THOUGHTS

You know I have been trying to process everything I have been seeing over the last week and 1/2. I think it is pretty impossible. There is really no way I can tell you how unreal the poverty is and at the same time how beautiful the people are. This has been the most rewarding experience and mission that I have ever been a part of. The school children have given me so much more than I have given them.

David, Gabe and Grayson, I miss you so much. Every thing that I experience, I think how much I wish you were here with me. David the boys would be thrilled to talk to you about your job and help you make shelves, desks, and anything else. Gabe, I know the students would be as interested in you as they are in Megan. They want to know what your school is like and all the things you like to do at home. But, mostly they just want to play. Grayson, there are plenty of little ones that you could sing for! Thank you so much for supporting me on this trip. I know this has not been easy on you guys….you just can’t live without me! J But seriously, I truly appreciate you giving me this opportunity.

I hope everyone has enjoyed seeing the pictures. I wish there was a way that I could bottle the atmosphere and love that is beaming throughout this school. Most of the community mothers and fathers now smile when they see the bus coming through town unlike the stares that we got this first week. That makes you feel good.

The doctors held their clinic today. I don’t know how many kids they saw but I will try to find out. They were surprised just as I was as to how healthy most of the children are. The Feed the Children program has done wonders for their health as well as the education from the teachers about what they need to eat and what malnutrition can do to their body.

The students will be given a baggie of gifts this week. That was made possible partly by the donations of my church, Mt. Pisgah UMC and my dad’s church, Memorial Baptist. Through their support we were able to ship things over here that would have cost too much over here for us to buy each student something. We brought 42 extra bags. Those were packed with supplies for the students. There are pencils, erasers, math tools, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste and I am not sure what else. We filled the bags the first night and I have forgotten.

Thanks to so many people that helped make this trip possible and allowed me to bring all the wonderful things to enrich these children’s lives.

Tomorrow I will be teaching in the morning and doing tennis in the afternoon. Then, Thursday teaching again and Friday they will be putting on a show for us and that evening we are taking the teachers out to dinner. I am really excited about that.