Today I went on my first home visit. it is eye opening, and different
all in the same time. they have TV, CD players and no front door. Mom
is sick at both houses we went to.
The first house Sergio's house, he was not there, he was playing at
the baseball field, not baseball though. he said he was nine years
old and he looked like he was maybe 6.
The Second house was Wilma and Sandra's house. both girls were there,
but no parents. both of these families have about 8 children.
I cannot thing of anything the same to describe it to you. Like buzz
said last night. if you were to ask me to sleep there just for one
night, it would be hard pressed to get me to do that.
Pray for me to find some strength and be able to lead in prayer. I am
weak there as you know, but I need to be stronger there for the
children, and my comfort zone!
Today was my first day in the community. It is really hard to take. I
don't know how to explain it. our job was to deliver backpacks to the
kids that CSI Sponsors so that they have the right school supplies
for school, also deliver 2,000lp (money) for uniform to the parent,
and lastly line up a time in the evening for they to shop for school
shoes (all black).
I can honestly say that this is the first time that I really enjoyed
shopping with 8 girls for shoes!! it took nearly an hour, and we were
waiting at the shoe store for nearly an hour before they got them all
there.
The homes that we visited today, Sergio, lives right off the ocean,
with two younger bros, and four older bros/sisters. (I thought they
were all boys). when we got to the house Sergio was out playing and
the oldest boy was there, He is in 8th grade or what they call 2nd
course. he looks and dresses just like Dylan and friends, he invited
us into his home with our hesitation. He was listening to Rap music.
the home looks to be made of 10" of cement, and a wood roof. the
furniture looks like you would expect, something that they picked up
off the side of the road. Sergio only got a back pack, as his sponsor
stopped sending money. no shoes, no money for uniform.
this home seemed fairly big. compared to the Girls home that we went
to next. Sandra and Vilma (pronounced Wilma). they lived about 1km off
the road, on Steel pan Alley. about 100 yards down that alley, then
up a hill. 15 ft made up in about 2.5 feet. each step was only about
2 inches. the house was on stilts and they lived under it. I am
guessing the bedrooms are upstairs. they spoke only Spanish, so that
was harder. These are really nice girls and very polite. Cute. they
were both sponsored so we got shoes, but no money was given as no
parent was home. Both there mom and the mom of sergio were in the
hospital, feeling sick.
that was the morning, those homes were really nice compared to the
afternoon homes. they were built on stilts and over the bay, it
smelled as you might imagine with about 16 homes on the dock of
beacon shores living with 4-8 children in that area, I counted at
least five dogs, 16 chickens, 10 duck/geese. what caught me be
surprise was that the one girl that was doing translations that lives
at the orphanage said " I would love to live here it is so
beautiful!!" I know she lives at the orphanage now. and she used to
live there.
Love you all,