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achingfingers
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Name: Whitney
Interests: First and foremost, Jesus, my risen Lord and Saviour. Aviation, reading, rappelling, piano, climbing, Civil War reenacting, mission aviation, exploring the woods, scaring people, airplanes, history, especially wars, guns, Air Force, flying, running, volleyball, most anything athletic or outdoors
Expertise: being me
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/21/2005
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| "Alright, now hand them the ball with an emotion, using your face, body, and especially your hands to convey it." "You're in your own little world, no one else exists!" "Refuse to jump from the plane!" Just a few sentences that could be heard during a rather entertaining acting class this afternoon. My first one, and I had about three minutes to prep for it. Since three students weren't going to be here, I was expecting 7. Not the 17 that sat around the circle looking expectantly at me. But God was gracious and things came off well, at least I think they did. No one asked to leave the class, and after the three other students start coming I'll have 18. No, my math isn't messed up. Two students came who were under the age limit. The reason I had only three minutes to prep, was because this class was one of the 7 that got axed from my schedule on Wednesday. Then, 3 minutes before the start time which had been announced when asking who would be interested, it was decided that I should go ahead and do it. As much as I have to stay on my toes, a person would think me a ballet dancer. With the flexibility of a gymnast. But such is life, and I'm sure that if God wanted it any different, He would make it so. He has been very faithful in many ways. Giving me wisdom and knowledge I didn't know I had for classes I don't know how to teach. Or it comes through an incredibly helpful friend who is helping me majorly with one class. However the means, it comes.
Yesterday, we went to Mexico City. A town which houses nigh 1/5 of the nations population, and was once in the middle of a lake. We visited a Christian couple, the lady is an American who re-introduced me to American food. And the man indulged my fetish for old pictures and old books. I was able to read some of the notes written in a Bible by a minister from what was probably 150 years ago. The depth with which he understood the Bible is not something often found today.
Random fact for the day: El Oro, literally translated 'The Gold', was the worlds largest producer of gold for 900 years.
~Whitney
"Don't worry, even if you hit the ground and go *smack*, you won't feel a thing." - Jimmy, trying to convince his parachuting student to jump.
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| Hola personas.
I have returned from a self-imposed internet fast. Things are rather on the busy side, but I like it that way. Pretty much every time the Marreros hear I can do something, they want me to teach everyone else. My schedule includes teaching English twice a day, Bible and character once or twice a day, violin twice a week, singing once a week, and drama two or three times a week. And as I have curriculum for none of that, other than a few CEF Bible story cards, I'm having to make it all as I go. I also participate in some of the other extracurricular activities, am helping the Marrero's with several projects that involve English, and being their liaison of sorts to a group that's coming right after I leave. We have to acquire a bunch of building materials for them, and my basic knowledge of construction is coming in very handy, as I translate the lists, explain things to Sr. Marrero, and help get things organized. I'm also supposed to spend time just conversing with the older students, so they can practice their English. A few days ago, I went with Sra. Marrero to visit an older lady. She was having a lot of arm and shoulder pain, and I was able to work with her muscles to help alleviate some of the pain. I think that house is going to be a regular stop for me too. Oh, and that's just during the school week. Saturday brings a whole other set of work projects. I'm quite glad God gave us a day of rest. Sunday, after church and lunch, I get to sequester away in my room or a sunny corner of the compound, and spend time just with God.
Things have settled into a routine, or at least as much of a routine as mission work in a latino culture can have. I'm getting pretty close to having adjusted to the way time is so flexible down here. What makes it interesting, is that while as a culture, time is seen as nothing hard and fast, at the school, we do things right on time for the most part. Well, right on time if it's actually being done. But schedules are subject to change at the last second. It makes for a very interesting, and sometimes amusing, sometimes frustrating set-up.
Random fact for the day: I am not licensed to start IVs.
~Whitney
"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe is God's will." -Jim Elliot
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| Yesterday began with accompanying some students to their swims lessons, then worked on the English version of a powerpoint presentation for Cenipad. After lunch and basketball, worked with several students on English. Taught them 'Head, shoulders, knees, and toes', and learned that 'chin' in Spanish is an exclamatory word. They also found it highly amusing when I would hold my nose while saying 'nose'.
Today began with devos with the older students. I shared some about myself, and they all helped each other understand. Questions and answers followed, and they now have a list of things they want me to do for them, mostly in the performing area, before I leave. I marked one off the list by singing, but they have big hopes for the upcoming weeks. Afterwards, I accompanied more students to swim lessons, and spent time talking with students. This afternoon, I got to watch some girls practice a dance, and worked with more students on English.
Random fact for the day: I have no idea how to teach English.
~Whitney
"Whitney, you are a rubber ducky." - Josue
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| I am reviving my xanga, at least temporarily. I have no intentions of writing about what all God haas done in my life since I last posted nigh onto a year ago. My main purpose for doing so is so that people can read of God´s working in the most recent venture, which I have actually just begun. First though, a bit of back story. While I was in Mexico in 2005, I met a family by the name of Marerro. They took a bit of a liking to me, and several times have asked for me to return and work with them. Finally, it worked out, and God seemed to be making it pretty clear that I was supposed to go. So here I am. I flew down this morning, and will be staying for two months working with the Marreros. Their main venture is Cenipad, a education center where they and some other teachers who have come along side them, provide a good education for children and young adults who would not otherwise be able to get one. Today, I haven´t done a whole lot, having only been here for half the day. Stumbled and laughed through several conversations where I was attempting to speak Spanish, and the student talk back to me in English. Played go fish with a few students, requiring them to talk only English. Judging the reactions, I think we´ll be playing that one again. Most the students have been a bit shy, but I have a feeling they´ll warm up. Random fact for the day: The official limit of toys that a single person can take through customs is five. -Whitney | | |
| Once home from Emma's, I spent 25 hours at home helping the family pack and get ready to go to Family Camp. We've gone three times before, so everyone was looking forward to seeing friends again. I was anticipating many things. The volleyball tournament, friends, reliving many memories, and numerous other smaller things that have made my Family Camp experience what was the other three years. But this year was different. Though it started out normal enough, getting our usual camping spot, planning out and setting up camp, the battle to put up the picnic table screen, the opening session Saturday night. But things weren't the same. Everyone on staff knows me now, and thought I was back to work, so I kept having to explain that no, I was just there with my family to have fun. But then, I was corralled into helping run the rappelling tower all week, because they were slightly shorthanded, and I was rather qualified. My new status put me in a rather interesting situation. Technically being there as a camper, yet also staffing part time, allowed the freedoms of a camper with most the privileges of staff. Not being able to play in the volleyball tournament was a bit of a bummer, but working the tower wasn't exactly a boring job. The first two days was spent working the short wall, which meant I got to help everyone from fearless 6yr old munchkins to squeamish teenagers to cautious parents and grandparents go off the edge for the first time. Third day was belaying on the rock wall all afternoon, garnering a one-sided burn strangely reminiscent of the STEP-Adv. medical scenarios. The little kids were fun to belay, cause if they got stuck, you could just pull on the rope and haul them up a foot or two. Fourth day was on the high wall, so I got to wear a full body harness. This would be why one person thought my 'STEP Diver' shirt said 'Sky Diver'.
Saturday morning, the family left to go home, and I stayed at ALERT. The next day went to Sierra's along with a few other friends. Doritos and dinosaurs, bikes and board games are a few things which made the next three days memorable. On the way home I almost decided to just keep going clear across the country. But didn't.
Random fact for the day: Not all rappelling equipment is created equal.
~Whitney
"If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable."
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