Guatemala Blog (Eagle's Nest Orphanage) December 29, 2014

Then began our main mission. Serving the children of Eagle's Nest, through education, physical labor, and love. That last part (love) is definitely the most important and why I am so glad of how our group runs while here at Eagle's Nest. We place a great importance on spending time with kids in uplifting, positive ways. Each morning of our days are spent in class time with all the children; we run classes in English, art, drama, music, and bible lessons. 

The first thing I was reminded of when working with the kids, was the immense energy of the children. Each class started very chaotically, until the children started to become accustomed to our presence as their 'professors'. The children at Eagle's Nest are great, but in a class there is less control than working with your typical group of American children. 

This is not meant as a negative, rather a reflection of how their daily lives growing up is different. For example: when a 'typical' American child has dinner with their family, there are usually four, five, and even on the upwards end to ten people at the table. For the children at Eagle's Nest when we were present for their lunch today, there were around 40 children in the room, not including all the workers and volunteers. It is very loud, there are adults and child helpers running around, and it seems to lack control; but when you observe for long enough you see all the roles the children know they have, and it functions as a very large, rambunctious, loving family. Controlled chaos is a regular part of their life, and it is important to remember this when instructing them, to have an understanding of where their lives are coming from.  

Overall, the classes were a great success, especially on the first day. It is a warming feeling when there were children who remembered my music classes from times before and were excited about singing even more. We have great plans for our class in music, and for the rest of the classes; and we can’t wait to continue the week and see what kind of impact we can make on the children, as well as the great impact they will have on us.