February 14, 2008

• Feliz “vee-teen” day to you too

  i brought a bag of color Goldfish (those chedder crackers) for the kids, as something special for Valentine´s day. There isn’t Valentine’s day in Brasil (only Boyfriend/girlfriend day in June) so i tried to explain the consept. one kid in class was like “So how did St.Valentine die?” i told him old age. i mean…you just can’t prepare for all those questions…how did he die, anyways? and what did he do that was so special?

  Thursday afternoons i have off, so i am going to the PETI program in Paudalho. It is also called Living Stones (in English). The government helps fund it, but apparently the funds are short. There weren’t alot of kids today, because there wasn’t any food. the kids that did come, came straight from school, without any lunch. i had the small remants of my bag of goldfish.

  i didn’t even have 5 loaves of bread.

  Patricia had all the kids wash their hands and sit down. my heart was sinking and i was praying for God to multiply what was left (after i had already given it to 30 kids at school). we ended up having enough for 4 little goldfish per kid. i wonder if those kids will get any dinner.

  
  Patricia and the kids from PETI

  
  Jeff and Linday are hereeeeeeee!
  the Alcance is full of laughter and fun. sorta feels like camp. i even lost my voice, just like camp.

  
  There is the back of my head as i am leading the kids in…some song…maybe “Jesus loves me.”
  February 7th started our third year of school. To tell the truth, it
  went so fast i don’t remember much. We are ironing out all the
  scheduling and problems, and having new students show up each day.
  Right now, we have 59 students–ages 2 to 9th grade (well, skipping 7th
  and 8th grade because there isn’t anyone of those ages). I had a couple
  moments today, when Neto read a book, or Mariana responded to a
  question, or when Adna understood complex directions, that i stopped
  and thought “wow, their English is really good!” i guess i shouldn’t be
  so surprised. The hardest part at the moment is having mixed
  classes…4th grade has 3 students from last year who know quite a bit
  of English, and 5 new students who still say “Goody Mooningy.” in the
  middle of teaching i look up to either see 5 kids completely LOST or 3
  kids bored out of their mind.  another prayer request would be for the
  curriculum to arrive…although i must admit that aftter two years of
  not having it on time, i have become more adept on making due. And
  everyone–everyone who is reading this should try, at least once in
  their lifetime, to come see these kids sing “This Little Light of
  Mine.” it takes the cake.

  
  Anna’s little man, Heitor. he lost his tooth during class today. he wanted to show you.

  
  they tell me not to play favorites, but…

  • 7:17 pm
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