Peace of Christ to you all in this third week of Advent! I remember as a child that this was always my favorite week because we got to light the pink candle of the Advent Wreath! Not much has changed…pink is still my favorite. The other candles are favorite too, but pink is a little more favorite. (Brian Regan meets Advent).
Alejandro and I at the Christmas program that Johnson and Johnson put on for the kids. Alejandro's parents died in a car accident when he was three. We celebrated his 15th birthday on Dec. 8th - the same day as the Immaculate Conception! This child is just too precious...This past week has been filled with many blessings, a few of which included the visit of our dear friends Mariya and Maribeth, who were volunteers this past year here at the Santuario and continue to be a part of the “Fiat Family” as we call it. We’ve had some great laughs and even ventured out to one of the local town fiestas this past weekend in Olon. The MC kept giving shout-outs to the Americans, who naturally stuck out like sore thumbs…but it was a great to dance the night away, Ecuadorian style.
I find myself adjusting more and more to life here at the Santuario with each day…although I’ve been here several times before, my eyes are opened anew to the reality of how these children have suffered and continue to suffer, especially as I come to know their stories of severe abuse and abandonment.
Having been here now almost three weeks, and knowing that I will be here for a year has definitely had its impact on the way I must interact with the kids. For example, when I was here with the kids for a week-long visit, it was all fun and games, helping them with their homework and just taking them to the beach. Now that I’m here more permanently, I also have the responsibility to love them while providing consistent discipline. Yes, simply put: now the Lord is blessing me with lessons of motherhood. I’ve since felt the rejection that a mother must feel when her child is angry and refuses to talk to her, and the sadness of a mother’s heart when her child spitefully chooses the wrong before her own eyes. Yet at the same time, I’m learning that a mother’s love must be stronger than anything in the world, because at the end of the day, she must go tuck that angry, misbehaving child into bed, give him a kiss and make sure he knows that he is loved…no matter what. And that tomorrow always brings a new day. Lessons of love, lessons of forgiveness…asi es la vida…this is how simple and yet profound life is here at the Santuario.
Also, I’ve begun spending mornings in a classroom of children who live here at the Santuario and are not at their correct grade level. This is mostly because before they came to the Santuario, they suffered such neglect and care that many of them didn’t go to school, or were moving around too much to truly learn at an adequate level. For me, it’s a taste of educational psychology to work with these children daily. A lot of them are quite bright, but lack the motivation and confidence to do their work – and they are ashamed to be in this class of kids ranging from 6 – 15 years of age. Since these kids live at the Santuario, the relationships I already have with the kids outside of the classroom are helping me to cater to each of their personalities, combining existing trust with motivation and encouragement. I see this as excellent preparation for transitioning into a more clinical setting when the new school year begins. Truly, the best thing I can be doing right now is to be immersed in the Ecuadorian culture, so I may become more fluent in Spanish and more proficient in my understanding of their way of life. And there’s no better way of doing this than to be spending hours on end with children! Not a bad job, if I say so myself!
We continue to prepare for Christmas, this week’s project has been painting little clay angels to sell in our little ‘gift shop’ for when the tourists come. I still can’t believe it’s December…and that I’ll have a Christmas without snow...but in many ways, I am savoring the opportunity to be away from the ‘commercialized Christmas’ frenzy we all know too well. It’s beautiful to be in a place where truly ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’ and where there’s a spirit of tranquility and peace amidst the anticipation. I pray that you may all find that same peace in the quiet of your hearts. Take care and keep in touch! Until next week…
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