Graduations 2014

Dennis and I were honored to be invited to two graduation ceremonies.  One, of course, was for Buena Vista Government School Class of 2014.  The other one was for a young man named Noel Pineda.  He graduated from Global Outreach Vo-Tech School in Roaring Creek.

Almost all the girls from Standard Six who graduated.

This is not a high school graduation.  This is Standard Six which is our age equivalent to 8th grade.  From here on out they are considered adults and will either go to high school, which costs a lot of money, or they will look for work.  I think the average age is 13 or 14.

This is Abner, the highest ranking student in the class.

Buena Vista Government Schol Class of 2014

        Certificates of Appreciation

Yoni and I.
Very proud of him!

Campos Sisters
That's Loren in the pink.

All graduations have a meal served.

Having fun with some of the girls.

There are two young men from Buena Vista who graduated from Global Outreach.  Noel and Guidman.  They started out in a class of 35 and only eight of them made it all the way to the end.  Global is very focused on the young man's identity in Christ and then they train them in a trade.  Both of these guys took auto mechanics and both are going on to the "Tech" School in San Ignacio.  And both are taking electrical classes.  Dennis has already talked to them and offered his assisstance in their schooling.  They both seemed pleased to hear that he is around.  Isn't it amazing how God brings people together!

Noel 

                                         

Guidman and family.  The girl is Renelly, she is one of our visitors at the house.

So the 2013-14 school year is done and we are already talking about next year.  These are the teachers from Buena Vista.  Mr. Mefi is in the blue in front, he is always trying to get me to speak Spanish with him.  I think by the end of the year we managed a very short conversation.  Mrs. Blanco is behind him, she is our brave Infant I teacher.  She gets all the little ones who don't speak English and have never been in a structured environment.  Mr. Jimmy is next, he is in Standard 4, then is Miss. Melody from Standard 1. 

Mr. Uck is in back, from Standard 2.  He is a fun guy and enjoys chatting with Dennis a lot.  In the middle is Miss. Evette, she got to go to Colorado this year with Mrs. Betty.  They went to study reading methods and SRA at a school there.  It was their first time in the snow.  Mrs. Jizelle is in the purple from Standard 3, she is getting married this summer.  And then finally we have Mrs. Betty.  She is my hero.  I watched her handle some extreme scenarios this last year that most principals would never have to consider.  Mrs. Betty handles herself with dignity and she has my utmost respect.
                                   

Last day of school!

Making all kinds of plans for the two months of summer.  Already have some days scheduled to work in homes with students and parents who need help with reading and speaking English.  Very excited!!

Love you guys!

                                    

Vistors

     As the days go quickly by us, Dennis and I are doing all that we can to build relationships with the people around us.  Our ministry is more than me teaching English and Dennis fixing things.  As a matter of fact, those are the least important things that matter.  What matters is that we show love and respect to the people we meet.  We want to be that "light" and "salt" that the bible talks about.  God is changing Dennis and I all the time.  We never get tired of spending time with the kids from Buena Vista.  Well, we do get tired physically, but we always seem to be ready to go back for more.  

Danna

Ashlyn, Rosa, Lucia, Danna in the back,
and Jamila and Jaury in front.  Notice the coffee containers.
They were very excited to bring them home.

Recently, we have discovered a "crystal" mine in our driveway.  So, we figured that the kids would like to come and work the mine with us.  And they did!  They loved it!  And John Vandermark hasn't even asked us to not dig up the driveway.  Deep inside I know that John wants to come join us.  There is a little bit of a treasure hunter in us all!

Dennis and Minor.  (ha, I just realized that Minor
is working the mine...)

Diego in the orange, his sister Thalia in purple and the other
girl in blue is Lucia.  Dauer (Dower) is the little guy in the middle
and Enil is his brother with the pick axe.

This is Jacob.

After getting the boulder out they started to find
good pieces of crystal.

Thalia attacking the boulder.  She is fearless!

Miners at work.  This picture looks like Diego is going
to hit Dennis with the pick axe.

Minor and Enil making their own pizza for the first time!

We put puzzles together and played Chutes and Ladders.

Deigo, Dauer and Dennis, Triple D just hangin out
and being cool.

Well, "cool" just went out the window.

 The kids enjoy the binoculars on the back porch.  The village is pretty flat and you can't see very far.  Our porch has a view of hills and jungle that the kids love.

Dennis is having the older boys help around the
house.  They love getting to use power tools.

We'll end with this great picture of Dauer.  He is a
wonderful little guy with some of the best
eye lashes that God ever created.

I will have more blogs on the way.  Graduation at the school today and more visitors to share.

We love you guys!

Field Trip with the Little Ones

As if our previous adventure wasn't enough Dennis and I went on the field trip with the younger students last week.  We went to Cahal Pech, a Mayan Ruin in the middle of San Ignacio.  A much shorter bus trip and a much hotter day, but we had fun with the kids.  (And we didn't have our speedy bus driver this time.)

Loading up outside the school in Buena Vista.

In the museum at Cahal Pech.

 The museum is nice and the walkways are well maintained.
Cahal Pech is more of a family-communal area, whereas Xunantunich
is a huge temple-formal place.  We like them both.

I put a bunch of photos of the students again.  I'm sure some of you
will recognize some of the kids you met in 2012.

We counted cows and horses on the bus ride.  We had 27 horses and well over 78 cows.  It was fun.  I also started to teach some of the
kids the "Caterpillar Song" that my daughter-in-law Amy taught me.
See Amy, you are responsible for little kids in Buena Vista walking
around singing about how only God can make a caterpillar!

A photo of the Jade Mask, very famous archeological find here in Belize.

I can name almost all of these, Thalia, Marisela, Mauda, Jonathan,
and in the front is Jayme.

Arles and Elvis

Justin

Herlin and I can't remember the other one.

Emily

Justin, Johnathan, Brenis, Dimas, Wendy.
Those are the names I remember.

Thats Brenis waving.

Zuly

Jayme and Rosa

 It was a hot, humid day but when you keep busy you don't notice it as much.  Many of these kids have not been here before.  Families don't get the opportunity to do "family type" outings here, no vehicles, money or time to go have fun as a family.  I think that's why so many moms came with us.

Love you guys!