The hardest part is goodbye

I knew today would come when we had to say our goodbyes.  They're never easy, you always just want to hang on even though you have to let go.  Today was that day and it was going to be a very tough day on all of us.  Last night was our busiest night of getting 130 food bags ready for all the family's.  We packed beans, rice, milk, oil, cookies, soap, toothpaste, and noodles.  We packed all the bags and stuffed a giant piñata named Chuck.  In the end we fell asleep by 10:30.
Today was the big day Chuck (the piñata) was stuffed,  the bags loaded, and the food ready.  We took off as fast as we could to get to the school.  Upon getting to the school we immediately put all the goods into a room before the students arrived.  We walked around the school giving hugs, kisses, and hand shakes.  We all walked out to the field for a game of kickball.  We played mostly with the deaf kids and let me tell you they were amazing at it.  One of the kids kicked the ball over the fence and into the street.  Our game went on until the bell rang signaling for the kids to go inside.  The joy and sweetness in each kid shined through as they ran inside to get to class.  Lots of kids I know don't care about school because they think of it as a burden.  These wonderful kids think of it as the highlight of their day.  They can always look forward to coming to school because they appreciate what they have.  The next thing I knew was that it was the party for all the kids and there family's.  We served them a delicious plate full of tasty food.  Just giving the kids the food put the biggest smiles on their faces.  Not only did the kids put on a smile but so did the parents that had come.  Now with full stomachs Chuck was raised up into high up into the air.  With the wooden bat Yohana (one of the deaf girls) hit Chuck knocking him of the string and crashing to the ground.  Kids rand forward grabbing the candy left and right, I helped Ana get some before it was all gone.  When the bus arrived you knew what time it was and all  you wanted to do was take these kids home with you.  Many of the students broke down crying because they didn't want to leave but knew they had to.  Today I hugged just about every student I could find and held them tight.  Saying goodbye today was the hardest thing in the world for me.  Over the past five days I've gotten to know these kids as well as my friends I have now.  I wanted to give each and everyone of them what I have now because I know they deserve it.  This trip has changed my life so much that every day has taught me something new.  Along with changing my life I know I changed theirs.  I hope to see them one day happy and healthy. Not one day will go by without me thinking of them because CGA (Children's Global Alliance) has showed me how each individual thing in the world has meaning and to never take anything for granted.

The little things

Lights flashed by as we drove to the circus.  We pulled up to the circus only to find happy faces smiling at us.   Ana a sweet 4 year old came running up and gave us all hugs.  We walked into a large tent with wooden seats.  Within miutes dancers came out and started the show.  Next the clowns were the best I've ever seen.  When Ana walked out and performed she stole the show.  She was lifted high into the air on a rope.  When we left it was hard to say goodbye but I knew that I would see her again.  Upon leaving I thought about all the great things that we had done for each child at the school and how happy it made them.
The sun rose up and showed its power by breaking through the clouds and shining down on the land.  When we got to the school no students had arrived, but you could still feel the excitment in the air.  As if right on que all the students came running to us squeezing us to a pulp.  It felt as if you were in heaven with all the hugs filling you with joy.  I went to the first deaf classroom and sat down.  I was amazed by the kids intelegence and gracefulness in their signs.  The way they could communicate was as if you were stepping into another world.  I felt very embarased for not thinking that they were very smart. 
After lunch I went to Jorge's room (trade skills room).  He gave my a tour and showed me how each tool was used and how to handle it.  Next he showed me the garden and told me about each fruit and vegetable.  He picked a small round pepper and split it open exposing the inside.  The smell was so fresh and sweet.  The end of the day came and thats the hardest part.  Saying goodbye to all the kids is hard knowing they might go home to a family that doesn't care about them.  You hug them tightly knowing you'll see them tomorrow.

Life in the light

When the sun rises from the darkness it sucks it up bringing out the life and beauty of the land.  This morning the sun magically got me out of bed and ready for another amazing day.  On our way to the school the sun was working its magic on the citizens of Rivas.  When we got to the school a bus full of students came running.  We hugged just about each student holding them tight.  I walked to the first grade classroom to find kids playing around.  I sat down with Royner who seemed a little quiet.  We colored on paper and showed him how to hold a marker.  With being able to hold a writing utensil he would be able to build off of that and eventually write.  Max who I was working with had brought playdoh which I used to help get Royner hold things.  He grasped the playdoh and smiled at me.  I went to a corner of the classroom and got two balls.  I hit it like a drum and said uno, dos, tres.  Royner did his best to copy what I was saying.  I kept on encouraging him and eventually he got it.  Even a simple beat can help a student learn and be excited about it.   A girl named Michelle walked in and punched me right in the stomach.  I sat her down on my lap and gave her something to grasp.  She used the clay to get some of her energy out.  I walked back to Royner and took him out to the swings.  While pushing him on the swing I noticed that everything we did for these kids made them so happy and plastered a smile to their faces.  After lunch I went to Yahoska's classroom and that's when I met Zulema.  Nicole had been working with her by using cards with actions to teach her words.  She also would copy actions which helped her learn.  The hardest part of any great day is saying goodbye.  Today I walked out with Francisco and gave him a huge hug.  He lit up like a firework bursting with color.  The happiness filled me with joy.  I'm already wanting it to be tomorrow so I can see the kids again.     

All in

This morning as the sun rose I could feel the warmth and happiness it gave off.  Breakfast was a breeze.  Today we got to the school around 7:15, once again there was a blanket of joy surrounding the school.  I said my "good mornings" and the "hellos."  The students hugged me which had made my day. Shortly after I left the school with Carmen Margarita and Aleyda to go on the home visits.  The first home was a pretty nice house with tiled floors and big rooms for its 6 inhabitants.  We met the mom-Claudia who was caring Stephania.  Stephania was 8 months old and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy about 2 months earlier.  We made sounds to get her to turn her head and create movement.  Our next house was very nice too.  Roger was born with his brain hanging out of his skull.  He has had surgery and skin has covered it up.  Even though he is on the mend he still is behind in learning.  We sat down on the beds and helped Roger move around.  The next family we visited had a child with cerebral paralysis.  The husband had just left the mom for no reason.  The last house we went to we were not allowed into because the mom and child were HIV positive.  We couldn't do much there but I was happy that these kids were getting the love and care that they needed at home.
Upon returning to the school I went to the first grade classroom.  As I walked into the room Michelle slapped me on the arm.  I looked down at her and smiled knowing she didn't do it on purpose.  As I moved through the classroom I noticed that a lot of the kids were sitting around doing nothing.  I grabbed a ball and rolled it towards one of the kids, he picked it up and through it at me.  I had just made one kid happy which made me even more excited to be there helping.  The next thing I knew it was lunch time.  All the kids headed to the lunch room.  After lunch I headed to the art room.  I sat down and after a while started to talk to Dayana.  She likes to color flowers and trees.  Even the simplest things can put a smile on a kids face.  She has 3 brother and 3 sisters.  We covered balloons in paper and glue.  Eventually they would be turned into fruit.  School had just gotten out and all the kids were running around laughing and giving hugs.
We left for the afternoon home visits with Magali and Zack (Zack was our translator).  We drove 30 kilometers from the school to Vera Cruz.  On the drive we drove past the dump.  Plastic bags were everywhere in sight.  We got to the first house/bar where a boy named Kenny and a girl named Alisia lived.  The grandparents took care of them because the mom was "crazy".  The dad lived near by and brought the kids clothes and shoes.  The dad cares about the kids but doesn't live with them.  The second house was rented out by a family of 8.  The property was a good size with mango and avocado trees.  They had a little girl named Rosa with Cerebral Palsy.  She took medication to get oxygen to the brain.  The medicine costs about 20 U.S. dollars each week.  She also took medicine for her convulsions.  Meeting these kids really opened my eyes to the real world.  This experience has changed my life forever because knowing this jut makes me want to help more.  Can't wait to see the students tomorrow and make a difference in their lives.

Go 110 percent or nothing

As I woke up this morning you could feel the excitment in the air.  The birds were chirping and the wind was blowing.  Today was our first day with the students.  When we got to the school I was ready to help thesekids 110 percent to my best ability.  The excitment and anxiousness filled me as we met the children.  Their smiling faces told me that it was to be a great day.  After "hellos" I went straight to the preschool classroom.  The room was small but welcoming. The teacher was sitting in a chair watching the students.  There were few chairs and tables.  There were some toys in the corner that had been well loved.  I could see two kids literally sitting and starring at a wall.  I could tell they needed cheering up so I got two coloring books from my bag for my lesson plan to see if it would work and offered them to Ever and Francisco.  Ever quikly grabed the book and begain to color while Francisco sat crying.  The teacher told us that he does that for about an hour then stops and starts again.  I was determained to get him to stop crying.  I took out some playdoh and gave him some.  He looked at it, took it and then dropped it as if he didn't know what to do.  I picked it up again showing him that you can mold it into anything.  He took it again and started to mold it.  Later when I was with Ever he handed me a maker.  I took the marker and opened it for him and gave it back.  It felt so great to do a little deed just to make one kid happy.  Once the bell rang everyone went to lunch.  When they came back I went to the third grade class and watched as the kids copied the numbers 0-9 on to a sheet of paper.  The kids struggled to copy them down.  I saw Conchita using Sammies camera and how happy she was.  These new oppertunities brightens up these kids days.  Most of the rooms feel dead with no excitment but once you get these kids excited with smiles on there faces the room lights up with hope and joy. 

First Experience in Nicaragua

Yesterday I left Denver to go to Nicaragua.  We arrived in Managua around 10:00 and drove to Rivas.  Already I was so excited to be in Nicaragua.  Everyone was so happy to finally be  there on their way to make a difference.  When we arrived in Rivas it was 12:00.  In the morning we ate breakfast and drove to the school.  Today since it's a Sunday there were no students at the school.  We got to work right away on cleaning all the rooms, and I got to clean the preschool room.  It was a lot of hard work because of these foam alphabet mats on the floor that needed lots of cleaning.  I was hot and tired by the time we finished but still happy that I helped.  The staff at the school was so kind and helpful.  One of the most amazing parts about the school is the fact that they grow 90 percent of what they serve for lunch, including peppers, tomatoes, plantains and papayas.  After leaving the school I felt like I had made a difference for the students.  With the clean rooms I could see the grin on the teachers' faces which made me feel like I had done a great thing.  With this new experience I will use it everyday to make someone else happy. Right now I'm sitting on the beach staring at two massive volcanos.  Just staring at the volcanos made me feel excited to see a volcano for the first time and small because of its size. Tomorrow will be our first day with the students and I can't wait.