Dear friends and family,
I (Rachel) write you in mid September during our first week at school with the kids. We worked diligently this summer to have everything prepared and ready for the children. And it is, but chaos still ensues. All our steady planning, high hopes and feeling so sure of ourselves met reality the minute the children arrived on Monday, September 10th for their first full afternoon of programming with us. We can be so calculated in planning and preparing but then quickly see how life really is: messy. I expect everything to be perfect, go smoothly and be easy. I know I’m naïve. It’s not my favorite life lesson, but I’m learning it.
In personal news, our family has grown, but not in the way you might think. I found a small white and grey kitten crying outside of our window this past Saturday morning and decided to take him into our home. I took him to a veterinarian that day and immediately started treating some of his issues. We’re getting used to having someone else around to take care of and in all things we’re learning to take life as it comes.
John has begun his new program with the kids. He will be working with five or six boys daily after lunch, some of whom were in the Pinocchio group and are a bit harder to manage. The other boys, with whom John has not previously worked one-on-one, are learning how to be integrated into this environment, and it has been interesting for John to begin to learn how to work with all of these children by himself in his very own classroom. He is also figuring out how to balance his time to be able to complete his administrative duties and other responsibilities.
This week also marks the beginning of the sewing program. I am working with one girl, T., with whom I also worked last year, and she has enjoyed telling some of our new arrivals how things are done around here. I enjoyed hearing her perspective on us and how she talks about us and our program to her friends. Also, because this year I will be managing my own group, I am meeting the teachers and educators of the girls with whom I am working, a responsibility that includes calling them on the phone and communicating with them about schedules all in my limited but growing Romanian. It’s been intimidating but also empowering. I finally have something of my own–which is a blessing–but which also reminds me more and more that I’m not the kid I still pretend to be. I’m an adult, whether I like it or not.
Our community is also growing. As you know, we have 8 core staff members and a full-time paid intern from Ukraine named Vitalie. We have also hired a part-time social worker who will assist us in maintaining our relationships with families and a part-time medical assistant who is working on hygiene with our kids. We are thrilled that the medical assistant is able to address a huge need for our children; we love seeing them leave the bathroom scrubbed clean in fresh clothes. It’s so humanizing for the children and we love being able to take care of them in this way. We have also begun employing the mother of two of our children to clean our space after the program. It’s hard to have a mother of our children serving us so humbly in this way, but we’re glad to provide her with extra income and work after she is finished with her day job of selling clothes in one of the markets. All together we number 13 people. We’re growing and beginning to feel like a real organization!
Regarding more changes, our executive director, Adriana, is finishing the month of September with us full-time and then will begin her maternity leave as she awaits her daughter’s delivery in late October. The commute to work on public transportation is exhausting, as is working with the children and managing our team. She’s doing beautifully, but is ready to begin focusing and preparing on her growing family. We’re grateful for her commitment to us and fully support her transition as we wait await the birth of her daughter who will be named Delia. As Adriana transitions out, John will transition into her role as executive director. Pray for strength and wisdom for him as his responsibilities grow.
Overall we are doing well, grateful for cooler weather, beginning our program with the kids and settling, well, trying to settle into the new rhythm of the school year.
Thank you for your support, prayers, love and encouragement. We’re grateful for your friendship and commitment to us.
With love,
Rachel & John