids are playing in it. The industrious (probably hungry) ones are looking for treasures such as food as well as scrap metal. Several kids are naked. Fortunately it is the little ones. One of the girls noted that when we initially arrived, we were stuck together like hotdogs in a package. We were surrounded as we had bags of food and clothes. Quickly, they were dispersed. After that, the tension fell away and the walls dropped. I went with a group into the slum and just visited people “Dios la blendiga” which I know I am butchering, but is God Bless you. We were universally greeted with smiles, hand shakes, warm inviting eyes. There were a few homes built of concrete, meticulous, with TVs and furniture. Then there were more homes built of scrap metal and wood, still with couches and TVs. All windows and doors are open as it is 85 in the shade so everyone is outside or at least looking outside. One woman was sweeping the dirt of her dirt porch. I thought of several of my friends who keep a meticulous home. She is no different from them.
As we returned to the beach/parking area, the sound of singing girls filled the air. Our girls were doing pattycake with these girls, kids were on the truck playing pattycake type games, our girls learned a leap frog game from them. Laughter filled the air. The proverbial ice had been broken. Our boys (all bigger than me!) went to the court to play basketball. It took them a little while to figure out the rules, and initially they were getting spanked. Rebounds are free for all. Holding, jabs all allowed. Street ball at its finest. Basketball is the universal language. A large crowd gathered, a row or two deep, around the court. Our interpreter told us that normally there is not a large crowd as often fights break out frequently. But there were smiles on the faces of adults and children alike.
We were able to meet a little girl, probably about 6 or so … the size of my youngest daughter, who lives in the slum but is connected to the orphanage. Her mother died in the last several months of AIDS, so she is currently living with a relative along with her 14 yr old sister. She will live in the girls’ orphanage which Mat Whatley is leading to build (pray for that please!!!!!!!!!!!!). She is beautiful, smiling, full of joy which the lord has given her is in His special grace. She dons a sweet white tulle dress, covered in dust. She rushed up to Brad and embraced him. She has spent time at the orphanage during the day, but the government will not allow for girls and boys to inhabit the same building in an orphanage. Pray for protection for her and her sister.
Jose came yesterday to the orphanage to hang out. He speaks English, loves NY (someone had graciously included hats in their gift to us and this went to him!), and loves to play baseball. He is a leader amongst his peers. Pray that the Lord will develop him, pull him to his heart. I believe it is jose who said that jesus is sooo god to him.
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