school was rough today. we've been doing the same thing for a long time and the kids are starting to get bored, which leads to behavior problems. we also have some kids who can read and write perfectly and others who don't know their letters. not a perfect situation, but it's the one we're in. it can definitely work.
jaime came to the afternoon class today - renie wants him there. he had fun coloring, and it was nice for him to get out of the big house. it was funny - i was telling chuy that renie wanted jaime in the afternoon class and one of the ladies who works with the boys said but he can't talk! how will he learn? and i said look at alex, jose, and antonio! they can't talk but they absolutely can learn! it was wierd because she works with those boys every day and she knows what they're capable of and also that they can't talk. i think she's so used to them and their sign language that she kind of forgot about them not being able to talk like most people!

i talked to chuy after school today and it didn't go that well. please, please, pray for us. we both need to remember that everything we do is for the kids and everything else needs to be put aside. pride, emotions, selfishness, laziness, and fears can't get in the way. they just can't.
tomorrow will be the first day of a lot of changes in school, changes for the better, and i am just praying that chuy will see that and also be able to see my heart. i'm praying for him too, that he will find and develop a passion for teaching and will be able to impact the kids far more than i could ever hope to.

here's some of the song paco sang yesterday.

becky and i went to calimax tonight and we walked to the main road with a bunch of the ladies who worked today. we were talking about their walk home and i asked if they could take a micro instead of walk for half an hour. they said they could, but they don't have the money. a bus ride costs 8 pesos. that's 60 cents. i know that life down here is different, but it's those little things that just stay in my head as i think about how i can spend $20 and have it feel like nothing. we gave them money to take the micro, but it's like putting a band aid on a wound that's gushing blood. not a permenant solution.

ely was my saving grace today...she was so much fun. every time i passed her she was laughing. at dinner, jose wanted more rice milk, so i got it for him and accidentally filled the cup up really full, almost to the top. i brought it back to him and he took it from me without spilling, but when i told him to be careful and that i would get in trouble if he spilled it, he started laughing and rice milk went everywhere. ely was laughing for like 5 minutes. every time i looked over at her she would start again...throw her head back, close her eyes, and just shake with laughter. i wish i had a video of it...it's the best feeling to be laughing with the kids here.