La Playa: Puerto San Jose

Seeing 12 kids bobbing in the ocean waves at night is enough to make my stomach tighten with a tiny bit of fear.  But boy, did they have a blast!  Franz and Lito served as the buoys; kids clung to them as they waited for waves to come in, and the two men acted as the barrier between the shore and the great depths of the Pacific.  Little Steven clung to my hand, and we "surfed" by jumping each wave that slapped the shore.  At least until he decided sitting down was far better when the waves came in, forcing me each time to cling to his hand a little tighter as the current swept out, wanting to carry his little body along with it.

Jefy loved being tumbled by the waves.  Several times he was the picture of being washed ashore: arms and legs akimbo, yellow swim trunks billowing out as he flipped several times until he stopped on the sand.  Then he stood up with his wrinkle-nosed grin and ran back into the water for more.

Even Victor tested the waters.  Usually, I understand, he prefers to stay dry on the beach.  But this time the waves enticed him, and, after playing at the water's edge, he decided to join the rest of the crew in the wave-catching game. 

On Wednesday, a holiday here, we swam in the pool at the house near the coast.  Fearless Yeny tried any trick Franz or anyone else put her up to--being thrown in the water, learning how to dive and do handstands, swinging from a branch of the nearby tree and timing her jump into the water just right.   She also improved her strokes.  Carlos and Mimi did, too, both feeling confident by the end of the day to swim from one end of the pool to the other without any balls or clinging to the side.  Progress!  Rosita also perfected her handstand.   Lito and Franz got the award for bad idea tricks, as they jumped into the water from the wall surrounding the house, over the concrete walkway.

Zucy cooked delicious food--meat, chermole, tamalitos, beans, salad, and many more yummy Guatemalan things. 

The heat felt wonderful.  It was nice to wear tank tops and shorts again, though I must say my pasty white legs are much better covered up. :)  Sometimes I forget how white I am after looking at all of these beautiful brown-skinned people all day.

The only heart-stopping moment of the trip occurred on the way to the beach.  Lito parked the car to run into the store and buy a few last-minute things.  Suddenly, the car started rolling.  No parking break employed.  Franz and Zucy yelled from the back, "Brake!  Brake!"  So I slammed on the brake (after first mistaking the clutch for the brake and realizing it did nothing to help the situation, haha) and threw us all forward, but fortunately we did not roll down the hill after all.  And it didn't turn out to be an omen of things to come, either.

 La Senda Home kids at the Pacific Ocean

 Victor's flying leap.  Awesome picture taken by Rosita.

 Yaquelin, Rosita, and Me

 Sweet boy Jefy

 the house where we stayed

Carlos's proof 

Summer Break Is Here!

Yippee!  This is the first extended break (longer than two weeks) I've had in two and a half years.  Of course, I realize that many professions don't get such a privilege.  So I'm doubly grateful.  Now, don't get me wrong.  There's still plenty to do. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

• Planning for next year
• English camp, during the last week of October and first week of November
• Saturday Bible/English school for kids in my neighborhood
• Weekly dinners/Bible study with my friends
• Weekly meal with some of the kids from La Senda home at my house
• Tea with E (Or Te con E, if you will) with the teenage girls
• Spiritual retreats in November that Pam is planning
• Weekend trip to the beach with the teachers
• Time with the kids at La Senda
• Whatever else crops up

Martin Luther

Just watched the movie Martin Luther with the teenage kids here at La Senda.  It's well done, and it gives a good picture of Martin Luther's heart to find truth and be able to share that truth--Jesus--with the common people.  The kids were intrigued by it.  They've studied Luther, so they are familiar with the story.  What most impressed them were the extremes--the colleague of Luther who turned his ideas into blood by physically attacking worshippers at Catholic churches (not Luther's intent), the priest who resorted to extreme emotional appeals (fallacies, really) to get people to give money to the church, ultimately resorting to crudeness. 

I'd recommend it.  It's PG-13.

La Clausura

Thursday was graduation for the sixth graders and the kindergarteners.  It was a beautiful, chilly morning, and we were able to hold the ceremony in the garden here at La Senda.  Parents and students enjoyed an authentic Guatemalan breakfast (eggs with some sort of fish, bread, sausage, coffee, plantains, and beans).

Me and Brenda.  She's the only home kid who had a graduation this year.  This may be the only time we see her in a dress.  Isn't she beautiful?

The sixth grade class. 

The kindergarten class.

Entertainment provided by some of the 2nd and 3rd grade girls. 

Message by Steve.  Carlitos is so attentive!



Some of the teachers.  If you think they look young, you're right.  The youngest is 18; the oldest here is 32.

Redemption

Maybe not with Parvulos (preschool).  But teaching Prepa (kindergarten) science for the last week and a half was actually fun.

We had day six of creation to cover, specifically God's creation of Man.  And the five senses.  What fun lesson plans!  We listened to music, we smelled good and bad scents outside, we tasted sour lemons and sweet candy and salty crackers, we felt smooth and rough objects, we played I spy.  They are a fun group. 

La Senda Home

Jefy is running around chasing Yaquelin; Carlos has his mattress up against the entrance to his room to prevent others from entering; and now, it's time for devotionals.  I've bribed the boys with a sucker to see who can be the quietest as we wait for Brenda and Mimi to join us.  They're finishing up chores and their shower.  Ah, the tranquility is nice.  But it sure is fun watching them run around with so much energy.