This morning's cereal was oatmeal...the soupiest Noah has had yet! It's okay because again, it shows us to appreciate the smaller things in life rather than always wanting the materialistic things. I had logged most breakfasts this year mainly because over the years, I have told my children that their meals are limited and not a vast variety like we have in the U.S. I thought perhaps by sharing a little into the meals this year, everyone who is reading this can also see that we are being honest with the comments we make about this beautiful place. I love it here and 2.5 weeks has not been nearly enough. I look forward to the year that I can go back to entire months and then hopefully sooner than later, the entire summer.
I worked hard on the quadratics review lesson for this morning's 7am class. They had already been taught quadratics, but just like students in the U.S., this is a very difficult topic for students. We mainly went through examples, but I gave them a "process" to follow for each quadratic they do from here on out. They like to have steps and then be able to practice them multiple times. Math is that way...it's a sequence of steps and experimentation, and when you find you are on the wrong path, you really have to be willing to either go back into your work and to locate and fix the mistake...OR you need to be willing to just scrap the entire process and just start over, trying something new or a new method that you hadn't tried earlier. But isn't that the way of life in general when we run into problems?
Noah spent the morning with Moncho in the team house replacing a water heater. Michell made them both coffee while they worked and then heated up some ribs from the night before for them to snack on as well. Noah let me know that he had ribs with Moncho, Edd and Michell.
Jaden let me know that he was with the horses once again and mainly was picking up grass throughout the morning. When Noah finished up with the water heater, he headed to the cancha with Gisella to play soccer with the students.
At 9am, Alexander took Kaylyn, Jaden and me into town to purchase the coffee for our trip back. He had set me up a couple of days ago with a man who used to be an employee of Emmanuel but was now growing his own brand of coffee as a business. I bought 4 bags from him, which cost approximately $3.50 each bag. In town, we bought coffee, Honduran sugar and dish soap (the solid kind). We should have enough of these supplies to fill the 2 (of 3) suitcases we are taking back. On the drive back, I was blessed to see Glenda outside of her house. Teams and volunteers are not supposed to be going into town this year because of the entire pandemic and the toll it's taken on the country, so when she noticed me and our eyes locked, I asked Alexander if he could pull over for just a moment.
For those of you who have not read this blog since I began it in 2008, Glenda was my main source of purchasing fruits and veggies in the early years. She is a sweet Christian lady and purchasing from her came highly recommended by volunteers back in 2008. We formed a bond over the years, and she got to meet each of my children...from Andres and now down to Jaden. She asked about Andres, Alina and Noah as we chatted, then said HI to Kaylyn and got to meet Jaden. I pray that the atmosphere of being able to venture out next year and head into town changes so that I can spend more time with Glenda as I have in years past.

Noah wanted to take the Tshirt we had purchased for him this week around with a sharpie and have all those who have meant a lot in his life sign it. He spent quite a bit of time thinking of who should sign it and was very thoughtful in it. Both David and Lydia signed it, as well as Morgan...and on down the line. It will be so memorable for him as he goes through his next stage in life.
At supper time, Mami (Lydia) asked me to say a few words into the microphone to the children at Emmanuel...as a goodbye. I let the children know that I have appreciated how they've treated my own kids over the years and it has been fun to watch them grow. I thanked the staff for allowing us the opportunity to come each year and participate in life with them and the kids. And of course, all glory goes to God for putting Emmanuel on my radar back in 2006 as well as helping to carve the way to make it possible to actually go there.
Noah went to ensenanza this evening after supper. The team put on a bible study for the medium and small boys and girls. Noah said it was so powerful that he cried the entire time (yep, my tough boy admitted to this)...and when it was over, I guess all of the children made a bee line for Noah to give him hugs goodbye, since we would be leaving in the morning while they were at breakfast.
For the remainder of the evening, we spent it with Michell, Dulce, Paola, Vianey and Mirna in the gazebo up at the team house. Michell pressed the "submit" button on the application to Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI. Now we wait to hear from them. I have grown to love Michell as my own daughter ever since I met her and took care of her back in 2008. Please pray with me that there is a way for her to make her dream of studying up here come true.