The other day, I witnessed one of the more exciting things that I've seen in my entire life. At Tesoros, we had a group of speech pathologists from the University of Northern Iowa come to help out. They came to do speech and hearing testing. Tuesday afternoon, I was walking upstairs for some reason, and a hearing doctor with the group asked me to give her a hand with something. She was trying to put together a hearing aid for an 8 year old boy named Brayan, and it wasn't working for her, so she wanted to see if someone else could. So I helped put together a hearing aid. At first, it was only me, the doctor, and Brayan in the room. The doctor put the first hearing aid in Brayan's ear. Brayan has been deaf for most of his life. Watching him hear for the first time was incredible. I don't think I've seen so much joy and happiness. He started clicking his tongue, clapping his hands, grunting, all while he was smiling. I was whistling and making weird noises at him, and he kept trying to imitate the noises. His speech cleared up noticeably right away, and you see how happy he was. Then we put the other hearing aid in, and it was the same thing all over again. New noises to explore. I remember getting new toys when I was younger and feeling good about that. But I can't imagine how Brayan felt; this was a gift that changed his life. By this time, quite a few other people came in to the room, and we were all sharing in Brayan's happiness. I was quite excited for him. A gift of this magnitude and meaning is not something someone receives every day.
"And they brought him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and the begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha", that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly... He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Mark 7:32-36
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Good Morning... and Good Night
It's Friday morning, and today I was supposed to leave early and help the driver get hay for the horses at Tesoros. Well... It's about an hour and half after he was supposed to pick me up, so I'm assuming he forgot. Or possibly this is cultural? Oh well, it gives me an opportunity to write a little bit.
I've started to get into a little bit of a routine here, which is helpful for adjusting. I leave for Tesoros around 7:40 in the morning, and then I'm there until about 4:30 in the afternoon. In the morning from 8-12 I have my Spanish tutor. I need to say a little bit about that... When every day is basically a spanish class in itself, having four hours of class straight isn't the most fun. My tutor doesn't speak English, which, I suppose will help me learn faster, but makes things a little difficult at times. Right around the third hour I start to get quite antsy and my brain is telling me to quit. The last hour we have conversation, which I do enjoy a little more, and we talk about everything from family, to education, to health care. It's funny, I'm ready to be done with the class at the end of it, but there's really no break... everyone's still speaking spanish! But I am definitely learning a lot and I do think it is helping. Interesante. I'm am supposed to have it this afternoon, but I guess we'll see.
In the afternoons, I'm usually working with the kids. Sometimes I will do physical therapy with some of them, depending on how many kids come. Most of the kids that we do therapy with have cerebral palsy. I was talking to Michelle (the director) about it the other day, and I asked her why there were so many kids with CP. She said that a lot of times the mothers don't receive adequate care while they are pregnant, or while the child is being born, they experience asphyxiation. One mother she told me about was stung by a scorpion, and that was a cause, along with poor health care. It's sad because we both know that a lot of these cases could be prevented. I've been getting to know a 16 year old boy with CP named David. The other day I was helping him do some puzzle exercises, and after we finished that he was pointing to a soccer ball. So we started playing. I found out that David loves soccer, and he was having a ton of fun. We played yesterday again, and we both really enjoy it. Sometimes its difficult to connect with the kids, or feel that the attention and care you are giving them is being received. However, I know that despite the fact that most of them can't respond well, or react to what we are doing, I also know that many of them are processing and enjoying what we are doing, we're getting to know each other, and I think that they understand a lot more than we give them credit for. Maybe the other people that work there know this, but for me, I'm learning and remember that the connection isn't a reward for myself or there to make me feel like I've accomplished something by connecting with them, but it really is all about them, helping them have the fullest emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational life possible. If I can be a small part of something bigger in their lives, it will be quite a privilege for me.
An entire busload of kids just showed up at the house. I'm pretty sure they're from the church, and it looks like they're going camping. I just asked Lupe and he said they're camping at the house.
Well, it's Sunday night right now; I kind of put the blog writing on hold for a couple days.
I went to Leon this weekend, to visit Hannah's host family. I was a little worried about traveling, because it seemed like everyone was telling me that it was dangerous, and you should have someone go with you, and should really be careful. So yeah, kind of anxious about the trip. Thankfully, I was going to travel with Nana, and I felt a little more comfortable. We left at 6:00 on saturday morning for the bus station. Nana met her two sisters there, and we were looking for our bus. The sisters were talking together, and all of a sudden Nana tells me to go with her sisters, and she hops on a bus and takes off. Ooookay. I, in my conditioned apprehension for traveling, was a little confused and nervous. We (me and Nana's sisters) started walking away from the terminal. Instead of taking a large bus, we took a micro bus, which is a little better than the large busses. Thankfully, the rest of the trip went fine, and I met Papa at the terminal (2 hours late :/ )
The point of that story is that I had no idea what was going on. And as I stood there, my uncomfortableness was mostly due to the fact that I could not understand, or communicate with them and ask them questions. I realize what a gift communication is, being in situations where I'm not able to. Being able to communicate gives me confidence, the ability to know, the ability to persuade. And we are lost without it. More than once this weekend I've thought of the tower of Babel. What that must have been like! That event thousands of years ago is affecting me at this very moment. It's a huge example of how our pride ruins us. I was just reading Mere Christianity, and one chapter addresses our pride, saying that most of our faults and sins can be boiled down to our pride. Pride was the reason the devil became the devil, the reason Adam ate the fruit, the reason men tried to build the tower, and the reason I stood confused in the bus terminal. It reminds me of the humility I need to have, the right kind of humility too. Crazy how God reminds me of that.
Okay, 3 days in the making, and I think I'm gonna call this one good.
Peace and Love.
I've started to get into a little bit of a routine here, which is helpful for adjusting. I leave for Tesoros around 7:40 in the morning, and then I'm there until about 4:30 in the afternoon. In the morning from 8-12 I have my Spanish tutor. I need to say a little bit about that... When every day is basically a spanish class in itself, having four hours of class straight isn't the most fun. My tutor doesn't speak English, which, I suppose will help me learn faster, but makes things a little difficult at times. Right around the third hour I start to get quite antsy and my brain is telling me to quit. The last hour we have conversation, which I do enjoy a little more, and we talk about everything from family, to education, to health care. It's funny, I'm ready to be done with the class at the end of it, but there's really no break... everyone's still speaking spanish! But I am definitely learning a lot and I do think it is helping. Interesante. I'm am supposed to have it this afternoon, but I guess we'll see.
In the afternoons, I'm usually working with the kids. Sometimes I will do physical therapy with some of them, depending on how many kids come. Most of the kids that we do therapy with have cerebral palsy. I was talking to Michelle (the director) about it the other day, and I asked her why there were so many kids with CP. She said that a lot of times the mothers don't receive adequate care while they are pregnant, or while the child is being born, they experience asphyxiation. One mother she told me about was stung by a scorpion, and that was a cause, along with poor health care. It's sad because we both know that a lot of these cases could be prevented. I've been getting to know a 16 year old boy with CP named David. The other day I was helping him do some puzzle exercises, and after we finished that he was pointing to a soccer ball. So we started playing. I found out that David loves soccer, and he was having a ton of fun. We played yesterday again, and we both really enjoy it. Sometimes its difficult to connect with the kids, or feel that the attention and care you are giving them is being received. However, I know that despite the fact that most of them can't respond well, or react to what we are doing, I also know that many of them are processing and enjoying what we are doing, we're getting to know each other, and I think that they understand a lot more than we give them credit for. Maybe the other people that work there know this, but for me, I'm learning and remember that the connection isn't a reward for myself or there to make me feel like I've accomplished something by connecting with them, but it really is all about them, helping them have the fullest emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational life possible. If I can be a small part of something bigger in their lives, it will be quite a privilege for me.
An entire busload of kids just showed up at the house. I'm pretty sure they're from the church, and it looks like they're going camping. I just asked Lupe and he said they're camping at the house.
Well, it's Sunday night right now; I kind of put the blog writing on hold for a couple days.
I went to Leon this weekend, to visit Hannah's host family. I was a little worried about traveling, because it seemed like everyone was telling me that it was dangerous, and you should have someone go with you, and should really be careful. So yeah, kind of anxious about the trip. Thankfully, I was going to travel with Nana, and I felt a little more comfortable. We left at 6:00 on saturday morning for the bus station. Nana met her two sisters there, and we were looking for our bus. The sisters were talking together, and all of a sudden Nana tells me to go with her sisters, and she hops on a bus and takes off. Ooookay. I, in my conditioned apprehension for traveling, was a little confused and nervous. We (me and Nana's sisters) started walking away from the terminal. Instead of taking a large bus, we took a micro bus, which is a little better than the large busses. Thankfully, the rest of the trip went fine, and I met Papa at the terminal (2 hours late :/ )
The point of that story is that I had no idea what was going on. And as I stood there, my uncomfortableness was mostly due to the fact that I could not understand, or communicate with them and ask them questions. I realize what a gift communication is, being in situations where I'm not able to. Being able to communicate gives me confidence, the ability to know, the ability to persuade. And we are lost without it. More than once this weekend I've thought of the tower of Babel. What that must have been like! That event thousands of years ago is affecting me at this very moment. It's a huge example of how our pride ruins us. I was just reading Mere Christianity, and one chapter addresses our pride, saying that most of our faults and sins can be boiled down to our pride. Pride was the reason the devil became the devil, the reason Adam ate the fruit, the reason men tried to build the tower, and the reason I stood confused in the bus terminal. It reminds me of the humility I need to have, the right kind of humility too. Crazy how God reminds me of that.
Okay, 3 days in the making, and I think I'm gonna call this one good.
Peace and Love.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Buenas!
Hello Everybody!! It is my 4th day here in Nicaragua, and I think I could write a book about everything that I've experienced/seen/thought. But I will start with what you need to know. I'm staying with the Gomez family, and I am the 25th person that they have hosted. Lupe and Ivania are the parents, with two younger boys living here, Ruben and Gabriel (Gabrielito), as well as Nana, who lives with the family as well. They also have a daughter Wendy, who I know from school.
Friday night I got to the house and started to settle in, and I felt very comfortable right away. I think that visiting here last October helped me to prepare and know what to expect. Also, the entire family was very welcoming, and they are making me feel at home. The food is absolutely delicious... It was one of the things I worried about because I'm a picky eater, but everything has been wonderful, which has made transitioning into life here a little easier.
Saturday I continued to get settled in, and I played with Gabriel. Gabriel has a lot of energy :) That night, we went to El Crucero (about 15 km away) to church, where Lupe is pastor. They have a service for the younger people that night, where they have a worship service, and then afterward play games. I met some people before the service, but during I got called up to the front and had to talk about myself. Quite intimidating if you don't really speak spanish. Thankfully Ruben translated for me. After singing and the service, we played some games, and I got to participate. It was actually really fun, and I had had a really good time. I got to talk to more people afterwards, some in English, and a few in Spanish. I really would like to talk to the people there more; its just really difficult having a lot of things to ask them, but no words to use.
Sunday I went to the ICF (International Christian Fellowship) in the morning, which is a church made up mostly of missionaries and other foreigners living in Nicaragua. I talked to a few people there, and its really interesting to hear why people are here and what they're doing and how long they have been here. I'm kind of stunned by how people have made this their home, leaving everything that they really have known, and starting up here. I'm humbled by their sense of calling and their ability to start a new life in a new country, knowing only that they trust that God has led them and has a purpose for them here. They forsake the comfortable and easy life, giving it up in order to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Quite something.
Sunday afternoon I played ultimate frisbee with some foreigners. Ruben usually goes every Sunday, so he invited me a long, and I really enjoyed it. That night we went to church in El Crucero, where again I was introduced to the congregation, but I didn't have to speak in front of them :) Going to church is quite the experience, simply because it is loud, and I don't understand much of what is said. They do have a songbook, so I was able to sing a long, which was great. I knew most of the songs (in English) and I was able to sing them in spanish and know what I was actually saying.
TODAY! Today was my first day at Tesoros de Dios, and it was quite the day. There are about 10 or 11 ladies that work there, some as teachers, and others as therapists. We had devotions in the morning, and then the first group of kids came. 2 groups come each day, one from 830 -1130, and another from 130- 430. The kids that come all have some sort of developmental disability. Their mothers stay at Tesoros with them, and help with therapy and class. I guess the first thing that I thought was that this place is incredible. The services that they offer and how they not only help the children but also the mothers is such a blessing to this community. It really does aim to help the children and family reach their fullest social, physical, spiritual, and intellectual potential. I can't really describe it, but I know that it is sincerely a gift from God for these children and their mothers. Working with these children is quite a new experience for me. I've never really worked with kids with these kinds of disabilities, so it is really going to test me. I did therapy with a few of them today, and it was great to get right in there and help out. A lot of the time I don't really know what to do, or how to help, simply because I don't really understand what the therapists are explaining to me, and I can't communicate well with the mothers. But somehow, we get our points across to each other, and we understand. I can't really say what I feel about everything right now, as it was only my first day. But I am thankful to be a part of this. I'll write more about Tesoros later after I've had time to process more of my thoughts.
Tomorrow I start my tutoring in Spanish. Right now I feel like each day is one long spanish lesson. I'm thankful for how I've been able to communicate and understand what people are saying, but at the end of the day, I'm exhausted just from trying to understand what people are saying. I really want to learn so that I'll be able to talk more with my family, as well as the ladies from Tesoros. They are very helpful with my Spanish though and willing to help me learn. If I am able to understand Nana by the time I leave, I will be happy :) (I never know what she's saying ;))
THANK YOU, Thank you, Thank you for you prayers! I cannot tell you that enough, but God is truly carrying me through this, and your support means so much.
Buenos Noches, Derek
Friday night I got to the house and started to settle in, and I felt very comfortable right away. I think that visiting here last October helped me to prepare and know what to expect. Also, the entire family was very welcoming, and they are making me feel at home. The food is absolutely delicious... It was one of the things I worried about because I'm a picky eater, but everything has been wonderful, which has made transitioning into life here a little easier.
Saturday I continued to get settled in, and I played with Gabriel. Gabriel has a lot of energy :) That night, we went to El Crucero (about 15 km away) to church, where Lupe is pastor. They have a service for the younger people that night, where they have a worship service, and then afterward play games. I met some people before the service, but during I got called up to the front and had to talk about myself. Quite intimidating if you don't really speak spanish. Thankfully Ruben translated for me. After singing and the service, we played some games, and I got to participate. It was actually really fun, and I had had a really good time. I got to talk to more people afterwards, some in English, and a few in Spanish. I really would like to talk to the people there more; its just really difficult having a lot of things to ask them, but no words to use.
Sunday I went to the ICF (International Christian Fellowship) in the morning, which is a church made up mostly of missionaries and other foreigners living in Nicaragua. I talked to a few people there, and its really interesting to hear why people are here and what they're doing and how long they have been here. I'm kind of stunned by how people have made this their home, leaving everything that they really have known, and starting up here. I'm humbled by their sense of calling and their ability to start a new life in a new country, knowing only that they trust that God has led them and has a purpose for them here. They forsake the comfortable and easy life, giving it up in order to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Quite something.
Sunday afternoon I played ultimate frisbee with some foreigners. Ruben usually goes every Sunday, so he invited me a long, and I really enjoyed it. That night we went to church in El Crucero, where again I was introduced to the congregation, but I didn't have to speak in front of them :) Going to church is quite the experience, simply because it is loud, and I don't understand much of what is said. They do have a songbook, so I was able to sing a long, which was great. I knew most of the songs (in English) and I was able to sing them in spanish and know what I was actually saying.
TODAY! Today was my first day at Tesoros de Dios, and it was quite the day. There are about 10 or 11 ladies that work there, some as teachers, and others as therapists. We had devotions in the morning, and then the first group of kids came. 2 groups come each day, one from 830 -1130, and another from 130- 430. The kids that come all have some sort of developmental disability. Their mothers stay at Tesoros with them, and help with therapy and class. I guess the first thing that I thought was that this place is incredible. The services that they offer and how they not only help the children but also the mothers is such a blessing to this community. It really does aim to help the children and family reach their fullest social, physical, spiritual, and intellectual potential. I can't really describe it, but I know that it is sincerely a gift from God for these children and their mothers. Working with these children is quite a new experience for me. I've never really worked with kids with these kinds of disabilities, so it is really going to test me. I did therapy with a few of them today, and it was great to get right in there and help out. A lot of the time I don't really know what to do, or how to help, simply because I don't really understand what the therapists are explaining to me, and I can't communicate well with the mothers. But somehow, we get our points across to each other, and we understand. I can't really say what I feel about everything right now, as it was only my first day. But I am thankful to be a part of this. I'll write more about Tesoros later after I've had time to process more of my thoughts.
Tomorrow I start my tutoring in Spanish. Right now I feel like each day is one long spanish lesson. I'm thankful for how I've been able to communicate and understand what people are saying, but at the end of the day, I'm exhausted just from trying to understand what people are saying. I really want to learn so that I'll be able to talk more with my family, as well as the ladies from Tesoros. They are very helpful with my Spanish though and willing to help me learn. If I am able to understand Nana by the time I leave, I will be happy :) (I never know what she's saying ;))
THANK YOU, Thank you, Thank you for you prayers! I cannot tell you that enough, but God is truly carrying me through this, and your support means so much.
Buenos Noches, Derek
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