An Afternoon in Oki...

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Look How Cute! 

No one could resist picking up the little piglets as they ran by us while we ate and cooked. Even Aureli, our youngest interna, could not help but smile while holding one with Carmen. Aureli is often teased for being the "runt" of the litter, making it even more perfect that she decided to grab one of the smallest piglets on there.  Hence the smiles and laughter! :)

Look How Big & Strong!

After seeing how one of the women carried the baby pigs away from the mother's food, I thought I should give it a try.  If the little pigs aren't taken away, they eat all the mother's food and then we have one angry hog without milk for the babies.  But, once I picked two of them out, the other dozen or so piglets went hiding! :o

Look How Tasty!

Once we were friends with the pigs, we decided they looked awfully tasty... so we had pork for lunch! :) Above Sor Gladis and the internas are preparing our dinner, spicy chicken.  While the rest of us went out on the basketball court at the local school and played volleyball.  Though we didn't keep score, and we had intermissions of random dancing, I think my team won!

Look At Our Yummy Dessert!

After lunch and dinner, our dessert consisted of washing dishes and eating yummy lollypops, curtsey of Carmen! :) The home we visited belongs to one of the internas, a traditional Bolivian home in the countryside - hence the lack of indoor pluming, the family shares this water spiket their neighbors.  But, it wasn't really an inconvenience at all once you had soap and buckets and plenty of little hands to help! :)

Life is Good & Every day in Oki is a Gift!

Please keep us in your prayers, you're always in ours! :)

"Love the poor tenderly, regarding them as your masters and yourselves as their servants." - St. John of God

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Mining in Potosi

Whistling’ While Workin’...

Ever since I watched the documentary, The Devil’s Miner – a documentary explaining the very real and harsh conditions workers, children, and their families suffer daily – I wanted to visit the mines in Potosi. Recently, Bolivia has made some more restrictions regarding child labor laws and from what we saw, they have been enforced and life is looking more promising.

Carlos, center is 20 years old and has been working in the mines of Potosi since he was 10, before the laws were changed.  We joked that this gave him some sort of seniority; he laughed, and pointed to his friend who had been there longer, and therefore was his boss.

When we met Carlos and his friends, we quickly gave our peace offering of the traditional Bolivian coca leaves and soda – liquid energy that will curb their appetites for the next 19+hrs of work.  They hardly sleep.  When asked, the older of the boys said they’d sleep when the work was done.  Their pay depends on the percentage of high-grade minerals, so if the mineral grad is low, so is their pay.

Being a teacher, I just had to ask Carlos, “How often are you going to school?”

At first he said, “In the afternoons” but then added, only during breaks or national holidays, which are few and far between. Many from my little town, Okinawa, are in the same situation.  From a young age they’ve had to work and therefore have little education.  This prevents them from getting different jobs, continuing the cycle of poverty. These were my thoughts, but Carlos...

Being a 20 something year old, quickley asked if I was single and how old I was.  After telling him I was 24, he said, "no importa!" :) Which made me laugh! :D Clearly, he wasn't shy with girls!

And there was GOOD NEWS! Life for them is starting to change.  The new labor laws from 2008 are making an impact, not only keeping small children out of the mines, but different organizations have set up school and programs to help the families.   

If you want to read more or see the documentary, visit www.thedevilsminer.com

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Falling in Love with Prayer, SLM Retreat 2011

During the First weekend in February, all the 12 SLMs from Bolivia were able to meet up in Cochabamba for a much needed spiritual retreat.  It was so nice to see volunteers that I hadn't seen for over 7 months! Every site gave a presentation or a talk on a particular aspect of their spiritual journey.  Our site presented a talk on the importance of prayer in our lives and how when we fall in love with prayer, we fall in love with God.  Enjoy! 

"When you fall in love with prayer, your life is set apart from others, no matter how you pray or spend time with the Lord.  When you fall in love with prayer, it allows us to fully fall in love with God.  This personal relationship with God, according to Pope Benedict, is what matters most in one’s life, it is one’s friendship with God.  What happens in normal human relationships, we should share with God, we need to spend time with God.  “Making” time for God is essential, we have to remove the obstacles from our lives, such as being “too busy”, because if John Paul II was able wake up early every morning at 5:30am to pray and Christ here on earth placed even more importance on prayer, then if somehow those crazy “busy” men found time, so can you!  It requires discipline, the root of that word being disciple – key if you desire to faithfully follow Christ and fall in love with Him.

When you finally do make time, it is not time to think about what you need to do, or what you would like to accomplish, rather focusing on God, even when we don’t know what to say.  Praying and spending time with God is the most important task of our day, being distracted “busy Martha’s” actually waste time, with chatting, Facebook, cleaning, or the many other endless activities that fill every last second of our day…but when you are truly close to someone and truly are on fire with love for them could you honestly tell them, “I just don’t have time, I’m too busy!?” Seriously you won’t go very far in a human relationship with that kind of attitude, nor will your personal relationship with Christ grow if you have nothing more to say than every other little activity, thought, and preoccupation takes precedent over You LORD! That hurts. You might start to understand the consequences that come from not placing the one you love…aka GOD, first, not last, but FIRST and LAST and ALL day long!

Prayer is something supernatural, it is very useful to ask for help, “Lord, please teach me how to pray, will you help me?” This was the simple prayer of the little saint from Calcutta, and she had the one of the most beautiful relationships with God from our time, and yet she still, in her humility asked that God teach her how to pray, give her the words daily, in her sweet desire of wanting more intimacy with out LORD. The Pope Benedict further explains that our prayers become hope in action, bringing everyone around you closer to God and His love!  Praying and asking God, “I know I don’t understand how YOU do things, but I know YOU are there, please give me faith!  And, ask friends, family and the saints above to further intercede for your request to pray and strengthen your relationship with GOD.

            Make a resolution to keep with persistent prayer, and form a sweet tangible sweet relationship with GOD.  Poco a Poco, little by little, send God whatever troubles, offering anything and everything to You, LORD – in the hopes of attaining a relationship which is the most powerful, beautiful and sweet and seeking it through effort every day and through God’s Grace.  We are called to pray without ceasing, so the idea of spontaneously seeking God throughout the day, and making quick visits to the chapel, while in class, running, or singing, we can praise God & seek Him, because you have fallen in LOVE with Him!"

"Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?" - St. Gerard Majella

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Making a Soul Smile

A few months ago I was sent the picture above by my fellow site partner, Bryan. Everyday, CNN publishes a group of photos and last September I was captivated by this laughing Pakistani man who laughed after receiving a tent for himself and his family after the devastating floods.  His joyous, smiling laugher reminded me of a woman I met my first week on mission, named Denise. 

 

It was my first trip to the city, when I saw her lying on the street – dirt and an oversized t-shirt were the only things covering her naked, weary body. My heart ached when I saw her, what could I do!? She looked cold, perhaps a blanket? But I had no idea where to look for one, and we were walking quickly in the opposite direction. I felt hopeless, I came to Bolivia to help and here I was walking past someone in need – but right then I saw a blanket stand! Clearly, God wanted her to have a blanket too! :) I stopped, had just enough money and grabbed one. Running down streets spilling with people, I found her still lying there and asked, (in broken Spanish) “Do you want?”

 

She smiled. 

 

I covered her in the big beautiful blanket, covering her toes so they’d be nice and warm. I stood back, amazed by her beautiful transformation – as if the very presence of God was in my midst. I noticed the shopkeepers around stopped what they were doing and pointed and smiled too.  I’m so grateful to witness God’s presence daily in Bolivia and see small glimpses of God’s love while I help serve. I pray all are covered in Mary’s mantle, protected, and know that they are loved.  

I learned that, rather than receiving the blanket, Denise's happiness seemed to come from being cared for and receiving basic human affection, such a simple smile.  Because the poor are so numerous here, I'm unable to always give material goods, such as a blanket - but I am always able to give a smile! :D

In the spirit of Christmas, I've included an old favorite of mine:

The Value of a Smile at Christmas 

"It costs nothing, but creates much. 
It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. 
It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. 
None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. 
It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. 
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature's best antidote for trouble. 
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away. 
And if the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours? 
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!" 

- Originally an ad from a New York City department store who ran years ago to its customers and later was reprinted in Dale Carnegie's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Bailes Bonitas

"Teacher, I'm leaving class to go dance, chau!"

They would leave me in a confused daze, as I watched half my class disappear with a radio.  I didn’t understand coming down to Bolivia that dancing is more important than my English class – not because dancing the Tinku will give then an edge when they eventually hit the job market, but because knowing how to dance, quite simply, makes you Bolivian. 

With this perspective, I can understand why the school permits the students to practice – because to be illiterate in the language of the body, would also prevent the students from moving fluently within their own culture and society.  So, before they learn anything else in school, they must first learn to dance. 

As soon as the little ones can walk, there’s a distinctive waddle in their hips, and by the time they’ve reached Kinder there’re wearing their mom’s makeup with a tablecloth and shaking it like Shakira.  It’s rather impressive.  I’m always amused when they try teaching me; even when I tell them my hips don’t move like theirs. When I watch the junior high students – all the awkwardness of puberty is masked behind bright beautiful flowing skirts and crisp white linen, making perfect young suitors.

I wonder why so many young Americans chose to dance the way they do, when they could dance like the Bolivians! :) 

By knowing how to dance, these young Bolivians are filled with culture, pride and more importantly – confidence.  To have confident students aware of their bodies and culture is beautiful to witness, and having confident students is all a teacher could ask for.

"I would only believe in a God who knew how to dance." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Bulla Battalion

They might appear like little thugs, but don’t be fooled – their only weapons are those little white rosaries clutched in their hands and their mischievous smiles!  :) These dashing young men are my little seventh graders – wearing their Sunday best for their First Communion. 

Last spring, Bryan and I starting helping the other catechists on Sunday mornings – were many of the students were also in my English classes at the junior high.  Typically, the sacraments are received much later than what is customary in the States – the average age being 12 years old, to make sure the students have a strong literacy level needed to complete the course work.

Often my English classes consists of “bulla” or naughtiness, especially when it comes to the boys, who relentlessly flirt with the girls in the class.  Pobre Chicas! (poor girls!) When its time to start class or listen to a lesson, they’re the last ones to listen and often try to act “suave” with the ladies while I’m trying to correct them.  They loiter around the campus after school and practice their new pick-up lines on us, despite the fact we’re their teachers!  O’ dear!  :) So… you could say they’re a handful! This made Sunday morning quite amusing, when those same little troublemakers looked like sweet little angles!  They were so excited to be all dressed up - eager to get their candles and rosaries, and wait in the procession line. 

Come Monday morning, we’ll see how permanent the transformation is… but until then I can’t help but smile – it took only a little encouragement from their families and friends to transform them into these confident young men! So cute! :)

"Prayer became my armor, and I wrapped it tightly around my heart." -Immaculee Iilbagiza

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Los Communidades

Arguably one of the best parts of the job here in Okinawa, is going to the communities – where the American volunteers come to sing, teach a little catechism, color drawings, and play outside on the cancha, while giving our “saludos” to the club de Madres.

There are 14 communities surrounding the main town Okinawa I, where we live at the volunteer house and teach our English classes at the local public Catholic school*.  From Okinawa I, we take various unpaved dirt roads to any given community – ranging from 15 to 90 minutes away, leading us to some of the most remote and poorest people in Bolivia.

Driving to a community is always an adventure – after rain the car will skid on mud, while during the dry season the “pulvo” or dust can be near blinding, while trying to avoid the cows, sheep, pigs, and the inevitable Bolivian dogs.  But, the scenic views of an prestige farmland and seemingly untouched parts of the rainforest, makes up for any potential driving hazards – especially when a random flock of ostriches scurries by!

But the best part is when the truck pulls up at a community and you can hear the kids from the classroom squealing because they know they are in for a morning of fun activities that will momentarily take them away from their monotonous class work.  The community Rancho Chicho not only has audible squeals of delight, but the little ones run outside the classroom attacking the volunteers with such passionate hugs, that we have to hold on the sides of the classroom or we will fall over! …my job is rough at times! Lol J

Once we manage to get inside the classroom, singing and laughing commence, flowed by an animated video and a puppet show and lastly coloring biblical scenes to reinforce the day’s lesson – using fun bright markers the kids love.  Then the mad dash to play outside and use the big bag of toys we bring every time or play “tic’tac’toe” with chalk from the classroom.

Nearby the Club de Madres or Mother’s Club meets with Doña Natty, who leads the various single working mothers in prayer and allows the women a respite from their work to discuss ways of gaining work or improving some of their home situations – and when its time to say “adios” the women always stop us to give us their fresh mangos or rice bread, generously giving us what they would happily eat. 

As we put the toys and supplies away, often the little ones help or at least try and then make the car a jungle gym and play until we finally pull away! Eeeep! J

*Though not allowed in the United States, San Francico Xavier is both Catholic and public, allowing a saintly group of Salesian nuns to run the school, while it also gets funding and subsidies from the government.

"It is not enough for us to say: "I love God", but I also have to love my neighbor. St. John says that you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? And so it is very important for us to realize that love, to be true, has to hurt. I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is not true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me." - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

Thursday, August 26, 2010

La Boda

After being partners for over 30 years and raising a family, this Bolivian couple decided finally they wanted to get married in the Catholic Church – a beautiful wedding, unlike any I had ever witnessed. 

Thursday night Mass had just finished and I was making my way back to my room in the parroquía, when I saw a cute baby covered in white lace.  I figured they were getting ready for a baptism, but after I congratulated them they told me the lace and flowers were for the grandmother who was getting married.  At the side of the church the grandmother started dressing herself in a new yellow Quechuian skirt and bright white lacy top (Quechuian language and dress is just one of many indigenous cultures that still exist here in Bolivia.)  I asked if she wanted to use my room to change, but she insisted she was fine.  Her daughter and family friends helped her get dressed as her bashful beaming soon-to-be husband watched from a distance, so sweet!

After inquired if they needed any help and they discovered I had a camera, I soon found myself the photographer for the wedding!  This gave me the privilege of watching their simple ceremony with their few family and friends.  Unable to read, Padre Nestor read them the vows, in which the couple happily repeated as they laughed and smiled at each other.  They received Eucharist and took their first kiss as man and wife – in which their whole family cheered! J

When it came time to sign the marriage contract, the husband for the first time looked a bit confused. Padre soon realized he was unable to write his name, so he patiently explained how to make a mark on the certificate, while his wife wrote a legible “x”.  

The couple smiled at each other, laughed, kissed, held hands as they left the altar and headed out the church – followed by more cheers and plenty of confetti from their imitate family and few close friends.  Despite some difficulties, rarely have I seen such excitement and love between two newlyweds!

"Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church." - Pope John Paul II

Monday, July 12, 2010

Amor Puro

Filled with the desire to share Christ’s vision of what love means in regards to sexual purity, Marie and Elizabeth ventured down once again to Bolivia during their summer vacation to share their mission of love: Amor Puro.

Marie and Elizabeth were Salesian Lay Missioners in Okinawa for 2+ years – teaching at the local high school and elementary school, San Francisco Xavier, that I presently teach at. During their last 6 months they started giving talks on human sexuality, specifically chastity talks and its relevance in the lives of the teens. They were so well received, they came back during their summer for round two and I was blessed to get to watch them in action!

Greatly inspired the teachings of John Paul II with his teachings on Theology of the Body, the girls gave chastity talks to different high schools and youth groups. Starting with talks on self-esteem, they then used Jason Evert’s book, Pure Love as the base for their talks. Each student received a booklet, were given assignments to read certain passages, and the following day the girls would go over the passage and explain how it was relevant in their lives.

Being a teacher here in Bolivia, I wondered if the students would actually do the reading. Many of the students have jobs, as well as homework, on top of other challenges - but I was wrong. The students were actively engaged and when it came to homework some students even quoted verbatim from the book. Clearly, the message was of keen interest and because it was presented in an entirely new way, the teens were captivated. Many, many of the students are already sexually active - but are surprisingly unaware of the consequences: such as sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and even discussing what actually defines sex. The talks forced the students to understand and reflect upon their actions, to see how powerful sex is and God's beautiful purpose for it! 

Most families here have life partners, rather than spouses. The concept of marriage as a sacrament and being faithful to one person, has yet to make its way into Bolivian culture. And, with continued efforts from the laity, like Marie and Elizabeth, it won't be long before it does.

*If you are unfamiliar with or would like to learn more about Theology of The Body - Christopher West is a great start and so is EWTN's reference of all of the 129 general audiences given by John Paul II (http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2tb103.htm)

God Bless - Hope you all are well!

“Real love is demanding, I would fail in my mission if I did not tell you so. Love demands a personal commitment to the will of God.” - John Paul II

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

At Last, Clean Water!

It’s been over 50 years since Okinawa was established in the countryside of eastern Bolivia – which now has schools, hospitals, and churches – even Internet! But clean drinking water was never a high priority.  The locals use the water straight from the tap without any purification or filtration system, making bacteria, viruses, and parasites easily transmitted throughout the community.

Having the privilege of living here for the past 10 months, I can attest for myself that living with bouts of amebic dysentery or “bichos” makes life at times seem unbearable, but you’d never hear that from them.  For many, becoming sick and dealing with fighting diseases is just part of life.  Recently I was asked to record the medical needs for the surrounding poor communities – every community suffered from dysentery and other diseases as a result of poor sanitation and unclean drinking water. 

That’s now changing – a group from Missouri called, “Living Waters” came in June and installed a water filtration system in the heart of my little school.  The group of four, led by Ron, built the entire system and then lead classes teaching the volunteers as well as the locals how to maintain a clean system and what the clean water should be used for: drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and cleaning little babies.  

The idea of using “clean water” is slowly taking affect – the nuns no longer have to buy big jugs of purified water from the city and for the first time the interñas (the little boarding school girls) get clean water too, just yesterday they were playing and laughing at the little bubbles the water dispenser makes! :) 

“A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” John 4:7

Monday, May 10, 2010

For Love of Mary!

A tradition in Okinawa during the Month of May is the daily rosary, which takes place every morning at 5:30am.  It consists in leaving your casa with every layer you have in the freezing cold as you make your way in the dark to find the gas station.  And, as much fun as that sounds, I had really wanted to go every morning, but hadn’t even gone once…until one day at assembly when Sor Marta decided to talk to the students about the importance of going to the rosary.

“Everyone is cold, everyone is tired, but you need to go! Don’t go because your friends are going, don’t go because someone makes you, rather go for Love of Mary!”

Sor Marta definitely made me feel sufficiently sheepish and after her talk, I went in the mornings – no more excuses, all I needed to remember was who I was waking up for! :D

***Rosary Reflection by Jacques Philippe, from his book Time for God (Beautiful book to read! pg. 94)

“…The rosary is also a simple, poor prayer, for poor people – and who is not poor?  It has the advantage of being a prayer for all seasons: community prayer, family prayer, prayer of petition…But, at least for those who receive the grace, it can also be prayer of the heart that, very much like the Jesus Prayer, leads into mental prayer.  After all, the name of Jesus is at the center of the Hail Mary.

In the rosary it is Mary who leads us into her own prayer, gives us access to the humanity of Jesus and introduces us into the mysteries of her Son.  Mary somehow offers us a share in her own mental prayer, surely the deepest ever.

Often, when said slowly and in a spirit of recollection, the rosary can establish our hearts in communion with God.  Mary’s heart gives us access to Jesus’ Heart.  Finding it difficult to be recollected and do mental prayer, I have many times had the experience of beginning the rosary and quickly reached inner peace and communion with God.  Today, after a period of neglect, the rosary is being rediscovered as a valuable way of entering into grace of deep, loving prayer.  It is not a matter of fashion or a return to an outworn devotion, but a sign of Mary’s maternal presence, so very evident in our times.  She wishes to lead the hearts of all her children back to their Father through prayer.”

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Hogar's Little Flower

It had been a long day.  We had trekked throughout the big city Santa Cruz, trying to get our visa papers – when finally we made our way back home.  Our home that night would be the hogar – it was too late to make it back to Oki and all I could think about was getting there ASAP to grab some chamomile tea and go to bed.  The fatigue, heat and confusion of the day had left me near tears, but I kept telling myself we were almost there. 

Upon arrival, the hogar volunteers fumbled for keys as anxious-squealing-orphan girls waited for them to open the large white metal gate.

The squeals and laughter were clearly intended for the hogar volunteers, who live, work and play with them all day. “They won’t notice me slipping by, they hardly know me,” thinking this, the door swung open.  As predicted the hogar volunteers were attacked, they couldn’t even make it through the door.  But, I could get by and I was making a B-line straight to the kitchen for my “nightcap”.

Then, I heard a tiny boisterous voice yell, “MICHEEELLLLLE” and a little figure immerged from the dark running straight toward me.

It was Daisy. 

I had spent extra time with her that weekend, noticing that she was alone, not always included with the other girls.  That’s common for most children, but Daisy’s face was noticeably scared when she was a little girl in Oki from an accidental burn – so I felt she needed a little extra love.

I had barely turned around before she leaped and jumped to give me a hug. But, this was no hug – her entire body held on for dear life, shaking as she tried to hold tighter with all her tiny might.  Clearly I wasn’t the only one who’d had a long day.  My tears that I had kept in all day silently fell as I laughed out loud, “¡HOlA! ¿¡Como Estás mi amor!?” – this is the kind of hug the prodigal son must have received upon his arrival home, it was AMAZING! It still makes me smile! :)

*Daisy has her arm around Adam’s neck, our SLM director who is currently working on getting her medical care and treatment at a hospital in Boston.

“¡Alégrense! Porque este hijo mío ha vuelto a la vida…se había perdido y lo hemos encontrado.”  Luke 15:32

Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010

Catalina…

Among the various responsibilities the wee American Volunteers have and one of my favorites, is a program called “Erfa”.  The goal is to educate through the 8th grade level, creating a solid foundation – in the hopes of breaking the cycle of illiteracy.  The program is designed for anyone: struggling children, young adults or the elderly.

The program works by offering classes through the radio – they tune in 5 days a week for their lesson, and then complete their class work in their workbooks.  We meet once a week in the parish salon to go over their homework and address any problems.  Everyone is able to walk to the parish once a week, except for Catalina.

I know you’re not supposed to have favorites…but if I did, it would be Catalina!  When I first met her, I was walking with the other volunteers door to door explaining what the program was, when we arrived at her house – no one was there, but a few minutes later we saw her attempting to run after us “wait! My daughter and I want to sign up and I want to learn how to write my name!” 

It was a humbling. We are going to teach her!? – a 63+ year old woman how to write her name!? But, after they were signed up we realized Catalina was unable to attend any of the classes we offered.  During the day she watches some of her grandchildren (she has a total of 16!) as the parents work, while her eyesight is too poor to walk at night. So, we decided to make a little exception, meeting at her house on Monday mornings.

I love Catalina.  She is eager to learn, but she is also very patient with herself.  Her poor vision makes the work more difficult, but she’s always in good spirits, always laughing at her mistakes and eager to learn.  One beautiful example was last Monday: 

We were outside – surrounded by little baby chicks running around, while Laura and I were going over different letter shapes and vowels.  As an older man passed by and observed what we were doing, he laughed shouting, “ha, your learning the alphabet!” and rode away on his bike.  But, being the witty-fun-spirited grandma that she is, she smiled at me and quickly added, “Yeah, but he doesn’t know it either!”  Lol, sassy grandma’s are the best! :)

*If you’d like to help or want more information on adult illiteracy programs, the National Institute for Literacy has the following helpful link: (www.nifl.gov) – If you click on the “America’s Literacy Directory” you can find a program where you live. 

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read.”  - Mark Twain

Friday, March 19, 2010

A Wise Ruling! :)

It was yet another beautiful day of classes.  We had just finished praying the “Hail Mary” and passing out their folders, when Laura and I made the usual routine of walking around the classroom – making sure everyone was in their seats and taking away a wide arrange of random objects that they would play with during class.  We were about to start the lesson, when I saw a brand new eraser on the floor…now, most erasers that the kids have are old, rather nasty and I’m pretty sure have been chewed…but this looked brand new and beautiful.  I picked it up and inquired whom it belonged to.  I like to think my students are honest and hoped they would give me a straight answer – but as soon as I asked, three hands shot up and three voices in unison said, “It’s mine!”  ‘O really!? I looked each one in the eyes, looking for truth and asked each one again, yet they all remained firm at their claim.

I had no choice but to put the eraser on the teacher’s desk, no one would get it! – that’s fair I thought.  But, I kidda felt bad.  I know even the smallest thing can mean the world to these students, and cost them an extra 10 bs. they might not have.  And, before I could turn around I decided to test them…”Ok!” I said, “If it belongs to all of you, I will simply break it so everyone can have a piece.”

The two young boys grinned and laughed, “Yeah! Sounds good!”  But, the little lamb who was nestled in-between the two robbers, shouted, “Don’t! Its mine!”

“Aaaa Haaa!” I exclaimed, “Its hers!” Smiling I handed the eraser over to the little girl, who looked very relieved.  The two boys on the other hand, made faces at each other while laughing.

I think I heard King Soloman laugh at his wisdom yet again proven ageless – while the rest of the class kept asking me what was so funny! :)

“Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.’ The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.” – 1 Kings 3:24-28

Friday, February 19, 2010

¡Hola, Teacher Michelle! 

I can’t believe it, but Laura and I are about to start our 3rd week of classes this upcoming week!  It’s been an adventure so far…with there being no textbooks; Laura and I decided to be creative.  Traditionally, the “teacher” aka professor de Ingles or “voluntarías” spend most of their class time doing one of two things: writing on the board or asking the students to behave…these are unavoidable tasks that most teachers encounter, but we hoped to make our class a little more productive.  

The first problem we wanted to address, was not having books. A good 20+ minutes or more are wasted by writing parts of the lesson and vocabulary on the board - and because they misspelled BOTH the English and Spanish, an additional 15+ minutes was needed to check all the notebooks.  We had to make sure they were studying the correct information. Eeeek! So, Laura and I then concluded that having our lesson and vocabulary printed clearly on handouts would help tremendously.  The school lacked the funs for this as well, but thanks to family & friends we've been able to provide the handouts and folders for the students! Thank you! :)

And, in order to keep them in their seats, Laura and I made each student a “book” or rather a folder with their new English name, aka “Mike Ramirez”.  (I had a Spanish name for 10 years, Angela Balch, so I figured they could have fun with this! Muhaa! :) Inside their “book” includes each lesson, double sided with their new vocabulary and a practice activity.  As well as a double sided sheet for their “homework” or class work, which they complete in class…the concept of homework isn’t quite what it is in the States, therefore forcing them to complete the “homework” in class, forces them to WORK and if they fail to complete the small assignment, they receive a 0% - “¡lo siento!” This has helped tremendously with their behavior – of course they’re not always little lambs, but their getting there! Poco a Poco! :)

& while I teach, I always make sure to bring my mirth! ;)

“You must have mirth. If you do not have mirth you will certainly have madness.” - Chesterton (Thanks for the quote Mary! :)