So... I am not so good at this bogging thing. We have been home for a few days and I do realize that this blog came to a screeching halt. No worries. I will have it complete in the next week... or so.
Day 4
Today was a full day with the kids.
I taught Science.. the life cycle of a butterfly. We read the very hungry caterpillar in Spanish and English. We also did a craft project with pasta. Tiny pasta for the egg, rotini for the caterpillar, shells for the chrysalis, and bowties for the butterfly. So fun!
Jeff taught English. He covered body parts, clothes, and read a Biscuit book in English and Spanish.
We had a couple of swimming sessions. We had trouble keeping track of Sam in the water, he looked like most of the Nica kids!
There is also a playground at the camp that the kids get to hang out on. See-saws, swing, jungle gym, etc.
We watched Alladin at night and the kids loved the sidekick characters!
Julia is being such a big help, stepping up and doing whatever is needed. The girls LOVE her. They keep coming up to me saying... "You are Julia's Mom!"
Nate is hanging out with the kids and making some friends, Engel and Daniel in particular. They all like to collect rocks and are trading, no need to speak the same language for that!
Sam has also bonded with some of the American high school guys. They are playing a lot in the water and having some deep discussions in the hammocks. So cute!
We are all tired, but confident that the kids are learning and felling the love of Christ through us!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Well, It's a been a few days since I have written! Camp has been quite busy!
Day 3
Kids arrived today. I thought I was going to cry just watching them come off of the bus!
They are between 6 and 10 and absolutely adorable.
I taught the science sessions. Today was "The Planets." Julia was a big help.
Nate and Sam were in a group and rotated around with the kids. At first, the kids thought that Sam was one of them. Even the translators spoke to him in Spanish! He fits right in!!!!
Jeff did not teach, so he was on camera duty.
I am trying to learn names, but there are a lot of them!
Today we ate yummy stew with rice for lunch, rice and beans for dinner! And of course tons of fresh fruit!
The kids loved swimming in the lake. The waves were perfect for the kids, not too strong like the ocean. I had a hard time keeping track of Sam since he looks just like the rest of the kids. At home at the pool, I just look for the darkest kid. But here... not so easy.
We watched "Horton Hears a Who" and had popcorn.
It was a full day, and everyone was ready for bed!
Kids arrived today. I thought I was going to cry just watching them come off of the bus!
They are between 6 and 10 and absolutely adorable.
I taught the science sessions. Today was "The Planets." Julia was a big help.
Nate and Sam were in a group and rotated around with the kids. At first, the kids thought that Sam was one of them. Even the translators spoke to him in Spanish! He fits right in!!!!
Jeff did not teach, so he was on camera duty.
I am trying to learn names, but there are a lot of them!
Today we ate yummy stew with rice for lunch, rice and beans for dinner! And of course tons of fresh fruit!
The kids loved swimming in the lake. The waves were perfect for the kids, not too strong like the ocean. I had a hard time keeping track of Sam since he looks just like the rest of the kids. At home at the pool, I just look for the darkest kid. But here... not so easy.
We watched "Horton Hears a Who" and had popcorn.
It was a full day, and everyone was ready for bed!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Campo Day 2 (guest Blogger: Wendy Willard)
So today we spent some time getting ready for the campers to arrive tomorrow. We also painted the latrine (a bright sunny yellow!) and took plenty of time to swim in the lake.
I think everyone felt much better upon waking up this morning. The sun rises early here (BEFORE 5am!) which means we do too… but then it sets by 6pm. (We are two hours behind our friends and family back home.) The chickens and rooster were gracious enough to wake us, lest we might have missed the beautiful sunrise 
.
A wonderful storm blew through last night, bringing us a bit cooler weather, and wind to blow away the bugs. They seem to have returned a bit tonight, as the wind has died back down. Everyone who lives here says they’ve never seen the wind this calm for this long. Hmmm… the only downside to that is this: the normal 40-50mph winds blow away the bugs. So, can you send up a few prayers for some wind at Campo Alegria? Thanks!
Our kids really enjoyed swimming, riding the horses here at Campo, swimming, and more swimming. Tonight for dinner, we enjoyed a wonderful Nicaraguan specialty - nakatamale. It’s essentially a tamale with chicken (bones and all), potato, rice, and some other delicious extras, all wrapped in a banana leaf. It was wonderful!
Now we will spend a little more time getting ready for the kids to arrive tomorrow morning. Until then…
Campo Day 1
Well, we are here!!!
oAfter 2 airplane rides. and a long bus ride, we have arrived. We went up tp a volcano crater on our way here to the camp. Very cool, but very hard to breathe! See video below.
Jeff is in route. Because of the Dominican trip, he is coming a little late.
We are all exhausted due to very little sleep. We had leave for the airport at 3 am. The teens were out at the movies, and many adults were up getting ready. Even the ones who did sleep only got a couple of hours.
Well, I think it is safe to say that everyone is shock. With emotions running high, exhaustion set in, and the sweat pouring well need to settle in. It is the buggy season and the wind is not as strong as we expected. Our meal was yummy when we got here, but the bugs liked it too. Use your imagination!
But that's how we grow. If things were going to be easy, then we wouldn't learn as much. I think on every mission trip I have been on, I have doubted my fitness for the task. But, God knows more than me and I trust that. He has provided us with the necessary skills and we can do this!!
We just need to remind ourselves that God is in control and he will take care of us.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
... Lord, remind us that you chose us to be here and when we are doing your will, only joy can result.
oAfter 2 airplane rides. and a long bus ride, we have arrived. We went up tp a volcano crater on our way here to the camp. Very cool, but very hard to breathe! See video below.
Jeff is in route. Because of the Dominican trip, he is coming a little late.
We are all exhausted due to very little sleep. We had leave for the airport at 3 am. The teens were out at the movies, and many adults were up getting ready. Even the ones who did sleep only got a couple of hours.
Well, I think it is safe to say that everyone is shock. With emotions running high, exhaustion set in, and the sweat pouring well need to settle in. It is the buggy season and the wind is not as strong as we expected. Our meal was yummy when we got here, but the bugs liked it too. Use your imagination!
But that's how we grow. If things were going to be easy, then we wouldn't learn as much. I think on every mission trip I have been on, I have doubted my fitness for the task. But, God knows more than me and I trust that. He has provided us with the necessary skills and we can do this!!
We just need to remind ourselves that God is in control and he will take care of us.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
... Lord, remind us that you chose us to be here and when we are doing your will, only joy can result.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
4 hours until I have to be awake...
Should I even go to sleep?
I have four hours until we leave and 1 hour of stuff to do.
I am trying not to make the kids anxious and am failing. They are being helpful though, so I guess they know I am serious. Almost ready!
Jeff is in the Dominican Republic serving on a trip with Mountain Christian Church Student Ministries. I talked to him today; he is having an amazing trip. He emotions are torn between the sadness of leaving and the excitement of meeting us in Nicaragua.
More later.... gotta go do some stuff
I have four hours until we leave and 1 hour of stuff to do.
I am trying not to make the kids anxious and am failing. They are being helpful though, so I guess they know I am serious. Almost ready!
Jeff is in the Dominican Republic serving on a trip with Mountain Christian Church Student Ministries. I talked to him today; he is having an amazing trip. He emotions are torn between the sadness of leaving and the excitement of meeting us in Nicaragua.
More later.... gotta go do some stuff
crunch time
Well, the bags are almost packed and we are just about ready.
I have done a good job this year at not procrastinating. I am usually the type to pack last minute insisting that I "work well under pressure". With packing for 4 and Jeff already gone, procrastinating would not work. Congrats to me :)
I keep remembering things that I have to bring and do, hopefully I will remember it all by the time we leave. We have only 18 hours left!
I have done a good job this year at not procrastinating. I am usually the type to pack last minute insisting that I "work well under pressure". With packing for 4 and Jeff already gone, procrastinating would not work. Congrats to me :)
I keep remembering things that I have to bring and do, hopefully I will remember it all by the time we leave. We have only 18 hours left!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
two more days...
The living room is covered with laundry, suitcases, pillows, and Ziploc bags. The kitchen is littered with snacks, swim shoes, bug spray, and mini soap and shampoo bottles. The kids are barely sleeping in anticipation of the coming 10 days.
Why?
In just over two days, we will be leaving for Nicaragua!
As many of you know, Jeff and I have done some sort of mission work each summer. Belize, Germany, Brazil, Katrina relief, the Domincan Republic, and now Nicaragua. We have mixed cement with a shovel, painted shutters, gutted houses, dug drains for a toilet, and played with kids, lots of kids.
This year, our kids will be joining us! We are going with a group of families who will be serving Nicaraguan children at Campo Alegria on Lake Nicaragua. http://campoalegria.com/home/
What an honor to serve our God on the mission field with our children. We are so excited to see what God has in store for us!
Check back for updates while we are on our trip!!
Why?
In just over two days, we will be leaving for Nicaragua!
As many of you know, Jeff and I have done some sort of mission work each summer. Belize, Germany, Brazil, Katrina relief, the Domincan Republic, and now Nicaragua. We have mixed cement with a shovel, painted shutters, gutted houses, dug drains for a toilet, and played with kids, lots of kids.
This year, our kids will be joining us! We are going with a group of families who will be serving Nicaraguan children at Campo Alegria on Lake Nicaragua. http://campoalegria.com/home/
What an honor to serve our God on the mission field with our children. We are so excited to see what God has in store for us!
Check back for updates while we are on our trip!!
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