Reflections on Another Week

Hello again from Cochabamba. The past week of classes has been challenging but very fruitful. I have really enjoyed my teachers and each of them has been excellent. Every two weeks we change teachers so I will have four new teachers next week and classes will be in the morning from 8 until 12. I am looking forward to this change of schedule as it will permit me more time to work with the kids at the Villa. Here is the schedule for the next two weeks:

8-12 classes
1230 – Lunch at the villa
1-2:30 – Sala de Lectura (reading with the kids)
3-4 – Individual time in each House
4-5:30 – Sports with the Kids
6:30 - Dinner in one of the houses

The days will continue to be very busy, but I am looking forward to having more structured time with the kids.
The weather here has been magnificent. The highs are around 80 every day with beautiful sun (although it can be a bit intense at times) and lows in the 60s at night. It is perfect weather and there is no need for AC or heat. I keep my windows open throughout the day. If you look on the weather channel website the forecast for Cochabamba is rather bleak with a 60 percent chance of rain everyday. I dont think anyone is actually looking at any kind of radar though because it has rained only one day in the last three weeks. So basically the weather is perfect everyday.
The only unfortunate part of my trip thusfar has been maintaining my weight. I left at 178lbs, after 5 days I was 175, and after 12 I was 169. I am afraid that number is still dropping because my energy expenditure has been rather high the last few days.


I thought I would share with you all some reflections on the past week here.

The last few weeks I have experienced both the joys of being understood, and the frustrations of being limited in expression by language. Something I have always taken for granted is the ability to be understood. I have come to truly appreciate the simple communication between two people of different languages. It seems as if the cultural barriers melt away when successful communication is achieved. I have been experiencing this joy on a more frequent basis the last few days. It is such a simple thing, but I am encouraged by being able to make the first step in forming relationships with many of the people here. These small joys bring me daily comfort when I am faced with the challenges of not understanding one of the kids or not being able to fully express what I wish to say.

For me it has been easy to forget that the kids I am living with are all orphans. Their living arrangements are very nice and they just seem like large families of brothers and sisters with a Tia or Mama. Almost all of them are very well behaved incredibly loving. Yesterday I was shocked back to reality when after having been asked my birthday by one of the kids, I asked another when his was. He said that he didn’t know and I was immediately reminded that some of these incredibly loving and well taken care of kids have never celebrated a birthday or even had anyone in their lives that cared enough to remind them of their birthday every year. I felt terrible for asking him, but it reminded me of how much these kids need people to support them and care for them in their lives. I am incredibly blessed to have to opportunity to serve these kids and look forward to every day that I can sow into their lives.

Thanks for your continued prayers and thoughts.
Gray

Raul and I with my bike