Tuesday, April 8

We got up bright and early again at 5:30am in order to get dressed, eat breakfast, and

be in our classrooms by 7:20am! We have been blessed with warm showers so far...

What joy to face our students with clean hair !

 

Each of us has been assigned to help students who need extra attention in some way.

This has been a challenge for those who don´t speak Spanish and are tutoring students

in the 4th and 5th grades. However, Our Epiphany women are forging ahead, using all

their extensive mental capacity, creative ideas, and positive attitudes to reach the students,

keep them focused on the task, and develop a wonderful bond. 

Our first grade team has the additional task of keeping students from killing each other.

(Think of 6 Julios in a class of 12 students!!!!)

 

We have spent a good deal of time discussing our trials and triumphs in the classroom

with Doña Claudia.  She is creating a formal program of using teaching assistants in

each class and is looking to us to give her feedback on our experiences.  It´s fun to be

a part of the planning process and hopefully we can help her create a permanent program

that volunteers can join if they choose. She continually impresses us with her growing

vision for El Hogar!!

 

We spent the evening with the little girls of Dorm 2.  They attacked the princesa glitter

paint books with such excitement and energy, and then moved on to making Judy´s

rubber band bracelets, puzzles, jumping rope, and toss game.  Our new volunteers

were terrific and took the whirlwind hour and a half in stride!!!!

 

We all think of you while we´re sitting on the porch, talking a mile a minute, over the

sounds of the noisy street.  There is no better place to be after a rewarding, yet

exhausting day.  We are truly enjoying getting to know each other and sharing our

love of the children, our admiration for the tireless teachers, and the comfort of

God`s `presence in this magical place.

 

We ended the evening, reflecting on the sad news of the passing of Jack Bishop.

Those who knew him as their rector at Epiphany shared their favorite memory

of Jack and Betsy and helped the rest of us understand some of the reasons he

was so special.

 

- Claudia Bell