This week I:
-Slept through an earthquake. (I think it was about 5.7ish).
-I climbed a volcano! We hiked to the top and while I was there I made a "snow" angel in the volcanic ash (picture coming soon!). There was also a natural sauna (or a little hole that you could jump down into)- it reminded me of Puerto Rico :)
-I also went to Antigua and I bought two handwoven, Guatemalan skirts. All together it was less than $15!
-We have a lot of visitors/workers/interns coming and going next week. Twards the end of the week, I will be leaving Prince of Peace:( but, I will be moving on to a different home in Guatemala:)
The only other new news is that my computer will not open the program iphoto, so I cannot get to my pictures or put new pictures on the computer:( Any ideas on how to fix this???
viernes, 29 de junio de 2012
lunes, 25 de junio de 2012
Guate(POP), days 21-25
Last week I went on a few more adventures. The social worker and I went to a market in the city to find a school. They have a little room on the second floor inside a market. The idea is that the parents can work while the children attend school. Well, the documents we were looking for were not there, but they told us where to go. And after the second stop we had the documents in our hands!!!
This weekend there was a 3 day christian music festival at the church. There were 5 different bands that played and I think over 12.000 people attended. The older girls from the home went and they all had a really fun time! (I was the chauffeur and also attended the concert...)
Speaking of driving- I have been driving the big, white 15 passenger van! And, I have pretty much learned my way to and from the places that we go.
This weekend there was a 3 day christian music festival at the church. There were 5 different bands that played and I think over 12.000 people attended. The older girls from the home went and they all had a really fun time! (I was the chauffeur and also attended the concert...)
Speaking of driving- I have been driving the big, white 15 passenger van! And, I have pretty much learned my way to and from the places that we go.
miércoles, 20 de junio de 2012
Guate(POP), days 14-20
¡WOW! I can't believe that I have been in Guatemala for 3 weeks! -and I have to leave Prince of Peace in two weeks:(
This last week has been really fun and busy I have:
-scared some Americans with the fact that I can drive a 15-passenger van through Guatemala city (and in the country side)
-visited another church with the psychologist. And, ate lunch with her and her extended family- I broke the ice quickly at this gathering... I put some hot chili in my soup. They all warned me to use just a little, so I did. BUT, I put it all on top of my spoon and ate it ALL IN ONE BITE!!! So needless to say I was bright red, we were all laughing and the rest of my soup was not spicy because there was not any chili left in my bowl.
-I continue to help with office work and updating the website http://www.princeofpeacegt.com/
And, I have gone on SOCIAL WORK ADVENTURES!!!!!
Last Thursday, I went with the social worker and some girls to a court hearing. All 3 girls came back to the orphanage with us (I hope that some day in the future, they will be able to go back home, when their dad is ready) and we also gave their dad a ride to his work. It was really nice that he came back with us, because we got to talk and get to know him and his mom (the girls grandma) lives in Wisconsin!
This was a really good "field trip" because I got to experience the stress of court. learn the process that is used, and it really opened my eyes to the possibility, the pros/cons and the steps that need to be taken to ensure the children a safe return to their home.
Basically, I LOVED THIS EXPERIENCE!
On Friday, the plan was to go and do a home study in the morning. After going on an airport run, shopping and one of the cars in our "car pool line" getting lost, it was evident that I was not going to make it back in time to leave in the morning.
By the time I made it home and ate lunch, the social worker informed me that I had to go change into medium-fancy, dark clothing because we had to stop at a funeral of the grandma of one of the girls on the way.
After the funeral/wake we went ¡searching! for the house of some of the girls who are new at the orphanage. We stopped and asked directions from everyone we saw. And after turning around down the mountain, we decided to park the car and walk to find the house. We found it and we also found grandma. After climbing through the back window to open the door, we were welcomed into a one room home. There was no electricity, no water and absolutely no food. We talked with grandma for a while took notes on the conditions of the home and then we left.
Our next stop was another girl's home. We went to visit the mom and siblings to see how they are doing. The biggest adventure with this home were the roads. They were made of dirt and had huge potholes and ruts from the rain, so once again it was much easier to get out and walk.
I learned A TON about some of the living conditions in Guatemala and I was also able to observe the social worker doing her work and how she talked to and cares about the parents of the children. It was a REALLY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE!
Tomorrow I am going on another social work adventure. I am not sure exactly where we are going or what we are doing, but I am positive that it will be fun, exciting, educational and I will be able to experience something new :)
This last week has been really fun and busy I have:
-scared some Americans with the fact that I can drive a 15-passenger van through Guatemala city (and in the country side)
-visited another church with the psychologist. And, ate lunch with her and her extended family- I broke the ice quickly at this gathering... I put some hot chili in my soup. They all warned me to use just a little, so I did. BUT, I put it all on top of my spoon and ate it ALL IN ONE BITE!!! So needless to say I was bright red, we were all laughing and the rest of my soup was not spicy because there was not any chili left in my bowl.
-I continue to help with office work and updating the website http://www.princeofpeacegt.com/
And, I have gone on SOCIAL WORK ADVENTURES!!!!!
Last Thursday, I went with the social worker and some girls to a court hearing. All 3 girls came back to the orphanage with us (I hope that some day in the future, they will be able to go back home, when their dad is ready) and we also gave their dad a ride to his work. It was really nice that he came back with us, because we got to talk and get to know him and his mom (the girls grandma) lives in Wisconsin!
This was a really good "field trip" because I got to experience the stress of court. learn the process that is used, and it really opened my eyes to the possibility, the pros/cons and the steps that need to be taken to ensure the children a safe return to their home.
Basically, I LOVED THIS EXPERIENCE!
On Friday, the plan was to go and do a home study in the morning. After going on an airport run, shopping and one of the cars in our "car pool line" getting lost, it was evident that I was not going to make it back in time to leave in the morning.
By the time I made it home and ate lunch, the social worker informed me that I had to go change into medium-fancy, dark clothing because we had to stop at a funeral of the grandma of one of the girls on the way.
After the funeral/wake we went ¡searching! for the house of some of the girls who are new at the orphanage. We stopped and asked directions from everyone we saw. And after turning around down the mountain, we decided to park the car and walk to find the house. We found it and we also found grandma. After climbing through the back window to open the door, we were welcomed into a one room home. There was no electricity, no water and absolutely no food. We talked with grandma for a while took notes on the conditions of the home and then we left.
Our next stop was another girl's home. We went to visit the mom and siblings to see how they are doing. The biggest adventure with this home were the roads. They were made of dirt and had huge potholes and ruts from the rain, so once again it was much easier to get out and walk.
I learned A TON about some of the living conditions in Guatemala and I was also able to observe the social worker doing her work and how she talked to and cares about the parents of the children. It was a REALLY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE!
Tomorrow I am going on another social work adventure. I am not sure exactly where we are going or what we are doing, but I am positive that it will be fun, exciting, educational and I will be able to experience something new :)
miércoles, 13 de junio de 2012
Guate(POP), days 7-13
Thursday was so long ago, I don't remember what I did.
Friday night the visiting group took the kids and staff to McDonalds. Just try to imagine 58 EXCITED kids in one restaurant!!! It was tons of fun!
When we arrived back at the home, we had a closing ceremony to say goodbye to the visiting group that left the next day. The girls did a dance routine, handed out signed t-shirts, and said thank you to the group. I had the honors (or the tortures) of translating! hahaha- actually translating doesn't bother me- I like it!
Saturday was a day of 4 airport runs. One at 5am to drop off the group that was leaving for the States (thankfully I was not a part of the driving comittee and got to sleep in:) And then 3 trips to pick up the next group that arrived. At 11am, 1pm, and 11pm. The 11am group was delayed, so we waited at the airport for a long time and picked up the 11am and 1pm groups together. I got to drive the big white 15 passenger van full of people back to the home!!!
I attended my first quinceñera (or 15th birthday party). One of the girls at the home turned 15, so we had a big party. Family, friends, the girls, the staff and a visiting group from the States all attended. She had a really pretty dress and there were tons of tomales and cake!!! We started off the party singing songs then there was a message and I got to translate the whole thing from Spanish to English.
I also attended "Family day" at one of the schools. There are 5 or 6 girls from the home that go to the school, so I got a tour of their school and I got to see them play soccer:)
Sunday we went to church and I sat in the Sign Language section! I am on my way to learning Guatemalan Sign Language (it is similar to American Sign Language, but a little different). yay!!!!
Monday consisted of some errands (I think) and a visit to the widdows in the mountains. I LOVE going up the mountain and visiting with the women and their families. They have such a simple life-style and have very limited resources, but they are always thankful to God and blessed that we visit them. The kids are extremely excited when they see us because they know that we have candy, toys and hugs for them:)
I also organized clothing donations! It was a ton of work, but I think I am getting better at it (I have had tons of practice thanks to the generosity of those in Puerto Rico who have donated clothes).
There is an eye doctor here with the group that is visiting this week from the States. So he gave all the kids eye exams. I had fun visiting the clinic and playing pirate with the kids (picture to come soon:)
Tuesday I had a bodyguard with me almost all day and I did not have to pay anything!!!! hahaha
I spent about 2 and 1/2 hours at the bank in the morning exchanging money for the visiting team from the states. (about 1/2 the time was spent exchanging money and the other 1/2 waiting to be picked up- they had to take a girl to the doctor and when they finished they came back for me). Then in the afternoon, I had to exchange some more money for the team and take some of the older girls to the bank. So, I have decided the the guard that works at the bank was my bodyguard for the day!
For supper we went to a really good taco place to eat. It was outside in 1/2 of a barn (or at least the wooden frame resembled this shape), but the sides and roof were made of plastic sheets (like a plastic cloth you would put on the floor when you paint). They had the BEST food and it was really cheap (a sampler of 3 different tacos/ quesadillas and a soda for under $4!!!!
Wednesday was a tourist day in the city of Antigua. We took the group up to "Cerro de la cruz" (a hill with a cross on it that overlooks the city and the Volcan de Agua (or Water Volcano). Then we went shopping at the market, then to eat at a restaurant, then to pick up coffee from the coffee plantation, then to a really beautiful hotel and some old ruins- it was really pretty!!!
In between all of this, I was able to see a woman/ friend from the church that I went to when I was in Guatemala in December :) :) And by surprise, I ran into another family that I know from that church while we were walking! (And I should not forget, this morning we me some other missionaries who are starting a home and gave them some clothing donations. We have know each other through facebook since October and I am going to spend 10 days with them in July, so it was really nice to get to meet them!)
Tomorrow and Friday, I will be following the social worker around on some really exciting adventures!!!! I can't wait! Stay tuned for updates:)
Friday night the visiting group took the kids and staff to McDonalds. Just try to imagine 58 EXCITED kids in one restaurant!!! It was tons of fun!
When we arrived back at the home, we had a closing ceremony to say goodbye to the visiting group that left the next day. The girls did a dance routine, handed out signed t-shirts, and said thank you to the group. I had the honors (or the tortures) of translating! hahaha- actually translating doesn't bother me- I like it!
Saturday was a day of 4 airport runs. One at 5am to drop off the group that was leaving for the States (thankfully I was not a part of the driving comittee and got to sleep in:) And then 3 trips to pick up the next group that arrived. At 11am, 1pm, and 11pm. The 11am group was delayed, so we waited at the airport for a long time and picked up the 11am and 1pm groups together. I got to drive the big white 15 passenger van full of people back to the home!!!
I attended my first quinceñera (or 15th birthday party). One of the girls at the home turned 15, so we had a big party. Family, friends, the girls, the staff and a visiting group from the States all attended. She had a really pretty dress and there were tons of tomales and cake!!! We started off the party singing songs then there was a message and I got to translate the whole thing from Spanish to English.
I also attended "Family day" at one of the schools. There are 5 or 6 girls from the home that go to the school, so I got a tour of their school and I got to see them play soccer:)
Sunday we went to church and I sat in the Sign Language section! I am on my way to learning Guatemalan Sign Language (it is similar to American Sign Language, but a little different). yay!!!!
Monday consisted of some errands (I think) and a visit to the widdows in the mountains. I LOVE going up the mountain and visiting with the women and their families. They have such a simple life-style and have very limited resources, but they are always thankful to God and blessed that we visit them. The kids are extremely excited when they see us because they know that we have candy, toys and hugs for them:)
I also organized clothing donations! It was a ton of work, but I think I am getting better at it (I have had tons of practice thanks to the generosity of those in Puerto Rico who have donated clothes).
There is an eye doctor here with the group that is visiting this week from the States. So he gave all the kids eye exams. I had fun visiting the clinic and playing pirate with the kids (picture to come soon:)
Tuesday I had a bodyguard with me almost all day and I did not have to pay anything!!!! hahaha
I spent about 2 and 1/2 hours at the bank in the morning exchanging money for the visiting team from the states. (about 1/2 the time was spent exchanging money and the other 1/2 waiting to be picked up- they had to take a girl to the doctor and when they finished they came back for me). Then in the afternoon, I had to exchange some more money for the team and take some of the older girls to the bank. So, I have decided the the guard that works at the bank was my bodyguard for the day!
For supper we went to a really good taco place to eat. It was outside in 1/2 of a barn (or at least the wooden frame resembled this shape), but the sides and roof were made of plastic sheets (like a plastic cloth you would put on the floor when you paint). They had the BEST food and it was really cheap (a sampler of 3 different tacos/ quesadillas and a soda for under $4!!!!
Wednesday was a tourist day in the city of Antigua. We took the group up to "Cerro de la cruz" (a hill with a cross on it that overlooks the city and the Volcan de Agua (or Water Volcano). Then we went shopping at the market, then to eat at a restaurant, then to pick up coffee from the coffee plantation, then to a really beautiful hotel and some old ruins- it was really pretty!!!
In between all of this, I was able to see a woman/ friend from the church that I went to when I was in Guatemala in December :) :) And by surprise, I ran into another family that I know from that church while we were walking! (And I should not forget, this morning we me some other missionaries who are starting a home and gave them some clothing donations. We have know each other through facebook since October and I am going to spend 10 days with them in July, so it was really nice to get to meet them!)
Tomorrow and Friday, I will be following the social worker around on some really exciting adventures!!!! I can't wait! Stay tuned for updates:)
miércoles, 6 de junio de 2012
Guate(POP), days 3-6
Sunday- Today we all went to church. The church here is HUGE (about 5,000 people)! There was a good message and they sang mostly normal American songs that were translated into Spanish. In the afternoon we made bracelets and jewelry with the girls:)
Monday- The highlight of today was a visit up the mountains. We delivered food to widow friends. It was really nice to get to know the women a little and see all of the kids. There is a big need in the mountains!
I also went on some errand runs today. We went to buy wood to make a hand-railing for the stairs. Here are some pictures of the logs and the machinery that they use to cut them.
Tuesday- Today I ran errands around the city. We went to the paint store to buy paint, but they did not have it. So we went to a different store that sells paint but they did not have it either. So we went back to the 1st store later in the day and we were able to buy the paint! This same thing that happens to me often in Puerto Rico, so I feel right at home:)
Wednesday- Today I TRANSLATED biographies for the girls. I really like translating! I also got a lot of office work done before the pizza party! Tonight all of the girls came and ate in the big fellowship room. We had pizza and afterwards they all enjoyed playing, painting nails and dancing.
Monday- The highlight of today was a visit up the mountains. We delivered food to widow friends. It was really nice to get to know the women a little and see all of the kids. There is a big need in the mountains!
I also went on some errand runs today. We went to buy wood to make a hand-railing for the stairs. Here are some pictures of the logs and the machinery that they use to cut them.
Tuesday- Today I ran errands around the city. We went to the paint store to buy paint, but they did not have it. So we went to a different store that sells paint but they did not have it either. So we went back to the 1st store later in the day and we were able to buy the paint! This same thing that happens to me often in Puerto Rico, so I feel right at home:)
Wednesday- Today I TRANSLATED biographies for the girls. I really like translating! I also got a lot of office work done before the pizza party! Tonight all of the girls came and ate in the big fellowship room. We had pizza and afterwards they all enjoyed playing, painting nails and dancing.
sábado, 2 de junio de 2012
Guatemala 2012
GUATEMALA 2012
I arrived in Guatemala on Thursday night and I will be staying in the country for 10 weeks. In this time, I will be visiting 6 orphanages.
Right now I am at Prince of Peace Home for Girls. I will be staying here for five weeks. My work includes office work and translating/ hosting the various missions groups that visit from the United States.
On Friday I:
-woke up and took a HOT shower- yay!
-delivered breakfast from the kitchen to the group dining hall
-rode along to drop the team off at the airport (it was their last day, so they went back to the States)
-learned how to update the webpage of the home
-learned how to update the facebook and twitter pages of the home
-revised lists of the girls in the home and their ages, clothing sizes, etc.
-learned how to update the biographies of the girls
-learned how to make a "quinceñera" (15th birthday party invitation) for one of the girls
-learned how to print (in black/white and in color)
-revised the list of pictures of each girl
-learned how to put together sponsorship brochures
-helped clean/ make beds to prepare for the group that arrived in the afternoon
-went to the store to buy shower curtain hooks
-delivered lunch from the kitchen to the group dining hall and ate with/ met the new group that is visiting this week
-exchanged money at the bank (this took well over 1 hour!)
-bought a cell phone:)
-ate supper and visited with the group
-went to youth group with some of the teen girls
-went to bed:)
(this is in addition to meeting all of the staff and some of the kids:)
It was a busy day!
Today was a little slower-paced.
We ate breakfast and then went to the city of Antigua. Our first stop was an overlook. We could see the city, the famous cross (I still have to find out what the story is, but everyone has pictures of it) and the "Volcan de Agua" (Volcano of Water).
Then we went to the Artisan Market and did some shopping with the group. This included bartering! The best deal that I got was from my new friend (a woman who who sells hand-made pottery). I bought a 50cent paper bill from her! They stopped making these and only make coins now, so it is pretty cool:)
I arrived in Guatemala on Thursday night and I will be staying in the country for 10 weeks. In this time, I will be visiting 6 orphanages.
Right now I am at Prince of Peace Home for Girls. I will be staying here for five weeks. My work includes office work and translating/ hosting the various missions groups that visit from the United States.
On Friday I:
-woke up and took a HOT shower- yay!
-delivered breakfast from the kitchen to the group dining hall
-rode along to drop the team off at the airport (it was their last day, so they went back to the States)
-learned how to update the webpage of the home
-learned how to update the facebook and twitter pages of the home
-revised lists of the girls in the home and their ages, clothing sizes, etc.
-learned how to update the biographies of the girls
-learned how to make a "quinceñera" (15th birthday party invitation) for one of the girls
-learned how to print (in black/white and in color)
-revised the list of pictures of each girl
-learned how to put together sponsorship brochures
-helped clean/ make beds to prepare for the group that arrived in the afternoon
-went to the store to buy shower curtain hooks
-delivered lunch from the kitchen to the group dining hall and ate with/ met the new group that is visiting this week
-exchanged money at the bank (this took well over 1 hour!)
-bought a cell phone:)
-ate supper and visited with the group
-went to youth group with some of the teen girls
-went to bed:)
(this is in addition to meeting all of the staff and some of the kids:)
It was a busy day!
Today was a little slower-paced.
We ate breakfast and then went to the city of Antigua. Our first stop was an overlook. We could see the city, the famous cross (I still have to find out what the story is, but everyone has pictures of it) and the "Volcan de Agua" (Volcano of Water).
Then we went to the Artisan Market and did some shopping with the group. This included bartering! The best deal that I got was from my new friend (a woman who who sells hand-made pottery). I bought a 50cent paper bill from her! They stopped making these and only make coins now, so it is pretty cool:)
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