July 18, 2022
Welcome readers!
Our team has had a full, fulfilling, and eventful day! Our breakfast was bacon, pancakes, and strawberries. We are so spoiled by Paola and Cindy.
Each team of 2-3 is assigned a younger grade and an older grade for teaching. We teach a morning session of group A and an afternoon session of group B, with each group containing a younger and higher grade (i.e. We teach one 3rd grade session in the AM and PM, and 8th grade in the AM and PM). We have amazing interpreters with each team who assist us throughout each activity: Franklin, Jorge, Leydi, Bessy, Maria, and Rigo. They are essential to our team, become our friends, and teach the kids just as much as we do. We are so grateful for them. They even get to join in on the fun as we go along.
The children impressed us from the moment we arrived at the school. We had a greeting group of ambassadors that escorted us from each classroom. “Welcome!” Upon entry, we were greeted with warm welcomes, songs, or cheers. They were well prepared for their guests. Today’s goal was to get to know the children and we played Jenga with them while practicing English. The children LOVE Jenga, and all knew how to play it. In the older classrooms, more confident students were encouraging the shier, less confident kids to participate with the activities. Our 45 minutes went by very fast!
After the school day was over, we drove high in the mountains to our construction site to a church where the two pastors greeted us with refreshments. This church was struck by two hurricanes in the beginning of the pandemic and continues to build community and faith, focusing on their children. Their next project is to build a kitchen to be able to feed the children. The last team here in June laid the foundation for the kitchen. Our job was to start chiseling through a doorway to prepare for doors to be placed. The rain delay stopped us only temporarily! Shoutout to our chiseling MVPs: Alan, Jerri, and Judith!
Honduran driving is not like driving in the US. Jorge and Milton are so skilled. No GPS, they just know where to go. On our first ride, Jorge told us, “Don’t get nervous unless you see me get nervous!” We all travel together to the school in the morning with the interpreters and learn from one another. Various subjects about culture, language, and our lives. Lots of fun and laughs! Today, Leydi, taught us that a dog says “gwow gwow” instead of our “woof woof.” We played Phase 10 during our break time. The competitive side of some of our team members comes out with a fire! The team blends well together and knows how to have a good time.
Other important highlights: our team members, Aubrey and Alan, decided today to sponsor the education of a child in most need. They are hoping to meet his family later this week! The pastors from the church were our guests at dinner. The lights came back on last night, but today’s struggle is a shower that wouldn’t turn off. Luckily, Franklin and Jorge, lovingly called the “Wet Bandits” came to our rescue.