Missionary to Missionary

At last my friends have come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

When I was on the cable car to the ‘looking over the slums, I was tuned out to the others inside. I was consumed in poverty. How does this happen where one side is so rich and the other is so poor? I sit and ponder these things while others talk about face book and what they want to eat for lunch. I can’t really focus on that when I am looking at what’s below me.

Fortunately, there was a long way to go and we ended up three different cable cars to get to the top. The third cable car entered into complete natural beauty and I could refocus myself.

For an icebreaker (yes therapists use icebreakers too), I asked the four in the car if they would like a picture.  It was all downhill from there as we immediately clicked. Oh come on Priscilla how do you just click with strangers? I make jokes to make them laugh and we get to know one another. 

By the time we were off the cable car at the top of this amazing forest, they asked me to join them.  They brought their “lunch” and I brought myself because I planned to buy food at the top. I found some nice chocolate covered strawberries (need those) and a whole bunch of meat (not very appetizing). 

On our way past the local food, there was a man selling a gooey white substance. It was suppose to be a dessert. My new friend walks over to buy one and hands it to me. While I love sugar, this is not something I want I try. I taste and it taste like something gooey  with coconut. "Mmm" I smile. I walked around with it having small bites and acting like I like it. 

This was a National Park with 

many trails, hikes, waterfalls, ziplining, kayaking, bird watching, and more. My focus was on the activity and not so much on the eating. The Colombians make me lose my appetite with those bodies (yikes).

We had such a wonderful time taking a long hike to the park where you can kayak and zipline. We stopped at a couple waterfalls and made  silly jokes.

Along the way, they were eating their lunch. I stopped to eat their “lunch.” They said they brought a picnic lunch. An average person would think sandwiches, cheeses, and some fruit. Their lunch consisted of cans of soda, Cheetos, mini brownies, chocolates, and something like fritos. They kept offering it to me and I was thinking, “How do you all eat this junk and stay skinny?” It’s a metabolism thing I just never quite understand.

Nevertheless, it was cute watching these adorable Colombians chomp on Cheetos and walk like turtles. 

The guy, Christian, was quite a guy. He shared with me his story that he was a missionary and he preaches all over. He recently finished a trip walking from Panama City to Colombia through the jungle. This was hard to believe, but his friends all confirmed it. This kid was amazing and intriguing to have such commitment to the Lord to walk through a jungle hundreds of miles-maybe 1,000? When he explained his reasoning it involved doing something greater than what is asked for by the Lord. It involved service and it involved spreading the message of the Lord-powerful.

 People do incredible things and they do them with God whether they are aware of this or not.  PRIS

 

This was interesting because it turns out they were all Christians and they met through the local church. Two girls and two boys in their early 20s and committed to Jesus-beautiful.

Instead of taking the cable cars back down, it was recommended to take the bus. Oh my goodness, I love the bus, but this was like zig zag and zig zag all the way down. It was completely nauseating and I needed a break.  They weren’t up for kayaking and ziplining because they wanted to catch the bus down. They had church to attend-wonderful Christian new friends yaay.

They left me all by myself to zipline and kayak-oh so sad. The ziplining was quick and just went right across the lake.







 





The kayaking was a rather large boat with a paddle. This was not a kayak. It’s made for 2-4 people, but I wanted to give it a try with one person.  The guy said I could go and try and out since they were closing and he didn’t think I would be out long with 1 person and 1 paddle. 

Well, I even surprised myself and the Colombian family in the water. I started off switching off my rowing. Something I was doing was unsuccessful because I stayed in one place. This caused laughing from the people across from me. 

I decided to move my body forward and this helped me have a better grip. Off I went into the sunset and around the bay area, people were still watching as I was switching sides at a fast pace. When I took a break, I looked up and stared into the sky. This day was meant to just be spent alone, but I met some beautiful believers and they made the day so much better. 

God sends the right people my way when traveling and I am forever grateful. 

Spirit of Flowers Bay

Oh the Coconuts 

Oh this beautiful, beautiful spirit selling coconuts and avocados across from the beach in Flowers Bay. He wore a Yankees cap and a neon green tank top.  He didn't wear shoes nor did most people on this side of the island.  As far as his inner appearance, his soul shined like the sun and he was so spiritually happy.  This kind of happy is the kind of true happiness pastor's preach about, authors write about, Dalai Lama speaks about, and people dream of reaching.  He was happy without material goods to make him happy.  He reached a positive, enlightened place.  Yes, he reached that place living in a poor area without a Range Rover, an Iphone, and a house. 

I sat with him on his tool bench as he was showing me his different shapes of avocados. It's a human trying to impress with what they have. It's not much, but it's something for them to share and be proud of, which is important for human sense of responsibility and creation.  He went back to get a knife in his shack without a roof or room rather it just had a bunch of tools and machine parts and pieces inside. He began to speak of his younger days where he visited Chicago, New Orleans, Tampa Florida, and Jacksonville.   With his great memories of the past, he feels content with his current life and work. "It's not much, but I get by," he says.  He doesn't speak with sadness rather he speaks with acceptance, faith, and love in God.  These are the people that lift up my spirit. 

Of course, I bought some avocados from him and he gave my friends and I all coconuts.  It was sad to part ways from him because I always meet these people and want to do more, but I know that God is taking care of him.

Hopeless to Hopeful

At Brain Space, specific and difficult assignments were assigned to me and as always Priscilla was up for the challenge. What is interesting is when someone is described solely by their weakness instead of their strengths. Their identification is just recognized by weakness and they are just described by weakness. 

This happened with a young 14 year old named Ainsley.  Mrs. Cat informed me that this student was extremely slow with a possible learning disability.  She can not recollect anything she learns and she is constantly having trouble with Math. 

Of course, I listened and highly considered her opinion and she knew each and every student in that center.  Unfortunately, I was guilty of believing her level of learning and intelligence was so low.  The thought was in my mind while waiting for her ready to diagnose a learning disability.
She walked in dressed in clean clothes with a tall stature appearing to be a 17 year old not 12.  The way she carried herself for 12 was impeccable.  She had a beautiful smile and a kind manner with others. I observed her behavior with other children and she was helpful and caring-reading to kids and playing games outside on breaks. 

When it came to her work, it was clear that she had difficulty with Math-division, subtraction, and multiplication.  When it comes to learning, all you need is drive and a will to learn.  She showed up each and every time dedicated to learning and working hard to achieve stickers and verbal praise.  She never walked away, complained of being tired, or became upset.  She just happily worked and did her math problems while asking questions and being patient.  She did not have such difficulty remembering as reported by John and others. And she definitely did not have a learning disability.  She's a girl with 7 brothers and sisters and a mother who is never home.  She's in a class of 45 and her math teacher happens to be John and she reports being confused by his teaching.  This is also common because the locals have a different way of teaching everything.  When I told Mrs. Kat of her success she said, "That's because she has you as a tutor."

**It's amazing how people can know you for such a short time and have such positive feedback.  You can work your butt off for a year in a company and you can barely get a one page review from them that is solid and highlights your accomplishments with clients-crap.***

Each day sharing my progress with Ainsley verbally and written, she was so happy and her face was glowing.  Ainsley needed a mentor and someone consistent.  That is what I was and that is what she needed whether short term or long term-I was there and she was there and we connected.  She was not a hopeless case rather she was a hopeful one.  She was just a girl who needed a chance, who needs a mentor, and who needs someone to believe in her rather than underestimate who she is and how she learns.  She is brave, determined, kind, caring, resourceful, and resilient.  She is some kind of wonderful and that is how she stands in my memory...

      Never, Never underestimate a human potential- PRIS

True Teamwork= Success

When it comes to a successful volunteer experience, it comes down to a few things: the amount of effort you contribute, your sense of reality and making realistic goals, focusing on the clients benefit rather than your own need to help, and working as a team rather than an individual. 
There are volunteers that are completely forgettable.  One of them being in Brain Space. She came in and out not speaking to any staff and bringing no energy when working with the children. It was so bad that she was finished with her work and people didn't even know whether she was gone or there.

While the desire to "help" is there, an impact is not left on the child or community therefore what is the point? It's not possible for many people to function on my level making a positive connection with all staff from the guy cleaning the garden to the teacher to the teachers at schools to the bus drivers. It's not given to everyone and it's completely understood, but some people need to try harder with people.  When you are coming into a community that is not your own- try to work past fear by initiating communication in an informal way.  If you make a joke, ask ice breaker questions, and have lunch near them one day.  You will find yourself in a much better place than just having this individual experience. 

Teamwork can truly make miracles happen. When you look at all the amazing organizations that started as something small and built themselves up to international leaders. It is not because one person is doing everything for the organization.  It is true teamwork that is creating success within these places and people are making an effort to work together, listen to one another, give constructive criticism, learn from one another, and build off one anothers  knowledge.  It's an absolutely amazing thing and when you are analyst who can sit back and watch it. That is even better!

As far as the teamwork between us at Brain Space, it was absolutely beautiful to watch.  While Ms. Cat saw my resume and gave me a whole list of things to do, there was one of them that I needed to achieve for the organization.  This was Staff Motivation.  She said that many of her staff have lost their motivation for work. They are reading the same books, letting kids play games, and losing sight of what is important.  This is completely natural for staff to lose their passion when they are doing the same thing each day.  This was not sitting and doing accounting each day, but this was working with human lives. There is always some room for improvement and an ability to get motivated when children are involved. 

When all else fails, lead by example.  When you shine, people will shine with you.  They feel good and inspired to do something different.  I went in there full power, as they say in India, and I just let all my energy out.  There were children who were eager to learn English and I was ready to demonstrate new styles of teaching and making activities fun.  Children wanted to play computer games(a targeted problem) and a rewards system was created for games. There needed to be some changes, new ideas, new ways of doing things and at the end-this is what sparks people to change their ways.   

In the morning, there was one teacher, Miss. Teri and Mr. John in the afternoon. The other three worked in the office and on the bus mobile. Miss. Teri was a 20 year old local Roatan girl.  She was the one who craved something different, demonstrated concern towards children's behavior, made extra efforts with kids, and was a creative thinker.   We discussed different ways for them to learn English and we tried out different activities-trial and error.

For those who wanted to learn English, I took them outside for English lessons on the whiteboard. They were so happy learning and all participated  She ran English lessons before I got there teaching them new words. We included fun rewards game on the beach for the kids and they loved it. They were constantly giving hugs and smiling with one another. It was like a spirit in the library had been completely revived. I would come  Ms. Teri had it in her the whole time, but she was hesitant and just needed a push.  

As far as John, he needed a big push as he was solely interested in his Ipad and his own agenda.  When it came to tutoring Math, this was not my strength, but I did have some behavioral tricks to motivate kids. When it came to one specific child, it was like the center gave up on her. With a motivational push, John was working with her more consistently.  He didn't have to get off his computer, but he did and small change is meaningful. He engaged in some activities we had outside and he engaged more with kids. 

And then the book mobile where three people were accustomed to the same schedule everyday with the kids. Sometimes they weren't reading and just handing out books.  The book mobile would be a mess and everything was out of order.  It was difficult to keep it straight, but as a team we cleaned it up. I would read to eight kids and help others choose  book all based off their level.  This example lead the bus driver to start reading books to children instead of being on his phone.  His face lit up when he did it and the kids were so happy. We would head to schools and I would read to the classes and they were laughing.  The team would watch me and my friend said, "You are so good. I could never be like that." And of course I said, "Yes you can." "Let  your personality shine and kids will see this and enjoy it."  

The worst of all was a 18 year old  girl, Brenda,who had no work ethic, but inside she had a heart for kids and she did care.  She joined our team of positivity and spent more time working with kids rather than just sitting in the corner of the bus.  She was probably the most difficult one to motivate, but when we all acted as a team-she joined us.  She organized the books more, she brainstormed with us on what do with certain kids, and she was just more present, which is highly valuable in the workplace.

We created a team, where each person counted and each person contributed someway, somehow, or something.  It was a great to see the unity between members and the happiness we shared doing great work.  Now of course, a dynamic between the four was already created, but it was a dynamic engaging in less work and more social hour.  This teamwork approach that we had was fantastic for a short period of time and it's times when things are going so well-it's just wrong leaving and starting somewhere else. 
Although, when you leave a team in good shape, they have a much higher potential for success. 

    Believe and you shall Achieve

Leave something permanent behind-something that contributes to their future learning. 

                             

Why 40 Before 30?

On August 17, I will celebrate my 30^th birthday.  


Always wanting to challenge myself, I thought about how I could end my 20s with meaning.  I planned on possibly running the marathon.  In the states, I had been running each day and taking part in smaller races for the past few months.  When I turned 27, I ran a half marathon and spent my birthday in Portland, Maine-quite nice.  While it is possible to do a marathon, it would possibly come in October-not August.  



With this said, I then thought about traveling and I made goal to reach 40 countries by 30.  There are some other travelers who actually have the same notion of hitting 40 before they turn 30 or 50 before 40.  For me, it was not about the pure number of 40 rather it was about the journey I have taken with my 20s, my career as a Therapist, Volunteer, Teacher, Social Worker, and cultural explorer.



Traveling has taken me to unforgettable experiences, new friends, life lessons, meaningful cultural exchanges, the best volunteer experiences or jobs, incredible nature, and connections with up above.  It is a total life changing experience.  So why not include by traveling in my journey, document it, learn and grow from it, and most important connect to people and help them grow!