my momma the missionary

As you know, my mom and little brother are on a mission trip. Several of you have asked how they are doing- well, they are GREAT! Mom has been able to send email updates every morning, so I am including those for you.
Keep on praying, and hopefully mom won't come home with a few of the children, but it's looking that way....
Monday Morning
Hello, again-
Yesterday afternoon with the kids was really something else. There were 15 little ones, aged 3-5. When they came across the field, it was a sight. One little girl zeroed in on me, came running and held her arms up for me to pick her up. That was the end of that. We spent all afternoon together. She wouldn't let me put her down. Her name is Dina (Dee-na) and she's 4 years old. We looked at books, ran around, played with stickers and hand prints, whatever she wanted to do. What a precious angel. At one point she pointed to a rocking chair and we went to sit. We rocked and she put her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. I rubbed her hair and she took my hand and held it against her face.... Needless to say, I was MUSH!!!!! The rest of the kids played and had a big time. We had parachutes, beach balls, jump ropes. They were like little ants all over the place. It was interesting how some of them just hoarded stuff. One little boy was walking around with a stack of probably 8-10 frisbees and wouldn't let anyone have one. Another little girl, Kimberly (a tragic story I'll share later) was a force to be reconded with. You don't cross Kimberly....
We took them to eat in town. They had the choice of pizza or chicken... "pizza or pollo?" The places are side by side; they were divided half and half. Dina wanted pizza, so guess where I went?
We brought them back to the compound and they happily skipped off on their merry way. We had dinner. The food is very good. After dinner we cleaned up after the chaos of the afternoon and then had some debriefing time.
It was VERY hot in the evening. The nice breeze we had during the day died down and it was miserable. We came in and showered and cooled off some. Funny, the cold shower wasn't so bad that time! We went to bed early. We were all so tired. Had a good night's sleep and are ready for another day. This morning we go to a little preschool in the Barrio (spelling?). It's only 3 miles away but will take 30 minutes to get there. Does that tell you anything?
Love to all-
D'L
Tuesday morning
Good morning, all-
All is still well, but you cannot believe how hot! As long as there is a breeze, it's bearable, but when the breeze dies- look out! The gnats and bugs begin to have their party!
Yesterday's visit to the Little Garden Preschool was very touching. The lady who runs it is named Miss Ramona. She started this preschool when her son died in the revolution. He is buried beside her house (if you can call it that...). It is way out from the city- very rural. We had the biggest adventure getting to her place. We rode in one of those big trucks that have the bars over the top in the back that they put tarps over. Think Romancing the Stone or Indiana Jones. It was really something! We were on roads that I'm not sure were roads.... The driveway (ha!) up to her little place was all but straight up and it took a couple of tries to get up there. When we got out the children (40 of them aged 3-5) came running to greet us. They held their hands out in front of them palms together. We were to put our hands over theirs. That's how they shake hands.
The kids went into their classroom (a cinder block room) and sat down. They were very respectful and obedient. Miss Ramona had them stand and sing us a couple of songs. They were so sweet. William and I led a lesson on the story of Jesus telling the disciples to let the little children come to me. I told the story and the translator then repeated it line by line. All the while, William was using the flannelboard story we made to illustrate it. Then we role played the story. After storytime, we broke into smaller groups to do different activities. We had bubbles, a parachute and beach ball, handprinting, coloring, stringing beads to make necklaces. The kids seemed to have fun.
We then provided cookies and milk. They made a little handmade gift presentation to us.
What struck me about this was a couple of things.... Miss Ramona has dedicated her life to making a difference in a place where she could have seen hopelessness and just given up. But she is doing what she can with nothing to make a difference. She is teaching these children academic skills and giving them the gift of spiritual nuturing. Where would those kids have been without that? She is also doing this on her own. Her little school is recognized by the govenment (Ministry of Education), but is in no way funded. She has nothing. The Living Water organization came out in 2005, I think it was, and drilled her a well. She does all this very humbly and with a total dedication. It has given me a whole new outlook on my job. Where do I get off complaining about not getting a raise when she gets nothing? How about fussing about buying supplies for my class when virtually everything is provided for me? I will go back in a week or so with a new perspective. I am trying to think of a way that maybe my class could partner with hers.....
In the afternoon we took some of the kids to the pool at the university here for swim lessons. It was really fun to watch.
This morning we go to a special needs facility in Leon and in the afternoon we will tour the old cathedral.
All is well- hope it is there, too. Hold down the fort.
Love to all,
D'L
PS-Thanks to those who have responded. It's good to get feedback from home.
Wednesday Morning
Friends and family-
Have I mentioned that's it's hot? I know from George's emails that it is very hot there, too, but my goodness!!! I have no idea what the highs are here during the day, but it must be 120 heat index. I have not a dry thread on most of the time. At least it cools off at night and we are able to sleep comfortably.
Yesterday morning we went to a public school in Leon. It was not far from the compound. It was VERY interesting to visit and learn about another country's education system. The school has around 800 students. The principal greeted us at a locked gate. That keeps people off the street from coming on the school grounds. That was kinda weird right off the bat. I guess we aren't the only ones dealing with school security issues. The principal was extremely nice and very proud of her school. She was very professional and seemed very young. We went into her office (It was really just a room with a desk...) and she told us a little about the school. We hadn't been there 5 minutes and already we were in the principal's office!
Not everyone gets the opportunity of education. If the parents cannot provide uniforms or supplies, they can't attend. That is tragic!
The school itself was nice. There were maybe 25 classrooms all opening up to a center courtyard which was a basketball court (concrete). Every class has a door with bars and windows that stay open, of course, for ventilation. The classrooms were small and PACKED with kids. Every class has at least 40 kids. Can you imagine? PE classes were going on right outside each class while the teachers are trying to teach. Talk about distractions! We had recess with our kids (level 3 preschool, which is like our kindergarten). We played bubbles with them and used the frisbees we had brought. When our time was over, other kids came out wanting frisbees. We were almost mauled trying to get back to our class. The kids all followed us and hung on the door and windows. It was very noisy and Janet was trying to teach a lesson on the story of creation. It was madness until the principal came a shooed the kids away. We shared snack with the kids and then they sang us a song. We were drenched in sweat by the time we left!
Lunch was good. The meals have all been very good. There has been rice at every meal except yesterday morning when we had black beans with scrambled eggs. They were delicious... just different to have them at breakfast.
In the afternoon we toured the medical clinic here on the compound. It has only been open for 2 months and specializes in women's health. They have one of the two ultrasound machines in the country. They see patients three days a week. All the supplies and equipment have been donated by medical mission teams who have come. here.
After that we went into Leon to see the large cathedral. It was built in 1757, I think. We paid to go to the top where the view was spectacular. We paid to go underground where it was even hotter! We thought we would see the tunnels used long ago, but they have been sealed off. It costs each of us $2 for the rooftop tour and $2 to go underground. Our interpreter was concerned that that was too much money. Funny about perspective, huh?
There is an active volcano not far from where we are staying. It spews smoke most of the day. You can tell when it is active because the air smells funny. That's pretty cool.
The ministry here that ElAyudante is doing is remarkable. It is two fold really. They, of course, provide care for the children at the center, but they are an unbelievable presence in this area. They provide full-time employment for 70 people. There are about 50 part-time employees. Each employee is paid a fair wage. The average income in Leon is $2 per day. The factory workers make $4 per day. Our interpreters make $18 per day. El Ayudante takes good care of the employees and their families.
A new little girl was dropped off on Monday. Her name is Daniella and her story is tragic. She is 8 years old and looks like she is 5 or 6. She and her brother were taken from their abusive, alcoholic mother that morning and brought to the center by the Ministry of Family or Health or something. Daniella will stay here, but the brother is too old. He is 11 and they cannot take kids into the program over age 10. They can stay past that age once they are a part of the program, but can't come in that old. Bill, the director, said it was heart-breaking to see them when they took the little boy away. There they had been taken from their mother that morning and separated from each other that afternoon. Daniella was checked over yesterday and she is terribly malnurished and anemic. She has injuries in her mouth from blunt force trauma. I can't get her or her brother off my mind.
Bill Cox, the director here, is an amazing person. He has two daughters and a wife who live here in a house on the property. He has a 24 year old son who lives in Georgia who is an engineer with a TN Tech diploma! Small world, huh? He is a quiet, humble, unassuming man who is following God's call. He loves these kids and is passionate about the program here. He has the faith the size of that volcano. He is a man of great vision. We have been blessed by getting to know him.
Enough said. I need to go finish getting ready for our day. Today we go to another school in town and then after lunch we are going to the beach followed by dinner out at a local restaurant.
Keep praying, guys!
Love to all,
D'L