Sensibility

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of observing Daisy and Marino's classroom for the deaf students at Escuela Especial. What a world of difference recently departing from Senora Jenny's classroom of intriguing verbal outbursts and the need to guard the door on a minute-by-minute basis. The moment I entered the room, a deafening silence (no pun intended) encompassed me, a sense of peace and serenity. Picture 6 students dressed in clean, pressed blue and white uniforms, hair neatly slicked back or pulled back into Rapunzel-length ponytails, extremely attentive and optimistically overwhelmed with a passion for learning. 


The lesson on the whiteboard, likewise the only whiteboard in the school, listed terms such as lavadora, computadora, luz, dinero and agua. After learning and practicing the sign for each, students were asked to hold up one or two fingers, corresponding to yes and no, upon using their rationale for the posed questions. With exquisite facial expressions and intense emphasis behind the hand movements, I listened intently as the students communicated back and forth with Daisy and Marino, intermittently releasing delightful squeals and monosyllabic vowel sounds. If a student signed too quickly, Daisy immediately corrected them, typically with a hush of both hands as if she were a choir director. This classroom leaves no room for sloppiness, which is both refreshing and encouraging, for it reminds me of my own classroom environment. 


This particular classroom housed a variety of personalities, and were spitting images of my shy, eager, confident and humorous students back home in Colorado. (love you all!) For the most part they were very well behaved, but I could feel inevitable restlessness setting in when boys started pinching each other. However, as soon as I found myself taking note of observable behaviors, I quickly missed content of the lesson. Considering myself a veteran multi-tasker, this classroom forced my attentiveness, both visually and kinesthetically, and I struggled to keep up with the pace. Nonetheless, this experience sparked a curiosity within me, giving me the drive to learn something new. With drive I can thrive. 


The last morsel of content I need to share comes with frustration and anxiety, not because it revolves around the solar system lesson presented yesterday, but in the fact that no real teaching transpired from the lesson. With an outdated poster as reference, students were instructed to copy the spelling of each planet onto the whiteboard, one at a time--such a waste of time in my opinion, but who am I to judge? I know these middle school students are capable of so much more, and the plethora of resources I have back home could foster wonders here in Nicaragua, so my future involvement with Escuela Especial Sor Maria Romero remains auspicious. Much room for growth combined with eager Escuela Especial teachers truly invigorates my soul. 

Emotions Running Wild

How are YOU feeling today? Where do I even begin? As I hold fourteen pages of notes in my hands, my brain continues to swirl with the possible starting points for this new post. Yesterday I experienced almost every emotion you see on this mood poster, and saying that I'm mentally exhausted is truly an understatement. For the most part, I am angry and frustrated for the children, for their living conditions, for their meal portions, for the lack of love in some of their homes. My current headache effectively represents the unfathomable craziness I witnessed today. So I ask myself again, how am I really feeling? Words, literally, cannot express my feelings, so I will strive to do my best.

Needless to say I am beyond maddened by what I've witnessed! Below you can see Marisol, the first child on our home visits with the Ministerio de Familia (similar to social services) and Magali, the supervisor. Marisol is 2 years old and is seriously malnourished, and in all reality, the cause of her current state is exactly that, a severe lack of nutrients in her diet as the mother could not afford to purchase food or milk. When Judith, her young, healthy mother, articulated that Marisol's 4 year old sister Selena was just fine, I was curious to know how this heartbreaking situation came to be. I then asked how much governmental funding they receive per month, and when I found out they receive 40-50 dollars, I was appalled and could feel a burning transpire from within, radiating anger from my soul. This family is receiving money BECAUSE OF Marisol and she is bedridden here shaking, terrified, skin and bones! The funds are supposed to be used on behalf of this beautiful human, yet she lies exposed, trembling like an overturned ladybug. I was sick. (and still am)

Pictured below is Deanna Valentina, the second child we encountered during our emotional afternoon.  Deanna is 15 months old, severely malnourished, and has a pulmonary disease yet to be identified. Walking up to the crib, any outsider would mistake Deanna for a healthy child with her dreamy blue eyes and jet black, curly locks. But as we drew near, it was impossible to look beyond the frail limbs and blue fingers, toes, lips and nose. After interviewing Teresa Mendoza, her young mother, we learned that the doctor has discouraged physical therapy, stating that Deanna would not benefit from it. (I respectfully disagree!) I couldn't help but resist the need to hold her, smother her with a hug and many meaningful kisses, so I did. And I held her...held her so tight that I could feel her rapid heartbeat pulsating against mine, gazing into her eyes whispering, "Baby, baby, baby."I felt so helpless in that moment, feelings of resentment transpiring, both against the doctor and the situation in general, and then I handed her back to her grandma, quickly turning my head to discretely hide my tears. 

That human beings can live in conditions like the ones we discovered on our third home visit is baffling to me. I couldn’t help but gawk at the swarms of rusty cables and wires decorating the ceiling, the seemingly endless piles of filthy laundry, the dust-covered wheelchair smothered with cobwebs, or the food processor lined with moldy flesh-colored paste. A new, shiny tricycle and a man in sparkling white pants superficially masked the deteriorative state of this home. When we told Marvin, the father-in-law, we were there to see Julissa, he proceeded to reveal one of the most horrifying circumstances I have ever seen. With a smile he replied, “Si, si!” Marvin then grabbed the door handle on his left, pushed it open, flipped on the light, and said, “Aqui.” At that moment in time I stopped breathing and succumbed to incredible anger and hate. (insert anxiety, awe, vomit, and tears here) Lying on the floor in the dark with a bright pink, shredded plastic bag was a human being, a 22-year-old girl named Julissa. Wearing only a sea foam tank and a pillowcase functioning as a diaper, here lay another beautiful girl, kept alive to bring in the money. She remains here, on the floor every day, having sporadic Gran Mal seizures like the one we observed today. I used every last bit of integrity and tolerance to hold myself back from strangling her mother, Gesenia, who arrived in minutes with the 10-year-old brother Darwin. Julissa was born with lesions on her brain and lived with her grandma up until 7 years ago; unfortunately, the grandma passed away. While conversing with the family, who by the way stood in front of Julissa’s doorway appearing embarrassed, Julissa proceeded to smile, yelp, and completely turn herself around, thus slamming her head into the concrete, all the while shredding a plastic bag. Gesenia continues to refuse physical therapy for her, and has for the past 7 years. What does she have to lose? God forbid her daughter's health improve and she might have to be more attentive? To think that they are keeping her alive, in a dark closet, just to secure forty dollars a month? For what? Sparkling clean clothes and dinners out on the town? Julissa’s family is living “the life” while minimally keeping her alive. Who determines when their funding should be cut? Are they really following the rules? I am angry, I am sickened, and I am distressed to say the least. 

God bless you, Julissa, Deanna and Marisol. You will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I pray I have the opportunity to see you again. xoxo

Getting Comfortable

With the images and emotions from Cambodia still fresh in my mind, the ability to compare and contrast Cambodia with Nicaragua comes naturally. Coming into this service trip open-minded and free of expectations, I was immediately baffled, but comforted, by the clean environment. Those of you who have visited Nicaragua before may respectfully disagree with me, yet I'm making my determination based on my experience in Cambodia. Intricately shaped trees line the streets, reminding me of the film "Edward Scissorhands," drawing the passersby in and claiming, "Look at me! Look at me!" During this service trip we have the pleasure of staying at Hostel Hamacas, a quaint home-away-from-home which is truly inviting and immerses one into the culture of the country with its vibrant color schemes, lush foliage and authentic decor. I am approaching this opportunity with zero expectations, and so I will just breathe, laugh, love and live like there's no tomorrow. 

Originating from Miami and also my new favorite ladies, Aleyda and Kristal will serve as our translators this week, assisting us both on site at Escuela Especial and during our afternoon home visits. Known to most as the bubbly individual always seeking to be a better person and foster better situations for those around her, Lisamarie discovered Aleyda and Kristal through a companion at a yoga class here in Nicaragua. My initial impression was that these females were street smart, savvy women with tough outer shells, women that would get a job done and get it right. And yes, after several conversations throughout the day, the assumption was confirmed; however, this kind-hearted mother-daughter duo shares the same passions as Lisamarie and me. Hardworking, firm and fearless, as a quadruplet we will do our best to accomplish the work we came to do, both for the students in Nicaragua and the students we have brought from our little bubble in Eagle County. 

Before initiating CLEANING 101, we were given the opportunity to meet most of the staff, which included some of the following: Carmen Margherita (physical therapy), Marta (preschool), and Marino (teacher for the deaf). Meeting Marino, a beautiful soul with a beaming smile, provided me my first experience with the Nicaraguan sign language. Marino, deaf himself, was very patient as we learned how to sign his name, because it did take multiple attempts. When we correctly signed back with "Buenos Dias," he lit up like a neon sign in the dark of night. I see a new friendship and mentor in my future. 

And so now, please permit me to take you on a short journey of the school: 11 metal-gated classrooms, blue-white-blue exterior paint to represent the flag, lush foliage, banana and papaya trees, a desperate lack of supplies, no whiteboards, handwritten posters, random activities obviously supplied by donors, broken manipulatives, no pencils, rooms lined with wheelchairs and rickety wooden chairs, stacks of unorganized papers, running water, cobweb-covered equipment, dirt and grime from 28 years of existence...I could keep going and going, but I think you get the point. To adequately prepare for our upcoming week with the students, we needed to show the teachers how invested we truly are, how much this opportunity means to us. Cleaning the school not only makes us feel good at the end of the day, but it fosters our commitment to greatness, our compassion for those who can do nothing for us in return.

Our mission for Day 1 at the school was to clean and organize every classroom, disinfect the cafeteria, and purify the grounds of waste. Paired up with Kristal, Maddie, Makena and I gained unforgettable information about spiders, as our intimate encounter with one served as a defining moment in our day. Did you know that a tarantula's defense mechanism is its hairs? Apparently when threatened, they release their hairs into the opponent's mouth, further encompassing the esophagus and lungs, eventually suffocating them. You may wonder why I added this tidbit of information into my blog? It's because I took this new knowledge and immediately compared it to my involvement with Children's Global Alliance-three words: Share. The. Love. Two years ago when I expressed (in a photo comment on Facebook) to Lisamarie that I wanted to be involved, she shared her personal objective and desire to bring students aboard. One agreement spiraled into the next, and the next, and look where the organization is now. Inclusive of my son Axel and my commitments at home, it is my world. I am not suffocating like the victim mentioned above, but am truly living and breathing the opportunities provided me by CGA and Lisamarie Howell. Thank you, LMH, for being my tarantula. I am surrounded by so much love, which in turn, radiates from my own love-swollen heart. 

At the current moment I am overwhelmed with curiosity and anxiety. How do the classes and teachers function with limited supplies? What will the student-to-teacher ratio look like in action? What challenges do they face that I haven’t already been exposed to? How will our limited knowledge of Nicaraguan sign language play out? Will we be accepted by the children? 

Once again, this opportunity forces me, whether I want to accept this reality or not, to be grateful for everyone and everything in my life. So I remember to breath, laugh, love and live. xoxo

Que dia mas bonito!

Hola. Soy una voluntaria de los Estados Unidos por Global Alianza de los Ninos.

Here. We. Go.

Tomorrow I embark on a journey with 5 students to the beautiful country of Nicaragua, where we will be volunteering at Escuela Especial Sor Maria Romero, a school for students with special needs. So severely disabled that travel is not an option, we will be making daily trips to volunteer in students’ homes.

I have a slightly elevated level of anxiety going into this trip, as it will be my first time in Nicaragua. As was last year with my first trip to Cambodia, my stomach is fluttering with butterflies, and fluttering may be an understatement-I have that euphoric feeling one gets before making a monumental step or decision in their life, accompanied with some nausea...no big deal.

As an educator and a mother, not only do I know that I can make a big impact in Rivas, Nicaragua, but the students and teachers will be even more impactful upon my character, fostering my personal growth and sense of global awareness.

I look forward to this challenge and opportunity. 

Thank you, Lisamarie, for making it happen! 

Buenas Noches. xoxo

Speechless...literally.

What a whirlwind of a summer it's been, and finding a peaceful moment to digest the reality I experienced in Cambodia has been very challenging. I find myself, at least ten times a day, processing the trip, our strengths, our areas for improvement, student growth, and personal growth.

What started as a series of interviews at CPO turned into a sea of new knowledge, one I am finding hard to express in words to friends and family. One has to, ideally, experience the reality firsthand to fully understand the depth of poverty we were exposed to, and to recognize the "happiness" that truly exists in such conditions.

I'd like to start with information divulged through initial interviews with Sohm Ahn, the "director" of the orphanage. A Cambodian's salary typcially averages anywhere from $30-$50 a month, equivalent to $360-$600 a year, depending on the type of work performed. Keeping this in mind, CPO pays $120 for their land rental and $30 for electric, both per month. With 33+ children, "staff" members, the director and her husband all needing to survive, you may wonder how they actually do? With rice pricing at $30/bag, and needing 8 bags per month to able to feed every mouth three times a day, their monthly bill is almost $400! Needless to say, they eat limited amounts of pork and eggs for protein, and morning glories are the common vegetable, or should I say weed? That's what it appeared to be, but the taste is delightful. As we pressed on with questions, we found that a Japanese group supplies 4 bags of rice per month and also assists with the land rental fee. Apparently this Japanese group visits CPO 1-2 times per month now, and the two have been associated with each other for quite some time, back to when CPO was a small shack of 4-5 kids, located in the slums. The help has been consistent, necessary, and truly a blessing!

Every child attends the government school, when age appropriate, with grades 1-6 attending 1/2 day sessions and the high school students attending full day sessions. With a well on site (yet desperately needing some H2O), the children bathe and wash their clothes regularly; Every child fends for himself. (the little guys needed some prompting to keep clean, and when we could convince them to come bathe, there's nothing sweeter than smiles, wide eyes, and tan behinds glistening in the Cambodian sun)

Needs, needs, needs...I commonly use this language with Axel-"you may want it, but you don't NEED it." Needs expressed consisted of the following: a small enclosed room to teach English, money for rice, snack money for the children when at school, a extension of the roof to prevent leaking onto the stage/sleeping quarters, and running water. To consistently provide money for food, several select students are very versed in traditional Khmer dancing, and they hold performances on their stage. The local village is invited, entrance fees support the orphanage, and every once in a while the group travels to perform at local weddings and celebrations. One step towards self-sustainability! Yes!

Lisamarie immediately decided to fund both the roof and the governmental running water:
Roof: $180
Water: $190
Smiles on their faces: priceless
                                                                   Beginning Stages

                                                                         Progressing

                                                                        3/4 completed

                                                               Mission Accomplished!

The roof materials were purchased that very same day, and construction began the next. Witnessing this event, a "taken-for-granted luxury back home," filled my heart with the utmost gratitude for my own life. Picture the Grinch, not saying that I'm the Grinch, but the moment in which his heart swells in his chest to ten times the normal size...that's what this moment felt like, and it's the best way for me to describe it.

So, I guess I've overcome the "speechless" situation I was in...

xoxo

Another Unique Experience

How I Wonder...

Since when does an English class begin with singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?" It does in Cambodia, and it's followed by "London Bridge," unified recitation, and additional singing accompanied by the harmonica. As a language arts educator, I would consider this the "anticipatory set" in my classroom, the activity to engage the students, and that's exactly what "Twinkle, Twinkle" did on our visit to SFODA, an orphanage on the Tonle Sap River. This special place originated in 1996, and now fosters approximately 50 children.

What was promising about SFODA was the fact that it is making progress toward self-sustainability, for it sells items to bring in much needed funds, such as paintings, metal carvings, gem stones and thread bracelets. Our student volunteers cleared them out of both paintings and bracelets, which not only satisfied the cravings of the students, but truly benefitted the orphanage, allowing for the purchase of food and supplies.

Considerably identifed as a "shack" to the lay person, the crooked, wooden structure across the street, which wouldn't even be considered a street in Vail, Colorado, housed the kitchen, mess hall, laundering area, and art studio. Honestly, I didn't think the wooden planks would support us as we trodded across, but thankfully they did, and we witnessed several floating houses in the river upon arrival. The lesson we learned was exactly this: (somewhat disturbing, yet intriguing)

The Vietnamese inhabit the floating homes, and they are illegal immigrants, yet no one bothers to make a move towards deportation, for the Vietnamese helped the Cambodian people during the Khmer Rouge & Pol Pot regime in the years 1975-1979. What most government officials fail to realize is that the floating houses contain fish cages underneath, and fish are typically sold at a high market price in the local markets. Fish is a luxury food in Cambodia, so the illegal Vietnamese hold the key to secret wealth. Words cannot express the deteriorating state of the floating house itself, but how convenient to see the satellite dish and sparkly new mountain bike parked in front-irony at its best!

Another unparalleled experience to say the least...

Tattoo Guesthouse: Unforgettable Hospitality

As I sit here in Seoul, I keep thinking about the crew at Tattoo, and how deep of a respect I have for each one of them. Makara (aka Jan) is the head staff member, and for the following responsibilities, he only earns approximately $50 per month: checking guests in and out, cleaning, laundry, master of the cooler, cooking, arranging transportation, translating, etc. Our goodbye last night was heartfelt, as they do mean the world to us! Knowing that the Cambodian culture is a modest one, we respected them, rewarded them, and developed relationships with them; What bothered me the most was the lack of respect shown by other guests, both in attire and foul language. However, to keep this excerpt positive, I will definitely miss the nightly dance parties and smiling faces at Tattoo. Every time I walked up to the entrance and slipped off my flip flops, they greeted me with bear hugs, picking me up off the ground, making me feel welcome and safe. I pray that I can keep my promise to them, that I'll be back next year again.

XOXO, Tattoo Staff!

Cambodian Hope Association

It's taken me until now to blog about this orphanage that warrants a special place in my heart, as a piece of my heart is now broken after our 2 hour visit with them this past week. An obvious contrast from the welcoming atmostphere last April, we pulled into the site, only to be greeted by the heavily locked gate. When the children heard the tuk tuk drive up, they slowly crept up to the gate; however, I didn't recognize the faces of my boys, for they appeared dismal and sad-something just wasn't right.

As Rithy (the director) approached the entrance, I felt a surge of anger build, and the questions began to transpire within me:
Where are all the children? Why don't I see any females? When did they eat last? Why does the environment seem so empty?
Out of the shadows of the orphanage came Thong, one of my Cambodian sons, and our hug was something different-he clung to me, as if extremely fearful to let go. The spark was gone; Only a straight face remained, one of desperation and deprivation. What has happened here?

As our group continued on into the main building to drop supplies and our backpacks, Rithy began telling me about how badly they needed the computers to be fixed, and this literally dragged on for 10 solid minutes. No "how are you" or "thank you for coming" existed in this moment, and needless to say, I was crushed by his greediness. While observing my surroundings, the place was empty...no cabinets with supplies, no more English teaching materials, no tables. Nothing but vacant space. We were then let in to the office to fill the medical supply cupboard, and Rithy asked me to identify the current inventory and the items we were donating, and my initial gut feeling told me that his intentions were evil, and that the supplies wouldn't be used for the children, but as goods to be sold at the market-this instinct was later confirmed when I witnessed Rithy & his wife boxing up the supplies. Every item that I placed in the cupboard resulted in a heartwrenching stab to my soul.

Trying to maintain a positive attitude for the CHA orphans and my student volunteers, we embarked on yet another delousing session, as this was something we could take control of, and we could immediately use the supplies on the children. Approximately 20 orphans remain at CHA, and every head contained lice, so naturally it felt good to accomplish an objective, and the boys loved every minute of the head massages. While delousing we questioned the boys about their last meal, the past year, etc. Pon Leu hinted at the fact that they had eaten breakfast (it was now 4:30pm) and would eat again tomorrow. Once a day! (insert some foul language and frustration here) Being the typical Americans that we are, we pulled out protein bars, dried fruits & nuts, Cheezits, and any possible snack we could scrounge up from our packs. Next, picture emaciated, drooling vultures ravaging some roadkill-that's exactly what the next scene offered.

Finding it difficult to stay much longer, as the gruesome atmosphere was beginning to take its toll on Jack and me, we began the process of departure. Rithy only asked when we would be back and if we could bring more medical supplies on our next visit, and the children struggled to let go, with painstaking terror in their eyes. I highly doubt I will see most of those children again, and my heart aches knowing that they realize the same. The hope is gone, I'm angry and disappointed, and this feeling of helplessness makes me want to vomit...

Words cannot express the moment when I kissed Thong goodbye...I believe it may be the last.

People Improvement Organization (aka PIO) Orphanage

Although our service trip is mostly dedicated to CPO Orphanage this year, we are still visiting other orphanages, to compare and contrast philosophies and structures, to distribute medical supplies and clothing, and to seek out future opportunities.

PIO is conveniently tucked away, nestled behind several trash dumps, but nonetheless, a unique place filled with laughter, talent and love. The house manager, Ms. Yim Somaly, lives in Phnom Penh yet works at the orphanage from sun up until sun down, ensuring that children are fed and punctual for school. The director originates from Canada, hence the Canadian flags draping the perimeter of the main room. Originally stationed upon the trash dump hill, PIO is now linked to a multilevel school across the yard, funded by Singapore, Australia, and the United States, one country contributing to each level of the facility. After interviewing Yim, I discovered that most children in this orphanage are clueless as to where their parents are living, for most of them were dropped off by grandparents that couldn't support them anymore-parents promise the grandparents that they'll be back, and head to Malaysia for work...they never come back. When utility bills consume the grandparents, they are forced to leave their home. Conveniently, the elderly are welcome at local pagodas, but not children-thus the separation and overly-populated orphanages. PIO, supporting ages 3 and up, houses 62 children at the moment, with a few more on the way.

My heartwrenching moment: noticing the small (approximately 8x12x3) Red Cross box mounted on the wall. When asked if this was the "önly" medical supply cabinet, Yim replied, with a solemn expression, "Yes." Knowing that this would be the case in most every orphanage we visited during this service trip, we had a packed medical suitcase ready to unload. The interesting part linked to medical supplies is that we need to educate each director about the uses of each one, as everything is written in English, and although they may speak limited English, medical terminology is not included in their vocabulary.

To conclude our visit, the children blessed us with traditional Khmer dance performances, both male & female versions, and words cannot express the gracefulness and poise exhibited in these moments. On the contrary, the kids asked to see our moves while blasting some Hip Hop & Electronica. Here we were, a bunch of spunky Americans, shakin' it like we know how, dripping with sweat & looking ridiculous...but to see the smiles on their faces and hear the giggles (with an occasional finger-pointing) absolutely gave us a sense of contentment.

Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya!
FB LINK for PIO: www.facebook.com/pio.cambodia

Breaks My Heart

Slum, as defined on dictionary.com: a thickly populated, run-down, squalid part of a city, inhabited by poor people.

What I witnessed was exactly that, but the dictionary definition is definitely jazzed up a bit. It doesn't mention the wild dogs and emaciated HIV positive inhabitants nor the blue-blackish bubbling substance existing in the depressions of the streets. As we entered the boundaries of the slums behind PIO orphanage, it became apparent that kids will do anything for fun, in a creative sense-which was intriguing yet saddening. Two boys, strapped at the waist with ropes, pretending to be oxen in the rice fields, carried Angkor beer cans behind them, giggling as if the fun would never end. Continuing on, it was not uncommon to see rotting teeth, sunken eyes, naked babies, and mounds of spoiled trash; Words cannot express the stench that was ever-present in the air.

What I did not notice during our visit, but was disclosed to me in quiet conversation, was the fact that the slums are filled with raging alcoholics and wife-beating husbands. We stopped in to meet several of the orphanage children's mothers and younger siblings, all polite and grateful for the supplies we distributed. Needless to say, my sunglasses were a "must" on this journey, as I was sickened at the thought that babies are continuing to be born into this detestable environment-born into poverty with a minimal chance for a successful future. Thank God for orphanages and volunteers!

On the contrary, I detected one glimpse of hope, a man scooping trash from the mini-swamps outside his shack. Although rare, may it be possible for his actions to rub off on his neighbors.

Food for thought...what happens when it rains?

xoxo

Dedication

The Roof, the Roof, the Roof is on Fire!

Not exactly, but the staff at Cooperation of Peace Orphanage is! When we showed up to the orphanage, Lisamarie, Jamie and I sat down with our translator, Meng, and the director's wife, Sahm An, and discussed the needs of the orphanage. Two crucial items named were the roof and running water; The roof needed an extension to prevent flooding and the running water-I'm not kidding when I say that the orphanage lacks running water. After discussing costs and concerns, Children's Global Alliance (aka Lisamarie Howell) agreed to sponsor both. Materials were immediately purchased for the roof, and the Village Chief was contacted regarding the water supply. 2 goals set...2 goals met.

It was apparent just how badly the roof was needed, because as we walked in on Friday morning, 3/4 of the structure had already been completed---breathtaking! Dedication, Drive, and Self-Discipline define the staff members at CPO when it comes to ensuring the security and stability of the organization. The men slaved away in the sweltering heat, hanging off 2x4s, toes wrapped around logs--all for the good of the inhabitants, definitely not the pay nor recognition.

Mission #1 accomplished.

Live. Laugh. Love. Empower.

As I sit here, pondering the possible individuals I'd like to write about, I bring my focus back to the revised title of my blog, also the title of this post. Live-I am living life, achieving goals, and being the role model I truly want to be for my son. Laugh-Without laughter, life wouldn't be interesting...which means I haven't been "living" my life, as most of my laughter comes from reminiscing about events from my past. I live for laughter. Love-So much love to give, it may seem overwhelming to some; Everyone yearns to be loved by someone, so why not extend it? Loving what you DO is critical and helps establish your purpose in life. Empower-Confidence, Courage, Integrity, Responsibility, Self-Discipline...the list could go on and on. The four verbs are appropriately linked to one another, and I've chosen them to represent me, my daily goals on my CGA service trips, and my hopes for all individuals with whom I come into contact. My heart bursts with joy and pride as I observe Jack, Creek, Gena, AJ, Schariar, Keavy, Haley and Nicole living one of their dreams, laughing and smiling with orphans, and sharing their unconditional love. But undoubtedly the most thrilling of all, I am beginning to notice an essence of empowerment transpiring from within each one of them. They are in a developing country, making their own decisions, learning from their mistakes, celebrating their successes, reflecting on personal strengths and weaknesses-I am so proud of them! 


Sopia & Samean (pronounced so-pee-uh & som-ey-on)
Two young males afflicted by blindness, Sopia and Samean are inspiring individuals that have been dealt a tough hands of cards in life. At age 4, Sopia not only lost his sight as a result of a landmine detonation, but lost his good friend and relationship with his family. At 1.5 years, Samean was plagued with a double eye infection, and after administration of antibiotic eyedrops at the doctor, he lost his sight as well. Lisamarie and I sat down with both young men today, gathering their stories with the assistance of Meng, our translator and sophisticated, young lady of 23 years. The boys are living their lives as  staff members & musical directors at CPO, and have been for over 7 years. They both have family, but rarely hear from them. While listening to their stories, I tried to fathom what life would be like without the sense of sight-I am grateful. Talented musicians indeed, I asked them what else they loved-the reply: "nothing."  My heart cringed at this moment in time, but they must have heard my disheartening sigh, because then they laughed and said, "It's okay, we love music." It's obvious that music is their purpose in life, and they feel empowered by their abilities. Sopia & Samean are valued and respected at CGO, and also by myself and the Children's Global Alliance community. 


Please...
Be grateful for your strengths, yet acknowledge your areas for improvement. We are all vulnerable in one aspect or another, so remember to live, laugh, love, and empower another to face life with courage and integrity. We are all capable of great things!
xoxo
jen

The day is drawing near...

As I ponder the thought of seeing my friends at Cambodian Hope Association in a few days, my body trembles at the thought of who may not be there anymore, but swells with joy knowing I'll be able to wrap my loving arms around familiar faces and smother them with kisses. Last April,  I promised them that I would be back, and it's happening in just 5 days.

The support I've received over the past year has been refreshing and encouraging, especially in the past 6 months.Thank you, everyone, for your support, whether it's been through physical or monetary donations, prayers, silent auction participation, fundraiser attendance, bake sale hosts, and even Facebook messages. I appreciate every single one of you. xoxo

Blog Links for Student Volunteers and Chaperones

CAMBODIA I

Haley: http://www.haley2012cambodia.blogspot.com/

Nicole: http://flyingthroughasupernova.blogspot.com/

Schariar: http://schariar.blogspot.com/

AJ: http://adavies1825.blogspot.com/

Keavy: http://keavylovecambodia.blogspot.com/

Creek: http://cambodiacreek2012.blogspot.com/    

Gena: http://cambodia-owns-my-heart.blogspot.com/

Jamie: http://jamiedahlquist.blogspot.com/

Jen: http://gutmanncambodia.blogspot.com/

Jack: http://jackskidmorecambodia.blogspot.com/

Lisamarie: http://childrensglobalalliance.blogspot.com/

CAMBODIA II

Alex: http://cambodiaalex.blogspot.com/

Ava: http://avacambodia.blogspot.com/ 

Bret: http://bretscambodiablogtravel.blogspot.com/

Mallory: http://mallorysmissioncambodia.blogspot.com/ 

Nikko: http://nikkocambodia.blogspot.com/

Zoe: http://zozoincambodia.blogspot.com/ 

Camryn: http://camrynscambodia.blogspot.com/

Anna: http://journeytoacambodianorphanage.blogspot.com/

Jenna: http://fromjennaileen.blogspot.com/

NICARAGUA

Makena: http://makenanicaragua.blogspot.com/

Maddie: http://maddieinnicaragua.blogspot.com/ 

Meaghan: http://nicaraguaservicetrip2012.blogspot.com/

Kevin: http://kevynichols.blogspot.com/

Douglas: http://mynicatrip.blogspot.com/