Happy Birthday Pamela

 Pamela turned 17 last week. She is the oldest of all of the kids. She has been here at CASA now for 7 years. We have seen her grow up into a beautiful young lady.

Happy happy happy Birthday Pamela!!!!

Playground

The kids are all SUPER excited as they have a new playground. After a few weeks of teams working on our Pinterest playground it is finished. Thanks to all of you who help with the funding, the building, and painting. A team was here today and put the final coat of stain on the playground. So it should be all dry and the kids can play on it tomorrow.

Garden

The kids got a lesson last week on how to take care of a garden. There are two Harding students who are here working in Honduras for the summer and they took an afternoon to talk to the kids. They learned what a raised bed was and how they work.
A handful of the kids helped fill the bed with dirt and fertilizer. They even helped plant tomatoes, green peppers, squash, and onions. Fernando and Josue are pretty excited about getting to water the plants. Dorian is working on putting a fence up to keep the kids and dogs out.
Hopefully soon we will have some good vegetables to eat.

Summer is here

Things are busy here at CASA as we have several groups starting off the summer helping here at CASA. The rock wall little by little is being taken down and a new block wall is being put up. I am excited to see it all finished. It is a lot of hard work. So little by little a group works on a section and hopefully by the end of the summer we will have a lot done. This will be good for security. 

Also there is a group here building a nice and sturdy playground for the kids. The kids can hardly wait to play on the new playground. 

The kids love getting to see familiar faces and meeting new ones. They also love to jump in and and help out in whatever way they can.

Excited for the summer and all that it brings.

happy birthday Fernando

Fernando has been counting down the days for months now til his birthday. The day has finally arrived. The kids if they want get to spend the night with us on their birthday. He spend the night here Thursday night as there was no school on Friday. He played with Korbin, watched TV, and played games on the ipad. Then for his birthday Friday he went and ate lunch at Dilma's house. Then a group invited the kids to Pizza Hut Friday night. He was ecstatic.
Although he likes to tell everyone he is 12 or 13. We don't really know how old he is. Although after all of the paper work we had to go through and we finally got his birth cert. it states he is just turning 11. So 11 it is!
Fernado has really matured this year. After being baptized in March he has been really interested with studying the bible. He is faithful and every week comes to our house to study. He always carries along his notebook and bible. He is really wanting to learn and grow. I am proud of the young boy he is growing into.

Happy happy birthday Fernando!!!!

Visitation

Most of the parents come monthly to come visit their kids. There are two parents who are super poor, but would not miss visitation for the world. They always find a way to come and bring a little something for their kids.
Doris, Katy, Fernando, and Reina's mom is one of those parents. Reina decided last month she wanted to work all month and save her money to give to her mom at the next visitation. I thought that would be an excellent idea. The first week she wanted everyone to know that she was saving her money for her mom. As all of the other kids got paid their allowances and went and spent it on snacks. I figured when it came down to seeing everyone else buy snacks she would give in and want to buy too.  Although she only spent .50 all month of herself and the rest she saved.
All month long she saved little by little and had me put the money in safe keeping so no one would steal it from her. Friday was visitation and she had saved us $4.00. That's a lot considering she gets paid .50 a day to help take care of the babies. She was so proud of what she had saved. She understands her mom doesn't have much and she wanted to help her out. She could have done a number of other things with her $4.00, but she choose to save it for her mom. It brought tears to my eyes as she proudly handed the money to her mom on Friday.
I am proud of you Reina!

Easter Egg Hunt

First thing Sunday morning the kids wanted to know if we were going to have an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon. The kids got the eggs down out of storage. Pamela and Ana after church stuffed them full of goodies. Then Pamela and Ana went to hide them. Although four eggs we couldn't find. I guess the kids will find them in the days to come. 

Olman and Josue enjoying their treats from their eggs.

 Lupe

 Katy and Any

After the Easter egg hunt I told all of the kids I needed a picture. Getting a picture with all of them together is very hard task. All 23 of them plus Korbin!!!

All of us at CdE wishing you a late Happy Happy Easter!!!!

Sewing class

The girls are getting sewing classes. About a month ago they had a weekend long of sewing classes. Some of the girls caught on better than others. Although the girls are super excited to be learning. This is the first of many classes they girls will receive. Thank you Donna and family for investing your time and energy to show the girls. A few of the boys even jumped in on the action and sewed a few stitches. When this is all said and done hopefully they will be able to make many things.

new swim suits

 During Holy week many people take trips to the beach, swimming pools, or the river to go swimming. The kids went and spent the afternoon in a water hole about half an hour from here. The kids were super excited as they got to try their new swimsuits that were donated a few months ago.
Even though we didn't take any "big" trip I still think the kids enjoyed their afternoon at the waterhole.

happy happy birthday

Katy turned 10 today!!!! She got a package a few weeks ago in the mail for her birthday and she was so excited today to open her birthday present. Happy Happy Birthday to Katy!!!!!!

Antonio

After 6 months of therapy and getting help Antonio graduated from the program he was in and is back home with all of us at CASA. The the kids are so happy to have him back home and all of the adults too. The boys had a party planned out for him. The boys with their money bought pizza and coke. Matt bought a cake that all of the kids got to share in the celebration. The pizza and coke was the boys private little party. They had the room all decorated and were super excited to have Antonio back home with them. 

Sunday morning we attended church with Antonio. They prayed over Antonio and presented him with a certificate showing he had completed his 6 months.

We are very proud of Antonio and how far he has come. Praying that he continues to stand strong in HIM. 

belated birthdays

It's never too late!!! Happy very belated birthday to these two. Some how my blog for their birthday slipped by me. Any and Josue turned 6 the end of Feb. They are both in first grade this year. 

Josue excels with his school work. He usually can do all of his homework by himself. There are a few little errors he makes we make him correct them. Any on there other hand is slow and takes her time doing her homework and needs lots of help from the staff to make sure she is doing her homework correctly. We love you Any and Josue!!!!!!

Happy happy 6th Birthday!!!!!!!

Sickness

It's really hard to keep everyone well here at CASA. When one kids gets sick it usually means there are a few more who will get sick.
Two weeks ago Korbin got a high fever and an infection. We got him on meds and quickly got it under control. Well a week later Olman, Yair, Any, and Lupe got sick too. They all got over it quickly except Olman. I took him to the dr last week and they changed some of his meds. Well he seems a little bit better but still is pretty miserable. And now his brother Josue is sick too. Fevered and infected throat. Also four of our staff have been sick. There also is a whole other handful of kids who have colds.
Hoping this all will pass soon. We are going on week three of the kids being sick.
Korbin is on his second round at fighting this stuff. He has a fever and is sick again.
Please pray for healthy kids. Hoping this too shall soon pass.

Happy Birthday Reina!!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Reina. Today she turns 15!!! 

This picture I took last week. She helped clean some of our chickens.

It has been a joy and continues to be a joy to see Reina mature and grow. 

New school schedule

We are on the second week of the new school schedule. The kids really seem to like the new schedule. Although change has come with their new schedule. I go to school to pick them up at 11:30 every day for lunch. Upon arriving at home they eat their lunch. Then the quickly get busy doing their afternoon chore. Such as washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, folding clothes, or cleaning the eating area. The kids do such a better job a getting their job done knowing they have a short amount of time to complete their chore. There are a few things the kids don't have time to do. So the ladies help finish up whatever needs to be done. We load the van up about 12:40 and back out the gate. The kids have to be back at school by 1:00.
Not everyone goes home during their lunch break. Although with as many of kids as we have it is easiest to bring them home to eat. I can't imagine taking them food and having to watch all 14 of them every day for an hour and a half as they run all over the school. Most of the kids that live close to the school they walk home for lunch. The other ones their parents pack them lunch or their parents bring them lunch.
The ladies have a little bit of a bigger load as the kids are not able to make tortillas, get firewood, and complete some of their daily chores they normally would do in the afternoon. Although for the most part the homework stays the same and the kids still get to play in the afternoon. Since the kids get home at 3 now I was worried as to how they would get all of their homework done in time. Although they are all making it happen. The 5th grade teacher is a little rough and has given Katy and Sisi tons of homework every night. So there has been tears, anger and all sorts of emotions as they get frustrated and discouraged by their amount of homework.
For the most part it has been a smooth transition into the the new schedule with the kids.

Reina

Reina this year is not attending school. She has attended kinder-4th grade. She has her school certificate to second grade. Third and fourth grade she just went to but was unable to complete tests and do the homework. After first grade is has really been a struggle with Reina to get her homework done. She never learned to read and can write very little. Although this year she is determined she is going to learn to read.
We talked to the employees at CASA and asked any of them if they had jobs for Reina. Learning to work for people and wash clothes, clean houses, make tortillas etc are all important factors for Reina in the future for her to get a job. There are four different ladies that let her come to their house and clean, cook, wash, and teach her other things. Cafe Gringo is letting her come 1 1/2 days a week. She helps clean and cook at the Cafe. Pamela is really wanting to teach Reina to read and Reina is very eager. Pamela asked that Reina bring a notebook and pencil on the days she comes to the Cafe. There are times when they have down time at the Cafe. During the down time Pamela has been working with Reina on speilling and reading. Reina comes home and gets her notebook out and reviews her work over and over and over. She so badly wants to learn to read and write.
I am so grateful for the Cafe and all of the ladies who are letting Reina work for them. It is a huge blessings to us, them and Reina. Reina loves getting to help the ladies out and learn at the same time. She came home last week and told me she had learned how to sew a button on a shirt. So the next time a button came off she told me she was going to sew it on and not ask for help from Elvia.
I am so proud of Reina and the young lady she is becoming. She turns 15 next week. Crazy where the time has gone.

Olman and Josue

Mirian decided that she wanted to present the twins at church last Sunday. Most people do it when they are babies but she decided that it was something important she wanted done and it had not been done yet. Although she made it clear that she was not going up front. She doesn't do well with strangers and crowds. So Ana and me took Olman and Josue in front of the church to present them and for them to be prayed over by Jorge.
Praying that these boys grow up knowing that they are loved and that their is a desire and fire set inside them for the LORD. Excited to see the warriors that all of these kids at CASA will be some day. God will do BIG things through them only if they are willing. I know that right now we might now see the results but I know there are seeds being planted within each and every child.

School Schedule

This week the kids are on a new school schedule. They will be entering school at 8:00 and then at 11:30 til 1:00 they have a break/lunch and then back to class again at 1:00 til 3:00. When I say that they have lunch that means that the parents are responsible for the kids during this hour and half. The parents are to either pick up their child or come to the school and bring them lunch and watch your child. The teachers are all on break during this period and the kids are on their own. Can't imagine some of the trouble the kids will get themselves.
This new law was put into effect in December. Some schools right away starting following the new rules and others aren't following through and are wanting to protest. Although since there are lots of schools not doing the new schedule the teachers are really receiving a lot of pressure from their boss that they have to follow through with this new schedule. They are starting to inspected every school and the teachers are afraid they will loose their job or possibly close the school if they do not follow through with the new rules. So this week the teachers are finally doing the new schedule. Not too sure how it will all unfold or work out just yet. Some say the teachers are going to just be there to be there from 1-3 but not give class. The majority of the parents are against this too. So they are also wanting to protest. It really is silliness because it is the same 5 hours of class basically. Instead of 8-1 now it is being broken up. Which causes the teachers to get home later, the kids to get home later, confusion as to who will watch the kids from 11:30-1:00, getting them lunch, and getting home later which doesn't leave much time for homework or play.
Although I am happy the teachers are finally obeying and following through. I can only imagine what sort of problems we would run into later down the road if they didn't follow through. Possibility of losing their job, the school closing, not getting paid, and going on strike. So all in all that means the kids would not be receiving classes. So I am hoping now since the teachers are complying that their won't be any problems in the long run.
Oh the school system already is such a mess here in Honduras. Not too sure this is going to help but just add and cause confusion.
Here's to the first week of confusion and change for the kids and teachers.

Water hole

Mirian and Olman

The 6th graders convinced me Friday morning to take a walk with them and let them go down to the water hole to play. Mirian usually doesn't go out much or take the twins anywhere but I told her where we were going and asked her if she wanted to go along with us. She didn't hesitate and got the twins and Yair ready and out the gate we went. Josue wanted to stop and look at everything. He doesn't leave the CASA gate much and it showed. He was enthralled with every little thing we passed along the way. 

After about 30 minutes we got to the water hole. The kids were all excited and jumped in the water. Josue, Yair, and Olman weren't sure of the water. Josue and Olman ended up loving the water. Yair was scared of the water and played just a little bit. Korbin and Olman sat along the side kicking and splashing their feet as we held on to the backs of their shirts making sure they didn't dive or fall in the water.

In the photo above if you look close enough Jose is in the distance. He stood on that rock and beat his chest and acted liked he was Tarzan!!!  

 Ana decided she didn't want to get wet.

 Fernando

Olman 

no school

 These are the four that are here every morning while the rest of the kids go to school. Olman and Korbin are usually doing everything together. Yair is so active and everywhere. I have told Yair he is the one the sets an example to the younger ones. I told he is the oldest and needs to set a good example. The other day he was ready to jump off a table and there went Korbin and Olman after him. Then another day he was throwing rocks and dirt and Olman and Korbin quickly went to join in on the action. Josue is thriving and doing really well. Trying to work with Olman and Yair on a few simple things but it feels like I am running into a brick wall at times. Hopefully somewhere it is sinking in their heads. Yair will be going to kinder in the afternoons.

Korbin loves to wrestle. The other day Josue, Olman, and Korbin were running circles on the trampoline tackling and one another. These three boys are going to be a handful.