an eventful week

Today was my last day teaching at Brassavola - and while I am a little sad - I know that I am going to go back to the school tomorrow and friday to work on a play for our program for Mother's day, so I will continue to see all the kids. This week in class we reviewed all that we learned all year long - from how the Bible is made up (Old and New Testament, how many books in each..) to talking about God as our Father and Creator, Jesus as God's Son and our Savior, and the Holy Spirit as our helper to make good decisions so that we don't disobey God. We played a trivia game where I asked all sorts of questions to the kids on the highlights of what we talked about in each class - different heroes of the Old Testament and then on the life and teachings of Jesus. I was really impressed with what the knew - and today I was even more impressed with the third graders abilities to remember verses we had talked about during this year. When I left each class I was crushed with hugs and kisses - ended up giving out my email address (to third graders? who knew they had email already!) - and I had to promise I would see them again so that I could leave to get to my next class on time!

I love my kids!

I have been working hard with the 2nd graders on their play - which is really looking good! We are getting the costumes together and fine-tuning their acting abilities :) so please keep them in your prayers for this Friday morning!

This past weekend I met another "joven" who had just arrived for her 2 month visit to Honduras. Mary has proven to be an excellent playmate - as we have found out that we are a lot alike... not only in activities that we do in the states (like Young Life, coaching basketball at a private school, taking random trips, playing guitar..) but also in our approach to life here in Ceiba. I have enjoyed "dando vueltas" in Ceiba with her, introducing her to my students and having her help me with the play, AND then today I took her out to Armenia Bonito to meet my family and play with kids out there.

We had a fabulous time with my family - playing jump rope both inside the house and then outside the house (with the neighbor kids - an experience made complete with several little naked honduran boys running around), painting finger and toe nails, coloring, playing frisbee, painting maracas (with fingernail polish - shown below!), taking crazy pictures, and of course making all sorts of crazy sounds in Spanish and in English (for example, the sound that a rooster makes.. it is different the way they say it here than how we say "cock-a-doodle-do"). (PS. Caleb, they were asking about you today - and when you were going to return to visit them... they have the idea that you are going to come sometime in the near future..I don't know where they got that idea from... but I told them that perhaps you would - pero solo si tengas pisto!)

On the way home (we stayed until after 6pm - which is later than I've ever stayed out there before..) we jumped on a bus.. and the guys told us that they weren't going in to El Centro. They were just going to a nearby town.. so needless to say, we talked to them for a while while they drove to the other town, making them laugh a lot and playfully arguing about the cost of such a short trip.. they ended up not charging us anything (perhaps because I gave one of them my sunglasses? - they were breaking, so it wasn't a loss for me..) and we just grabbed a taxi and took it home. I was definitely thankful to have Mary along with me - because I just felt much safer with a companion than I would have if I had been alone. I am looking forward to many more adventures we will have together in the next 2 weeks...

Random things: Emily Noonan and I are attempting to highlight our hair - using lime juice and water.. so if I have any lighter streaks, I'll have to blame it on my "lime lights". Casey Noonan (who is 8 yrs old) and I have been having lots of fun, swimming in the little pool behind their house or having girls nights where we stay up late and "talk" - and she asks me deep questions like "whats something funny that you did when you were like 2 or 3 years old?" Monday night cards has been revived - but I still am not good at Texas hold-em. I also haven't become any more proficient at jacks. OH and a woman called Brassavola that she was cleaning a house and found my wallet.. so perhaps I will meet her there at Brassavola and get it back? pray that she has the other things that where in my purse but of no value to anyone else as well...

that is all for now.

I do love hearing from you - I'm looking forward to reading your emails! :)