Hello!

It has been spectacular having Ben and Anna down here!  They are 2 of our 4 interns for the summer.  Ben was in the youth group I co-led at my church and he is working with the building groups.  Anna used to work with me at the daycare and for the last week she has been translating for and working with a group of nursing students and a couple of nurses who have been teaching our Healers about injecting vaccinations, and stitching up wounds.  Once the nursing group leaves she will help me out with the camps I’m running this summer.  I’m close to both of them, and it is great seeing them shine down here! J

So as I said, we had a group of nurses and students here working with the Healers.  (For those that don’t know who I’m referring to when I say our Healers… We employ 6 local women to be Healers.  They learn basic medical information and go out in pairs to different communities teaching door to door.  Their topics range from the importance to washing hands to cholera.)  They worked on giving injections for vaccinations as well as practicing stiching wounds.  A group of kids 14-16 years old from Bermuda left today sailing back to Bermuda .  They have another group from Bermuda which sailed down yesterday, which have taken their place.  We also have a group of 35 people here from New Jersey.  I have been spending time with the groups in the evenings, and I'm meeting lots of great people!

This past weekend I walked door to door in 2 villages telling them about the summer camp.  It was sunny and super hot!  But the parents and kids all seemed excited.  Yesterday I had parent meetings in the 2 villages I have been teaching in.  Luckily they went well!  Here is a few photos from class…

yeah that's right... we are doing the Hokey Pokey! :)

And for all the teachers out there who know how easily kids get distracted, here is a photo of just one of the many distractions that happen regularly in my class when teaching here in the Dominican. Hahaha

Yes that is a cow sticking his head in the door to see what’s going on.  J

Gotta run! Getting eaten alive by mosquitos!!!  Adiós!

Hey Every body!!!

Sorry I have not been so good at writing as regularly as I used to.  I’ll try to get back into the habit of writing more often.

            So here is an update on what’s been going on…

            May is apparently a VERY wet month.  We have been getting rain quite often and everything is a muddy mess.  It is also the month when mangos come into season!!! J mmmm

            My garden is pretty much all dead.  When I chose a spot for it in our yard, little did I know, I chose the lowest part of the yard.  When it rains and rains, it turns into a pool.  L  Once everything dries out, I will have to find dirt to raise my garden and then start all over again.

            The classes have been good!  Last week was transportation week.  Here’s a photo of a game we were playing.  They were “driving” their cars while the music was playing.  When I paused the music, they had to sit in a chair and tell me what color car was taped to the chair. 

This week we are learning about the life cycle of a butterfly.  The kids are really enjoying it.  They are amazed by the photos of the life cycle in the books I have.

            This summer I will be adding 2 more villages. (God help me! Haha)  Luckily I will have lots of help this summer.  An Intern and friend of mine, Anna is coming to help run the camps.  There will also be people from the groups in and out, helping where they can and when they can.  I can’t wait for the extra help and company! J

            Last Sunday  was la día de las madres (their mother’s day).  I was invited to a service at the church in Pueblo Nuevo.  When I said “But I’m not a mother!”, their response was, “You are not a mother, but you have many kids.”  Haha couldn’t argue with that one.  After the service they handed out little cards to the mothers and me.

            Sunday, I was also invited to a birthday party in my neighborhood.  It was for a little girl named Noelis.  Here is a photo of her.

            I bring her and her sister to my class in the mornings.  She is a sweetheart.  I gave her a box of crayons, and a princess coloring book. She sat right down and started coloring for the remainder of her party and for a while afterwards.  Her mother told me the next day she slept with it.  I believe I was the one of two guests to bring a gift.  I was surprised at first but then when I realized/ remembered where I was, it all made sense.

            Bill, the mission’s founder/ director, is coming tonight and 2 of the 3 interns for the summer are coming Sunday as well as our first work group.  Can’t wait to see everyone! J

¡Adios!