cultural cuisine

The last Friday of every month Gloria runs a creative family activity (remember our costume contest?). This month we held an International Dinner. Our kids are divided into "families" based on bedrooms (two girls' rooms, one older boys' room and one younger boys' room). The Americans, Gloria and our new psychologist also participated as a group, so there was a total of five countries/continents/cultures.

Each group presented information on their assigned location, in addition to preparing a typical cultural dish. The kitchen was full of hustle and bustle as we all worked together to peel, chop, grate, bake and grill our international fare:

Africa = traditional African fruit drink
Italy = dessert
Mexico = quesadillas and salsa (we may have taken the easy route...)
China = chao mein
Spain = tortilla espanola and paella (definitely the most authentic dishes)

And, as Gloria has an obsession with costumes, each group was supposed to dress up in a culturally appropriate outfit, so it was almost a repeat of costume night.

Africa

China

Spain

a cute Mexican family

what I'm loving wednesday #4

I'M LOVING Irene. Some day I help her with her homework and we played Uno almost everyday this week. She loves Hannah Montana and likes to wear clothes that are pink or sparkly.

I'M LOVING the butterflies. Our backyard is like a butterfly garden. 

They swoop, swish, fly, and sometimes even rest on my shoulder.

I'M LOVING our newly organized bodega. One of my responsibilities is to manage our donations and organize the office and clothes bodegas (storage spaces). However, for the last two months I avoided the clothes bodega because it was such an overwhelming mess! Then last Friday, Mama Kathy (Rachel's mom) took charge and with the help of two visiting volunteers, sorted through and reorganized it. I am so grateful! And now I can do what I do best - keep it clean and organized.

I'M LOVING Betty Crocker Rainbow Chip frosting. We all agree 

(I am not the only one with a sweet tooth) that it makes any dessert - 

Oreo cookies, brownies, chocolate chip cookies - that much better. 

I'M LOVING Dutch Blitz - a fast-paced, interactive, energetic, card game that's SO MUCH FUN! (Do I sound like a commercial?) I can't believe I've never played before! As you may or may not know, I am quite competitive (some may insert knowing nods or eye rolls here), but come to find out, Rachel is also uber competitive, so playing Dutch Blitz gets pretty intense!

Family & friends, here's your fair warning: you're going to learn and play this game, whether you like it or not! So be prepared (I suggest buying a deck and practicing before I come home).

I hope your Wednesday is full of fun, love, blessings, peace and happiness.

What are YOU loving this Wednesday?

out with the old, in with the new

We bought our new truck today!!!! 

Old Truck 

No air conditioning, manual locks, driver side window only rolls down halfway, 

 

often has to be pushed-started, worn out brakes, too many dents and dings to count.

New Truck
(she's a beauty, ain't she?)
 
Air conditioning, more passenger room, comfortable seats, 

automatic locks, working breaks and battery, no major dents or dings.

Thank you, Mark Zimmerman!

I'm a big girl now

When I first arrived, I said I would never drive.

Then, last week, after two months of observing the no holds barred madness of the Salvadoran highways and roads, I inexplicably became courageous (or foolish?) and climbed in the driver's seat. With Kelly as my navigator, I drove from San Salvador to the Home, a thirty-five minute drive in heavy traffic, without any issues. Huh, not too bad.

Yesterday, Kelly again initiated and supported my driving lessons as I, again, drove from downtown to Planes de Los Renderos. And again, not too scary, no problems.

Today, I took an even bigger step. Today, I drove sola (alone).

I went to Price Smart, bought groceries, drove to a nearby gas station, filled up, bought more saldo for my cell phone, bought an ice cream sandwich (okay...maybe two) to celebrate my accomplishments, and drove home. With this hour and a half trip, I boosted my confidence and discovered some of the independence I've lost since moving here. I enjoyed being in control of where and when I was going, and am happy, and surprised, to say that I will definitely be driving more in the future.

surf's up!

I was nervous. Swimming has never been my thing. As a child I never took lessons, and rarely went on lake or ocean-side vacations. I can count the number of times I’ve donned a swimsuit within the past year on one hand. And now, here I was, getting ready to surf (something I never thought to do) in an unpredictable ocean.

I had been watching Justin and Rachel learn first; the powerful ocean waves swallowed them whole and spit them back out time after time. One after another, my anxious thoughts chased each other like kids on a playground: What if water goes in my mouth or up my nose? What if the waves knock my contacts out? What if the salt stings my eyes? What if a wave sucks me under or out to sea? What if the waves pummel me against the rocky shore? What if? What if? What if?

Then, after successfully riding in several waves, Rachel, who had a more intense fear of the ocean than I did, bounded over, beaming, “Amanda, you have got to try it! It’s so much fun!” Okay, I decided, if Rachel, can do this, so can I. 

Chad Krause, a native Californian and member of the visiting mission team, was my teacher. “Ready?” he asked. I nodded affirmatively, “Let’s go.”

I strapped the surfboard to my right ankle. We walked out fifteen feet into the wonderfully warm ocean water before I positioned myself, belly down, feet on the board and started to paddle, using my arms as oars. Chad swam behind me, helping me steer into the oncoming waves. 

At first, the waves were small; I gently coasted over them with no problem. But as we swam further away from the shore, they became, larger, faster, taller. I tensed all the muscles in my body, fully expecting to be thrown off the board and left fighting for air. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, although I was at times completely submerged, the board helped me to easily navigate the waves. I also had no problem judging when to shut my mouth and eyes and stop breathing, so I didn’t end up with mouth, nose or eyes full of salt water. All right, I think I can do this. 

When we were far enough out to sea, Chad helped me turn the surfboard around to face the shore. “Okay, now start paddling again. When the wave comes up under you, you’ll feel the moment that it’s pushing you forward and that’s when you can try to get up on the board. Or you can stay on your stomach.” So far, all the other first-timers had gilded in on their stomachs, so (of course) I wanted to be the first to get up to my knees.

I started paddling forward. As I heard the thunderous oncoming wave, adrenaline started coursing through my veins. The ocean rose underneath me, and then it was pushing me forward with steady force. It's now or never! I stopped paddling, put my hands on the board, pushed up to my knees…

I became one with the wind, the spray, the sun. My heart leapt, my body soared. I am flying! I rode the wave to shore, grinning like a fool.

What a difference fifteen minutes can make. What a difference saying "yes" to new experiences, to things that make you anxious, things you'd never thought you would do, can make. And now - surprise, surprise - I can't wait to go surfing again!

operation blessing

A few weeks ago, a team from Operation Blessing came to our Home from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Within that short time frame, they accomplished many tasks. They...

Built a chicken coop in the backyard.

Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch and gave us the grill.

Finished our rooftop garden and planted the first seeds.

True to its name, this organization was an amazing blessing to us. Thank you!

what I'm loving THIS wednesday

I'm loving Jesus Calling, a daily devotional by Sarah Young. I truly feel like God speaks to me through this book; the readings almost always correspond with what I am experiencing, thinking, feeling that day, as if the book was written specifically to guide, teach, and support me. 

I'm loving our newly painted kitchen. The vibrant colors make this space much more inviting.

I'm loving my OWU students. Quite a few of my former RAs and mission team members have been keeping in touch, which is very heartwarming!

Stuy Staff, Fall 2010

El Sal Mission Team, Spring 2010

El Sal Mission Team, Spring 2011

I'm loving my afternoon, poolside at the Sheraton hotel. Wednesdays are my day off. When I first arrived, Kelly provided me with a variety of ideas on how to spend days off, including relaxing by a hotel pool. I haven't tried it until now, but it's a GREAT IDEA. While I feel odd and somewhat guilty about using hotel amenities without paying for a room, it doesn't appear to be a problem. Plus, I am all about ways to relax or have fun without spending money.

I'm loving Kraft Mac & Cheese AND...

peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.

I've decided I can no longer only eat granola bars, Nutrigrain bars or fast food when I don't like what's being served at the Home. I am taking charge of my food, which means making more meals for myself. Thank God (really, really, thank you God ) that macaroni and cheese, jelly and peanut butter are available and easy to make. It looks like I will be eating A LOT of these two childhood favorites. And because there are so many cute images for PB&J, I've created a pictorial ode to this American classic:

Hope you have a lot to love this Wednesday!

count your blessings

all the nurses wore hats from the 1950s

Justin and I were both sick last week (with different issues) and on Friday we decided it was time to visit a doctor. Rachel took us to the local, public hospital, five minutes from our house, and it was an interesting experience, to say the least. Any ideas you may have about third world country hospitals were probably proven true at this facility. After I told my mom about my visit, she suggested I open my eyes and heart to what God was trying to teach me with this experience (which, I admit, was not what I was doing during the six hours I spent waiting in the hospital emergency room on Friday and Saturday; my thoughts then were far less charitable), and I think it's that Americans have no grounds to complain about the quality of healthcare or healthcare facilities in the United States. We should count our blessings and be grateful that we live in a country able to provide quick, efficient healthcare, as well as clean, sterile healthcare facilities. In the future, I will try to not complain about U.S. healthcare, and will also be praying for the improvements in healthcare system in El Salvador and other third-world countries.

toño

Antonio, Toño for short, came to live at Love & Hope in April. He was in a government-run home, but Rachel was asked if we would take him since he has cerebral palsy and we already have several children with special needs.

When Kelly and Rachel went to pick up Toño and bring him home, he exclaimed, "¡Vamos a la Casa de Cristal! " (We're going to the Crystal House!) We don't know why he said that, but to this day he still calls our home "the Crystal House." 

Toño attends therapy where he used to live. The first time he went back after moving to L&H he excitedly told the other children, "They have food! And water! " How heartbreaking that this was such a novelty for him! And equally as heartbreaking is, while he was able to escape his former living situation, other children continue to live that reality. For the first few weeks in April, whenever Toño went to therapy or elsewhere away from the home, he would always ask, "But we're going to come back (to L&H), right? "

Toño is the happiest child in our home. I think this is partly because he knows how much better life is at Love & Hope than where he used to live. But mostly, it's because he has a beautiful soul.

Whenever I enter the room, Toño is the first to greet me. "¡Amanda! " he yells for my attention, and when I walk over to hug him, he hugs back. He loves music, singing and to repeat whatever anyone says in English, even though he doesn't understand. 

Toño's birthday was yesterday. This was my second chance to be in charge of a birthday celebration, and it was less stressful this time around. However, I am still amazed that the kids won't wait for the cake to come to them, no matter how many times I ask them to sit down. I also discovered it wasn't a novelty to have every one of them ask if they could carry the presents or carry the cake to the table. I think the prospect of cake makes them more hyper than the cake itself.

Anyway, here's to a delicious Oreo ice cream cake (if I do say so myself) and one of the sweetest little boys I've ever met! ¡Toño, te amo!