Some Pictures!!

Joan playing around.

Some of the chiquitos playing freeze tag :)

A few of the girls after finishing their chores of cleaning the vans.

Playing with the pup!

This is a scene you can see very often, the benches are a popular spot to hang out :)

Ariana and I :)..Mana Fe--She says hi and she's excited for you to come back!!

In the Comedor. There was a birthday party last night for all of the April, May, and June birthdays! There was 'posole' (a DELISH Mexican soup!) cake, and presents for the birthday kids!

All the birthday boys and girls and the sweet cake!

Martita stuffing her face with 2 cupcakes!

Some of the 'chido' boys posing for a pic :)

Fernanda...stuffing her face!

The teenage boys are ALWAYS playing soccer if they're not doing chores!

...Scrounging the last little bit of icing from the cake :)

Regalos (gifts) for the birthday kids :)

Saira and me hanging out watching the boys play soccer.

72 and rainy... so in Mexico, this means winter coats!(...for Daniel anyway!)

The littlest ones (except baby Mia) playing around...and Jose in the foreground doin' his thing!

Ximena and I took some time to do some FB stalking ;)

Una Semana Baja… (One Week Down)…and I’m starting to get the hang of things!

 So, this post is a mish-mash of a few things, but they’re all things I’ve been wanting to blog about…so without further adieu:

Top 4 things I’ve been saying (or thinking) this week:

1)      “No soy de Canada!” (I’m not from Canada)

…Most of the ‘gringo’ volunteers here are from Canada…so that’s what the people assume of me.

2)      “Soy Tara… ‘ta-ra’… como guitarra sin la ‘gui’.”  (“I’m Tara…TA_RA…Like guitarra (guitar) without the “gui”)

…For some reason my name is hard to say here…

3)      “No, no tengo esposo.” (No, I don’t have a husband.)

..23, not married, so wierd, right? Haha.

4)      (Paradoxical thought: ) “I sure am learning lots about American politics from Canadians in México…”

Maybe I’m not well informed, or maybe it’s that the Canadian political scene is so boring that they follow the US’s instead.

Why do places like this have to exist?

A thought I can’t—and may never get over: How could anyone leave these children? Abuse them? Abandon them? Each and every one of these kids here is special. They are fun, loving, open, trusting, caring, and responsible. They’re eager to learn and eager to love. I don’t know and I can’t imagine some of the hardships that many of these kids have faced—but you’d never know it when you come here, meet them, and watch them live. You’d never know. They’re just kids. This place is a home. The kids receive a good education, lots of love and support, and three meals a day (and lots of candy otherwise!) There are birthday celebrations, a soccer team, a dance group, and a sweet playground.  Honestly, I can’t say why orphanages have to exist, why families fall apart. I wish it wasn’t true. But this is the world we live in…and I can only believe that life is much better here than it was at their homes. For this reason, I am incredibly grateful to God that places like Dulce Refugio exist! ... A place that is true to its’ name…Sweet Refuge. 

Education:

When it comes to education here, Mexico is much different that the States. If I’m not mistaken, there are ‘free’ public government schools, but many kids who are poor don’t go. Even for those who do, the resources available and the quality of education in public schooling here is not up to par with education in the States. 

Fortunately, the kids at Dulce Refugio who go to school attend private Catholic schools—where they are receiving a higher quality of education.  Even more, I have been pleasantly surprised to learn that the older kids do group research project presentations every week in the summer!! (This makes the educator side of me want to do backflips! :) )  And, because Marce (the directora) has been so busy this week, she gave me her group, and I will be in charge of a group every week that I’m here! (*Answered prayer!) This week, my group of boys studied Queen—their members, music, and the impact they have had on young people. Specifically, all of the presentations also have a focus about the Religion/Spirituality of the group, which brings on a discussion as to how important it is to guard our hearts and minds in Truth. (One more thing about these—seriously they’re better than 95% of the group presentations that I suffered through during my undergrad career! The presenters actually care and know what they’re talking about…and they’ll still remember the information the next week! (*Interest-based learning…research…sociocultural group project work...analyzing information…presenting and elaborating on information…HELLO this is going into my teaching portfolio!)

When it comes to the education of the younger ones, this is where God really answered my prayer this week. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy construction work—I didn’t mind grouting in the bathroom or shoveling sand and rocks to pour cement on the third floor this week…but construction certainly isn’t the area I’m most gifted in! So, yesterday, I got the chance to ask Marce if I could help out with anything educational at all—she gave me an hour every day with ALL the kids in primaria (elementary school—K-6!)  So, as you may imagine- I’m on cloud 9 right nowJ.  Yesterday was our first day, and I had NO IDEA what to expect—who could read, how much could they read…honestly, until they got there, I didn’t exactly know what ‘primaria’ meant. (In my mind,  primaria=primary=K-3= my degree!)  Anyway, I got to look in the supply room and find a few books to start with—by a few, I mean maybe 2 shelves of books to read, and 1 or 2 workbooks per subject per grade. The kids will have to share, and I can’t make copies…but I’m also excited about this, because I don’t particularly like to waste, and it’s important as a teacher to learn how to be smart with limited resources! (But, it would be AMAZING if there were more books here... hint hint for anyone who will be coming down here anytime soon...)

 

(Sorry, I don’t have pictures with this one, the internet in my building is too slow to load them, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to upload some from the other building’s internet that’s much faster!)

Boom-shocka-locka and some sense

Explanation for the title of this blog: A house blew up a few blocks away yesterday morning! (I wish this was a joke!) It was SO LOUD, and so forceful, that I literally thought a car ran into my building...or that I was all the sudden in a war zone... Anyway, they think it was from the gas tank, and the second floor of the house is gone.  Happy Monday Morning...

Anywho, I'm starting to get settled here in Dulce Refugio, and what's a better way to describe my current life according to my five senses:

Taste:
Delish. Honestly, I don't know what I had for lunch today, but it was good! I <3 Mexican food.  I've been eating lunch with the workers here, and it's so far one of my favorite times of the day! It's quite a Spanglish conversation hour, and mostly I'm just taking it in trying to follow along with what's going on! ...Well, the food is mostly delicious anyway-- my own cooking has been quite the trial and error! I've been having breakfast and dinner on my own, and I'm having fun scrounging around the group kitchen to find food to conjure up. The good news is, I finally figured out that I needed matches for the gas stove here--better news-- I found some! (I burnt some pancakes this morning, and a grilled cheese last night, but I succeeded with spaghetti this evening!)

Sound:
Mostly during the day, it's the sound of children's voices and laughter... one of my favorite sounds in the world!(*pure joy!)...But that's not all I've been hearing--loud trucks roar and dogs bark through the night, the "gas noel" truck can be heard driving by at any time of the day, and all kinds of construction noises fill my ear as I've been listening to Gungor, Needtobreathe, Phil Wickham, and Jack Johnson... ear drum overload!

Smell:
Dust...? I'll have to get back to you about this sense!

See:
Oh my! Well, the view from my bedroom window is that of the front of the comedor, so I can always see a few people hanging out on those benches :).  I see progress-progress being made on the boy's dorm, and more to come! I see growth--this being my fourth time here in three years, I've seen tremendous growth here! When I first came to Dulce Refugio--the kids were still at the old small orphanage downtown... and we were still painting the girl's dorm. (It would take too long to truly describe all the growth here--just believe me!) This place is not the same! Along with growth-- I've seen many of these kids grow beautifully!

Feel:
Dry. My hands are SO DRY from grouting in the bathroom for the past two days! I may use up my month's supply of lotion in the next few days at this rate!...And the air here is still pretty dry, considering it's the rainy season! (I'm willing to bet it's much more humid in Ohio right now!)


6th Sense..."The other kind of feel":
So many things! Excited. I'm happy to be here. I'm anxious about wanting to jump right in and be useful and helpful and be a part of everything-- God is reminding me that one of His Fruits is patience... oh yeah! I'm in need of some of that! I'm also feeling like I'm learning what it's like to be an introvert-- it's different being here without a team, without Leah or Julie of Mama Fe to hash out the days happenings with as we pillow talk ourselves to sleep! Honestly, I'm excited about this. I think I will learn a lot about myself, and more importantly, I pray that my dependence on Jesus will be strengthened through this! (I just hope I don't get too used to these quiet evenings, a team will be joining me on Sunday, and Sarah comes July 5th for the rest of the trip!) Lastly, I feel loved--by God, and by the kids. I just know that He is here with me, He always has been, and always will be. It's hard to describe it, but I feel His love on me. And I will never get over the love of children--their hugs, their hands reached out for mine, their trust, and their joy.

**Sorry for no pics again today. Hopefully another day this week I'll have a post with more pics.

Tara:)

Desert Downpour

It's a torrential downpour right now! I thought the rainy-season here was kind of a joke... I was mistaken!

So, anyway, that means I have time to write another post, and this time share some pics!

Today, I got to go to church at the orphanage and be a part of the worship service. A local pastor came to preach, and they had worship as well. I think what strikes me about this place is much like something that strikes me about New Life OSU-- the community is beautiful. It's a family. When I'm here, I'm here to visit family. As a 'lone outsider' I am being brought into the family here. Gracias!

After church, the workers celebrated Father's day with burgers and fries :), then I got to just hang out with the kids for the afternoon. As of now-- I don't have an official 'job' here that starts tomorrow, and I'm pretty excited to just be here to serve and to be used!

Here are some pics from today--this is what happens when the kids get ahold of my camera:

action shot :)

Someone's thumb got in the way...and cut off my forehead--but here's proof that I'm really here!

Lupita, mi amigita :)

the dormitorio--view from the bench.

jumping rope is the favorite of the day--besides marbles!

The man himself--Jose!

Presh!

Buddies--Jose & Sofia :)

"Let's Vamos!"

"...I'm going through the Big D and don't mean Dallas..." Well, actually I do mean Dallas, but if you know that song, maybe you can sympathize with me that I can't be in this airport without it running through my head on repeat!  The wonderful thing about being here is that about 75% of the people in my terminal are speaking Spanish--last minute language cram-session!

This morning on my first plane, I began reading 2nd Chronicles, and wanted to share 2:6, "But who is able to build a temple for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him?"
I am so encouraged by this-- this is the God I serve! He's huge! This is the God who holds me in His arms, keeps me safe, and carries me through this life. I don't have to be nervous:). I CANNOT WAIT to arrive at Dulce Refugio in only a few hours and just be there to serve the people--I am SO EXCITED to be a part of the work there :)

Sorry, no picture with this post, but I'm sure there will be lots throughout my month!!

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?

So, our elementary teachers taught us that any good writing answers these questions. This may or may not be entirely true...but they seem like darn good questions to answer as I begin to blog about my upcoming trip to Dulce Refugio! Many of you who have expressed desire in reading my blog already know at least some of the answers to these questions, but as an introduction to the trip, I thought this would be the best way to start! (I'm sorry that this is pretty long!)

Who?
Me! Tara Chamberlain-- fresh out of college with a Master's Degree in Education and a summer to spare!...and for about half of the trip--my good friend Sarah Zorko will be there as well! But really, Jesus, the kids, and the long-term volunteers at Dulce Refugio are the stars of the story here! I am just going down for a short time to be a part of the great work being done here.

What?
We are traveling to Dulce Refugio Casa Hogar in the city and state of Aguascalientes, Mexico. We will be volunteering, and really doing whatever work needs to be done at the orphanage! There are about 50 kids who live there, ranging from babies to teenagers.The orphanage is Christian-ran, and the director is an amazing woman named Marce. She started the orphanage about ten years ago with nothing but faith and trust in God and his calling on her life. Now, Dulce Refugio is a fully-operating Orphanage and a long-term construction project that is constantly expanding to better serve the children! Dulce Refugio is a place of Joy and Hope and Love. Most of the work I will be doing will be centered around childcare, some construction, and maybe teaching some summer school.

When?
Easiest question: I will be leaving Columbus for Aguascalientes on Saturday, June 23rd and I will be there until Saturday, July 21st (Sorry Mom--happy birthday...I'll be missing it!) Sarah will be joining me on July 5th for the last half of the trip.

Where?
I guess this has already been answered, Dulce Refugio Casa Hogar in Aguascalientes!



Why?
Well, I love kids, I love speaking Spanish, and I love Jesus. I have a free summer, and I believe so much in the work that is being done in Dulce Refugio-- so much that I can't go on living life that doesn't support this place in some way! That's the short version... here's the longer version:

I think it started back in my middle school years when a spark was lit inside of me for speaking Spanish, and I just loved it! Throughout high school, I took Spanish (some years more beneficial than others) but I just loved the language. When I arrived at OSU and realized that Education Majors didn't have to take a foreign language, I was disappointed, so I decided to pick up Spanish as a minor anyway. Also, shortly after arriving at OSU, I fell in love with Jesus, and He has given me a heart for serving Hips people in a new way. Throughout my time at OSU, I got the opportunity to travel to Mexico 5 times... and three of these trips were to Dulce Refugio! When I first heard that New Life was taking a trip to Dulce Refugio in 2009, I couldn't say no-- a trip that was about helping kids... to a country that speaks Spanish... I was sold! To top that off, I got to go with my best friend--Leah Blewitt, and we had our first mission experience together! There are so many things I can say about my trips to Aguas, but I will try to limit it to a few highlights:

1. Kids are kids... no matter where you go, how rich or poor they are, or what language they speak. They're fun, they're full of life, and they love the same!

2. As "privileged, middle-class Americans," we're no better,worse, or different from people around the world...we're all just people! But as privileged people, we do have a duty and obligation to look beyond ourselves and our circumstances, count our blessings, realize just how blessed we are, that what we have is not our own, and that we'd be foolish to live for just ourselves. Honestly, I was born into privilege, and there is NOTHING wrong with that, I am so thankful for my life and my upbringing, but that doesn't mean I deserve nice things any more than someone who wasn't born into the same circumstances. 

A picture of the New Life OSU team from this past March!

3. Short term missions are great--they benefit the missionaries and the people they go to serve! By going on a trip, you are forced outside of your comfort zone, you are pushed to rely on God in ways and situations that you've never had to before, and you create incredible bonds with your team and the people you are serving. But if by going on a mission trip, if you think YOU'RE the one doing anything good--be prepared to be humbled! There is nothing good in us--all our goodness is from Christ. I am just a willing body, just a small part of the plan, just hands and feet sent to do God's work... He doesn't need me... He's plenty capable of doing ANYTHING he wants to do on His own! But the thing is, He wants to use His people to do His good work--wherever we are.


4. It's about relationships. I'll never forget the moment when our New Life OSU team arrived in Mexico this past March. Marce (the director) ran up and hugged and kissed me and said, "Welcome back! We love it when you guys come, it's like family is visiting!" We're family. This place has a part of my heart. I don't want to just travel to Mexico and do good work to make myself feel good, look good, or just to have a sweet adventure with great stories to tell... but I'm going to serve, love, and support my family.

There are probably a million more reasons why I can't wait to return to Dulce Refugio, but for now, I hope this paints a picture of why I go.

How?
Well, logistically, I will be traveling by plane, and staying at the orphanage. But honestly, this trip would NOT have been possible but for the amazing support I have received from many of you through prayer, monetary support, and overall interest and encouragement! Let's face it-- I'm a recent college grad who's currently unemployed... I could not have afforded this trip on my own, THANK YOU!!

**Thanks to Jared Carr, I've used some of your pics here!

**For more information about Dulce Refugio, check out their blog: children of hope on xanga.com