Site Preparation and Staff Retreat

 Short post today, everyone, because I’m only talking about the past week! I know it’s a bit of a break from the schedule but I think it’s for the best, for sure. 

Monday through Wednesday (2nd-4th) was three more days of sites. We don’t yet have kids at the site, as we are preparing things like curriculum, decorations for the classroom, and organizing the library. The library has been the project entrusted to me by Merolin and Carolina, as I’m not exactly entirely skilled at creating reading lesson plans in Spanish. Carolina asked that I sort the books into different genres, but I took the sorting process a step further by sorting the books into reading levels first. This project has taken me the greater part of two days, and I’m not quite finished with it yet. I hope to finish it on the 9th, before the kids return to site on the 10th. 

On the 5th and 6th, we had the Students International Staff Retreat. Last year, we had the staff retreat at the Young Life campus (another mission’s organization). This year, the Jarabocoa base hosted the Santiago staff in our cabins. It was two days filled with joy. I was able to see many of the staff that I hadn’t gotten to see on our visit to Santiago two weeks ago. People like Jhanna (my first homestay host and doctor at the Quinigua Clinic) and Brendaliz (my third homstay host and doctor at the Cien Fuegos Clinic) were absolutely overjoyed to see me and I had such a sweet time catching up with them. 

Part of the staff retreat was going to the country club for an afternoon in the pool and some potato sack races. We trekked behind the pool to hang out by the river, and myself, Jhanna, and some of the other students had a “tea party” while sitting on the rocks. Faith, Lizzie, and Noel gave us an amazing exhibition of their dance skills at one point as well, amazing all of the staff with their impromptu choreography. 

The 7th and 8th were days of rest. I spent them doing a small amount of homework, reading quite a bit, and enjoying time with the girls before we all head into homestays on the 9th. It was wonderful to sit back and relax. 

Everyone is excited for homestays but there’s a bit of nervous energy. I’m paired with Chloe, Faith and Kalysa are together, and Noel and Lizzie are alone. If I’m being honest, I’m a bit nervous, so prayers would be appreciated for the transition and the adjusting to living in homestays for the next four weeks. 

Thank you for your prayers and your support. I’ll see you all in two weeks, on the 23rd!

Dios te bendiga,

Maddy <3

A sign we made to decorate the
classroom!

A "behavior circle" to encourage
the kids!

Dutch Blitz over the weekend + 
my vaguely "Asian noodle dish"

Hanging out with Natalie at the staff retreat

Organizing the Library

More fun pics!

A library shelf completely organized

Me and Jhanna...
The website isn't letting me rotate this