A Change or Two..

I’m entering the second week of a pretty crazy period here at the Hogar! A week ago, Beth and Erica left. That week, three of our babies were in the hospital, which put stress on the entire Hogar since someone has to be with each of them at all times. Also, the day after Beth and Erica’s departure, Jenna got really sick and remained in bed for the rest of the week! Not only was Jenna sick, but the woman who watches all of the children under 2 fell very ill as well. On top of that, both the Jugueteria and the outside playground were off-limits the whole week, due to construction and other complications. I suddenly had a lot more on my plate then I was expecting! I woke up each day and tried to ignore the fact that I would soon be caring for fifteen kids under 4 and had no place to watch them. In the back of my mind, I knew that I would be given the graces and extra help to get me through the week. I’m happy to say that so many little miracles happened each day that the week turned into one of my best yet. Several times, Sarah’s  and Carmen’s usual duties were cancelled or put on hold due to unforeseen circumstances, and they were able to pitch in. One of the new girls at the Hogar, Angelica (12), started helping me out with the little kids, too. That was a huge blessing! Another boost - one of the little boys, Moises, was actually adopted! That was beautiful to see. On Wednesday I was energized by Madre Rosario’s birthday party. (Yes, we had yet another party!) Sarah and I only had a few hours before the party began to come up with a dance. We chose to do “You’re the One That I Want” one from Grease. I love dressing up, so it was pretty fun trying to turn myself into Sandy. I loved how shocked the girls were that I could actually look nice when I tried! Grease is another American movie that is well known in Bolivia, so Madre Rosario loved our act. The party ended up being such a blessing…while sitting through the other dances and songs, and seeing how the girls and the Madres truly function as a family, I felt an incredible peace and belonging at the Hogar. For the first time, I felt very attached to this home and wanted to put the thought of ever leaving out of my mind. Surprising feelings given the chaotic week I was having!

 

This week is going to be equally chaotic, and I barely have Monday under my belt! I spent yesterday evening moving into Jenna’s second-floor bedroom. I’m very excited to be out of the “dungeon” that I shared with Carmen, but I’ll miss having her as my roommate! My new room may be closer to the crazy parrots and the crying babies in the Jugueteria, but its much more spacious and I love looking out the windows and seeing only sky and trees. My last window looked out into the gym, and there was zero airflow. I hope I’ll start getting more sleep now, since it is going to become increasingly necessary. For one, we found out yesterday that Sarah is moving to a different Hogar for her last two months. This was shocking news for us all, but especially for Carmen. Suddenly she is facing the medical needs of the Hogar all alone, two months earlier than she had planned. I want to be able to help her out in any way I can. Hence, sleep is crucial! Also, we had a meeting with Madre Rosario tonight. Among many new rules, she jovially told us that we may not speak English during the day. I know we already made this decision a month ago amongst ourselves, but I must admit we have slipped terribly in the craziness of the last few weeks. I’m highly pleased that she, our superior, has made this command! It’s exactly what we need. With all of the changes happening, I am bracing myself for an intense period and praying for extra energy!

I decided to implement a new element to my blog entries. With each one, I will choose someone from the Hogar to “introduce.” I will include a picture and tell a little about our relationship and some things I find interesting, unique, funny, etc. about them. I hope this way you will become familiar with some names and faces of people I live with. 

Today…Meet Lulu!

 She’s one of my charges in the Jugueteria, so we spend a lot of time together. She is 4 years old and the naughtiest of all the children. Nonetheless, I am very fond of her! Her eyes are huge and they sparkle with the mischief that is constantly brewing in her mind. She is the brightest and boldest of all the kids, and she has a very distinct, commanding voice which comes in handy when we sing songs and play games. She transmits a certain energy within the Jugueteria which is helpful in coaxing the other to join in activities. However, she also has a knack for encouraging others to join in her mischief-making. Whenever I catch her sneaking food or playing with water in the bathroom sink, she looks up at me with a really wicked grin that is always disarming. But, Lulu's good qualities outweigh the bad by far. She always shares her treats with her 6 year-old sister, and she's the first to look out for another kid who is picked on or handicapped. Also, Lulu can really surprise 

me...when I caught her coloring all over the tile floors with an orange crayon and I told her to scrub every bit of it up, she complied pronto and worked vigorously until every spot was gone. I was so proud of her! Lulu makes me laugh a lot, which is one reason I love her so much. Yesterday, she didn't approve of the way I was eating (I was avoiding using my hands because there was no soap available to wash them) and she yelled "AYYY Liz!! Chaaaancho!!" (a pig, and other derogatory meanings). All of the other kids thought this was hilarious began chanting "Chan - cho!" at me. It was the funniest part of my day. And that's why I love Lulu!

 

Please pray for Jenna, Carmen, and me these days as we begin taking the volunteer role at the Hogar into our own hands. It’s a little daunting, but we're all thrilled to begin. Hope all is well back home!