Friday, July 16, 2010
no list this week: only a funny story
Joel Edward (as he likes to be called) learned the phrase "Holy cow" last week. After learning what each of the words meant, he has started substituting the phrase with "Holy Mandy." I will never get out of this cow bit...
Can You Dig It?
Hello yet again from my beautiful Bolivian view! I can't believe another week has come and gone so quickly. The second Lake Forest team's trip seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye literally. This was a team of 21 wonderful folks with tremendous hearts for our 62 BLC boys.
The saying is, "Many hands make light work," but the work this week was still fierce! We were all breaking a sweat this week on our work projects- we dug a 16 inch trench to connect our BLC bakery to a water source. There were quite a few tool casualties this week-- we lost two pick axes, and severely bent another one. This team was quite determined, and they even went so far as to wake up early to finish up their projects! The other project was continuing to place a rock floor for underneath the boys' laundry. The LFC 2 team worked hard hard hard this week, and we were sad to see them go!
One of the highlights of the LFC 2 team for me was helping one of the women, Sandy, meet some of the boys who are still in need of a sponsor. She had narrowed it down to a few, but one morning we went downstairs because she wanted to meet one of the boys in particular. When I saw him, he was skating with one skate on his right foot, and when I hollered his name, he tried to turn and keep skating at the same time, and he so gracefully fell flat on the ground. When he came over to Sandy and I, Sandy began to tear up, knowing that this was the boy that she wanted to sponsor. She was so touched to meet him, and I so enjoyed helping the two of them connect. The best part about being a host is when a team member asks if you will help them translate while they tell one of the boys that they are sponsoring them. I get teared up myself every time, to see the boys just relax and feel deeply loved. You see it in their eyes for a split second right after the words come out of their mouth. It is a thing of beauty.
The boys sadly went back to school this week, but they are so HANDSOME in their little school uniforms. I am pretty sure we have the 62 most handsome boys in Bolivia here at the BLC =) They were glad to be back and get into their normal rhythm, although school was closed yesterday and today for some unknown fiesta going on in town. The team is just excited as the boys that they don't have school, because it means chaos around the BLC all day.
Today was an exciting day for me personally, as three wonderful familiar faces arrived in the Cochabamba airport. My boyfriend Ryan, as well as Michael and Alyssa Bruce, two friends and children of my colleague Mike. The airport scene was quite unique today, as another church was there to welcome a group of missionaries with lais, balloons, and a marching band!! We tried to pretend that we were the ones who ordered all of this for the team, but when they didn't follow us out to the parking lot, our plan was foiled =)
I am ready for an exciting week with Ryan, Michael, and Alyssa, but it's hard to believe that my time here is winding down! Time has gone too quickly this summer. Pray that I can squeeze every last drop out of this week!
Yall are great!
The saying is, "Many hands make light work," but the work this week was still fierce! We were all breaking a sweat this week on our work projects- we dug a 16 inch trench to connect our BLC bakery to a water source. There were quite a few tool casualties this week-- we lost two pick axes, and severely bent another one. This team was quite determined, and they even went so far as to wake up early to finish up their projects! The other project was continuing to place a rock floor for underneath the boys' laundry. The LFC 2 team worked hard hard hard this week, and we were sad to see them go!
One of the highlights of the LFC 2 team for me was helping one of the women, Sandy, meet some of the boys who are still in need of a sponsor. She had narrowed it down to a few, but one morning we went downstairs because she wanted to meet one of the boys in particular. When I saw him, he was skating with one skate on his right foot, and when I hollered his name, he tried to turn and keep skating at the same time, and he so gracefully fell flat on the ground. When he came over to Sandy and I, Sandy began to tear up, knowing that this was the boy that she wanted to sponsor. She was so touched to meet him, and I so enjoyed helping the two of them connect. The best part about being a host is when a team member asks if you will help them translate while they tell one of the boys that they are sponsoring them. I get teared up myself every time, to see the boys just relax and feel deeply loved. You see it in their eyes for a split second right after the words come out of their mouth. It is a thing of beauty.
The boys sadly went back to school this week, but they are so HANDSOME in their little school uniforms. I am pretty sure we have the 62 most handsome boys in Bolivia here at the BLC =) They were glad to be back and get into their normal rhythm, although school was closed yesterday and today for some unknown fiesta going on in town. The team is just excited as the boys that they don't have school, because it means chaos around the BLC all day.
Today was an exciting day for me personally, as three wonderful familiar faces arrived in the Cochabamba airport. My boyfriend Ryan, as well as Michael and Alyssa Bruce, two friends and children of my colleague Mike. The airport scene was quite unique today, as another church was there to welcome a group of missionaries with lais, balloons, and a marching band!! We tried to pretend that we were the ones who ordered all of this for the team, but when they didn't follow us out to the parking lot, our plan was foiled =)
I am ready for an exciting week with Ryan, Michael, and Alyssa, but it's hard to believe that my time here is winding down! Time has gone too quickly this summer. Pray that I can squeeze every last drop out of this week!
Yall are great!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
List of English Words the Boys Have Learned
- Tiny
- Huge
- Long Legs
- Pinkie
- Piggly Wiggly
- Stinky (pronounced "estinky") Monkey
- Crazy Stinky Monkey
- Wedgie
-... that's all I can think of for now =)
- Huge
- Long Legs
- Pinkie
- Piggly Wiggly
- Stinky (pronounced "estinky") Monkey
- Crazy Stinky Monkey
- Wedgie
-... that's all I can think of for now =)
Projects, Pools, and Pequenos
Another great week here at the BLC!! I am afraid my time here will pass by too quickly... I feel like I just got here but am already almost to the halfway point of my time here!
Things are good here though- work projects have been pretty labor intensive-- we are currently (1) laying a rock foundation for a patio underneath the clotheslines so clothes will eventually fall off the line onto cement and not dirt (2) digging a 16 inch trench to lay a water pipe for our bakery, automechanic, and other lifeskill workshops, and (3) setting up a fence for the cows so there isn't caca de vaca all over the place =) Both last week's team and this week's team have really stepped it up by working hard and not complaining at all. We took the time to do the math to see how these work projects impact the BLC. Seeing as there is only one maintenance man on staff full-time here, if we had ten people do a week's worth of work projects, we complete a month of Humberto's work. And thankfully, the team sizes are large, so with each team we are accomplishing between 2-4 months of Humberto's work EACH WEEK! It is so exciting to see and understand how each of the projects really does improve the BLC.
The weather here is a bit warmer than it was last year, but I'm sure it doesn't even come close to the States. Funny thing is, even in Bolivian winter, pools are still open. Thanks to a group of the boys, I got to experience it firsthand again! We went to a wonderful park with a pool on Saturday, and the boys continued their tradition of dragging and throwing me into the pool. The water is FREEZING, I could barely breathe in it. The boys love it though. They get in for 3-5 minutes, then hop out quickly and try to warm in the sun on the hot ground. They are like little reptiles, it cracks me up. The park was great though, with an open area to play cards, color, throw a football and play ladderball, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, and a soccer field. I think we are going to take the kids back there in two weeks, when we will be in charge of all 62 boys with no Bolivian supervision!! The BLC Staff have a mandatory staff training meeting that day, and so a lucky group of gringos will be challenged to bring the boys back alive at the end of the day =)
Speaking of supervision, I got the privilege of a lifetime the other night! The tia of the pequenos is taking a week off, and so I snuck in to be their nighttime dorm tia! Abriel, a girl who is actually staying here for four months to assist the dorm tias, and I tried to hold down the fort as 15 pequenos bounced off the walls. Fortunately, the boys had all received new mattresses earlier that day. Unfortunately, the old ones had not yet been removed. Hence, pequeno heaven- a squishy jungle gym. After they jumped and bounced and flipped some of their energy out, Abriel and I miraculously found the winning recipe to put 15 boys to sleep within 10-15 minutes. It was so special to get to put the boys to bed. They are so special and so loved, by me, by everyone who comes, and by the good Lord.
I have really enjoyed my time here so far. Each of these boys makes me smile, whether it be from hearing Maximo laugh, watching Alejandro whiff a shot on goal, or watching Ervin plop on top of a pile of old mattresses. I have been praying a lot this week that these boys at the BLC now will be the next generation of influential men who will CHANGE the country and bring light to its foundations.
Les extrano!
Things are good here though- work projects have been pretty labor intensive-- we are currently (1) laying a rock foundation for a patio underneath the clotheslines so clothes will eventually fall off the line onto cement and not dirt (2) digging a 16 inch trench to lay a water pipe for our bakery, automechanic, and other lifeskill workshops, and (3) setting up a fence for the cows so there isn't caca de vaca all over the place =) Both last week's team and this week's team have really stepped it up by working hard and not complaining at all. We took the time to do the math to see how these work projects impact the BLC. Seeing as there is only one maintenance man on staff full-time here, if we had ten people do a week's worth of work projects, we complete a month of Humberto's work. And thankfully, the team sizes are large, so with each team we are accomplishing between 2-4 months of Humberto's work EACH WEEK! It is so exciting to see and understand how each of the projects really does improve the BLC.
The weather here is a bit warmer than it was last year, but I'm sure it doesn't even come close to the States. Funny thing is, even in Bolivian winter, pools are still open. Thanks to a group of the boys, I got to experience it firsthand again! We went to a wonderful park with a pool on Saturday, and the boys continued their tradition of dragging and throwing me into the pool. The water is FREEZING, I could barely breathe in it. The boys love it though. They get in for 3-5 minutes, then hop out quickly and try to warm in the sun on the hot ground. They are like little reptiles, it cracks me up. The park was great though, with an open area to play cards, color, throw a football and play ladderball, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, and a soccer field. I think we are going to take the kids back there in two weeks, when we will be in charge of all 62 boys with no Bolivian supervision!! The BLC Staff have a mandatory staff training meeting that day, and so a lucky group of gringos will be challenged to bring the boys back alive at the end of the day =)
Speaking of supervision, I got the privilege of a lifetime the other night! The tia of the pequenos is taking a week off, and so I snuck in to be their nighttime dorm tia! Abriel, a girl who is actually staying here for four months to assist the dorm tias, and I tried to hold down the fort as 15 pequenos bounced off the walls. Fortunately, the boys had all received new mattresses earlier that day. Unfortunately, the old ones had not yet been removed. Hence, pequeno heaven- a squishy jungle gym. After they jumped and bounced and flipped some of their energy out, Abriel and I miraculously found the winning recipe to put 15 boys to sleep within 10-15 minutes. It was so special to get to put the boys to bed. They are so special and so loved, by me, by everyone who comes, and by the good Lord.
I have really enjoyed my time here so far. Each of these boys makes me smile, whether it be from hearing Maximo laugh, watching Alejandro whiff a shot on goal, or watching Ervin plop on top of a pile of old mattresses. I have been praying a lot this week that these boys at the BLC now will be the next generation of influential men who will CHANGE the country and bring light to its foundations.
Les extrano!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Things I Have Tripped or Slipped on in Bolivia
- Suitcases
- Children
- Stairs
- Puppies
- a banana peel. Literally.
- Stairs
- Curbs at a park
- Sand divets
- The Platform at Church
- Stairs =)
- Children
- Stairs
- Puppies
- a banana peel. Literally.
- Stairs
- Curbs at a park
- Sand divets
- The Platform at Church
- Stairs =)
Worth the Wait!
Hola mis queridos hermanos y hermanas!
I have been in Bolivia since 2pm on Friday, after a night of plane delays (what was an 11pm departure became a 5am departure), a just-in-time connection, and a 45 minute bus ride (which took an hour due to a main road blockade). Needless to say, we were all exhausted! But the moment the gates to the BLC opened, I got a burst of energy I could have lived off of for days.
There was one pequeno out in front who spotted us, then raced the bus around the corner to its parking spot, alerting the rest of the boys that we had (finally) arrived. When the team and I got off the bus, the kids quickly jumped from person to person, checking out the new gringos in town.
Carlos - a mediano who came into the BLC years ago without knowledge about the use of silverware (Mom and Dad-- do we have any cousins in Bolivia?)- was the first one who spotted me. He came up and embraced me, and then I knew I was back as he pointed out to the field where the cows were grazing, saying, "Amanda, la vaca gorda!", which was their affectionate and endearing name for me. There is a cow named Amanda now, and we've been confused by the boys multiple times as sisters. =) It was then that I realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be this month.
The first night we got in we got to spend a few hours just hanging out with the boyus, and later we got to read/play cards with the medianos, and have tickle time with the pequenos. I felt in my element again. Then today we went to the really neat park all day. I got to shoot some hoops with some of my favorite grandes, and then spectate a Bolivian Women's Basketball league! It was quite interesting-- they have a pretty lenient travel violation rule =)
The afternoon was spent on what the boys call a double-wide slide, but all others call a half-pipe. We spent hours sliding down the half pipe in groups, kicking balls and hula hoops, and creating all sorts of other competitions. It was a blast.
The team that I arrived here with is wonderful-- mostly young adults with a TON of energy and various talents and gifts. They are so eager to experience the BLC and can keep up with the boys!!
My Spanish feels better than expected. I thought I'd be pretty rusty. I did have one slip up... I asked one of the boys if he had "hombre" (a man) instead of "hambre" (hunger). But the boys have been patient in helping me shake off the dust though =)
I am out of time, but I do miss the States and am looking forward to sharing my adventures via blog again!
Con Carino,
Tia Amanda
I have been in Bolivia since 2pm on Friday, after a night of plane delays (what was an 11pm departure became a 5am departure), a just-in-time connection, and a 45 minute bus ride (which took an hour due to a main road blockade). Needless to say, we were all exhausted! But the moment the gates to the BLC opened, I got a burst of energy I could have lived off of for days.
There was one pequeno out in front who spotted us, then raced the bus around the corner to its parking spot, alerting the rest of the boys that we had (finally) arrived. When the team and I got off the bus, the kids quickly jumped from person to person, checking out the new gringos in town.
Carlos - a mediano who came into the BLC years ago without knowledge about the use of silverware (Mom and Dad-- do we have any cousins in Bolivia?)- was the first one who spotted me. He came up and embraced me, and then I knew I was back as he pointed out to the field where the cows were grazing, saying, "Amanda, la vaca gorda!", which was their affectionate and endearing name for me. There is a cow named Amanda now, and we've been confused by the boys multiple times as sisters. =) It was then that I realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be this month.
The first night we got in we got to spend a few hours just hanging out with the boyus, and later we got to read/play cards with the medianos, and have tickle time with the pequenos. I felt in my element again. Then today we went to the really neat park all day. I got to shoot some hoops with some of my favorite grandes, and then spectate a Bolivian Women's Basketball league! It was quite interesting-- they have a pretty lenient travel violation rule =)
The afternoon was spent on what the boys call a double-wide slide, but all others call a half-pipe. We spent hours sliding down the half pipe in groups, kicking balls and hula hoops, and creating all sorts of other competitions. It was a blast.
The team that I arrived here with is wonderful-- mostly young adults with a TON of energy and various talents and gifts. They are so eager to experience the BLC and can keep up with the boys!!
My Spanish feels better than expected. I thought I'd be pretty rusty. I did have one slip up... I asked one of the boys if he had "hombre" (a man) instead of "hambre" (hunger). But the boys have been patient in helping me shake off the dust though =)
I am out of time, but I do miss the States and am looking forward to sharing my adventures via blog again!
Con Carino,
Tia Amanda
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
T-Minus 48 Hours!
Greetings from Savannah, Georgia (the end of day 1 of the road trip with my mom and sister down to Miami, Florida, where I will be leaving for BOLIVIA!)
I am just heading to bed from getting some final final ties tied before I focus 110% on my upcoming trip to the Centro de Vida Bolivia! After a few very full, rather hectic months, this trip really snuck up on me. It finally hit me on Monday, when my room was emptied and I was on my way to the airport after work to pick up my mom. Wow- I am so thankful that the Good Lord has orchestrated a trip #2, and for a full month!
A list of praises about going back:
- Reconnecting with the boys. I definitely do not want to think too highly of myself or the impact I have on the kiddos, but I think that consistency speaks volumes in their lives. Every time a team of gringos gets off the bus, the kids search the crowd, and ask where various people who have played roles in their lives are. Some of these people have just come to the BLC once years ago, but they have great memories, and seem to rarely forget a name or a face. It is my hope that returning to Bolivia makes them realize that my relationships with them are something I deeply cherish, and they are SO WORTH IT!
- I hope to be able to redeem their perception of female figures in their lives. Somehow, in the way I imperfectly think, act, and live, I hope the boys can find some comfort in the love I so desperately want them to know.
- Using my Spanish again. It's going to be rusty, that's for sure! I haven't been able to use it much these past 11 months or so, but I am excited about being thrown back into the language and culture. I thrive on this language and culture, and am excited to reconnect to it. I am hoping that this refresher course will motivate me to come back to the States and volunteer or plug in somewhere in the community where I can utilize my love for it.
- Familiar faces on the teams! I will be hosting four American missions teams with a group of hosts, and I think there will be many returning week-long missionaries, which I am jazzed about. A few of the hosts are also hosts from last year, and I am excited about growing these relationships. But one of the definite highlights of this trip will be the last team that comes in July, which will bring three wonderful people in my life. My boyfriend Ryan will be coming down and falling in love with the boys and teaching them how to throw a spiral! Also, Alyssa and Michael Bruce, the daughter and son of my colleague Mike, are coming down to spend the week in Bolivia as well! I get excited thinking about how their hearts will just fall so quickly in love with these boys.
- Being disconnected from technology again. Though it is quite inconvenient with work projects crossing the finish line in the middle of my time at the BLC, this disconnection is so freeing, and I love how the concept of time changes when you are hard to reach. This is so different than how I function in the States, and so to be removed from it, even for a month, is invigorating, like a breath of fresh air.
- Reuniting with Amanda la vaca gorda- sooo proud to have a cow named after me =)
- Tia Julia's cooking- a big big plus. Crossing my fingers for pique and some lasagna!!
- I brought some jump ropes, and would love to teach the boys a few tricks (if they are interested)!
By this time in two days, I will be in the air, somewhere over Central or South America. I can't believe it's here!
Much love to all-
Mandy
I am just heading to bed from getting some final final ties tied before I focus 110% on my upcoming trip to the Centro de Vida Bolivia! After a few very full, rather hectic months, this trip really snuck up on me. It finally hit me on Monday, when my room was emptied and I was on my way to the airport after work to pick up my mom. Wow- I am so thankful that the Good Lord has orchestrated a trip #2, and for a full month!
A list of praises about going back:
- Reconnecting with the boys. I definitely do not want to think too highly of myself or the impact I have on the kiddos, but I think that consistency speaks volumes in their lives. Every time a team of gringos gets off the bus, the kids search the crowd, and ask where various people who have played roles in their lives are. Some of these people have just come to the BLC once years ago, but they have great memories, and seem to rarely forget a name or a face. It is my hope that returning to Bolivia makes them realize that my relationships with them are something I deeply cherish, and they are SO WORTH IT!
- I hope to be able to redeem their perception of female figures in their lives. Somehow, in the way I imperfectly think, act, and live, I hope the boys can find some comfort in the love I so desperately want them to know.
- Using my Spanish again. It's going to be rusty, that's for sure! I haven't been able to use it much these past 11 months or so, but I am excited about being thrown back into the language and culture. I thrive on this language and culture, and am excited to reconnect to it. I am hoping that this refresher course will motivate me to come back to the States and volunteer or plug in somewhere in the community where I can utilize my love for it.
- Familiar faces on the teams! I will be hosting four American missions teams with a group of hosts, and I think there will be many returning week-long missionaries, which I am jazzed about. A few of the hosts are also hosts from last year, and I am excited about growing these relationships. But one of the definite highlights of this trip will be the last team that comes in July, which will bring three wonderful people in my life. My boyfriend Ryan will be coming down and falling in love with the boys and teaching them how to throw a spiral! Also, Alyssa and Michael Bruce, the daughter and son of my colleague Mike, are coming down to spend the week in Bolivia as well! I get excited thinking about how their hearts will just fall so quickly in love with these boys.
- Being disconnected from technology again. Though it is quite inconvenient with work projects crossing the finish line in the middle of my time at the BLC, this disconnection is so freeing, and I love how the concept of time changes when you are hard to reach. This is so different than how I function in the States, and so to be removed from it, even for a month, is invigorating, like a breath of fresh air.
- Reuniting with Amanda la vaca gorda- sooo proud to have a cow named after me =)
- Tia Julia's cooking- a big big plus. Crossing my fingers for pique and some lasagna!!
- I brought some jump ropes, and would love to teach the boys a few tricks (if they are interested)!
By this time in two days, I will be in the air, somewhere over Central or South America. I can't believe it's here!
Much love to all-
Mandy
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