tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994907832463398872024-03-05T18:11:36.510-08:00small acts with great loveTiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-26838442773587159012015-04-08T10:42:00.002-07:002015-04-08T10:52:53.215-07:0020 Months and CountingIt's been 20 months--almost 2 years--since I left on this journey. <br />
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I can't thank you all enough for your support. I hope one day you'll know how much I appreciate it and how I actually could not have done this without your prayers nor could I probably continue to stick it out.<br />
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Life here is looking up in a lot of ways. Our kids are happy, healthy, and safe. They are growing both in wisdom, maturity, and size! They're doing really well in school and back in the routine and stability we all need here with our daily schedules. Some are getting grounded for being bratty and throwing fits. They're acting like normal pre-teens and teenagers. But they are happy, healthy, and safe! It brings us all so much more joy and peace. <br />
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Today I'd like to share some fun life lessons I've learned over the last 20 months:<br />
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1. Lice hate olive oil.<br />
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Add some of this goodness into your shampoo and conditioner (not too much! I speak from experience...) and the lice will stay away. Tea tree oil works as well, but when you almost live in the Mosquitia of Central America, your options are limited. Any type of oil works!<br />
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2. Mosquitoes hate garlic.<br />
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When I first got here, one of our little girls would walk around all day with a clove of garlic in her mouth. It was disgusting. She refused to brush her teeth and insisted on smelling overwhelmingly of garlic. Lucky for her, she wasn't just repelling her house-mates. It works as a natural mosquito repellant as you sweat and it's also known to be a natural antibiotic. You go girl! Don't worry, she now brushes her teeth...most of the time. <br />
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3. All medical people are doctors and dentists only take out teeth.<br />
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Back when I was a Kindergarten teacher, I made two bad mistakes. First came the dentist brigade. They were checking all of the school kids...and they were only pulling out teeth. That's all they really can do here. Well, I was still in my American mindset thinking they would just be cleaning and giving out prizes. I walked my line of little minions over to the clinic, bribed them with promises of prizes for the best behaved the next day, and left to teach my English classes. The overall message to calm them all down was, "NO, they are NOT going to take out your teeth. I promise! The dentists are nice people. They won't hurt you."<br />
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The next day, three kids showed up to class. They all got teeth pulled out. Profa Tiffany is a liar.<br />
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Then came the eye doctors. Kinder was up first once again. I pried and pulled one little boys hand begging him to come outside with the others. "What is wrong," I asked him. "What on earth has gotten into you." Then my beautiful little slightly cross-eyed kindergartener responded in a whisper, "Van a sacar mis ojos. Ellos van a sacar mis ojos." "No, no Christian, I promise they are not going to take out your eyes. I promise." But did he believe me? No. Profa Tiffany is a liar.<br />
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Don't worry...eventually he went and they did NOT take out his eye. They did give him an eye patch to wear. He didn't enjoy being called a pirate though so that didn't last long. Moral of the story: don't tell your kids the dentist won't sacar sus dientes.<br />
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4. Apple Cider Vinegar cures all.<br />
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Living in a tropical, rainforest environment, you tend to pick up random things. Last year I had a strange skin fungus (even grosser than it sounds) and nothing would kill it. Eventually after trying everything and even seeing a Dermatologist in the city, a friend recommended I try bathing in apple cider vinegar. Guess what, I now bath daily in apple cider vinegar. Adding that to the list of things I never thought I would be doing before.<br />
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5. Four wheel drive can get you out of almost any muddy mountain situation.<br />
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6. If a kindergartner says he's got to throw up or pee, make him run, not walk out that door!<br />
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And don't question slang.<br />
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7. "Hi lady", "Bye lady", and "I love you" are the only English most Hondurans in Trujillo know right now. But they're working on it.<br />
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8. Time is relative.<br />
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When someone tells you to meet at 3:00, they really mean 3:45. Unless it's a religious event. Then they mean 2:45. <br />
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9. Putting names on things make everything nicer.<br />
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It first started with the pesky rat in room 3 of our house. Once we named him Francisco, he didn't seem as threatening. Don't worry, we killed him will some rat poison called "The Last Supper."<br />
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Now it's amoebas mostly. Everyone gets them. But once they have a name, it's just like a friend you're mad at or an annoying sibling causing you intestinal issues.<br />
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10. A stamp makes anything official and legal.<br />
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Got a problem with residency? No worries. I'll put a stamp on it and fudge the date. A good stamp is the cure for all.<br />
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Well, that's all I can think of for now. But this was so fun I just might do it again. Thanks for reading! God bless and Happy Easter!<br />
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Love,<br />
Tiffany <br />
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<br />Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-2191152435422284322015-02-21T05:50:00.001-08:002015-02-21T06:08:02.689-08:00a different kind of poverty<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I want to start off by saying I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry for not keeping in touch more
often, for not making the extra effort, and especially for not writing since
what…august?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, my family and friends,
my support deserve better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could say
that it’s just that I’ve been so busy…which is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also the average American cop-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So today I would like to share something I’ve been dealing
with for the last few months and am finally starting to receive clarity
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This life is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poverty is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never know what poverty is actually like
for my neighbor, but I know my neighbors and I know their struggles second
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The life of the missionary here is hard because of a
different kind of poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
kind we still can’t ever fully know, but we most definitely experience here
with the local villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spiritual
poverty. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do I consider spiritual poverty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One priest for the entire diocese of
Trujillo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One bishop who has to cover
for said priest quite often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confession for
our kids maybe once a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mass with a
priest and real, blessed communion maybe once every few months for each
village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No spiritual direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very few spiritual resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nuns who are wise, but who are just as young
as you are and dealing with their own struggles of being so far from spiritual
support as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s certainly worse for our neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t have any reason to try to go to Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It costs too much to send the whole family
into town, often times they have to work still, and there isn’t anyone else
around them who loves to pray and be Catholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No incentive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By definition, this should be my role, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what missionaries do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bring Christ to those who don’t know
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We lead a different kind of mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s most certainly not a bad one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It definitely has its perks (a lot of cute
kids to make you laugh).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mission is
to serve, protect, and care for these children and this organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Farm of the child itself has brought
jobs, economy, and life to this rural part of Trujillo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has brought education, Catholicism, and
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a good mission too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just much different than what one might
think of at first hearing the term “missionary”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve decided I like the word now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t always sold on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I believe that we’re all missionaries for
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our mission here is
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is often times dark, but that
pushes us closer towards the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the
last year and a half, it has made me a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has made me strong, resilient, hard-working, more understanding and
pulled me out of my own self to realize that I am selfish, weak, judgmental,
can be hurtful at times, don’t like to share always, and sometimes lose all
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are fights I continue to
work on daily, but this place is drawing it out of me slowly and
painfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I’ve become a new
person here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, if you ask me if I’ve grown closer to God, I will most
certainly say no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t feel much of
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel a lot of things
though, and it draws me to desire that relationship more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our last retreat, a priest explained the
concept of <a href="http://lifeteen.com/through-good-times-and-bad/" target="_blank">desolation and consolation</a> to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said not to worry, desolation is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where we really grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where we aren’t comfortable and we
need God most, we need him when we can’t feel Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what, He still continues to be my
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone can keep this place
together, it’s got to be Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like I said, this is only something I’m starting to get
clarity on, so bear with me as I continue on the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re experiencing desolation or have in the
past as well, have hope!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try and trust
that this is where we will find God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Finca Missionaries of 2015</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsLix9I549BQrdiiYgDpKwlZmIvbmSwumBCeCthJ7PwT9DCeXc8anWbsesd3wYhG8qpf31yfvjeX8Hcs5lkkUkSHonqypDZdXeccMZ33wkky8FANhCJGm5j24qKjei07JrUztufNIpRs/s1600/DSC_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsLix9I549BQrdiiYgDpKwlZmIvbmSwumBCeCthJ7PwT9DCeXc8anWbsesd3wYhG8qpf31yfvjeX8Hcs5lkkUkSHonqypDZdXeccMZ33wkky8FANhCJGm5j24qKjei07JrUztufNIpRs/s1600/DSC_1373.JPG" height="266" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check out this video made by my fellow blonde and beautiful nurse friend, Brooke Adams (brookinhan)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwMZyIPUD1iE8_pmE3XbEUsv3jieAvP1mr3f1WlZWk9xO-NHLUeiZCj5FJTAklItEpZQcvNT01AkP0k4Wms9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's a link to her blog: <a href="http://brookeatthefarmofthechild.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brooke Adams</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-58057246988864170942014-08-06T16:02:00.001-07:002014-08-06T16:06:31.553-07:00Hunger<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-32338811070297307332014-08-02T10:45:00.001-07:002014-08-02T11:02:32.508-07:00coming back home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Since I’ve
last written, much has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re
almost into the fourth quarter of school now, my vacation has come and gone,
and our missionary house got a little pick-me-up with some very energetic and fun
summer volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kindergarteners
still talk about how they miss Profe Cherry y Tomate--an endearing nick-name
they came up with for him because of how red he turned when he would laugh or
get tortured when they would all decide to tickle him (but you know how much
they love you Michael!) and my middle school English class always brings up how
fun Profe Jackson was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m beginning to
think they did a better job than me, honestly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Being
back after a month long visit to the States is strange in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize how accustomed I’d become to
ice cold showers, always sweating…always, power outages, the water…and the lack
of water, and always, always eating beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had some readjusting to do, but it gave me some time to reflect on the
mission itself and what my personal mission here is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a personal mission in mind, I think
it’s pretty hard to keep yourself sane here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I can’t help but wonder what
everyone back home is thinking now as they are starting to hear about all that
is going on in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands
of families are sending their children stateside with the hope of a better
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the same here as it’s been
for years: poverty, a lot of abused, neglected, abandoned kids living on the
streets, women who have been left to raise and somehow feed their kids on their
own, no jobs, the main income coming from family working illegally in the
States, a corrupt government, drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual abuse
in a never-ending cycle, and a very distinct line between the rich and the poor.
I think that last one has become something I’ve only recently noticed more of
in the last few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m in
training for a new job as the Administrator of Finances here at the Farm and
part of that job entails making trips to San Pedro Sula every 2 months to pick
up donations, medicine, and buy things you just can’t find in Trujillo or even
La Ceiba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week I went to go and
learn the route and the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I was
expecting out of one of the world’s more dangerous cities was not what I’d
consider the medieval version of the wealthier parts of Miami.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was just so nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was clean, people had iPhones, they were
walking around in suits, heels and fancy shirts with nice purses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
the first day that is what I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
from my view off the balcony of the Seminary we stay at was not what I would
have ever considered Honduran before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was staring at a suburban street with actual street lights and a big house
across the way that could have been placed anywhere in Tampa and be considered
normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one difference is the walls
around the houses, which are stucco, painted and quite beautiful, and the
barbed wire on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if for some
reason you happen to miss that, on the corner of every house’s fortress wall,
there is a tower that you can only get into from a hanging ladder for the
security guards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only word Patrick
and I could think of to describe it was medieval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next day we went to the Market in San Pedro to find a few things and, while it
was still in the nice part of town, the difference between the rich and the
poor was very clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you get this
in any city, but you don’t just see naked toddlers being raised by raggedly
clothed, starving children in abandoned buildings behind the dirty, infested
streets of the market in just any American city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After living here for a year, I’ve been able
to form friendships with many different types of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some wealthier families in the city
and some pretty poor ones just next door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to ask the rich here if they know what the rest of their country
is like and if they realize that people here are actually starving and dying
because of bad water or lack of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they
know just how badly the gang violence and drug trafficking affects the future
of the children here? But isn’t that hypocritical of myself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what goes on back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone asked me about the poverty in
Appalachia or the inner-city, would I get it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
kids at the Farm have a very different future from many of those in the poor
class if they choose to take what they’ve been given and run with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really are raising some quality young men
and women here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all have their
immature stages, but one thing I notice with the older ones is that they really
do rise to the occasion when they suddenly become the oldest kid and therefore
the leader in their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some of
them I’ve seen a little spark go off in their mind and the change we see with
the way they handle their everyday life suddenly becomes more organized and
clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like one day they just get
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that happens for all our kids
one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I pray that happens for me
and my class as well as we approach the final months with our “oldies” and
prepare to become the leaders of the missionary community. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was
reminded recently about the mission of the Farm when I asked how this place is
still alive and running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year
alone, there were a number of things that happened that could have shut it all
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the past 18 years there
have been a number of threats to the continuation of this organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The foundress of the mission, Zulena
Pescatore, puts it in very simple terms for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The founder of the mission itself died a whole
year before any children even arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He held the vision of it in his heart and he died before the Chapel was
even completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And still, it grew and
blossomed into the beautiful organization it is today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times are tough and there are plenty of
reasons for us to say that we can’t go on and shouldn’t be here anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children don’t have that luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no backup plan for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So with this renewed hope in my heart, I’d ask for all of you to please
keep the Farm of the Child in your daily prayers in general—specifically the
children we serve, the mission, and all of the employees and missionaries
living and working here every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Zuj-XWkFft_HKz7AJ2_e2Ozy_ScmAGAL4owVv8HoRAgzTk-sdLIvbRzLfiZUKKtwQOvfgsQhQ_lor6810lcPBBnu_ApWZCPjucLKZwKK-IWt0l_brGeX5XudPDI4xn3MjciZYcJxR0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Zuj-XWkFft_HKz7AJ2_e2Ozy_ScmAGAL4owVv8HoRAgzTk-sdLIvbRzLfiZUKKtwQOvfgsQhQ_lor6810lcPBBnu_ApWZCPjucLKZwKK-IWt0l_brGeX5XudPDI4xn3MjciZYcJxR0/s1600/photo.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">For more information on the Honduras exodus crisis, check out this article:<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/25/honduran-president-u-s-has-enormous-responsibility-for-immigration-crisis/" target="_blank">Washington Post: Honduran President: 'U.S. has enormous responsibility for immigration crisis' </a></span></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-16049334538822413252014-05-02T14:36:00.001-07:002014-05-02T14:36:07.787-07:00Be Happy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EYbwyHhrlGE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-70719903419965941822014-03-22T13:26:00.000-07:002014-03-22T13:28:52.727-07:00The Value of a Child's Life<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday started out as a typical day. It was harder than
usual because the week before my family had visited and been such a source of
joy and energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids still asked if
“el niño uno y dos” (aka my father and brother) were coming back to play with
them even though I had told them a thousand times they had to go home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve found here that the finca, God, or maybe just this
place, tends to push you to your limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m with Mother Teresa on this one—I really wish God didn’t trust me so
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really trust myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it still happened and He will still
continue to ask more of us then we might think we can handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tía from the little girl’s house came running up to me
yelling my name as I walked to the middle school five minutes before my English
class started. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You have to call Natalie right now! No one is answering
their phones and there’s been an emergency. Call her right now!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told her I didn’t have my phone, but she needed a number I
had so I left my class in the care of another teacher and ran home as fast as I
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called and called and she
didn’t answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran back to house 1 and
the Tía got through to Natalie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There’s no service in the hospital and I’m running back and
forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so sorry. No one’s answering
their phones. There’s a little boy who’s be seizing for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not going to make it if he stays here,
Tiffany. He has to get to San Pedro as soon as possible.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do you want me to do?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Call Larry.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I did what I was told and called Larry, a pilot and owner
of the resort Tranquility Bay down the beach from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family had just spent the week down there
with them and he flew them to and from Trujillo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and his wife met doing medical evacuations
in the Outpost of Northern Canada before he became a Captain for Air Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With over 40 years of experience, we were
very confident that he knows what he’s doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got through to them right away and Larry said they would
be in the air in 45 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>45 minutes!
That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hospital was ready to
take the little guy in an ambulance on an 8 + hour right through rural Honduras
on rough, impossible roads to San Pedro and he was dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>45 minutes to be in the air was a
miracle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that, it took a lot of love, care, hard work, and
prayers to keep that little boy alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a miracle the way it worked out, but still a tough call because chartering
a private plane for one person is not cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was like a perfectly rehearsed emergency drill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only left Natalie and I thinking: how could
God put everything in place so perfectly like this to save this little boy’s
life? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a tense hour long flight to San Pedro Sula through a
storm, they landed safely and got him into an ambulance for the Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was seizing and blacked out for almost 5
hours and it took a doctor, three nurses, and his mother to hold him down the
whole way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pilot, all the doctors,
and the nurses working on him knew the same thing: if they had put him in an
ambulance for the 8+ hour car ride through the rough mountain roads to San
Pedro, he would have died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never thought I would be put in a position to have to
personally charter a plane to medically evacuate someone before, but what is
the value of chartering a plane in regards to a child’s life, no matter who
they are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the decision have been
any easier if it had been one of us or even a child in the States?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The value of a child’s life is the same throughout
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we had to do it again, we would in a
heartbeat no matter what it cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
know those nurses, who I’m so proud to call my sisters down here, feel the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The founder of this mission, Vincent Pescatore, would have also
done the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God provides for those who come to Him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we came to Him begging for mercy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later on as I let go of everything in the Chapel, I looked
up at the stain glass window above the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And as I lay there crying my eyes out, begging God to save this little
guy’s life knowing that they had done everything they could for him, I read the
words: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;">“El que recibe este niño en mi nombre, a mí me
recibe.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Whoever receives a
child in my name, receives Me. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not a nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
never been asked to do something like this before, but I know God is asking
more of me now than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just pray I
can be all that He needs me to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This little boy’s name is Danny Salinas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please keep him and his family in your
prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is from a very small, rural
community about a two hour walk up the mountain called Buena Vista.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t have much money, but they do have
a deep faith and a beautiful family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Danny is only four years old and the youngest of his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of his brothers and sisters are 14
and up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s their little baby will
forever be considered a miracle in our eyes. He is supposed to be released from
the hospital this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night he was
dropped off and given the care he needed in San Pedro, he woke up and said,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Mama,
ya me quiero ir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vamos para la finca!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
–Mom,
I want to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go back to the Farm
of the Child!-- </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
This is the mission of the Farm of the Child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to thank each and every one of you for
all of your prayers and donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of you, we are able to serve the people of Colon, Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of your support and prayers, this
little four year old boy has a big, bright life to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you! Please don’t stop.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /> Mission Statement of the Farm of the Child: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Farm of the Child USA is a Catholic, non-profit organization that
supports Finca del Niño-Honduras, a mission modeled on the Holy Family
that educates, protects, and promotes healing and spiritual formation
for orphaned and abandoned children, <i>and families in the local
community</i>.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-12329203146399386892014-02-21T14:57:00.000-08:002014-02-21T14:57:07.847-08:00the dignity of serving othersOn my first day of actual vacation away from the Farm, my first reaction is simply that I miss those kids. It's shocking to hear, especially considering that the day before I left was full of meltdowns and drama. The question I keep coming back to is, "why am I here?" What's the point? Please don't judge. It's something I think all of us naturally ask ourselves at least once during our time here. <br />
<br />
When one of the teens lashes out at you to make sure you understand that you're not poor, you'll never be poor, and you'll never know what it's like to be in her shoes, what would you say?<br />
<br />
When the pain of seeing and hearing about children you love hurting other children you love is thrown directly in your face and it feels like nothing is in your control, what would do?<br />
<br />
When the constant feeling of you're not enough, there aren't enough of us, and you know you want to be giving more than you physically can, how would you cope? <br />
<br />
These aren't dark times in the Finca, but there have been some dark days. A local community leader of Corazalta, the pueblo half way up the mountain near us, passed away unexpectedly and, unfortunately, in a way that would have been preventable in the States. There have been several incidents where we, as missionaries, have been asked to use our free time to spend with specific children for long periods of time to help give them some space from there houses, but we've been forced to neglect the others who need our love and attention as well. School started three weeks ago and, while we've all adjusted to the fast-paced life we now lead with our lives scheduled down to the T Monday through Saturday, I'm not sure any of us have had a second to breathe. <br />
<br />
So yes, vacation is good. But no matter what, the world keeps on spinning, things keep on happening, and none of it revolves around me. Or anyone for that matter.<br />
<br />
What is service? I think I'm starting to finally realize that it's not in what I do here. I'm not here to do things. It's great that I can teach Kindergarten and English, run Girl Scouts, a small youth group, running club, and many other random odd-jobs. It's great that I can go to the local women's faith group and support our neighbors in that small way. But whatever I do, it will never be enough. I will always disappoint someone, even if that someone is myself.<br />
<br />
What I can do is listen. That's all people really want anyway, isn't it? Isn't that why we spend all our time on Facebook and twitter, sending snapchats and pintristing our lives, our faces plugged into our phone screens constantly. Trust me, even though I live in the campo, everyone still has a facebook and cell phone. People just want to be known. To be heard. And why shouldn't they? There's dignity in that. <br />
<br />
So you want to serve others? Don't you ever tell yourself you aren't enough. You are enough. All you have to do is be a listening ear and willing to hear the stories of others. That's a service we can all give. That's giving dignity to the world. Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-60505145443239152302014-01-13T13:04:00.000-08:002014-01-13T13:05:38.716-08:00Unconditionally<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All my
life my mother has told me she loves me unconditionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad did too, but my mom said it more often
mostly because she was reprimanding me more (don't worry I know you loved me both the same). I know that did more for my
self-confidence than anything, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Knowing that no matter what I did, my parents made it clear that they would
always love me, always. I guess I never realized how much that affects a person
until I got older and began to notice something different in those who didn’t
have that security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt grateful and
sorry and I wanted them to have what I had and know that feeling of safety all
at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially want that
for our kids here. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ever
since I found out I would be the Kindergarten teacher this year, it’s been on
my mind to give the classroom a much-needed paint job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, with some donations from last year’s Kinder
teacher and my parents, we were able to finally buy some paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the kids are on break here and too old
to be in winter camp, they go to PAVI which stands for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Puente a la Vida Independiente</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bridge to the Independent Life. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a way for them to learn basic skills like
gardening, cleaning, building, painting, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In it they are able to help beautify the finca, literally eat the
“fruits” of their labor when it’s ripe, and earn a little chore money to buy
ice cream or save up and get a nice pair of fashion sandals all the girls are
obsessed with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of their money does
have to go into a savings account that they will work on building up over time
until the day they leave our care and another portion goes to charity and the
Church which they choose to do themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a great program and really gives our kids life-long skills and a
good understanding of solid work ethic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, when
it was suggested to me that I use the PAVI girls for two days to help me paint
the Kinder classroom, I thought to myself, “Well, I’m sure it would be easier
for me to do this on my own, but these girls deserve a fun project and I can
teach them the proper, professional way to paint.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I forgot was that they’re all teenage
girls. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was
what they would call here in Honduras an absolute <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">relajo</i> (or an absolute mess).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only were they painting their hair, their shoes, and each other when
I wasn’t looking, but they painted literally every single part of the classroom
save the floor and ceiling but including the electric sockets and the light switch.
I made them stay late to clean out the school <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pila</i> they dumped the paint brushes and buckets in leaving a nice
layer of watery paint sitting and staining the inside of the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that first day, I realized I was in way
over my head and I was dreading the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, as we left the girls were laughing and singing and I knew that at
least they had enjoyed themselves and the first coat in the classroom didn’t
look half that bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself
wishing I spoke better and could explain myself as clearly as I wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand their frustrations with me when
I can't tell them specifically what I want; I had plenty of Chinese TA’s in
college who barely spoke English…I feel for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not easy, but they could be a little
easier on us too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next day was worse because it was raining and they had it in their heads that
this meant we don’t have PAVI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
fought me on it all morning and by the time we got there and started painting,
they had an attitude I hadn’t yet seen come out before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard for them because up until this
point, they saw me as a friend who came to spend time with them and hang out
all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not their fault
because in the past as a Summer missionary and someone who came with the Church
brigades, that’s what I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now I
was in a disciplinary position and I had to hold them accountable for their
actions to help them grow and become good human beings and it isn’t comfortable
for anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I had been hit
by a train and I was so frustrated and angry at the way they were treating
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Farm has a system where the kids get
graded on their work from that day on a scale of 1-5, 5 being above and beyond
and 1 being needs great improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
the end of the week, they get their points added up and that determines what
privileges they get such as going to the weekend movie night or being grounded
at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say that this
particular weekend there were quite a few older girls who were not at movie
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I tried
to stay as calm as possible, but when we all came back after those two horrible
days, I just felt like crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
isn’t what I came here for and what good am I doing here if they all hate me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time this happened on a slightly
smaller scale, one girl didn’t talk to me for 3 weeks straight. Despite all
this, I’ve come to an understanding that this is normal and expected. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a missionary is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are stuck in this small in between of
friends and peers who these kids can and should trust, but also as the adults
responsible for disciplining them when they act out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s basically crash-course parent training. <br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the end, some wrote me
apology notes, others asked for me to come hang out with them several times a
day, and another one just needed a hug to make sure I still loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminded me that not only do these kids not have what I will always have in my parents, but I'm reminded of the sacrifice it takes to
live, work, and give here and that it’s all worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are worth it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They remind me of the unconditional love my
parents showed me as a child and make me want to be a better person every
single day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to be those people for them. In the words of my parents, “I
can be your friend and your parent, but if you make me choose I will always
pick being the parent because I love you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I feel like I’ve never understood those words more in my life than I
have now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-16127525479584728342013-12-28T15:20:00.000-08:002014-01-04T09:49:08.007-08:00Posadas and Pizza on a Rainy Day<br />
December
here is flying by. Homemade Christmas decorations are going up everywhere,
supplies for endless and ridiculous amounts of cookies are being bought in the
city, and in the missionary house you can almost always hear Josh Groban or
Michael Bublé Christmas music playing.
School is out—even winter school—and the kids can be found playing
marbles at almost every house when they aren’t competing over best
decorations. It’s certainly not a
typical “white Christmas”, but I’ve lived in Florida for the last 8 or 9 years
so it doesn’t really bother me too much. The cloudy and rainy weather here
gives it a nice wintery touch, which is a little helpful for the others. If anyone’s started to feel homesick, it’s
not long-lived seeing as there is so much to be done before <i>La Noche Buena</i>, or Christmas Eve.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s
a tradition here that starts 10 days before Christmas called <i>La Posada</i> (Inn). Two people dress up as Mary and Joseph and go
from house to house seeking refuge for the night. The rest follow them house to house and sing
the Posada song. The first few reject
them, all in song, and the final one lets everyone in to sing Spanish Christmas
Carols, pray, reflect on a verse, and share a <i>merienda</i> (snack) typically of a baked good—doughnuts or sweet
bread—and juice in a bag—a Honduran favorite.
We do it here every day around 4:00, but it’s traditionally done in the
evening. It’s a beautiful tradition to
keep alive for the kids and to celebrate the coming of Christ. Each of the kids in the houses has a chance
to dress up and it’s a great reminder of what we’re waiting for. Everyone is preparing for la Noche
Buena.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I
said, school is out. That means all us
teachers have the week off—sort of.
Well, to give our middle school kids incentive during their 5 week
tutoring sessions over their winter break, we created this star system. They get different things for certain amounts
of stars received, but they all saved up during those 5 weeks and decided to
buy a bibliocine and pizza (yep, pizza and a movie). Next time you teachers out there decide you
want to take the easy way out and promise your kids pizza you can order up in 5
minutes and put on a movie, I hope you think about what we have to do down here
just to get the pizza out in time and then give that delivery boy an extra tip.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It
starts fairly early in the morning. I
have to collect wood in the wheel barrow from the community pile and take it
back to our fogon cooking area in front of the house. Then I take the wheel barrow back to house 5
and go to house 6 to borrow their machete.
After that, I take the machete and slice some pieces of wood to make
kindling (thanks to Patrick, because before that I had no idea what to
do). From there, I have to form a little
Lincoln log house inside the horno (clay oven) and the fogon (stove top) and
stuff it with paper and finally light it.
As the fire burns in the horno, we can start on the Pizza dough and let
that rise for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the
salsina (sauce) can start cooking on the fogon as we grate the cheese. Once the dough has risen, we can flatten it
out into a pan, or as many pans as we may need, add the salsina, cheese, and
they’re ready to go! I just have to take
out the burning wood from the horno and leave in some coals and we can set the
first pan in. One problem with cooking
on a fire heated horno is that the heat doesn’t stay strong or last nearly as
long as a normal oven would. Our kids
get creative though…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pizza actually didn’t even turn out that burned
either! We sat down to enjoy our work
and watched <b>Narnia: the Lion, the Witch,
and the Wardrobe</b>. Maybe I’ve been
gone for too long and away from TV and movies, but that is much better than I
remember it. If you haven’t seen it in a
while, add that to your lazy day Christmas list. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
From our little house
to yours, the Farm of the Child wishes you</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
a Very Merry Christmas </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
a Joyful and Blessed New Year!</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Easy (no rise) Pizza Crust</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1 pakage of dry yeast
(1 tbsp)</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp of sugar</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2 tbsp of olive oil </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp of salt</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1 cup of warm water</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2 ½ cups of flour</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;">
1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Mix dry ingredients. Then add water in slowly. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Knead and let sit 10 minutes. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Servings:
11g. pizza</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Servings
(x2): 3 pizzas</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Servings
(x3): 5 pizzas</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<b>White Garlic Sauce</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Margarine</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Garlic</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Onion</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Milk
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Flour</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Salt</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Pepper</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Basil
oregano</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
Shredded
cheese</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; text-align: center;">
1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Sautee butter, garlic, and onion.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; text-align: center;">
2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Add in other ingredients as desired.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; text-align: center;">
3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Let simmer.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
PS- Sorry for the
late delivery! Internet has been out in town for a few weeks, but we’ve managed
to find one place that got it working again! Thank for your patience. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Merry Christmas!</div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-12264503626397577802013-12-01T08:33:00.001-08:002013-12-01T08:50:27.309-08:00Little Treasures<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOg3gGCX857diQaZ8WkjsS1W9yz-Z2UqgP4SyTGi6xW0b1wfRGzWy1BvoZhzpzEPeuuOmzAqnrkxNRtmGLqF8PkUfyEQd5GuQ0tRogrPYUccCOtHR0qZpw9ZncbvADnLFeqqEj3bBXn-A/s1600/2014-11-01+20.57.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Man, I love these kids so much…but, they drive me
crazy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always testing the waters,
pushing my buttons, but pushing each other’s more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can be so sweet and then ten minutes
later they’re throwing a fit on the ground or fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just keep telling myself to suck it up and
get through winter school—their version of summer camp and what the newbies are
in charge of every year…which is me, Curtis, and Kit—but it’s hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this is good training for Kinder
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord knows I need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tutoring in the middle school every morning,
on the other hand, is so much more calm and relaxed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it and love teaching them, even when
they have attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t get
nearly as disrespectful as some of the little guys can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
This is really when I need to remind myself that I’m in
the thick of it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m finally living
out my mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work at a children’s
home in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rural</i> Honduras—there are
endless amounts of chickens and turkeys living outside my window under the roof
of our clothesline—and my job is to help<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>teach, love, raise, cherish, and care for these 37 kids and I know I’m
right where I should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one ever
said this would be easy. They did say it would be one of the most fulfilling
things I’ll do my whole life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVJCEu5yvMoFBUcWdQEgBplpX7VxyVcUDHgw64Km757OidcDDqSOg-ygQYl5mOTflZt_LlTSDQgwUrB_Ux-HiHwRaYT4GWv1oa6vwKHZXknYcA4t58LdDQM6vIedIghMxvj21dmLuj90/s1600/2013-11-22+12.52.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVJCEu5yvMoFBUcWdQEgBplpX7VxyVcUDHgw64Km757OidcDDqSOg-ygQYl5mOTflZt_LlTSDQgwUrB_Ux-HiHwRaYT4GWv1oa6vwKHZXknYcA4t58LdDQM6vIedIghMxvj21dmLuj90/s320/2013-11-22+12.52.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutjLk955fgknwsLsudOKTzk8y9NufjXTemXn73tT5HDaFqlDJKkfa3QZAAvC1YnaCvQXIBdlrh45Ozbt2WJ3GQF-vwuPJesEiuuP13zBqetyx0mC69fivCt8gdFmNs94u1MgUMydXXiw/s1600/2013-11-22+12.50.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutjLk955fgknwsLsudOKTzk8y9NufjXTemXn73tT5HDaFqlDJKkfa3QZAAvC1YnaCvQXIBdlrh45Ozbt2WJ3GQF-vwuPJesEiuuP13zBqetyx0mC69fivCt8gdFmNs94u1MgUMydXXiw/s320/2013-11-22+12.50.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new pet turtle the kids found at winter camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80EoMAxEZ3xhwfi2fLyQsLNfgM12ARNaxklgnD_jltCZhOafkwDY6ZPSm4Wd9KgyWmGPW-4ulZ2rhe3RWCmb2-H57Wr1UkVw3ugt20Dco5Z6oMBn_jsBqe9o5OTMkc868K0sUpwPOFyM/s1600/2013-11-22+13.34.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80EoMAxEZ3xhwfi2fLyQsLNfgM12ARNaxklgnD_jltCZhOafkwDY6ZPSm4Wd9KgyWmGPW-4ulZ2rhe3RWCmb2-H57Wr1UkVw3ugt20Dco5Z6oMBn_jsBqe9o5OTMkc868K0sUpwPOFyM/s320/2013-11-22+13.34.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93HYNe5XWYetli3XXwck3m4AN9utrK59Yqw6qBsUCIj83zYMdztA5hMgWPZeE_QfJTTC4T7zHT8kVjO3CYneULV39KlPhjURJVGbf_5rrOWfGmquBpWVQTjuCsZFLaEDkBJASX-7-p9U/s1600/2013-12-01+11.00.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93HYNe5XWYetli3XXwck3m4AN9utrK59Yqw6qBsUCIj83zYMdztA5hMgWPZeE_QfJTTC4T7zHT8kVjO3CYneULV39KlPhjURJVGbf_5rrOWfGmquBpWVQTjuCsZFLaEDkBJASX-7-p9U/s320/2013-12-01+11.00.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oso, our resident watch dog who isn't actually ours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
And I see this at the end of the day when I’ve finished
with the long meetings, the disciplining, my (sometimes very gross) chores, the
cooking after struggling to light that fire in the rain and waiting three hours
for the beans to be done, and even after that cold shower that’s feeling more
and more unwelcomingly icy every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s when I think to myself, “Thank you God so much for bringing me
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for letting them steal
my heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if I really look back
and think about my day I’m reminded of the beauty around me and of those
priceless moments I know I’ll remember for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From sitting in morning prayer with the
little girls who are cuddled up to me, still shivering from the morning shower,
to the beautiful sunrise that greets us every morning as we walk to the Chapel,
warming our hearts as it’s gentle rays peek over the mountains and dance
through the branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reminded of
making coffee and donuts from scratch with the older girls who need the love
and attention all teenage girls seek; of laughing and joking and doing each
others hair; of simple, quiet games of chess, even as they teach me by way of relentlessly
destroying me; of those sweet moments when a house 4 boy runs up to hug me with
an unfaltering joy-filled smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
even reminded in the times I struggle to light the fire only to be surprised by
the girls next door cheering me on and encouraging me with their shouts and
crazy cheers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally when I make
myself get into that icy cold shower and dry off, I know my endurance and will
power is getting stronger and more resilient. I’m becoming a more patient person
every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOg3gGCX857diQaZ8WkjsS1W9yz-Z2UqgP4SyTGi6xW0b1wfRGzWy1BvoZhzpzEPeuuOmzAqnrkxNRtmGLqF8PkUfyEQd5GuQ0tRogrPYUccCOtHR0qZpw9ZncbvADnLFeqqEj3bBXn-A/s1600/2014-11-01+20.57.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOg3gGCX857diQaZ8WkjsS1W9yz-Z2UqgP4SyTGi6xW0b1wfRGzWy1BvoZhzpzEPeuuOmzAqnrkxNRtmGLqF8PkUfyEQd5GuQ0tRogrPYUccCOtHR0qZpw9ZncbvADnLFeqqEj3bBXn-A/s320/2014-11-01+20.57.16.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
God works in these moments of all our lives, but I think
I’m finally learning that it all really depends on the attitudes we take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days will always be harder than others,
but we still have that choice. I think the same goes for understanding
blessings in the world where so much suffering exists. We live in a fallen
world and must choose to look for the beauty that God creates out of tragedies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">(Thanksgiving blog to come! Just got to the internet after it rained and flooded for 3 days straight...pictures to come soon too! Promise!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-10976234675750906552013-11-09T13:02:00.002-08:002013-11-09T13:02:42.515-08:00Support the Farm in a Simple Way<div style="text-align: center;">
As most of you can tell, you've pretty much helped me reached my goal for fundraising. Thank you so incredibly much for your support. It is such a blessing and no small thing to be overlooked. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For those of you who have become big fans of the Farm and would like to support it in a small way, you might consider purchasing a new Farm of the Child shirt. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
https://www.booster.com/farmofthechild?share=9001382459064080</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They make great gifts too! <br /><br />More updates to come...winter school and winter camp are about to start up on Monday so things are a little crazy. But I promise an update is on it's way!<br /><br />Love,<br />Tiffany</div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-16993052780833626762013-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:002013-10-19T11:05:06.660-07:00Candlelit Showers and a Rat Race<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
It’s been a while
since I last updated you all and I thought I should let you know that I’m
finally home and at the Finca!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things
are wonderful here and I’m beyond grateful to all who have been praying and
supporting me to help me get here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Just to update you
all on life at the Farm, I am the new Kinder teacher (pray for me even more
please!) School doesn’t start again until February, but in the mean time I will
be helping with Winter School for the little guys (like Summer Camp) and
Escuelito (Summer School) for the kids who need a little extra help to pass
into the next grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will also be in
charge of Girl Scouts and the Women’s Faith Group for the villages surrounding
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so wonderful to be back and reunited
with so many friends and I’m just so happy to finally be here and begin to
work.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After a
week of shadowing the Kinder classroom, I am growing more and more used to the
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you asked me that two weeks ago
I would have said HELL NO can I teach and calm down kids who are still beyond
reason and haven’t yet learned to control their bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a week of shadowing and assisting the
current teachers, however, I have to admit I’m falling in love with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other day one of our little guys came to
school with a hurt arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
teacher tried to gently hold his arm to guide him back to his seat, he dropped
to the ground and started bawling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went over to comfort him and see what was wrong and saw that his arm was bent
and looked broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor little guy
told us his dad was in the hospital because “he was really really old” and that
he was staying with his cousin who was another kid in the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse had told his family to get it
X-rayed earlier in the week but they hadn’t for whatever reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve just recently been told by local
patients who have come to our clinic looking for help only a doctor can give
that the three local hospitals in our area are on strike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last strike that happened lasted for
months and with the upcoming November elections, who knows how long this one
will last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I know is that this means my little friend’s
arm won’t be able to get set and he’ll have to live without a cast or anything
to protect it at six years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No child
should have to live with a broken arm and let it heal bent like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could affect him for the rest of his life
and definitely hurt him when he starts growing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s such a tough little guy with the
sweetest little angel eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trouble
is, that’s common here and it’s something I’m going to have to learn to deal
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can offer assistance and let
them know if it’s about money, our missionary community can pull some funds
together for them to go, but in the end it’s not our choice and we can’t force
any one to take action or for the government to get their country’s needs in
order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a tough realization to
come to especially when it’s affecting a little guy that I really care
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On a
different note, another thing I’m getting used to is candlelit showers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power doesn’t go out nearly as often or
for as long as it did the summer I spent here two years ago, but it does still
go out almost daily at some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
night we were lucky and had two power outages just in time for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is inconveniently hot, there’s
something to be said about spending time with friends on a Friday night without
any distractions of phones or internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candles
can make a world of difference in clearing the mind and helping you relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also helps stir creativity…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
You see, we’ve had a long-running
problem with rats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s because we
have the most food out of everyone on the Farm and maybe it’s just because we
aren’t as experienced with rat-proofing our things, but it’s been a while since
the house had a rat killing so we decided we were in need of a competition to
get the ball rolling again. This is a real Rat Race and it will be going on for
10 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teams have been made and money
has been put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s how we
spent our Friday night: making home-made innovative traps in the glow of a
foggy full moon and candles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, why, you
ask, have we not tried actual rat traps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That would be because, my dear friends, the most intelligent ones remain
and they don’t fall for those tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
we have some cat allergies in the house so we can’t use those clever animals
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning was like Christmas
and we were all excited to see what we caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My team was duped by the clever <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ratones</i>,
but the others did manage to catch two little guys and a rat queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this may sound ridiculous to you all, I
can’t emphasize enough that this is not a battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our house is infested and every night is a
fight to keep our food safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be
continuing on for the next 10 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any
and all advice is welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-13285087851943762982013-09-17T13:54:00.001-07:002013-09-17T14:09:00.970-07:00Fiestas, Viajes, and a Boda<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
(Festivities, Trips,
and a Wedding) </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those of you who have been asking my mom how I’m doing,
I am great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So sorry I haven’t updated
you on my progress through language school, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time really is flying by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I hate studying…so it’s no wonder I have
procrastinated writing as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
doing very well though and the happiest I’ve been since I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than a minor case of bronchitis, some
very very tired and sore muscles, a few stomach aches, and lots of rain, things
are really wonderful here in Antigua! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in all seriousness, I have been extremely blessed with a
truly amazing group of young adults to work with during our time at the
Farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing to see how well all
of us have molded together to form a strong, united group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Un groupo unido, jamás será vencido”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has become our mantra…and yes we did steal it
from the Guatemalan’s on Independence Day for those of you wondering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means “united, we will never be
defeated!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that couldn’t be truer
from what I’ve experienced by traveling and spending day after day with these
amazing individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love them all.
Even when we disagree or mis-communicate, it isn’t a big issue. I’ve noticed
that where some of us are weak, others are very strong and it makes for a very
good combination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Needless to say, we have
experienced a lot together over the past few weeks (has it only be 4 or 5
weeks??).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started volunteering twice a
week at a place in town called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa
Jackson</i> with Noelle and Curtis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
basically a place where malnourished children from all over Guatemala come to
be taken care of for about 6 months typically and then they are sent home a
little over their recommended weight because they may lose some again as their
parents adjust to the new nutrition guidelines they are given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is tough because there is so much
poverty in Central America and more often than not parents can’t feed their
children and afford the nutrition necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, as sad as it makes me sometimes, I am overjoyed to know that these
recovering, adorable, energetic little guys have parents and families to go
home to one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren’t stuck in
their cribs forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s basically
what we take care of for an afternoon or two a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come in to relieve the tired and jaded
nurses from the constant crying by changing diapers (we’re becoming experts)
and holding the little ones who just need someone to give them attention and love to help them get better. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS89IpttYC8uUkot7gQq6IaR5gyr4bocLMf3vpqd4d7AJyI7UHtrP1w96aWPRTMrHy5CgeMqMmPwvmOSFO65d7efGIdiA_HPO7aBdUx4cuHZ2p1S0qck13xgVuo-xOs9CdhyicshVCsfE/s1600/1269047_10200875564666558_37520155_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS89IpttYC8uUkot7gQq6IaR5gyr4bocLMf3vpqd4d7AJyI7UHtrP1w96aWPRTMrHy5CgeMqMmPwvmOSFO65d7efGIdiA_HPO7aBdUx4cuHZ2p1S0qck13xgVuo-xOs9CdhyicshVCsfE/s320/1269047_10200875564666558_37520155_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Lisbeth (photo by Curtis)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We have been traveling a lot
lately, mostly on the weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead
of describing it to you, however, I am going to cheat and just share two videos
Patrick made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is of our trip
to Lago Atitlan which is a beautiful crater lake surrounded by three volcanoes!
It was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next is of this past
weekend when we stayed in Antigua to celebrate Independence Day with
Guate…which was also amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America
needs to get it together…this was the coolest Independence Day I’ve ever
experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, there was a parade
for three days straight people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Lago Atitlan: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="userContent"><a href="https://vimeo.com/74069602" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/74069602</a></span><span class="userContentSecondary fcg"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="userContentSecondary fcg">Guatemalan Independence weekend: </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="userContentSecondary fcg"><span class="userContent"><a href="https://vimeo.com/74594820" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/74594820</a></span><span class="userContentSecondary fcg"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="userContentSecondary fcg"><span class="userContentSecondary fcg"> </span> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Things in the <i>casa</i> are great as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still love my guate-family and
they have helped me to realize how true the saying is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man cannot live on bread alone</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve literally been living off the stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could say its helping me grow in my
faith and that maybe I had a deep reflection to share on the matter, but really
all it’s done is make me realize that I need some serious fruits and
veggies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would have ever guessed
that these Antigueños would be so addicted to every type of bread known to man
and endless tazas of tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am trying
to enjoy it, however, because I know this is not what I should expect in two
weeks by any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to see
what kind of meals and dishes we can come up with at the Farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope the current missionaries are okay with
a few random and potentially bad meals before we become pros at cooking
everything from scratch on an outside fire.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyways, Francisco pequeño—the
four year old cutie in my house—has turned my bedroom window upstairs, which
conveniently opens up to the upstairs courtyard, into a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tienda</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More often than not
I will be reading, napping, or trying to make myself study, when I’ll see two
little hands move through the curtains always followed by a little voice,
“knock knock…excuse me señorita but I would like to buy a Coke nice and cold,
some cookies of course, and also some medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes yes I need medicine to fix pain in my head, feet, toes, arms…oh and
for my dog too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I resist spending
time as a simple tienda owner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
adorable and reminds me every time after a long day at school that it is all
worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In other news, Curtis and Noelle
got remarried to their other Mayan-halves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Natalie and I were blessed to be in the bridal party and, seeing as
Patrick was the only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">caballero</i> (or
spanish cowboy…which is ironic because he is also from Texas) that Curtis
happens to be friends with, he was the honorable best Mayan man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXRk8rR1ncTZr7HV4RvZ7lZaVIDNPBmvGwHhD83c-Y3dnB1CU-qhc80VBM598OI-egcSUBqvtmc4tN4XTHSmASHpIkECHeMc-qOye2-2xoqgXEVcruJfNdqbCWx_mhFX9wSeBRuZOC-M/s1600/1294287_10100130650123302_1547175325_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXRk8rR1ncTZr7HV4RvZ7lZaVIDNPBmvGwHhD83c-Y3dnB1CU-qhc80VBM598OI-egcSUBqvtmc4tN4XTHSmASHpIkECHeMc-qOye2-2xoqgXEVcruJfNdqbCWx_mhFX9wSeBRuZOC-M/s320/1294287_10100130650123302_1547175325_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We were really helping out some
of the Mayan women who set up shop in our school every week to show off their
incredibly intricate and beautiful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trajes
tipicas</i>, or typical indigenous dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the woman it consists of a blouse called a wipeel (and I’m probably
misspelling that…sorry Shep!), and beautifully woven and equally colorful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">falda</i> or skirt and it is completed with
an ornately embroidered belt that holds it all together…and that is no
understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that belt is the
equivalent of a corset because I definitely could not breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, for Independence Day weekend
celebrations we helped these Mayan women along with our school to put on a
fashion show by modeling their trajes tipicas from different villages and they
decided Curtis and Noelle would complete the show by getting married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very fun and only confirmed my desire
to become Latina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Well, hopefully you can see how
beautiful this place is gracias a Patrick’s videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ever have the chance to visit
Guatemala, Antigua is where you want to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a beautiful, truly enjoyable place and makes the culture shock
much easier…probably because while you are adjusting, you are falling in love
with everything about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pues, I think
that’s all I have on my mind to share for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
I guess I covered most of it
apart from getting pick-pocketed on a chicken bus, stuck in the market because
the streets flooded, watching a large Mayan woman sit on my friend Joe’s lap
for a whole van ride, the earthquake that had supposedly 74 aftershocks, the
active volcano we climbed that spit steaming rocks out constantly, and the
AMAZING retreat we had with Zulena—the co-founder of the mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep…I think that’s it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love you all and thanks for caring so
much!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am SO excited to get to the Farm
and love on those kids and can’t wait to tell you all about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to try better to keep this baby
updated as well.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Lots of love from Guatemala,<br />
Tiffany</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
PS- If you have donated recently
and possibly after I left the States, THANK YOU!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t forgotten about you, I have simply
become adjusted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chapina</i> time (or
Latino time) and apologize for not sending you a formal thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will try my best to get them to you as soon
as I can with someone traveling home to the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for your support! </div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-15305244719684740782013-08-19T15:47:00.000-07:002013-08-19T15:47:32.290-07:00Bienvenidos a Guatemala!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow! Where to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wish you all were here with me to experience this beautiful country
and amazing culture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a
whirlwind of a week but I’m going to attempt to share as much as I can. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving my mom and brother at the gate was about as hard as
I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried so hard to hold it
together and I was fine once I got to my gate (probably because they had wifi
and I didn’t feel so alone).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in
Miami, I found Curtis, Noelle, and Natalie at our gate and had one last piece
of pizza before we left the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Little did we know, Antigua has that and basically everything else we
could ever want or need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Landing in Guatemala was so easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kept trying to come up with backup plans
in case someone wasn’t there to pick us up and if our bags were missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But by the time we made it to immigration
(immediately after exiting the plane), we were surprised to have our own pick
of immigration officers stamp our passports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The airport was virtually empty and only one of our bags was missing (trust
me, that’s amazing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we walked
outside we were immediately greeted by two guys from our Spanish school <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Union</i> and Patrick, the fifth
missionary of our class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we left
Guatemala City for Antigua we were distracted from the crazy traffic by an entertaining
“Spanglish” conversion with the guys from La Union.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They handed us gifts from our house families
and a little Mayan doll with our names on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Needless to say, we felt very welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once in Antigua, we were greeted by lusciously green smoky
mountains and volcanoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are three
nearby, the closest being Volcan Agua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Agua is no longer active, or so they say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others are Volcan Pacaya, which you can
climb as well, and Volcan Fuego, which means certain death if you attempt to climb
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, that is the furthest away
they assured me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m all about
exploring, hiking, and seeing volcanoes for the first time, but when you tell
me one of them erupted last year and killed some people, forgive me but I’m
bound to be a little hesitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless
to say, these guatemaltecos who have grown up next to volcanoes all their lives
tease me about it incessantly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving through Antigua to our new homes was like being in a
very old Italian city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything here
is ancient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the only colonial city
in Guatemala that has regulations to keep it looking so original romantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roads and sidewalks are all cobblestone
and the buildings only vary between five warm Tuscan colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a ton of Catholic Churches
throughout the tiny city from the colonial times, not to mention all of the
ones now considered ruins because of earthquakes years and even centuries
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never knew anything like this
existed outside of Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
absolutely incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first night was both the worst and the toughest to get
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was dropped off at my host
family’s house and greeted by a sweet smiling old woman named Señora Cony and
her daughter Lúcrecia (or Lúki).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cony
looks just like an older version of my favorite Spanish teacher from middle
school—shout out to you Mrs. Citro!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was very comforting to be greeted by a semi-familiar face…not to sound
creepy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their house is quite small but very cozy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You enter the big steel door that is typical
for the area and enter a sweet courtyard complete with a beautiful hanging
garden, a bird cage, their stove and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pila</i>
(a sink they use in Central/South America to wash clothes and dishes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Directly in front is a stairway up to the
second floor, looking up is an open sky, and to the left is a doorway to the
office and another just after it to the tiny dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next door is mine and, while it’s a bit
dark because there’s no window, it’s cozy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m hoping to change rooms tomorrow to an upstairs one with a window and
a view of the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a
bathroom directly across from my room with just a toilet and a shower (and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hot water! </b>I cannot explain how
grateful I was for hot water).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
always awkward in a new country, new place, new house and new culture to try
and ask where the things are that you’re most comfortable with, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example…uhh where’s the sink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And do you all not keep toilet paper
regularly? Also—after I finally found the sink in the bathroom upstairs—where
is the soap? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it’s there, other
times it’s not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to make it a
goal of mine to learn to read people better and feel out situations, but add on
a different language and culture and it gives you a whole new challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, you just learn to work with it and provide the
things for yourself that you know you need to stay comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, in trying to now live a very
simplistic life, I don’t want to be too comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I’d say toilet paper is kind of a
necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Enough about the house though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family is so wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there is Cony and Lúki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cony is kind of in charge of my stay and
feeding me every day except Sundays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is so sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kitchen is too small
for me to eat with their big family at meals, but she will still sit with me
and talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think at first she did it
because she felt rude not to, but now I know she enjoys talking with me over
meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drink tea, eat different types
of bread, and talk about everything and anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned so much already from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminds me of the time I got to spend with
my sweet, wise old friend, Louie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Lúki is 24 and studying to be a lawyer at the local
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here they have to study for
5 years and then have a job for 2 years before they can be considered a lawyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I feel proud of her already even though I
barely know her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is working so hard
and is such an independent, strong woman…kind of like someone else I know
(Meredith Fee). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heidy is my new personal trainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is 28 but doesn’t look a day older than
17. We run almost every morning and she has shown me more of Antigua than I
ever thought existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is from the
next pueblo over called San Gaspar and one time we ran past her house and
stopped by to meet her parents and grab some water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dad is 65 and runs marathons with his son
every year here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so fit and looks
so young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heidy is married to Francisco,
Cony’s younger son and they have a four year old boy called Francisco
pequeño.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so cute…and has a LOT of
energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought him a Thomas the Tank
Engine bubble making whistle which he went around playing with for about a
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I whipped out the super hero
coloring book and every day he wants to color now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not just one page…all of them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is sweet though and I love spending time
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a dog called Oso which,
yes, means bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">oso</i> also means teddy bear and I honestly
think he must believe his dog is a stuffed animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carries it around, torments it, chases it,
plays with it, shakes it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like any four
year old boy, this is expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
the dog likes it though because he never bites him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The other people here are Cony’s older son Alfredo and a
student studying at a school here named Bryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I rarely see Alfredo but he is very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He drives a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tuktuk</i>—the local taxi which is basically a motorcycle with two
wheels in the back and can carry three people—that they keep in the courtyard
at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks pretty funny sitting
there in the middle of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bryan
is quiet and seems very studious. I think he is just living here during the
school year because by the time you reach high school here you are studying
towards a profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to be
a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maestro</i> like Bryan for example, you
would choose the best school you know of focused on becoming a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a more modern idea, I am told, and
often the students will have to move away from home to go to the school of their
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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So, moving onto Antigua!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like I said, the first night here was horrible for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so lost and confused by all the
streets, which conveniently don’t have signs most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily I was able to meet up with my group
of finca missionaries for dinner at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Parque
Central</i> , which is the main center of most of Antigua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all went to dinner and kind of got to know
each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Curtis and Noelle are
married and both Notre Dame graduates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They spent the last year working as Americorp Vista volunteers in Moab,
Utah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are both very funny and a
beautiful example of marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natalie
is the nurse and she is so down to earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is kind and so full of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s people like her that give me hope in the modern American Catholic
Church again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spend a lot of time
together figuring out where to buy things, getting lost, and being late but we
have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick is such a kind soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems very genuine and keen on moving to
Honduras to experience poverty and learn about the culture and spend time with
the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a theology teacher back
in Texas so I’m sure he has plenty of experience with feisty teenagers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meeting everyone and kind of getting to know them that first
night helped so much, but I’m telling you it definitely did not stop me from
thinking about booking a ticket home immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it must have just been the abrupt
culture shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could think of was
how I hate this part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated it when I
left Honduras and spent every night for 6 months crying myself to sleep because
of how much I missed this life, this culture, and those kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But two years later, the American life had
grown too comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that was
just it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was uncomfortable, I was
alone without any way of communicating instantly with anyone, and I was
afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like ripping of a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>very very VERY strong band-aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming from my clean, perfect, porcelain
life, I guess I can’t blame myself for thinking I couldn’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I just told myself this over and over
again: one week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give yourself one
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretend you’re on vacation and
you’ll be home in just a week if you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then go from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I guess it must be obvious but it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally the next day I felt 100% better
about everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to know more of
the streets, I forced myself to go out and buy things I needed and explore, to
be confident in myself and in my decisions, and to just be myself around all of
these new people I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe
me, it’s not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t easily trust
people nowadays and I have to fight not putting up a fake wall every step of
the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s worth it because
Antigua is growing on me and so are my new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compañeros</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it weren’t for this new finca community, I
don’t think I would be nearly as happy here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a warning, if you were expecting a short blog post you
might want to continue reading this later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s just way too much I want to share! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So at La Union we each get our own personal maestras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, it’s like meeting with an old friend
for coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My teacher’s name is Claudia
and she is so fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rarely work on
grammar from the book she uses because I talk her ear off every single
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s supposed to work a
different way, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two hours of
talking and then two hours of studying with the book…but somehow every day we
get off topic and keep talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess
that is practice in and of itself, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just can’t think of studying right now without wanting to go
INSANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I barely made it to graduation
alive and the last thing I want to do is study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gracias a Dios,</i> I put most of
my time into studying Spanish in college so I can afford to be a little
lazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, a typical day at school
is me sitting at a small table across from Claudia next to a beautiful relaxing
water fall drinking bottomless tea and coffee with smiling faces all
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The employees there are all so
happy and kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many of us
foreigners there too…and throughout all of Antigua for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here in Antigua they have their own special police force
just for the tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many
ex-pats, visitors, back-packers, students, and people who just stopped by for a
visit and never left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel very safe
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday, my group hiked up a
short ways to the famous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Cerro de la
Cruz</i> which is on top of a big mountainy-hill (I’m telling you it’s
somewhere in between).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It overlooks all
of Antigua and has an unreal view of Volcan Agua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went in the morning when it was bright and
there were barely any clouds and it looked like a painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a giant cross behind you that is the
focal point of the view and a main reason for our visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had more pictures, but I hadn’t
bought a camera charger yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
worry, now that I have one I promise to share more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have done so much just in the last week and learned so
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our eyes are constantly being
opened wider to more things, both very beautiful and incredibly tragic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, though, I am glad I stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a feeling Antigua has a lot more to
teach me before I leave for the Finca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks for hanging in there with me through this long post!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise more fun details and stories in the
next week or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-28055234929209548812013-08-12T17:25:00.000-07:002013-08-12T17:25:29.062-07:00Saying goodbye Goodbyes are never easy. <br />
<br />
I'm learning this very quickly. You can try and trick your mind in every way possible: tell yourself you're just going on vacation, you'll have internet access, you'll be on your own adventure. It's still not easy.<br />
<br />
At some point you just become numb.<br />
<br />
I don't want to make anyone think I am regretting this decision to go or questioning it at all. I know what I'm getting myself into and I can't wait to hug and kiss those kids. But knowing that I have to hug and kiss my little brother and mom for the last time is hard. Saying goodbye to my father was hard. Trying to not break out in tears on the phone with my friends and family is beyond difficult. <br />
<br />
For those of you who have supported me this far on my journey, I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Having to deal with goodbyes is hard enough, but not having to worry about how I will take care of myself over the next 2 1/2 years while I serve the poor of Honduras makes it so much easier. Thank you!<br />
<br />
I want to reassure you that I am confident in this decision. I know this is what I am supposed to do and I know that in the end it will all be worth it. I just wish the goodbyes weren't so tough. <br />
<br />
But, that is part of this journey and I am willing to embrace the pain because I know what I'm doing it for. I love those kids so much and I am ready to get to Honduras and see them. I only have a little bit more to go before we can move to our new "home" at the Farm. I look forward to keeping you all updated on Guatemala and language school if you're interested. <br />
<br />
I love you all, I pray for you everyday, I have all of my medicine packed...and my pepper spray (for those of you concerned...it's been the main question of the day!), and I have my kick-boxing self-defense skills constantly in mind. I promise to trust my sixth-sense, not trust anyone on the streets being suspiciously nice to me, and to always go with my gut. Finally, I just want to remind you that St. Michael has got my back...I'll be fine. Don't worry about me too much, but thank you for caring. <br />
<br />
Que Dios les bendiga todos ustedes! I promise to write again soon.<br /><br />Love,<br />
Tiffany Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-43606951770226188292013-08-05T06:01:00.000-07:002013-08-05T06:24:20.266-07:00Contact Information<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Contact me at:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span class="gbps2">tiffanymarie725@gmail.com</span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="gbps2">Contact the Farm of the Child directly at:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span class="gbps2">andrea@thefarmofthechild.org</span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="gbps2"> </span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interested in the <a href="http://www.farmofthechild.org/" target="_blank">Farm of the Child</a>? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you know of a student, prayer, or Church group looking to go on a mission trip? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you would like to <i>sponsor a child</i>, maybe <i>volunteer</i>, or know of a Church or organization looking to<i> support a Catholic Christian mission</i>, this may be the organization for you! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
E-mail the Farm of the Child directly for more information!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With limited internet access at the Farm, I will be able to check my e-mail occasionally. However, if you would still like to contact me with questions about the Farm of the Child or my experience down there, please feel free to write me. <span class="gbps2">I would be happy to write you back but just know you should expect delays with my responses. Honduran time is a lot slower than American! </span></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-55759139070568306232013-07-09T20:20:00.000-07:002013-08-05T05:51:44.107-07:00Día de las Princesas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Two summers ago I was sitting on the floor of the school’s
library with all of the little girls at the Farm, the Franciscan Sisters, and a
few missionaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Little Princess</i> in Spanish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us had never seen the classic movie
before so it was an exciting night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
all of the little girls crisscrossed side by side wrapped up in someone's arms or
playing with someone's hair, we all sat wide-eyed as the story unfolded before
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who haven’t seen
it, drop what you’re doing and watch it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bring tissues. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you still haven’t watched it, what are you waiting for?!
Go watch it now because I’m about to ruin it for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The movie is about a little girl whose mother passes
away (typical, I know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father treats her like the
most precious jewel he’s ever held and it is clear she knows her worth in his
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then he gets sent off to war
and has to leave her in the care of a boarding school whose head mistress is
horrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has other little girls who
have been left at the school and abandoned work as maids without education,
barely enough food, and forces them to sleep in the cold attic in rags.
Eventually the father of the little girl goes missing and the payments stop
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s forced into the slavery of
the boarding school but her imagination helps her through those hard
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, her father is found
but he has lost his memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as the
mean head mistress is about to send the little girl to prison, the girl sees
her father and runs to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
know her though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girl was distraught, crying, begging, praying for her
father to remember her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is such a sad scene to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing that pulled my eyes off of the
screen was the shouts and cries of the little ones around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were yelling at the father on screen,
begging him to remember his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were all in tears as the girls kept telling the Sisters to turn the movie off
because they couldn’t keep watching it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
then, suddenly, the father’s friend helps him remember and he saves his little
girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">little princess.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, so I’ve completely butchered that story line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, you have to watch it to
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It broke my heart to watch those little girls become so
attached to the character of the little princess, but it gave me and some friends
an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided the girls needed a
day to feel beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day just to
simply feel accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these
young girls have been sexually abused at very young ages and all have
experienced some form of neglect and emotional abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see how this affects society by
looking at the women of Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are young abandoned mothers, they are beaten wives, they are innocent girls
forced into prostitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point
you have to ask, how can it stop?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Young girls need to feel special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to have constant affirmation that
they are precious and beautiful and worth something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to understand their worth in the
eyes of God, we decided to have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dia de
las Princesas</i>, or Day of the Princesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mom brought down the brand new movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tangled</i> and invitations decorated with a Disney princess and lots
of sparkles were mailed out to all of the finca and the neighboring village
girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had cake, an incredible movie
(with the songs even dubbed in Spanish!), and each princess got a photo of them
and their friends to keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These girls took the day seriously, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we stepped outside after finishing
the decorations, we saw a line of beautiful little girls in whatever the
prettiest dress they could find waiting at the gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t matter what they were wearing
because they all felt beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the movie one of the missionaries, Nely,
gave a beautiful talk on a girl’s worth and purpose in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember all of what she said, but it
meant something to these kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two years later I find myself imagining an even better <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dia de las Princesas</i>, maybe even like a
mini-retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want these girls to
understand that they are so precious in the eyes of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as the father of the little princess
showed his daughter her true worth with his love, God wants the same for his
little girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who am I kidding
though?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At barely 22 years of age I
doubt I have all the answers and the best way to go about sharing this with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can offer them my experiences,
but I fear they will have little value in our very different cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess my goal would be that these girls would have a tiny
seed planted in them and that when they need it most one day in the distant
futures, they will drop to their knees and turn to the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That they will allow Him to take away the pain, the loneliness, the
hurt, and the lies they hear whispered in their ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I want them to find God in those dark places
instead of turning to abusive men and addictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want them to at least have the knowledge
that they are not alone in this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways, I just thought I’d share some of my passing
thoughts with you all as I continue preparing for this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have any ideas or suggestions, please
don’t hesitate to send them my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
love to hear them! E-mail me at: <span class="gbps2">tiffanymarie725@gmail.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2u47XV-TMUuV33vBL1ZUBoGa4VoUjKwrThcFXk4KqYueUqs6YOdWJAj3SmtTlzxSHaHsD0a9m1GYAFRV215yyAvk1k3Q5RdMyyeK5mxXh1biKAxIESVYm-13bSVZ79gPvZdXYJPRc4k/s1600/P6190666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2u47XV-TMUuV33vBL1ZUBoGa4VoUjKwrThcFXk4KqYueUqs6YOdWJAj3SmtTlzxSHaHsD0a9m1GYAFRV215yyAvk1k3Q5RdMyyeK5mxXh1biKAxIESVYm-13bSVZ79gPvZdXYJPRc4k/s400/P6190666.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqen0ar5Yrx_RHppfZZRZZO0cP_znKNRdX97Al6_RI_O5pdlEXCzwc3m30SxezDfqDdburKyoN1rW8succVzEBoAcA5zWjL1PcJCV8bPiGB51bEg-6thdx_Qqsrxjmo1GgrvXS8N32Fg/s1600/P6190674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqen0ar5Yrx_RHppfZZRZZO0cP_znKNRdX97Al6_RI_O5pdlEXCzwc3m30SxezDfqDdburKyoN1rW8succVzEBoAcA5zWjL1PcJCV8bPiGB51bEg-6thdx_Qqsrxjmo1GgrvXS8N32Fg/s320/P6190674.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oA56Z9Jh-QVPvvNQQsznRj-u93zqC722g8vHS8y9OJIb9FRCieGRmTSqEbc_hy_4rCqMAT9hvPohEpEhkfexMCvmD1pIEhkRbFgh2vPTno_-h0YeFMZWbzE-qQQp0o22tLQMQxF4MbI/s1600/P6190628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oA56Z9Jh-QVPvvNQQsznRj-u93zqC722g8vHS8y9OJIb9FRCieGRmTSqEbc_hy_4rCqMAT9hvPohEpEhkfexMCvmD1pIEhkRbFgh2vPTno_-h0YeFMZWbzE-qQQp0o22tLQMQxF4MbI/s640/P6190628.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-4134582442765461472013-06-05T14:06:00.001-07:002013-06-05T14:06:54.726-07:00Thank you Catholic Compass! <div style="text-align: center;">
I'd just like to take the time to specially thank Kathy Grobe and the Catholic Compass for giving me the opportunity to share with them as I prepare for this journey and print <a href="http://faithdigital.org/digital/PenTal/CC0613/#?page=10" target="_blank">this article</a> in their June issue. <br />
<br />
The Catholic Compass is a diocesan magazine for the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG6MHs0eRtuesKD0sO553WTtmUkBn0aHL9Vv7EPdwQITNkPtcL60-Jvu9kBW_jk9J3Tqp4o-qb3AWf1rEBPy4ngMiGrqH-xlWfzzLqYV1XVjcZPEykc8OCluxrOhMa9vgF5brGYyHcS0/s1600/catholic+compass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG6MHs0eRtuesKD0sO553WTtmUkBn0aHL9Vv7EPdwQITNkPtcL60-Jvu9kBW_jk9J3Tqp4o-qb3AWf1rEBPy4ngMiGrqH-xlWfzzLqYV1XVjcZPEykc8OCluxrOhMa9vgF5brGYyHcS0/s400/catholic+compass.JPG" width="310" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am blessed to have had this opportunity to share with them this mission and my hopes for the future of the <a href="http://www.farmofthechild.org/" target="_blank">Farm of the Child</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you have a chance to read the article, you can find it on page 10. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This month's issue also features a beautiful article on a mother's journey towards healing after her 6 year old daughter was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and how her faith is holding her family together. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click here to read the issue:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://faithdigital.org/digital/PenTal/CC0613/#?page=10" target="_blank">The Catholic Compass</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-57949393681889052182013-05-26T08:40:00.000-07:002013-05-27T04:49:33.135-07:00Why You Should Donate to this Missionary Fund<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Two years ago, I was at the Farm of
the Child as they celebrated <span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;">Pentecostés</span>
(Pentecost Sunday).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night before was
a big celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We built a big
bon-fire, had a candle lit parade around the Farm grounds singing beautiful
hymns and ended at the Chapel where we prayed the rosary as a community and at
each mystery watched our orphaned kids perform a skit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About half way through, one of the guards
came in to notify a missionary that the police were at the gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later on we heard that they had brought a
little boy, about 7 or 8, to the
gate and dropped him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They didn't know where he came from. All they knew was that he had been passed around the country to get to us. </span>This is a very
typical example of what goes on every day with the children of Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that this tugs at your heart as it does mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The range of emotions is far and wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what do we do; what can we do as there
are so many needs in God’s kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
we have has been given to us by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
life we have, the education we have been able to receive because of where we
were born, even the job that helps sustain our lifestyles and families have all
been given to us despite how hard we may have worked to attain them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of this gift of life, we have the choice and duty to
give some of it back to Him in gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of this is giving it back to His kingdom which would be the poor,
our Church, ministries that support our faith, and trusted charities that will
use these funds correctly and wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is why donating and tithing is such a beautiful
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an intimate and humble way
to connect with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a way to say
thank you to our creator and to continue bettering humanity in the small ways
that we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To send money to a charity
for a specific fund like supporting a child (which can easily be done at the
Farm of the Child) or sending funds with a mission group to build something for
the mission itself is a beautiful way to contribute to this mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, simply sending money and buying
building materials is not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Think about it as if you were trying to build a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you spent all of your money on buying
the building materials and the land?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
wouldn’t have your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would
simply have a stack of lumber and building materials on a piece of
property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the hands of the
dedicated worker and craftsmen that turns the stack of building materials into
a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One without the other simply
does not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why I have chosen
to become one of God’s dedicated craftsmen to the children of Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is why you should donate to a missionary fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not everyone’s circumstances allow them
to take 2 ½ years out of their life and move to a third world mission, I feel
deeply called by God to do this and do it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Specifically, I need to raise about $12,000 by August 1 to
cover my impact while I am fulfilling this calling. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All I am asking you to do is spend a few minutes in prayer
and if you feel moved or inspired, please simply follow these instructions on
how to donate below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to know
that I will be praying every day for you while I am at this beautiful and holy
place known as the Farm of the Child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Mail your check made out to the Farm of the
Child (please don’t forget to put <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tiffany
Ross</b> in the memo section of your check) in a stamped envelope to this
address:<br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Farm of the Child</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
1616 Nottingham Knoll Drive</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
Jacksonville, FL 32225</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</li>
<li>Click here to donate online via the Secure Click & Pledge donation link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=66520" target="_blank">Donate Now!</a> </li>
</ol>
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</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
[The Farm of the
Child is an IRS 501(c)3 organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All donations are tax deductible.]</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“Remember that when you leave this earth, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you can take with you nothing which you have
received—only
what you have given.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
-St.
Francis of Assisi </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9NCEE7-_areIX0o4Zcy111HNS82KXwJkB9wyDkgZM50EsE6url6Ldln9RgBGxPWr82q9AxWX7qdw7I1F7rexA8a-ffpQnHl3hwnfDqpaDGzlDSeNXkvIGy6TeeAvoeCevJiB6u8Gb94/s1600/house+1+pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9NCEE7-_areIX0o4Zcy111HNS82KXwJkB9wyDkgZM50EsE6url6Ldln9RgBGxPWr82q9AxWX7qdw7I1F7rexA8a-ffpQnHl3hwnfDqpaDGzlDSeNXkvIGy6TeeAvoeCevJiB6u8Gb94/s640/house+1+pyramid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-78017695484380143142013-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:002013-04-20T06:13:58.868-07:00broken, bruised, and battered<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was
at a loss for words the first time I heard the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The siblings I had just met who were so full
of life and laughter had seen things I could never imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their father had abandoned them long before
they knew him, their mother struggled to support them, and finally she had
given up hope and abandoned them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These sweet children were found chained to the wall of the hut they
called home <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">starving</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t clear how many days they had been
tied up, but it was long enough that these tiny, malnourished toddlers had
resorted to consuming their own feces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was in shock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This beautiful safe-haven I was visiting for the first time
I no longer saw as simply a mission of love…this was a mission of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These children <u>needed</u> someone to save them, to find them, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fight</i> for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the first time I can remember the
blood rushing through my veins and the passion building up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My flushed face grew tense and sad and I knew
that something had to be done that was bigger than saving one child just to
continue the cycle of poverty and abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This country needs social justice reform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need social services to protect women
and children like the Department of Children and Families does here in
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It needs a completely reformed educational system so that they are not continuously mass producing citizens
with less than a 6<sup>th</sup> grade education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drugs, gangs, violence, rape, murder, abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This country has it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What this country <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needs</i>
is support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needs</i> help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor in
Honduras don’t have what America’s impoverished and homeless have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, poverty in America is terrible and it is
so unjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what America is doing
about it is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After working at
Catholic Charities as an intern this past year, I have seen a lot of sad situations
and a lot of very poor people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I
have learned is that I am not only <u>proud</u> to be an American, but proud of
my government for what it’s trying to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will never be perfect and the system can always do more, but at least
it’s doing what it can. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hondurans do not have this luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government is corrupt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rich grow richer and the poor grow more
desperate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it weren’t for non-profits
and religious organizations supporting them with the limited social services
they are able to, their situation could be much worse than it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sad part is, the story of the chained up siblings is not
uncommon at all. Nearly all of the children at the Farm of the Child have been
sexually abused and beaten at some point in their childhood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFsFyGLf6_p90atvh406xfOcxV8Vlo8KB5zsddf9ZSeg3Kx9H_K92fVA9sTGWzeR4LvHy-wZOrfgFLnDe2yVyvwiVmYBhwWTH_Xy59KNl-XxbhIWSq6WsOMe9usinDatunBckMujdGk8/s1600/baby+nelsi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFsFyGLf6_p90atvh406xfOcxV8Vlo8KB5zsddf9ZSeg3Kx9H_K92fVA9sTGWzeR4LvHy-wZOrfgFLnDe2yVyvwiVmYBhwWTH_Xy59KNl-XxbhIWSq6WsOMe9usinDatunBckMujdGk8/s1600/baby+nelsi.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">First
experiencing the love of God <br />seated in a Franciscan Sister's lap</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the girl who first showed me how to climb trees in
Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She showed me how to use a machete like a true Honduran to
crack open my coconuts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took my hands and asked me to dance in the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To enjoy every moment of down time we had together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To laugh at myself and to learn from mistakes (which were mostly
made with my poor Spanish). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This happy, glowing child was found abandoned in a basket
floating down a river as a new born baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The woman who found her took her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was subject to much neglect and abuse during the time she was taken
in and at the age of three was brought to the Farm of the Child looking like the
first picture above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At three years old,
she weighed 12lbs, had no ability to walk, was extremely malnourished, and had
numerous rashes and a severe chest infection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the grace of God she survived and has grown much since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a fighter and a survivor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEW61ZPplDpbtQiYnXqBj-13ZxH8qlc8ULBm1pI6a0Vw5mMXJwJfplQI12Y8XSnYu7gh22s43QcMEkalevv0Y4S9NBubVLrkuP6uY_jGNnPrf1mDzSTGlLMYTNcs0CeO86arkvozRi4M/s1600/nelsi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEW61ZPplDpbtQiYnXqBj-13ZxH8qlc8ULBm1pI6a0Vw5mMXJwJfplQI12Y8XSnYu7gh22s43QcMEkalevv0Y4S9NBubVLrkuP6uY_jGNnPrf1mDzSTGlLMYTNcs0CeO86arkvozRi4M/s320/nelsi.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"></span>Happy,
healthy, and growing more and more every day!</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is children like this little girl who have taught me
about God’s mercy and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
sometimes like I have nothing to give these kids. I don’t know what to say to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never experienced anything
close to what they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel all I
can do is hold them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fight</i> for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to go into the depths of this poor
country and find those other toddlers, babies, and young kids who have no hope
of being found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to bring some
sort of justice to the neglect, abuse, and abandonment of these beautiful
children who I love more than my heart can bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish I could express more of the passion to you that I
feel for this mission. With each child at the Farm comes a deep, dark past of
abuse, neglect, and profound hurt that they will have to deal with their whole
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
This mission is not only one of love and of need, but one of
<i>hope</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Farm of the Child is a mission dedicated to giving these
children new lives, services to assist them in coping with their unimaginable
pasts, and a faith to stay with them forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This mission can change the very foundation of the country by educating
and supporting these little, lost sons and daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work will be slow and perhaps we will not
see the full outcome in our lifetime, but it is a step in the right
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a much <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needed</i> step to help guide this third-world
nation out of poverty, out of corruption, and out of a lack of respect
for human life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God doesn’t call us to stay comfortable and help the needy
who are easy to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He demands we go
out and save those who have no hope of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are His sons and daughters too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every year, missionaries from all over the country dedicate
their lives to this fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They give up
everything they know for 2 ½-3 ½ years and serve these kids to the best of
their ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to inspire,
teach, help, hold, and love everyone they can during their time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They typically do not expect to grow, be
inspired, be taught, be helped, and be held as well during their time down
there, but that’s surprisingly what tends to happen when you’re serving in God’s
kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart literally aches for these children as I try to
think about and feel their pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
heart yearns to serve them and love them and help give them a better life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take comfort in knowing that what I am
giving up in my life at home in the States is well worth it, as much as that
may hurt as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like the story
of the rich man in the Gospel of Mark:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him,
and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder;
you shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false
witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all
these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one
thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had
many possessions. –Mark 10: 17-22</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have many possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have friends, family, and communities that I care very deeply for and
it hurts to think of what I will be giving up by leaving them behind for 2 ½ years
of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t expect myself to ever fully accept
that what I am doing will be easy because my heart is torn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It yearns for those children and to save
those broken, bruised and battered little ones who have not yet been found. And it aches for my family and for
my dear friends who love and support me unconditionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when God calls you somewhere, it is not
something you can easily ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not saying that we are all called to do something this
drastic with our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By all means,
God has a special plan for each and every one of us and if we choose to ask
what it is, do not doubt that He will respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The reality is that not everyone can take 2 ½ years out of their lives
to leave everything behind and serve these little ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you feel called to support those who
can today or to commit to praying for the missionaries and the children of the
Farm of the Child you would be contributing to not only the love and support of
these abused, neglected, abandoned children, but supporting the future of an
underdeveloped nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is
that these kids are the future generation of Honduras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any sort of effective and foundational social
reform starts with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Do not wait for leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Change the world one person at a time.” –Mother Teresa<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you feel called to donate at this time, please click <a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=66520" target="_blank">this secure PayPal link. </a> <br />
Thank you for your support!!</div>
</div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-4181783094600479302013-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:002013-04-15T11:07:19.191-07:00¡Bienvenidos a la Finca!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A closer look at life on the Farm of the Child (La </span><span lang="ES-HN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Finca</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> del Niño</span>)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
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<div class="grid-2 widgets-container">
<div class="widget frontpage-widget mw-widget-custom-content" id="mw-widget-custom-content-5" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="widget-boxed has-head">
<div class="widget-head">
<h3>
The Finca’s Daily Prayer</h3>
</div>
<div class="widget-body">
I
pray for the following:</div>
<div class="widget-body">
Lord Jesus, protector of orphans and all who depend on you, </div>
<div class="widget-body">
as we begin
this day we turn our hearts towards you. </div>
<div class="widget-body">
We give thanks for the gift of
your great love </div>
<div class="widget-body">
and for the chance to serve you in all that we do today. </div>
<div class="widget-body">
We ask that your grace and mercy be poured out on our beloved Farm of
the Child, </div>
<div class="widget-body">
on our children, on our house parents, on our Franciscan
sisters, </div>
<div class="widget-body">
on our volunteers past, present, and future, on our board
members, </div>
<div class="widget-body">
on our support personnel, on our benefactors, </div>
<div class="widget-body">
and on all whom
we serve in Honduras </div>
<div class="widget-body">
through our various ministries. </div>
<div class="widget-body">
AMEN.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-38064100925332242182013-04-10T19:55:00.003-07:002014-06-12T10:23:10.418-07:00How to Donate<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.farmofthechild.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMgFE9VIJS77F8lUdq1IfLQCthttkdovyNk0-T7jCDsWfOzUENt4OgAFSBXDHBai8y0ZYWivDt7y-SFI8H8JR6EV4_axLQp1zT_DU9Pdl4ceBPc6gq8uzK1hn_cN7Oaex-45zmw6dwmE/s1600/slide-2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Thanks to all your love and support, my mission fund is full and will help support me and my impact on the Farm during my 28 month service. <br />
<br />
Want to continue supporting the Farm? Here's a new simple way!<br /><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> Just shop on Amazon
smile and choose Farm of the Child as your Charity. At no cost to you,
Amazon will send 5% of what you spend to the Farm of the Child. </span> <br />
<br />
<br />
The Farm of the Child is an <i>IRS501(c)3 organization</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
All donations are <b>TAX DEDUCTIBLE</b>.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For your
convenience, below are two easy options for making your donation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
1. Donate with a credit card through the secure
PayPal link here: <span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/?wid=66520" target="_blank">DONATE NOW</a></b></span><br />
<br />
2. Donate by mail:<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center;">
Farm
of the Child</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center;">
1616
Nottingham Knoll Drive</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center;">
Jacksonville,
FL32225</div>
3. <a href="http://www.farmofthechild.org/sponsor-a-child/" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a><br />
<br />
Our <strong>Sponsor a Child</strong> program is a unique opportunity for
both sponsor and child. Sponsors are invited to share, not only
monetary donations that go entirely to support the children, but to
become a part of their sponsored child’s life on the Farm or in the
school through bi-annual letters. Support of $50 per month for a Farm
child, and $25 per month for a School child, helps defray the costs of
raising and/or educating a child in a secure and loving environment.
Your child is provided with a family of foster parents and other
children; with a school which provides a high standard of Catholic
education; with a beautiful church and religious formation; with a
clinic and medical attention. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you for your support!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY7duv9Ik-_pAout-6epAyJsMqryDa3AAY8TkwXop0m_Nl2AEz7oLswyHFc5oWJfxma1IgZKz7t94xeGzOcqrWbvB0YAHxcOQCGNXCGPn0DNxBZSLrPWhJZ4lzLxZSmcH5Y__jyYTxQU/s1600/DSCF1696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY7duv9Ik-_pAout-6epAyJsMqryDa3AAY8TkwXop0m_Nl2AEz7oLswyHFc5oWJfxma1IgZKz7t94xeGzOcqrWbvB0YAHxcOQCGNXCGPn0DNxBZSLrPWhJZ4lzLxZSmcH5Y__jyYTxQU/s1600/DSCF1696.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yadira, our resident 3 year old minion. <br />She loves big hugs, days at the beach, and all things "mio".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-18333878568022413402013-04-10T19:22:00.002-07:002013-06-15T15:52:52.744-07:00Missionary Budget <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.farmofthechild.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN15KzypVw0GMQlCTqBaLd92NQZzFLu1Am-sQ_O0biU7Imc09y33zlqkte1WfMja9CaSHVVXTqmMxwq5dXoWjDsydmcKoZjEMjjIuL1qUQ4sqTvXA9GH9mM4MZc1pTEApqPEnq1O-lIVc/s1600/slide-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Farm of the Child</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sample Missionary Fundraising Budget<br />
August 2013 – December 2015<br />
<br />
<b>Airplane Tickets</b> (travel to and from Central America and one trip to the U.S.
during each year of service) - <i>$2,700</i><br />
<br />
<b>Language School</b> (transportation from Guatemala City airport, eight weeks of
one-on-one classes, the cost of living with a host family, and transportation
from Guatemala to Honduras) - <i>$1,800</i><br />
<br />
<b>Travel from language school to the Farm </b>- <i>$200</i><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Health Insurance</b> (for emergencies abroad) - <i>$300/year</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Residency Costs</b> (cost to secure extended Honduran residency permit beyond the
standard 90-day visa issued to tourists) - <i>$150</i><br />
<br />
<b>Personal Stipend</b> ($300 for every 3 months) - <i>$2,700</i><br />
<br />
<b>Retreats </b>- <i>$200 </i><br />
<br />
<b>Vacation Stipend</b> ($250 for each year of service) - <i>$500</i><br />
<br />
<b>Transition Stipend</b> ($500 for each year of service to facilitate transition back
to the United States at the end of my commitment) - <i>$1,000</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Re-entry Retreat</b> ($900 cost of retreat + travel) - <i>$1,500</i><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Total Budget for 28-Month Volunteer Commitment
Goal ~ $12,000</span></b><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any funds raised that go beyond what I actually
spend will go directly to aid and assist projects at the Farm.</span></i><br />
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</span></i></div>
Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599490783246339887.post-23410699571049267292013-04-09T18:52:00.001-07:002013-08-05T06:32:55.878-07:00A Mission of Love<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph178A0iJfqn6LP0RR_sSErJL02KFEBA85z9Rgd_xrAVZ6-wMdOAi6qITcodVjIXmlU5-6Hg3vu97Pu76QOFQG2b0cERcbAHCk45gjvel-36rBEcdl_Lvb94V4dZDRw-yz51vLILJelE/s640/journal_2_04.jpg" width="640" /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">
My name is Tiffany Ross and I am so
excited to share this experience with you all so thanks for visiting! For those of you who don’t know me, I’ll let
you know a little about who I am before explaining why I’ve chosen to serve at
the Farm. Well, I am (nearly) a graduate
of Florida State University and have worked as an intern this last year at
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida in the Refugee Department. I am a family girl and make it a point to
always make them a priority in my life. I’ve studied Spanish for a long time
and watched more telenovelas than I’d care to admit. I’m a passionate Catholic
and I firmly believe in the power of sharing God’s mercy and love through
actions rather than words. In high
school I aspired to become an accomplished actress, loved performing on stage,
and sang with my mom and the Lifeteen band at Church every Sunday. Since
then, my dreams have changed (as they often do growing up) and I’ve realized
that my heart is the most content when I’m loving others and sharing in their
beautiful, broken lives. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I moved to Florida with my family
in 2004 when I was in the 7<sup>th</sup> grade and that’s when I first heard
about the Farm of the Child. Zulena
Pescatore—a founder of the mission—came to my school with her daughters to
speak about the Farm of the Child and, at the time, it didn’t mean much to
me. It was later on that my family
decided to go on a mission trip with our Church to visit this beautiful place
and experience for ourselves God’s grace in an underdeveloped nation. I had just graduated from high school the
first time we went and it changed my life completely. We went again the next year and it was after
that trip that I realized how much of my heart I had left with those
children. I applied to go the next
summer as a short-term missionary and it only increased my desire to serve
there. I want to share this beautiful
mission with you today and, hopefully, continue to share with you in this
journey over the next 28 months. Right
now I’d love to tell you a little about the Farm of the Child, how it
functions, and who it serves. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Near a small town on the luscious
tropical coast of Honduras, there is a Catholic orphanage. It is a beautiful place that
was started by a man named Vincent Pescatore. He left his corporate American job at a young
age to answer a call to do mission work in Guatemala where he started the
original Farm of the Child orphanage and met his wife. Later on he decided to spread the work to
Honduras and bought a plot of land right by the coast. All he had to start were a few Franciscan
Nuns, the support of his wife and five young, beautiful children, and a few
very ambitious college graduates from the States. Because of tension with the Honduran
government, it was only safe to build at night, so that’s what they did. There’s no denying the fact that there were
many road blocks at the beginning of this beautiful mission, but Pescatore
never let that discourage him. Sadly, on
January 3 at the age of 35, Pescatore and his brother-in-law passed away in a
plane crash right by the Farm. They were
bringing in supplies and got caught in a storm that sent them straight towards
the mountain side. Despite this tragedy,
the Pescatore family and the missionaries did not let that stop the mission. If anything, it gave them more of a reason to
fight for it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Farm of the Child has been
effectively educating, housing, providing for, and loving orphans and young
children in surrounding villages for nearly 17 years. Today it is run mostly by American and
Nicaraguan missionaries, the wonderful Franciscan Sisters, and Ysmary Trejo,
the onsite director. They have the 2<sup>nd</sup>
best Catholic school in the country on the Farm’s property, providing education
for grades K-8. Each grade has its own classroom
and the middle school, more recently built, has 4 rooms including a computer
lab (which functions well despite the frequent power outages). The school is separated from the soccer field
and communal homes by a beautiful chapel that has been dedicated to Vincent
Pescatore, which overlooks the entire orphanage. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down the hill from the
chapel is the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Close
by is a clinic that provides service for the local villages a few times a week
run by American missionaries who are trained Nurses. The missionaries make it a priority to teach
the locals about living a healthy lifestyle in all aspects of raising children as
well as taking care of their own bodies, which is very important considering
most of the people in Honduras have never had the opportunity to be educated
past the 6<sup>th</sup> grade. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rest of the campus consists of
small, family style homes for the orphans, missionaries, and Nuns. Each house for the children is set up with Honduran
“house parents”. The children are split up by gender and age levels. For example, boys who are newborn babies up
to ages 4 or 5 would live in the St. Joseph house. It creates a safe environment for these
children and sets a great example of how a loving family works, lives, and
loves each other, giving each child hope for a better future when they grow up
and have a family of their own. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The missionaries live in one house
together right on the beach next to the Convent. They do all sorts of jobs needed on the
Farm. Many of them are teachers at the
school and Social Workers helping the children in whatever ways needed. Some of
them are also outreach coordinators, nurses, psychologists, and maintenance/
security directors. A few years back the
maintenance crew completed building a big, thick fence with barbed wire at the
top that runs around the entire Farm which will help ensure the safety of all
those who live, work, worship, play, and go to school there. They also have a night staff that patrols the
fence and gate at night. My mother
swears God has put a bubble over that place.
No matter what kind of horrible things are going on in the country or
what kind of desperation locals may be driven to out of poverty, the Farm seems to be and to have always been
protected. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been so blessed to play
with, work with, and truly get to know these kids the past few summers. They are so happy, so full of life, and in so
much need of stability. They truly
opened my heart to this mission. It is
very evident how much these children desire true, authentic, and unconditional love.
So, when you form a bond of trust with them, they welcome you with open
arms…and don’t ever want to let go. I
remember one boy, Carlos, who just loved hugs.
He was around 6 or 7 years old, but that boy was a tank and very
athletic. He just loved piggy back
rides, being swung around, and running, jumping hugs. I could barely catch him every time, but the
love he had to share was simply something I couldn’t reject. He also enjoyed chasing the girls around with
little crabs he found and a hose whenever he could get his hands on one. Then there was his friend Roni who was a
little comedian. That boy had a joke for
everything and was all smiles and laughter all the time. Nelsi, one of the girls about 7 or 8, taught
me how she climbed the trees to pick fruit in her backyard. She wanted to show me that girls like us
could really be as strong as the boys.
Nelsi knew how to swing a machete and dig a trench like a pro and didn’t
mind showing you how well she could do it.
But, as soon as the storms came, she had no problem dropping everything
and grabbing my hands to go dance in the rain. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJm7F0uSCRBfRXJHx4cJGhY8iD7a8z7ugV0GQWC4UGqHWrsrzgqZfrtMKS5DG4jaXyYIVJHIgTw9gBB5OUaZpACz9rAbQVKn3qqXeDboJz7euv7ywxKs6L2zxgzbXMi0rTNJJgl_s3nE/s1600/P6150216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJm7F0uSCRBfRXJHx4cJGhY8iD7a8z7ugV0GQWC4UGqHWrsrzgqZfrtMKS5DG4jaXyYIVJHIgTw9gBB5OUaZpACz9rAbQVKn3qqXeDboJz7euv7ywxKs6L2zxgzbXMi0rTNJJgl_s3nE/s320/P6150216.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Celebrating Mass with the neighbors <br />at a local villagers home </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuRA7dW_ms_goWCMs4dhtT5GECL4AXgxMmvyKQwMWNNIYWZoOaOi9zRwMq88xV8CsOsEtbzplleOhN6U-2mTcv4Ug91axEQ5314ix0VLDP1o1LjHXHEubmDGOLHtz1oNiLzicgRMK48Y/s1600/P6150196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuRA7dW_ms_goWCMs4dhtT5GECL4AXgxMmvyKQwMWNNIYWZoOaOi9zRwMq88xV8CsOsEtbzplleOhN6U-2mTcv4Ug91axEQ5314ix0VLDP1o1LjHXHEubmDGOLHtz1oNiLzicgRMK48Y/s320/P6150196.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">My special friend Belgia</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg7nDFKOUTfS1EZafelbFeB7WTFKt4IzSFNRJyXkMvn-9GcsO6NOyNr-LcpIJP2hqTOd_6AXWEPKfI6WKiS1LQ-dmfazMK1G1y0VNmzSaiEaq5CIaiqMej73h3xa2Ee-0eVbCMI22omw/s1600/P6180528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg7nDFKOUTfS1EZafelbFeB7WTFKt4IzSFNRJyXkMvn-9GcsO6NOyNr-LcpIJP2hqTOd_6AXWEPKfI6WKiS1LQ-dmfazMK1G1y0VNmzSaiEaq5CIaiqMej73h3xa2Ee-0eVbCMI22omw/s320/P6180528.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A</span>t the Quinci<span style="font-size: small;">n</span>era of the Farm! <br />(15th anniversary celebration)</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-JvSbbL0wIQ2lELY302ywQmMFdo0PEHf0TqXq4CUfuFPwHEFpm0KmxNoy3hWRtr3Nv_H0AzOutm8VOB6xI-ymPr6zUrEEElxCUS8HGX-Ha3Aii8O_Hf-yKVeQ1STXf8pbSFEHu6rC1w/s1600/P6090448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-JvSbbL0wIQ2lELY302ywQmMFdo0PEHf0TqXq4CUfuFPwHEFpm0KmxNoy3hWRtr3Nv_H0AzOutm8VOB6xI-ymPr6zUrEEElxCUS8HGX-Ha3Aii8O_Hf-yKVeQ1STXf8pbSFEHu6rC1w/s320/P6090448.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">praise and worship with the girls</span> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX-SQbMmxCFHA-Ko5rHSEYoR0eaRhnWDzCEsEC7fdPpTsWDuh1kDg4Fr93WMTjevmqyq9hZ89gxZdz8ywYuNal_QvR6NzSESyRrVLUsdfg-L2J-Xr-Pth5ahuxW4EtxJxxjWAXKyR81c/s1600/P6050196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIX-SQbMmxCFHA-Ko5rHSEYoR0eaRhnWDzCEsEC7fdPpTsWDuh1kDg4Fr93WMTjevmqyq9hZ89gxZdz8ywYuNal_QvR6NzSESyRrVLUsdfg-L2J-Xr-Pth5ahuxW4EtxJxxjWAXKyR81c/s320/P6050196.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A dear friend from up the mountain <br />in Buena Vista</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4TBjIdPeJiXPgOD66prvTcZQLU49jJKJsSxiuau-AHvW2jsY0MhTpUZn7Ap4imxg2rP7v1vLHtmff1oycyQmt1GhPtjfPi87SjeXgYW5NV0x7kgUfOptsRr-sOY5Ymylg6ypzWpUqx0/s1600/P6260744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4TBjIdPeJiXPgOD66prvTcZQLU49jJKJsSxiuau-AHvW2jsY0MhTpUZn7Ap4imxg2rP7v1vLHtmff1oycyQmt1GhPtjfPi87SjeXgYW5NV0x7kgUfOptsRr-sOY5Ymylg6ypzWpUqx0/s320/P6260744.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">the kids after Sunday Mass</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPFi8kB6GpsVIn1t-7qCCpb7ea4D3_0ZQuKRrG1P0H0Mf3qkJAtCNOII6ATLdiMKOXIWtoAfzA6GyWa9oqZW5gWJwmPVuLEpoSqFl0Tx6Ks73YFfiBLQv0CirwW-8AJE8AB0SewZf85Q/s1600/P6260753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPFi8kB6GpsVIn1t-7qCCpb7ea4D3_0ZQuKRrG1P0H0Mf3qkJAtCNOII6ATLdiMKOXIWtoAfzA6GyWa9oqZW5gWJwmPVuLEpoSqFl0Tx6Ks73YFfiBLQv0CirwW-8AJE8AB0SewZf85Q/s320/P6260753.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">my little sister Sigri</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sigri, another girl around age 16,
was simply one of a kind. Because of the
abuse she went through as a child, her mind-set was not on the level of other girls her age. Despite that fact, she was bright, bubbly, loud, and full of energy and
sarcasm. She and I seemed to have formed
a pretty tight relationship. She would
make fun of me for my gringo Spanish, but always referred to me as her sister. She always had something funny or
smart-alecky to say, but man did we get a kick out of each other. Leaving her the second summer was much harder
than I expected. The tough girl attitude
she put on to protect herself from rejection fell away as she cried on my shoulders
not wanting to let me go. In that long,
drawn out, teary good-bye, I promised her I’d be back soon enough. I am so proud to say that the promise I made
to her those years ago I will be able to keep.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The summer I spent as a short-term
missionary was much different than I expected.
I had much more responsibility than I anticipated. It was also different because I was not only
living there, but also cleaning, cooking, and learning the lifestyle of the
Honduran people and the missionaries. I worked
a lot with the Franciscan Sisters on projects for the orphans and the local
villagers; I brought my guitar and all the Spanish worship music I could get my
hands on. Essentially, that summer was a
great opportunity for me to discern this kind of missionary work. While it was a tough learning curve, it was
beautiful and life-giving. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Honduran people have truly
stolen my heart with their love, their faith, their simplistic lifestyle, and
their culture. I am so incredibly
blessed to have been given this opportunity to grow deeper in my faith and to
learn more about myself and I am so happy to be able to share it with you. I want to ask you for your prayers for the
Farm of the Child and for the other missionaries that will also be preparing
their hearts and fundraising this summer. In the wise words of an Italian nun I
once met, “pray for money, for it is a necessary evil.” So, if you find it is within your means to
help me with donations, even if it is only a little, it would truly benefit
this cause because I cannot go without the proper funds. If you woul<span style="font-size: small;">d like to donate<span style="font-size: small;"> now, please clic<span style="font-size: small;">k<a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=66520" target="_blank">.this safe PayPal link</a>. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span>Thank you for your interest in this
mission </span>and for your time<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span> </span></span></div>
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Tiffany Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592367532319032044noreply@blogger.com0