Small things

My second night in Bolivia, I was holding one of the girls comforting her on the way to the doctor’s office. Turns out it was just a little dehydration and a little acting, but I couldn’t help but be a little spooked. After that I knew that this was real—this was going to be my life for the next year. I already had 120 little hearts in my heart, and that was only the beginning…

This is little Emilí, who was a couple days new the the Hogar when I arrived. She was having a bit of a tough time adjusting--which prompted the trip to the doctor

I have now become Leini. Walking through the hogar: “Hola, Leini.” When I come back from being out: “Leiniiii!” In the library on a busy Sunday: “Leini, can you get this!?” “Leini, can I do this!?” (in Spanish of course). I do not think I have heard my name shouted so many times. Being pulled this way and that can definitely be tiring, but being here for the girls—seeing them smile and laugh—makes it all seem so small. But isn’t that what Mother Teresa said we all could do? : “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love”. I’m trying Mama T. 

The empanadas for the party! YUM!

We have had such fun days here at the hogar! The hogar is split into four different dormitories, going from youngest to oldest: Santa Maria, Santa Ana, San Francisco, and San Jose. On the feast day of their saint, each dorm throws their own dormitory party!  We just recently had the feast day of San Francisco, and we had a great time full of FOOD, dancing, games, and picture taking. The girls gave us formal invites, making each of us the madrina of a different part of the party: balloons, dessert, and food. It was a neat tradition to be a part of, and I cannot wait for the next one! These girls certianly can dance!! 

 

Viv, Tania, Maggie and I with our stylists for the day

We've had such fun days at the institute as well! We went to the beauty class and got to be their practice mannequins. Who doesn't LOVE getting their hair played with? Vivian, Tania, Maggie, and I got our hair and nails done! Man, do Bolivians love their hair gel :) We looked super fancy afterwards-ready for a night on the town! Even my little dinky nails got to be pretty! They invited us back to be their practice dumbies again for their next exam. We will certainly be returning

Me, Monica, Tania, Ann-Marie

We have had such hot days here at the hogar! While the hot days can get dreadful, we had the gift of going to a local pool one day! San Francisco, San Jose, and us volunteers enjoyed the sun and the water soooo much. We even had a “cookout”—There were hotdog type things that were already cooked…we think. Madre Fatima joined the girls in the water, full habit and all! It was great to see her enjoying the girls’ company and the girls competing in her races. 

 

We have had such rainy days too!
This has made for Internet connections to be faulty and for lazy days around here. The roads get super muddy, making it tough or just undesirable to go out into the swamp that is Montero. 

We have had such great Saturdays here in Bolivia!
Saturday is our day off, which we utilize to the max! Our typical day is a trip into Santa Cruz, where we are able to get away from the hussle and bussle that is the hogar. We have the best Girls' Days Out--finding some scrumptious non-Bolivian-ish food, having fun with our taxi drivers (FERNANDO), and ending up laughing the entire time. We also have had nice days in over at the volunteer house by the convent, watching movies and just relaxing. We are hoping to visit our SLM friends in Okinawa and make a trip to Buena Vista, which is only a short Trufi ride from Montero. Here in Montero, I have been blessed with a large community of people to be with me and support me on my journey. Serving alongside others is always so rewarding, but serving among friends is truly special. 

We have had even better Sundays here at the hogar!

The day starts with taking all of our girls to mass at 9. Afterwards, I open up the library. Sunday is the only day the girls are able to use YouTube, and let me tell you: They love their Korean soap operas. There will be ten girls climbing over each other circling a computer trying to see the video...I don’t think I will ever get it. After the library is closed, it is just time to relax and hang out with the girls. Following is a delicious dinner with all of the volunteers over at the convent/institute. Some of the fine delicacies thus far have been a delicious curry chicken with mashed potatoes, Tamale pie, Costa Rican tuna casserole, and a tres leches cake! What a great way to end every week and reconnect with our supporting community.

The Sunday dinner group: Laura, Me, Maggie, Monica, Viv, Ann-Marie, Tom, and Tania taking the picture

We have even had some out of the ordinary occurrences here! The other day, Madre Clara (on the right) was trying to burn some unnecessary cardboard boxes over by the volunteer house. The next thing you know, the fire had gotten away from her and spread to the entire field. It was super dry and hot that day, and we had to play firemen and dump some water so the fire wouldn't spread. This prompted our "Only in Bolivia" catch phrase.
  

My mother-and probably some other mothers out there too-will be happy to know that I have now completed two loads of laundry WITH MY HANDS :)  Scrub a dub dub, clothes in the tub!! 

I have finally fallen into a rhythm here at the Hogar, and I definitely feel more comfortable being myself with the girls-messing up my Spanish at all. I figured I've always been the goofy one back in the States, so why would that change here? Afterall, it is that goofy person that God called here to be with these girls. I also have always been a person of the small things--a smile, a hug, or something special that lets someone know that you care about them. I intend on following Mama T's advice and just keep doing what I can--the small things--to make these girls feel special.

Please keep thinking about our girls here in Montero! Christmas is right around the corner! Read the tab above^^ for more information!

Con todo mi cariño,

Leini 

P.S. I now have a GoogleVoice account! It works just like a phone: We can call and text one another whenever I am around a computer. It works right from your phone! Add my number to your contacts pronto!! 513-461-0401 :)

Honey, I'm hoooome

You know, I always have heard third times a charm, but luckily this time around it was only the second! I don't think my little heart could have taken it. For those of you who don't know, I was stuck in America for a few days longer than expected because of flight delays and filled up flights. But what a truly lovely few days they were, and then I was really itching to get to Bolivia!

The entrance to my new home!

AND NOW I'M HERE! In my new home for the next year! So much has already happened, and I definitely chose the correct name for my blog: Overwhelmed!!!!

My placement changed again right before I got down to Bolivia. I am now working in Hogar Sagrado Corazon in Montero, Bolivia--a home for over 120 girls whose parents have died, are unable to take care of them, or keep a harmful home for their children (many times involving abuse). I have put a page up at the top of my blog ^ of a video of my new home! Godwilling I will stay here! At this point, I am ready for anything :)

Upon entering the Hogar, I was greeting with so many little faces and little hands wanting to say "Hola". It was the start of a beautiful friendship. This constant need for love and attention from every which direction has not halted in my two weeks here, and I feel blessed to be able to be only one pair of God's hands here in this hogar. This pair of hands is embracing young girls who are missing their mothers and fathers; teaching the girls hand games that it hasn't played in YEARS, but that it still remembers by heart; playing La Cucaracha with the little ones (which is my new Spanish version of my favorite game Ticklebug!); caressing the faces of little girls in tender moments; coloring birthday cards for the girls to make their special day even more special; and now typing here so that I may share these beautiful girls with the rest of the world!! How lucky I am to be these hands.

Here in the hogar, I have been given great responsibility already! I am in charge of the hogar's Madrina program, which is a sponsorship program run by the volunteers here that connects each girl here with a godmother, godfather, or godfamily that can donate money and correspond at least twice a year to ensure a promising future for each girl. It really is such a great program, and the girls love receiving the special gifts from their madrinas. With this comes many responsibilites: keeping track of the account (money matters), many trips to the post office, recording every correspondence, getting together birthday gifts for the girls, and raising all of the money for Christmas gifts for the girls!! More on that later. I also am in charge of the library here at the hogar--opening it a couple times of day for the girls to do homework on the five working computers, to read, to color and do puzzles, and to play games on Sunday. It is such a cool atmosphere when there is a "Solo Libros" day--looking around at all the gears turning in their little minds is SO rewarding.

It is so hot, dusty, and smelly here. For those of you who were wondering, the burning of sugar cane smells just like a thousand dirty diapers. But I find myself getting used to all of the quirks of Montero. Riding into town on the back of a moto is a little joy that I SO look forward to--hopefully I'll have a picture soon! The girls here do not care how dirty or sweaty I am--although sometimes they may point out to me that I am mojada. Although I sometimes get frustrated not knowing certainly words, the girls here think my Spanglish is funny.

So all in all, things are really great here. God is definitely trying to show me that I cannot nor do not control everything--changing my placement around on me, delaying my departure a bit, throwing me some curve balls here and there. He wanted me in an hogar all along, and I definitely feel like this is exactly where I am supposed to be. I've just got to learn to fully commit to "LET GO, let God." :)

Chau from Bolivia! (These crazy Bolivians and their goofily smelled Italian salutation!)
Lains

P.S. The internet connection is not strong enough for picture uploading but hopefully I will get them up soooooon!!

Also, for those wondering, here is my address!!
Voluntarias Salesianas
Attn: Lainie Sanker
Casilla #4 de Correo
Montero, Santa Cruz
Bolivia