I’m really starting to get to know the kids. I have a new buddy, Latino. He is amazing! He is 16 and in 8th grade. I know that sounds weird, but here you start school when you can afford to pay for it. He goes to a special school that offers trades he is in the business trade (there is also mechanical and somthing else), he wants to be a doctor.. While most of the kids have a 15-20 minute walk to school, Latino has a 1 hour bike ride! Not only that but most days he rides home to eat lunch and then go back! Latino speaks decent English, I don’t always understand him, but he usually gets the point across.
He has asked me to help him learn more English and at first I wasn’t sure how I could help someone who already knows so much. I’ve decided to start writing out the lyrics to songs and then playing the songs for him, and then we talk about the lyrics. We actually sign the songs together too, and some of the other boys have joined in with us.
The next night Ernesto , one of the LIT’s (Leaders in Training) asked if I could show him some stuff on the computer. He only speaks a little English, so I think something got lost in translation. I was surprised that he couldn’t type, so what started out as a lesson about Excel and Word, turned into a lesson about where “Home Row” is. Eventually he and Latino just started typing things to each other and Latino would ask is this true? Meaning does his sentence make sense… those of you who know me are probably laughing at the thought of me teaching someone grammer!
This has cause some jealousy though. Pedro apparently thinks I’m his, or that I shouldn’t be letting other boys help me and what not. On top of that I don’t think Pedro really gets that I don’t speak Portuguese, either that or he is just convinced that if I hear enough of it I will just get it one day. He always talks to me and then gets mad that I don’t know what he is saying, or if someone says something mean to him that I don’t defend him. I’m not really sure what, but it’s hard for me to handle.
On Wednesday night while Ernesto and Latino were typing Pedro came in my room and said Mama Julie and motioned me to come with him. Figuiring she needed me for something, I went. Turns out Pedro and I were in for ‘council’ he wouldn’t look at me and he kept his arms over his face. It stresses me out just typing about it, but as I said Pedro’s feeling were hurt and he wanted to bring Julie in to translate and fix things. We tried to explain to him that I need to be able to spend time with everyone and Latino translates for me and that I don’t speak Portuguese. After much coaxing from Julie he said sorry and gave me a hug.
The next morning something similar happened and eventually he said sorry and gave me a hug. Then again on Friday something happened. I’m not even sure what. I was doing with the other boys, but I think one of them said something about him. Because he kept going on to me but all I understood was ‘Juma.’ He got so bad I just had to ignore him, but I was the only adult and no one there spoke English. Pedro was in full temper tantrum mode though crying/yelling in his room. Temper tantrums from English speaking 5 year olds are bad enough, but from 12ish year old Portuguese boys I just don’t even know what to do! Learning patience in Portuguese is like learning a new language. Eventually he settled down, but man was he wound up. About an hour later he gave me a hug and said sorry. I’m just not sure how to convey to a 12 year old who’s language I don’t speak that this isn’t okay.
This has really consumed much of my week, but a lot of other stuff has happened too. Michael Goodnight (the other founder) arrived on Wednesday. It was nice to finally meet him.
I washed clothes for the first time outside. I also did some laundry in the sink of my bathroom, it reminded me of being in Europe.
I was supposed to go with Julie and Antonio to Juma P’s house with Social Services on Thursday. They are going to show Antonio how they would like to have each child documented. A man showed up on Wednesday night saying a woman would be by the next day. She never showed. Apparently that’s the norm.
You might be wondering why Juma P is living with us if he has a home. Well he is 7 but because of malnutrition and HIV/AIDs he appears and acts like a 3 year old. He wasn’t taking any medication while he was living at home, nor was he getting enough food. The house here is for orphaned and impoverished children.
Prayer Request:
- Continued prayer for health and learning Portuguese.
- I’m not even sure what to pray about for Pedro, just that he would chill out. That the other kids and I would show him grace and forget the way he has acted this last week.
- Patience and whatever else I need in all of the difficult and new situations I will be placed in this week.
I'm going to schedule some other blog postings for later in the week, but here are all the pics from Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020325&id=102500461&l=51b516af63
Amanda
I'm going to schedule some other blog postings for later in the week, but here are all the pics from Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020325&id=102500461&l=51b516af63
Amanda
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