Teach Me Something Good. December, 2016
I'm always on the lookout for little pockets of beauty, storehouses of potential, and hidden treasures in within the streets, cinderblock buildings, tin roofs, and dusty fields of Bethania. Behind four of those cinderblock walls lies the Institution for Social Cooperation (ICOS). They offered Winter Break Classes this month for 9-15 year olds -- free, hands-on courses in cooking, bakery, carpentry, English, Zumba, and swimming (they've got the only pool in Bethania). During the school year they offer all of the same things but teach them to select classes of school kids in place of them going to school one day a week. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, eh? It's like they offer a lot of the things that Bethania needs: building the capacity of kids in ways that traditional school settings don't, helping them discover gifts, work together, be creative.
Long story short, I ended up volunteering there for the last month, just as a helper in the workshops for carpentry, cooking, and bakery. Why? Well, after two meetings with the director and seeing what ICOS had to offer, I deducted that if ICOS became better and stronger and could offer more, the community would be better and stronger as a result. Not to mentioned I'd hang out with a whole new batch of kids, get to know some of the teachers there, and help manage the kids in their class so the teachers could teach better...just another community experiment ya'll!
Soooo here's the thing: ICOS is a non-profit, in it's heyday it was at least partially funded by the mayor of Los Angeles plus the Ministry of Education, but now it's pretty much just the Ministry cause LA put its money elsewhere. Which means the budget is tighter than a boy-scout knot, cause there aint much to go around. The teachers haven't been paid in 11 months (thats not a misprint. I don't know how they have kept along) because the Ministry hasn't paid up. Carpentry class can only make one plywood, person-shaped object as the 4-week (8 sessions) project. In bakery, they make one batch of cookies with 15 students, so everyone contributes by tossing in one egg, or one cup of flour, without getting the whole experience. The kitchen classroom is a glorified cement shack. The kids have to bring their own toilet paper cause there's none in the bathrooms. Also, how is one teacher supposed to be able to teach and supervise 15 kids with saws? You get the idea. There's a lot of potential to empower and instill passion and values and life skills in these young folks but ICOS doesn't have the resources to realize said potential. But it does play host to some community champions--teachers I got to work alongside and who really pour their life into the kids.
Mardequeo teaches carpentry. He's easy-going. He jokes and laughs with students. He values structure, creativity, and teamwork, and enjoys striking up a conversation about God, or putting me one the spot to "share something motivational with the kids."
Sandra teaches cooking. She doesn't mess around. You don't bring your stuff, you don't cook that day, cause you gotta learn discipline. And she can talk at you for a good while about whatever seems to be important. But boy, does she care for those kids and want the best for them. On multiple occasions I noticed she had went out and bought extra ingredients out of her own pocket so that there would be enough to go around.
Saida teaches the bakery. She makes her students learn fast, be independent, and take initiative. Day 1 she teaches the method, and every day after that the kids are on their own to memorize the recipe of the day, collect the ingredients, prep them as they had learned, and work together to get the job done.
They all could have quit their jobs a long time ago since they hadn't getting paid, (supposedly they'll get their checks next week now...but you know how the government is here) but instead they are really living out the cliche saying, "I'm doing it for the kids." Because that's their pride and joy in life is to see kids come out of there inspired to learn, even if the course can't really teach them all that much, it's a first step.
It's a first step that makes a big difference though. I'm an experiential learner. I'm an experiential friend. I'm an experiential liver. If a kid takes a first step towards baking, he's got a reason to take a second step in that direction when the time comes, cause he/she''s got a little confidence going. Either that our they take their first steps towards drugs or delinquency or bad friends instead. But if they get around an activity in which they receive personal attention in the process of learning something, there's a chance for something good, even something real good. In areas like Bethania with a lot of broken families, these kinds of connections has the potential to completely change the trajectory a life. The stakes are high! It matters if places like this are able to function or not!
In the end, I got some ideas to maybe ICOS be more self-sustaining down the road, or to build their capacity. I spent at least a little time with over 250 kids spread across different groups and days, showing them how to hold a saw, cut an onion, measure flour, or just do a good job at whatever they're doing. I played and officiated a lot of 10-minute chamuscas (pick-up soccer games) after class was done. I got to know some pretty valiant teachers, and got to see a few kids come to life in the classroom. One of my favorite moments was getting to share with the young carpenters how we, as God's workmanship, are much like the wood projects that they had been cutting, sanding, painting, drilling, and connecting over the past few weeks. Another was having the aforementioned teachers over for dinner, and learn about their lives, their families, their passion. I sincerely hope ICOS can become better because a great ICOS makes Bethania more great, one relationship, one learned skill at a time. It gives room for teachers like Mardequeo, Sandra, and Saida to thrive, and space for young kids to find out who they are under the care of some role models. Growing up, I had so many spaces and opportunities to do that--tee-ball, basketball, football, choir, youth group, even Odyssey of the Mind. The activities and the coaches who guided them helped me find my place, find myself, find my God. I only hope the same for the young folks here in Bethania.
Peace be among you all. May the holidays be spiced with joyful gatherings, meaningful relationships, and heavenward focus. Thanks for your love and support, always. We miss you and love you, and would love hearing back from you about what's going on in your life.
-AJ & Alaina
p.s. What can you be praying for?
1) Direction for next year in Bethania...a lot of new things start in January with the new school year so, might God help us arrange tutoring, business mentoring, events and relationship in HIs way.
2) Hans (Toros QB/overall bro) and his family just went through a pretty ugly separation from their church. They're coming to Iglesia Reforma now, which is sweet, but there's a lot for them to sort through now with what was God and what was a lie.
3) Uncle Al (Achterhof) died last week and we're just really praying for Judy and the fam. He always made space for us in his life and is the only one to have earned the title of Uncle without actually being related.
4) There's so many needs in Sigo Vivo, so many deep needs -- shoes, behavior, family, education, addiction, faith. It's been overwhelming lately to confront these and know how to meet them well or not meet them, well. So first for them, and also for us to do whatever it is with love for God and for them, cause that's what makes it worthwhile.
5) Diabetes classes have gone really well, pray for deeper connection with members and wisdom in how, when and where to do them next, cause everyone is asking for them now!
6) Coming up: A medical team trip way out in the boonies this week, a Bible school experiment smashing two churches together, and a trip to Belize next week to renew our visas...and go snorkeling along the way.
Long story short, I ended up volunteering there for the last month, just as a helper in the workshops for carpentry, cooking, and bakery. Why? Well, after two meetings with the director and seeing what ICOS had to offer, I deducted that if ICOS became better and stronger and could offer more, the community would be better and stronger as a result. Not to mentioned I'd hang out with a whole new batch of kids, get to know some of the teachers there, and help manage the kids in their class so the teachers could teach better...just another community experiment ya'll!
Soooo here's the thing: ICOS is a non-profit, in it's heyday it was at least partially funded by the mayor of Los Angeles plus the Ministry of Education, but now it's pretty much just the Ministry cause LA put its money elsewhere. Which means the budget is tighter than a boy-scout knot, cause there aint much to go around. The teachers haven't been paid in 11 months (thats not a misprint. I don't know how they have kept along) because the Ministry hasn't paid up. Carpentry class can only make one plywood, person-shaped object as the 4-week (8 sessions) project. In bakery, they make one batch of cookies with 15 students, so everyone contributes by tossing in one egg, or one cup of flour, without getting the whole experience. The kitchen classroom is a glorified cement shack. The kids have to bring their own toilet paper cause there's none in the bathrooms. Also, how is one teacher supposed to be able to teach and supervise 15 kids with saws? You get the idea. There's a lot of potential to empower and instill passion and values and life skills in these young folks but ICOS doesn't have the resources to realize said potential. But it does play host to some community champions--teachers I got to work alongside and who really pour their life into the kids.
Mardequeo teaches carpentry. He's easy-going. He jokes and laughs with students. He values structure, creativity, and teamwork, and enjoys striking up a conversation about God, or putting me one the spot to "share something motivational with the kids."
Sandra teaches cooking. She doesn't mess around. You don't bring your stuff, you don't cook that day, cause you gotta learn discipline. And she can talk at you for a good while about whatever seems to be important. But boy, does she care for those kids and want the best for them. On multiple occasions I noticed she had went out and bought extra ingredients out of her own pocket so that there would be enough to go around.
Saida teaches the bakery. She makes her students learn fast, be independent, and take initiative. Day 1 she teaches the method, and every day after that the kids are on their own to memorize the recipe of the day, collect the ingredients, prep them as they had learned, and work together to get the job done.
They all could have quit their jobs a long time ago since they hadn't getting paid, (supposedly they'll get their checks next week now...but you know how the government is here) but instead they are really living out the cliche saying, "I'm doing it for the kids." Because that's their pride and joy in life is to see kids come out of there inspired to learn, even if the course can't really teach them all that much, it's a first step.
It's a first step that makes a big difference though. I'm an experiential learner. I'm an experiential friend. I'm an experiential liver. If a kid takes a first step towards baking, he's got a reason to take a second step in that direction when the time comes, cause he/she''s got a little confidence going. Either that our they take their first steps towards drugs or delinquency or bad friends instead. But if they get around an activity in which they receive personal attention in the process of learning something, there's a chance for something good, even something real good. In areas like Bethania with a lot of broken families, these kinds of connections has the potential to completely change the trajectory a life. The stakes are high! It matters if places like this are able to function or not!
In the end, I got some ideas to maybe ICOS be more self-sustaining down the road, or to build their capacity. I spent at least a little time with over 250 kids spread across different groups and days, showing them how to hold a saw, cut an onion, measure flour, or just do a good job at whatever they're doing. I played and officiated a lot of 10-minute chamuscas (pick-up soccer games) after class was done. I got to know some pretty valiant teachers, and got to see a few kids come to life in the classroom. One of my favorite moments was getting to share with the young carpenters how we, as God's workmanship, are much like the wood projects that they had been cutting, sanding, painting, drilling, and connecting over the past few weeks. Another was having the aforementioned teachers over for dinner, and learn about their lives, their families, their passion. I sincerely hope ICOS can become better because a great ICOS makes Bethania more great, one relationship, one learned skill at a time. It gives room for teachers like Mardequeo, Sandra, and Saida to thrive, and space for young kids to find out who they are under the care of some role models. Growing up, I had so many spaces and opportunities to do that--tee-ball, basketball, football, choir, youth group, even Odyssey of the Mind. The activities and the coaches who guided them helped me find my place, find myself, find my God. I only hope the same for the young folks here in Bethania.
Peace be among you all. May the holidays be spiced with joyful gatherings, meaningful relationships, and heavenward focus. Thanks for your love and support, always. We miss you and love you, and would love hearing back from you about what's going on in your life.
-AJ & Alaina
p.s. What can you be praying for?
1) Direction for next year in Bethania...a lot of new things start in January with the new school year so, might God help us arrange tutoring, business mentoring, events and relationship in HIs way.
2) Hans (Toros QB/overall bro) and his family just went through a pretty ugly separation from their church. They're coming to Iglesia Reforma now, which is sweet, but there's a lot for them to sort through now with what was God and what was a lie.
3) Uncle Al (Achterhof) died last week and we're just really praying for Judy and the fam. He always made space for us in his life and is the only one to have earned the title of Uncle without actually being related.
4) There's so many needs in Sigo Vivo, so many deep needs -- shoes, behavior, family, education, addiction, faith. It's been overwhelming lately to confront these and know how to meet them well or not meet them, well. So first for them, and also for us to do whatever it is with love for God and for them, cause that's what makes it worthwhile.
5) Diabetes classes have gone really well, pray for deeper connection with members and wisdom in how, when and where to do them next, cause everyone is asking for them now!
6) Coming up: A medical team trip way out in the boonies this week, a Bible school experiment smashing two churches together, and a trip to Belize next week to renew our visas...and go snorkeling along the way.