Days like this remind me why I'm here...

Hello all! I just had an awesome day at Casa Job, so I thought I'd share my good mood with you. Why was the day so good? Well, it wasn't because anything earth-shattering happened. It was just because I felt more connected with the kids today that most days...maybe even the most connected ever. During Bible time, the staff divided the youth into three group for prayer. They do this occasionally (once ever week or two). As typical teenagers, most of them just sit around, not saying anything when asked what we could pray for them about. My group was facilitaed by Brian (the field director here). He made everyone share a request and then said that we were all going to pray for the person on our right. I was to the right of Freddy.

Let me take a small sidestep here to tell you about Freddy. He is the funniest guy. I would guess he is about 18 years old.. He usually has this goofy smile on his face. He is the butt of many of the youth's jokes, but they all like him a lot. He's the kind of guy that I think we've all known at some point in our lives...the kind that is just easy-going, easy to talk to, fun to be around...everyone's friend. During art time, Freddy will often draw pictures. Nothing that will sell for money in an art gallery, but he puts his whole atention to those pictures. The other day, for instance, he drew this neat picture of him flying a kite in the country. I'd like to know why he drew that...is it just a nice picture...is it a glimpse into his mind and what he'd like to be? Freddy is also a good soccer player (like most of the kids here).

Anywho...Freddy was to my left, so he prayed for me. I had shared that I wanted them to pray that I would learn Spanish quickly because it is frustrating that I can't talk with the youth as much as I'd like to. I don't know much of what he said when he prayed, but it was just so neat that he did...hard to explain, but made my day.

After Bible time, we headed to the stadium to play soccer and volleyball. Usually the girls sit on the side, playing with their babies, but today Jill was watching the little ones, so Monica and I got the three girls to play volleyball...without a net, mind you. After some time, Monica and I decided that, based on what was considered above and below the net, the imaginary net much has been a tennis court net. The games were so fun because I really felt like I was connectingn with the girls. Sometimes they can be very quiet, almost aloof. I think that's just because they are weighed down with a lot of responsibility at a young age...and the language barrier, of course. The volleyball game, though, was the great uniter. We laughed, joked....just had an all around good time.

The best part of playig volleyball was seeing the Edith filled with so much life. Edith is in her late teens. She has a 2 year old son, Patrick. Patrick is a great kid, but, as all 2 year olds, he can be a handful at times. Today, Patrick was very tired, so he was sleeping at a friend's house (at least that's what I think Edith said). Edith is a good mom who works hard to provide for Patrick, but she obviously needed a day off because she was a different person today. I can't imaginen the pressure of raising a child on the streets. I hope that we can give Edith more days like today. Days where she is free to play, laugh, smile. Days where the pressures of the world don't seem so overwhelming.

After the stadium, it was back to Casa Job for free time. I played cards with Manuel, which was also good because Manuel is kind of a loner. He's a really sweet guy who doesn't seem to fit in with other guys quite as well. It's easy to get caught up in paying attention to the kids who are really outgoing, have charismatic personalities. The youth that everyone likes. I've been praying over the last week that God would constantly remind me to not overlook those who don't stand out as much, if that makes sense.

Cards were also fun because, again, games can be the great equalizer. Once I understand how to play, very little Spanish is required to have a fun time. I did have to learn, though, that you deal and play counterclockwise here...at least the youth do. I had to explain that in the United States, we play the other way around. We played rummy and Casino (Dad, like you play with Amanda sometimes, but a little different. I'll show you when I get home)

As the day was ending and the youth were leaving, Monica and I realized that Alexis was outside. Have I told you all about Alexis? He is another one of my favorites. He is very smart, always willing to talk with us (even if he does always make fun of my Spanish, saying I need to spend more time with Irma, our tutor). He hadn't been to Casa Job in several days. He asked if we would be out tomorrow night for "la leche" (which is what the youth call it when we go out on Tuesday and Friday nights and bring hot cholocate and sandwiches). He seemed pleased that we said we would be there. He also had a couple of friends with him that he introduced us to.

These might all seem like little things, but they all made for a great day. Today I didn't spend as much time feeling sorry for the youth and their situations. Instead, I enjoyed their friendship. I got to know them a little more as just friends. Not that I want to stop having sympathy for them, but I want to move past that to a point where I have compassion for them not because they are poor street kids but because they are my friends. That's a hard thing to explain, and I don't quite understand it myself yet, but it's exciting to feel like (pm moving closer to that.

If you think of it, please pray for my new friends. I know they would love knowing that people in the United States know and care about them :)

Ok, off to finish my Spanish homework. Irma gave us a ton of it. I had to take a break, but I'd better get back or I'll never finish. Chow!