Pictures from deaf school

Hello everyone!! I hope that this finds you all quite well and strong in the Lord. I know that it has taken me forever to get back on here to update you all... but it really couldn't be helped. Since I have been gone for awhile it is going to take me a few posts to get caught up to the present, but I am hoping for an uneventful week ahead in which to write several posts. Let's hope and pray that it works out!

This first post is going to be mostly just pictures with captions, but as they (don't ask me who "they" is; I have no clue) say, "a picture is worth a thousand words". So, every time you see a picture just imagine that I wrote a thousand words!

HERE WE GO!!

Aren't they all the sweetest looking kids! They really are! This is on the way to church in the Bonsels' SUV. I think that they have us beat on the number of kids that they fit in that vehicle. I think that the final count on Sunday was 20. That's the kids and adults all added together.

Ahh... the boys playing with their tops. They did this every opportunity that they could get. Every afternoon one of us (the girls volunteering at the school) would take the kids out the park to play and burn off excess energy. It didn't always work, but it did help!

This is Jenna (blue dress and bangs), Teresa (red shirt) and Petra. Petra has been working at the school for three years. Teresa has been working there for 8 months and Jenna arrived the day after I did-- she stayed until the first week of July. Christy is the other girl who was volunteering at the school. She had been there for three months.

Estefania and Brian! Aren't they so cute!

Tops again!

This was at a birthday party we went to for a friends mom. We had a great time hanging out with everyone. Christy (the girl who I said was working at the school) is the one in the red dress.

Everyone looks so tired in this picture! We were on our way back to the school after the party.

Sergio!

Proof that I was there!



Making lunch. We had BLTs. Very yummy!


The school itself is set up in two buildings. One is the actual school and the other is the home of the Bonsells and about 20 other children. The main job of the staff working at the school is to take care of the children before and after classes. My job was to help out in the school in the mornings and then in the afternoons Christy, Jenna and I rotated the rest of the jobs amongst ourselves (bathing the kids in the evening, supervising naptime, taking the kids out to the park, preparing meals, etc.).

In conclusion, I must say that I had a great two weeks at the deaf school. It was a dificult schedule, but I think that I benefited from it. I enjoyed working with the kids and the ladies that I had the priviledge of working alongside were a wonderful encouragement to me. I already miss everyone I met there and am hoping to be able to return soon, Lord willing. I am praying about it!

Alright, now I need to go. God bless you all!

Busy Report

Hello again readers!  How are you all doing?

I am doing great.  I have now completed my first week here at the deaf school and I think that I have finally been here long enough to pass my judgement... drum roll please... the verdict is that it's a wonderful place!  I am still not sure if I like the whole get up at six thing, but that's just my flesh, so I am not too worried!

My week has passed quite eventfully.  I have had just enough stuff to do without feeling like it's overwhelming and enough sleep that I usually make it through the day with an hour nap.  That's another thing that I  have really learned to appreciate here; naps.   I remember my Mom always telling me that when I had kids of my own I would understand why she always took naps.  I suppose that I just thought she was less able to bear with the stress of the day than I was, now I realize that a nap is really the only way to make it through the day when you have to watch kids!  Last night all of the late nights caught up with me and I went to bed "early" (at nine).  You might exclaim at that, but keep in mind that the kids don't go to bed until 8:30pm so if you want quiet time you have to take it then... I, however, valued a nice prayer time and sleep above time without kids, so I went to bed.

Now I suppose that I should tell you something funny that happened, though I would almost prefer not to share it since it incriminates myself and will probably be something that I will never live down... still, "Why do we live but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn," (Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice)... here goes nothing!

Yesterday I was wandering around after having spent half an hour or so playing my guitar when I entered the kitchen and found Michelle (wife of David, and co-director of school) getting stuff out of the freezer.  I, being the person that I am, asked if there was anything that I could help with.  She said that I could make the milkshakes to go with super, if I so desired.  I said sure and got right to work getting out all of the ingredients I might need. 

When I had gotten out the fruit and the milk and all that other fun stuff and was blending the first pitcher-full (for our group you have to make at least four pitchers... And I thought that our family drank a lot!), Christy came in and offered her help.  I agreed and we got to work scooping and pouring and blending and pouring.  All went well... until that fateful moment....

Christy walked outside for a moment to grab something (can't remember what), while I finished blending what was already in the blender.  I had just taken the lid off and was trying to get the blender off the base (first mistake) when it happened... My hand bumped the "blend" button and WHIZZZ! the blender came to life, spraying blueberry milkshake all over me and the kitchen!!  Christy came in just in time to see the accident happen.  Once I had turned the blender off I just stood there, not sure whether to laugh or get upset.  Laughter finally won out and I was joined by Christy (who, btw, had used that time to grab her camera and get a picture... I'll think about whether or not to upload it)!!

So, this is my story for the week.  It's not the only thing that has happened, but for now it's the only thing that I have time to write!  Talk to you all soon!

Blessings!

     

First days at new home

Hello everyone!! I am glad that you are here!
Sorry I haven't written, but for the first time in awhile it hasn't been because there was nothing to write or because I was tired, but literally because I have had NO time... AT ALL! I am on my third day at the deaf school and I am still not 100% sure exactly what I think. I have been very tired out by the schedule and I have come to realize that I have never had to get up "early" in my entire life. I will never again complain that going to bed at 11pm and getting up at 7am is hard to do!!

Other than the fact that being on my feet all day and getting up early makes me more than ready for bed by 7:30pm (we don't get to go to bed until 9:30pm at the earliest), I have really enjoyed being here. The other staff are very helpful and the kids are all very well-behaved. So far I have been mostly helping out at the school by grading papers and answering the questions of the kids who aren't deaf. I have learned a little bit of sign, but not enough to explain a complicated math problem!

I haven't been able to learn all the kids names (here all of the kids have not only their name, but also a sign that is used to identify them). My sign is a combination of an "s" and the sign for "bangs". I suppose it's because I am growing my bangs out and they are always in my face.
Right now the kids are laying down for their daily nap. That's one thing that I really like about this place is the "naptime". I our house we never do it anymore!

Anyway, I need to go now. I just wanted to let you guys know a little bit of what's been going on in my life. I think that while the kids are laying down I am going to try and get a little bit of Bible studying in! To my family: I miss you guys!!
Blessings to you all! I Christ I remain--