Here is an email I wrote that was sent out to our parents recently about life on the farm, enjoy:
Hello Parents!
Sorry for the delay in the email, I know you have all been receiving news about the increased security situation in Honduras, and not receiving a lot of news from your kids due to lots of rain and busy schedules. Please know we are all safe, healthy, and eating well. We even had cinnamon rolls for breakfast today (Thank you Francesca!).
Here in Honduras rainy season has officially begun and is in full swing. This coincides with the beginning of fall back in the states. Fall signifies a time of change in preparation for the grand events of winter. Here at the farm, we do lack colorful falling leaves, but we do face a great time of change as well. As our beloved oldies Sheena, Francesca, Kristina, Nely, Erin, Alisha, Georleny, and Scarleth prepare to depart in December; our now experienced middies Nils, Mary Kate, Jacob, Rachel, Lily, Tami, Deirdre, Betsy, and Amanda all face changing roles here at the farm; while our energetic newbies Erin Lucia, Erin Marina, Allison, Sara, Ashley, Kevin, and David continue to adjust to the life here at the finca. Here is a brief update on what everyone is up to:
Sheena is covering house 5 one last time before passes over her teenage boy social worker reigns to David,
Francesca is enjoying making yummy breads from her beloved bread book to celebrate the passing on of her little girls and boys houses to their new social workers Lily and Erin Marina
Kristina is enjoying the joys of the alphabet and crayons as she trains Allison to be the new kindergarten teacher.
Nely is spending time with her beloved first graders and members of the women´s group to squeeze out every last moment she has with them before she leaves.
Erin is busy planning a big graduation party for Dalila in la Ceiba in excitement for her big graduation date that will arrive so very soon.
Alisha is enjoying her last few weeks with Arturo in la Ceiba, while also helping Erin to train to the new Ceibenos.
Georleny and Scarleth are busy training the newly arrived Haydee in the psychology department, and enjoying visits to the teens in la Ceiba.
Nils and Mary Kate are working hard to close out the middle school school year, and getting ready to move with Nelly, Nolvia, and Carlos to la Ceiba to be their new caretakers for the year to come.
Jacob and Rachel are both working hard as parents and adjusting to new titles, Jacob adding that of maintenance man and Rachel changing from accountant to controller.
Lily is getting to know house 3 better as their new social worker, continuing to work with house 6, and learning new things as the new head of social work.
Tami is working very hard to help the school year end smoothly, and excited to start as the new person in charge of the work program for our kids on the farm.
Deirdre is excited to have another nurse around in Ashley, and continues to be a rock star at late night emergency runs and stitches.
Betsy is working hard to close out the school year and excited to start being trained as the new 5 and 6th grade teacher for next year.
Amanda is also working hard to finish out the school year, and excited in her new job as community watchee.
Erin Lucia is learning the intricacies of the life of a finca accountant, while also discovering the many beautiful mysteries of special education at our school.
Erin Marina is full of love and girl power as she becomes the new social worker for our younger girls.
Allison is learning the politics of crayons and monkey bars as she trains to be the new kindergarten teacher.
Sara is learning how to teach balancing equations and hormones as she trains to be the new middle school math teacher.
Ashley is learning how to simultaneously co-run a clinic and heal parasite ridden stomachs.
Kevin is familiarizing himself with the periodic table and our community members as her trains to be the new middle school math teacher and community watchee.
David is learning what it means to be cool in Honduras as he trains to be the social worker for our middle and teenage boys.
Wishing you all the best and sending you lots of love!
Mary Kate and the rest of the volunteer missionaries here at the farm
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Congratulations 6th Grade!
The Honduran education system is different in various ways from that of the states; one way being that to pass 6th grade and pass onto middle school one must pass an exam about the national hymn. If one does not pass, no matter what the cause may be, one cannot pass the grade.
The last week of September our sixth graders faced this decisive test. The test consists of oral and written components about the history and meaning of the hymn and a singing of the hymn by the entire class. My student Jessica was very worried about her big test. So the two days leading up to it we simply sat and reviewed questions from her study guide over and over till the bell rang.
On the fateful day, not only did my Jessica pass, but the entire class passed with marks above 80 percent. Many did not believe that my Jessica could pass such an extensive test, but as I knew she would, she proved them all wrong, and came one step closer to passing 6th grade.
This blog is therefore dedicated to Jessica, Zulena, Ana, Eva, David, Daniel, Noel, Edwin, and William, for not only passing their exam, but for all doing so well on their exam despite their nerves and the surrounding doubts.
The last week of September our sixth graders faced this decisive test. The test consists of oral and written components about the history and meaning of the hymn and a singing of the hymn by the entire class. My student Jessica was very worried about her big test. So the two days leading up to it we simply sat and reviewed questions from her study guide over and over till the bell rang.
On the fateful day, not only did my Jessica pass, but the entire class passed with marks above 80 percent. Many did not believe that my Jessica could pass such an extensive test, but as I knew she would, she proved them all wrong, and came one step closer to passing 6th grade.
This blog is therefore dedicated to Jessica, Zulena, Ana, Eva, David, Daniel, Noel, Edwin, and William, for not only passing their exam, but for all doing so well on their exam despite their nerves and the surrounding doubts.
September Spirituality Retreat
Everybody needs a time away to reflect and re-energize, especially finca vols. So from September 13 through 16 we all got squeezed into 2 land cruisers and headed to the beautiful nearby town of Bonita Oriental. There we had a 4 day spiritual centered retreat led by lay man John who works near Copan, also known as Juancito. We were fed amazingly be the local staff (including fresh squeezed orange juice every morning) while we enjoyed a local mass, talks, and reflection time. Some of us, me included, even took a few runs by the local river bank which was truly beautiful. We played great games, and even called a former vol on their birthday to sing to them all together. Everyone greatly enjoyed the break from their busy work schedules, and each other´s company. In the end we all were able to take a moment to be grateful for the countless blessings in our lives and simply enjoy of beauty of nature around us.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade…Hondu style
Growing up everyone has their own holiday traditions. These range from decorating cookies to turkey trots on Thanksgiving. One of these traditions in the states is the famous Macy´s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Every childhood Thanksgiving I can remember includes this epically amazing affair. I would wake up, grab a bowl of cereal, and then watch the tv in amazement at the grand floats and performers. Every year excited to see Santa at the end of the parade.
Though my dream to attend this parade lives on, I had the honor of participating in its Honduran equivalent this past September. At the end of August our school director Dania asked me if I could put together a dance for the Independence Day celebration with my ballerinas. I told her of course, thinking they would put on their tutus, practice once the day before with a small dance, and all would be done, I was mistaken.
The following week, 8 days before our September 12th celebration of Honduran Independence Day (the actual day is September 15th, but there was no school that day), I heard from a student that we had practice the next day, I was confused, so he further explained that we would have practice the last period of every day until the march. I went to ask Dania if this was a joke, she looked at me like I was crazy and told me of course we would be practicing every day, and to bring a hat to avoid sun burn.
So for the next week we practiced everyday marching around the soccer field at noon in the sun, staying in perfect lines and learning how to properly salute the flag. My four 1st grade ballerinas found this entertaining at first, but also highly distracting, and at points exhausting in the sun.
At last the grand day arrived, and all came to school early to perfect their costumes and get in line. The mayor of Trujillo and his wife even came to watch our parade. The students in the honor square (highest gpa in each grade) led the parade. They were followed by a marching band from a school in Trujillo, the central American nations group, my ballerinas, an ecology group, the national heroes and symbols group, a karate group, the character counts pillars group, and the middle school boys in the “peloton” or military style marching group. We circled the field 3 times then all saluted the flag. Afterwards the groups made their presentations in the middle school, and all enjoyed lunch.
Despite my initial skepticism at the necessity of such extensive preparation for a school march, in the end I was very impressed by our kids and our school. They showed true pride in their country in their dedication to the event, wanting to truly honor the anniversary of independence for their nation. Our Honduran teachers instilled this pride in them, and then worked with them, even underneath the hot sun, to live out their patriotism. For the same reason people work all year planning the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, so that little kids across the country can watch in awe on tv; our teachers worked tirelessly to perfect their own parade. My dream to attend the parade in New York lives on, but I have at least been part of it Honduran counterpart.
Though my dream to attend this parade lives on, I had the honor of participating in its Honduran equivalent this past September. At the end of August our school director Dania asked me if I could put together a dance for the Independence Day celebration with my ballerinas. I told her of course, thinking they would put on their tutus, practice once the day before with a small dance, and all would be done, I was mistaken.
The following week, 8 days before our September 12th celebration of Honduran Independence Day (the actual day is September 15th, but there was no school that day), I heard from a student that we had practice the next day, I was confused, so he further explained that we would have practice the last period of every day until the march. I went to ask Dania if this was a joke, she looked at me like I was crazy and told me of course we would be practicing every day, and to bring a hat to avoid sun burn.
So for the next week we practiced everyday marching around the soccer field at noon in the sun, staying in perfect lines and learning how to properly salute the flag. My four 1st grade ballerinas found this entertaining at first, but also highly distracting, and at points exhausting in the sun.
At last the grand day arrived, and all came to school early to perfect their costumes and get in line. The mayor of Trujillo and his wife even came to watch our parade. The students in the honor square (highest gpa in each grade) led the parade. They were followed by a marching band from a school in Trujillo, the central American nations group, my ballerinas, an ecology group, the national heroes and symbols group, a karate group, the character counts pillars group, and the middle school boys in the “peloton” or military style marching group. We circled the field 3 times then all saluted the flag. Afterwards the groups made their presentations in the middle school, and all enjoyed lunch.
Despite my initial skepticism at the necessity of such extensive preparation for a school march, in the end I was very impressed by our kids and our school. They showed true pride in their country in their dedication to the event, wanting to truly honor the anniversary of independence for their nation. Our Honduran teachers instilled this pride in them, and then worked with them, even underneath the hot sun, to live out their patriotism. For the same reason people work all year planning the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, so that little kids across the country can watch in awe on tv; our teachers worked tirelessly to perfect their own parade. My dream to attend the parade in New York lives on, but I have at least been part of it Honduran counterpart.
Magdalena's Big Day
Magdalena is an eleven year old girl who resides in Casa San Antonio here on the farm. She is well known for her great energy and amazing smile. Due to some cognitive and intellectual disabilities she has struggled in school since her arrival to the farm 4 years ago. Over the years many teachers have spent hours upon hours to help meet her individual needs.
Over the past year, as the special education teacher in the school, I have been blessed to be able to continue this work. Recently she has focused on reading a book all by herself. I consistently tried to give her very basic books to read; and in true Magdalena fashion, she consistently chose a different book to read from my classroom, always proving more difficult. She is a smart girl, and knew that when she was ready, the book would be there, but until then all would just have to wait.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2011 that book finally arrived. After finishing up her homework during her tutoring with me, she asked if there was still time to read. Since we still had some time, I told her of course, and she proceeded to choose the book Spot se pasa la noche (Spot spends the night). She asked me how to pronounce the name Spot from the title, and then proceeded to page one reading every word syllable by syllable.
When she reached the half way point I asked her if she realized that she was only 6 pages away from reading it all on her own. She simply smiled and turned to the next page.
I do not know if she or I was more nervous when we finally arrived at the last page. She was literally only a sentence away from her big goal. She continued on word by word like the calm champion she is.
When she finished that last word, I turned the page for her to show her that she had finished the book all on her own. She gave me a semi blank stare; then when she saw me begin to literally jump in excitement for her, she broke out one of her infectious smiles and began to laugh in pure joy. She then gave me a big hug, and ran off to her house yelling for her tia (house aunt) wanting to share her exciting news.
That afternoon Magdalena and I both told everyone we encountered the joyful news. She continued to exude pure joy ad pride in her grand accomplishment for the rest of the week to come. In a moment of such grace and joy, one cannot help but to grow in hope for Miss Magdalena, and all our kids here at the farm. They are truly amazing kids, and blessings in our lives.
Over the past year, as the special education teacher in the school, I have been blessed to be able to continue this work. Recently she has focused on reading a book all by herself. I consistently tried to give her very basic books to read; and in true Magdalena fashion, she consistently chose a different book to read from my classroom, always proving more difficult. She is a smart girl, and knew that when she was ready, the book would be there, but until then all would just have to wait.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2011 that book finally arrived. After finishing up her homework during her tutoring with me, she asked if there was still time to read. Since we still had some time, I told her of course, and she proceeded to choose the book Spot se pasa la noche (Spot spends the night). She asked me how to pronounce the name Spot from the title, and then proceeded to page one reading every word syllable by syllable.
When she reached the half way point I asked her if she realized that she was only 6 pages away from reading it all on her own. She simply smiled and turned to the next page.
I do not know if she or I was more nervous when we finally arrived at the last page. She was literally only a sentence away from her big goal. She continued on word by word like the calm champion she is.
When she finished that last word, I turned the page for her to show her that she had finished the book all on her own. She gave me a semi blank stare; then when she saw me begin to literally jump in excitement for her, she broke out one of her infectious smiles and began to laugh in pure joy. She then gave me a big hug, and ran off to her house yelling for her tia (house aunt) wanting to share her exciting news.
That afternoon Magdalena and I both told everyone we encountered the joyful news. She continued to exude pure joy ad pride in her grand accomplishment for the rest of the week to come. In a moment of such grace and joy, one cannot help but to grow in hope for Miss Magdalena, and all our kids here at the farm. They are truly amazing kids, and blessings in our lives.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thinking of you all back on the east coast...
As most of you know, I am originally from Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of DC. As most of you also know these past two weeks have proven chaotic and a little scary for DC, and the majority of the East Coast. I just wanted to write you all to make sure you knew that everyone affected by the earthquake and the hurricane was and remains in our thoughts and prayers here at the finca, especially you all, my friends and family. I was glad to hear everyone seemed like they faced minimal damage from the two disasters and remains in good health.
As the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, I know this cannot be any easy time for any person who remembers that fateful and awful day in our past. This anniversary compounded with 2 natural disasters does not make it any easier for all the East coasters who were so gravely affected. Please know that although I am far away geographically, I was there on 9/11 ten years ago, and will be with you in spirit this coming weekend. Know that you all remain in my prayers, and I will be thinking of you all often in the coming days.
As the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, I know this cannot be any easy time for any person who remembers that fateful and awful day in our past. This anniversary compounded with 2 natural disasters does not make it any easier for all the East coasters who were so gravely affected. Please know that although I am far away geographically, I was there on 9/11 ten years ago, and will be with you in spirit this coming weekend. Know that you all remain in my prayers, and I will be thinking of you all often in the coming days.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Regifting...Hondu for "I love you!"
Growing up in the states one learns that regifting heirlooms or special items is very kind; while regifting standard new presents can prove rude and insulting. Honduran culture and finca kids have granted me new perspective on this strange phenomenon.
My older sister Ann sent me a package of snacks and crafts to share with the kids right before my vacation. I was saving them for a special day with students and my special friends here on the farm. When I returned from Ceiba this past weekend I found out that my special friend Elena (7) had gone through a tough weekend where nurse Deirdre had to remove a small worm from an infected bug bite on her head. No worries, she was just fine, and actually made Deirdre walk her to all the houses to show off her scar. Nonetheless, I decided to indulge her and show up Sunday afternoon with a little doorknob hanger craft project to pamper her a little after a long weekend.
She loved it, and we used half the stickers right away. She then told me she wanted to finish later and gave me a hug. Then today, Monday, about 24 hours after I gave her the present, Francesca, her social worker, showed up at the house with a smile. She told me that Kimberly, another 7 year old in house one had given her a present, and I wouldn’t believe what it was. It was the door hanger. Elena had regifted it to her, and then she to Francesca, all in the past 24 hours. We simply laughed and could not help but smile.
Our kids don’t have much extra, so what little they do have they love to regift, it is essentially hondu for “I love you.” So translated, my sister Ann loves me, I love Elena, Elena loves Kimberly, and Kimberly loves Francesca. So in the words of the great movie “Love Actually”, “love really is all around us” here at the finca, and it exists in the form of a sticker covered doorknob cover.
My older sister Ann sent me a package of snacks and crafts to share with the kids right before my vacation. I was saving them for a special day with students and my special friends here on the farm. When I returned from Ceiba this past weekend I found out that my special friend Elena (7) had gone through a tough weekend where nurse Deirdre had to remove a small worm from an infected bug bite on her head. No worries, she was just fine, and actually made Deirdre walk her to all the houses to show off her scar. Nonetheless, I decided to indulge her and show up Sunday afternoon with a little doorknob hanger craft project to pamper her a little after a long weekend.
She loved it, and we used half the stickers right away. She then told me she wanted to finish later and gave me a hug. Then today, Monday, about 24 hours after I gave her the present, Francesca, her social worker, showed up at the house with a smile. She told me that Kimberly, another 7 year old in house one had given her a present, and I wouldn’t believe what it was. It was the door hanger. Elena had regifted it to her, and then she to Francesca, all in the past 24 hours. We simply laughed and could not help but smile.
Our kids don’t have much extra, so what little they do have they love to regift, it is essentially hondu for “I love you.” So translated, my sister Ann loves me, I love Elena, Elena loves Kimberly, and Kimberly loves Francesca. So in the words of the great movie “Love Actually”, “love really is all around us” here at the finca, and it exists in the form of a sticker covered doorknob cover.
3rd Quarter Report Card--Escuela San Pedro
During the first quarter of the school year I learned the realities of my job, and fell in love with my students. During the second quarter I continued to love my job, but also found myself covering many classes in the primary school due to the beginning of vacation season for teachers and other reasons. The 3rd quarter of school ended on August 18; and I have learned that you never know what will come when working at Escuela San Pedro.
I began the quarter by taking a wonderful vacation back to the states to visit family and friends. The lovely summer vol Rose covered my classes with great care, and for that I am ever grateful. Upon my return we celebrated day of the lempira, a truly fun cultural holiday that celebrated the native Honduran indigenous hero, Lempira. The next week Keenan and Ted sadly had to leave early from the finca, and I became the middle school math teacher in addition to special ed teacher. During this time I also helped to cover health, computers, and kindergarden to help cover others’ vacations. The quarter finally came to a close mid August, and most all teachers came back from vacation.
Special Ed continued to prove the highlight of my day, but the middle schoolers are growing on me daily. I watched my kids learn cursive, measurement conversions, clocks, and geometric area formulas. I also watched many of them greatly improve their writing and reading skills. I was especially impressed my Jessica’s amazing science essay and Magdalena’s several occasions where she almost read an entire book all by herself.
Middle school math proved a new adventure in every sense of the word. I found joy in the job in that it awoke my inner math nerd and allowed me to work with a really fun group of kids I otherwise did not get to work with. Their hormonal reactions to my every move and great fear of being discovered as someone who cares about their grades proved greatly entertaining. While many moments have stuck out to me, these three are some of my favorites.
First, there is no set classroom for math, so I push around a little cart with all my books and notes from classroom to classroom. After fellow volunteer Nils one day saw me rushed and pushed my cart over to the classroom for me, the teenage boys felt inspired. Several of them now find it quite fun to push my cart around for me from class to class when they are bored or feel like entertaining their class. They seem to think this will win them extra points or a free homework pass one day. While mistaken, they still prove wonderful Don Quijote like “caballeros” during my rush between classes.
Second, one day when I was unlocking all the doors, I found a large blue crab about the size of my hand guarding the padlock to the gate in front of the door to the computer lab. My initial reaction was to laugh. Upon hearing my laughter, four boys from 7th and 8th grade heroically arrived to “save the day.” They first tried to draw the crab out with their hands as decoys, after many almost pinches, Omar decided to bring a stick to draw it out. While he did so Juan Carlos grabbed my keys and quickly opened the pad lock. Then after one swept the crab out of the space in front of the door, Manuel kicked the crab into space as if trying to make the goal to win the world cup for Honduras. The fireworks display of its insides simply made me smile. All I could do was laugh and think “only in Honduras.”
Lastly, I found great satisfaction when all of my kids passed their quarter exam with me. I realized that I was not just providing material for all the girls gossip, or creating new opportunities for the boys to play jokes, but that they were actually learning, and some even enjoying themselves a bit.
I have no idea what the 4th quarter will bring, but I am truly grateful for having experienced, and finished this truly unpredictable third quarter.
I began the quarter by taking a wonderful vacation back to the states to visit family and friends. The lovely summer vol Rose covered my classes with great care, and for that I am ever grateful. Upon my return we celebrated day of the lempira, a truly fun cultural holiday that celebrated the native Honduran indigenous hero, Lempira. The next week Keenan and Ted sadly had to leave early from the finca, and I became the middle school math teacher in addition to special ed teacher. During this time I also helped to cover health, computers, and kindergarden to help cover others’ vacations. The quarter finally came to a close mid August, and most all teachers came back from vacation.
Special Ed continued to prove the highlight of my day, but the middle schoolers are growing on me daily. I watched my kids learn cursive, measurement conversions, clocks, and geometric area formulas. I also watched many of them greatly improve their writing and reading skills. I was especially impressed my Jessica’s amazing science essay and Magdalena’s several occasions where she almost read an entire book all by herself.
Middle school math proved a new adventure in every sense of the word. I found joy in the job in that it awoke my inner math nerd and allowed me to work with a really fun group of kids I otherwise did not get to work with. Their hormonal reactions to my every move and great fear of being discovered as someone who cares about their grades proved greatly entertaining. While many moments have stuck out to me, these three are some of my favorites.
First, there is no set classroom for math, so I push around a little cart with all my books and notes from classroom to classroom. After fellow volunteer Nils one day saw me rushed and pushed my cart over to the classroom for me, the teenage boys felt inspired. Several of them now find it quite fun to push my cart around for me from class to class when they are bored or feel like entertaining their class. They seem to think this will win them extra points or a free homework pass one day. While mistaken, they still prove wonderful Don Quijote like “caballeros” during my rush between classes.
Second, one day when I was unlocking all the doors, I found a large blue crab about the size of my hand guarding the padlock to the gate in front of the door to the computer lab. My initial reaction was to laugh. Upon hearing my laughter, four boys from 7th and 8th grade heroically arrived to “save the day.” They first tried to draw the crab out with their hands as decoys, after many almost pinches, Omar decided to bring a stick to draw it out. While he did so Juan Carlos grabbed my keys and quickly opened the pad lock. Then after one swept the crab out of the space in front of the door, Manuel kicked the crab into space as if trying to make the goal to win the world cup for Honduras. The fireworks display of its insides simply made me smile. All I could do was laugh and think “only in Honduras.”
Lastly, I found great satisfaction when all of my kids passed their quarter exam with me. I realized that I was not just providing material for all the girls gossip, or creating new opportunities for the boys to play jokes, but that they were actually learning, and some even enjoying themselves a bit.
I have no idea what the 4th quarter will bring, but I am truly grateful for having experienced, and finished this truly unpredictable third quarter.
Happy 1 Year Anniversary Central America!
On October 24, 2010 I left DC and met Miss Deirdre Flemming in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport bus terminal. After an entertaining night, we boarded our flight, and after a quick layover in Houston, arrived in Guatemala City. After a short ride we arrived in Antigua early afternoon of August 25th.
In the past year we have faced many trials, received countless graces, and grown a lot as people. While time has flown, days have been long. I am truly grateful for every single moment I have been gifted in this great place, whether it proved trying or rewarding.
In celebration of all these memories, Deirdre and I went out last Tuesday for licuados, baleadas, and ice cream in town. We reminisced about the past year, and looked forward to the year to come. Neither of us knows exactly what it will bring, but we are both excited to take it on together.
In the past year we have faced many trials, received countless graces, and grown a lot as people. While time has flown, days have been long. I am truly grateful for every single moment I have been gifted in this great place, whether it proved trying or rewarding.
In celebration of all these memories, Deirdre and I went out last Tuesday for licuados, baleadas, and ice cream in town. We reminisced about the past year, and looked forward to the year to come. Neither of us knows exactly what it will bring, but we are both excited to take it on together.
51 things in 51 days
Hello again! So as some of you may have noticed I have been somewhat out of contact with the world since I returned to the finca from my vacation in July. I have been back in Honduras for exactly 51 days, and I can honestly state that these have been the longest, craziest, and most exhausting 51 days of my entire time here. They have also been full of many graces in their own unique way. In an effort to catch you all up on my life here is a list of 51 things that have happened in the past 51 days.
1. Upon return to Honduras I spent a lovely night in Ceiba (where our adolescents live and go to high school) followed by a great morning run with Erin (their encargada) around town.
2. Upon arrival to the farm I met the 6 new kids who arrived at the finca while I was gone: Angel, Nahomy, Duncan, Hildebrando, Kimberly, and Brittany…the last five being siblings, and all proving adorable
3. We celebrated the national holiday “Day of the Lempira” at school with amazing costumes for every child.
4. We celebrated Magadlena’s 11th birthday with chocolate oatmeal cookies…she lovingly named her new stuffed dog Mary Kate.
5. We celebrated the golden birthday of our beloved nurse Deirdre with amazing chocolate cake and a fun game of watermelon rugby out in the ocean.
6. Nils’ very kind mom, sister, and dad visited the farm.
7. After a series of unfortunate events, Keenan and Ted (volunteers) had to leave the finca 4 months before their planned departure. This proved the saddest day on the finca of the past year for many volunteers, myself included.
8. As soon as Keenan left, I became the middle school math teacher in addition to my job as a special ed teacher.
9. A group of social work and teaching specialists from Chicago came to the farm to help out and help paint a mural for our school. Jeanette, the special ed teacher of the group, proved an angel during a very trying week for myself.
10. Mangos are finally ripe again, and the second wave of yummy mango surplus season brought a little joy to all our taste buds.
11. Kristina and Nelly head out to World Youth Day in Spain for 2 weeks.
12. The Hurst family left for a well deserved vacation in the states.
13. Betsy came back from vacation, this brought a smile to everyone’s face.
14. Due to the high rate of vacations and other things going on, I had the pleasure of covering kinder garden, health (grades 1 through 9), and computers (grades 1 and 2), during my free periods.
15. I kept eating delicious mangos.
16. A tarantula took up residence in the girls’ bathroom in the vol house, but proved very kind and never hurt a soul.
17. Iced coffee became a popular breakfast treat, this is a trend all would like to see continue.
18. I gave out the tutus and ballet dresses to the girls that I brought back from the states, the little ones literally screamed and jumped in joy.
19. I went on a lovely silent retreat with several fellow vols and found peace in the silence.
20. Deirdre and I celebrated our one year anniversary of arriving to Central America with baleadas and smoothies in town.
21. Rony, one of my all star students, won the responsibility award for second grade in the month of August.
22. Jonathan, another one of my all star students, not only learned cursive, but can now write it better than me.
23. Jessica and David, my two all star sixth graders, got 95% on their math test on conversions of measurements.
24. House 1 giggled wth glee as they danced in their pink tutus in ballet class.
25. I learned that the big apple style mangos are my favorites.
26. Sor Elda, one of our Fransiscan sisters, took her final vows.
27. I slept well every night...in part due to an extreme level of tiredness that hit me about 9 pm every night.
28. My special friend Elena lost 3 teeth, and is now even cuter than before.
29. I got a new special friend (similar to big brother big sister program) named Hildebrando (8 years old)
30. We celebrated 6 birthdays in one week in July (4 kids, 2 volunteers).
31. My kids at school have fallen in love with my new crayola special dry erase board.
32. Since the priest cancelled last minute, I got to lead a communion service for the entire school.
33. Magdalena almost read a book all by herself…twice…it’s going to happen soon!
34. The 7th and 8th grade boys very craftily and dramatically removed a large blue crab that was blocking my way of unlocking the padlock to the computer lab.
35. The mosquito population of Honduras all moved to the finca, and they have fallen in love with my ankles.
36. I got a wonderful care package from my mom with rice krispy treats and oreo cakesters, along with 2 letters all in one amazing mail day.
37. My new water bottle from my sister with the flip top made me very popular with the little girls on the farm…they quite enjoy playing with it.
38. Deirdre went home for a brief vacation to catch up with family, we were glad to see her get a break, and even more glad to have her back.
39. I got a double scoop ice cream cone at Saritas…twice.
40. I spent a lovely weekend in Ceiba with Amanda visiting our teenagers Arturo, Dalila, and Marina, vol Alisha, and the Satterlee family (friends of the finca).
41. We sang all 10 verses of the Honduran national hymn to celebrate flag day at school.
42. I have only done laundry three times, each time I hand scrubbed clothes for several hours because I was literally washing almost all of my clothing in Honduras.
43. Scarleth, one of our amazing Nicaraguan psychologists, went on a three week well deserved vacation, and was welcomed back with open arms.
44. I began practicing with my 1st grade ballerinas for our presentation in the Independence Day parade on the 12th.
45. Swim lessons continued on, and every week I still had to explain that grey sand dollars are still alive, and you therefore cannot take them home with you.
46. My community and I enjoyed my experiments in breakfast bread making on Saturday mornings.
47. Every two weeks the vols get to watch a video. Amanda and I continued our Harry Potter video series and very much enjoyed videos 2, 3, 4, and 5.
48. All of the incoming class of volunteers arrived in Guatemala for their entry retreat and language school. They will arrive on the farm October 1.
49. Nature continued to be beautiful and inspiring all around us.
50. I found solace in cold showers after many long hot and sweaty days.
51. I finally found the time and means to write a blog update!
I promise to try to keep you all better posted form here on out. Wishing you all the best!
1. Upon return to Honduras I spent a lovely night in Ceiba (where our adolescents live and go to high school) followed by a great morning run with Erin (their encargada) around town.
2. Upon arrival to the farm I met the 6 new kids who arrived at the finca while I was gone: Angel, Nahomy, Duncan, Hildebrando, Kimberly, and Brittany…the last five being siblings, and all proving adorable
3. We celebrated the national holiday “Day of the Lempira” at school with amazing costumes for every child.
4. We celebrated Magadlena’s 11th birthday with chocolate oatmeal cookies…she lovingly named her new stuffed dog Mary Kate.
5. We celebrated the golden birthday of our beloved nurse Deirdre with amazing chocolate cake and a fun game of watermelon rugby out in the ocean.
6. Nils’ very kind mom, sister, and dad visited the farm.
7. After a series of unfortunate events, Keenan and Ted (volunteers) had to leave the finca 4 months before their planned departure. This proved the saddest day on the finca of the past year for many volunteers, myself included.
8. As soon as Keenan left, I became the middle school math teacher in addition to my job as a special ed teacher.
9. A group of social work and teaching specialists from Chicago came to the farm to help out and help paint a mural for our school. Jeanette, the special ed teacher of the group, proved an angel during a very trying week for myself.
10. Mangos are finally ripe again, and the second wave of yummy mango surplus season brought a little joy to all our taste buds.
11. Kristina and Nelly head out to World Youth Day in Spain for 2 weeks.
12. The Hurst family left for a well deserved vacation in the states.
13. Betsy came back from vacation, this brought a smile to everyone’s face.
14. Due to the high rate of vacations and other things going on, I had the pleasure of covering kinder garden, health (grades 1 through 9), and computers (grades 1 and 2), during my free periods.
15. I kept eating delicious mangos.
16. A tarantula took up residence in the girls’ bathroom in the vol house, but proved very kind and never hurt a soul.
17. Iced coffee became a popular breakfast treat, this is a trend all would like to see continue.
18. I gave out the tutus and ballet dresses to the girls that I brought back from the states, the little ones literally screamed and jumped in joy.
19. I went on a lovely silent retreat with several fellow vols and found peace in the silence.
20. Deirdre and I celebrated our one year anniversary of arriving to Central America with baleadas and smoothies in town.
21. Rony, one of my all star students, won the responsibility award for second grade in the month of August.
22. Jonathan, another one of my all star students, not only learned cursive, but can now write it better than me.
23. Jessica and David, my two all star sixth graders, got 95% on their math test on conversions of measurements.
24. House 1 giggled wth glee as they danced in their pink tutus in ballet class.
25. I learned that the big apple style mangos are my favorites.
26. Sor Elda, one of our Fransiscan sisters, took her final vows.
27. I slept well every night...in part due to an extreme level of tiredness that hit me about 9 pm every night.
28. My special friend Elena lost 3 teeth, and is now even cuter than before.
29. I got a new special friend (similar to big brother big sister program) named Hildebrando (8 years old)
30. We celebrated 6 birthdays in one week in July (4 kids, 2 volunteers).
31. My kids at school have fallen in love with my new crayola special dry erase board.
32. Since the priest cancelled last minute, I got to lead a communion service for the entire school.
33. Magdalena almost read a book all by herself…twice…it’s going to happen soon!
34. The 7th and 8th grade boys very craftily and dramatically removed a large blue crab that was blocking my way of unlocking the padlock to the computer lab.
35. The mosquito population of Honduras all moved to the finca, and they have fallen in love with my ankles.
36. I got a wonderful care package from my mom with rice krispy treats and oreo cakesters, along with 2 letters all in one amazing mail day.
37. My new water bottle from my sister with the flip top made me very popular with the little girls on the farm…they quite enjoy playing with it.
38. Deirdre went home for a brief vacation to catch up with family, we were glad to see her get a break, and even more glad to have her back.
39. I got a double scoop ice cream cone at Saritas…twice.
40. I spent a lovely weekend in Ceiba with Amanda visiting our teenagers Arturo, Dalila, and Marina, vol Alisha, and the Satterlee family (friends of the finca).
41. We sang all 10 verses of the Honduran national hymn to celebrate flag day at school.
42. I have only done laundry three times, each time I hand scrubbed clothes for several hours because I was literally washing almost all of my clothing in Honduras.
43. Scarleth, one of our amazing Nicaraguan psychologists, went on a three week well deserved vacation, and was welcomed back with open arms.
44. I began practicing with my 1st grade ballerinas for our presentation in the Independence Day parade on the 12th.
45. Swim lessons continued on, and every week I still had to explain that grey sand dollars are still alive, and you therefore cannot take them home with you.
46. My community and I enjoyed my experiments in breakfast bread making on Saturday mornings.
47. Every two weeks the vols get to watch a video. Amanda and I continued our Harry Potter video series and very much enjoyed videos 2, 3, 4, and 5.
48. All of the incoming class of volunteers arrived in Guatemala for their entry retreat and language school. They will arrive on the farm October 1.
49. Nature continued to be beautiful and inspiring all around us.
50. I found solace in cold showers after many long hot and sweaty days.
51. I finally found the time and means to write a blog update!
I promise to try to keep you all better posted form here on out. Wishing you all the best!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
A Toast to the McMerty Brummer Family
As everyone knows behind every project, there are those few people who quietly go above and beyond the call of duty. For the finca, this describes many people, but there is one pair that truly takes the prize: Andrea and Matt McMerty-Bummer and their 5 wonderful children. Andrea and Matt are both former finca volunteers. Upon finishing their time as volunteers they got married, moved to back to Honduras and adopted three of the finca's own kids as their own; Andrea then became Executive Director of the Farm of the Child. Their love is so grand that in addition to this they have also served as a hospitality mission to current vols living in Honduras. They are forever present and open to anyone who passes by their door. They are there to listen, feed us, talk to us, whatever we need. They are sort of our Honduran guardian angels of sorts.
This past week, they moved back to Minnesota with all 5 of their amazing kids. Andrea continues on as Executive Director, and Matt will continue teaching, but now at a school in Minneapolis. Their selfless dedication to the mission of the farm is truly inspiring. So in honor or their continued selfless service to the farm I would like to offer a toast to their entire family, that they may find peace and happiness in this next chapter in their lives. I hope they know that they are missed, and that everyone at the farm is continually grateful for their presence in our community.
Picture: Myself and Andrea at the Quince
It All Ends...My Vacation In the States
Over the past three weeks I have been truly blessed with vacation time back in the states. I have had the opportunity to hang out with amazing friends and family, live in the luxury of air conditioning and hot showers, eat slow quiet breakfasts while reading current editions of the Washington Post, take ballet class at my old studio, run with my ipod by myself, eat delicious food which did not include rice or beans, among other wonderful things.
Among the many things I did was see the epically amazing Harry Potter premier of the final movie. One of the main advertising lines leading up to the big night was "It all ends." And now, so does my vacation time. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to pass time with such amazing friends and family. So to all of you who saw me, called me, texted me, or even tried to contact me, thank you...you are what has made my vacation so wonderful!
Pics:
1. At Harry Potter Premier
2. At Nationals Game with my Sister
3. At Notre Dame with my Dad
A Thank You Note to the Wonderful People of Espiritu Santo Parish in Tampa Florida
The farm is dependent upon many people and groups to maintain its being and continue to grow. One group that plays a major role in this is Espiritu Santo Parish of Tampa, Florida. This summer they went above and beyond the call of duty. A group of about 50 came down and worked at the farm for an entire week at the end of June. They not only helped out with the fifteenth anniversary, they also redid most of our electricity, helped out in the school, and built us one of the most amazing playgrounds ever! Our kids are in love with it. So thank you Espiritu Santo, for all your help, but most importantly, for keeping our kids at the finca in you hearts and prayers.
Feliz Quince Finca!
15 years ago an amazing married couple named Vincent and Zulena Pescatore arrived in Trujillo, Honduras with huge hearts and a mission to help the children of Honduras. Their love for each other, God, and the kids soon formed what is known today as the Farm of the Child. Sadly, soon after Vincent died in a fatal plane crash, but his love lived on. Today, after 15 years of hard work on the part of countless volunteers, Franciscan sisters, house parents, and all who serve the finca daily, this love lives on. On June 18, we took a day to celebrate this love, and celebrate the "quince" of the finca.
The atendees of this big day included the brigade form Espiritu Santu Parish in Tampa Florida (a consistent supporter of the farm), a musical and dancing group from our neighboring town of Santa Fe, the McMerty-Brummer family, neighbors, and Zulena Pescatore herself among others. The day began with a beautiful mass celebrated by Padre Felipe of Trujillo and Padre Gilberto (one of the original priests to help the farm get started). One of the highlights was the beautiful offeratory which included Zulena presenting a picture of Vincent, four of our kids, and our littlest girls presenting the farm's pillars of community, spirituality, simplicity, an service. After mass there was a rededication of the prayer garden. Following this was the grand lunch for all of our 200 plus guests. After this we had a presentation in the colegio (middle school). The event started with traditional garifuna dance, folk dance, and my little ballerinas all performing. Then we heard testimonies from two of our teens about how the farm has formed their lives. These were truly moving in their messages of gratitude and sustained hope for the future. After this ceremony we had a finca wide football game, while the rest of us cleaned up and prepped for dinner. Then at night we had a traditional baleada dinner, watched the wedding video of Zulena and Vincent, and then danced the night away while enjoying cake.
There is no way to thank all the people for all the countless hours of work they have done for the finca. What we can do is take one day to honor their memories and celebrate the great love of Vincent and Zulena that still inspires us today. The finca has touched countless lives over the past 15 years, and I am sure it will touch even more in the next 15.
Happy quince finca!
Pictures:
3. Zulena presenting picture of Vincent at the mass
2. Our litte girls presenting the pillars of the faarm at Mass
1. Dancing at the end of the night!
An Adventure in Culinary Management: How I organized two meals for 200 + people at the farm
On June 18, the finca celebrated a big day in its history, its 15th birthday, or in Spanish its "quince". To celebrate we had a mass, lunch, presentation, dinner, and dance, with over 200 people. All the volunteers took on different responsibilities to make this big celebration possible. As a former waitress I thought it would be fun to take on the food for the day. Although some questioned if I wanted to take on such a big responsibility, I thought it sounded fun, and in the end it was! In the process I learned a few lessons about organizing large meals in Honduras:
1. Beans are not just beans. They are an intricate part of the meal and reflection of your own person. One must care for the beans, no mattter what hour they need your attention (this includes transferring them from a freezer at 4:30 AM), without fail. If one thinks the beans have gone bad, get a second opinion, you may just be doubting your work. And lastly, when one thinks they do not have enough beans to create a quality meal, but there are no more, this is a true injustice of life.
2. To cook bbq chicken one needs chicken, grills, sauce, and a 3 liter of coke for the cooks, all ingredients proving essential.
3. Soda is much preferred to hot chocolate, even late at night.
4. Not all knives and limes are created equal, while some may serve for some, they don't for others.
5. Volunteers work great with kids, and also prove great at serving food to large crowds efficiently and with a smile.
6. If you give Hondurans a meal to cook, they will not only cook it, they will produce a meal that is truly magnificent and delicious.
I must give thanks to the many many people who helped me with all the work that went into the food, we would not have eaten such a wonderful meal without all their help!
Bienvenido Jose Manuel!
According to the bible, on Pentecost tongues of fire descended upon the apostles while gathered together in an upper room. There they were blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In true symbolic fashion, this year on the eve of Pentecost, while most of us where gathered in the chapel in a Pentecost Vigil service, a new child arrived at the farm, Jose Manuel. Jose Manuel turned 10 on June 27, and is a bright eyed little boy. He has since moved into Casa Virgen de Guadalupe on the farm, also known as house 4, home of our boys from ages 9-12. I have had the pleasure of working with him in his Spanish and Math classes in school and must say he is a true genius of math and his great enthusiasm for learning is infectious. He and his great smile have found a new home at the finca, and we feel blessed to have him as well!
A Change of Pace and Medical Training in One!
The week of June 6 through 10 our school had a week off for the semester break, but instead of hanging out on the farm, myself, the other teachers, and the other vols that could, head into Trujillo to help out the medical brigade from Christ the King parish in Little Rock Arkansas. This amazing group of 100 plus people have been coming to Trujillo for over 15 years. This year they came with 15 doctors, and countless nurses, pharmacists, and site helpers.
We had the pleasure of staying with them for the week in the lovely air conditioned Christopher Columbus hotel, and heading out to our respective sites in local villages to translate for the doctors all week. I worked with Dr. Ed from South Carolina in the local village of Marranones. He has been working with the brigade for 3 years, and has worked with a clinic in Haiti for over 1o years. We saw people from all over with everything form high blood pressure and diabetes, to well baby checks, to patients with epilepsy. It was a true pleasure to translate for so many amazing people, work with Dr. Ed, and work with the entire team, led by our fearless leader nurse Ann, at the Marranones site.
One of my favorite moments of the week though was not at our clinic, but during our visit to the farm with the whole group. A very kind couple who have come on 12 of 15 trips with the group, named Don and Jan, asked me if I knew a girl named Jenny. They are her sponsor and wanted to meet her. Jenny happened to pass by and I introduced them. When I told her these were her sponsors she immediately gave them both a huge hug. I then took a picture of the three of them. In that moment I felt both very at home at the farm and also so grateful for all the work this amazing group of people does every year for the people of Honduras.
We had the pleasure of staying with them for the week in the lovely air conditioned Christopher Columbus hotel, and heading out to our respective sites in local villages to translate for the doctors all week. I worked with Dr. Ed from South Carolina in the local village of Marranones. He has been working with the brigade for 3 years, and has worked with a clinic in Haiti for over 1o years. We saw people from all over with everything form high blood pressure and diabetes, to well baby checks, to patients with epilepsy. It was a true pleasure to translate for so many amazing people, work with Dr. Ed, and work with the entire team, led by our fearless leader nurse Ann, at the Marranones site.
One of my favorite moments of the week though was not at our clinic, but during our visit to the farm with the whole group. A very kind couple who have come on 12 of 15 trips with the group, named Don and Jan, asked me if I knew a girl named Jenny. They are her sponsor and wanted to meet her. Jenny happened to pass by and I introduced them. When I told her these were her sponsors she immediately gave them both a huge hug. I then took a picture of the three of them. In that moment I felt both very at home at the farm and also so grateful for all the work this amazing group of people does every year for the people of Honduras.
New Smiling Energetic Faces...times 4!
Every summer the finca is blessed with "summer vols", these are volunteers who are still in undergrad who come and help us out for the summer. They cover our work while we take vacation, help us with special summer time projects, and generally just share their amazing energy and love with our kids. They arrived mid May and have been working hard ever since. On behalf of all the finca I would just like to say thank you to Annie (Notre Dame '13), Tiffany (Florida State '13), Rose (Notre Dame '13), and Emily (Bethel College '12) for helping out with: covering 1st through 9th grade, covering special ed, helping with maintenance, helping with the brigade construction projects, covering swim and soccer practice, covering our kids houses when our house parents need a quick break, cooking meals in the volunteer house, and helping to run our medical clinic among other things. Most importantly though, these four girls gave up part of their summers to come live in remote rural Honduras and share their amazing hearts with everyone here at the finca. Their quick popularity with the kids is only a small testament to all the work they are doing for us. I hope they enjoy the rest of their summer and know how grateful we are for them!
Photo Index: Annie in Pink in 1st and 4th Picture, Rose dancing in white in 2nd picture, Tiffany in tan on right in 3rd picture
2nd Quarter Highlight Reel--Escuela San Pedro
Late June and early July is one of my favorite times of the year in sports...it's championship season. The season of NBA finals, the Stanley cup, Wimbledon, and this year the Women's World Cup for soccer. So in the spirit of this great season, here is a summary of the second quarter at our school, Escuela San Pedro, in the style of a sports highlight reel:
The big news in terms of the front office is that our beloved Honduran directora (principal) Dania had her baby at the end of May. Her and her beautiful boy are now enjoying some well deserved maternity leave. In her absence, our subdirectora, superstar volunteer Tami from California, is leading the teachers and kids flawlessly.
Our minor league players in first grade are very excitedly learning how to write simple words. Cindy and Carlos now come to after school study hour not asking to copy words, but wanting to show me all the words they can write on their own!
Top performance awards for my students go out Miss Magdalena for working so hard at learning to read on her own (she's so close now!), Mr Rony for winning the math bee for second grade, and Jose Luis and Aly from 5th grade for working so hard on learning sentence and paragraph structure.
I am sure the third quarter will bring many more highlights and smiles!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Simple Joys in Life
At this point I have lived at the farm for about 7 and a half months. I now find comfort and beauty in the simple life of rural Honduras. I even make pretty good tortillas from scratch. As any former international volunteer or exchange student will tell you, this level of comfort in no way removes one's old tastes for movies and fancy frozen coffee drinks. A week ago Betsy and I headed to Ceiba to collect our Honduran residency cards. While in the "big city" we celebrated our new found residency by partaking in every American activity we could find. We had Dunkin Donuts...twice, saw Thor in theaters (1st movie theater since August), ate at Pizza Hut, got ice cream (twice as well), and ate at the one legitimate Italian restaurant in Ceiba. It was amazing, we thought it could not get any better...then Thursday arrived.
Every Thursday we get mail, and this week I received a much expected package from my parents...the Harry Potter 7 DVD. As a self proclaimed Harry Potter lover/ addict, not being able to see this film since its release in November had been somewhat frustrating. Last night, myself, and fellow HP lover Betsy, and 2 other vols broke out some care package candy leftovers and watched the greatness that is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at last. It was truly amazing, closest movie to the book yet.
In summary, american junk food and Harry Potter, no matter where one moves, never cease to be amazing!
Every Thursday we get mail, and this week I received a much expected package from my parents...the Harry Potter 7 DVD. As a self proclaimed Harry Potter lover/ addict, not being able to see this film since its release in November had been somewhat frustrating. Last night, myself, and fellow HP lover Betsy, and 2 other vols broke out some care package candy leftovers and watched the greatness that is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at last. It was truly amazing, closest movie to the book yet.
In summary, american junk food and Harry Potter, no matter where one moves, never cease to be amazing!
Happy Mother's Day!
So every 2 weeks we send out an email to the parents, here is a fun one I recently wrote about our efforts as vols to help raise our 36 amazing kids here at the farm.
Dear Parents,
There is an old adage that states “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Here at the finca, we live this adage on a daily basis. With the exception of Ted, Keenan, Nils, and Phil, who play a fatherly role, the rest of us are called to belike mothers in some form to our kids. So in the spirit of Mother’s Day, here is an update on how we are faring in our attempt to raise 36 kids here at the finca.
Alisha continues down the crazy and mysterious road that is raising a teenage boy as the encargada (person in charge of) of Arturo in Ceiba.
Amanda finds humor and joy while teaching the wonderfully awkward and entertaining fifth and sixth graders.
Betsy proves a true renaissance woman as she teaches health and computers to first through ninth grade, tackling whatever growing pains arise in her many classes.
Erin is taking a brief vacation back in the states while her teenage “daughters” Marina and Dalila continue to grow and become more and more independent in Ceiba.
Deirdre is also taking vacation, but will soon be back to take care of all our kids medical needs, delivering bandaids and meds with a smile, and if your lucky a sticker too!
Francesca finds joy in caring as social worker for our littlest girls and boys, always managing to make sure they find their constantly lost sandals and have plenty of coloring pages to color!
Georleny cares for our kids many psychological needs with a giant heart and a busy schedule.
Jacob and Rachel recently celebrated the 4th and 6th birthday of their kids Isaac and Jonah, while also finding time to take fun walks around the campo with their adorable 18 month old Ruben.
Kate, as 3rd and 4th grade teacher, is learning that multiplication tables are a fun conversation piece at any hour of the day.
Keenan faces the challenge of explaining algebra and life in general to his never dull middle school students.
Kristina continues to think up new and exciting ways of helping to develop the kids’ spirituality as the director of spiritual life.
Lily never faces a dull moment as she serves the girls of house 2 and the teenage girls of house 6 as social worker.
Mary Kate is discovering that the more she attempts to teach special ed, the more her students teach her.
Nely, as the teacher of the adorable and ever energetic first and second graders, is finding the hidden joys that accompany learning about insects and number lines.
Nils, works hard to make sure all our kids sleep safe at night as encargado of security, while also teaching our teens in the middle school the basics of science.
Phil, is enjoying a hard earned vacation after making sure every little mouth was fed for the past 7 months as the man in charge of purchasing and distributing all of our food.
Scarleth continues to meet our kids psychological needs with hard work and a compassionate heart.
Sheena, the social worker of our boys ages 10 and up, is enjoying teaching her boys the great foreign sport of basketball with our newly constructed basketball hoop.
Tami, after a brief vacation is back in action as the sub director of our school, providing our school discipline and direction guided by a kind and gentle heart.
Ted, as our maintenance man, works hard daily to make sure our kids facilities and fields are ready for whatever they need.
In summary, we are all learning the different challenges and joys that accompany the raising of children of all different ages. In turn, we would like to say thank you to you all, especially our mothers on your special day. You all have successfully raised us through each one of these phases with loving care. Thank you for your patience, support, and most of all you loving commitment to our well being. May you have a blessed Mother’s Day and find peace in the knowledge that all your children are safe and well here at the finca.
Best,
Mary Kate and the rest of the finca vols
Dear Parents,
There is an old adage that states “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Here at the finca, we live this adage on a daily basis. With the exception of Ted, Keenan, Nils, and Phil, who play a fatherly role, the rest of us are called to belike mothers in some form to our kids. So in the spirit of Mother’s Day, here is an update on how we are faring in our attempt to raise 36 kids here at the finca.
Alisha continues down the crazy and mysterious road that is raising a teenage boy as the encargada (person in charge of) of Arturo in Ceiba.
Amanda finds humor and joy while teaching the wonderfully awkward and entertaining fifth and sixth graders.
Betsy proves a true renaissance woman as she teaches health and computers to first through ninth grade, tackling whatever growing pains arise in her many classes.
Erin is taking a brief vacation back in the states while her teenage “daughters” Marina and Dalila continue to grow and become more and more independent in Ceiba.
Deirdre is also taking vacation, but will soon be back to take care of all our kids medical needs, delivering bandaids and meds with a smile, and if your lucky a sticker too!
Francesca finds joy in caring as social worker for our littlest girls and boys, always managing to make sure they find their constantly lost sandals and have plenty of coloring pages to color!
Georleny cares for our kids many psychological needs with a giant heart and a busy schedule.
Jacob and Rachel recently celebrated the 4th and 6th birthday of their kids Isaac and Jonah, while also finding time to take fun walks around the campo with their adorable 18 month old Ruben.
Kate, as 3rd and 4th grade teacher, is learning that multiplication tables are a fun conversation piece at any hour of the day.
Keenan faces the challenge of explaining algebra and life in general to his never dull middle school students.
Kristina continues to think up new and exciting ways of helping to develop the kids’ spirituality as the director of spiritual life.
Lily never faces a dull moment as she serves the girls of house 2 and the teenage girls of house 6 as social worker.
Mary Kate is discovering that the more she attempts to teach special ed, the more her students teach her.
Nely, as the teacher of the adorable and ever energetic first and second graders, is finding the hidden joys that accompany learning about insects and number lines.
Nils, works hard to make sure all our kids sleep safe at night as encargado of security, while also teaching our teens in the middle school the basics of science.
Phil, is enjoying a hard earned vacation after making sure every little mouth was fed for the past 7 months as the man in charge of purchasing and distributing all of our food.
Scarleth continues to meet our kids psychological needs with hard work and a compassionate heart.
Sheena, the social worker of our boys ages 10 and up, is enjoying teaching her boys the great foreign sport of basketball with our newly constructed basketball hoop.
Tami, after a brief vacation is back in action as the sub director of our school, providing our school discipline and direction guided by a kind and gentle heart.
Ted, as our maintenance man, works hard daily to make sure our kids facilities and fields are ready for whatever they need.
In summary, we are all learning the different challenges and joys that accompany the raising of children of all different ages. In turn, we would like to say thank you to you all, especially our mothers on your special day. You all have successfully raised us through each one of these phases with loving care. Thank you for your patience, support, and most of all you loving commitment to our well being. May you have a blessed Mother’s Day and find peace in the knowledge that all your children are safe and well here at the finca.
Best,
Mary Kate and the rest of the finca vols
Friday, May 6, 2011
Cold Showers and Slurpees!
Here at the finca we live according to the four pillars of spirituality, service, simplicity, and community. These pillars take many forms in our daily lives, for example while we have running water, it is not heated. This translates to cold showers. I will not lie; these showers take some time to get used to, especially during rainy season in the winter time. In the true transformative spirit of the finca, these showers have recently taken on a whole new nature.
As some of you have noticed, summertime is just around the corner. This means that Honduras is currently hot. Not hot in the sense that you sweat a bit walking to the car, but HOT everywhere accept the one foot radius around your fan (if the electricity is working). There is no escaping it, and it is only going to get hotter as the summer goes on. When I was little we would go to 7-11 and get slurpees on really hot days to cool off in the summer time, sadly that option does not exist here in rural Honduras. In rural Honduras the summer slurpee takes on a different form…the cold shower. This previously somewhat undesirable element of my life is now the highlight of my nighttime routine. This cold shower makes one feel refreshed and clean in a way nothing else can. So today I give a toast the cold shower, the new slurpee of my life.
As some of you have noticed, summertime is just around the corner. This means that Honduras is currently hot. Not hot in the sense that you sweat a bit walking to the car, but HOT everywhere accept the one foot radius around your fan (if the electricity is working). There is no escaping it, and it is only going to get hotter as the summer goes on. When I was little we would go to 7-11 and get slurpees on really hot days to cool off in the summer time, sadly that option does not exist here in rural Honduras. In rural Honduras the summer slurpee takes on a different form…the cold shower. This previously somewhat undesirable element of my life is now the highlight of my nighttime routine. This cold shower makes one feel refreshed and clean in a way nothing else can. So today I give a toast the cold shower, the new slurpee of my life.
Humility, Joy, and Hope: Holy Week at the Finca
Over the past three years I have celebrated Easter in three different churches and three different countries. In 2009 I was in Rome at the Vatican and 2010 I was at the Basilica on campus at Notre Dame. This year I celebrated this most blessed of holidays here in Trujillo, Honduras. I can say with great honesty that all three experiences were truly beautiful in their own unique sense. All three places were filled with beautiful services and equally beautiful people taking part in them. Here in Honduras I discovered two elements of holy week which I had never encountered before, a true solidarity between the people and the passion and a raw excitement for the resurrection.
The first element, the true solidarity of the people and the passion, was present in the faces and raw emotions of the many participants in the events of the week. On Thursday morning, the tias (house aunts) led a special rosary (Rosario de la Aurora) here on the farm at 3 AM. We all wandered out onto the soccer field and with only the light of the stars and a few candles prayed this special rosary. The pure devotion and faith present in the faces and voices of our tias as they prayed is something I will never forget. That afternoon our Franciscan Sisters did not only get bread to recreate the last supper, they found grapes and church wine and set up a small recreation of the table at the last supper in our chapel. They would have nothing less. The next day the youth group in town acted out every station of the cross under a beating sun.
At first I was taken aback by the amount of true devotion and solidarity the people demonstrated with the passion. Then I realized that while all humans carry their own cross at some point, our neighbors and children get very little relief from their crosses at any point. In a literal sense, they carry wood to start fires to cook; but this does not begin to describe their troubles. Many of our neighbors struggle finding enough food on a daily basis. Our children at the farm live with the knowledge every day that for some reason their own family cannot care for them. Back in the states struggles are paired with resources of all forms to aid people. Here in Honduras struggles are paired with more struggles. This was a truly humbling realization.
The second element which transformed my humbling realization into an inspirational joy in my heart was the raw excitement for the resurrection. When we arrived at the packed Cathedral in Trujillo for the Easter vigil there was a tangible energy in the air. As soon as the procession arrived and the Bishop sat down, it was announced that Jesus was resurrected. The people literally started a victory chant of sorts in excitement. The cantor yelled “Jesus is risen”, and the entire comgregation replied “Jesus really is risen.” The facial expressions and pure joy in the faces of so many there warmed my heart. They not only came to church, but literally yelled and danced in excitement for the resurrection. When we returned to the finca our nuns and teens along with a few volunteers started a bonfire and sang into the night in ecstasy for the resurrection. There faces continued to glow with joy through our adorable easter egg hunt the next afternoon.
Easter is a celebration of many things, especially hope. This easter I learned that while this hope is inspirational on many levels, it is also infectious and transformative. The raw excitement and joy of the kids, nuns, and everyone present infected my heart with joy and taught me that Easter is not about a symbolic message of hope, but rather the grand celebration of the real entrance of hope into our troubled world.
The first element, the true solidarity of the people and the passion, was present in the faces and raw emotions of the many participants in the events of the week. On Thursday morning, the tias (house aunts) led a special rosary (Rosario de la Aurora) here on the farm at 3 AM. We all wandered out onto the soccer field and with only the light of the stars and a few candles prayed this special rosary. The pure devotion and faith present in the faces and voices of our tias as they prayed is something I will never forget. That afternoon our Franciscan Sisters did not only get bread to recreate the last supper, they found grapes and church wine and set up a small recreation of the table at the last supper in our chapel. They would have nothing less. The next day the youth group in town acted out every station of the cross under a beating sun.
At first I was taken aback by the amount of true devotion and solidarity the people demonstrated with the passion. Then I realized that while all humans carry their own cross at some point, our neighbors and children get very little relief from their crosses at any point. In a literal sense, they carry wood to start fires to cook; but this does not begin to describe their troubles. Many of our neighbors struggle finding enough food on a daily basis. Our children at the farm live with the knowledge every day that for some reason their own family cannot care for them. Back in the states struggles are paired with resources of all forms to aid people. Here in Honduras struggles are paired with more struggles. This was a truly humbling realization.
The second element which transformed my humbling realization into an inspirational joy in my heart was the raw excitement for the resurrection. When we arrived at the packed Cathedral in Trujillo for the Easter vigil there was a tangible energy in the air. As soon as the procession arrived and the Bishop sat down, it was announced that Jesus was resurrected. The people literally started a victory chant of sorts in excitement. The cantor yelled “Jesus is risen”, and the entire comgregation replied “Jesus really is risen.” The facial expressions and pure joy in the faces of so many there warmed my heart. They not only came to church, but literally yelled and danced in excitement for the resurrection. When we returned to the finca our nuns and teens along with a few volunteers started a bonfire and sang into the night in ecstasy for the resurrection. There faces continued to glow with joy through our adorable easter egg hunt the next afternoon.
Easter is a celebration of many things, especially hope. This easter I learned that while this hope is inspirational on many levels, it is also infectious and transformative. The raw excitement and joy of the kids, nuns, and everyone present infected my heart with joy and taught me that Easter is not about a symbolic message of hope, but rather the grand celebration of the real entrance of hope into our troubled world.
Happy Anniversary Garifuna Community!
On the weekend of April 9 and 10 we at the finca had the pleasure of celebrating a very special anniversary here in Honduras. On this weekend the garifuna population, native blacks of Honduras, celebrated the 214th anniversary of the presence of their vibrant and beautiful culture here in Honduras. Most of this population lives along the coast line, and one of the oldest establishments is down the road in Santa Fe. The church there kindly invited us to a special bilingual (Spanish and Garifuna) mass on Saturday night followed by a cultural dinner and celebration. We also were invited to a second bilingual mass on Sunday morning.
On Saturday night everyone at the finca piled into our Land Cruisers and headed down the road to Santa Fe. When we arrived the church seemed somewhat empty and somber, as we expected a large celebration. The when mass started the priest welcomed the visitors, and proceeded to offer the mass for a young woman who had been murdered in town that very morning. You could immediately identify the raw grief and sadness that was weighing down the hearts of all in the church from this small town.
The beauty came about in the service that followed. In their homilies the co celebrating priests, Father Felipe from Trujillo and the garifuna priest from Santa Fe, spoke with great grace about how the tragic events of the morning paired with the anniversary were very symbolic of the garifuna population. While this beautiful culture has always faced great adversity, it has also always proven resilient and marched on against every challenge for over 200 years. The priests then challenged the people of Santa Fe to continue to challenge their people to rise to a new level, one where the beauties of their culture overcome the tragedies. After the mass two representatives from their cultural group invited us to learn some garifuna songs and apologized that the party had been canceled.
When we returned the next morning for mass, it was as if Santa Fe had arisen from the dust over night. The church was packed, the women’s choir was ready to sing and dance, and the drums were already setting the beat. The service was truly beautiful; every voice that spoke was inspired and overflowing with pride and their rich heritage. We sang and danced in the aisles from the first hymn to till the last verse of the final song. Then afterward the entire finca, over 70 people, was invited to an impromptu lunch, using all the food from the party the night before. We enjoyed our delicious food, and then headed out.
The Garifuna community of Santa Fe truly inspired us all in their resilience, pride, and great joy for life and the liberty to live that life as they so desire. I feel blessed for haven been able to take part in their great anniversary, and look forward to hopefully visiting them many more times in the future.
On Saturday night everyone at the finca piled into our Land Cruisers and headed down the road to Santa Fe. When we arrived the church seemed somewhat empty and somber, as we expected a large celebration. The when mass started the priest welcomed the visitors, and proceeded to offer the mass for a young woman who had been murdered in town that very morning. You could immediately identify the raw grief and sadness that was weighing down the hearts of all in the church from this small town.
The beauty came about in the service that followed. In their homilies the co celebrating priests, Father Felipe from Trujillo and the garifuna priest from Santa Fe, spoke with great grace about how the tragic events of the morning paired with the anniversary were very symbolic of the garifuna population. While this beautiful culture has always faced great adversity, it has also always proven resilient and marched on against every challenge for over 200 years. The priests then challenged the people of Santa Fe to continue to challenge their people to rise to a new level, one where the beauties of their culture overcome the tragedies. After the mass two representatives from their cultural group invited us to learn some garifuna songs and apologized that the party had been canceled.
When we returned the next morning for mass, it was as if Santa Fe had arisen from the dust over night. The church was packed, the women’s choir was ready to sing and dance, and the drums were already setting the beat. The service was truly beautiful; every voice that spoke was inspired and overflowing with pride and their rich heritage. We sang and danced in the aisles from the first hymn to till the last verse of the final song. Then afterward the entire finca, over 70 people, was invited to an impromptu lunch, using all the food from the party the night before. We enjoyed our delicious food, and then headed out.
The Garifuna community of Santa Fe truly inspired us all in their resilience, pride, and great joy for life and the liberty to live that life as they so desire. I feel blessed for haven been able to take part in their great anniversary, and look forward to hopefully visiting them many more times in the future.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Finca School of Ballet
As most of you know, I have been obsessed with ballet since about age 7. Before I left several of my friends asked me, what are you going to do without ballet, my answer, I brought it with me! Since November I have been teaching our girls ballet, and practicing myself in one of middle school classrooms. Part of the floor is even wooden, so if you focus really hard it almost looks like a ballet satudio. During the past few weeks its been fun to notice what the girls are starting to improve at and remember.
House 1, or our little girls, age 5 through 9, have class Thursday from 3 to 345. They are big fans of their bunny hops, princess fairy walks, and skips. This past week one of our social workers asked Cati what she learned in ballet this week, she told her how to drink water. She then showed her how when you sit in the butterfly leg stretch you imagine a cup is between your feet and then drink from it to stretch. Cati, only 5 and already knows the importance of staying hydrated!
House 2, our middle girls, age 9 through 12, have class on Thursday from 4 to 5. They are learning how to spot, or turn repeatedly without getting dizzy. This has been quite entertaining to watch to say the least. The only problem is now that half of them can do it during free dance all they want to do is turns, and the other half who cannot spot get really dizzy because they just want to turn as well!
House 6, our teenage girls ages 13 through 15, only has three girls in class, but their comprehension is incredible. They are learning the terms in french without a problem. They also are very into choreagraphing with is great fun to watch and help them extend their imagination.
Lastly, I stay after on Thursday for an hour, and some Saturdays after house 6 class to have my own ballet class. My teacher at home, Miss Virginia, took good care of me and send me down with tons of music and several classes from the summer on dvd to keep me going. After 16 years of dancing with her I still here her voice in my head while I teach myself classes, both remebering paterns she used and hearing her tell me to straighten my left knee! Every week I look forward to Thursday knowing that I will have three straight hours of ballet, one just with me. It is literally my favorite afternoon of the week. The others vols can tell when I come back to dinner at the house on my ballet high smiling ear to ear and sitting up super straight.
So yes, ballet lives on in my life, and is spreading to many smiling faces here at the finca!
House 1, or our little girls, age 5 through 9, have class Thursday from 3 to 345. They are big fans of their bunny hops, princess fairy walks, and skips. This past week one of our social workers asked Cati what she learned in ballet this week, she told her how to drink water. She then showed her how when you sit in the butterfly leg stretch you imagine a cup is between your feet and then drink from it to stretch. Cati, only 5 and already knows the importance of staying hydrated!
House 2, our middle girls, age 9 through 12, have class on Thursday from 4 to 5. They are learning how to spot, or turn repeatedly without getting dizzy. This has been quite entertaining to watch to say the least. The only problem is now that half of them can do it during free dance all they want to do is turns, and the other half who cannot spot get really dizzy because they just want to turn as well!
House 6, our teenage girls ages 13 through 15, only has three girls in class, but their comprehension is incredible. They are learning the terms in french without a problem. They also are very into choreagraphing with is great fun to watch and help them extend their imagination.
Lastly, I stay after on Thursday for an hour, and some Saturdays after house 6 class to have my own ballet class. My teacher at home, Miss Virginia, took good care of me and send me down with tons of music and several classes from the summer on dvd to keep me going. After 16 years of dancing with her I still here her voice in my head while I teach myself classes, both remebering paterns she used and hearing her tell me to straighten my left knee! Every week I look forward to Thursday knowing that I will have three straight hours of ballet, one just with me. It is literally my favorite afternoon of the week. The others vols can tell when I come back to dinner at the house on my ballet high smiling ear to ear and sitting up super straight.
So yes, ballet lives on in my life, and is spreading to many smiling faces here at the finca!
A Little R and R in Honduras
Everybody, especially finca vols, need a little rest and relaxation. This past 6 weeks I took some literal r and r on our Retreat for the vols and a quick weekend get away to Roatan with fellow vol Deirdre.
Mid February I traveled to Pico Bonito with the rest of the vols to go on a weekend retreat focused on growing as a community. We stayed at the beautiful home of Pepe, a friend of the Finca. The natural beauty of the rivers and waterfalls there were truly breathtaking. And the house, with its large living room, and patio full of super comfy chairs granted us all a welcome retreat from the finca. After several chats, some mountain runs, and some crazy jumping off the high rocks into the river, all were grateful for the calm time together and the beautiful atmosphere.
Two weeks later I traveled with Deirdre to pick up her family for their visit to the farm on the island of Roatan. Roatan is a beautiful island off the northeast coast of Honduras full of beautiful beaches and very nice hotels. Deirdre and I traveled to Ceiba on Friday after school, and then took the first ferry out Saturday morning. Once we arrived it was if we had entered another universe. The impeccably clean white sand beaches and crystal clear water provided a mini paradise of sorts. Deirdre and I both spent the entire day sitting on the beach, enjoying the super clear water and also treating ourselves to a ginormous brownie sundae. Then around 5 pm we headed up to our room, took quick showers and welcomed her family. It was really great to see Deirdre with her mom, dad, brother, and grandma, all just so happy to be around one another. We all enjoyed drinks and a shrimp dinner on the beach and then meet up with Francesca, another vol with family visiting, to close out the night. The next morning we all headed back to the farm, her family for the first time, and Deirdre and I grateful for our short stint in paradise!
Mid February I traveled to Pico Bonito with the rest of the vols to go on a weekend retreat focused on growing as a community. We stayed at the beautiful home of Pepe, a friend of the Finca. The natural beauty of the rivers and waterfalls there were truly breathtaking. And the house, with its large living room, and patio full of super comfy chairs granted us all a welcome retreat from the finca. After several chats, some mountain runs, and some crazy jumping off the high rocks into the river, all were grateful for the calm time together and the beautiful atmosphere.
Two weeks later I traveled with Deirdre to pick up her family for their visit to the farm on the island of Roatan. Roatan is a beautiful island off the northeast coast of Honduras full of beautiful beaches and very nice hotels. Deirdre and I traveled to Ceiba on Friday after school, and then took the first ferry out Saturday morning. Once we arrived it was if we had entered another universe. The impeccably clean white sand beaches and crystal clear water provided a mini paradise of sorts. Deirdre and I both spent the entire day sitting on the beach, enjoying the super clear water and also treating ourselves to a ginormous brownie sundae. Then around 5 pm we headed up to our room, took quick showers and welcomed her family. It was really great to see Deirdre with her mom, dad, brother, and grandma, all just so happy to be around one another. We all enjoyed drinks and a shrimp dinner on the beach and then meet up with Francesca, another vol with family visiting, to close out the night. The next morning we all headed back to the farm, her family for the first time, and Deirdre and I grateful for our short stint in paradise!
1st Quarter Highlights
Many of you all have probably spent some portion of the past two weekends either watching or checking scores from the NCAA tournament. In a field that was 68, now only 4 remain, including the great Cinderella story that is VCU, fellow natives of the great state of Virginia. And so despite my apparent inability to give prompt updates during these past six weeks about my life here at the finca, I decided to select my own final four of sorts. I could tell you all many more than 68 stories from my past six weeks of work in the school, but the its not selection Sunday, its Final Four selection Sunday…so here you are, my top four moments form the past six weeks of work at the school:
1. Jonatan’s Big Day
Over winter break I tutored in what we call “escuelita”. While this literally means little school, in reality it is a five week tutoring program for kids who need remedial help or are transitioning into our school from another. I had the great pleasure of working with 7 great kids, one being the son of the finca’s security guard Jose, Jonatan. Jonatan along with his siblings were transferring in from a far less stable school in the local area, and were being assessed to see what grade they should enter for the school year. Apart from being one of the most well behaved and grateful kids I will probably ever meet, Jonatan was a true work horse. Everyday he came and worked for the full hour and a half, always waiting for the next assignment. His goal was to enter into third grade, but after a less than stellar result on his entrance exam he was placed in second.
This did not deter him. He came to after school study sessions every day for the first two weeks, working harder than any 12 year old you have ever met. Without any prompting from myself or direction, both of his teachers soon approached direction and informed them that they believed he not only could handle third grade, but that he belonged there. So the following Monday morning right before Morning assembly, Profa Dania, director of the school, called Jonatan into the office. Here he found, myself, his two teachers from 2nd grade, his new third grade teacher, along with sub director Tami. He little face quickly became frightened. Profa Dania told him not to worry. She then told him how impressed his teachers were with his work, and informed him that if he promised to continue work hard he could move up to third grade, this morning. His normally calm face simply lit up, he did not speak, but simply nodded. Profa Dania smiled back, and told him to go ahead and line up with third grade before school started. He walked out triumphantly to find his younger brother outside the door, he simply held up three fingers. They grabbed their sister and ran over to the security gate near the school, where his Dad just happened to be working that morning. As he raised his arms in triumph as he ran I realized I would never forget this moment. After a big hug from his dad, the bell rang and he ran back and lined up with the third graders for the first time. He then turned around and flashed me the most beautiful smile. My eyes teared up a little with shear pride and joy for him. That afternoon he showed up to study hour once again ready to work, this time with third grade homework.
2. Rony’s 1st Book
Rony is an 11 year old boy who came to live at the farm in January 2010. Before his time at the farm he never received stable and consistent education in any form. After a year of hard work and transition this past year, he now is in second grade. I work with him after school twice a week to help him continue to learn what others learned since they were five in a more expedited fashion.
One Monday at the end of February he finished all his work super fast so we decided to read Where the Wild Things Are with the time left. Normally Rony read about 75%, and I helped him with the rest. But during this fateful Monday he simply continued page after page reading all by himself out loud in his adorable 11 year old voice. After he finished,I walked him back to his house. I congratulated him saying, “Rony, this is the first time you’ve read a book by yourself with me, congratulations.” He then responded, “This is the first time I’ve ever read a book alone. Before I couldn’t read, but you taught me, so now I can.” He then smiled and walked along like nothing. I of course stopped him and told him that reading your first book was a huge accomplishment and that he should be super excited. His face finally started to let on to the great euphoria going on inside. When we got to his house he went up to his tia and told her his big accomplishment. He proceeded to tell everyone else he saw for the entire afternoon. I will probably forget the majority of my lesson plans as time goes on in my life past the finca, but I will never forget Rony’s epic reading of his first book.
3. Magdalena: Star Student of the Week
While I have many students, the one I spend the most time with is my beloved Magdalena. While here disabilities are undiagnosed her unique spirit and infectious smile are known by all here at the finca. Last year she struggled greatly with school, despite several amazing people working with her. This year has proven different. She hasn’t gotten below a 95% on a single test. She has only missed two days of school. She even has a smile most mornings when she arrives. Last year she was noticed by those outside her classroom mostly for disciplinary things, as she frequented the office often. This year she has turned over a new leaf.
Each week in first and second grade a student is selected as the star of the week.This student behaved well, did well in all their work, and was a general rock star. The winner gets a prize and their name on the board as star of the week. During the fifth week of school, Nely, the 1st grade teacher, told me at recess that after school I should ask Magdalena who the star of the week was and smiled. I was so excited for her, it took all my effort not to break the news to her right away. Then after school as Magdalena walked past the library with a huge smile and colorful pencil with a special Dr Seuss eraser in hand, I asked her is she was star of the week, she didn’t even need words, she simply nodded her head over and over. I told her congratulations, and then she ran off to her house, excited to share her big news.
4. Jessica: Master of Order of Operations
Jessica is one of our neighbor students at our school. She is a tall and fun loving 13 year old sixth grade girl who loves dancing with her friends and swimming at the beach. She has continually struggled in school, especially with the more advanced math concepts that are introduced in 5th and 6th grade. I work with her three times a week, and love every minute of it. She is truly the most patient learner you will ever meet, always willing to try again. She also has no fear of asking questions and letting me know she does not understand. At the end of February she had her first math test. We reviewed for two weeks to help her get ready. While we reviewed everything, we spent most of our time on order of operations. It was not until the day before the test that she finally understood the concept fully. Her face was so excited. The following morning I wished her the best of luck on her test. That afternoon, Amanda, her math teacher, let me know that she just barely missed passing the test, but unlike everyone else in the class she got every single thing correct on the page with order of operations. Not a single error. For Jessica and me that page mattered much more than the rest of the test. It showed that it may take longer, but she can do it.
While school continues to challenge me day in and day out, and many of my students struggle to understand basics of math and reading, it is moments like these that keep me inspired and give me the energy to wake up every morning and teach our amazing kids.
1. Jonatan’s Big Day
Over winter break I tutored in what we call “escuelita”. While this literally means little school, in reality it is a five week tutoring program for kids who need remedial help or are transitioning into our school from another. I had the great pleasure of working with 7 great kids, one being the son of the finca’s security guard Jose, Jonatan. Jonatan along with his siblings were transferring in from a far less stable school in the local area, and were being assessed to see what grade they should enter for the school year. Apart from being one of the most well behaved and grateful kids I will probably ever meet, Jonatan was a true work horse. Everyday he came and worked for the full hour and a half, always waiting for the next assignment. His goal was to enter into third grade, but after a less than stellar result on his entrance exam he was placed in second.
This did not deter him. He came to after school study sessions every day for the first two weeks, working harder than any 12 year old you have ever met. Without any prompting from myself or direction, both of his teachers soon approached direction and informed them that they believed he not only could handle third grade, but that he belonged there. So the following Monday morning right before Morning assembly, Profa Dania, director of the school, called Jonatan into the office. Here he found, myself, his two teachers from 2nd grade, his new third grade teacher, along with sub director Tami. He little face quickly became frightened. Profa Dania told him not to worry. She then told him how impressed his teachers were with his work, and informed him that if he promised to continue work hard he could move up to third grade, this morning. His normally calm face simply lit up, he did not speak, but simply nodded. Profa Dania smiled back, and told him to go ahead and line up with third grade before school started. He walked out triumphantly to find his younger brother outside the door, he simply held up three fingers. They grabbed their sister and ran over to the security gate near the school, where his Dad just happened to be working that morning. As he raised his arms in triumph as he ran I realized I would never forget this moment. After a big hug from his dad, the bell rang and he ran back and lined up with the third graders for the first time. He then turned around and flashed me the most beautiful smile. My eyes teared up a little with shear pride and joy for him. That afternoon he showed up to study hour once again ready to work, this time with third grade homework.
2. Rony’s 1st Book
Rony is an 11 year old boy who came to live at the farm in January 2010. Before his time at the farm he never received stable and consistent education in any form. After a year of hard work and transition this past year, he now is in second grade. I work with him after school twice a week to help him continue to learn what others learned since they were five in a more expedited fashion.
One Monday at the end of February he finished all his work super fast so we decided to read Where the Wild Things Are with the time left. Normally Rony read about 75%, and I helped him with the rest. But during this fateful Monday he simply continued page after page reading all by himself out loud in his adorable 11 year old voice. After he finished,I walked him back to his house. I congratulated him saying, “Rony, this is the first time you’ve read a book by yourself with me, congratulations.” He then responded, “This is the first time I’ve ever read a book alone. Before I couldn’t read, but you taught me, so now I can.” He then smiled and walked along like nothing. I of course stopped him and told him that reading your first book was a huge accomplishment and that he should be super excited. His face finally started to let on to the great euphoria going on inside. When we got to his house he went up to his tia and told her his big accomplishment. He proceeded to tell everyone else he saw for the entire afternoon. I will probably forget the majority of my lesson plans as time goes on in my life past the finca, but I will never forget Rony’s epic reading of his first book.
3. Magdalena: Star Student of the Week
While I have many students, the one I spend the most time with is my beloved Magdalena. While here disabilities are undiagnosed her unique spirit and infectious smile are known by all here at the finca. Last year she struggled greatly with school, despite several amazing people working with her. This year has proven different. She hasn’t gotten below a 95% on a single test. She has only missed two days of school. She even has a smile most mornings when she arrives. Last year she was noticed by those outside her classroom mostly for disciplinary things, as she frequented the office often. This year she has turned over a new leaf.
Each week in first and second grade a student is selected as the star of the week.This student behaved well, did well in all their work, and was a general rock star. The winner gets a prize and their name on the board as star of the week. During the fifth week of school, Nely, the 1st grade teacher, told me at recess that after school I should ask Magdalena who the star of the week was and smiled. I was so excited for her, it took all my effort not to break the news to her right away. Then after school as Magdalena walked past the library with a huge smile and colorful pencil with a special Dr Seuss eraser in hand, I asked her is she was star of the week, she didn’t even need words, she simply nodded her head over and over. I told her congratulations, and then she ran off to her house, excited to share her big news.
4. Jessica: Master of Order of Operations
Jessica is one of our neighbor students at our school. She is a tall and fun loving 13 year old sixth grade girl who loves dancing with her friends and swimming at the beach. She has continually struggled in school, especially with the more advanced math concepts that are introduced in 5th and 6th grade. I work with her three times a week, and love every minute of it. She is truly the most patient learner you will ever meet, always willing to try again. She also has no fear of asking questions and letting me know she does not understand. At the end of February she had her first math test. We reviewed for two weeks to help her get ready. While we reviewed everything, we spent most of our time on order of operations. It was not until the day before the test that she finally understood the concept fully. Her face was so excited. The following morning I wished her the best of luck on her test. That afternoon, Amanda, her math teacher, let me know that she just barely missed passing the test, but unlike everyone else in the class she got every single thing correct on the page with order of operations. Not a single error. For Jessica and me that page mattered much more than the rest of the test. It showed that it may take longer, but she can do it.
While school continues to challenge me day in and day out, and many of my students struggle to understand basics of math and reading, it is moments like these that keep me inspired and give me the energy to wake up every morning and teach our amazing kids.
The Final Four of the Finca
So every two weeks we, the vols, send an update email to our parents letting them know how finca life is treating us. I though you might all enjoy the most recent update which I wrote in the spirit of March Madness
Dear Padres,
As my own family knows very well I believe March to be a truly wonderful month. First of all, my mom, sister, and college roommate were all born during it. Second, it used to be the first month back at Notre Dame when the temperature became slightly bearable again. And third, its March Madness, a time of year when sports addicts like myself get to revel in Cinderella stories and bracketology at its best. So in the spirit of the tournament, here is an update on your children, presented in what I would like to call The Finca’s Final 4.
The first team in the running is team Hurst. This team of Rachel, Jacob, Jonah, Isaac, and Ruben is chock full of potential. The leadership Jacob and Rachel have demonstrated in their first 6 months as volunteer coordinator and accountant, combined with the unmatched energy of their three boys is a true force to be reckoned with.
The second team in the running is team Social Work and Psychology. Co Captains Sheena and Georleny run a tight and impressive ship, while Lily, Francesca, and Scarleth provide amazing depth. These five ladies prove clutch in crisis situations, a skill that is most needed in the big dance.
The third team in the running is Team Teachers. This group lead by the one and only jefa, Tami is a true force to be reckoned with. Our big guys Nils and Keenan prove calm and collected in the toughest of situations, even when faced with the combination of confused middle schoolers and scientific conversions and algebra. In the back court we have the flawless team of Kate, Nely, and Amanda. These primary school teachers can shoot, pass, and assist like no one’s business, after teaching three subjects every day to two different grades, the court looks like a playground to them. Then you cannot forget the amazing bench support of Betsy and Mary Kate. These two health and special ed teachers provide the intangible support needed for many of our students, and prove clutch in close games.
The fourth team in the running is Team Vols. This group is an eclectic bunch, but don’t let that distract you, they are a force to be reckoned with. First off, we have our starting guards Alisha and Erin, the city skills they have picked up while diligently looking after our teens in La Ceiba are unmatched by any other team. Meanwhile Ted and Phil’s recent garden project has converted them into a cohesive unit in the paint which will be hard to break apart. Small forward Deirdre proves a pivotal player in that she not only rocks the 3 ball, she also makes sure all our kids, and her teammates’ health needs are met as team nurse as well. Lastly, we have Kristina, whose work in spiritual life and community outreach lends her unmatched local Honduran skills in the game.
Predictions...while I am pulling for the teachers, I am also slightly biased. Wishing you all the best back in the states!
Best,
Mary Kate
Dear Padres,
As my own family knows very well I believe March to be a truly wonderful month. First of all, my mom, sister, and college roommate were all born during it. Second, it used to be the first month back at Notre Dame when the temperature became slightly bearable again. And third, its March Madness, a time of year when sports addicts like myself get to revel in Cinderella stories and bracketology at its best. So in the spirit of the tournament, here is an update on your children, presented in what I would like to call The Finca’s Final 4.
The first team in the running is team Hurst. This team of Rachel, Jacob, Jonah, Isaac, and Ruben is chock full of potential. The leadership Jacob and Rachel have demonstrated in their first 6 months as volunteer coordinator and accountant, combined with the unmatched energy of their three boys is a true force to be reckoned with.
The second team in the running is team Social Work and Psychology. Co Captains Sheena and Georleny run a tight and impressive ship, while Lily, Francesca, and Scarleth provide amazing depth. These five ladies prove clutch in crisis situations, a skill that is most needed in the big dance.
The third team in the running is Team Teachers. This group lead by the one and only jefa, Tami is a true force to be reckoned with. Our big guys Nils and Keenan prove calm and collected in the toughest of situations, even when faced with the combination of confused middle schoolers and scientific conversions and algebra. In the back court we have the flawless team of Kate, Nely, and Amanda. These primary school teachers can shoot, pass, and assist like no one’s business, after teaching three subjects every day to two different grades, the court looks like a playground to them. Then you cannot forget the amazing bench support of Betsy and Mary Kate. These two health and special ed teachers provide the intangible support needed for many of our students, and prove clutch in close games.
The fourth team in the running is Team Vols. This group is an eclectic bunch, but don’t let that distract you, they are a force to be reckoned with. First off, we have our starting guards Alisha and Erin, the city skills they have picked up while diligently looking after our teens in La Ceiba are unmatched by any other team. Meanwhile Ted and Phil’s recent garden project has converted them into a cohesive unit in the paint which will be hard to break apart. Small forward Deirdre proves a pivotal player in that she not only rocks the 3 ball, she also makes sure all our kids, and her teammates’ health needs are met as team nurse as well. Lastly, we have Kristina, whose work in spiritual life and community outreach lends her unmatched local Honduran skills in the game.
Predictions...while I am pulling for the teachers, I am also slightly biased. Wishing you all the best back in the states!
Best,
Mary Kate
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Magdalena’s Infectious Smile
Over the past few months a few dates stick out in my mind. August 26, 201o I arrived in Guatemala; October 1, 2010 I arrived at the Finca, and now I have a new one to add to the list, February 1, 2011 the official school years starts! As the new special ed teacher, in a school with very little to no special ed in its past, this was a big day to say the least. All of our kids arrived in their adorable little uniforms (navy slacks/ skirts, white button up short sleeve shirts), nervous and excited for a new year.
While I have 7 students this year which I work with in different ways, and two different study groups of other kids, I spend almost half of my teaching time with my beloved Magdalena, a 10 year old girl with a heart of true gold. During the first week we had mostly assemblies, and procedural things with their mainstream classes, so I didn’t get to actually teach that much. But I did get to help out the younger grades, including Magdalena’s class. She asked me at recess if I was going to help her for the rest of the year as well. I told her yes, and then explained our special schedule of time together. She smiled, gave me a hug and went off to play. Then at the end of the day she went up to her mainstream classroom teacher and said I will see you tomorrow. This just about made my year. Just last October, she regularly complained about school, often even refusing to come and sit in class. And although its only been 6 days, she has come 5 of 6 days with a huge smile ready to learn (one day she was home sick). Just today she actually giggled with joy when she turned in her Spanish homework, confident that it would come back with a smiley face stamp because everything was correct. She was right, and then continued to giggle with happiness when she got the paper back.
Watching her confidence levels grow little by little with each correct answer, and her general increase in zest for school can only be summed up in her amazing smile; a smile that inspires my heart on a daily basis. (Check out my fb profile picture to catch a glñimpse of it) I know their will be many tough days in her and my own near future, but for now, her infectious smile inspires us both to come to work every day.
While I have 7 students this year which I work with in different ways, and two different study groups of other kids, I spend almost half of my teaching time with my beloved Magdalena, a 10 year old girl with a heart of true gold. During the first week we had mostly assemblies, and procedural things with their mainstream classes, so I didn’t get to actually teach that much. But I did get to help out the younger grades, including Magdalena’s class. She asked me at recess if I was going to help her for the rest of the year as well. I told her yes, and then explained our special schedule of time together. She smiled, gave me a hug and went off to play. Then at the end of the day she went up to her mainstream classroom teacher and said I will see you tomorrow. This just about made my year. Just last October, she regularly complained about school, often even refusing to come and sit in class. And although its only been 6 days, she has come 5 of 6 days with a huge smile ready to learn (one day she was home sick). Just today she actually giggled with joy when she turned in her Spanish homework, confident that it would come back with a smiley face stamp because everything was correct. She was right, and then continued to giggle with happiness when she got the paper back.
Watching her confidence levels grow little by little with each correct answer, and her general increase in zest for school can only be summed up in her amazing smile; a smile that inspires my heart on a daily basis. (Check out my fb profile picture to catch a glñimpse of it) I know their will be many tough days in her and my own near future, but for now, her infectious smile inspires us both to come to work every day.
I walked on the moon
Some of you may know the comedian Bryan Regan. For the past 4 years my amazing friends Adrianna Chuh, Colleen Minta, Kacy Deering, Meghan Thornton, and Anna Seghetti and I loved to quote him during our many adventures at ND while living in Lyons Hall. One of our more popular sketches of his is about dinner parties. He says that he always wants to be an astronaut at dinner parties. Then when everyone tries to one up one another with stories, he can just sit back, and then when all are done all he has to say is “I walked on the moon.” So whenever one of us does some ridiculously cool or awesome, we like to say, congratulations moon walker.
On January 30, my fellow vols and I were true moon walkers. We decided after lunch to hike up to a local waterfall. When we got there, we then proceeded to hike up part of the waterfall. It was such a fun time to spend together, and the naturally beauty of the land was truly breathtaking. After hanging around for a while, we enjoyed some baleadas (tortilla with beans and cheese) while sitting in the little pool at the bottom of the waterfall. While hiking back to the farm I thought to myself, hey we just hiked a waterfall, and it was no big deal…aka we just walked on the moon!
On January 30, my fellow vols and I were true moon walkers. We decided after lunch to hike up to a local waterfall. When we got there, we then proceeded to hike up part of the waterfall. It was such a fun time to spend together, and the naturally beauty of the land was truly breathtaking. After hanging around for a while, we enjoyed some baleadas (tortilla with beans and cheese) while sitting in the little pool at the bottom of the waterfall. While hiking back to the farm I thought to myself, hey we just hiked a waterfall, and it was no big deal…aka we just walked on the moon!
Eso es su mami!
So during the week of January 16 I received a wonderful belated birthday present…a visit from my mom! Between picking her up at the airport in San Pedro, spending a few days on the farm, and then spending time in Ceiba and San Pedro again on her way back to the airport, we were able to take many mini adventures and enjoy many little indulgences. Here is a list of my top ten memories from the week...
10. 4 Hot showers….yes during the week my mom was here I got 4 hot showers at the various places we stayed at while traveling. These were my first hot showers since October 1, 2010…needless to say they felt somewhat amazing.
9. New Clothes from my sisters…my amazing sisters both sent me adorable birthday cards and two new skirts, a shirt, and shorts, all wrapped in cupcake wrapping paper! Fresh smelling super clean clothes and personalized cards all accompanied my cupcake paper made me feel super loved and put a big smile on my face.
8. Sweet new toothbrush from my dad…As many of you know my dad and I like to exchange gifts appropriate for 3-6 year old children. My dad outdid himself this time though…sending a light up snoopy toothbrush. It lights up for 1 min so little kids, and 23 year old volunteers, make sure they brush their teeth long enough. I now enjoy brushing my teeth on a whole different level!
7. Appleby’s Dinner…While in La Ceiba my mom took myself, fellow vol Deirdre, and her friend Jamie who was traveling back to the states, out to dinner at Appleby’s. I ate a bacon cheeseburger with fries and my stomach smiled like it had not in several months. I had forgotten how wonderful burgers, cheddar cheese, and bacon can taste! Needless to say there was not one crumb left!
6. Amazing Donations for the School…My old High School, led by religion teacher Mrs. Henry Gross, decided to do a little supplies drive for my school here…they not only got pencils and stickers, they got the coolest pencils, and tons of stickers! The teachers and students here are all extremely grateful, and enjoying their fun new supplies.
5. Luz…my mom’s new best friend…While I took my mom around the finca when we first arrived I showed her all 6 of the houses where our kids live. When we passed by the little girls house the light was out…aka it was nap time, so we tried to sneak away quietly. But Luz, one of the most adorable 6 years olds you will ever meet decided it was time to wake up. She then called me from the window, “Eso es tu mami/ This is your mom?” I told her yes, but please got back to sleep. She was far too excited and in about 2 min was outside being held in my mom’s arms. She did not want to let go, and was obsessed with her for the rest of the week!
4. Special Friend Dates…Here at the farm each vol has one of two kids who are their special friends..just so each kid has someone who is not their teacher, or social worker, etc, just a friend. My mom and I took both of my friends (and 2 of their friends they invited) down the beach to the resort to have a soda and give them some little gifts. They had so much fun and just glowed the whole time. My favorite moment had to be when the little monkey Chimmy who lives at the resort down the beach climbed up my mom while we were entering the little restaurant…really wished I had a camera right then!
3. Brayan’s Great Reaction to his gift…each of our kids has a sponsor back in the states, Brayan’s happens to work with my mom at my old high school, Mrs. Henry-Gross. Normally our kids only get gifts on Christmas and their birthday. But Mrs. Henry Gross sent down a special present just because. Brayan little face lit up so big when he found out he had a present, and loves his new t shirt and legos more than anything. He then proceeded to draw Mrs. Henry Gross three pictures as thank you cards, it was just too cute!
2. Posa Trip with House 2…As we live between the beach and the mountains here there are lots of beautiful rivers around, and many form posas, or fresh water swimming holes. One of my favorites is about a 30 min uphill walk away. On our last day at the farm my mom came along with fellow vols Kristina and Nely and the house 2 girls (ages 10-12). She hiked like a champion, and then got right in the water with the girls and me. It was really fun to be in such a beautiful place with such a range of beautiful people, a great fusion of natural beauty and human companionship.
1. Time with a friendly face from the states…in the end it was super nice just to see a friendly face from the states, especially my mom’s. Being able to physically talk with someone from back in the states and share my new life here was truly the best birthday present I could have gotten.
10. 4 Hot showers….yes during the week my mom was here I got 4 hot showers at the various places we stayed at while traveling. These were my first hot showers since October 1, 2010…needless to say they felt somewhat amazing.
9. New Clothes from my sisters…my amazing sisters both sent me adorable birthday cards and two new skirts, a shirt, and shorts, all wrapped in cupcake wrapping paper! Fresh smelling super clean clothes and personalized cards all accompanied my cupcake paper made me feel super loved and put a big smile on my face.
8. Sweet new toothbrush from my dad…As many of you know my dad and I like to exchange gifts appropriate for 3-6 year old children. My dad outdid himself this time though…sending a light up snoopy toothbrush. It lights up for 1 min so little kids, and 23 year old volunteers, make sure they brush their teeth long enough. I now enjoy brushing my teeth on a whole different level!
7. Appleby’s Dinner…While in La Ceiba my mom took myself, fellow vol Deirdre, and her friend Jamie who was traveling back to the states, out to dinner at Appleby’s. I ate a bacon cheeseburger with fries and my stomach smiled like it had not in several months. I had forgotten how wonderful burgers, cheddar cheese, and bacon can taste! Needless to say there was not one crumb left!
6. Amazing Donations for the School…My old High School, led by religion teacher Mrs. Henry Gross, decided to do a little supplies drive for my school here…they not only got pencils and stickers, they got the coolest pencils, and tons of stickers! The teachers and students here are all extremely grateful, and enjoying their fun new supplies.
5. Luz…my mom’s new best friend…While I took my mom around the finca when we first arrived I showed her all 6 of the houses where our kids live. When we passed by the little girls house the light was out…aka it was nap time, so we tried to sneak away quietly. But Luz, one of the most adorable 6 years olds you will ever meet decided it was time to wake up. She then called me from the window, “Eso es tu mami/ This is your mom?” I told her yes, but please got back to sleep. She was far too excited and in about 2 min was outside being held in my mom’s arms. She did not want to let go, and was obsessed with her for the rest of the week!
4. Special Friend Dates…Here at the farm each vol has one of two kids who are their special friends..just so each kid has someone who is not their teacher, or social worker, etc, just a friend. My mom and I took both of my friends (and 2 of their friends they invited) down the beach to the resort to have a soda and give them some little gifts. They had so much fun and just glowed the whole time. My favorite moment had to be when the little monkey Chimmy who lives at the resort down the beach climbed up my mom while we were entering the little restaurant…really wished I had a camera right then!
3. Brayan’s Great Reaction to his gift…each of our kids has a sponsor back in the states, Brayan’s happens to work with my mom at my old high school, Mrs. Henry-Gross. Normally our kids only get gifts on Christmas and their birthday. But Mrs. Henry Gross sent down a special present just because. Brayan little face lit up so big when he found out he had a present, and loves his new t shirt and legos more than anything. He then proceeded to draw Mrs. Henry Gross three pictures as thank you cards, it was just too cute!
2. Posa Trip with House 2…As we live between the beach and the mountains here there are lots of beautiful rivers around, and many form posas, or fresh water swimming holes. One of my favorites is about a 30 min uphill walk away. On our last day at the farm my mom came along with fellow vols Kristina and Nely and the house 2 girls (ages 10-12). She hiked like a champion, and then got right in the water with the girls and me. It was really fun to be in such a beautiful place with such a range of beautiful people, a great fusion of natural beauty and human companionship.
1. Time with a friendly face from the states…in the end it was super nice just to see a friendly face from the states, especially my mom’s. Being able to physically talk with someone from back in the states and share my new life here was truly the best birthday present I could have gotten.
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Birthday to Remember!
So as many of you know, I love brithdays, an excuse to eat yummy food, eat cake, spend time with loved ones, and generally celebrate life is just a wonderful combination. Here at the finca they also love birthdays, this usually implies a song, a card, and a cake made just for you. But my amazing fellow vols outdid themsleves and took my birthday to a whole new level. At morning prayers the entire finca sang me Las Mañanitas, which is the honduran version of happy birthday. Then I spent the day with the kids on the beach, then baking cookies with one of my favorite students, Magdalena. Then my amazing fellow vols made me an amazing dinner of quesadillas. Afterward we headed down the beach to the resort. Here they out did themselves and came out with cake, ice cream, and a glass of wine. I wanted to pinch myself it was so like a dream! Then after they sang me happy birthday for the 12th time that day, and they all said a beautiful prayer for me on the beach, and finally we all headed back to the farm for a good nights rest.
Then the next day I made it into to town to find my inbox full of birthday love!
In the end, I felt super loved and special on my special day! So thanks to everyone who played a part!
Paz
Mary Kate
Then the next day I made it into to town to find my inbox full of birthday love!
In the end, I felt super loved and special on my special day! So thanks to everyone who played a part!
Paz
Mary Kate
Its a Wonderful Life!
As some of you know, my favorite holiday movie, and movie in general is the christmas classic, Its a Wonderful Life. This movie for me represents the true spirit of the season, a time to celebrate the great love of friends and family, a time to celebrate the generosity of the human heart, and the general joy that reigns during the special time that is Christmas. Here at the finca this spirit infused every heart, and in turn produced a truly magical Christmas.
On Christmas eve, one could literally sense the excitement in the air. The adorable nativity play before mass, the all finca dinner full of delicious food, and the general excitement and anticipation in the faces of every child put a smile on every face. Then as the kids danced away in the school, we volunteers snuck around playing fed ex for the santa. At midnight we all went out on the soccer field and said a quick prayer for the beautiful birth of Jesus and sang a christmas song. In this whoville esque moment, the great joy that is christmas filled all our hearts, and put smiles on every face.
I then had the true blessing of being able to go back to two of the houses with the kids to watch them open their presents. This truly made the holiday for me. The house 3 boys, ages 4 through 8, literally jumped for joy when they saw their presents. Joels face when he discovered his stuffed frog also made noises was one of pure amazment. Jose Pastor held up his bag of new marbles as if he had found pure gold. The prize though goes to house four, boys ages 10 through 12. When Daniel discoved his new soccer cleats he literally almost fell to his knees in excitement and kissed his new shoes with a face that cannot even be described by words. The pure joy in there sweet faces made my christmas one that I will never forget.
The following morning we as volunteers relaxed and ate large amounts of super yummy food, including fresh made bagels, cinnamon rolls, personalized omelettes, and yummy chocolate covered cookies, courtesy of a much appreciated christmas care package from my parents! After some technical challenges I also got to call my family back home and wish them all a very merry christmas.
All in all, this Christmas taught me that the joy and spirit of this magical season is one that truly makes the heart smile, and teaches us that it truly is a wonderful life!
On Christmas eve, one could literally sense the excitement in the air. The adorable nativity play before mass, the all finca dinner full of delicious food, and the general excitement and anticipation in the faces of every child put a smile on every face. Then as the kids danced away in the school, we volunteers snuck around playing fed ex for the santa. At midnight we all went out on the soccer field and said a quick prayer for the beautiful birth of Jesus and sang a christmas song. In this whoville esque moment, the great joy that is christmas filled all our hearts, and put smiles on every face.
I then had the true blessing of being able to go back to two of the houses with the kids to watch them open their presents. This truly made the holiday for me. The house 3 boys, ages 4 through 8, literally jumped for joy when they saw their presents. Joels face when he discovered his stuffed frog also made noises was one of pure amazment. Jose Pastor held up his bag of new marbles as if he had found pure gold. The prize though goes to house four, boys ages 10 through 12. When Daniel discoved his new soccer cleats he literally almost fell to his knees in excitement and kissed his new shoes with a face that cannot even be described by words. The pure joy in there sweet faces made my christmas one that I will never forget.
The following morning we as volunteers relaxed and ate large amounts of super yummy food, including fresh made bagels, cinnamon rolls, personalized omelettes, and yummy chocolate covered cookies, courtesy of a much appreciated christmas care package from my parents! After some technical challenges I also got to call my family back home and wish them all a very merry christmas.
All in all, this Christmas taught me that the joy and spirit of this magical season is one that truly makes the heart smile, and teaches us that it truly is a wonderful life!
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