Math Camp

This week we switched camp up a bit. We have been having English camps for several weeks now and decided it would be fun to do Math camp instead. I think the kids really enjoyed being able to work on something different. This particular week I became more aware of how flawed the school systems are here. One of the boys who lives at the orphanage was really struggling in his class and for a while I didn't know why. According to his age he should have gone with the Level 2 kids upstairs to work on multiplying and dividing large numbers. Instead he was kept downstairs because "he was further behind." I started walking around the different classrooms to see how everyone was doing and I saw him getting ready to break down. I went over to sit with him and see if I could help. The assignment was to match the number with the word in English. He knows his numbers in Spanish and in English (at least to 10) so why couldn't he do this. He was shutting down because he couldn't read. How had he gotten this far and he still couldn't read but then another little girl was sitting in the same class practicing basic algebra? Overall though camp went well. The kids had lots of fun and are pumped for the next camp at the Institute. Our friend Luis Alejandro from Batey Woltario stopped by because he was in Monte Cristi. That of course got me thinking about my love for the Bateys and if that's where God was calling me. Still praying about that. This week we are taking camp on the road. We are going to Munzinio (about 45 min away) where Orphanage Outreach kind of first began. I'm excited to go and hang out with some new kids. Some of our Dominican friends are going to help out again which is going to be awesome. I love it when they participate and I know they were really excited to have the chance to.
Sunday night at church was entertaining. I sat with Lisa, Leonel and Junior. Not sure why Junior was allowed to go to church. He's only three and the younger kids usually stay back from church because they can't keep still. I saw that firsthand with Junior. Poor Leonel tried so hard to keep him quiet. I held him for a little while too but he still was crazy. He and his sister are still trying to adjust to their new home here. While the congregation was singing and while we were keeping Junior entertained Pastor asked if any of the Americans wanted to lead a song. When they ask you to do something like that it's offensive in this culture to say no. Well right after that Marcos started yelling my name and I was trying to duck down and hide but Coco ended up taking one for the team. The same thing happens at Culto. Sometimes they'll call out specific people to lead a song or a prayer. I haven't gotten my chance yet. Oh man when I do.
Tuesday night was our sunset hike/swim. Bryson had been leading the hike up the mountain for several weeks now so I led it this week while the other group hiked down to the beach. The girls I went with were really fun. We took some crazy pictures and just had a blast talking and watching the sunset. We got back to the bus 10 minutes before the other group did so we entertained ourselves by doing exercises in the street. About halfway through our ab routine of "swimming in the street" we realized the ranger was in his house laughing at us. GREAT! It as a good time though.
I've also been trying to play more basketball this week. Marcos and Edwin grande actually picked me for their team for two days. They usually playabout 3 games to the first one who gets to 21. It was a lot of fun. I'm still working on it but they were so patient. I think out of the 10 times Edwin passed me the ball I may have scored 4. Granted it is hard to shoot when you're playing with giants. Moncho and I have played a few games this week too. Edison and I started one but he left before we got to 21 so I guess he was bored. Saturday nights are usually my favorite games. The neighborhood guys come to play and it's so fun to watch. When there aren't games going on Marcos coaches me and sometimes we'll play one on one. I've grown to really love that kid. He's working on deciding what to do about his future so if you guys could keep him in your prayers regarding that that'd be great. Julie and I have been brainstorming on how to get him a chance for a college education. He's so smart and I know he would succeed at whatever he puts his mind to. I started talking to Leonel about his future too. He said he wanted to be a Psychologist but the problem is he doesn't apply himself like he should. He's a bright kid but he has to study.
Then there are my cute little girls. We watched Tarzan for movie night this week and Mineli sat with me yet again. She's such a funny kid. Litte Luis sat right next to me and rested his head on my shoulder. Times like those are the best. I've been trying to work with Joanni and her reading. She has learned so much but I want her to keep practicing. She's so fun to read with. Yesterday we got back from "Culture Day in MC" earlier than the group that went to Santiago so some of the volunteers started a baseball game. During the game it started to rain so the caretakers made all of the little girls come in. While I was helping Negra get them in I noticed they started going crazy (not really unusual for them). I started singing My God is so big in Spanish and Nena got the idea to have an impromptu Culto service in the Comodor. That was probably one of the funniest things I've ever seen from her. Culto is the kid's informal worship service on Wednesday nights. There are usually some prayers and the kids lead some songs. Well Nena decided she was going to be the pastor and stood on a chair and led the entire service. Jennifer, Mineli, the twins, Checa, and Lisy were pretty good sports about it. I went out for a little while and watched the game in the rain which turned into Jose Luis tyring to soak me. That kid has the best smile ever. It's so hard to get mad at him. Shortly after that the rain stopped and the little girls could go back outside again. I went over to the playground and pushed Ari and Luz Maria on the swings for a bit. Luz Maria is so fun to talk to. She's smart for a 4/5 yr old. She was telling me about this fiesta she had at school and listed EVERYTHING they ate and did.
Today has been rather chill. I've been working on writing up Spanish charts to hang around our room so my Spanish improves. I've been using it a lot more since I've been in training. I have to communicate with the kitchen, Peguero, and the bus drivers so much more now. Moni and Nyerka have decided that they are going to teach me a new Spanish word every day. This morning when I went into the kitchen to greet them before breakfast we discovered that Lucy had had her kittens. Crazy cat. She just had her second set the week before I got here. Later this morning Richard came to get the people who were leaving for the airport. He's been helping me with my Spanish as well. Erickson appeared this morning too. He is from MC but he moved to Santiago for college. He helped lead a station of camp in the morning two weeks ago and then went to help me in the Bateys in the afternoon. He left for Santiago last Saturday to find a job and then came back today. I think he's going to help us out next week with camp. He seemed excited about it.
I think that's mostly all that happened this week. Please be in prayer for me as I am trying to decide what happens when I leave here in September. I have so many possibilities going through my mind and I want to make sure I follow God's plan for me. Also remember Marcos and the other neighborhood kids, as well as the 43 kids here.