3/4/2013

Missed yesterday in the hustle and bustle that Sundays are.  It was great to see our little kids again since we haven't taken them to church for the past two Sundays.  We had two "cousins" with us again.  The little five year old boy and an older boy that has come with us before. I'm not quite sure why the two extra boys show up to come with us but it certainly won't hurt them to spend three hours in church.  If I were the mother of a five year old going off with people I didn't even know - I would be getting to know who they were and where they were taking my little boy.  We have no idea who the mothers ( fathers are usually not in the picture) of these kids are.  The kids must go through the neighborhood and ask if anyone wants to go to church -   The little girls were so happy to be with us that it was heart warming.  I just hope and pray we are doing something that will help them as they grow up in far less than ideal situations.  As I was waiting in the car for Scott to go tell them we were there this little 1 year old boy across the street started screaming.  Finally I got turned to see what was going on.   Here it is:

Their side of the street had water so she had a bucket of water she was dipping him in and pouring over him.  Of course it was cold but she just laughed as he squealed.  She finally let him down and he ran around naked the rest of the time I was there.  So much for giving him a bath!
        We got to come home for twenty minutes after church to get something to eat and get the things we needed for our two lessons - which turned out to be three lessons!  At San Cristobol part  of the class was still celebrating Independence Day.  One of my favorite  students is a  girl that has  a difficult time learning but she tries so hard.  I so want her to fill successful.  The bishop was so excited because he thinks he is now famous because he is on our website article on music.   He deserves to be famous; he is such a good bishop.
       As we came home we saw many people dressed in costumes either going to or coming from a carnival parade. This celebration has lasted at least two weeks.  I don't understand the costume parade part of it. There is something about being around people with their faces painted that is frightening to me for some reason.   This should be the end tonight.
       We left for Oriental not quite knowing what to expect because we didn't know when they had announced the start of the new class.  When we got there a bunch of boys were gathered outside and followed us inside.  They thought the class started next week so I don't know what they were doing there but before we knew it there were 20 or so people there and all but two were male.  It is so surprising here that so many men are interested in playing the piano.  At the same time half of our graduating class returned saying they wanted to practice.  I thought they were over and done with but they said Scott had told them if they wanted to go on we would help them.  Of course he did!  So I took them in a room and worked with them while he went through the group that had gathered for the new lessons.  The problem being they had not even announced the class in the wards.  That means that next week when we start the class there will probably be twice as many and we will have to divide the class.  We are running out of times we can teach.  We wish there was someone taking our place when we go but Pres. Anderson said he was just grateful to have had us to work with the music and didn't think they would let him have anyone else.  At least some of the people we have taught can teach but they don't have the keyboards to work with.  We have people all of the time coming to ask when we will be starting a new class in their area; it just makes me feel bad because they probably won't have that opportunity.  It was great to see our friends there.  The new high councilman that they assigned to help us is actually taking the class with his wife. 
      Sarah came as I was getting more books from the car.  She doesn't get to leave for London (her mission) until next month.  She is so disappointed because she was supposed to leave in Feb.  She won't find the temperatures or the people as warm there as they are here. It is hard to think all of these people we have grown to love will no longer be a part of our lives.  I'm sure every missionary feels that.
       Today is our morning off.  Time to do a load of wash, read Spanish scriptures, study, fix food, make phone calls, etc.  Scott taught both of the Spanish classes today because Elder Haws was gone.
I went up to Shavers to check on a Spanish program they have.  Their daughter is here with them and will stay until they go home in a week.  We are taking them to lunch tomorrow so that will be fun.
Scott taught about the passive progressive stuff and I just barely understood what he was teaching.  The next lesson was much more fun - for the first time students.
    Family Home Evening was a program we had heard before so we sent treats with the Yturraldes and stayed home.  How nice to have an evening at home! 
     So grateful our kids got home safe from their trip and had a good time......