We had Thanksgiving at the Trautwein's (a missionary family here) house in Jarabacoa. A team came down from California and prepared all the Kids Alive staff a huge Thanksgiving dinner! And Anne Marie was here :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
giving thanks
We had Thanksgiving at the Trautwein's (a missionary family here) house in Jarabacoa. A team came down from California and prepared all the Kids Alive staff a huge Thanksgiving dinner! And Anne Marie was here :)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Pictures
me, manuzca, & estefani
manuzquita (showing off her teeth)
after several days of rain, this is what happens in montellano
cutest two year old i know- jonathan, rachel's babyMonday, December 1, 2008
Manuzca
If I could adopt one child from the village, it would be Manuzca. I don't have a picture to show you. Hopefully, I will get one soon. Manuzca is Carlitos' youngest sister. She is funny and quirky. Manuzca is either 4 or 5. I can't be sure and neither can she. She speaks Creole much better than Spanish. Manuzca will sing and dance on command. Her favorite song is "La cucaracha." When she sings it she swings her tiny hips side to side and always end the song with a solid CHA-CHA-CHA. Manuzca loves devotions mainly because she gets to sing songs and clap her hands a lot.
Manuzca will also act surprised and raise her eyebrows if you tickle her suddenly. The funny part is that she will act surprised over and over again during the same tickle attack. Manuzca is also the only little kid at school that can say my name correctly. I was shocked that she even remembered my name, but she said it perfectly (most of the kids say Yorya or Jorda and sometimes I am even called Juian.)
I love all of these things about little Manuzca, but my favorite thing about Manuzca is that she is always happy. She walks around the playground smiling. Sometimes she just stares into space with the most contented expression on her little face. I often wonder what she is thinking or dreaming about....
I love this little girl so much!
Manuzca will also act surprised and raise her eyebrows if you tickle her suddenly. The funny part is that she will act surprised over and over again during the same tickle attack. Manuzca is also the only little kid at school that can say my name correctly. I was shocked that she even remembered my name, but she said it perfectly (most of the kids say Yorya or Jorda and sometimes I am even called Juian.)
I love all of these things about little Manuzca, but my favorite thing about Manuzca is that she is always happy. She walks around the playground smiling. Sometimes she just stares into space with the most contented expression on her little face. I often wonder what she is thinking or dreaming about....
I love this little girl so much!
"Think of every day as a Sunday"
Sunday was a perfect day. The sky was a beautiful clear blue. The cane fields were blooming (I didn't know it either, but sugar cane does actually bloom) their golden "flores de la cana." There was no trace of any rain clouds and the temperature was just right.
I mustered up the courage to take a moto by myself out to the village to go to the Creole speaking church. A lot of our kids attend church there. I missed Thursday because of Thanksgiving, so I was missing the kids. I sat with Ramona. Romona didn't like me for a long time, but she has finally come around. She whispered to me in church, "¿Quieres ir al acueducto, Georgia?" I had talked to Ramona several days before about hiking up to the aqueduct high up on the cane fields above the village. I hadn't really planned on doing any hiking that day as I was dressed in a skirt and sandals, but I coulnd't say no.
So, after church Ramona and I started up the hill. We picked up Yermena (one of my 6th graders,) her brother Jorje and Pamela (a headstrong 8th grader that still scares me sometimes.) We hiked high into the cane fields and explored the aqueduct and passed by a fancy house where a Cuban family lives (according to my kids.) Once we had done that, I was ready to head back to the village. It was getting hot and I was hungry and thirsty. The girls wanted to walk all the way back to the highway and then to Montellano and back to the village. Essentially, we would be making a huge loop. I agreed.
Forunately, an elderly Canadian man offered us a ride to the highway. I hopped in the cab with him and my four little buddies jumped in the back. The Canadian man, Leonard Murphy, owns a farm and he and his wife spend 6 months per year in the Dominican. Leonard was nice enough to take us all the way to Montellano.
When we arrived at my house, I gave the Pamela 50 pesos and told her to buy water for everyone. I went into my house to get some more money to pick up some lunch for us. When I got back, the kids had purchased one sprite and a bag a chips. I was a little miffed that they didn't listen, but what can you do? I took them to get a tostada and water in a bag and walked them part of the way back towards the village.
It was a fun little adventure, but the best part happened today. Pamela, Jermena and Ramona were really excited to see me at school. I feel like I am starting to build relationships with these young girls. I am so excited about getting to know them better! A few teenage girls that usually don't pay much attention to me asked me today when I was planning to go hiking again. They asked me to come and find them next time :) I can't wait until Sunday to spend more time in the village with these young women.
I mustered up the courage to take a moto by myself out to the village to go to the Creole speaking church. A lot of our kids attend church there. I missed Thursday because of Thanksgiving, so I was missing the kids. I sat with Ramona. Romona didn't like me for a long time, but she has finally come around. She whispered to me in church, "¿Quieres ir al acueducto, Georgia?" I had talked to Ramona several days before about hiking up to the aqueduct high up on the cane fields above the village. I hadn't really planned on doing any hiking that day as I was dressed in a skirt and sandals, but I coulnd't say no.
So, after church Ramona and I started up the hill. We picked up Yermena (one of my 6th graders,) her brother Jorje and Pamela (a headstrong 8th grader that still scares me sometimes.) We hiked high into the cane fields and explored the aqueduct and passed by a fancy house where a Cuban family lives (according to my kids.) Once we had done that, I was ready to head back to the village. It was getting hot and I was hungry and thirsty. The girls wanted to walk all the way back to the highway and then to Montellano and back to the village. Essentially, we would be making a huge loop. I agreed.
Forunately, an elderly Canadian man offered us a ride to the highway. I hopped in the cab with him and my four little buddies jumped in the back. The Canadian man, Leonard Murphy, owns a farm and he and his wife spend 6 months per year in the Dominican. Leonard was nice enough to take us all the way to Montellano.
When we arrived at my house, I gave the Pamela 50 pesos and told her to buy water for everyone. I went into my house to get some more money to pick up some lunch for us. When I got back, the kids had purchased one sprite and a bag a chips. I was a little miffed that they didn't listen, but what can you do? I took them to get a tostada and water in a bag and walked them part of the way back towards the village.
It was a fun little adventure, but the best part happened today. Pamela, Jermena and Ramona were really excited to see me at school. I feel like I am starting to build relationships with these young girls. I am so excited about getting to know them better! A few teenage girls that usually don't pay much attention to me asked me today when I was planning to go hiking again. They asked me to come and find them next time :) I can't wait until Sunday to spend more time in the village with these young women.
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