Another busy day

Today, we had breakfast with the girls. We ate pancakes and fruit. Becky and Mopsy then did a short program on self-esteem and feelings with most of the children. She presented many concepts to them that were probably brand new. For example, that each person's feelings are their own, based on their own perception of their situation, and therefore, it is not appropriate to judge how someone else feels. We gave the children a "feelings chart" which had more than 30 different feelings and an accompanying facial expression on it. The had fun talking about the feelings on the chart and comparing their own feelings to the faces represented there. We then asked them to draw and describe their feelings before they came to the homes they live in and how they felt today. Most described feelings of sadness, confusion and frustration before coming to the homes. Now most of them are happy or hopeful.

Becky also told the children that it was very important to have someone to talk to when they were sad or angry or frustrated. Most of them said they had a trusted friend they could talk to. All of them said they knew there was an adult in their lives that they could go to when they needed to talk. Many of them said they talk to God about what is going on in their lives.

Although we just scratched the surface with these children in this area, we feel we have perhaps opened the door for future conversations with their house parents and with each other.

For lunch, we took the 21 youngest children to Burger King for hamburgers! They were so excited, as this is a treat that they don't often get. Afterwards, we went to an ice cream shop called Irma's. The ice cream shop had an indoor playground and the children had fun burning off some energy before enjoying their desert. We took them back to the homes by 1:15 so they could change clothes and get ready for school before 2 pm.

At that point, Norma took the eight team members out to the women's prison to visit the two mothers of our children who are incarcerated there. Manuella is Daniel and Moises' mom; Zoila is Zoila and Paco's Mom. We talked to them about what we had done with their children this week and we talked to them some about their lives in the prison. They both love their children very much and know how much of their children's lives they are missing. But, they are very thankful that the children are safe, well fed and are being educated. It is so much more than they could give them anywhere else.

We went on a brief shopping excursion to two area pottery shops and the Gramlich coffee shop that we always visit here. By then, it was time to get back to the boys' home for a pizza party. This is such a fun night for all of the children, as the older kids were preparing for the annual style show. This is when the kids get to "model" their new clothes and shoes. This year, we included a talent show to the evening's festivities. The younger children had an opportunity to participate, and, as you can see from the pictures, we were all entertained!

We returned to our hotel for the evening devotional, prepared by Anne.