Hello Friends.
I did street early a few days ago with some sisters from my new congregation. It was the first time that I was able to speak to and actually place literature with an interested person. It was awesome. It's very difficult find interested ones here since they are working all the time. I still have no job but am doing ok. Well take care and I will write more later.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
"Group"
During my visit with mom, we went to 'group'. It's a program that mom signed up for that appears to be for older ones that are having a tough time dealing with life changes. It's like a support group. Well, mom is always telling me about the people in 'group' and she always tells them about her kids...the latest and greatest events in their lives. Anyways, she asked me to accompany her on Monday as like a 'show and tell'. The place was like a community centered for the retired. They have outtings and other events for them to do throughout the month.
In one of the conference rooms, a group of people sat around a table and written on the white board where some things that were going to be discussed. There was a speaker directing the group, Lori. I sat next to mom and just listened as people took turns talking about the items writen on the white board. I am so grateful to Jehovah for the opportunity to accompany mom. I believe that mom is really benefiting from this program. I am most grateful to Jehovah because for the first time, I realized that mom is getting old and that association is very important. Mom has always been very social. Many that know her often say that she never met a stranger. Now that she is getting older, she is limited to doing a lot of things. She can't walk for a long period of time because she has problems with her knees as well as other health problems. Somehow, I was stuck. In my mind, mom never grows old or has any serious medical issues. She always remains vibrant, full of energy and life. Although I am close to my mom, I was more occupied with my own life. But the reality is, she is getting older and perhaps in a physical sense far more than her years. With all the medication, to me, mom looks older than her 59 years. Life is taking its toll on her physically. And mom admits, some bad decisions have contributed to the life she now has. But what can I do? I can love her and instead of just being words, I can show her that I care and that she is very important to me. I can visit and call her more often, send her cards and take out for lunch. I can spend time with her. No matter how badly I want to serve somewhere else...in a greater need area... Jehovah has already shown me where the need is... right here... with mom.
In one of the conference rooms, a group of people sat around a table and written on the white board where some things that were going to be discussed. There was a speaker directing the group, Lori. I sat next to mom and just listened as people took turns talking about the items writen on the white board. I am so grateful to Jehovah for the opportunity to accompany mom. I believe that mom is really benefiting from this program. I am most grateful to Jehovah because for the first time, I realized that mom is getting old and that association is very important. Mom has always been very social. Many that know her often say that she never met a stranger. Now that she is getting older, she is limited to doing a lot of things. She can't walk for a long period of time because she has problems with her knees as well as other health problems. Somehow, I was stuck. In my mind, mom never grows old or has any serious medical issues. She always remains vibrant, full of energy and life. Although I am close to my mom, I was more occupied with my own life. But the reality is, she is getting older and perhaps in a physical sense far more than her years. With all the medication, to me, mom looks older than her 59 years. Life is taking its toll on her physically. And mom admits, some bad decisions have contributed to the life she now has. But what can I do? I can love her and instead of just being words, I can show her that I care and that she is very important to me. I can visit and call her more often, send her cards and take out for lunch. I can spend time with her. No matter how badly I want to serve somewhere else...in a greater need area... Jehovah has already shown me where the need is... right here... with mom.
A visit with mom
This weekend, I visited my mom. It was really nice to see her. I had a wonderful time with my mom, even though we had a record 103 degree heat and no indoor air conditioning. Mom had friend chicken waiting for me when I got to her place, so everthing was just peachy.
Mom's place was really organized and everything was in it's place. She even had a beautiful garden outside. Wow! What happened? Because over a year ago, her place did not look like that at all. In fact, my sister Sophia and I were always complaining to mom to stop buy stuff and to chill out on making more crafts. She had no space for them. It got really bad so much so that it was hard to move around in her home. We worried for her safety. When Sophia and I tried to organize mom's place that meant throwing stuff out when mom wasn't looking and mom somehow finding out and going to retrieve it from the trash. Nothing seemed to get through to mom that she needed to let go of her clutter. Just before I left for Ecuador, I had a wonderful conversation with mom. I really needed to listen to mom in order to understand why this stuff (which was junk to me but something of value to her) was so important. For the first time, I understood that she was lonely and that was her only way of controlling and holding on to something. All her kids were grown, had their own life and many had moved away. I was so happy that mom opened up to me like she did and then I explained to her how I personally felt. Many may not know this, but my mom was a super clean freak when we were kids. She was always cleaning ...rather directing us to clean. If we were not cleaning then she was having us move the furniture because she was always redecorating the house. I hated those days. The cleaning I could handle because afterwards we could go out and play. But, the decorating lasted all day... a missed play day. I explained to mom that it was highly disturbing for me to see my mom go from a clean freak to someone who was obessed with 'junk' ...
This past weekend was the first time that I visited mom after we had that conversation. She told me that she had made changes and have managed to keep her place in order for about a year. You have no idea how different her place looks... from being so cluttered that you literally had to step over stuff and move stuff just to sit down to having space and being able to see the floor. Mom really feels proud of herself and credits Maria, her cleaning lady, for most of the help.
Mom's place was really organized and everything was in it's place. She even had a beautiful garden outside. Wow! What happened? Because over a year ago, her place did not look like that at all. In fact, my sister Sophia and I were always complaining to mom to stop buy stuff and to chill out on making more crafts. She had no space for them. It got really bad so much so that it was hard to move around in her home. We worried for her safety. When Sophia and I tried to organize mom's place that meant throwing stuff out when mom wasn't looking and mom somehow finding out and going to retrieve it from the trash. Nothing seemed to get through to mom that she needed to let go of her clutter. Just before I left for Ecuador, I had a wonderful conversation with mom. I really needed to listen to mom in order to understand why this stuff (which was junk to me but something of value to her) was so important. For the first time, I understood that she was lonely and that was her only way of controlling and holding on to something. All her kids were grown, had their own life and many had moved away. I was so happy that mom opened up to me like she did and then I explained to her how I personally felt. Many may not know this, but my mom was a super clean freak when we were kids. She was always cleaning ...rather directing us to clean. If we were not cleaning then she was having us move the furniture because she was always redecorating the house. I hated those days. The cleaning I could handle because afterwards we could go out and play. But, the decorating lasted all day... a missed play day. I explained to mom that it was highly disturbing for me to see my mom go from a clean freak to someone who was obessed with 'junk' ...
This past weekend was the first time that I visited mom after we had that conversation. She told me that she had made changes and have managed to keep her place in order for about a year. You have no idea how different her place looks... from being so cluttered that you literally had to step over stuff and move stuff just to sit down to having space and being able to see the floor. Mom really feels proud of herself and credits Maria, her cleaning lady, for most of the help.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I'm Home
Wow! So much has happened and it has seemed like forever since I last updated my blog. Well, I turned over my studies to a few sisters in the Banos congregation. That was tough. The morning of my departure, I walked into the kitchen for a cup of water and tears started to flow down my face. The reality finally hit home for me, ... I'm going home. I already miss everybody, my studies, the friends, the crazy dogs in the neighborhood...everything about Cuenca, I miss. After being in the states one week, I already want to come back. But, there is so much going on right now that it will make it difficult for me to do so. In time, I hope to at least come back for a visit. It would be great if I am able to do so next year.
My first few days back into the states were nice. I can flush the toilet paper down the toilet now. That was a huge thrill for me. When I turned on the light in the room or bathroom, I could actually see.
A few days ago Monique, my sister, was watching a movie. "Hey, Moni. I can see the harness attached to the actor in this movie." Monique looks back at me and smiles and says, "This is from the editting room. It was illegally copied. Welcome back to Ecuador!"
My first few days back into the states were nice. I can flush the toilet paper down the toilet now. That was a huge thrill for me. When I turned on the light in the room or bathroom, I could actually see.
A few days ago Monique, my sister, was watching a movie. "Hey, Moni. I can see the harness attached to the actor in this movie." Monique looks back at me and smiles and says, "This is from the editting room. It was illegally copied. Welcome back to Ecuador!"
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