I got to help with homework and tutoring type stuff. Sherlynn is about 5 or 6 years old and is learning her number. I sat with she and Saraita who is about 7 and helped them with their homework. Sherlynn has a lot of trouble remember how to draw and write the numbers she has been learning. I seriously think we sat at the table for over and hour practicing. She loved having me help her by guiding her hand and making dots for her to connect (which is what the tutor told me to do). She was so positive and had such a great attitude. However around the 45 minute mark she was getting a little tired. We still had half a page to go still. I was glad I had waited up till that point to tell her that I had a gift for her. I told her "tengo un regalo por tu...despues terminas tu tarea". That means "I have a gift for you..after you finish your homework." The look on her little face was priceless when she exclaimed "FOR ME??". Sure enough she finished her homework and I took she and the other little girls upstairs to pick out dresses. They LOVED them. They twirled around and giggled and hugged me once they put them on. I would say that Friday was a smashing hit!
On Saturday we went to hike at a local park. It was really fun, much better than my last hiking experience. After the hike we went to the city for kid washing. I decided to take a different job this week. Rather than sitting in the tent with clothes, I took dresses and shirts for the older kids who are often overlooked because we dont have clothes for them. I was able to hand out several more dresses and kevin handed out shirts to the older guys. They once again really enjoyed them and I like being able to give them something new that belonged to them. Sunday was a rather realxed day, which is always needed.
Today, we started our clinics and VBS at the local school. Things didn't go exactly as I had planned, but that is ok. Basically the school has 600 kids. We do checkups on them class by class. So as the other children are waiting we decided to do a VBS type event. We selected the topic of grace because of the catholic belief system here. Well the kids are a lot more excited and wild than anticipated. We did a bit of a story but beacuse they were so rowdy we decided we needed to play a game. Kevin, myself and Leta decided to teach them "pato, pato, gonzo". They LOVED it. I must say that after about 30 minutes of chasing children around because you are a "funny goose" is a blast...but also exhausting. With each class we had a new and different experience.
The second class that came in was full of girls who has a crazy obsession with my hair. I kid you not the literally flocked around me playing with my hair, running their fingers through it and telling me how beautiful it was. I guess they had never seen blonde hair before. We continued playing duck, duck, goose and hanging out with the kids. We even had a small crowd gather around and sing songs with us. Kevin and I would sing the spanish version, then teach it to them in english. We sang "head, shoulders, knees and toes" in spanish then taught them in english. It was so fun and the kids loved us and enjoyed sitting with us and talking.
The last group was the most successful. We actually got through the whole lesson before the kids wanted to play a game. We talked about the man being lowered through the roof and how Jesus healed him, because of his faith in Him. We then talked about how the cross was the biggest gift of grace and how grace is not something you work for but a free gift. I feel like it went well given the situation. I know that we have made an impact on that school and I look forward to continuing to do so over the next few days.
Please pray that God will really work in these kids hearts and that they will have the ability to listen to what we have to say to them. Also pray that the language barrier will continue to be broken down and for continued strength and love for us. I expect great things to come from this VBS and really appreciate your prayers.
Anna
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