Growing Older -- Lena

Today was my birthday, or rather, it still is, for a few more hours at least, and this has put me in a philosophical mood, well, as philosophical as I get. You see 29 years ago today I graced my family with my presence (trust me, this is said with a good deal of smirkiness, and very little seriousness). This makes me the oldest of our little group here. Well, I've always been the oldest, but since there aren't anymore birthdays for a few months, it feels as though I've widened the gap. It has been a very good birthday. I had the opportunity to speak with my parents briefly on the phone, some of my fellow teachers at the Bunyat Centre threw me a little party and gave me some delightful gifts, and my wonderful Jordan Crew family baked me a cake and gave me some invaluable gifts (chocolate and warm socks). I'm not sure what 29 is supposed to be like, but hopefully I do a good job of it. I had just gotten comfy with 28, but I suppose time stops for no man (or woman). If someone had asked me at 19 where I would be in 10 years, I doubt Amman, Jordan would have been anywhere on the list. This is the beauty of life, we never know where God might lead us, I've been truly blessed that my path has been fairly scenic, and graced with so many wonderful friends and family. I've included a couple of pictures of me and my family when I was at my cutest. What are families for, if not to post embarrassing photos for all the world to see?!

Swings N' Things

Spending time with the students in my weaving class is one of the things I most enjoy about my time here in Jordan. Since I can only say the simplest things in Arabic, it’s hard to have an actual conversation with the students. But as I learn words here and there, I’m understanding more of what they say. Throughout the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the chance to go on various field trips. I went horse-back riding, to a birthday party, a pizza place and a park. What I enjoyed the most about these trips was having fun doing activities and not needing to speak the same language! Swinging as high as you can only requires a weeee! and a woohooo! Eating pizza can be done with just one word: zachy (delicious). I learned about a few students' family members by writing their names in the sand, and I even got to see-saw with one of the teachers (I definitely got my work out as the students lined up for their turn). Sharing special time outside of class has given me a chance to connect with the students, and get to know them in a language we can both understand: food & fun!

Little Man - Lewis

So this is my friend, Little Man. Actually his name is Japeth. Let me tell you a little about this little guy. He lives in his stroller a lot of the time. He can't walk on his own because he has cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy (CP) in its various forms is simply damage to the brain that affects motor skills. It is most commonly developed somewhere between pregnancy and three years of age. CP can have an affect on mental capabilities in children but for Japeth it is purely physical. His mind is sharp but his body is weak and he has to concentrate really hard just to move his arms and legs. So how does a guy like this at the young age of 4 communicate with the world (and with all of his sisters) when he can barely talk (or rather be understood) and can't even begin to sign with his hands? He uses his eyebrows of course (actually sometimes he would rather bite or try to throw a punch when his sisters are involved); and boy does he know how to use them. He expresses every emotion and can point at people or at something that he wants you to look at or notice. It's amazing that anyone could have so much muscle control in their face and yet lack that same control every where else in their body.

I met Japeth at the Feast in Sri Lanka. I was first intrigued by the opportunity to meet yet another small child. I love spending time with children and hearing what they have to say about things and just getting to know them, but with Japeth it wasn't so easy to do. His words were hard to understand, although his vocabulary was large. Luckily I speak many dialects of small child in various languages and in all kinds of conditions (this does not however include the crying baby dialect no matter how loud the cry). This God given talent enabled me to hear just what it was that this little man was trying to say. He appreciated that someone could speak his language for a change and we quickly became good friends. In fact at nearly every meal soon after our first dining experience together I was invited over by Japeth himself to help him stuff his face.


A favorite activity of mine has always been swimming. I have especially fond memories of swimming in outdoor pools at the Feast as a child as it was a treat not often enjoyed in western Washington. Japeth happens to enjoy a good swim as well. It gives him a chance to stretch out his arms and legs and exercise and develop the muscles that he does (or will someday) have. We had a good time in the pool as you can see. And when he is happy, Japeth has the biggest smile and the most delightful laugh. But don't get on his bad side. Those eyebrows work well for all kinds of things including the expression of anger. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the angry eyes.


Lena began calling Japeth "Little Man" at some point during the Feast and the name stuck. He no longer wanted to be called by his given name and insisted that he was Little Man. That's where we get the title to this blog entry. Meeting the little guy was one of the biggest delights of the Feast this year. There were others like finally being around a larger group of brethren for the first time in 2 months, hearing all the fascinating stories and adventures they had been on in their lives, oh and who could forget the amazing weather and the fantastic view of the sunsets over the Indian Ocean. But there is something special about seeing a child smile, knowing that they think the world of you because you gave them a little bit of needed attention or becuase you understood something about them that no one else could see or hear or feel. I can't wait for the next time that I meet Japeth again. Maybe he will have a few more successful surgeries to loosen those stiff muscles. Perhaps his legs will work properly and he'll be able to get up out of his chair and walk around. Maybe he will be able to speak with ease and swim like a fish. I look forward to that day, when the deaf shall hear and the lame shall leap. Japeth will be there on that day and he'll be right along with the rest of them leaping like a dear, but he'll also be growling like a tiger (one of his other favorite pasttimes).