Friday

We are already at the beach in Placencia! The computer in Punta Gorda
were so slow last night that I could only update for Thursday before
they kicked me out of the Internet Cafe!

On Friday in Blue Creek the teaching group made monkeys and lizards
with the kids. While Mike D was there he noticed a pipe cleaner person
hiding up un the rafters from when he made them with the kids two
years ago! The kids got their rosaries and enjoyed a lesson about the
five senses! Peter read stories to the Infant class which they all
enjoyed.

In Corazon, Rose had practiced two Reader's Theatre type plays which
the older students performed for the younger ones. All the village
leaders, including the Alcalde (basically the mayor), and many of thee
parents showed up for the festivities. The children performed
traditional Mayan dances and brought samples of their local favorite
dishes and explained how they were prepared. School was dismissed
early so the teachers and construction crew could enjoy a delicious
home cooked meal. They were served cal do and chicken.
The library is almost finished, half of the roof is complete and
supplies were left so the men in the village will be able to complete
it.

Ann and Shannon visited the high school to present backpacks full of
school supplies to the four students who receive scholarships from All
Saints. The students were thankful for the visit.

In Otoxha the students had a presentation for the teaching team. They
started by singing the national anthem and then did some Mayan
dancing. They wanted Jerry, Anita and Kathy K to dance with them and
then show everyone their dancing skills! At the end of the
presentation they were given small gifts as a thank you for the week.
The students were dismissed early so the team could enjoy lunch in the
home of one of the teachers. They were served rice and beans and
chicken, and a delicious cacao drink.

The rest of the construction crew visited San Marcos so they could see
the finished library, they were glad to get to visit with the
principal and students.

The whole group took a field trip on Friday afternoon to Mr. Eladio
Pop's cacao farm. We all walked through a rainforest and were shown a
variety of interesting. Plants and herbs including ginger, lemon
grass, sugar cane, cilantro, fresh coconut, bananas, helaconia (wild
bananas)and limes. We also saw a gibnut (looks like a giant guinea
pig) in the the forest. After that we went to Mr. Pop's home and saw
the processing of cacao from the roasting of the beans to the mixing
of a delicious chocolately drink! The perfect end to a perfect week!

We got to Placencia this morning and spent the day on the beach. It
was a little cloudy, but very relaxing. We celebrated mass together
and are headed out to dinner. Some folks are sailing and snorkeling
tomorrow. And some of us are just planning to hang out on the beach.
We geared Atlanta is snowed inn, so we may never come home!