the she's and He.

She’s singing and dancing by herself downstairs. It’s her job to make dinner, and tonight we just eat bread and have tea, so while she’s waiting for the water to boil, she hears her favorite song come on and runs outside by the speaker.

Eres todo, poderoso                                                            You are all powerful

Eres grande, majestoso                                                You are great, majestic

Eres fuerte, invincible,                                                You are strong, invincible

no hay nadie como tu            ,                                                 There is no one like you

She’s dancing to it and yelling the words, and I am upstairs laughing.

She trusts now, in spite of the 8 years of abuse. And I bet her dancing is better than David’s.

Then there’s the other she. She tells me God is her best friend, that he always was. I asked her who told her about God.

No one, she said. God would talk to her when she was alone and crying… after bad things happened to her. Since then, she’s always trusted him.

Yet another she says that God, well, she never wanted to know him. And I assure her that he already knows and loves her, but she doesn’t care.

And I am weighed down by the last she. Until I remember that not too long ago the first she I mentioned, well, she told me God was bad.

And now she’s practically yelling the opposite.

And so I remember to keep praying, because he is todo, poderoso, he is grande, majestoso, he is fuerte, invincible, and there is no one like our God.

Turkey Day

None of the girls have ever eaten turkey before. They sell it in Bolivia, but it’s so expensive that I think if I lived here I would just buy chicken and tell my friends that’s what we do in the states.

But mom and dad were here- they arrived on Monday- and they weren’t going to miss the opportunity to give the girls their first Thanksgiving meal ever.

The three of us went to the supermarket with Hermana Tomy, and we set out to find all the ingredients we could possibly need- minus pumpkin filling… they don’t have that here. (can someone save me some pumpkin pie please?)

On Thursday morning we got to the house early to start the cooking. Dad peeled all kinds of vegetables and worked the microwave while my mom was busy directing some of the girls in the kitchen with charades. Occasionally I would hear one of the girls yell, “Lauren, what is your mom saying?”

Everything was ready and cooked to perfection by 12:30, and the girls were excited. As tradition, we went around the table and each person had to say 2 things they were thankful for.

As the girls started, I was shocked to hear them say things they’ve just never said so articulately before.

“I’m thankful that I am here.”

“I’m thankful for these people who love me.”

“I am thankful because I learned to read.”

“I’m thankful because I am here and have a place to sleep.”

“I’m thankful for this family.”

When we got almost around the whole table, one of the girls who is just very hardened from deep wounds- a girl who probably learned it’s just best not to cry when she was 10 years old- started sharing.

“I’m thankful that there are people who help me. I’m thankful that you wanted to share this with me. I’m thankful to taste my first turkey. I’m thankful…” and she started crying “that I could be here.”

Her hard shell cracked, and it wasn’t because of the tryptophan.

That, my friends, is called Thanksgiving.

Thank you Jesus.

THANKS to all of you who sent my parents with gifts for the girls and the house. I was shocked- we all were- at the gifts my parents brought from you all.

Hermana Tomy, caretaker who teaches them to do jewelry was far beyond overwhelmed. So from us to you, thanks a million.

You made their Christmas, and they don’t even know it yet, and you, in a very bold way said "we believe in this ministry."

 Here's a shot of us giving the gifts:

Moments that won’t make you cry

“Ximena, I want a baby that looks like yours!”

I said to one of our moms as I was playing with her beautiful oriental 5 month old, smiling baby.

“Hermana Lorena, that’s easy!” she said with a big grin.

Ronal is a year and a half. He and his mom are new at the house. I was watching him yesterday, I gave him his little foam ball and walked away. I came back and he had bitten of the foam and was trying to eat it. I removed the foam from his mouth and gave him some crackers.

Everyone asks if the dog ate the ball… no it was Ronal.

We went to a park on Saturday. One gringa, three babies, two cholitas (girls whose culture is traditionally from the countryside who dress in the traditional Quechan dress), and 8 other random teenage girls… there we were, playing, riding the train, and posing for pictures. I would love to be inside of people’s minds when they see us together.

I often mix up the verbs for “to fight” and “to peel.” Often I end up saying how I am going to fight with various vegetables. The girls, almost always on cue, start doing karate moves on the tomatoes.

Yesterday, we celebrated the birthdays of all the girls who had birthdays in the last six months. While we were setting up, the girls wanted to know what we were doing. I said it was a surprise. They promised they wouldn’t tell anyone. So I whispered, “we are celebrating you beautiful births!” In english… and then walked away.

They tried getting out the dictionary, but didn’t have much luck.

Sometimes Beati doesn’t want to practice reading, so then I look at her book and I say “no wonder you don’t’ want to read, look it’s in English!” and she looks at it and says- “wait! “ Then she reads it… and exclaims, “No it’s in Spanish! You are wrong!”

She hasn’t figured out that every book we read is, yes folks, in Spanish.

Parents, if you are looking for a creative means of punishment, we’ve got one. Have your kids write “ I should not arrive late to the table” one THOUSAND times. They will not be late again.

News on "Maria"(from the last blog)- her mom called us, she wants to see her daughter. In January, we said.

Praise God. Praise God.

Pray for my parents' travels please! And for their luggage to arrive with them on time. They are coming on MONDAY!!!!!