Graduation

Graduation was on Sunday. Almost forty students received diplomas of various kinds - sixth grade, ninth grade, and vocational programs. It was a nice ceremony, despite the fact that I cried all throughout. I was very proud of my students, for the accomplishments they had achieved, and sad, because we had to say goodbye.

For most of the graduates, they are the first in their family to receive such an education. Some, just a few years ago, were street children without a home or food. Some come from single-parent families, others, from houses that are little more than tool sheds or mud huts. It is my hope and prayer that they are able to take what they have done here and turn it into something bigger and better for themselves and their families.

Congratulations, Class of 2008! TKM!

Click on the photo album, "Honduras Chapter 29", at the right of the page, to see more graduation pictures and pictures from the Christmas party, etc.

Getting ready for pictures. They are so cute in their gowns!

Alberto, Amy and Antonio.

Ulices, Ruben, and Victor are my friends from Choluteca.

Our friends from La Mosquitia

Yesterday, we said goodbye to some of our friends from La Mosquitia. They left a couple days after everyone else, because their plane couldn't come until Tuesday. That's right, the plane. They pool their money together and hire a plane to transport them to and from school. It works out a lot cheaper for them this way. There are no roads to La Mosquitia, so they either have to fly or take a boat. Flying turns out to be cheaper then the boat, by the time they pay for bus fare to the dock, etc. And it only takes one hour as opposed to a couple of days with the other route.

The plane landed on the airstrip, and the boys, six of them, lined up by height - the pilot had to judge their weight and distribute them accordingly. Then, they had to repack their suitcases because they had too much and it wouldn't fit on the plane. I felt terrible that they had to leave their suitcases behind, but some friends who are coming to La Mosquitia later are going to take it to them.

With the pilot, there were seven people on this tiny plane! We were praying so hard that it would get off the ground, and then stay there! They called us when they arrived at Puerta Lempira, so we knew that they were safe. Dawan yamni maimunbia, painikanani! (God bless you, friend, in Miskito)

Christmas Images

We have a poinsettia plant, growing naturally next to the church. It's in bloom right now, and is pretty in it's wildness. So, Merry Christmas!