Tell the World Your Story (in ten words or less)

How would you like to be remembered in one simple sentence?

Here are some examples (with some help from a recent entry in Daily Guideposts):

• “She saw beauty in flowers.”
• “He saw the courage in every elderly person.”
• “She liked to kick in autumn leaves.”
• “She cried over the wonder of words.”
• “He always wanted to live in a tree house.”
• “He was content to read and watch.”
• “She was always of two minds.”
• “He never, ever ripped anyone off.”

Or . . .

how about this one . . .
"He could never live up to his age." 

Bigger is Better

Or is it?

"Don't worry so much about the numbers, Walter. Just keep working at what you believe in and the numbers will take of themselves."

That's the advice I received a while ago from a friend.

She was probably referring to my penchant to measure BECA's success by counting stuff (whether that be bad stuff (desertions), or good stuff (jobs, life transformations).

My friend recognized that behind my logic lurks this belief that bigger is somehow better.

I wonder if that famous statistician-to-the-poor has something to say about all this?



Interesting times these as I take a deep second look at what BECA is trying to do in Nicaragua -- after spending a little while away.

Hey Walter, Chill out!

Four years down here -- hey, almost five! -- in Nicaragua and I still find it easy to get caught up in obsessing over details (of the BECA program).

Details that in the whole scheme of things don't really matter that much.

So I'm writing this blog to remind myself of something important - enjoying the moment.

Dear Walter,

Sure it's important that BECA run efficiently and smoothly but it isn't the end of the world when you encounter a hiccup here and there. Or even a hiccup "grande." It's wonderful that you pride yourself in being some kind of master organizer, but . . .

• Stop and smell the roses.
• Remember that life is short.
• Have fun!

Sincerely,
Walter  

P.S. Check out this video and learn a little bit about this from the BECA program participants, okay?

Jeopardy, Nicaraguan-style

Answer. A three month full-time volunteering stint being a teacher's assistant in a Nicaraguan elementary school.

Question. What is the BECA Brigade?

To receive earn a scholarship, all candidates must do this "gig." And if they show up late more than three times, they're out. That's three times in three months.

It isn't easy. It's tough. And almost none of the participants are happy about it. In the first week, it's fair to say most consider quitting. (How do you say "shock treatment" in Spanish?)

But -- if I may dare say so -- it remains one of my best ideas since showing up here in Nicaragua almost five years ago.

Words don't do the BECA Brigade justice.

Pictures can begin to tell the story.

So hang in there you guys! All of us at BECA believe in you.

Becados Patricia and Sergio (in the blue shirts) with some of their clients (June 2012)