Catching up on News

I spent some time online today trying to catch up on U.S. news. Apparently the big news is Obama goes on The View. I also found out the next Spider-Man movie is going to to start over with Peter Parker starting high school (what are they thinking?).

The children (and their families) and teachers of the school took a field trip today. They were to go to a big farm and see how it is run. Then they were going to a water park (http://www.termosdelrio.com.sv/). They left from La Palma this morning at 5:00. The bus ride was going to be around 3 hours to get there. We were invited to join them, but we elected to stay in La Palma for a couple of reasons. First of all, I was nervous about the security of watching my own two kids in that type of crowded situation. Secondly, Erin had been feeling bad and would not have made that kind of a trip very well.

Last night we worshiped with the family here. Except for Erin having to stay in, it was a good evening. At one point during Jose's class, a butterfly entered the building and began circling the auditorium. No one paid it much attention, until it was joined by a less friendly butterfly that dive-bombed one sister's hair a few times. The first time there were a few small giggles, but the next time there was quite a bit of laughing.

Not much to report, but since I didn't blog yesterday, I thought I should post a short update.

Comments

I smell chocolate.

A lot has happened since last I blogged about the happenings here in La Palma. I mentioned in a post last week that I had been asked to speak in one of the local schools. It is quite a different feeling to basically give a Bible lesson on parenting at a public school function. I guess coming from Webb City I am more used to biblical foundations in the public schools than some, but it is still a strange concept to go into a school and give a lesson on what God wants from parents. I gave my only credentials for being qualified to teach on the subject to start, "Hi. I'm Monte. I've been married for eighteen years and have a teenage daughter and a son who is almost ten. I am a parent, but not a perfect one. What I am going to talk you about is some of the same things I'm still trying to get right." It was met with a very good reception. Two teachers who also were to speak and the school director during her speech all referred back to what I had said. The director ...

What an opportunity!

In my last post, I told you that I had something exciting to talk about. Well, I do. We are a little more than 5 years into the work here in La Palma. I'd like to say I was part of it from the start, but I was not. The children in the Sponsoship and Scholarship programs have started graduating from high school. I believe there was one last year and there will be two this next year. This is truly exciting in an environment where as soon as you are old enough to do some kind of money earning work, you are encouraged by your family to help with the family income. We have children in the program that display a dip in their grades, and we find they are putting off study for work as early as third grade. This is a problem, for sure, but these programs are truly having an amazing impact on the lives of many children. These programs would not be possible if not for the generosity of many of you! Now we are discovering a new and exciting opportunity to help these children. Of the two gr...

First Sunday in La Palma

Today was a good day. We got to worship with the La Palma family. After for lunch we went and ate super gringa's at Eric's. Then we had some time to repack our suitcases and rest a while before Romeo (pronounced Ro-may-o) came with his big truck to pick up our luggage to take to what will be our residence while we are here. We loaded them up and then piled the five of us into the cab of the truck (3 seater). Nathan on Lori's lap and Erin on mine made for a long short trip - poor Erin kept slipping off my lap with all the downhill driving. We dropped off the luggage, no problem. Then I left with Romeo and Nathan to go pick up the 2 wardrobes and 2 bunk beds built for the children's home, for us to use while we reside there. ¡No estaba listo para ése! Romeo and Mauricio (who built the furniture) speak no English, and though I can understand more and more, it was not enough and I felt very much like a fish out of water. Mauricio's neighbors had a good laugh at my expen...

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