Can't sleep

Okay, so it's 3:15 am and I woke up with an idea for our trip, and of course now I can't go back to sleep. I've been looking online for resources for teaching the recorder at the orphanage. I found some sheet music for some simple songs that I downloaded and printed. And now I'm even running through a script in my head for lesson plans. I am using Rosetta stone to learn to speak Spanish (although not as much now as I need to be). So the scripts in my head are to teach music in Spanish. I need to learn some new words. And make some note cards.
We found some recorders online for about $2 each. Much cheaper than I had expected. I know they won't be the greatest, but in a week's time, there's no telling what most of them will look like anyway. It's just meant to be an introduction to music. That's how most of us band nerds got our start, isn't it? :-)
I've also got images of visual aids going through my head. The first thought is obviously going to be posterboard, but that would be kinda hard to pack on a plane. We may have to use huge sheets of paper that we can roll up or fold into our suitcase. I'll have to think about that some more. I wonder what the Spanish version of "FACE" and "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge" is? See why I am losing sleep?
I also have to consider how each child is going to be able to keep their own recorders separate. I thought about making little bags for them with elastic around the top to keep them closed. But a hundred of them?????? I looked up a map for the N1H1, and there are some cases of it down there, so we need to be mindful of that.
What else???? Oh-I wanted to do a t-shirt project, too. But I'm not doing so well with coming up with a project that I am happy about. I tested a tye dye project with a spray-on fabric paint, but didn't like the results. The next thing that I may try is to use a large stencil (star, heart?) and spray paint around it so that the shape is left clean with paint around it. Then they can use fabric markers to further decorate the shirts.
You know, logically I know that all of this planning and sleep deprivation will probably end up futile anyway. Last year, we only ended up making it through two partial rotations. The first year, we made it through every day, so we need to be ready. My thought is that even if we don't get to all of the rotations, we can still teach the music to the kids that want to do it during play time.
So homework for the next couple of days is to do some music translations; go through my fabric and decide if making the bags is realistic; set aside a plastic tote to take to choir to collect toothpaste, etc; make note cards; test the t-shirt idea.
If there's anyone reading this, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Getting ready for Guatemala

So I thought maybe I could write about my next mission trip to Guatemala. It is coming up next month. 13 of us are leaving on the 8th of November to work at "our" orphanage in Zacapa. Our church goes there three times a year to help out with whatever they need. This will be my third time to go. I'm already working myself up and I still have a month to go! I don't sleep very well before I go, but usually that doesn't start until the week before. I hope I can get settled back down soon, or I will be worthless once we do finally get there.

So, this orphanage is only one of very few government-run orphanages in Guatemala. There are also several private orphanages there, but the government ones are not funded as well and have to rely on volunteers and outside help to get a lot of their needs met. It is meant to be a transitional home, but since adoptions in Guatemala have been virtually halted, many of the children have been there for quite a while. When we first started going, the conditions there were deplorable. Windows had been broken out and the glass was lying all over the ground. There were feces smeared all over the walls. The toilets did not work. The entire campus was just plain run down. Water and electricity is very limited. We went to work and got a lot of the surface work taken care of-cleaned up all the glass, painted everything, lots of general maintenance work. We also installed a water filtration system so that the children could have clean water.

The best part of the trip is actually getting to love on all of the kids. They are so hungry for adult attention. When we first arrive on campus and the kids catch sight of us, there is literally a stampede to get to us. Lots of smiles and hugs for everyone. We get to spend a whole week there. From morning until about 5:00pm.

OK, so I said that I was going to write about my NEXT trip. See how excited I am?

We had our first meeting last night. Our main project for this trip will be to get our well up and running. The city had cut funding again and is not providing running water into the orphanage. We raised funds to have a well dug. Now we need to get the pump in. They also want us to do some more painting and drop one of the ceiling down. Since they don't have air conditioning, dropping the ceiling keeps the room a little cooler. We also will come up with activities to do with the kids. We usually divide the kids into groups have have rotations: ESL class, sports camp, VBS, Crafts. One of the orchestra members and I thought we might see if we can come up with a plan to take musical instruments. Maybe teach a little recorder. I think that would be awesome.

Our November trip usually involves leaving clothing for the caregivers to give as Christmas gifts. This year, someone donated a huge crate of school uniforms. WOO HOO!! Lots of jumpers, skirts, polo shirts, shorts and Khakis. That opens up funds that we normally would have spent on the clothing. God is good!!

So current preparation goals: collect toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant. See if I can come up with a good deal on some t-shirts for a craft project (dual purpose-right?) Gather or make a variety of musical instruments-recorders, sand blocks, rhythm sticks, etc. More time spent on the Rosetta Stone. Lots of prayer.