Last Thursday Allan was cleaning out his classroom some more and trying to organize the monds of paper that had been left for him when he happened a little family of newborn mice. He said the momma scurried quickly out of the room leaving 5 brand new
babies (they couldn't even open their eyes yet!) alone in the corner of the classroom. We called our new friend Jose (4th grader, whose house we visited the other day. His mom is Eva and his little sister is in the picture with me from a previous blog) to come look at it. Jose one of the cutest little boys I have ever seen. He is just so sweet. and had NO fear of the little mice. He picked all 5 of them up in his hand and carried them outside to show off to his friends. After a little while, Allan and I knew they were going to die without their mom so we told Jose and his friends he should carry them to the edge of the school and set them free. Later Jose showed us a little house he made for the mice out of cardboard and grass. It was precious and we were glad we didn't have to touch them.
Friday afternoon was open house at Mayatan. There was a small turnout because of the mis-communication on when open house actually was, but I did get to meet 4 of my students and their parents. I have 2 students from the nearby Chorti villages called La Pintada who came to open house to meet me. Meeting some students made this seem even more unbelievable because when I would ask the kids something, all I got were blank stares! My lesson plans may all have to change if they can't understand me! Oh no!
We had another amazing experience on Saturday. Anne (my fellow 2nd grade teacher) and her family are missionaries down here. Her husband (who is a veternarian) mostly works with villages and their livestock, teaching the village people how to care for their animals. Anne invited us to go with them to a nearby village to help paint their newly constructed school. We were really excited about the invite and the chance to see a village. On the way to the village, we got to ride in the back of a pickup, standing up (real Honduran style) because the ride was so bumpy and up and down mountain paths. Our butts would have been so bruised if we tried to sit the whole time. Pulling up into the village, a little boy started sprinting after the truck to greet
us. Then 4 or 5 more little boys showed up wanting to help. And then a few more children and some older men. And then a woman with her 4 little girls. And then 3 women and their babies showed up wanting to feed us lunch when we were finsihed painting the school. By the time we were finsihed, it seemed like half of the village was there, but I think it is because they were so
excited about this new school. So excited about a 25 x 15 cement block school with a few desks and the smallest chalkboard I have seen in a school. I think they were so excited because the old school was mud and sticks, with a tin roof, with a dirt floor.
After we finished painting, watching the little boys play soccer for a while (and loving every minute of it!) and eating (we ate while all the villagers watched us! I felt so bad!), Allan and I got to walk up to where their houses are. The hill was so steep and I was sweating so much. I was so humbled by how these people live. Those women carried our food, plates, cups, drinks, silverware, etc. all the way down this hill, just to feed us. They probably carried the supplies to make the food and the drinks on a 3 hour walk from town around and up and down those same curvy, bumpy roads we drove on. Some of them may have horses to carry them to town and back, but a lot probably don't. I just cannot believe it! I hate running errands because they take so long by car in the states but I cannot imagine walking 2 hours to town down hill and then back up the hill with just a few supplies because its all that is able to be carried. Wow. And then they shared what they had with us.
Some of the little boys!
Allan and the kids painting!
Playing soccer!
The old school!
The new school and the old school!
That is such a gorgeous little school in the middle of "nowhere." It will show not only the children but their families that education is important in their lives. Without outside help (the missionaires and their helpers) there would be no hope of improvement. What a way to spend your saturday...Even your students in Copan have more "advantages" than the Chaorti. It's all relative isn't it. Hopefully you'll learn some things from this adventure - God is everywhere (even in the remote mountains of Honduras), one person can make a difference, more people can make a faster change, and although happiness is certainly not dependent on personal wealth God can use some people's monetary blessings to help others - talents may be physical, intellectual or even monetary - just use your talents well. Love Mom.
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