It Begins

Sunday: Typical Sunday routines of church, going to the other side (of the border) for shopping, dinner, and visiting with Elaine (Uncle Kent's mom). There were a lot more people in church on Sunday because most all the students were back for school to start the next day. We went to the other side and took Elaine to Mexican food in California (I had a grande burrito de pescado) and we did our shopping at Costco and Target. I volunteered to do breakfast the next morning; Elda came and told me I needed to be in their at 5 am. Aunt Lila prayed with me, like she has been, for things to go well with the girls and that friendships would blossom.

Monday: First day of school. I was up at 4:30, later than I wanted to be, and in the kitchen by 5. Because I had breakfast (desayuno) duty, I didn't get to participate in devotionals with the rest of the students in the Chapel, although I could hear the going-ons since the kitchen (cocina) is attached to the Chapel. Elda and I prepared eggs with salsa, refried beans, tortillas, toast, and coffee for the desayuno. I tried my best to understand how she directed me, and luckily she was very patient (I told her that later).
After breakfast I headed back to our dorm. It started out as I was sitting on my bed and the girls got out their English conversational book to ask me preguntas (questions) and get to know me, and I them. I tried my best to ask them questions, in Spanish, too. Up to this point, we hadn't had any conversations. Then the question came up about playing guitar, cause they saw mine. We got it out, and they asked me to toca (play)--so embarrassing since I'm still a beginner, so I played the few chords to the song I knew best once through and then handed the guitar off to Chelita (who plays acoustic on the worship team). She's very humble about her skill. She started out with none other than "Lord I Lift Your Name on High"--a song I grew up on--they sang in Spanish and I sang in English. By this time, 6 out of the 8 girls of our apartment were in our room. Then they had me sing alone. Talk about red in the face! I managed, glory a Dios! After that, the girls had me write the lyrics in English and they tried singing with me in English. I could feel God's presence--it was such a beautiful moment of His, and a prayer answered. The girls were reaching out to be my friend, so much so that they attempted to praise Him in an unfamiliar language for an unfamiliar person. I felt blessed.
Later orientation started for them and for the first time, I sat with the girls, instead of my Aunt (whom I love). Half way through I was called out to watch a baby girl--Grete'--in the nursery (pronounced gwardadia). She was fine and had a seemly pleasant temperament at first, but then the waterworks came... and they didn't stop for an hour. At least she was my only nino (kid). After many positions, tantrums, and booger wipes, she fell asleep on my shoulder and I was eventually able to lay her down.
Lunch (comida) was chicken (no thanks), beans, rice, tortillas, and horchata (but with oats). After lunch, I think I came and napped at my aunt and uncle's for a few hours, then was dinner (don't remember what it's called that we ate, but I didn't eat a lot). When I went back up to the apartment, Elda offered me one of the tamales that her mom made (even though I DETEST tamales, I gratefully ate one since it was kind of her to offer and I didn't want to offend). Pork. I'm vegetarian. Picante (Spicy). My stomach doesn't do spicy. Oh boy. After gagging over the sink when no one was watching, I said thank you, and skedaddled into my Aunt and Uncles office to hide from tamales for the rest of the night. I could already feel my stomach twisting. This won't be good.
While I was in the office, I met two sets of parents of some of the kids I'd be watching and was able to ask any important questions. I followed my Tia back to the house where Uncle Kent made dinner and insisted on me eating a little. They ate the tamales Elda gave them--they didn't like them much, either, and they love tamales--and we had Uncle Kent's delectable LaLa fruit salad, and vegetables. I did the dishes and tip-toed into the apartment after 10 (late to curfew). A day it was.

Tuesday: I was supposed to go to Devotionals with the girls this morning, and those were my intentions, I swear, but I woke up with the biggest stomach ache I've had in a while. I snoozed through both alarms, I snoozed through the girls getting ready; it was going on 5:15 when I was awoken by a Chelita near my nose (that's one of my roommates) looking me square in the eyes. "Buenos dias, Lynda! Nosotros, blah blah blah, Devotionals, blah blah blah, cinco y media blah blah blah" I was still half asleep, but I think what she was telling me was that us four were going to pray (she clasped her hands as if to pray) at 5:30 before Devotionals (which were at 6). I made like I understood, which I kind of did, and headed to the showers with my stuff. There was no way I would be done by 5:30, but I had no way of telling them now. My stomach was just hurting worse, too. I felt sluggish. I can't go to Devotionals feeling like this. "Excuses, excuses" I thought to myself. I really didn't feel good AT ALL, but I didn't want to offend or let down the girls. We were JUST starting to become friends. I finished getting ready and then went to my Aunt's house to sleep and to avoid the awkwardness when the girls came back from breakfast. I was gonna skip eating today because of my stomach anyway. I woke up at 7:35 in time to do nursery in 15 minutes; I headed to the apartment--it was awkward, like I knew it'd be. I could tell the girls were confused of my absence and offended as well. I didn't have the words to say. :( I started organizing the toys in our living room (I have nursery in our apartment in the living room) while the girls were off to class. One baby and one 3-year-old were dropped off. I tried my best to be attentive to both, but it was hard (so glad I'm not a mom yet). Betelli (3-year-old) had to pee and Abril was crying, and Betelli didn't know how to wipe, and I was holding Abril, and ABril cried even more when I put her down, and Betelli, and Abril, and, and...
Wow. This is only two kids, how am I gonna handle it when I have 4 or 5 on Wednesdays?? God, why do you have me here? I can't even understand these kids and their needs? You have the wrong girl. I can't do this! It's easy right now and I can't even do this! Why did you choose me?? :(
Just as I was getting apprehensive, inadequate, and discouraged. First Estair (office secretary), and then the mom's arrived saying something about "classes manana". After the kids were gone and I finished cleaning up, I ran to talk to Aunt Lila and she confirmed (in English) that the first class was postponed for the day because the professor was a no-show. Ah, good. I went back to the house, still feeling terribly sick, where I took another nap; this time, 4 hours. My next kids would be in the nursery at 3:30, so I slept and then listened to Aunt Lila practice her presentation which would be at the same time. I helped her set up in the classroom, then I headed up to the apartment to do the nursery. I was expecting Betelli and Grete', but Grete's 3-year-old sister Naomi also came. So Betelli and Naomi were able to play with eachother while I tried to get Grete' to stop crying (again). To no prevail. My roommates noticed my frustration and gladly took Grete' to get her to sleep (they weren't able to either). I was able to focus more on Naomi and Betelli's needs, from what I could understand. We played everything in the room and had snack (and my roommates also came and helped me communicate and played with them). Naomi was more attitudinal than Betelli--she wouldn't help clean up and would ignore me if I asked her to do something. The parents came and picked them up for dinner at 6ish. Sweet!

Cleaned up and waited by my aunt's classroom until she came out from talking with professor; she didn't until after I had gone in and gotten the keys from her. During the time I waited all I could think of was my inadequacy of being here. Again, why did God send me here? I'm not cut out for this. After 15 minutes of me being in the house, I heard an aggressive knocking on the door--Naomi and her mom. Her mom asked me about the nursery cause she had a night class--I was unaware. No Grete; this time, though, at least. So I took Naomi and went back to the apartment. We played with a few toys and then I asked if she wanted a movie. She finally settled on Barney after sorting through them all, and Chelita kindly helped me set up the VCR. About 5 minutes into the video, and Naomi mumbled words I didn't understand. I took her to the bathroom and she mumbled the words again. "Aqui?" She shook her head no. I took her to Chelita for her to explain; Naomi had apparently said she was sleepy (Chelita taught me the word, but I don't remember). We got the bed set up and out, but I guess Naomi had changed her mind. For the rest of the night Chelita played with her more and I did a little in the living room. And Chelita, Elda, and Naomi were all teaching me Spanish words while we played. For instance, Cheli puched Naomi on the car and I gave the commands (stop, go, turn left, turn right, forward, turn around) all in Spanish. Cheli is being very helpful in teaching me Spanish words, and Elda, too. It's been a long day. And a very yucky day, as far as health goes. I still feel inadequate. I still don't know why God has called me here; I just know He has.

P.s. So far I have really been humbled by being so dumb in their world. Being the foreigner who doesn't speak the language well is quite the flip. I've never felt so stupid in my entire life.