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| Violet and Misael got new boots! |
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| Violet practicing her modeling skills |
Yesterday Lourdes went through donations we received from a team in Canada. Inside were many things including rubber boots. The kids absolutely LOVE these boots. Misael wore his all day yesterday and showed up this morning wearing them again. He has to be so hot and sweaty in them. We have tried to tell him to save them for the rain, but... Violet wanted to wear her boots today too and cried when her mother didn't allow her.
Today was a great day for the preschool class. We had three kids who were so small we had to cut their pancakes and spoon feed them, but they still participated well. We played Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, and Red Light Green Light. It was really fun for everyone. I had to stand out of Duck Duck Goose after I realized that as long as I was sitting in the circle, every kid was going to pick me.
For an entire week, Violet has at least attended class. She cried a little bit on Wednesday. Today she played, prayed and ate with the class. This is the best she has done so far. She gets a sticker on days that she participates.
Seeing the progress - the fact that they can stand and listen in order to play Simon Says - feels great! There were some days that I wondered if this was even possible. After 3 months we have fallen into a nice rhythm. They love the class too, which is really nice. They are proud of their class.
Yesterday was a new highlight for the whole morning group. As I handed out the food I noticed they were all saying "Gracias" (Thank You). All but one of the 49 kids in the morning group remembered to say thank you for their food! This is something I have been working on since the first day I arrived. I was so proud of them! The one girl who forgot to say thank you is new. She still needs time to learn.
Everyday we have to shoo the kids out when it is time to go. Today I did the shooing. Three boys continued playing so I told them if they didn't leave they would not be allowed to come back on Monday. (Since it's a daily problem, that's how Lourdes has asked us to deal with it.) Two eventually ran to get their backpacks while the third headed for the swings. Along the way he threw his Popsicle wrapper on the ground. I walked over and asked him to pick up his garbage and not throw it on the ground. He got angry. He started muttering something about "That Gringa" as he left. His friends followed behind. But soon his buddies came running back.
There is one thing that none of the kids tolerate at the Breakfast Program. "Malas palabras" - bad words. The boy's friends ran to Don Juan and me with wide eyes. They told us that Christopher, the angry boy, had said bad words. Don Juan was really surprised when they told him exactly what Christopher had said. When I saw the look on Don Juan's face I told the boys to let Christopher, who was long gone, know that he would not be allowed in the Breakfast Program on Monday. Several adults and kids mentioned that this boy's behavior is reflective of the way his family behaves at home. Jairo was furious when he heard what the boy had said. I can't repeat it.
It is hard for me to tell the kids they are not allowed to come to the Breakfast Program, even if they say vile things about me. I always wonder if I may be taking away their one meal for the day. The likelihood of this is great. I have to remind myself that it is not me who keeps them from coming that day. It is their own behavior. But sometimes that is hard to remember.
The kids at the Breakfast Program live in poverty that I can't imagine. No running water, no refrigerators. Lately the whole program has been deeply infested with lice. It seems like Lourdes, one other mother, and I are the only ones who have avoided lice. So far. The mothers and Don Juan sit with the kids and pick the lice out of their hair every day. Sometimes they sit for hours. I have not gotten up the nerve or desire to pick lice yet. It still kind of freaks me out to watch them pull out the lice and crush them between their fingernails. Yuck.
Yesterday Lourdes and I were talking when Jairo called to Lourdes. We looked outside and there was a woman who was clearly very angry. Lourdes was not looking forward to talking with the angry woman but when she went outside she learned that the mother was there with her son, who had stolen toys from the Breakfast Program. The mother brought her son to the church to return the toys. She made it very clear that his behavior was not acceptable in her home. We all talked about what a great mother she is. Her kids are new to the program. She doesn't know us. It would have been easier for her to handle it differently. But she set a good example for her son and his 3 younger siblings who are all in the preschool class.
Next door to the church is the most expensive colleges in the country. Jairo had told me about the fact that many of the kids have body guards there. Yesterday the kids from the college were jogging down the sidewalk along the way to church. We followed a long trail of them. Jairo asked if I saw all of those people driving next to the students. I couldn't help but notice. They were holding up traffic as they drove next to the joggers. He said all of the drivers are personal body guards for the students. He said this is the state of the country. The parents have to pay for personal body guards for their kids. The body guards have to be right next to the students because it is not safe to jog on the sidewalk. Things like that really bother Jairo - reminders of the state of his precious country.
If you look at the pattern, even within the Breakfast Program, you can see the different paths the kids are already on. Some kids have mothers who are bring them to turn in toys if they steal and teach them to be responsible. Others kids learn to say vile things to authority figures. I hope the Breakfast Program is changing these patterns. 48 of 49 kids remembering to say "Thank You" is a small, but good start.
