Life is such a learning experience

So each day I am learning more and more about myself. And my kids are learning more and more how to work with me and me with them. Although I have had my problems with the kids this month has been somewhat easy. Alejandro and Josuè are getting along beautifully. And Alejandro is learning how to control his anger more and more. Instead of running out or Casa Hogar ans down the street or banging on the door of his closet or the dorm he is taking the time to quiet himself down and think instead of just exploding. Last week he was just having a bad day not that he was doing anything wrong, everything was just going wrong for him. So I held him in his bed for 10 minutes and he just cried in my arms. It was a great bonding moment for he and me. I am looking foward to many more this year with him. As for Josuè I have figured out that him recieving a tiny cookie does the trick for getting him to get the job done. He is even doing better in estudios. And he is learning how Casa Hogar works, (it only took 3 months) he figured out that there are consequences for everything good and bad. So this week has been a huge learning experience for the kids.



On a sad note, this Monday was probably the hardest day for me here in Casa Hogar. One of my children in Chicos B has been the victim of abuse from his step-father. And for the first time since I have been here in 5 months I had to face that reality. I knew these children have been abused in the past, but I ahd to deal with it with the Psychologist, Hno. Julian, and the mother. It was a very emotional day for me. All day I cried for my child. And the system here in Mexico is very different. Which is another thing I have been having to accept the differences between the U.S. and here. But I have had so much support from Hno. Julian and the volunteers. Although my Spanish is not that great the other volunteers knew something was wrong, and they were all very understanding. Not only did I get words of wisdom, but also I received hugs all day. It was just very difficult to know that one of my kids is deeply sad at home and does not even want to go home on the weekends. But we are all working directly with the family and hopefully there will be a good outcome. And then to top it all off Luis Gerardo has not come back from home this week and we cannot get in touch with his family. He had minor problems last week and Elizabeth and I have yet to meet his parents each week either his brother or sister come to pick him up. Or he goes home with another child in Chicos B. And when Elizabeth and I told his brother we cannot recieve him without talking to his mother he never came back. And I highly doubt he will be back tomorrow since the boys go home on Friday.

This week has been challenging because I have had to deal with thier problems outside of Casa Hogar. That is the hardest part we are so sheltered and protected here the kids and the volunteers we do not have to face outside problems. I have very little problems in my life here, but I find myself stressed when I talk to people form the States or I have to deal with the kids and their homelife. These boys are just so fun loving and full of life. Many have been delt a really hard and rough life, but at least here they have an opprotunity at life and they all deserve the dignity that Casa Hogar gives them. Since I have been alone in Chicos B with the boys, but I have had help from Majo and Gorretti, but it is just not the same. They have been wonderful offereing themselves to help out in Chicos B, but the boys now rely on me for everything. If they need anything it is Kat-er-in this and Kat-er-in that. Yes that is how they say my name and I love it so much. I have grown closer and closer to them this week it is really amazing. When one is sad I am sad, when they are worried because they got a report in school and have to face Hno. Julian I worry with them. When they are all smiles I am too. It has been a great experience working so closely with them, and them coming to me when they have problems.

On a totally different subject we have partners for prayer and we all take turns with payer throughout the months. So every 5 weeks we are in charge of a week. So last time I had it with Nestor and he went out of town, so I had it all by myself, which was really difficult. And then this week Elizabeth and I have prayer, well she is recovering from surgery. But she did find me prayers to use, but I have had to present them. Thank God for the other volunteers because they have all really pulled through and helped me with prayer. But today I had a prayer and reflection picked out and ready to print. Well there was not ink in the printer. So I had to find something else. So I went to the bible, and found an amazing verse. And Chio read it for me, but for the first time I opened up to the other volunteers and I was able to use my awsesome Spanish, and for the first time I actually felt like I was part of this group. I told part of my story about how I came to be in Casa Hogar, and my Spanish was not so bad. Again I am learning more and more about myself and I have been forced to do it on my own, without help. All I really need is the help from God (and he is always there) and I can get through anything.

Reflection

Why is it when I have no desire to go to church is when I get the most out of the mass. So I have been struggling with the whole I have to go to mass everyday thing. And it is not easy for me. For starters it is all in Spanish, and the priest rushes through the Eucharist which is the most important part for me. Well if you have been following my blog we attend two churches one on Wed and Mon and the other on Tues and Thurs. So today at mass that I had to force myself to go to again I was listening to the reading and not really paying attention but just having prayer time with God. And literally the reading was so long and then there was the responsorial psalm. But I had yet another moment with God and I truly felt his presence and it was just he and I in the Church. As I am faced with the challenges here it amazes me how God has been working with me. I am the type of person who enjoys my alone time, which is a hard concept for many to understand here. But the times I have been in church and I have been in the presence of God I have been able to shut out everything that is going on and just listen to what he wants me to do.

The other day my mother asked me if I was going back to school. And I told her I do´t even know what I am doing tomorrow. I have had to just take things as they come here I. I have no time to worry about the future, I can only focus on the presence. And it is such a wonderful gift I have been giving. We ofter worry about so much that is not in our control, and I have learned to just take one day at a time. And the days here have flown by. And my worries are very few here I am excited to see what is in store for my next chapter in life. Because if it is anything like this experience I am having now I invite it with open arms.

Oh Spanish

So this weekend was a three day weekend because their is a national holiday here in Mexico. Which means the kids go home for three days. It is always nice to have one extra day off. But I had to go to a retreat with all the ex-volunteers from the DeLasalle program. And for the first time since I have been here in 5 months Spanish was a real challenge for me. First off my Spanish has improved immensely and I am understanding more and more. And the kids understand me more and more each day. But this past weekend I was almost on the verge of tears. I had to sit in a room for 14 hours and listen to talk after talk. I finally told Hno. Julian my head felt as if it was going to explode. And so he made me go run errands with Goretti to go buy bus tickets and toiletries for the people who were at the retreat. And first off I had to drive the Eurovan which I have only driven twice in the colonia. But it was a great adventure for the two of us. We laughed the whole time and she told me how to shift and use the clutch. And for the two of us Spanish was not a problem. So I am looking forward having more and more practice with the Eurovan. And once we returned 4 hours later I was feeling much better. And the mass we had was beautiful, the music was breath taking. We do not have anyone this year with musical talent, well we do but they do not have their instruments. So every Sunday our music is pretty much as off key as it can be. So last night with at least 10 guitars and everyone knew how to use it. It was pretty amazing.

But now I get to spend my day doing laundry and relaxing till the kids come at 5:30.

Some Pictures

This is Noé and I. He is one of my lovely boys in Chicos B. One day he absolutely loves me and the next day everytime he gets in trouble somehow it is all my fault. I am learning the ins and outs of parenthood each day with him and the others. His favorite toy right now is POGS which let me just tell you are the most annoying things in the world, and they have gotten him in trouble on many occastions, but he has my heart, and I love him to death.

This is what I look like on a daily basis when I have kids.. Below is a picture of the community when we went to dinner for Nestor´s Bday. And we actually look like people.

It´s been awhile

Well it has been way too long since I have written on here. First and foremost my 10k was amazing and so much fun. But today I went with Goretti, Cecy and Néstor to help register the poor of Saltillo for free health care. Every year the major cities in Mexico along with other organizations give free health care. It is really amazing to see a never ending line of people needing and wanting health care. It also saddens me that we do not even offer this type of service for the people in our own country. I am happy to have given a leanding hand to the people of Saltillo, even though it was frustrating at times it was well worth it. I am looking forward to it again on Thrusday.

Well in Chicos A another child has decided to leave, but we got a new grande the same day. I have a feeling Casa Hogar will be fill all year long. As one child leaves another child arrives. Chicos B is doing well we have our moments but for the most part the kids have been great this past week. But today is Tuesday and this is usually our hardest day of the week. So I will let you know. But fortuantely our children´s parents are really helping us with discipling the children at home. Elizabeth and I put up a chart so the kids will keep their space cleaning and it is truly working well. The boys have been working really hard to keep everything in order. I am looking foward to giving out prizes at the end of the week for their spaces. Well I need to eat I am starving and I have to be creative there is literally no food in our kitchen. For the first time we do not even have queso so I will be eating tortillas. Peace and God Bless.