I did the Afternoon Program today with Room 3 (the youngest who are about 6) and we made soup :-) The only other time I’ve ever cooked with them was when we made a cake for Laura’s homecoming back when I first got here. So this was a new adventure..one that I didn’t even volunteer for without first stepping back and really processing through it. But then I figured how bad could it be? I’ve only made soup one other time in my life but these are six year olds. And not just American six year olds, but six year olds who will eat anything you put in their hands and say “doce!” (candy!).
It was a good time, lol :o) I love cooking, especially when I don’t follow a recipe and just go for something. The first step, the same one every young chef learns is: wash your hands. So I stood at the sink with a chair from the kitchen table and had each boy come and wash their hands. They were surprisingly good at this… the kids in America put their hands under the water right when you put the soap on, its useless. But my (amazing) boys first scrubbed their hands without provocation and then rinsed them –I was proud. Haha. Well after all hands were clean I set them up to color (and touch what I can only assume are germ-ridden colored pencils…. heh… oops?) I had each boy come up in turn and pour water into the pot, put vegetables in along with it and then stir. It was pretty freakin’ cute, I’m not gonna lie :-) And the soup turned out delicious (yay me). It was so good I even gave some to a tia, because I wasn’t worried she’d hate it :-) I love the Afternoon Program
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sopa!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Anatomia de Grey
Grey’s is my favorite show and Meghann is my hero.
She visited home in February and brought back with her all (yes ALL!) seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, even some of the current season! It was heaven. So for the past, I dunno, 3-ish months we’ve been spending most Tuesday nights watching Grey’s. When Emily got here she brought season 2, then Meghann returned home with all seasons… we’re about to start season 5 tonight. Haha, it’s so great. It’s the little things, ya know? Don’t tell me anything about the current season, please, I've only seen the first 13 episodes. But that’s so exciting –I’ve seen the first half and I’m in Mozambique!! God is good in so many ways :-) Me and Emily are the hardcore viewers, Meghann and Erin watch often but then there’s Fiona and Heather… Maybe it’s because their English? They hardly watched until recently. As of last night I think I’ve finally got Fiona into it :-) She was really upset when Season 4 ended, until I got to tell her we’ve got Season 5, hah. But we’re still working on Hev. Pray for her lol, she needs to join us :-)
yes, I just devoted a whole post to Grey’s --it’s that good.
life updates are on their way soon. hopefully this week :-) lots to update!
lovelovelove
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
City Streets
I made a video a few days ago, and now I’m sitting in a coffee shop able to enjoy internet strong enough to upload it :-) It’s not the smartest thing to take pictures out in the street, but I couldn’t imagine going home and not having what I see everyday on video. So I took the risk, and because of it I’m super happy. Stupid, maybe, but happy? Yes!
I’m in cafe sol right now with a big group of girl friends. This place is the closest I can get to Starbucks, it’s an ex-pat haven :-) I can actually evesdrop on conversations in English! I can people watch and understand their language –love it :-) It’s a very needed break after
a hard last week.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
ShopRite
This is our local grocery store, ShopRite, it’s kind of like a Food Lion. Kinda. Last friday there was a ShopRite run in the afternoon so I took one of my boys with me. I took Estevao (steve) who’s about 8 years old. I went up to the dorm and told him to stay in his nice school clothes but told him I’d explain why later. I didn’t want the entire dorm knowing I was taking him until the very last minute otherwise I’d be showered with “take me too!” I ended up being showered in those anyway, but I like to think I stopped some of it, lol. So anyway, we’re in the bus with two other missionaries and one visitor and I pull out my old cell phone so we can listen to music with earphones. Estevao is not a quiet kid, not at all, it’s part of what I adore about him. But on the ride there he was so out of his element it was adorable! He was silent! I kept dancing to the music trying to get him into it and he’d only give like 10% effort :-) So when we get there I tell him the rules of ShopRite before we walk in –something I learned from babysitting. I told him to always hold my hand or touch the cart and not to ask for anything, at all. He did amazing! He was my little helper, it was so cute :-) He loved pushing the cart, something I forgot all kids love to do. He carried things for me, and put the vegetables on the scales. So cute! And he did really well not asking for anything, but he did make an effort to point out every cool toy. Which up until that point I had never noticed. Nearing the end of the trip he saw a big cool toy car and said in English, “me for car.” I died laughing inside, but told him, “Don’t ask for anything please.” And then he said, again in English, “I said Jesus!” Hahaha, I died. So once we had finished getting all of our coisas (things) I bought him a soda and chocolate. The drive home was lovely, he almost spilled his soda a hundred times and his hands were covered in chocolate –a true kid :-)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saying goodbye
This past week Naftal left our little world and went to Heaven, where true life begins. It was a lot to take in, a lot to handle when I’m so far away from “normal” and my family. But God has everything under control, and He’s given me an amazing peace about Naffy. I miss him so much, but I only cry selfish tears when I miss him. I don’t actually want him to be here, because who would choose earth over Heaven? No one should. Two things I want to process about Naftal: one) the doctor over his case, and two) saying goodbye to boys.
One: Ros told all the missionaries at the Monday meeting that our doctor had explained to her how the head doctor on Naftal’s case directed the other doctors under him not to provide anything except Paracetamol and a multi-vitamin. The doctors under this head doctor, according to our doctor, were upset about this instruction. My first reaction to hearing this news was: oh my gosh that is disgusting and horrible, we have to pray for this doctor’s heart because no one should live like that –ever. And I was thankful for this reaction, I was glad not to hate the doctor. But now that I’ve thought over the millions of motives this doctor could have had, I really, really hope that God just gave him wisdom. Even in the States, Naftal’s future would have been bleak. He probably would have lived for many more months, but I doubt he would have been happy. I don’t think he would have been very comfortable at all. I pray that God gave his doctor wisdom and foresight that Naftal really wasn’t going to live very long. And once again, no one would ever choose earth over Heaven, if they were in love with the Lord. I love to imagine what Jesus and Naftal could be doing. That’s really special. I also really hope (and think) he gets to hang out with my Granddad and Adam.
Two: Simois & Daniel are moving back home next week. For so many reasons, this breaks my heart but makes me smile. At first I was only upset, but now I’m mixed up between being really joyful that their family is going to be a real family, and wishing we could all just go to Heaven now like Naftal. I know this may sound odd, but I don’t like thinking about how Simois and Daniel are moving out of the center into a world where I can’t contact them. It’s what I fear about moving away from the centre in general.. no longer will I have easy (or any?) access to these boys’ lives and hearts. I have so much security in Naftal right now that I just so desperately wish I had with all of the boys, especially Simois who I’ve grown so close with. I’m still processing through all of this, because like I mentioned, it’s great and completely awesome that they get to be a family. I just have to pray for the future of all our boys with a very committed heart. I want them to grow into men of God and the centre provides a nice(r) bubble for this to happen than (possibly) the community they could live in outside of Iris. I don’t want to worry about anything, or be discouraged, I know God’s going to work everything for His plan and purpose. This is going to require a lot of prayer on my part so that God really has HIs time to talk me through everything.
…just thoughts..
