I have completed a week of language school and it seems like I have been here 5 minutes, and at the same time 5 years. The teachers are very focussed in getting their lessons done and the information imparted to the students. It has been intense. The school rule of all Spanish all the time does make one focus and listen carefully. I am faster reading it and writing it, than speaking it. In a conversation I have to think of verb endings, word combinations commonly used, pronouns and possessive adjectives before I reply.
When I go the store or ask questions, I do not always recognize the words that the other person says back to me. I answer on what I think they said and smile. I am sure I have a "deer in the headlights" look.
Yesterday, the language school director Rebecca, a friend of hers, Perla, and I went to the Casa Adonai Orphanage north of Chihuahua. It is out in the country a bit. The orphanage it self is a about 3 years old and has about 50-60 kids ages 5 -15. The main building is completed, a second building is half done. Mexico has no foster parent program, so the orphanages perform that role, according to the orphanage director, Luis. The kids are there because their parents cannot afford them, the parents are overcoming personal/physical problems (emotional/drug addiction), or the kids have not parents at all. They can stay there from two weeks to several years.
When we walked into the main building, the kids were just finishing breakfast. Several of them came up and hugged us and said hello. It was very touching. They have a boy's and girl's dormitory made up of bunkbeds and individual lockers. The place looked spic and span.
I had offered to teach some classes and we arranged to have three groups. For the young ones we did an activity of learning colors / color words in English and Spanish and then doing a coloring exercise. I had brought down crayons and coloring books. The kids did great and when they finished each got a glitter pencil. I am amazed at the time the kids (my kids in the States do this too) take to get just the right color pencil, pen or whatever.
We also played games with color. We had two teams; Team Mexico and Team Espana. They vied for small prizes by answering questions on colors and color names.
For the older kids I did some English lessons on common things in a class room - desk, chair, board, window, pen, pencil, etc. The instruction was followed by some balloon races, competitions. It was a lot of fun. I tried to use as much Spanish as I knew to teach/explain the English words. Rebeca said I did fine in my Spanish and what I messed up the kids still understood. I must say the kids are so cute and very keen on learning. They were also very polite and respectful. All this to say that the orphanage is doing a great job in loving these kids and ensuring a nurturing environment in how they are treated, raised and guided. God does His work in so many different ways through so many different people. The lives of these little ones are a testament to the work the Pastor Luis is doing.
I agreed to go again next Saturday and do some more lessons. Two of the young women college students from the language school want to go next time with us, so that will be good.
Linda has posted the pictures I have taken thus far on her FACEBOOK. So have a look.
The World Cup competitions are very big here. Mexico and Argentina play today at 12:30 pm. I will watch the game with my host famiy.
Until next time. Adios
Doug
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