tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37756510283122249312024-03-14T01:01:24.404-07:00Stories From PeruSamantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-11029741823763862852012-08-27T10:00:00.003-07:002012-08-27T10:00:36.909-07:00A Week Later<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Tabla normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here is a little
update on life here… ok… it is really just a rambling entry of things happening
here and feelings I am having…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Monday we packed up
everything and literally threw it into our apartment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been trying my
absolute hardest to stay in bed, but… bed rest in a complete disaster of an
apartment, with no internet connection, on an air mattress = pretty LAME. But…
every time I want to whine… I just kinda laugh… cause… well this is so
ridiculous, and yet so full of the Grace of God. What do I really have to
complain about?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ve started getting
a few things put together and unpacked… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On Saturday, we finally got the hot water hooked up to the shower :) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oscar traveled to
Chiclayo and we finally got our furniture Sunday morning (after literally a
week of only having an air mattress to sit on. Yikes) (and the movers, who were
supposed to be there at 4 on Saturday afternoon, came at 6:30 in the morning
Sunday :)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ve bought a fridge.
Yay for cold drinks!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have put together
most of a 750 piece puzzle of Stonehenge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have not only
watched a lot of movies, but I have also alphabetized my DVD’s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have decided that
season 3 of The Office is my favorite season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oscar took me to get a
pedicure. He is the best. (He literally has not stopped working or moving hardly at all. He is amazing in so many ways, and my gratitude for him in my life has multiplied in the last week.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I found one of Edwin’s
bottle caps in my back pocket, and cried for 20 minutes. I also cried for 20
minutes the night Oscar left for Chiclayo… so… I am crying a lot. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It has felt really
strange to go from constantly being needed, always having people around, there
being constant noise to now being alone most of the time… and laying in bed
being what I need to do… and so much quiet. I have a movie or music going
constantly, cause the quiet just feels wrong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have had some visits
from friend here – bringing me starbucks and magazines, or pizza and gifts, or
loaning me things we need and don’t have yet. It has been a blessing and
encouragement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The volunteers have
told me things in the Tesoros house are rolling along just fine and that they’re
all adjusting well to the changes. They said Edwin has opened up even more, and
what used to be overwhelmingly focused affection on Oscar and I has now become
affection for anyone who will accept it. That makes my heart happy… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I can honestly say
that I have peace… there are moments when I am not sure how we’re going to pay
for things (hence why we don’t have internet yet)… and moments when I still
worry about things in the orphanage – the volunteers, the big decisions, and my
babies… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most of this week has been
full of peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing God is in
control. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And when the worries
creep in (especially about the kids) I remind myself “This isn’t a tragedy in their
life. Their tragedies are being completely abandoned by their families,
watching their mother die, being beaten and abused… Oscar and I leaving them
isn’t going to scar them for life. They have survived and been protected through
things a million times worse than the padres that lived with them for less than
year leaving. … But me worrying or making wrong decisions could be the tragedy
in my daughter’s life. She isn’t ready to be born yet, and me choosing not to
Trust God and accept His peace to keep me calm… me choosing to do more than I
should, could cause damage to her that could scar her forever.” Then I leave
whatever box I want to unpack or pile I want to get put away and go lay back
down, even when it feels wrong for the right thing to be doing to be laying
around doing nothing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thank you to all of
you who have messages, emailed, written on my wall. Forgive me if it takes me a
while to respond. Until we get internet set up at our place, I probably won’t
get a chance to respond. I am grateful and encouraged by the love, support, and
prayers of all of you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This song came on my
Itunes the other day… it is perfect:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abghc_WYBN8">Downhere - For the Heartbreak</a>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-3773586619543916072012-08-20T12:19:00.001-07:002012-08-20T12:19:47.930-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is hard to have
words to say in certain moments. This is one of those moments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For those who don’t
know, Oscar and I had planned to leave our parental roles here in the orphanage
at the end of August. I am 31 weeks pregnant and we felt the assurance that God
was leading us on to the next phase or out life as a family. Today, I was diagnosed
with preeclampsia. I have been put on complete bed rest for the next two weeks.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meaning we will be leaving the orphanage
11 days early. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I will be honest and
say, there have been a lot of moments when I have been ready to leave. Moments
where my exhaustion is just so extreme… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when my patience has been gone for hours and I
still have an hour of dealing with the kids left…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when things are last minute and stressful …. or
when the tantrums of the kids or the grossness of their bodily functions leave
me so overwhelmed and fighting either tears or vomit (or both)… lots of moments
when I have said can’t I just leave now. Is it the end of august yet?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But, Here it is… time
to leave… and my heart aches so deeply that I can barely see the computer screen
through my tears. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I know it is right. I
know I must and need to leave this home and move in to my new apartment – where
rest is an option… or even a possibility. I know, without a doubt it is what I
am to do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But these kids have
been ours for almost 9 months… we have loved them, disciplined them, lost our tempers
at them, asked them for forgiveness, hugged them, tucked them in, prayed with
them, played with them, done homework with them, cleaned them, fed them, and tried
to protect them. And now we have to leave them. This sucks… there is just no
other way to say it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am not afraid. I
have seen throughout my entire life God’s mighty hand of protection and provision.
I know the next few weeks will be filled with that same constant love of a
Father for me. I have seen it over and over again even in the last week: We
found the perfect apartment, in the perfect place for an amazing price. God
Provides. We caught the preeclampsia today on the very border… before it got
too dangerous. God protects. Oscar had already arranged to have this entire
week off (so now he can be home with me) – and is currently signing the papers
to get our apartment today. God always provides and protects. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I can honestly say – I
have peace in my heart about my health and the health of my daughter. It is in
His mighty hands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leaving these little
ones God gave me for a season… well… that is a little harder for me. Not
because God is any less faithful for them, but because I feel like there is
more I could do for them, could have done for them, should have done for them… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I will find my
comfort, knowing that as much as Oscar and I have loved these children, it is
but a small sliver of the love God has for them. He will be faithful to
complete the good work He has started in them. He will not leave them. He has
plans for their lives. He will provide and protect them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I would ask for your
prayers in the following ways:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My health
and that of our baby – that the preeclampsia would not worsen and that she will
have all the time necessary to grow before making her debut in the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The kids –
that God will provide them the best new Tia they could have, that they will
understand that our leaving isn’t abandoning, that they will not be hurt by
this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Especially
Yessica and Edwin – who are probably the most attached to us and will have the
hardest time understanding what is going on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mine and
Oscar’s hearts – that the pain and ache we feel as we leave these children will
draw us closer to God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Getting
everything else done – that God will give us the ability to get everything we
need packed, unpacked, set up, bought ect done while I am laying in bed. (So
really pray for Oscar, cause he is only one man and will have the work of quite
a few to do…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
orphanage – Oscar and I are only servants in the Master’s plan, but at the
moment seeing who will fill in and take over for us is unclear. Pray God
provides for the needs of the orphanage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Below is an update I
wrote this weekend… I didn’t get the chance to finish it… but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it has a little on how each of the kids is
doing, so I thought I would go ahead and share.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So much has changed
here in the Tesoros house. Here is a brief update.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Juan moved
into the big guys’ house. He was old enough, and is going through a pretty
rough time with his behavior. The decision was made to put him where he
couldn’t be such a bad influence on the younger boys. He needs lots of prayer –
for a family, for healing, and to learn self control.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yessica
came to live with us the week before Juan left. She is adorable and a source of
joy, but it can still be challenging to have a 2 yr old (with all her strong
will and potty training issues) mixed in with 8 little boys. Her life is about
to go through a lot of changes, please pray she continues to grow and flourish
during the coming month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alejandro
is a one step forward; two steps back kind of kid. Nothing is ever steady and
constant with him. Sometimes he goes weeks, even months without a potty issue,
then he poops on the living room floor 4 times in one week. With all the abuse
and neglect he has suffered in his short life, I am sure there are triggers and
causes, but identifying them is almost impossible. Pray he keeps moving forward
and progressing, and that the orphanage can learn to love him better –
discovering his triggers and helping him overcome the damage done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jhon has
grown a lot over the past few months. I see him being more of a leader, and
being able to do so much more. There are also more smiles than before, and he
plays with the other kids much more often and with more interest. But, he has
also entered into a fit throwing phase. They aren’t extremely often, maybe one
every week or so, but they are loooong. Often they start for no reason, and
then I tell him when he is done screaming he can come out of his room – and he
just sits and screams for at least an hour. Just screaming. It is miserable,
for the whole house. We’ve tried a several different approaches, but none have
seemed to work. Prayers for this and his legal status and future are needed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jose Luis
is Jose Luis. He is my steady one. He still screams and cries just to get
attention… and never has a potty issue. He has some exciting things that are
about to happen in his life… which I will write more about after they happen
and I can. Pray for the changes that are coming for him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jorge has
proven to be one of the hardest one for me to maintain patience with of all my
kids. With all the neglect and malnutrition he has suffered there are gaps in
his reasoning and learning skills, but he is also extremely stubborn and throws
fits. It is hard for me to know in the moment when the struggle we’re going
through is because of the gaps or the stubbornness. I know I am not always, or
even often, what he needs. Pray we can help him to fill in the gaps and help
him to catch up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pedro is
good. He is on track with his class at school, if not advanced. He behaves well
at home, as much as can be expected of a 7 yr old boy. Pablo may be Pedro’s
twin, but they are so different. He is always just a step behind Pedro, in
school, in behavior, in speed, in pretty much everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are both such sweet boys that deserve so
much more than they’ve got. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pleas pray that
the recent visits of abusive family member don’t cause deeper emotional
problems and that the issues their older sisters are struggling through will
not trickle down to them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paul is
having a rough time at school. He is advanced for his class, but does not get
along well with his teacher. He has had a few issues with one of the boys in
his class as well. There has also been lots of insecurity in his legal
situation and future. All this has caused some severe issues in his behavior
over the past 2 months. He has some great days, but he has other where it is
lie after lie, disobedience after disobedience. It has been an almost daily
struggle to know how to handle this situation. Where the line between the need
for discipline and the need for grace and mercy falls in a child who has so
much inner turmoil and pain and but so rebellious . Every decision and action
Oscar and I have taken has been with uncertainty – praying we’re making the
right move. We have seen some improvement, with the lies especially, but Paul
is still struggling and needs lots of prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Edwin is
such a special child. He literally requires so much patience, and if his grin
wasn’t so innocent and unaware of how overwhelming he is, it would be
impossible to keep cool much more of the time. But when I am just about to lose
it and sent him to his room because I need a break, he grins, says “Amo Sam!”
and flaps his hands… and I remember the problem is mine, not his. A couple that
came down a year ago, and then came back this past month commented that he is
like a whole different kid. He has come out of his own world a lot. He still
swings and chants to himself… and his chapitas are still his most beloved
possessions, but he spends Much Less time sitting alone tapping it on the
ground. He interacts with others So Much More than he did before. The other day
Paul was standing in my room and was taking his shirt off and Edwin, all by
himself with no prompting and out of nowhere attacked him with tickles. It was
the first times I’ve ever seen him do something like that. It is exciting to
see him grow and awaken to the world around him. Continue praying for a forever
family for him. </span></div>
Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-8371280767824846622012-04-15T13:31:00.010-07:002012-04-15T14:40:51.760-07:00<div align="center"><em>Would you think less of me if I told you how I feel?</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>I'm as tired as a willow branches</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>in the trees in the field</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>That for so long have had to carry such a load</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>and fear they may break at the next coming snow</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>There is love</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>There is beauty</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>And then there is pain</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>and at the moment I can't help but feel</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>that they are all the same</em></div><br /><div align="center">- Bradley Hathaway</div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Those are the lyrics to a song that I have listened to over and over again this week. (Listening to it right now, and boy is Oscar Very sick of it.) It is how I feel. </div><br /><br /><div align="left">The past 2 weeks here in the orphanage have been hard. </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Sometimes I want to think that this ministry is harder than others... Harder than say working in a nice church in the suburbs. I know that isn't true. I know that, as much as I feel our kids are broken and hurt the most, children in any ministry are surrounded by sin, pain, death and heartache. </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">But, these days the consequences of sin have been heavy upon the orphanage. In reality, each child's very presence in the orphanage is a representation of the consequence of sin. The sins of their parents - causing abandonment, pain and uncertainty in the lives of these precious children.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">But it goes much deeper. Many of these children are the product of rape, or have been abused, beated, or mistreated in real and strong ways. Bearing these sins from there parents would have been enough, but these sins do not stop there. There are consequences and reprecussions that these children will pay for their parents' sin for the rest of their lives. The pain and marks left on their lives are deep and long-lasting.</div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">It is hard to watch these children struggle. suffer. fall into temptation. search for answers. feel the consequesnces deep in their hearts. </div><br /><br /><div align="left">No. It isn't hard, it is gut wrenchingly, hearbreakingly, impossible. it is impossible to watch this. </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Even on Easter, a day meant to celebrate His victory over sin and their wages, my heart seemed to settle on the overwhelming price He paid for us. I praised Him for His victory, yes, but my heart just counldn't get passed the consequences He bore for me, my children, and the world. </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Our chains have been broken. We are not bound to sin or its consequences anymore. But somehow, in the past few weeks, the orphanage has staggered under the weight of chains far to heavy to bear. Chains of exhaustion, disunity, frustration, pain, sexual sin, and the cycle of consequences left on the lives of our children by their parents.</div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">I ask that any who read this lift us up in prayer. </div><br /><br /><div align="left">Pray for </div><br /><br /><div align="left">unity</div><br /><br /><div align="left">strength</div><br /><br /><div align="left">energy to fight the good fight</div><br /><br /><div align="left">that love, grace, mercy... and justice would abound in these walls.</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Pray that every step, every decision, every leader would move, act, speak and be in accordance with God's will, expressing the rich Love of our Father. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><br /><br /><blockquote><em></em></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>And as He stands in victory</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Sin's curse has lost its grip on me</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>For I am His and He is mine</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Bought with the precious blood of<br />Christ</em></div></em></blockquote></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-13457135260790745552012-03-25T18:49:00.000-07:002012-03-25T18:51:03.319-07:00An Update on my Family<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">So… I think it is about time for a catch up on everything here in the Tesoros House.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The boys – We’ve seen some highs and lows here. Each of the kids have their own battles and baggage. It has been exhausting, but rewarding working day in and day out with them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Paul – Had the hardest time adjusting to a male authority figure, but now loves Oscar and wants to be in the middle of us anytime we hug. He is doing well in school – star pupil of the class from what I here. He is extremely intelligent. (Last week, he had an assignment for class. He had to list a bunch of personal information – including the names of his parents. He came and asked if he could put Tia Sam and Tio Oscar as his parents. I said yes.) Please pray that God leads and directs His future. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Juan – He quickly adjusted to the idea of us in the house. After only a few weeks in the house we had the following conversation while doing laundry: Juan - “Are you my mommy?” Me - <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I am your mommy for right now in the albergue.” Juan - “My mommy said that she was going to leave me here so I would get a new mommy. She said she wasn’t going to be my mommy any more. Will you be my mommy for forever?” Me – speechless. (How can a mother tell her 7 year old “I am not going to be your mom anymore”) He came to the albergue when he was about 7, meaning he missed out on being educated for some very important years. He is currently repeating 1<sup>st</sup> grade, and struggling. Most importantly, Juan was able to attend a church camp here over the summer. He accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord while there. Please pray that his relationship with the Lord will continue to grow, and that God will help him to fill in all the educational holes he has.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Edwin – he is our lovable little monster (who Oscar calls MegaMind). He is sweet and adorable – quickly attaching himself to the heart of anyone who comes here, but can be extremely naughty. (Hitting, kicking, pinching, throwing things, spitting - not just the other kids… Oscar and I as well.) We’ve really struggled with coming up with effective punishments. His autism makes it difficult for us. He is extremely intelligent, I am convinced of this the more I live with him. His language skills are no representation of his reasoning and understanding. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please pray for wisdom of Oscar and I as we try to train him up, and that he will be given the opportunities to learn, grow and develop to his full potential.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jorge – He was our fit thrower when we first got in the house, but that seems to have been overcome. He is struggling hard with school. His class seems to be the fastest moving of the 1<sup>st</sup> grades, and he just can’t keep up. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please pray he will learn and catch up quickly, and for my patience when I try to do homework with him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pedro – He was born first, and he likes us to remember that. He has been one of the steadiest in all our time here. He is pretty much the same kid he was when we moved in. He cries anytime he gets punished (even if it only a 5 minute time out), he is loud and rowdy, and when he sings – everything about it is operatic. Pray for his family. There is so much turmoil and pain there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pablo – the second born twin. This little guy is much more of a roller coaster than his brother. He goes from quiet and obedient to loud and hyper to rebellious and defiant – sometimes 5 times a day. He rarely is in the middle ground – it is almost always an extreme. Pray that we will help him learn to control his emotions, and for his family.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jhon – He is one of the smartest 4 year olds I have ever met. His speech is so advanced for his age. He wants to know the whys and how’s of EVERYTHING. He has really struggled with the change – he was the most attached to the last madre here. And he has already lost so much at such a young age. Pray for healing in his confused little heart. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alejandro – He came from such a violent home, and he has brought so much of that with him. He regularly hits with no apparent provocation or cause. He throws wild fits and screams and cries. The transition into school has left him exhausted and in an even worse mood. Pray for his recovery from a life of abuse and pray that Oscar and I will be able to teach, correct and discipline him in ways he can understand, grow and heal from.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jose Luis – My little guy. He is adorable – and naughty, but still adorable. He is the only one who isn’t in school here. We hoped that by separating him from the 2 older “little guy” he would stop following and copying them, giving him the ability to think for himself better. Pray for the exciting things he has coming to him in the future, and pray the future comes quickly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oscar and I</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It has been quite an adjustment. Less than a year ago we were not married and on separate continents…. Now we’re married and raising 9 boys.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For the most part it has been fun… with a few rough patches along the way. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am sure some people thought that taking on 9 boys as newlyweds was a crazy, if not stupid, decision. (They’re probably right), but I think our marriage is all the stronger for it. We lean on each other so much. We are making so many important decisions together, on a daily basis. They boys really feel like our family and I we our both so content here. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As some of you may have seen on Facebook, we had a recent disappointment. Oscar and I long for him to get to come to the states and meet so many of my loved ones… But that doesn’t seem to be on the horizon for any time soon. We had been told by a couple friends that getting a tourist visa for a spouse was easy, and since we really only want him to be able to visit, we applied. Oscar was denied because he is married to me. We were told his only option is to get a permanent resident visa… even though we only want him to be able to visit. That visa is very expensive… and there are a lot of parts we don’t understand. We are very sad and confused.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many people have offered comfort that God has a plan for us. While I appreciate the sentiments, that has never been a question or doubt in our hearts. We know, with certainty, that God has plans for us and is leading and guiding us to his Perfect will. And I know that His plans often, if not always, far surpass my plans. That does not mean this doesn’t hurt. My husband, the man I am sharing my life with, doesn’t know my best friends, my brothers, my cousins or aunts and uncles or my friends. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He has never been to my house, much less my town or church. That hurts. That is not ok. Yes, God has a plan and we trust him completely… but this still breaks our hearts.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But with that said – we are still excited about other things God is blessing us with. We are excited about the ministry we are getting to do here in the orphanage. But we are even more excited about the new blessing God has given us. I thought it fair to tell the friends and loved ones who actually take the time to read my blog and pray for us (before announcing it on facebook) that Oscar and I are expecting a baby. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The arrival of Little Baby Alday (or Alday Smith… or Alday-Smith… or however we decide to handle the biculturalness of the last name) will be arriving, Lord willing, October (the 21<sup>st</sup> is my actual due date). The baby will be born here in Peru (as America doesn’t want to let Oscar in). We are both VERY excited!!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please pray for both us to have wisdom, patience and strength daily - we need a lot of it. And please pray for our little one – that he/she will grow and develop healthy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And pray for me – being pregnant and a mother of 9 has been no walk in the park so far. (Everyone says the second trimester is easier, so I am hoping I just have to make it through the next few weeks, and then I will have some relief.) Oscar has been unbelievable amazing and helpful in every way possible. I am more grateful every day for the gift God gave me when He brought Oscar into my life. Please pray I will have the energy to give my boys all they need, and the time to rest and give my baby all he/she needs. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to everyone who reads these and lifts us up in prayer. And those who comment and let me feel the closeness of their support. </p>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-26485831971845986492012-03-20T13:05:00.003-07:002012-03-20T15:50:11.140-07:00Praise be to GodUpdates...<br /><br />The little boy who we thought might be taken at any moment:<br />Our AWESOME new social worker jumped into fight mode to protect our little ones. They left this morning to travel the hour to the town where the family lives. She visited with the family, talked with them, and took pictures of their home to turn in to the courts.<br />We had been told by the family and by two aunts, who had traveled here late last week to warn us, that they had been given the new order to take the kids out. After interviewing the family our social worker realized that they <span style="font-weight: bold;">did not have any order to take the kids out</span>. They had the order given to them a year ago placing the kids in protective services for exactly one year. The family thought that as the year was up, they could simple take the kids away.<br />That is not how it works, and we were able to turn in our report of the families inability to care for them before they even tried to talk to the judge about getting them out.<br />We were also told by the Peruvian social sstem that the kids have actually already been declared abandoned, and that the court just simply forgot to communicate that to the family or the orphanage (ignoring the ridiculousness to focus on the good). That means instead of worrying constantly that they'll go home and be abused and pleading with God for His portection, I (we) can begin praying for a forever family for these three precious children. This means that soon they will be put on the waiting list for adoption... and until the family comes for them, they will be safe and sound here in the orphanage.<br />This is a beautiful blessing from the Lord. Thank you for your prayers.<br /><br />The one we were afraid would never have a forever family:<br />We were able to sit down and talk with the two workers from MIMDES yesterday. After reviewing the file and talking about the characteristics of this sibling set, they concided that there was a possibility they could go positively in adoption. Her exact comment was "I came here decided that there was no way they were going in adoption. I thought they'll just go with the grandpa or stay there forever. Whatever... But you all convinced me there might actually be hope. I think they might actually get to be adopted."<br />They met with the older two siblings. I wasn't there, but I was told that it went very well. We have two weeks to turn in reports and letters from the kids. Then a final decision will be made.<br />I am hopefull and positive. I think there is a VERY strong probability they will get put on the list to be made available for adoption.<br /><br />Now there are six more kids here at our home to pray that a family comes for them....<br /><span id="en-ESV-26675" class="text John-14-18"><span class="woj">"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18</span></span>"<br /><br />I am amazed at the speed in which God the Father worked and answer our petitions. My heart is blessed and encourage, not only by the faithfulness of a God who protects the "least of these," but by the outpouring of love, support and prayer I recieved yesterday after posting.<br />Thank you to every one of you that lifted my boys and their future up to the Lord.<br /><span id="en-ESV-23744" class="text Matt-18-19"><span class="woj">"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.</span></span><span id="en-ESV-23745" class="text Matt-18-20"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”</span></span> Mt 18:19-20Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-53189446133415176992012-03-19T09:09:00.002-07:002012-03-19T09:38:55.059-07:00Heavy Heart<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">I have started writting a new blog 3 different times... They<span lang="en-US">'re saved, unfinished, on my desktop. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">But today, my heart is heavy with concern... and cannot wait to post a well thought out reflection on all that has happened in the last few months. </span> </p><br />Instead I will only share my concerns, so that you may join with me in prayer.<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">Some of these are legal things, and I can't share all the details or names. But here are the situations that have left me overwhelmed by the need for God's intervention today:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">I have a boy who is here in the albergue because of abuse. He is young, and was badly abused, along with his two sisters. The home environment has not changed. The mother and uncle (who both live in the home and are supposedly the primary care givers, but in reality the main sources of abuse) are both mentally handicapped. As an attempt to begin receiving child support (money) have appealed to take the children home. The judge granted this appeal – to a mentally handicapped man who is on record for abuse. We, here at the orphanage, are trying to react and stop this, but in reality they could show up ANY minute and take those three home again. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">I trust God, but I DO NOT TRUST the Peruvian system to protect these children. I am afraid. Please pray that we can get the judge to reverse his decision and keep these children here – safe.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">One of my little guy's has been struggling with what I can only describe as depression. He is only 4, but has already been through so much. His mother is dead, and the night she was shot he spent in the desert in her arms as she died. His father is in prison. His aunt and uncles come to visit, but not regularly. But because of these visits he can not be put up for adoption. He is sad. He needs a family. He needs healing. Please pray we can love him and minister to him effectively. Pray for healing. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">Today the Peruvian (irresponsible) agency in charge of deciding kids fate - Do they go in adoption or not – will come to talk with one of my boys. Based on the discussion they make today they will decide whether this child (who has been in the albergue for over 4 years already) will stay here for the next 11 years or have a chance at a forever family. They have already informed us of their desire to remove him (and his brother and sister) from the adoption list and leave them here until they each age out because of past situations in the family. One wrong comment from the kids about loving their mom and they buy themselves 10+ years in an orphanage. Pray that God be in that meeting – guiding the mouths of those children and the hearts of the Peruvian officials to a decision that is actually BEST for the kids, not just easiest.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">There are so many other needs and reasons to pray for my boys... and all the kids here </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">(like the fact that we've had two of our girls test positive for tuberculosis in the past week). </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span lang="en-US">Today, I ask that you please lift these up in Prayer. God is bigger than the Peruvian government... And he has a plan for each of these precious children. </span> </p>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-52829387183252380712012-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:002012-01-10T19:17:35.220-08:00Sometimes....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well we have been parents for 5 and ½ weeks. <span style=""> </span>It has been quite a time. It would be impossible to fully describe the first month. It would be impossible to even fully describe a day. So I will just share what happens sometimes…… and how it makes me feel…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes the kids misbehave, lie, throw fits, scream, slam doors, hit, bite and kick. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes we punish them and it seems too harsh. Sometimes we punish them and it doesn’t seem like enough to get the point across. Sometimes we don’t punish them and try to teach the Grace of God…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I lose my patience. <span style=""> </span>Sometimes I don’t give them that 10<sup>th</sup> hug of the day they want cause <span style=""> </span>I am too busy serving lunch. Sometimes instead of using the teachable moments or just playing with them, I am just lazy. Sometimes I feel like I fail.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes they are so funny. They say the most ridiculous things. They do the most ridculous things. Sometimes they make me laugh so hard.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes they have questions that I don’t know how to answer. What is the wind, why their mother didn’t come this week, and If I am their mom now. How am I supposed to respond?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes they tell stories… about their mother not wanting to see them anymore, when the truth is their mother died, and they just don’t understand what that means… Sometimes they tell about their mother saying she isn’t going to come visit, and isn’t going to be their mom anymore, like that is normal. Sometimes they break my heart. Sometimes I cry.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Sometimes I have no clue how to react to the kids or what to do with them. Sometimes I feel lost. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes, I want to throw a pity party for myself about how hard it is. I want to write home to complain about the hours, the stress, the lack of money, the exhaustion and all the pee I have to deal with. Sometimes I lose my focus, and this becomes a job.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I am overwhelmed. I clean something… and in less than an hour it is already dirty again.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes I do more laundry than I knew to be humanly possible. Sometimes I feel like all I really am is a maid. Sometimes I hate it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes, I slip away “to hang laundry”, put my headphones in, and find my re-focus. I find my 5 minutes to worship my Father. Sometimes I hide, all by myself, amidst the drying sheets and blankets, and thank Him for His love, mercy, grace, strength, patience, and faithfulness as he parents me. Sometimes I am deeply grateful to get to go hang laundry. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I love my boys so much I am not sure I’ll ever be able to leave them. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I think that If I can’t find five minutes alone my head is going to explode.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I look at them and see the effects of their parents’ poor choices. Sometimes I see their scars, their flat heads… I see how small and short they are. <span style=""> </span>Sometimes I get angry. Angry at “parents” who didn’t/don’t value my treasures. <span style=""> </span>Angry <span style=""> </span>at <span style=""> </span>“parents” that still lie and emotional damage my boys. Angry at “parents” who are selfish and immature. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes they truly feel like my sons. Sometimes they ask for another hug and kiss good night.. Sometimes they ask me to sleep in their bed with them. <span style="" lang="ES-PE">Sometimes they yell “Buenas Noches, Papa. <span style=""> </span></span>Buenas Noches, Mama” and I suddenly don’t want it to be bedtime anymore just so I can spend more time with them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes they come running to hug me from across the field. Sometimes they come and hug me, just cause they want to hug me. Sometimes they overwhelm me with their love for me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I am grateful for this opportunity. Grateful to get to love and be loved by these boys. Grateful to teach and learn from these boys. Grateful they’re in my life. Grateful they are my boys.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Always, I am blessed by each and every one of them, by my amazing husband, and by the God I serve. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Prayer Requests:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jose Luis: Pray for his future and the possibilities of getting a forever family.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alejandro: He has been throwing a lot of fits lately. Pray for wisdom and patience for Oscar and I as we deal with him, and that his anger will diminish. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jhon: He can be extremely shy in large groups. He will be starting school this March. Pray for this transition.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jorge: He can be quite a tattletale, and indian giver. Pray he learns to be a friend. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pedro and Pablo: Their father is not in a healthy state, and when he visits it causes more pain than joy. Pray for protection. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Juan: Pray for peace in his heart and life as he fights the demons of his past.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Paul: He will possibly be returning home to his mother. Pray God works His will in his life. It has also been a huge struggle for him adjusting to having a male authority in the house. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Edwin: Pray for a forever family for him. He has been waiting so long. </p>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-88782980182681332642011-10-28T13:07:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:14:11.106-07:00We're going to be PARENTS!!!<div align="center"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">That's right! Oscar and I are going to be Mom and Dad.... </font></div><div><font color="#663300">to 9 little boys at the orphanage Hogar de Esperanza.</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300"> (so... no, we're not pregnant and no, we're not adopting.... yet.) </font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300">Starting mid November we will take over as live in care-givers for la casita "Los Tesoros de Dios" (the Treasures of God). We are SO EXCITED about this opportunity to Love and guide the boys. This casita has 9 boys all 9 yrs old and under. We will live with the boys 6 days a week, and be responsible for them - education, cleanliness, spiritual growth and emotional needs. The task at hand is quite large, and a bit daunting, but we know that God has a plan and a purpose to work out both in the lives of the boys through us, as well as in us through these boys.</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div> </div><div><font color="#663300">Each of these sweet treasures has his own story... which hopefully further down the road I will become a more faithful blogger and share parts of them with you. But for now enjoy the following pictures of our soon to be kiddos...</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300"> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668641983595786498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A19fIf00VZ4/TqsP2a8XsQI/AAAAAAAAAg0/WymTeh2By6Y/s400/PA152873.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"> Edwin - 9 yrs old</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668641983161030754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05js5ZsLcPs/TqsP2ZUt2GI/AAAAAAAAAgo/fZuGsHtWS9U/s400/PA153271.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Paul - 8 yrs old</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 336px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668647450897125378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwCWOyc9aac/TqsU0qOlkAI/AAAAAAAAAiY/-491FmLPRG8/s400/P9282731.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Juan - 8 yrs old (with Oscar)</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668647429059417714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ-c7RVwxko/TqsUzY4ElnI/AAAAAAAAAhs/5lwhs1d6GcM/s400/P9092640.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Jorge - 6 yrs old</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668647440856907394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSflwt33Bkw/TqsU0E0z_oI/AAAAAAAAAiI/O1pEw-V96qg/s400/P9092647.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Pablo and Pedro - 6 yr old twins</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668647433956517762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyS74y_clQU/TqsUzrHoZ4I/AAAAAAAAAh8/_-YS7ZHy-54/s400/DSCF1315.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Jhon - 3 yrs old</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668647424791656514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QYJXgHo-zSU/TqsUzI-juEI/AAAAAAAAAhk/8A5hnDnHGnI/s400/DSCF1309.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"> Alejandro - 3 yrs old</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668642001229160994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32PspNv51Sw/TqsP3cofoiI/AAAAAAAAAhI/7juJoO47_Ps/s400/DSCF1313.JPG" /></font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300">Jose Luis - 3 yrs old </font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"> </font></div><div align="center"><font color="#663300"> </font></div><div><font color="#663300">We know this is going to be a challenging (and exhausting) adventure, but we feel confident in God's will leading us here at this time. Prayer will be VERY needed for us over the next few months. Here are a few requests we have:</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300">1. That we would be a light in each of these boys' lives, showing them the Love of God so that they may come to know Him (or know Him better). </font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300">2. Strength, Energy, Wisdom and Patience necesary to parent these little boys.</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300">3. For our marriage as we face the new challenges parenting in the albergue will present - lack of privacy and liberty, added responsibility... and the ever present cultural differences.</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300">4. For each one of these boys as they adjust to this new transition. They've been with the same madre for 4 years, so this will be a big change. And for the salvation of each and every one of them.</font></div><div><font color="#663300"></font> </div><div><font color="#663300"> </font></div><div><font color="#663300">We are so grateful for your support and prayer during this time. </font></div><div><font color="#663300"> </font></div><div> </div><div><font color="#663300"><em>Oscar</em> y <em>Samantha</em> <em>Alday</em></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-67387695554286315072011-10-21T21:58:00.000-07:002011-10-21T22:40:39.619-07:00Updates from the Aldays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pjs-UvkWB3g/TqJVDU5FRpI/AAAAAAAAAgU/z4FNHZN6OUQ/s1600/DSCF1126.JPG"></a><div align="left"><font face="Calibri">It has been a LONG time since I have blogged. Years<br />actually.</font></div><div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Calibri">I will make no promise to improve on this… but I have some<br />information to share, and this seemed the most effective way to do so….<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"><div align="center"> </div></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Calibri">First the basics:</font><font face="Times New Roman"></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Calibri">Oscar and I are well. After the honeymoon travelling we<br />spent time in Chiclayo with Oscar’s family. We’ve also spent time in the orphanage.<br />We helped plan their 10<sup><font size="2">th</font></sup> anniversary celebration. Now we are back<br />in Chiclayo until the end the month. Then we are going to the JUNGLE! with a<br />few of the volunteers from the orphanage. (3 years later and I finally get to<br />go to the jungle!)</font></p><font face="Calibri"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666184771722723394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XAqNsDQVSk/TqJVB3ZCwEI/AAAAAAAAAgI/v3AMhGjFxEc/s400/DSCF1327.JPG" />Oscar, Heydi, Marita and I after going out to church and lunch together on Sunday at the albergue.</font><font face="Times New Roman"><br /><br /></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">Now the real reason for the blog:<o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">The Visa. As many of you know our plan was to have a<br />religious wedding ceremony in Peru and then return to the states together with<br />a fiancé visa and have our legal ceremony.<o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">That is not what is going to happen. The story of why’s and<br />how’s are long and difficult. So for now. On this blog. We’ll leave it at that.<br />The plan is cancelled. Someday we’ll get together for coffee and I’ll tell you<br />the whole story. But not today. Not here. <o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">Oscar and I will be attempting to get a temporary husband’s<br />visa for him soon. But the ugly truth is we haven’t been able to start the<br />process yet, and once we start it, it will still take 6 months. There are lots<br />of hoops we have to jump through before we can start the process… So Oscar and<br />I won’t be in the US until June 2012… at the earliest… and that is probably being<br />optimistic.<o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">This reality has not been the easiest for me to accept. I<br />wanted a wedding that I got to plan and pick things for. I wanted you all to<br />meet my husband. But I walk in faith knowing God has a plan I don’t yet<br />understand. If we are in Peru for now it is because He has something to accomplish<br />in and through us here. (More on that in the next blog – I will promise you one<br />more… but just one. And it is more exciting than this one!)<o:p></o:p></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666184759128861746" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0w2MKUPvERU/TqJVBIebrDI/AAAAAAAAAf8/2z6JD2hyxIs/s400/DSCF1032.JPG" /></font></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-61930698492979062702009-05-23T14:30:00.000-07:002009-05-23T15:45:40.983-07:00Anna in Peru<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh3TCmtVWI/AAAAAAAAAZM/Rx0PE1SLs1w/s1600-h/P5160285.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339148527248168290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh3TCmtVWI/AAAAAAAAAZM/Rx0PE1SLs1w/s400/P5160285.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>My sister, Anna, came back to Peru with me when I returned. It was so much fun to have her here for a week. I have to be honest and say, I was a little nervous, we tend to argue like sisters a lot, but we had a wonderful week without a single fight. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339148524452662322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh3S4MNTDI/AAAAAAAAAZE/YRZ_jJt7RJ0/s400/P5120251.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339148534820449138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh3Te0FK3I/AAAAAAAAAZc/NJn707lEMH0/s400/P5190438.JPG" border="0" /> She tried lots of new foods - which I am very proud of her for.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339151651432448274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6I5GSQRI/AAAAAAAAAZk/gnJHNEuQjhk/s400/P5180390.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339152569960656306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6-W4ebbI/AAAAAAAAAaU/pqkGi3A4LzI/s400/P5180384.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>We took a day trip with my friends and the volunteers to a town about 2 hours north of Trujillo called Pacasmayo. It was a blast. One of the most pure fun days I've had here. We played on the bus. Walked along the longest pier ever, that was anything but solid ground. (The boards were so weird and spaced out ... it was like an optical illusion to walk along. Everyone thought they'ed loose their flip flops, but no one would take them off because stepping in fish guts isn't that appealing either. Luckily there were no foot issues... yet...) We swam in the Pacific Ocean. (Anna's first time.) Then they played football on the beach. Then Nikki's toe and Walter's toenail collided... Then we went to the hospital and got Nikki three stitches in the bottom of her toe. Which may sound like a bad part of the day, and granted I wasn't the one in pain, but it still managed to be fun. Nikki's reaction to pain it so laugh. She was sitting on the examining table laughing. And she may be the only person I know who can eat cake while getting stitches done. (That was my third taking time someone to the hospital... all three times have been adventures, but this was definitely the best time - I will spare you the details and simply say that no one else but the current patient's blood was involved - so it was pretty good.) After the hospital we went to dinner. We had a big family mean where every one ate all they wanted off a plate and then passes to the next person. It was delicious. Then we jumped on a bus and headed back to Trujillo. We lucked out and found a mini micro (small bus) that was finishing up for the day... they brought all 9 of us all the way back to Salaverry for a great price - while blasting our favorite cumbia music and flashing the very cool blue interior lights - our very own rolling party mobile. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339151659365608258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6JWpsq0I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/DAa0BC8Px68/s400/P5170308.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339151663308194850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6JlVrxCI/AAAAAAAAAaE/22gbUqIjiPI/s400/P5170374.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339151663460424738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6Jl5-nCI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/As5DW2QyVhY/s400/P5170373.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>I am so glad my sister got to come down and meet my friends and family, enjoy the delicious food, have fun and see why I love it so much here. I think instead of asking me when I am coming home again she may start asking when she can come back to Peru again.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339151656540964674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6JMIQB0I/AAAAAAAAAZs/ksE3Gv328_k/s400/DSCN0264.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339152572156994514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh6-fEH49I/AAAAAAAAAaM/VJBS6v4f-r8/s400/P5190428.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339148532141513570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh3TU1X22I/AAAAAAAAAZU/jx6P5_RkPhg/s400/P5160296.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-32455374279419351442009-05-23T14:14:00.000-07:002009-05-23T15:13:59.063-07:00Back HomeI will be the first to admit this particular short coming of mine - I have been a terribly lame blogger - it is true. I know it. I had this whole theory about people, relationships and experiences being more important than my computer... and then a dear friend reminded me that it wasn't just my computer - it was my friends and family back home waiting on news... former volunteers and people associated with the albergue.... and others that had a genuine interest in my life in Peru and the things happening at Hogar de Esperanza that I was choosing to ignore when I made no time to update my blog. Valid point, and with that in mind I will try to do better. So here I am - it is sunny Saturday afternoon blogging time. <div><div><div><br /><div>I originally came down to my Hogar for August 2008 - April 2009... but lets get serious. This place is too beautiful, the children are too wonderful, the workers are too fantastic, the volunteers are too amazing, and the experiences are too fabulous to leave after such a short time. I have been able to extend my time serving here in Hogar de Esperanza until next March (2010). </div><br /><div>I came home to Virginia for a 3 week visit in April. It was a wonderful time of reconnecting with friends, visiting with family, worshiping the Lord in English, and eating a lot of mexican food.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339144049661543554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/ShhzOaS3hII/AAAAAAAAAYc/yUQicicCW7A/s400/dad.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I got to have sleep overs with old friends... and shop with my sister... and eat meals with lots of people who love me... it was a wonderful time.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339144052718918898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/ShhzOlrzXPI/AAAAAAAAAYk/Xa-GfN3atDs/s400/lynchburg.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339144053642316098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/ShhzOpH9SUI/AAAAAAAAAYs/OgD-DUD98dE/s400/the+gang.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>The three weeks felt like a short time to get to spend with loved ones, but like an eternity to be away from the albergue. Things in the Albergue change so much, every day... nothing is ever the same. While I was gone children left, new workers came, and volunteers came and went. Sarah and Nikki, two of the long term volunteers filled in for me while I was away. I am so grateful to them for all of their efforts while I was at home relaxing. I took them out to dinner as a thanks, but I feels that falls quite short in repaying them for all the extra things they had to do while I was away. They are both quite remarkable women. I am very grateful for them.<br /></div><div>I am also grateful to be back. It was sweet to be back in the land I am from, but there is some thing about being in Peru is just perfect for me... so for now, I am quite happy to be Back Home.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339145209038743010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/Shh0R5T7peI/AAAAAAAAAY0/7bhNglLPG10/s400/DSCN0261.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-30876229519445859622008-11-17T06:57:00.000-08:002008-11-17T11:55:44.076-08:00It Has Been Too Long<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHc8s3WpI/AAAAAAAAAYE/_q3oaj18Dyg/s1600-h/SH107382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712339144759954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHc8s3WpI/AAAAAAAAAYE/_q3oaj18Dyg/s400/SH107382.JPG" border="0" /></a> The end of September and all of October… in one blog. Forgive my lameness for letting two months go by without a blog…<br />The kids had a week off of school the last week of September. Lindsey and I decided to do something special for them. We did a game day on Thursday. Three legged race, wheelbarrow races, tug-o-war… We had a prize (cookies) for the winners. It was close all the way, but in the end the boys won. The girls wouldn’t speak to us for about 2 hours because we didn’t give them cookies too. It was still fun. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269644622476837602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGJ3UdHguI/AAAAAAAAASk/l6tEb0HUI1E/s400/SH106047.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269644632545724146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGJ359uhvI/AAAAAAAAASs/x6rXYX4xbZo/s400/SH106060.JPG" border="0" /><br />Friday night we had a fiesta for all the girls. We played cranium, ate snacks, sang songs, did facials, and laughed… a lot. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269644640080467778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGJ4WCJl0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/ItjLITFJyDw/s400/SH106200.JPG" border="0" /><br />Saturday morning Lindsey and I got up at 5 in the morning and made about 65 pancakes for the boys (and the madres, workers, and ourselves). Even though it was an early wakeup call, it was a blast. The boys really enjoyed the special treat. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269644643701168578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGJ4jhZGcI/AAAAAAAAAS8/YXJYCfcncBk/s400/SH106220.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269644650934354434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGJ4-d6wgI/AAAAAAAAATE/ttRMb0RrWug/s400/SH106233.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269654384816759378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGSvkAVIlI/AAAAAAAAATM/utt0ULy2fm0/s400/SH106243.JPG" border="0" /><br />Sarita and Hugo have been the parents of one of the casitas for about six years. Sarita left the orphanage this month. Lindsey and I took some “family portraits” for them before they left. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269654394256599298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGSwHK9qQI/AAAAAAAAATU/UY174Ln5SnQ/s400/SH106382.JPG" border="0" /><br />They had a going away party before they left, and they invited us to come. Lindsey and I both had a TON of fun wrestling with the kids, singing songs in spanish, eating yummy food and cake, playing games, and watching Iron Man. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269654398630359362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGSwXdv8UI/AAAAAAAAATc/kiF6gYWkWoU/s400/SH106594.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269654404459276834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGSwtLeKiI/AAAAAAAAATk/VVILws0Hn3w/s400/SH106596.JPG" border="0" /><br />That Sunday Lindsey, Laura and I took Maria out to celebrate her birthday. We let her pick a friend to bring, Yamelit. We went to church, the mall, ate lunch, played in “Happy Land”, saw a movie, then walked around town. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269678856685630930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGpAA0iNdI/AAAAAAAAAVs/1AyQQH9N9Mo/s400/DSCN0749.JPG" border="0" /><br />The albergue (orphanage) started a new behavior program. The kids work all month to earn points, and then at the end of the month they get a big reward. For the first reward we all went to the zoo. It was a tiny little zoo but the kids loved seeing all the animals. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269668349199586306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGfcZYpFAI/AAAAAAAAAT0/fGzVdSf0Y2A/s400/SH106601.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269668368098025682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGfdfyYYNI/AAAAAAAAAUE/JyKDsYygA_s/s400/SH106673.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269668376602062402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGfd_d5rkI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Jc7xKyisFFE/s400/SH106716.JPG" border="0" /><br />That Sunday Lindsey and I took Josué, Abraham, Samir out with us for the day. We went to church, and then ran into Laura and Angela at Wong (the fancy grocery store here). They were out with two of the other boys. Samir decided he would go with them to the park. Lindsey, Josué, Abraham and I ended up walking around town for hours. We ran into one of the soccer player from the national Peru team, but Josué was too scared to ask for his picture. We went to the mall and played hide and go seek. Then we watched the longest parade ever. Ok. Maybe not, but it was really long. It was the International Spring Parade, which is supposed to be a really big deal. I decided I am not a parade person, but the boys were glued to it. They loved it. Lindsey and I had a good time being silly and posing for pictures. (One of the high school boys in one of the bands marching in the parade decided he wanted a picture of the two Americans watching the parade. We smiled nicely as he marched by with his camera phone. ) After the parade, we took the boys to grab some dinner and head home. All in all we were out with them for 12 hours, but it was a fantastic day. I love spending time with both of them.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269654406147288258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGSwzd7LMI/AAAAAAAAATs/iO48GI8hP5Y/s400/DSCN0793.JPG" border="0" /><br />The Wednesday the 8th of October was a holiday here in Peru. (It celebrated some famous sailor who died in battle with Colombia in the 1600’s or something like that.) The whole albergue – kids, volunteers, workers and their families, everyone – went on a paseo (field trip) to Simbal. I got to drive a 2 seater truck with all the maintenance man’s family… and all the food in the back. It was thrilling. We drove like an hour through the foothills of the Andes. It was so beautiful! The albergue is located in a big pile of sand. There aren’t many trees. It is all just brown. Brown everywhere. It was so refreshing to see the green trees, blue sky, and mountain skyline.<br />We played a bunch of games and hung out having a good time. It was so enjoyable to see all the workers here in a different environment and with their families. (I saw a scorpion, got about 34 bug bitses, and Angela got bitten by an unidentified insect that cause her foot to swell up to the size of a football for a week. It was definitely an adventure.) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269668376908797954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGfeAnCGAI/AAAAAAAAAUU/BiyJtM989hw/s400/SH106746.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269670963276612946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGh0jlLBVI/AAAAAAAAAUc/0CvvPEQFUi4/s400/SH106774.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269670973130422402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGh1ISgOII/AAAAAAAAAUk/p1lpySGDs4I/s400/SH106815.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then we all went swimming! This place was not very clean. The bathrooms were… well let’s just say most the people chose to change clothes in the woods because it was more appealing than the bathroom. The water was unchlorinated. And brown. Yeah. But it was unbelievably fun. Everyone was sufficiently exhausted when we made it home. It was a great holiday, whatever it was celebrating.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269670976132238258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGh1TeMS7I/AAAAAAAAAUs/eqTm5l7qCOg/s400/SH106835.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269670987326078546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGh19LAvlI/AAAAAAAAAU8/dZTYaX9fKRo/s400/SH106855.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269670980943681186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGh1lZVFqI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Vv4-sYhhi-s/s400/SH106849.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269674757995433826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGlRcApD2I/AAAAAAAAAVE/Y_8KMtp11ak/s400/SH107042.JPG" border="0" /><br />There are currently five long term volunteers here right now. We have had a lot of fun times here. We spent a day in Huanchaco hanging out for Page's going away “party”. We also play a lot of games of spoons in our favorite chicken restaurant in Salaverry. Sometimes we all end up in the kitchen making whatever food we are missing the most that week (pancakes in the pictures). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269678864424179794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGpAdpjGFI/AAAAAAAAAV0/DGWE2noMjAk/s400/SH106734.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269685770448197346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGvScl-1uI/AAAAAAAAAWU/ojYfB7dDseU/s400/IMG_7928.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269674763532862162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGlRwo3gtI/AAAAAAAAAVU/eQPvkTTG5d4/s400/IMG_7942.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269678871899820226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGpA5f4UMI/AAAAAAAAAWE/-Lz60bKhM0g/s400/IMG_7959.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269678885238492162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGpBrMETAI/AAAAAAAAAWM/k_cIuWSJS9Y/s400/IMG_7964.jpg" border="0" /><br />We started a new program for Saturday mornings. The volunteers are taking the kids who do not get visits from their family on Saturday mornings out for a fun time. We took them to the beach (aka crossed the road). They chased crabs and let the water chase them as the waves came crashing in. It was fun until they ran out into the road on the way home. The next week we took them to a park. They had good time swinging, sliding, jump roping, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and throwing the football. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269685771755244482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGvShdmy8I/AAAAAAAAAWc/0e5usEuYNt0/s400/SH107187.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269678865419363826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGpAhW0ZfI/AAAAAAAAAV8/lGRwPgSoQzQ/s400/SH107202.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269674773665325010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGlSWYon9I/AAAAAAAAAVk/nroWv2PMKHo/s400/SH107188.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707972620388466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHDeyIVCHI/AAAAAAAAAXc/g_aF467rZU8/s400/SH107277.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712335085361010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHctlB13I/AAAAAAAAAX8/HX2wL9_iHTY/s400/SH107301.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712321281615330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHb6J9ZeI/AAAAAAAAAXk/XtSApo8rr0k/s400/SH107271.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712330248422386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHcbj0A_I/AAAAAAAAAX0/MvLjqV51x9I/s400/SH107270.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269712323274248034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHHcBlCj2I/AAAAAAAAAXs/6PRLslXXMS0/s400/SH107318.JPG" border="0" /><br />At the end of the month we took the kids from the school on campus and the kinder class to the beach. I am not sure how educational it was, but it was a blast. I took my first swim in the Pacific Ocean… in winter… in all my clothes. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269685778873673650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGvS7-xZ7I/AAAAAAAAAWk/bGku1Uzzd00/s400/IMG_8103.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269685790086683698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGvTlwKXDI/AAAAAAAAAW0/yQuGdfIAMI0/s400/IMG_8186.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269685782210893458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSGvTIabVpI/AAAAAAAAAWs/ZpJLs1yWAb0/s400/SH107755.JPG" border="0" /><br />Halloween came and went without too much excitement, but one of the volunteers did find a pumpkin at the mall. She brought it home and we (the kids who were up late in the kitchen) carved it. It was fun because that isn’t a time we normally get to hangout with the kids. I have found I love the unexpected moments of having fun with the kids more than when I try to plan a special time with them. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707957055496290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHDd4JXoGI/AAAAAAAAAW8/4Ivf5qqRk-I/s400/SH107601.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707960388715250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHDeEkEgvI/AAAAAAAAAXE/1WGfLBSEoME/s400/SH107608.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707967344888418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHDeeejSmI/AAAAAAAAAXM/9dfQLjNTHvw/s400/SH107635.JPG" border="0" /><br />That was my October. It was full of fun and laughter, trips with kids and chill times with my teammates. It was perfect. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269707968053867570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SSHDehHldDI/AAAAAAAAAXU/1Yt2PE5Z7M0/s400/SH107532.JPG" border="0" />Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-14031404042315274402008-09-20T22:10:00.001-07:002008-10-02T06:57:29.030-07:00Without Love, I am Nothing.If tried to write a blog every time something that melted my hear t or made it feel overwhelmed by joy happened I think I would spend a ridiculous time writing blogs. To say that I love it here is an understatement. I find myself feeling, experiencing, giving, and watching more love than I ever even knew was possible.<br />The Peruvian workers… and strangers on the street… are so warm, open, and welcoming. I have only been here 3 weeks and already I have been invited to two homes for dinner and one for breakfast, out on the town for a birthday celebration, and to four different churches. I am not the only one. All of the volunteers here have been invited out by many of the people with whom we come in contact. They meet you, and then they invite you to share time with them. It is that simple here.<br />Along with that, my role here at the orphanage involves a lot of responsibility and interaction with the Spanish only speaking staff here. They have been overwhelmingly gracious with my grammatically wretched Spanish. Their faces while they try to find the meaning to my poorly pronounced garble shows how much work it is for them, but they never seem to get frustrated. They are always willing to repeat things that I just don’t follow and use other words or ways to communicate with me. They have also always been willing to answer my thousand questions. I don’t think I could count all the times I have walked into a room and started a conversation saying “OK. I have a question” (in Spanish of course). They are all so patient. Even now, as I was writing this, the handy man walked by the door to my office, took a step back, stuck his head in, smiled at me, and then went on his way. It is great.<br />The children. I have not yet written about the children in any of my blogs or updates because I find myself overwhelmed with things I want to share. I want to tell you all the stories of the funny things they do, the adorable things they do, the terrible things they do, and the things they do that show who they really are, but instead – for this blog at least – I will only share a few of the moments when their love has overwhelmed me.<br /><br /><div><div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXZ1CNTH_I/AAAAAAAAAPo/NBzgM1w_Nz0/s1600-h/SH105510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248340445919125490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" height="172" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXZ1CNTH_I/AAAAAAAAAPo/NBzgM1w_Nz0/s200/SH105510.JPG" width="134" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Samir is 9 or 10 I think. He is one of those kids that can be ‘too cool for school’. He was here the<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXY6GXwX6I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/nxAXsv4Uc80/s1600-h/SH105510.JPG"></a> last time I was here, and he was too cool then too. He, generally speaking, is not very affectionate, not very clingy. He has recently started holding my hand as I walk him to and from school every day. Lots of the kids like to hold the volunteers’ hands, but he has never been one of them. I have to get up like 40 minutes early to walk the kids to school in the morning, but when he holds my hand as we walk it makes it totally worth it. (He hates to have his picture taken, so this is the only one I have of him)</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXa_UN7YDI/AAAAAAAAAPw/CNhvqUx3AEU/s1600-h/SH105709.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248341722063921202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="193" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXa_UN7YDI/AAAAAAAAAPw/CNhvqUx3AEU/s200/SH105709.JPG" width="144" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Yen is 4 years old. He is adorable. He is literally adorableness in human form. Sometimes when we are walking towards each other he will throw his arms out to the side (I will then do the same), then he runs toward me and throws himself into my arms. It is the best moment – every time.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br />Jhonathon is a total punk. He is a really tough kid. (He has a really rough background.) He can be pretty mean and disrespectful. He is usually pretty mean and disrespectful. But sometimes when I hug him and hold him in my arms I feel his guard come down. I feel him change into the sweet, broken little boy he is underneath his shell, and I wish I could just hold him forever. Of course, sometimes he won’t let me hug him at all, cause he is a punk. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248344558235522226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXdkZx7lLI/AAAAAAAAAP4/anCeQAwS2ko/s320/SH105721.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248344567505357666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXdk8UCC2I/AAAAAAAAAQA/OFFbsYdPV98/s320/SH105586.JPG" border="0" /> Ok. I could go on about this for forever, but I won’t.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>An update on things I have gotten to do lately –<br />Eating in the street. So I went to the bead store with one of the workers here (cause there is a special one I go to get a discount, and I can’t find it on my own yet). After we had gotten all the beads we walked down the street and ate soup at a table – set up in the street. Not a street that was closed – there were taxis flying down the street less than a foot behind me.<br /></div><div>Covering houses. I spent one 24 hour period as the mother of nine little boys. It was exhausting. Most of the day was fine because I had smaller groups of them, as the others were in school, but the evening was a little hectic. I also spent 48 hours in a house of girls. That was much easier - much calmer. It was still exhausting though. Both times were good because I got to form deeper relationships with the kids. I let them do things like play hide and seek inside and play twister. Things their madres would probably not be happy with me for… don’t tell them. </div><div></div><div align="center">Hide and Seek with the Boys!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248344580351416770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXdlsKxWcI/AAAAAAAAAQY/v5lgStuG5YY/s320/SH105717.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248344576525276642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXdld6jFeI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/_AVy_ixAPZg/s320/SH105723.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248344568750714018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXdlA88rKI/AAAAAAAAAQI/cCapKJ7mk28/s320/SH105727.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Twister with the girls! (and Danny)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248347136653930050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXf6fIyLkI/AAAAAAAAAQo/ww2bCNOY9j8/s320/SH105881.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248347129407665106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXf6EJI89I/AAAAAAAAAQg/0f1pOQKDSbk/s320/SH105875.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXk0Oq1fhI/AAAAAAAAARo/TAZdMwrvHLk/s1600-h/100_2587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248352526712274450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXk0Oq1fhI/AAAAAAAAARo/TAZdMwrvHLk/s200/100_2587.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Lunch with Macgyver. The handy man here is the Peruvian version of Macgyver. Seriously, he can fix anything and is the most resourceful man in the world. He invited all of the volunteers (all 6 of us) to his house for lunch with his family last Sunday (or maybe the Sunday before). Then we all piled in the van and headed to the beach. It was a really fun time.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXgpKeVgbI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/vSzf91X_7s0/s1600-h/SH105928.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248347938561032626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXgpKeVgbI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/vSzf91X_7s0/s200/SH105928.JPG" border="0" /></a>Banquet on the roof. Many of the girls (and two of the boys) got all dressed up and went to a banquet at a youth group here in town. We decided that, with all the girls who couldn’t go, we would have our own banquet. Lindsey and I set tables up on the roof, got some soda and cookies, cut up some fruit, and brought all the girls up for a candle lit banquet. Of course, it was really windy so the candles wouldn’t light and the girls were all cold and wore our sweatshirts, but we all had a blast hanging out together. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248347134819073490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXf6YTUfdI/AAAAAAAAAQw/D1s1az2owHQ/s320/SH105961.JPG" border="0" /><br />This coming week the kids have vacation (well most of the kids do). We have lots of activities and fun things planned for this week (Game Day, Pajama Party, and Movie Times). We also have three new volunteers coming for a couple days. It should be a pretty fun filled exciting week!</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248350193508533234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXisaztw_I/AAAAAAAAARQ/SGFq0fgvq-k/s400/SH105898.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248350186350035474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXisAI_whI/AAAAAAAAARA/XEVFdkBXhAw/s400/SH105689.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248350201294786178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXis30GjoI/AAAAAAAAARg/i0TUYKdld70/s400/SH105863.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248350194335977666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXisd4_kMI/AAAAAAAAARI/TwKQD2gZupY/s400/SH105741.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248350196131663714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SNXisklHj2I/AAAAAAAAARY/1cD1n1zEKdg/s400/SH105973.JPG" border="0" />Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-6663720589253190362008-09-11T07:56:00.000-07:002008-09-11T18:30:09.339-07:00Good Times!Two weeks later I am finally blogging. The internet has been a bit inconsistent, and that is going to be my excuse. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMkzbQykxJI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZhEW7CBoGjw/s1600-h/100_2531.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244779784506229906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px" height="105" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMkzbQykxJI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZhEW7CBoGjw/s200/100_2531.JPG" width="191" border="0" /></a><br />So here are a few fun stories from the last two weeks…<br />1. The Bonfire. I totally got to sleep on the beach by the Pacific Ocean my first week here. It was really fun… and cold, but definitely something I will never forget.<br />2. Being Robbed. So I wasn’t actually robbed and it wasn’t a fun experience, but still warrants a story on the blog. We were sitting at dinner. I had just been given a Very Yummy looking pizza. I was looking down at it in much anticipation of eating it. All of the sudden, everybody started yelling. For some reason, in my mind, I thought that my teammate had dropped her salad on the floor and that was what they were yelling about. I looked up and saw the salad sitting perfectly safe on the table and got very confused. Then I realized everyone was looking out the window as a guy was jumping in a taxi. Then I saw my teammate faces and realized what had just happened (that all took about 5 seconds.) We think they had been following us since my teammates had exchanged their money about 15 minutes before (but we’re not sure about that). The purse was sitting on the table and one guy hailed a taxi while the other stepped in the restaurant and grabbed the purse. I missed it all starring at my pizza.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMkz-1sAJDI/AAAAAAAAACU/dwDiHaSqONA/s1600-h/100_2573.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244780395706197042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" height="188" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMkz-1sAJDI/AAAAAAAAACU/dwDiHaSqONA/s200/100_2573.JPG" width="143" border="0" /></a>3. The Art Show. I got to meet one of my teammate’s friends, Cristian. He is an awesome artist, and we went to his art show. I really enjoyed it.<br />4. The Grocery Store. First of all, it is awesome. It is pretty much like a mini target, and we all know how much I love target. Second, it has always been my theory that a place isn’t home until you run in to people you know in the grocery store. Tonight I ran into Cristian in the grocery store. Trujillo is now officially home.<br />5। Dead Chickens। I can now cut apart and gut a chicken। I took a whole chicken and cut it into usable pieces। It was awesome… and kind of disgusting, but I did it. (and I am very proud of it.)<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMk4cvGLdJI/AAAAAAAAAC8/fj42wpbWdys/s1600-h/SH105462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244785307379528850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMk4cvGLdJI/AAAAAAAAAC8/fj42wpbWdys/s320/SH105462.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMk4cx260pI/AAAAAAAAADE/0XWrZAIrlFs/s1600-h/SH105463.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244785308120830610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMk4cx260pI/AAAAAAAAADE/0XWrZAIrlFs/s320/SH105463.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>6. The Dunes. So the kids didn’t have school this Tuesday because of a transportation strike <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMm7QMfZ4EI/AAAAAAAAADc/h0QLlBrfS4E/s1600-h/100_2652.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244929127954899010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMm7QMfZ4EI/AAAAAAAAADc/h0QLlBrfS4E/s200/100_2652.JPG" border="0" /></a>(kind of like a snow day… only instead of the presence of snow there was an absence of taxis and megros). It was a super fun day. We (4 of the volunteers) decided it would be a fun idea to take the kids up the sand dunes. We all rolled down the hills. We all had a <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMlmEBkx3yI/AAAAAAAAADM/FFJGh_kabtI/s1600-h/100_2652.JPG"></a>blast. We were all covered from head to toe in sand. Then the sun came out, and in a very short amount of time the sand went from soothingly warm to blisteringly hot. We had all left our shoes inside the wall so we didn’t lose them in the dunes. Yeah. Bad decision. I carried one of the little ones and ran from piece of trash to piece of trash hoping I wasn’t going to have blisters (I don’t). I have never been so grateful for litter. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244930317053720210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMm8VaOp9pI/AAAAAAAAADk/Uc_qtbiIRnQ/s320/100_2638.JPG" border="0" /> 7. The Dog. Tracy is our guard dog. She is awesome. She walks with me in the morning when I take the kids to school. She takes her job very seriously. Sometimes she tries to scare away the little ladies carrying bundles of sticks up the dunes. Sometime she barks all night because the birds are trying to fly in the air around the buildings of the orphanage. She is still awesome.<br />8. The Megro. I love taking the megro (the buses that run to and from town). People stare at you like you are an alien. It is fantastic. Sometimes people bring dogs on the megro and they throw up on my teammates. People always watch as we talk to each other in English like we are doing something completely amazing. One time we heard “I Will Survive” on the radio on the way into town, and all four of us started singing and dancing. The Peruvians really enjoyed that.<br />9. The Town. I love walking around and getting lost in downtown Trujillo. Saturday I spent a couple hours just enjoying the sites. I saw the sunset over the Plaza de Armas, a man covered in gold paint robot dancing to a soundtrack of war sounds, a group of girls doing a traditional style dance in beautiful costumes in the courtyard of a beautiful Catholic church, and one other American – walking barefoot down the street in a Bob Marley shirt sporting a large blond afro / poof. </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnDQBMG19I/AAAAAAAAAEc/AL9jxlyMKYs/s1600-h/SH105585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244937921014192082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnDQBMG19I/AAAAAAAAAEc/AL9jxlyMKYs/s200/SH105585.JPG" border="0" /></a>10. The Movies। On Friday night we have movie night। Robyn and Joel started it, and the kids love it। They get so excited about it. They start asking if we are going to watch a movie Friday on Monday. I also watched a movie with all the girls over 12. I really enjoyed the time with them. I am hoping to watch movies with smaller groups of kids who are closer in age. </div><div>11. The Garden. Today I harvested 4 cucumbers, 1 head of lettuce and like 25 radishes. It was awesome. Next week we'll get to plant some more stuff.<br />12। The Word Tia। This is my FAVORITE thing in the world, so far. All the kids call all the adults Tia – aunt (or Tio – uncle). When they say it because they are excited to see me and run to give me a hug, my heart practically explodes with love and joy and excitement and contentment. It is wonderful. When they say it a 1000 times in a row while I am talking to someone else because they want my attention, I love it. When they say it long and drawn out, dripping with whiny tones, because they think if they just pout a little they will get what they want, I love it. When they say short and with and angry face because their whining didn’t work and I still said no, I love it. When they say it, I love it. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244940174274749474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnFTLPSZCI/AAAAAAAAAEk/5aYv5JyL4rI/s400/100_2604.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244940179432661218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnFTedB4OI/AAAAAAAAAEs/sEZnuwKcizk/s400/SH105502.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244940184218843554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnFTwSJOaI/AAAAAAAAAE0/EDvx56asBbM/s400/SH105527.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244940205200516706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnFU-ckJmI/AAAAAAAAAE8/3zY156FuqL4/s400/SH105570.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244940210718728018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SMnFVTANX1I/AAAAAAAAAFE/09YtC98WWIw/s400/SH105597.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-55857302119478633842008-08-29T09:41:00.000-07:002008-09-04T09:42:26.648-07:00I´m Here!<span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sorry for the delay in posting, but I am here safe and sound. I got to the albergue sometime Wednesday afternoon. I unpacked and said hello to some old friends and then then went to bed. I was very exhausted. Yesterday was my first full day here, and it was wonderful. I spent the morning helping in the kitchen (washing fruit baskets cutting open cans with a knife, snapping peas, peeling hot potatos with my fingers). Then I did ¨juegos¨ for a while in the afternoon. I tried to teach a little girl how to ride a bike, but she only wanted to pedal backwards... cause it was easier. We had a going away party for a girl who was adopted, and then it was bedtime again. Today I sat in on my first staff meeting, I am going up to the sand dunes later this afternoon, and then to a BONFIRE!!!! on the beach this evening. Life is fantastic!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Things in Peru tend to change a lot... so my responsibilities for the year have already changed. I am now going to be in charge of taking care of the vegetable garden too... yikes. It should be interesting. I think I am going to have a lot on my plate this year (even more than i thought before), but I am excited about all the ways I am going to grow and all the ways I can invest in the lives of the people here over my time in the albergue. More soon... and maybe some pictures too.</span></span>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775651028312224931.post-45796762096476240732008-08-25T11:18:00.000-07:002008-09-04T09:43:02.471-07:00Heading to Peru!<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><div><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Dear Friends, </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL5BD3O7RI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/tRUY-uJoAlk/s1600-h/087_16A.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238523113197464850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 174px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" height="123" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL5BD3O7RI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/tRUY-uJoAlk/s200/087_16A.jpg" width="185" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><br />Three years ago during my summer break I spent two months in Trujillo, Peru at an orphanage named Hogar de Esperanza. It was an amazing experience, and I fell in love with the children and workers in the orphanage. I have wanted to return ever since, and God has worked it out for me to be able to again. As I am leaving I want to share some of the details about this next adventure with you so that you will be able to join with me in prayer.<br />Hogar de Esperanza is a beautiful home for about 40 kids. Hogar de Esperanza actually means Home of Hope, and that is exactly what it is to each of these kids. While the kids live there they know that they will be fed, clothed, educated, and most importantly, loved. This is a security that most of them did not have outside of orphanage. Most of the children come from homes with at least one parent, but they lived in such extreme poverty that the availability of food was an inconsistent luxury, clothes were at best rags, and education was not an option, as many of them were working to support their family by the time they could walk. In some cases the children were begging for food or change on the corners, selling candies, or washing car windows to earn enough money to have a meal a day. Some of the children do come from loving homes, but the parents gave their children to the orphanage because they knew that it could provide a better life for them. These parents come and visit their children on Saturdays, are involved in the parental training courses in the orphanage, and are working to secure a lifestyle that would allow their children to return to a safe home. Other children are not so blessed. They come from abusive homes or situations of extreme neglect. They come to the orphanage with deep scars and emotional trauma. The loving workers in the orphanage work with the children to build security</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"> and begin the healing process for each of them.<br />The workers at the </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL5WlFgRUI/AAAAAAAAAAY/9wH7Kxd6Fk8/s1600-h/048_12.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238523482892944706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" height="144" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL5WlFgRUI/AAAAAAAAAAY/9wH7Kxd6Fk8/s200/048_12.jpg" width="202" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">orphanage pour their lives and hearts in to the children. The kids are broken up into 4 casitas (houses), two for boys and two for girls. Each house has a "mother". These mothers live in the houses with the children day in and day out with only 4 days off a month, but they do it out of love. They care for the children as their own. They hold them when they cry, help them with their homework, throw them birthday parties, wash their laundry by hand, read to them, and teach them endless lessons. They are amazing women.<br />There are a lot of other workers that ensure the wonderful environment of Hogar de Esperanza. The two cooks, Luc and Philomena, shop, prepare and serve three meals a day 6 days a week for 70 people, which is no small task. There are also guards that ensure the safety of the children, grounds men who keep the place beautiful and running, social workers and psychiatrists who help the children deal with the realities of their lives, and countless others who work to give these children a home of hope. </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL54IhGyaI/AAAAAAAAAAg/qTcWlm7c1r0/s1600-h/yen.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238524059339639202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JSTpEX1WjHg/SLL54IhGyaI/AAAAAAAAAAg/qTcWlm7c1r0/s200/yen.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">I could not be more excited to join the team of wonderful workers for the next 9 months serving and loving the children. While I am there I will have full hands. I have been in contact with a volunteer who is there now coordinating things for this next year. She has asked me to fill her shoes and be the Volunteer Leader. Basically, this would include leading weekly meetings, helping resolve problems with volunteers and overseeing their schedules, mediating between volunteers and Peruvian staff and relaying information to the administration. I will also get to be involved in the daily activities of the orphanage by organizing 30 minute game times throughout the week, a 30 minute reading program, teaching English classes for mothers, continuing their jewelry program, and helping in the kitchen on market day (once a week).<br />I am so excited to go and be a part of the lives of these children. God has provided the financial means for this opportunity, but I could use all the prayer support I can get. I know it will be a wonderful experience, but I also know that there will be challenges. I would love to be in contact with you while I am down there. I will have internet access, but no mailing address. I appreciate all of your love, support, and prayer during these next 9 months.<br />In Christ,<br />Sam Smith<br /><br /><br />Prayer Requests:<br />Safety while travelling (I fly out on August 26th)<br />Adjusting to my new schedule and surroundings<br />Using Spanish to communicate<br />Forming Relationships with the other volunteers<br />Each of the children and workers </span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Contact Information:<br />Please stay in touch!<br />Email – </span><a href="mailto:Samtravels08@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Samtravels08@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><br />Blog - http://samtravels08.blogspot.com<br />Skype – samantha.smith407<br />Cell Phone – (434)509-8265 </span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">“The aim of our charge is Love<br />that issues from<br />a pure heart<br />and a good conscience<br />and a sincere faith.”<br />1 Timothy 1:5 </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Below there is a list of needs the orphanage currently has. There is an American street address where supplies can be sent at the orphanage’s website – </span><a href="http://www.perukids.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;">www.Perukids.com</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><br /><br />Ink cartridges for printers<br />Spanish children's books<br />Small colored seed beads and jewelry clasps for our jewelry project<br />Used laptop computers<br />Card games<br />Board games<br />Bright colored copy paper<br />Bike pedals, bike seats and tire tubes - all kid sizes<br />Thin marker sets of 12<br />Large dry erase marhers (no chisel) in red, blue and black<br />Personal pencil sharpeners<br />Masking tape 1’ wides<br />Clear packing tape<br />Pink erasers<br />Thick permanent markers in black and clue<br />Thin permanent markers in black and blue<br />Bottles of school glue<br />Glue sticks<br />Copy paper in bright colors<br />Regular size craft sticks<br />Children’s scissors<br />Colored pencils sets of 12 </span></div></div></div>Samantha Aldayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13954720154995145174noreply@blogger.com0