week 14: a relaxing week (september 15-21)

a day at the beach: so this week was actually somewhat relaxing. it felt like i was finally getting into a little bit of a rhythm. i am trying to plan some outings for the kids of san pascual because they never get to leave the house since they don’t go to school. so, this wednesday we headed to the beach. it was a ton of fun, even though being with those kids (especially kaki) is a ton of work. they love splashing around in the water and playing in the sand. we completely buried kaki in the sand and he loved it! and the water here is sooo warm… so much different than california. i can't remember the last time i actually "swam" in the ocean! it was good for the kids to get out of the house and do something different, and good for the tias too. these poor tias in san pascual, i think they have the toughest job of all the tias here. not only do they have kids that require a lot of attention, but they don't get the break the other tias get when the kids are at school. so i was glad that they got to enjoy themselves too. overall, it was a good day and a good week.

genesis: one of my other kids in san pascual is genesis. if it wasn’t horrible to say i have a favorite, i would say she is my favorite. she's just a really cute and funny little girl. she's seven years old, which just looking at her is incredible to me. she is super skinny. i'm assuming she was pretty malnourished before she came here. she also has profound mental retardation. she doesn’t talk at all (she makes noises, but doesn’t talk) and i don’t really think that she understands much either. most of the kids in the house understand basic commands and phrases, but genesis just kinda stares at you with this blank stare. she makes the funniest facial expressions though. she also loves to be held. the second anyone walks in the door of san pascual she is walking toward them with her long lanky arms high up in the air waiting to be picked up. she also loves to play with the strangest things. her favorites are sand, rocks and little pieces of trash, preferable paper. (which is why she absolutely loves the beach!) she sits in this crouched frog-like position on the floor and just rolls these things around in her hands. she can entertain herself for hours! and if you offer her a real toy or a piece of trash, she’ll take the trash every time. therapy with her can be really challenging just because i never know what to do. but overall, she’s a very sweet little girl and i love working with her.

"once more he will fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing." -job 8:21