Elvin and Avocados

It's been a very relaxing two days, which is good because I think I will be very busy for the next 2 weeks.  Yesterday I woke up from a dream that I was about 16 years old, living back in NY.  My brother and I were trying to skip church without Mom finding out.  Finally we decided to go to church, but reward ourselves with a hike afterward.  I woke up as we were driving to hike.  It was a  really nice dream, being that young, being with my brother, being back in Lyons Falls headed out for a hike.  Wish I had stayed asleep long enough to enjoy the hike.

I sat with Karla and Jose's family at church.  Lourdes stayed home yesterday and today.  She said she needs rest.  After church I relaxed at home, made a huge lunch, then took a nap.  At 4:45 a.m. I was still wide awake this morning.  Uuphhhh...

Finally got a few hours of sleep and made it through the day just fine.  Most of the preschool class came up to the car as I was getting out.  They wrapped themselves around me with hugs and asked if we were having class today.  When I say yes, all but two let go and ran around with their hands over their heads yelling, "We have class! Class!!! Class!!!"  Eunice had to ask the other two to unwrap themselves from my legs so I could  move.

Today in preschool we went for a walk outside so that each person could find one thing that was yellow.  All of the kids know their colors.  They like the IDEA of being in a line, so they always line up like a train, but staying in line is a different story. Fortunately the older kids always want to help with the class.  Since Lourdes wasn't there today to give the older kids a lesson, I took two older kids with me.  Extra hands are always helpful.

We glued and colored and walked.  We have already made big progress in prayer.  I used to say the prayer, but then I realized it would be better if the kids could do it themselves.  In the past only one boy has been able or willing to pray.  Today three of the kids asked to pray!  I was so excited!  Elvin asked if he could pray for his dog who was hit by a car and killed.  He saw it happen as he was walking to the breakfast program on Friday.  He and his sister were both very sad and upset that day.  Elvin has 2 sisters.  The other sister was not sad. She suggested to Don Juan that the dog would make good soup!  Oh boy.  Anyway, Elvin said a really nice prayer asking God to care for his dog in heaven.  It was sweet.

The kids had a huge breakfast of eggs, beans, tortillas, cheese and juice.  They all did a good job eating their food.  They do well reminding each other kindly about using good manners.  We have clothes pins hanging from ribbon on the ceiling, so each day we add another piece of their work to their clothes pin.  Today we made yellow stars and drew the number two.  Most can write their names, but I notices Elvin writes his name backwards.  I tried to point it out to him and showed him the correct way the write it, but he didn't seem to get it.  We'll have to work on that more.  I wonder if he is dyslexic?  He wrote the whole name backward, not individual letters.

We fed 53 kids with no problems.  It all went smoothly.  There were less kids than usual because they all had school today.  On days when there is school, less kids come to the breakfast program.

Clara came to the church to ask Lourdes to give her medicine that is administered as shots into her vein.   Lourdes was taught how to do it, but since she wasn't there Clara asked me to give her the medicine.  I don't know how to do that, so I had to say no.  Clara did have to go to the emergency yesterday morning at 5 a.m. because she couldn't breathe.  She said she has had problems eating since Friday because everything comes back up.  She looks fine, but says she is in a lot of pain in her back and when she breathes.  Her daughter, Estephany, said they got a cat.  Estephany is excited and plans to have the cat sleep with her.  Clara did not like that idea at all.

Estephany wants to go to La Tigra this weekend.  She wanted me to go because she knew her mother would only let her go if I were there to supervise.  But I can't go because I have the conference this weekend about how to preach.  I am really excited about this conference.  Today Jairo asked me to attend another seminar.  This one is about violence.  It is about how to discern the difference between difficulties and danger.  I think it will be interesting.  I am happy Jairo is offering me all of these opportunities.  Jose and Karla will also go, so if I need a few words translated I can turn to Jose.

I was relaxing at home when Fany, my neighbor, called me to come outside.  One avocados had fallen from the tree and she was hoping to get the rest down before they fall and rot on the ground.  She tried shaking the tree, which made her baby daughter giggle like crazy, and in turn made us giggle too.  Shaking the tree did not shake the avocados loose.  We got a ladder.  I held it with my foot while holding the baby in one arm, and protecting the baby's head with my other hand.  Fany climbed the ladder and poked the avocados down with a stick.  Then she told me to wrap them up in a towel and put them in a silverware drawer.  If I understood her correctly, they should be ripe by morning!  I like spending time with Fany.  Her baby is comfortable with me now, which is nice.  Maybe some day she will trust me to babysit.

I am making tapioca pudding for Jairo.  He has been talking about tapioca pudding since we got back from the states, so I am going to surprise him with some tomorrow.  Not good for his diabetes, but he'll love it!