Wonderful Wednesday

Today started off like every other day we have had at La Roca - Aben walks up to each door to greet the kids.  He says "Buenos Dias" and they all say, "Buenos Dias Aben!" He asks them, "Como Estan?" (How are you?) and they all say, "Bien, bendecidos, prosperados, en victoria y guapos!" (Well, blessed, prosperous, in victory, and handsome!)  It is the cutest thing that you have ever heard - it melts my heart each morning :)

I started right away with my Kindergarteners - we ended up having a teacher there that could help with the other class ... so it worked out great.  We had a great time reviewing our numbers, singing, dancing, and learning new numbers today!

Singing our Number Song :)

Counting 1-10 in English

When it was time for snack, they blessed their food and ate so quietly ... this is one of my favorite times of the morning.  I love to see them bless their food - it is so sincere and genuine - they truly are SO thankful.  Another student came without food today, and by the time they all shared some of their food with her, she had the most food out of all of the kids!

Praying for his snack :)

They went out for recess and we joined in on the fun.  They play a game where two students hold their hands together above their heads to make a "gate" for the other kids to pass under.  They sing a song while the other kids are running under them - and they trap a student with their arms.  The two children each represent a fruit - and the child that is "trapped" has to choose which fruit to stand behind ... when all of the kids have made it through and chosen a fruit - they play a tug of war match to try to pull the two original kids apart ... I know this probably doesn't make much sense in writing - but it is so fun!  Daniel and I joined in on the game today - and the kids were cracking up at us as we tried to squeeze under their arms.  It was so fun - we loved it :)

Girls playing :)

Boys playing :)

These boys can't get enough of Daniel :)

Me squeezing under the girls!

Cracking up with them :)

Daniel stuck in the middle :)

Final round - we were pulling against each other :)

After recess, I went on to the PreK kids - and Daniel started back with painting.  They ended up getting the first coat completely done today!   In the middle of my time with the PreK kiddos, Aben came into the room and said, "You've got to come see this!"  We walked over to the next classroom to find the kids teaching Daniel his numbers in Spanish!

Teaching Daniel his numbers through 30

My time went by so quickly with the kiddos today ... After class is over, the kids are in the habit of stacking their chairs, pushing the tables to the side, and cleaning the classroom.  I could look at this picture over and over again every day  - this is sweet Gabriella, 4 years old, sweeping up the classroom today.  Daniel came in to check on me - and saw her sweeping ... he was in awe.  He said, "Laura - can you imagine a 4 year old at home sweeping?"  Words can not express what we are experiencing here  ... these kids have hearts unlike anything we have ever seen in our lives.  She swept under everything - and when she was done ... she swept it out the door and put her broom away ... and she was on her way home :)

The most precious sight

One of the teacher's 18 month old son - cleaning up and stacking chairs!

Here are some pictures of the kids heading home today - this is such a sad part of our day ... we hate to say goodbye - and the kids get so sad, too!

The Kindergarten boys ready to go!

Sweet kindergarten girls lined up and ready

One of my favorites - these three kids are super special to us!
Amy, Saray, and Arturo - he is so protective of his little sisters ... it is precious!

For lunch, Roberta went to get some fried chicken and tortillas from a local vendor near the school.  It was delicious :)  We enjoyed lunch with some of the kids that stayed at the school ... there are kids that don't want to go home after classes so they stay at the school until we leave.  They love being around us - often hanging off of us and constantly telling us that they love us!  It's the best way to spend a day :)  The kids loved the lunch - here's a picture of Daniel and Joel enjoying the skin from the chicken together!

After we ate - I busted out the face paint :)  The kids here love to have their faces painted ... so I spent time with them doing face painting. 

So happy :)

Sweet  Clarinda - please pray for her ... her life at home is torturous -
she needs as many prayers as possible!
Please lift her up - that the Lord will provide a safe environment for this sweet girl!

Daniel took on the kids in a soccer match - and managed to kick the soccer ball over the school building and down into the village below the school!  The kids were so sad - Daniel and Dennis climbed up on the roof to see over the building - checking for a chance to find the ball ... but no luck!

Climbing up to find the ball

One of my favorites - Daniel and his buddy, Dennis, overlooking the city together :)

Precious sight - the teacher bathing her 18 month old son - and the kids from the school helping!

One of the kids found a deflated ball in one of the rooms - so Daniel walked the neighborhood with 4 of the kids to ask for an air pump.  They came back and started their games again :)  Right before we left - Daniel was kicking the ball near the fence - and knocked it over into a yard with a big dog ... so the ball was deflated again!  So - somehow he managed to lose 2 of their soccer balls today! Something tells me that we will be buying some soccer balls tomorrow for these kiddos!

Picture of us driving out of the neighborhood as we were leaving today-
two of the boys jumped on for a ride to the paths to their houses!

We had another day full of hugs, love, and laughter.  We can not get enough of this place!