Dulce

I want to tell you a little bit about a girl at the school.  Her name is Dulce.

Dulce is in kindergarten and is around 5 years old.  She's lived more in her short years then most people do in a lifetime.  When Dulce was younger she was  sexually abused.  Because of this trauma at such a young age, she has learning disabilities (or so we think) and is struggles socially with her other classmates.  She is now living in a family that loves her and truly cares about her.

At the beginning of the year we were told to not expect much from her.  As long as she could participate and interact with others, then that was good enough.  That just doesn't seem right to me.  I believed she could do more. 

I remembered a short documentary I watch about a little girl in a similar situation as a child.  At the end of this documentary, the young girl had changed so dramatically that you could barely recognized her.  She was adopted into a christian environment and had parents that continued to show God's love to her.

I believe the same for Dulce's life here at the school.  It's only been three months into school and I have noticed a difference in her already.  Yesterday I was helping her write down words and drawing pictures.  I wrote down the word "pencil" and asked her to copy it.  Not only did she copy it but she wrote better then others in her class.  She was able to do the same to a few of the picture to match the vocab and she copied the pictures as well.  Now the pictures weren't perfect but and she was still easily distracted, but her demeanor has changed.  She was truly happy and joyous while I was working with her.  She has gotten better in the social environment with her classmates (from what I've seen).

She has been capturing my attention recently.  I can see a joy in her that was not there at the beginning of the year.  I believe that God will heal her completely from the trauma of her past, a trauma that was not at all her fault.  Her joy is incredible to see.  Even her smile has changed.  It's bigger and brighter, full of life.  I can't wait to see what God does in her life this year.

Funny Guatemalan Moments

There are many differences between Guatemaltecos and North Americans.  If I tried to make a list of these differences then you could be reading this for a long time.  This week I came across an interesting and amusing cultural.

I was asked to photograph headshots of all the pastors under Apostal Jacobo’s covering.  These pictures were only meant for identification cards, meaning they are only going to be the size of my thumb.  

North American Shelby thinks, “This will only take 20, 30 minutes tops.  Everyone will jump in front of the camera. Uno, does, tres, Snap!  Next.  Done.”  Right?  I mean, that’s how it would be in North America.

HA HA!  If only it were that simple.  But oh no, we’re in Guatemala and here, things are really different.

So, here’s what really happened.

As stand and wait to take each pastors and pastoras (pastor’s wives) I begin to look around.  A few came up to get their picture taken and then there was a long pause and no one came.  So I began to look for some of the pastors I know, who also happen to be teachers at the school.  I asked if they wanted to go but apparently there was a specific order.

OH an order, well then who’s next?

They pointed out the man that was supposed to go next so I went to see if he was ready.  He promptly told me that he was waiting for the Jacobo.  I had no idea why, but I assumed if he was waiting for but it must be important.  So I wait for 10 minutes.

Finally, Jacobo comes running in with three different tie choices.  We were waiting for the right tie!!!  You have to have the complete package, apparently.  

Now for a little quiz.  Can you spot the things that are the same in these pictures?

 

If you guessed same tie AND same jacket, You're right!  Give yourself a pat on the back.

Not only that, but these ties made their way from pastor to pastor, along with a suit jacket, that magically seemed look good on all the pastors.  At least they care about the total package!  Always a good thing, I'd say.

Typical Day

So, I never realized how much of a commitment writing a blog would be.  I'm trying to do them pretty consistently so Everyone can know how my life is here in Guatemala.

I feel like I'm finally getting into the swing of things here.  My typical day consists of waking up at 6:30 so I can be at the school for 7.  In the mornings all the teachers are divided with particular jobs that change daily.  So I am either greeting kids when they come off the bus, at the door or in the street in front of the school.  I personally use this time to load up on my cup of coffee.

Then it's time for devotions from 7:30-8.  This is probably my favorite time during the day.  Just imagine a room full of 250 kids from prekindergarten to middle school all praising God.  It's fantastic to be apart of it.  We often use that time to pray for needs within the school and for teachers, principles, sponsors and workers involved in the school.

Finally it's breakfast time.  Yay!!! The kids enjoy the delicious cooking skills of hermana Ana (sister Ana).  My favorite breakfast is rice and beans.  Yes, I know what you're thinking, that's so simple!  But you have never tasted Ana's beans before.  They are fantastic!!!!  Also I might just be a huge fan of rice and beans.

Then classes begin.  While I'm not teaching classes myself, I help out in the English classroom, mostly with the younger grades.  I also do one-on-one classes with two students who are advanced in English, Jenny and Ester, and they are also out upstairs neighbors! They are great!  So whenever their grades have English class, I give them lessons.

I finish the school day at 1:30 so I walk home and grab some lunch.  Around 2:30ish, I begin homeschooling with the younger girls, Genesis and Samantha (also our upstairs neighbors).  We learn anything from different cultures to vocab and spelling to poetry.  It is never a dull moment with those two!  They have quite the imagination, to say the least.

So, that is basically where my day ends.  Sometimes we have church meetings that we need to go to or play soccer or hang out with the kids upstairs.

On the weekends, we do many things, depending on the weekend.  Last weekend a group of us went to a really nice restaurant overlooking Antigua.  It was a fantastic view and a relaxing time for us all to hang out. Then we found the helicopter landing area and decided to hang out there for a bit.

Here are a few pictures from that for your enjoyment!!!

Look, Antigua!

Fantastic people I live and work with.

(Kayla, Juice, Karla, Dan, and Jimmy)

Me!

Josh!

Jimmy, Karla, and Juice!