Olah.....This is Randy Yardumian.....Dave Solt and I found a internet cafe to update this blog....to answer some questions from previous comments.....Yes Praise God our luggage arrived late Saturday evening (at least 15 of the 16 bags). Erin's turned up on Monday when we arrived back from our first day of camp....we were praising God. We are tired, (certainly not hungry...as the nuns have commented how little we eat and we are eating well)some of us still battling the ability (or time change ) to sleep. Of course we are going out to eat Tapas or dinner at 8ish usually arriving back after 10PM...for the old farts like me it is bedtime:) Camp has been absolutely terrific.....I wish you could see your kids in action. They have stepped up big time and all of them have put effort into their teaching time and the kids (who are very smart and do know some English) are learning via lots and lots of games, and most importantly relationships are being formed, and the kids are having fun. It is hard to believe that we just finished day 3 of 5. J.J. (the administrator on this side of the Atlantic is quite amazed (as is the assistant from last year's camp)at how much work we did and how well the camp is going...another answer to prayer. We are going through the book of Philippians. We are discovering how it is hard to love (vs 9) when you live with each other 24/7 and is it really worth addressing issues as they occur? We are memorizing chapter 2, pray that we apply this chapter to our relationships and our lives. Jesse will not write this, but the WHM team here in Granada continue to be impressed with his creativity....this morning it was a rap song about pronouns! Perhaps he could lead this song in worship some morning???? Nah I didnt think so. Praise God we hope to have many of our team go to houses tomorrow evening to visit with some of our students. What a great opportunity this will be.
Well I am all typed out....continue to pray for our relationship among our team as we learn to love each other well, and also for the last 2 days of camp as we try to stay energized. Thanks for your prayers that continue to sustain us.
Blessings,
Randy
This is Dave Solt; I want to relate a pretty cool story that happened to pat and me on sunday night. We attended church and it was packed. After the service started, a woman came in with 2 primary age boys and sat next to Pat. As the service closed, the pastor announced a time of prayer and asked us to break up into small groups. Pat and I asked if we could pray with her, and she said, "I don't know how to do that, I have never been here before". She was pretty emotional as we talked and she said her life was a mess. She turned out to be from Quito, Ecuador and had lived close to where Pat and I lived when we were in Quito. And, one of her sons was going to attend the English camp. We prayed with her and introduced her to some of the people who live here. What a coincidence to me, and what an example of God being in control. Thank you guys for praying for us. The team is having fun and working well together.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
First Day of Camp
Yesterday was our first day of camp. It went surprisingly successful for a first day.
We had around 34 kids ranging from 8 to 17. After a gathering of everyone, they split up into age groups. There is an hour of English camp. Then we break for snack. Then half of the group goes to craft while the other half goes to sports.
A lot of our groups were taken aback by how much English many of the students already knew. Most of them whizzed through their prepared lesson plans.
The sports was a lot of fun. Five of the Spanish teenage guys played five of us Americans at baloncesto. They definitely gave us a run for our money.
The camp finishes at two and lunch is at three.
Had an extensive debriefing afterwards. One of the women on the Spanish team was an ESL teacher. She gave us some great feedback in teaching. We regrouped. Many of us had to extend our lesson plans and broaden them.
Last night we split up into small groups and each group went with someone with the Spanish team for tapas and a kabob.
We, the young people, ended the night playing guitars and singing. The adults, who were already in bed just loved this, I'm sure. It was good for our souls though.
Pending internet availability, I will try to get some others to blog on the different aspects of our trip. You've heard enough from me.
We had around 34 kids ranging from 8 to 17. After a gathering of everyone, they split up into age groups. There is an hour of English camp. Then we break for snack. Then half of the group goes to craft while the other half goes to sports.
A lot of our groups were taken aback by how much English many of the students already knew. Most of them whizzed through their prepared lesson plans.
The sports was a lot of fun. Five of the Spanish teenage guys played five of us Americans at baloncesto. They definitely gave us a run for our money.
The camp finishes at two and lunch is at three.
Had an extensive debriefing afterwards. One of the women on the Spanish team was an ESL teacher. She gave us some great feedback in teaching. We regrouped. Many of us had to extend our lesson plans and broaden them.
Last night we split up into small groups and each group went with someone with the Spanish team for tapas and a kabob.
We, the young people, ended the night playing guitars and singing. The adults, who were already in bed just loved this, I'm sure. It was good for our souls though.
Pending internet availability, I will try to get some others to blog on the different aspects of our trip. You've heard enough from me.
Sunday
Sunday, we had the opportunity to sleep in a bit and rest. A couple of the women and Dave Solt (probably not a necessary clarification) went shopping. Stefan, Josh, Nick, and I, after exploring the city a bit, went up to the school where we will be holding English camp. There are some soccer fields there (I say fields loosely. I've seen no grass in Granada. They were actually basketball type courts with soccer nets at either end). Josh and Stefan joined in a pickup game with a bunch of young-to-middle-age Spaniards. They didn't do too bad at all. Made America proud.
We had lunch at the convent. Some of us worked on the English lesson plans for the next day. Church was at 7 so we took off at 6.
Church was really great. Patrick Guarracino preached and someone from the team translated into Spanish. Singing worship in Spanish was really cool, reminding us that the church is global. We went back to the convent and had dinner around 9:30 (so weird).
BTW - forgot to mention. Our luggage did get there on Saturday night. All except Erin's poor thing. She finally got hers last night.
We had lunch at the convent. Some of us worked on the English lesson plans for the next day. Church was at 7 so we took off at 6.
Church was really great. Patrick Guarracino preached and someone from the team translated into Spanish. Singing worship in Spanish was really cool, reminding us that the church is global. We went back to the convent and had dinner around 9:30 (so weird).
BTW - forgot to mention. Our luggage did get there on Saturday night. All except Erin's poor thing. She finally got hers last night.
Training
Sorry for the lack of contact. We've had a lack of access to internet due to some jam packed days.
Friday night, once we were all together finally, we were escorted out for tapas and kabobs by the Spain team. We were ridiculously exhausted but alive enough to eat. With tapas, all that you have to pay for is the drink and the tapas/food is free. My only complaint (Jesse) is that I went with a bunch of girls and after two drinks with two tapas (one a Spanish omelet and the other a Spanish hoagie type thing) they were all full. I was just getting started.
Saturday, we had our cross-cultural training with the team here. This team has some great people on it. They educated us about Granada, which has a unique history and blend of cultures. We had a good lunch with them of Spanish chicken around 2 pm which was weird and difficult for us Americans. That night, we ate at the convent, served by the nuns. Afterwards, we watched Spain beat Paraguay in the World Cup. The boys, Stefan, Josh, Jon, and Nick went out on the town to watch it. After Spain won, a couple of us went out for ice cream and ran into the boys. They were in the celebration in the square which had a huge fountain. Everyone was out on the square celebrating. I've never seen such a celebration of a sporting event. Cars were honkimg their horns incessantly. After one brave soul jumped into the fountain, everyone jumped in the fountain, including our boys, if you could imagine. It was quite the day! Can't wait for tomorrow. Go Spain!!
Friday night, once we were all together finally, we were escorted out for tapas and kabobs by the Spain team. We were ridiculously exhausted but alive enough to eat. With tapas, all that you have to pay for is the drink and the tapas/food is free. My only complaint (Jesse) is that I went with a bunch of girls and after two drinks with two tapas (one a Spanish omelet and the other a Spanish hoagie type thing) they were all full. I was just getting started.
Saturday, we had our cross-cultural training with the team here. This team has some great people on it. They educated us about Granada, which has a unique history and blend of cultures. We had a good lunch with them of Spanish chicken around 2 pm which was weird and difficult for us Americans. That night, we ate at the convent, served by the nuns. Afterwards, we watched Spain beat Paraguay in the World Cup. The boys, Stefan, Josh, Jon, and Nick went out on the town to watch it. After Spain won, a couple of us went out for ice cream and ran into the boys. They were in the celebration in the square which had a huge fountain. Everyone was out on the square celebrating. I've never seen such a celebration of a sporting event. Cars were honkimg their horns incessantly. After one brave soul jumped into the fountain, everyone jumped in the fountain, including our boys, if you could imagine. It was quite the day! Can't wait for tomorrow. Go Spain!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
We're Here!!! Praise the Lord.
So after a ridiculous course of events, we are ALL in Granada, Spain.
Well, we got to the church all right and left promptly after some prayer. Then we drove down to the Philly Int Airport (not Newark, Jesse is an idiot). We all got to Heathrow in London and then stuff went nuts.
Our plane in Philly waited to take off b/c we would've arrived too early. Then we were actually late b/c other planes were in line. So we got to London with barely enough time to make the plane to Madrid. Jesse was pushed in a wheelchair lightning fast by Nick. We rushed through customs. Then eight girls went to the bathroom together (imagine that). There was some confusion about what gate. Once corrected we went to the gate where we were bussed to the plane. We actually were separate onto two buses. Once the second arrived at the plane, we all were boarded. Or so we thought . . .
Once on the plane, people started counting heads and asking where Erin Burke was.
Answer: not on the plane
The kind British people on the plane (who we loved to listen to. Really made my Harry Potter read come alive) told us that she was taken by pirates and that there was no hope!!
All right, just joking. They told us she was fine but would have to take another flight.
1 down, more to come.
We made it to Madrid, which was an architect's dream, just fine. We went to pick up our luggage b/c we had to switch to a Spanish airlines. After walking around for a billion years, we ended up at the luggage claim. After waiting hopefully for like an hour, only five of our bags appeared.
Then we had to tell the airline reps about our bags. Another hour down the drain on no sleep whatsoever. We sauntered on over to the Airline check in to get our new tickets to Granada only to find that our flight was OVERBOOKED. Seriously??
So we all laid on the ground (this happened wherever we went, we were the homeless American troupe) until we got our tickets. Erin was finally reunited to us as was Pat Solt who we left at luggage to meet Laurel who stayed back for Erin. It was like the 21 little monkeys not jumping on the bed but flying to Spain and we were down to 15. Who was next?
We then rushed to our gate for our Granada flight which was stupid b/c it was delayed. It turned out that five couldn't go. Then we squeezed one back on. Dave and Pat Solt volunteered to stay behind with Emily and Chrissy. We hopped over to Granada.
The airport was tiny. We got out of the plane on two stair cases, then walked to the airport which was smaller than the Amarillo airport. It was beautiful, though, in the mountains. The four left behinds flew in about two hours after. Around 10 PM after the majority of us had eaten some tapas and Spanish kabobs, we were all together.
YAYYYY! The Lord was so gracious to us. This was a ridiculous adventure. But God was with us. Most of us have had to borrow soap today and clothes. Hopefully our baggage will be at the convent when we get back today.
Thanks for the prayers. We needed every one of them!! Will keep you posted.
Well, we got to the church all right and left promptly after some prayer. Then we drove down to the Philly Int Airport (not Newark, Jesse is an idiot). We all got to Heathrow in London and then stuff went nuts.
Our plane in Philly waited to take off b/c we would've arrived too early. Then we were actually late b/c other planes were in line. So we got to London with barely enough time to make the plane to Madrid. Jesse was pushed in a wheelchair lightning fast by Nick. We rushed through customs. Then eight girls went to the bathroom together (imagine that). There was some confusion about what gate. Once corrected we went to the gate where we were bussed to the plane. We actually were separate onto two buses. Once the second arrived at the plane, we all were boarded. Or so we thought . . .
Once on the plane, people started counting heads and asking where Erin Burke was.
Answer: not on the plane
The kind British people on the plane (who we loved to listen to. Really made my Harry Potter read come alive) told us that she was taken by pirates and that there was no hope!!
All right, just joking. They told us she was fine but would have to take another flight.
1 down, more to come.
We made it to Madrid, which was an architect's dream, just fine. We went to pick up our luggage b/c we had to switch to a Spanish airlines. After walking around for a billion years, we ended up at the luggage claim. After waiting hopefully for like an hour, only five of our bags appeared.
Then we had to tell the airline reps about our bags. Another hour down the drain on no sleep whatsoever. We sauntered on over to the Airline check in to get our new tickets to Granada only to find that our flight was OVERBOOKED. Seriously??
So we all laid on the ground (this happened wherever we went, we were the homeless American troupe) until we got our tickets. Erin was finally reunited to us as was Pat Solt who we left at luggage to meet Laurel who stayed back for Erin. It was like the 21 little monkeys not jumping on the bed but flying to Spain and we were down to 15. Who was next?
We then rushed to our gate for our Granada flight which was stupid b/c it was delayed. It turned out that five couldn't go. Then we squeezed one back on. Dave and Pat Solt volunteered to stay behind with Emily and Chrissy. We hopped over to Granada.
The airport was tiny. We got out of the plane on two stair cases, then walked to the airport which was smaller than the Amarillo airport. It was beautiful, though, in the mountains. The four left behinds flew in about two hours after. Around 10 PM after the majority of us had eaten some tapas and Spanish kabobs, we were all together.
YAYYYY! The Lord was so gracious to us. This was a ridiculous adventure. But God was with us. Most of us have had to borrow soap today and clothes. Hopefully our baggage will be at the convent when we get back today.
Thanks for the prayers. We needed every one of them!! Will keep you posted.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Here we come . . .
So after doing laundry all night, I am now nearly packed. (BTW, bad idea to try to move into a new house the day before you leave for a mission trip. Bad sport. I guess I'm just young and stupid) All that's left is to do a little digital upkeep, download some sermons/games to the ipod.
We're meeting at 1:30 at the church to depart, drive to Newark airport and so on.
We're meeting at 1:30 at the church to depart, drive to Newark airport and so on.
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