Elias - the long of it

I thanked Steph and Joy for listening to my long story today. It was while I told it that I figured I should write it down. So here we go (inhale)...

About a month, month and a half ago, I had a blessed time with a little boy named Elias. I notice that sometimes, the boys in Las Violetas that come for our craft day in el Refugio behave well as long as you pay them special attention. Obviously, you can't always do that, but this week, I was able to. He even finished the craft early, and went on his way, showing everyone the paper bird we had worked on together.

Last week, however, Elias was not the best. It started with hitting a girl, and he continued with bad words. I told him that if he hit the girl or anyone again, he would have to leave for the week. Granted, the girl wasn't helping the situation, and I even had to discipline her at one point, but Elias drew back and slapped her in the face as hard as he could.

He knew what was coming because he immediately fell straight to the floor. I've never literally kicked someone out before, but there I was; using my feet to move him closer to the door.

I closed the gate portion of the door, and he peered inward as if the outside were jail. "Please, PLEASE, just let me come in!" he pleaded.

"Elias," I told him. "I asked you not to hit again, and then you did. You broke one of the few rules we give. You are free to come next week, but for the remainder of the day, you must stay outside."

He pouted.

"Do you understand why?" I asked.

"NO!" he shouted back. "LET ME IN!!!!"

I asked him to read the sign behind him. He told me he couldn't read, and since I honestly don't know if they are joking or not when they say that sort of thing, due to the lack of quality education in the area, I told him that it said "El Refugio."

"And do you know what 'El Refugio' means?" I asked.

He shook his head.

I gave the schpiel about how it's a place of safety. A place where, despite how dangerous it can be outside in the streets, when we come to this house, we choose to leave the danger outside. "Therefore, we don't fight, we don't hit each other, we refrain from bad words. We keep this place safe."

Elias whined a bit more, but eventually left.

On this day, several of the older boys also came in to bother the group that was halfway through their craft. We eventually had to ask them to leave as well, since they were only disrupting the others, and for some, tearing apart the hard work that the others had begun. These boys stayed in the street when Sol and I were closing up shop.

I was very tempted to go up to this group and give them a piece of my Holy Spirit induced mind. I want so badly for them to realize their great potential and how they have a choice to either explore that potential or destroy it. Yet, I held my tongue and walked the other direction. A little discouraged due to the lack of speaking fluidly, I at least practiced my speech in my head as I continued home.

On the way, I saw Elias and his older sister and thought maybe God wanted me to say something to him instead (though maybe He really wanted both). Two people are less intimidating, and so I tried. The words came, miraculously (thank you Lord!), and I was able to share with them again how much I love them and only stand by the rules because I want what's best for them. "You understand?"

They nodded. Elias even said he was sorry. We walked together a bit and he showed me where he lives.

Fast forward to today and Elias was late. Oh but rewind just a bit for a time with Gaston. Gaston is one of those older kids. He made his way toward one of the kids as if to hit him, so I quickly stated, "You hit him, and you will have to leave." Hit. Evil eye from me. Blank stare.

Gaston is the type that tries to use his age and size to break the rules. I did not back down.

After a little bit of arguing, he was out of el Refugio, but waiting at the door. He slowly tried to inch his way in, letting his feet touch the tile floor. "Gaston, all the way out," I explained. Another bit of arguing over details, until he finally was all the way outside. "Fine," he huffed. "I'll just climb the roof." I chose to ignore this part, and surprisingly, he was back at the door a few minutes later. I walked up to him.

"Gaston, two rules was all I gave you. Don't hit, and you hit. Go outside, and you do everything you can to come back in without permission. I want you to come inside and finish your craft. Really, I do. But I have to know that I can trust you. If you can not keep two, easy, simple rules, how do I know you won't do something worse the next time?"

He looked at me.

"I will gladly invite you back in if you can wait another two minutes outside."

He waited, and I invited him back in. In comes Elias, as previously mentioned, late. He is rambunctious, and so I have to give him a warning after a hit number one that he needs to be good.

"If you promise me to be good, I will let you stay. But once you break that promise, I will ask you to leave. Do you promise?"

He nodded, but I wanted to hear it. "Yes or no, Elias." After a minute or two, he finally had the strength to say "Si."

He survived, for awhile. But eventually, threw down the scissors, almost hurting another kid, and out of rebellion to Sol who had already asked him not to do so. Before he acted in this violent manner, even Gaston said, "Elias, be careful or you will be asked to leave!"

"Out!" I shouted, mainly out of disappointment.

Elias instead put himself under the table. I explained as I had similarly done with Gaston about the possibility of coming back in, but first he would have to show obedience by going outside. Nothing. "But I promise to be good from now on!" he moaned.

"You already broke the original promise," I replied.

Still nothing.

So I looked him in the eye and told him that I would talk to his parents if he didn't come out by the count of three. "One..."

Gaston was exasperated. "Just go outside Elias! It'll be okay!"

[smiling on the inside]

"Two..." I pleaded with him some more, and expressed that I wasn't afraid to find his parents (though I actually was*).

"You don't know where I live!" he shouted, but then paused. "Oh wait..."

"Three!" I marched out the door.

Maria Sol later told me that everyone's eyes got really big in that moment, and that when I continued out they all were talking about whether or not I would actually do so.

I'll tell you now that I had my doubts. But Elias' reaction confirmed my every footstep. He was literally racing home so he could talk to his mother before I could. Well, actually.. first he ran to the corner and hid behind it. Waiting to see if I'd actually follow through. After that, he raced onward, and by the time I got to his house, I could hear him explaining to his mom that he didn't do anything wrong, no matter what the teacher was about to say.

I patiently waited outside, making the culturally acceptable hand claps to get the attention of the owners of the house (when there are no doorbells). No one. Clap, clap, clap...

Elias made his way out with a giant smirk. "She's not going to believe you," he coaxed. "I already told her everything."

No response on my end. Clap, clap, clap...

"Doesn't look like she's coming," he smiled some more.

"That's okay, I can wait."

Eyes widened and mouth agape. But to distract himself, he ran off with some other friends.

I decided to shout "Hola," and this got his mom to come out. I explained who I was and what I was doing, and started by saying that I know that Elias is a good kid. "But I had given some basic rules, and everyone knows that when you break those rules you must leave for the day but are welcome to come back the next week." I then continued with how Elias had broken the rules, and she responded, "Ohh... what a liar he is!

"Don't you worry, I'm going to find him now and talk to him."

Even I was scared for Elias, but I thanked her and walked back. Elias' sister asked if she could come (as she was standing nearby) right as Elias walked back. He seemed surprised to see his mother outside too. He shouted at me that he wasn't coming back ever.

"Elias," I sighed. "Don't you know that I want you to come back?! I just want to make sure that you behave well because I know you can. You are a good kid."

He didn't have any words to that.

Back in el Refugio, Sol had a chance to talk to the boys that remained about Jesus. We were making a Christmas themed craft, so she linked it to the purpose of Christmas, and it was relieving to hear them all know the basic story. I had never heard them go that in depth with us before either. Shellshocked.

Elias' brother Lucio was there too. While curious about my conversation with his mom, I told him that it was to be kept between me and her and Elias. He, often a little wild as well, behaved really well for the rest of our time. Gaston too, for the most part.

I was praising Jesus to have this time with those boys before heading back to the States. I continue to pray for consistency and wisdom. I pray that they can know how much we love them. I pray that they can learn to behave well not just for the sake of behaving well, but so that they can become great young men.

Important names of those from el Refugio: Carlos, Gaston, Lucio, Elias, Erik.

Thanks and chau.

*One reason I'm not sure of what to do when it comes to talking to parents, is I don't know how they treat their children for misbehavior. Do they ignore the problem? Do they physically abuse their children? It's a scary prospect at times, but I'll just have to let the Spirit guide these moves.

Catholics - not half bad (wink)

I invited my good friend Noemi to dinner at the OM house this week as she was unable to come for our normal morning tea in the city center. I made a tuna tarta and steamed some broccoli and carrots together and only make note of it because it feels like an accomplishment sometimes when you can cook for others. Oops, too long of a sentence. Here is your chance to breathe.

Encouraging: having a much older woman ask you for advice about the Bible. We talked about all sorts of theological debates; from one-time salvation to the need for confession, to the immeasurable mercy of Jesus. Certainly, I am no expert, it's just fun to be included in these more heady discussions when one feels very young (someone thought I was fourteen today--HA!).

Noemi also made a point to share with me about visiting a friend's church last week where she supported the confirmation of said friend's daughter.

"You would never guess," she said to me. "But at this Catholic church, not once did I hear them pray to Mary, and everything the priest said about the Bible was accurate as far as I could tell."

I smiled, but understood. While I've discussed this fact before, that Cordoba, heck Argentina, isn't all that Catholic, it is interesting to hear about a Protestant background person who still thinks that all Catholics have it wrong. I explained to her as my mom had once explained to me:

"Not all Catholics go to heaven. But certainly not all Protestants go to heaven either!"

If you'd like a Biblical reference to this sort of thing, you can check out Matthew 25:34-46 as well as Matthew 7:21.

She at once agreed, and we continued the discussion. How are you and your feelings about other denominations?

Chau.

I don't know

..how to tell you again and again how much there is to say, and simply too little time to do so.

For one, there's the fact that we were caught off guard yesterday to find that all of those staying at the girls' institute will be leaving this week!! I felt like I was in those T-bone car accidents you see in the movies. I didn't know how to say goodbye. How to hug Gladys and do my final little dance move I've taught Maria Luz these past few weeks. How to hold back the tears when little Tamara hugged me with all of her might.

Add to that, despairing for Maria Luz who does not have a mother who cares for her. She and I were playing, but at one point, she went to Gladys to have her hold her. "Ma-ma.. ma-ma!" she cried. And without a bat of an eye, Gladys did not even turn to her. Sol and I tried to distract the girl, but to no avail. Heartbreaking.

Before hand, I had a good time with Fabrizio, which is a first in several months. He stopped coming with us when we visit the boys' institute. I always made sure to say hello, but in general, he never was much of a talker. Yesterday, Javi had prepared the craft and on top of that we had visitors from Buenos Aires helping, so I stayed in the back to chat with my man Fabri. We talked about video games, and his family (I still remember the first time we met, and talking about his father Diego). I learned he has two brothers and one sister, but he doesn't hear much from them. All in all, lovely to get to focus my time with him.

There's the fact that we've had guests in and out of the house over the past week and a half. Yet another reason you haven't heard from me lately (and perhaps for the best, as I was pretty stressed, and I might've slipped in some complaints!).

The fact that it's already super hot, that while I know it won't be so cold when I go to Texas in less than a week (!), it will still make a whole lot of difference.

I'm reading Leviticus presently, and am thinking of preparing a sermonette about how Argentine asado probably smells a lot like our sins being taken away, while the panaderias are the smell of our guilt offerings. hehe.

I don't know what else to include, because it's all so important, and yet so very much, I couldn't possibly express everything I'm feeling and learning etc. etc. Mas que nada, God is wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better life! Chau!

Holy Guacamole

It's November.

That means several things. In two weeks, I'm making my way toward the great state of Texas. When I return, I have invites to Rio Negro, Neuquin and another part of Buenos Aires (where I will hopefully get to see a polo match!) for December. I have the end of the world to go to. I am waiting to hear about what summer camp I will be attending (Chaco or the south with the Bs. As. team???) in January. All of the end of the year events to plan--with the boys' and girls' institute, with my teens, with the church...

So I spent the day preparing for this fairly lengthy road ahead by organizing my room and putting away the gifts I've bought the family in one of the suitcases. I still have a few more to buy for, so I need to make time for that.

Oh yeah, and SARAH BRYAN IS ENGAGED!! WOOOOO!!!!

Oh and what? I'm speaking fairly fluent Spanish now? I've had quite a few new friendships formed in these past few weeks where it's not until a couple minutes into the conversation that they realize I'm not from here. Sick!

That is all. A fairly simple post, which had a lot more to it, but I'm simply exhausted. Chau!

Fiesta de la Luz

Missing: Giuliano and the Quinteros clan

The Fiesta de la Luz is like our Fall Festival. A safe alternative for kids in place of Halloween. The irony was that the neighborhood had picked the very same day and the exact hours of our planned fiesta, to cut off all electricity (cut off the light, if you will).

I could see the look of disappointment in the eyes of those who had worked so hard to plan each part of the event. Andrea, in charge of the games, trying to find a solution for how to accommodate for so many children. Eva, who had directed the play, thinking of alternatives for the various features of the play that needed lighting and microphones. Coco, who had baked so many cakes, thinking that no one would come to enjoy them.

I reminded them of what had happened before, during the Día del Niño, when we arrived to our designated location only to find the political parties throwing their own shindig without having asked the neighborhood council's permission like we had. In the moment, we switched plazas, and ended up having even more kids than planned. "God knew what He was doing then, we can assume He knows what He's doing this time too," I told them.

And sure enough, the hour in which the planned light's out time passed. I guess someone must have forgotten!

Mily and I were paired up to lead a game. Within this, was another milagrito, as I call it (translates to little miracle), but that wasn't understood by me until the moment had already passed. Back up. Not only was I in charge of a game, but I had to make the tree for the play as well. Reality strikes yet again at the fact that I would have to make this tree out of scraps/trash as we were working on a budget and that budget was nil. So I collected all the cardboard boxes and green pieces of tissue paper I could find, forked out a mere 2USD for some high quality tape, and had Javi make a scrap-wood stand on which our lovely tree would rest:

Huzzah

...and something you could easily throw away when done.

But all this to say that I also lost time preparing for the game. The game was simple: two kids would need "crowns" and the rest of the kids would need "jewels" to throw into the crowns. The crowns were easy because I would just make some poster board jewel-less drawings of the coronas and then tape them to some ice cream containers that are large enough for the kids' heads. The jewels was the issue. And as is part of my personality that I don't necessarily deem as procrastinating, simply, thinking too long upon the subject/forgetting, I never got around to buying or finding something suitable.

After all, these pelotitas would need to be jewel-esque and small, but not to hard that someone could get hurt.. cheap if I were to buy them.. and actually available. The last one is the most difficult part. The night before, I was still joya-less. My friend asked what I was to do, and I didn't know. Shrugging, I just said I'd figure it out in the morning.

"But it starts at 3pm! What if you don't find them?" she asked. (A valid point when everything closes by 12 or 13 hundred hours.)

"I'll just have to figure something out I suppose."

To be perfectly frank, I wasn't worried about it. If I couldn't find anything in the morning, I would have to be flexible and maybe change up the game or something. Not like we haven't done plenty of that already.

During the night I had a dream where I was talking with my mentor Andrea. It was a conversation we had already had a week before, and she was telling me about a woman who gave her husband an entire bag full of necklaces. My dream then fast-forwarded to the part where my very hand was holding this bag and putting it up with the costume jewelry that we have in the back, but not realizing what was inside.

I woke up remembering that I could probably just take those necklaces, cut them apart, and use those as "jewels." When I went to the back, it was actually a bag of assorted beads of the very jewel-esque quality I was aiming for, that were to be used to make necklaces. I came back into the house where my friend was sitting and asked me what had happened. She was in awe of how simple it all was.

The most important part of the day however, was when two strange cars parked by the plaza. OUR BOYS FROM THE INSTITUTE GOT TO COME!!! Sergio, Gabriel, Matias, Rodrigo and Nico all came piling out and I got to give them a big hug to welcome them! They played very well with the rest of the kids, and I was extra surprised by Matias' behavior--much better than normal.

Any way, another great event in which all of the church had come together to serve. Perhaps another of the highLIGHTS of the day. Chau!

Como se dan los chistes

So I went to the local ferreteria.. that is, the hardware store.. I needed some sticks for hanging curtains as they are literally called, as well as some tape. I forgot the tape, but thankfully the walk is short. Additionally, I needed what is called a factura so that I could justify spending OM's money for some ministry needs, and they didn't have one at the time. A second trip was necessary is what I'm trying to say.

They asked me where I lived, and didn't think I was a foreigner at first (woohoo! an extra point for me somewhere, right?), because their intention was to drop the factura off personally. I said it was fine for me to come back, as I have a lot of walking around the area to do any way. So I came by, and they forgot to print the official receipt. Pero lo que me llamo atencion fue como ya sabian mi nombre! But what most grabbed my attention was that by my second visit they already knew my name. Well, my middle name, but that's besides the point.

So I would have to come for a third visit, but this time mate was promised, so it wasn't so bad for me. hehe

When I arrived, the dueno of the hardware store was ready with mate in hand and a little joke to share on the side. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the joke so well, but when they explained it after, it was pretty good*.

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A little later I had a flat tire, so off to the Bicicleteria it was! The man remembered me from when I had first come to fix another bike, and so he gave a nice hello. "I just need some air," I told him.

He asked if I needed regular air or the more expensive kind.

Unsure if I was hearing him correctly, I looked to Javi waiting outside with the, "I-may-need-your-help-after-all" look, but in time the man said, "Oh! I am only kidding!"

This time I was ready to respond: "Look, you can't just go throwing jokes at innocent little foreigners you know!"

We laughed together and I was on my way.

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Noemi and I met for tea at our usual locale, where the waiter often doesn't even ask anymore what we would like to have. One tea with no sugar, one coffee with a small water on the side. This time however, Noemi had ordered some mini croissants because she had skipped breakfast.

After one bite, she stopped, as they were stale. A new English word for her. We called the waiter over and explained that maybe they did not come from a fresh batch, as they were a little dry.

"Okay," he said. "I'll go add a little water to them." Again, all in good fun.

I guess it's the season for joking, as all of these have happened in the last couple of days. Or maybe I'm just understanding a lot better. Or maybe it's a cultural thing. I would definitely say Argentina is on the sarcastic side. Chau chau!


*Since then, I've shared the joke with a couple of Argentines. They too, need help understanding the joke.

When you lay down the law

..sometimes, some really great things happen.

While some wanted to play soccer again, I looked up at the sky and saw some ominous clouds. And even though it didn't end up raining, I came prepared with two styrofoam cups, two pieces of cardboard squares, two sticks of about 5 inches in length, a ping pong ball and some tape.

Javi looked at me with skepticism. But we mounted our bikes (Rosita!!!) and took off. We arrived to a full house: the new Rodrigo*, Nico, Nahuel, Sergio, Matias, Fabrizio and Mariano. However, menos mal, digamos, Fabri and Mariano stayed in the back to play cards with Claudio. Bueno, the rest of us put together our own miniature basketball court on a table and played two v. two.

I let the kids make their own goal. I gave them the basic idea, but wanted them to problem solve on their own and discover their own capabilities. As well as waste some time. Then I told them that there are some important rules, and that if they broke them there were one of two results: a loss of a turn the disarming of all of our precious work because we would be done for the day.

Wow! They loved it! And while only four could play at a time, they paid special attention to everyone that was playing. A first. Matias was, well, the normal difficult Matias that he is, but the only one who really did any wrong. Then there was Nahuel who stole my heart again by cheering for everyone, and picking me to be on his team. He even wanted me to sit with him while we waited our turn again. In general, everyone was shouting in excitement, "So close!!!", "GOAL!!", etc. etc.

Sergio, I must say, is also a personal favorite. I know, it's a dangerous rode to love them too much when I have no idea how long they are staying, nor will I be here forever, but I think it's worth the risk. There's probably some poetic saying about that somewhere ;). Any way, I say this about Sergio because I had made a game for him not too long ago, and he made a point to say that he really enjoyed it. I had missed his birthday last week, so I told him I was sorry, but he gave me a huge hug and promised it was okay. Que tierno!

On another note, I feel like I'm thinking about these stories in Spanish so much, that it affects my English sentence structure. Oh well, asi es la vida a veces. More than anything, I was encouraged by todays' game time with the boys.

As for the girls, yesterday we made wind chimes. I'm wanting to say "from scratch," but that's not the right term. I'll explain later. Chau for now!

*Rodrigo. Some of you may remember Rodrigo dos. As of Monday, he escaped the institute and we still don't know where he is. Please be in prayer for his safety and that he is able to find a place as well as a good family with whom he can stay. Or something. I don't know what to pray in an instance such as this, really.

The new Rodrigo comes with brother Nico and is one of five. All of his brothers and mother came to visit on Tuesday while we played soccer with them. I'm not sure of the whole situation, but I was told they were dropped off last Wednesday at the house and were left confused and crying.