Los Pequenitos de OSSO

Please note: Los Pequeñitos de OSSO has since been renamed to Hogar de Ángeles.

LOS PEQUEÑITOS DE OSSO (CASAS MILAGROS & ALEGRIA)

Location: Home

Los Pequeñitos de OSSO which means OSSO’s Little Ones is the only orphanage actually owned by OSSO.  We call it OSSO for short. It’s currently the home of 21 children although some of the “children” range to 28 years old.  Because most of the residents here have severe disabilities, they live their entire lives here. This is the main site that we work at in Cuenca and we live here too!

There are currently 2 casas (houses) at OSSO: Casa Alegría (House of Joy) and Casa Milagros (House of Miracles).  Casa Milagros is downstairs and is a mix of older children with special needs and one younger child that goes to school each day.  Casa Alegria has younger children and some older children. Each casa has six bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen/dining area. Here at OSSO we have a large outdoor space to play soccer, go on walks around the orphanage and a balcony where the kids in Casa Alegría like to hang out.  We also have a room called Sala Girasol (The Sunflower Room) where we do activities when it’s raining, have movie nights and other activities.

Remember that almost every activity can be modified for wheelchair users.  Just being with them, singing to them, reading to them and hold their hand can make a difference.

What your journal entry may read like after a shift here: Dear Diary, This morning, I also helped do physical therapy with some of the kids.  I brought the binder down from the volunteer house and I worked with Little B on his sign language.  He’s doing really well.  It’s nice to spend one-on-one time with the kids doing therapies though.  We had some activity time so we painted trees with dot paints outside.  Lunch came faster than normal I feel like and we brought them back upstairs and feed them soup and juice.  After that we headed back up to the volunteer house and ate lunch. 

This afternoon, it was raining pretty hard, so we watched a movie. I know the boys have seen Thor a thousand times but they still love it and get so excited every time! Then we helped feed everyone dinner (some of the residents have severe disabilities and need our help spoon feeding them). Then it was already time for bed! Sometimes I can’t believe how fast the days go by, time really does fly when you’re having fun!

Tadeo Torres

TADEO TORRES (CASAS & CUNAS)

Location: OSSO's Neighbor

Tadeo Torres is a large orphanage administered by Catholic nuns. We call it Tadeo, Casas or Cunas. It is at OSSO’s orphanage and here that you will serve the most. This orphanage is split into two sections: Casas and Cunas. Casas (houses) is for children 2 to 8 years old. When they reach about 8 years old, they are moved to another orphanage. Cunas (cribs/nursery) is for children under about 2 1/2 years of age.  Tadeo Torres is the only orphanage in Cuenca for babies.

Cunas

What your journal entry may read like after a shift here: Dear Diary, I just had an amazing shift at Casas.  Those children have SO much energy.  I’m so glad that I know some Spanish but I wish I knew more though.  I love these kids.  They are so willing to love you and they love to play with anyone and everyone.  Today when I walked in, they all yelled my name.  It really made me realize how long I’ve been here and how much I’m going to miss them when I leave in a few weeks.  I wish I could just take every one of them home with me. 

I was assigned the activity for today so I brought popsicle sticks, hot glue guns, markers and lots of goodies like pompoms, googly eyes, feathers and tissue paper to decorate little funny characters and animals on the sticks.   I’m so glad that there are so many craft supplies here at OSSO to choose from. I always go to Pinterest to get fun craft ideas to do with the kids.

After the activity, we ate a snack and then went and watched a movie all together in the commons.  Around 5:30pm we headed to their little rooms to wash their hands before dinner. After dinner, we helped the kids get ready for bed, which is my favorite part of the day. The tias already set out their pajamas so I just tried to help them get ready and tucked them into bed.  They begged for a bedtime story.  Some of the other volunteers brought books to read to them but I just made up some story for them.  They listened so intently, and even though my Spanish isn’t they best, they begged for another one.  It was almost 6:30pm though so I had to go.  I hugged them and said a million goodnights and finally made it out the door.  We waved goodnight to the nun at the door and all walked back next door to OSSO. Shifts at Tadeo are always so satisfying at the end of the day.

Casas

What your journal entry may read like after a shift here: Dear Diary, these have to be the cutest children on the planet.  The Cunas babies are so precious.  The main play room has a bunch of toys.  I love the bouncy toys and balls. One of my favorite things is trying to get the kids to make animal sounds.  They also love to climb into your lap when you grab a book and read it to them.  A nun walked in today too and the babies totally perked up and were so excited to see her. It was so cute. 

We played for about three hours and then the tia came in and told us to walk them into the kitchen.  She had prepared dinner for them.  We grabbed a chair and sat in front of a baby and fed them a huge bowl of soup. After all the babies were fed we took them into their changing room.  The tia showed us where each baby’s pajamas were and then she left us to change the everyone’s diapers and clothes.  In Ecuador they dress the babies in many layers at night to keep them warm. It’s different than what we back at home but makes sense because the buildings don’t usually have heating and it can get cold at night. My favorite part of afternoon shifts at Cunas is probably putting them to bed like the Casa kids.  You put them in bed, sing them a little song and put these cute little mosquito nets that hang from the ceiling around their beds.  Afterwards we put the aprons that we have to put on in the beginning of shift away and put our shoes back on since we have to just be in socks all shift and then we headed back to OSSO.

What Are the Orphanages Really Like?

Personal Introduction from our Current Volunteer Director, Sasha

Before becoming the volunteer directors here in Cuenca, I had at least 100 questions for the past director.  We had no idea what to expect and I like to be prepared and know what I’m getting into.  We were new to OSSO.  We knew that our experiences teaching, working with special needs, our Spanish skills and our experiences working with youth would be helpful, but we really didn’t know what we were signing up for.  You may feel the same way.  I tried to soak up all the information I could.  I searched online for any information about orphanages in Cuenca and found nothing.  I poured through the Instagram, Blog, Facebook page and Pinterest pages of OSSO trying to figure out what to pack, what to wear and what to be prepared for.  The information seemed limited.

Now as director, I hear from volunteers things like: “I didn’t even know this was a orphanage for children with disabilities before I came” or “I wish I had known better what to expect”.

If you’re reading this blog post, then you’re already on the right path.  If you’ve done everything I listed above like looking through OSSO’s Instagram, Blog, Facebook and Pinterest, then I already know you’re going to be a successful and memorable volunteer.

You may never feel quite prepared or that you know exactly what you’re getting into, but you’re going to be more prepared than you think.  Don’t worry.  Who ever your directors will be, whether Keenan and I or others that come after us, they will help you feel comfortable, be safe and enjoy your time here.  All you really need is a couple sets of clothes and a willing heart and mind.

TOO MUCH ALL AT ONCE

aka what you’re going to be doing as a volunteer here…

Location: Ecuador

Los Pequeñitos de OSSO (home)

After arriving at OSSO, you get some time to rest from the trip, but as soon as you’re rested and oriented, you appear on the schedule that the Volunteer Directors make each week.  This schedule lets you know where you are assigned to each morning and afternoon shift.  There are five main orphanages we serve at here in Cuenca and one day care. Some of the orphanages we volunteer in every day while others we only visit on Saturday’s.

Confused and still have questions? Don’t worry! It’s going to all make sense and it’s going to be a blast. Read about each site that we work at and what a shift there may consist of in my next blog posts.

A Day in the Life Week 3

This week's blog is brought to you by past volunteer, Emma.

Week 3

Wow, I can’t believe the third week is over! The first two weeks, I felt like I had lived here at least 2 years. But now time is flying by! This week was such a blur, and I am sad it’s going by so quickly. I have to keep reminding myself that before I know it, I’ll be getting on a plane to go home. So, I am trying to enjoy every second I have here with these precious kids.                                                           

Monday

We had such a fun Olympics party with the OSSO kids to get ready for the winter Olympics! I spent Monday morning in OSSO making flags of all the different countries with C & M that we could hang up during our party. And wow, those boys are so much more particular than I thought! M told me I had to redo the Mexico flag because I didn’t cut it straight enough! (Hah!) The party was a success! It was so much fun helping the kids participate in the different “events” and seeing how happy they were! But I must say, the Tia’s definitely got more into it than anyone else.

Tuesday

Tuesday came around and we got to take the Casa kiddos to horse therapy! I DIED. Those kids are literally the cutest things in the entire world. I love every second I get to spend with them! They were jumping up and down, waiting for their turn to get on the horses. If those kids have taught me anything, it’s to enjoy the small things in life!

Wednesday

After Monday and Tuesday, everyone is excited for Wednesday because it’s FREE DAY! We went to the zoo this week and it was so cool! It literally just felt like a hike through the jungle. And yes, when I say hike I mean HIKE. Wear good shoes! It was so cool learning about and seeing so many different animals. We even got to see the foxes eat lunch (baby chicks) it was rather depressing. But they were really cute before that part.

Thursday

Thursday night at HML was so much fun! Those HML girls are so special and getting to be with them is a highlight of every week for sure. The amount of energy they have is INSANE! And they can show up all the volunteers at just about anything! Soccer, jump rope, UNO, puzzles, tag; they cannot be stopped! We are only there for less than an hour so we are running around nonstop! They are the sweetest most loveable girls.

Friday

Friday came so fast! We had our weekly Spanish class in the morning and I am trying SO HARD to learn as much as I can. I just want to be able to talk to all the kids! If I would have done one thing different before coming, it would have been to learn Spanish. It has been so fun learning a little bit but it’s a process. Our teacher is so helpful and I have learned a lot from her. I look forward to class every week. This week was exceptionally good because after class, we went to Chocolat and got the most AMAZING chocolate covered strawberries in the entire world. I can’t believe I ever thought Zupas had good chocolate strawberries. They are incredible here!

Saturday

By Saturday we are all dead tired but there is always work to be done. I spent the morning with my cute kids in Casas. We played and played and colored and played and it was so fun. There were other volunteers there who taught the kids how to break dance and it was honestly one of the most entertaining things I’ve watched! Those Casa kids are WAY too cute. I want to bring them all home with me! Saturday evening some of the volunteers and I went out to Fabiano’s for dinner and it’s the most fabulous Italian food ever. Highly recommend the pesto pasta. Or the BBQ chicken pizza. Or the garlic knots. Or the Pina colada juice. Or if you are feeling crazy (like I obviously was) GET ALL FOUR.

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This week has been hard, long, and tiring but so, so rewarding. I can’t even explain how amazing it is to be there. I thought I was coming to help these kids, but they are doing way more to help me. I have already learned so much from them. I LOVE CUENCA! I hope these next few weeks slow wayyyyy down.

A Day in the Life Part 2.

This blog is courtesy of Past volunteers, Betsy and Russell. They are serving in Cuenca, Ecuador and have documented their second week as volunteers. Enjoy!

Tuesday January 15th

Every Tuesday morning some of the children have the opportunity to go to “horse therapy”.  It is so hard to get these big kids in and out of the bus.The older kids are really heavy, dead weight. When we get to the facility again we have to lift them out of the bus.  But it is so worth it!  We lift them up onto the horses and then have to hold them on it as they go around the arena.  Each time they go around, workers change them to a new position which is very awkward.  But, to see the sheer joy on their faces as they ride the horses, is worth the hard work.  This is such a great activity for them to work on their muscle tone and balance.  Also it is a wonderful time for them to get out of the orphanage and do different kinds of things.

Wednesday January 16th

Wednesday was all of the volunteer’s day off.  Our directors took us into Cuenca for a tour.  We started at a museum, Museo Pumapungo, which was very interesting.  It had displays of an early group of people who were taken over by the Incas.  Then the Incas were taken over by the Spaniards.  This is why we see a lot of influence in architecture and culture from Spain.  The displays were very well done.  They had replicas of their dirt floor huts and actual weapons, clothes, pottery etc.  Out in the back of the museum was ruins of the Incas and the earlier people.  We got to pet llamas that were in the gardens, see lots of beautiful flowers and then there was a bird aviary.  Evidently Ecuador has the largest population of different kinds of birds. 

Thursday January 17th

We did tons of walking today.  We walked to the market place.  There are hundreds of booths full of different vegetables and fruit, grains, fresh meats.  We have been trying may different kinds of fruit at OSSO.  There are some pretty exotic kinds we have never heard of or see before. All the food was just piled up out in the open.  A lot of the booths were from the indigenous Ecuadorians.  They look so festive in their native clothes and hats. Unfortunately we can’t take pictures of them unless we are far away.

Friday January 18th

We walked to a flower booth and bought 3 bouquets.  Flowers are extremely cheap here.  You can get a dozen roses for $3.00.  We took the flowers into the cemetery which is nothing like our cemeteries.  There are three or four stories of vaults that are enclosed.  Everyone puts flowers or pictures or trinkets on a little shelf in front of the vault.  We went to 3 different vaults which were where three children from OSSO were placed.  They had all died within the past year and a half.  Sasha and Keenan shared with us each of their stories and it was very heart wrenching.  These precious children had suffered so much in their short lives. Sasha told us what they felt the “purpose” of these children’s hard lives were. Heavenly Father loves these children dearly and allows them to be here to teach us Christ like love and compassion.

Saturday January 19th

We went to lunch, pigged out (The food is GREAT!) and then caught a tour bus of the city.  We rode up on top of the bus and wound through the tiny streets in this amazing city.  It is so alive and so full of life and activity.  The bus took us to the highest point of the city where we had spectacular views of Cuenca.  The homes and buildings go on forever it seems.  They are all nestled in the hills and mountains and it is a sight so gorgeous!  Here we hiked up even higher and were able to test our adventurous spirits.  We got on a rickety old swing, assisted by a cute man who buckled us in.  He then pushed us out over a cliff with a drop of several hundred feet.  It was so exhilarating and it was so fun to hear the squeals of everyone of us who did it.

After the tour we went to a street market where they were selling Ecuadorian trinkets and souvenirs.  The girls all bought lots of cheap jewelry and were thrilled.  We also went to some artesan stores with nicer quality things. She took us to a store and the man who owned it took us upstairs into his storage room.  It was full of sweaters, scarves, blankets, table cloths and runners, backpacks.  He gave us fabulous deals, even cheaper than down in his store.  He even gave us all a head band free. 

It was starting to get dark but we all decided to stay longer and have dinner in town.  Again, a delicious meal at a very nice restaurant.  Rice and potatoes and meat are served at every meal. Not a time or place to be dieting fore sure!  After dinner, of course, we had to stop at the ice cream store, Tutto Freddo, for the most delicious ice cream ever!!! I am sure we will all go back there as often as possible!  We all plopped into bed, extremely exhausted after a fun day of discovery and adventure and learning to love this beautiful city, country and people!