So there´s this guy and he´s dark and handsome

Only kidding. Sort of. My last blogs have been about life here in Bolivia. I imagine many are wondering how the ministry is going. On Tuesdays and Fridays I ride an hour and a half (minimum) to Villa Israel, one of our two orphanages that are complete. I tutor there for at least an hour, but hopefully more. Tutoring is just what it sounds like. Villa Israel is in a very poor area, so each child gets one on one attention with different basic concepts.

Anna was working on her multiplication tables with Jaclyn and now is working on them with Andrea. Samuel is working on memorizing Bible verses with Kristen. Each child is working on something in particular with one of us. The children LOVE this time. They love getting to spend time where they are the center of attention and they love to learn. This is such a privilege to them (and of course to me).

Currently in Villa Israel I am working with Erlon. He happens to be the orphanage heart throb. Erlon is five years old and will melt your heart upon first meeting. He is so kind, so sweet, and very energetic. In order to even get one solid hour of attention I like to have things planned out before I get there. These last few weeks we have been working very hard on writing the numbers 1-5 and his name. Literally each week I see improvement. As we learn how to write the numbers we are also learning how to say them in English. We always are hoping that the children become bilingual. Not because we think they should be able to speak English to communcate with us, but because speaking English is very much a sign of status. We are always encouraging each of the children to grow to their full potential, which we hope is something strong within the town.

Because Erlon is five years old, he continually gives me such grace. I know that often the sentences I am saying to him are not grammatically correct, but we play charades and get things done. Usually I come with a few ‘worksheets’ made to begin with our numbers. Then we like to play Uno. Uno is a perfect came of colors and numbers. It is so wonderful for all the children! Then we like to relax, he is still very young, and read a story. This of course is in Spanish. Generally, I practice the book and figure it out before I get there. But sometimes he laughs. And I laugh. Its wonderful.