Now that Sponsor Week and Holy Week are over, the kids are on a regular schedule of working on homework/chores, eating meals, and going to school. It was kinda weird the Monday they went back, as I am used to seeing the campus full of running, shouting kids. I can now relate to the excitement of a puppy when it sees it’s kid(s) come home from school, as I wait to give out hugs to the kids running off the bus at 6:20.
This week has been the start of my regular work days, as I have been getting involved with posting on social media a few times a week and translating letters shared between the sponsors and their sponsored kid(s). It is a struggle not being fluent in Spanish, but I feel that I am learning a lot more everyday. The kids are good about teaching me new words too, and talking slowly and clearly so I can understand…. most times!
Not everything is happy about working in an orphanage. I have figured that out this week. Since Guatemala doesn’t have a true foster system, most of the kids that come to live at the orphanage have family/friends who are fighting to get them back home, out of the care of Casa Shalom. The kids regularly go to audiences, where a court judge decides if they will return to Casa Shalom or be placed back home with their family. Its difficult to watch them go to their audiences and not know if we’ll get to see them again or if the judge made the wisest decision.
That was the case on Monday. A set of siblings left for the court house and did not return that night. These 6 siblings have been at Casa Shalom since the spring of 2015. One of the teen girls I got to live with for the first week of my summer 2015 internship. Another two of the kids were in the toddler house when I got moved there for the last 5 weeks. Each of the kids in this family were spread out among the 7 houses, and almost every kid living at Casa Shalom shared a relationship with at least one of the 6 siblings.
Its difficult to build strong relationships with the kids here, not knowing if/when they will leave. I know there is a big hole here at Casa Shalom without this family, and its just the first of many that will come.
On the brighter side, I was walking with one of the girls and answering all of her questions and asking her questions too. She was very surprised and proud of me that I could carry on a conversation with her and understand most of what she was saying!
A few nights ago, another girl was asking me about my friends and family back in the US. She was wondering why I was living in Guatemala at Casa Shalom instead of with them. I assured her that I want to be here with her and her friends. She then followed by asking me how long I’d be living at Casa Shalom. I wasn’t sure and couldn’t really give her an affirmative answer. I just told her that I’d be here for a long time. “For many years?” she asked. I said “yes” and watched a smile full of excitement stretch across her face. I guess its official that I will be living in Guatemala for many years! We’ll see what God has in store!
(har)Perseverance on a mission 