June 8th (Continued) – Wednesday
While I wish that I could say I hit the ground running here at the library, by the time I rolled over and checked the time on my phone, it was already 3 p.m.. The majority of us were incredibly thankful to sleep in a bed and to recharge our batteries.
Despite the late start to the day we were able to have a solid planning meeting and get started on various projects for the library. This included preparing crafts and a story time for a school visit, cleaning tables, organizing books and lots of coffee drinking.
To end off our night we took a trek down to McDonalds, while some might think that we are just simple Americans, it was hands down some of the best McNuggets I have ever had, and the sprite was extra crispy. Many of the team got adventurous and tried some menu items that are exclusive here, it was fun to see the variety of options that were available.
June 9th – Thursday
Thursday morning had a much smoother start and we were able to wake up early and enjoy a nice breakfast before preparing for our school visit. I have learned that any morning in the library cannot be complete without being asked if you would like a cup of coffee or tea. It is comforting to smell coffee constantly and being surrounded by books.
Macey read a story about a fish to the kids, some of the students only spoke Arabic and it was amazing to hear their teacher translate the story to the students on the spot. The students loved the story and asked lots of questions about fish and tadpoles.
Following the story, the team was able to help Kylie with a fish and snake craft. Craft time was by far my favorite part of the visit, as we got to see the students’ personalities. They were very excited to see that famous YouTube star and former Disney channel actor “Jake Paul” joined us on our trip. We have decided that from now on the only way we will address Nathan is by Jake Paul, or Ohio, which was another one of the kids favorite jokes.
We were able to share lunch with the children and enjoyed pizza, bananas and even more laughs. It was so encouraging to see how much our presence impacted the students. As they pulled away they shouted goodbyes and waved, it felt like such encouragement. They were a rowdy group that kept us on our toes and they have already brought us many laughs looking back.
After the school visit, we started getting ready for a book sale this weekend, this included setting up shelving outside, moving tile and even more craft prep. It was such a nice afternoon that it helped the tasks go by quickly even when they got to be a little frustrating. We had a busy afternoon of prep and we finished off our night by having a full spread of Mediterranean food. It was amazing and so fun to sit down with the whole team and just relax for the evening.
We ended both nights by spending time as a team and talking about our days. Despite many of us being very tired throughout the day, these times of reflection have been my favorite and it’s one of the few times that we are all together and able to check-in and see how we are doing. In just a few short days, I have seen our team grow and bound. I am so excited to see how God continues to work through us throughout the rest of our time here.
-Julia
