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Team Recap
7/8/09
A brief update from each of our ministry sites.
School for the Handicapped
(Savannah, Brittney, and Monica)
Five slaps to the face, three bites on the arm, and two hair pulls. When we’re working in the classroom for mentally disabled kids, it can be hard to see what God wants to do through us here. But we’ve learned to look for the little things, like when Phoebe tries to hold all of our hands at once, when Simone sits still for more than a minute, when Marcelino giggles, and when we get to know a little more about the teachers.
Association for the Protection of the Environment
(Doug, Kelly, Jill, Naomi, Brittney, Clement)
Each day begins with swarms of children yelling our name. We are leading a summer school program for grades 1-6 in the afternoons. Our work consists of planning lessons and activities to teach about morality and values. We are learning to work around the cultural and language barriers with both students and teachers. We’ve also had to face the reality that childhood looks very different here and that a lack of resources, environmental issues and child labor is a part of everyday life.
St. Simon-Patmos Hospital
(Natalie, Sarah, Becca, and Ernestine)
We spend our mornings at the local hospital, primarily folding gauze and cutting bandages, which can become monotonous, but has been an opportunity for good fellowship and humble servanthood. It has been fun to make friends with those around the hospital – from lonely patients to curious children. Occasionally, we observe the doctors interacting with the patients. Many days bring unexpected and exciting cases, which have taught us about the culture here. We are beginning to realize the differences in the healthcare available to the marginalized population of Mokattam versus middle-class America.
Sisters of Charity
(Rodelyn, Jill, Ben, Becca, Natalie, Catherine, Savannah, Naomi)
A part of Mother Teresa’s order, the Sisters of Charity is both a full-time home and a daycare for children with cerebral palsy and babies up through two years old. Sisters of Charity has been a wonderful opportunity to express a posture of humility, love, and lots of patience by caring for sometimes-difficult babies and children. It’s been a privilege to see some of the boys get in touch with their fatherly side. It’s clear that Sisters is understaffed with more than 20 babies in one room. Everyday, we get to bring a smile to the children’s faces. It’s draining, but definitely worth it.
Boys’ Recycling Center
(Doug, Kelly, Ben, Clement, Catherine)
At the BRC we spend about two hours a day teaching English. Most of the children do not know any foundational English, so our lessons are mainly focused on teaching the alphabet, useful phrases, and letter and word pronunciation. We have also just begun using a computer software program to further teach the basic numbers, letters, simple sentences and sometimes grammar. There is a lot of flexibility during out time at the BRC, and the children have a lot of potential to not only learn what we teach, but more importantly to also live out the love that is so present at the Boys’ Recycling Center.
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