The school year is now over and graduation was held this past Thursday. The program went off relatively smoothly and really was something special for these girls and their families. We were a bit chagrined, however, when at 20 minutes after the program was due to begin, most of the girls' families hadn't showed up. We are all very aware of the more casual approach to start times in this culture, but last year this had not happened. Eventually, one of the teachers came in and happened to remark that there were lots of people visiting out on the street, while the program venue was about 100 feet to the back of the property. A lesson was learned that a sign announcing the event at the location is not enough; you need to have someone stationed out on the street to direct people to the entrance. So the program did get started half an hour late and the hall did fill up. 

Processional

Dance performance

Drama - Jesus is temporarily thwarted by Satan

                                     

Drama - Satan turns on his followers

On the program were: a processional of the girls descending a decorated staircase one by one, the national anthem, "Light of the World" in English, the reciting of all the Bible verses learned this year, three choreographed "dances" to Christian songs, two dramatic presentations in full costume, the receiving of certificates by the grads, a showing of some of the sewing projects done this year, some soloists to fill the gaps between the dramas, and a short message by a local pastor.  The afternoon ended with big pieces of Tres Leche (cake) and warm Pepsi for all. Taking down of decorations and clean up was done by the girls in their fancy dresses, along with many photo ops. Kim talked to several prospective students and families for next year and handed out many applications. By 6:00, the grads and most of the first year girls were gone - the families of the grads having arranged for trucks to haul the girls' sewing machines (gifted by the mission) home. In most cases, the boxes of the trucks held not only the machine but several family members and the grad still in her fancy dress but minus the high heels!

Cheryl with two of the grads

Loaded up and heading home

It goes without saying that the pace will slow still more for Cheryl as she won't be going to the school unless Kim needs her to help with something there. Kim is now on a rest break but will remain here and tackle tasks at her leisure. Cheryl has finished up supplementing the English curriculum with worksheets and activities and has begun work on a new cooking curriculum, which she will do from the suite as long as the Internet is working. She also hopes to be able to help Rick with some outdoor projects.    

Rick has been working steadily away on the projects on his list and one that was a bit of a chore was taking care of some issues at the "highway house," which is a property the mission rents out. Getting a new toilet tank and installing it on a very old bottom section that was cemented into place and so could not be removed was one of the tasks.  Toilets are sold as a complete unit and the hope was that the tank of the new one would fit the old one and the seal would work.  It took a few tries and a new set of tank bolts, but it was finally accomplished.  The water had to be shut off so that a line could be brought into the house and hooked up. One problem here is the poor quality pvc pipe and really poor glue that does not seem to hold very well.  We had two blow outs and still one of the joints has a small leak.  It works right now and the person living there will fix it one day this week.   They are quite happy to have a working toilet again.  In addition, termites had done a number on the outside skin of the door for the house so I went to the only lumber store in town to buy wood for a new door.  There were few choices: some type of dimensional lumber in pine, or treated pine with some detail.  No plywood, no other stuff, just 1x6.  However, by the end of the afternoon on Friday, we had a new door in place and a new lock installed.  It was cool to work alongside Sergio our tenant over the course of three days as we solved the plumbing problems and built and installed the new door.  I believe that it allowed a relationship to begin as we worked together rather than me coming along with the parts and doing the repairs for him.  He is a skilled guy and was eager to get involved.  I also could have just dropped off the materials and he would have done the work, but I think it was better to spend time working together.  Sergio is the father of our weekend security guard at the centre and so there is value in building relationship with him.   

We have a neighbour who owns 4 horses and I have been seeing them eating grass along the roads, in the ditches, and in vacant lots as they have chewed down the owner's small yard and have been let out to find other feed sources.  We have a property which is across the road from the house, likely about 2 acres, that has to be cut with a lawnmower every week. I got to thinking that perhaps there was an opportunity here to help each other out.  Juan and I went down to talk to Miguel about this possibility.  He was happy to help and we agreed it would be a good partnership for neighbours to look after each other in this way.   Only one glitch - the horses have wandered off somewhere and  the owner is not sure where.  He will have to find them and bring them back.  Meanwhile the grass is approaching 10 inches high . . . we might have to challenge the string trimmer as it's long past mowing length.  

The horses were right outside our yard a couple of weeks ago...where did they go?

The yard is full of trees and flowering shrubs which are really quite spectacular when bursting with color.  It reminds me that back home, fall is well under way and the leaves are mostly on the ground or in some compost pile somewhere.  Here is a small sample of some of the flora in our yard.   Flora Tyler, these are for you!

   

Even a small banana tree

We also have some fruit trees in the yard -three mangos which have huge canopies so are great for shade, but it is not mango season. We have some old grapefruit and orange trees that produce some fruit, but we have been trying them and they are not ripe enough when they fall off the tree. Therefore, Juan (who loves oranges) said he was going to get a sack from his brother in law.  He called the 14-year-old and told him to go get a sack of at least 100 oranges and bring it here right now. This meant get the oranges and haul them on the bus from about 45 minutes away; he appeared later that morning and received lunch and bus fare home for his trouble. Of course, later that day a huge basin of oranges appeared at our door. They do not turn orange here but remain yellow-green. A case of "looks are deceiving" because they are quite delicious. We do eat them a little differently - the membranes are so thick that eating them would be bitter. They are light on pulp, so the juice is the main attraction and you basically quarter the oranges and suck the juice out.  

Have a lovely week.