UPDATE #7
/Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Today was our second day at Veracruz English Academy and it was another full, great day spent with the students. In addition to their regular school, the students attend class at VEA on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week. Bethany noticed that the students are getting better each day and she said that you can see the desire in their eyes to learn more English. She did an amazing job drawing out two of the newer (they've been in class for only 2 weeks), more reserved students when she worked with them in a small group setting. These two girls began class at VEA very timidly and were reluctant to speak out. Bethany worked with them yesterday and again today. I was working with another student and every time I looked over, Carol and Mirna were both talking, smiling, and laughing as they were reviewing their work with Bethany. It is great to have fun while you are learning! Another student, Maritza, who is a budding artist, blessed Bethany with a painting she had recently finished of a Marañon fruit. It is a beautiful painting, but I am embarrassed to say I had no idea what the painting was, because I did not know that cashews grow on apples that are on trees and the seed is actually on the outside of the fruit. I am going to have to research this more when I get home.
We are still working to finalize plans for an educational and fun outing with the students on Saturday. Please join us in praying for all the details of this event.
Unfortunately, Blanca awoke this morning not feeling great. She prepared breakfast for Dave and Bethany and as the day went on, she continued to decline. By the time class ended, she had a fever and felt really lousy. Please pray for a speedy recovery for her and a hedge of protection around Regan and our team. We have run into a number of people that we know here who are sick with the "gripa" (flu-like symptoms). We were going to take Blanca to be seen by a doctor when class ended, but she decided she wanted to tough it out until the morning and see if she felt any better.
On Monday, the team treated each of the students to an Eskimo ice cream after class. There is an "ice cream man" who works in this area and we had given him the times to come by at the end of each class. [See below attachment for a picture of the "ice cream man" leaving as a herd of cattle pass by the school.] Today, the team treated the students to homemade pineapple, chocolate, and creme filled pastries of various types. We got these from a local bakery run by three brothers who grew up at Casa Bernabe Orphanage and who are all now married, with families, and active members in local churches and the community at large. It has been a joy to watch how God has been faithful in the lives of these three boys and grew them into men who know and love and serve Him.
The last two classes ran a bit over and so we got back to our home-away-from-home around 6:30pm. I stayed there to get a head start on the laundry and get cleaned up while Dave and Bethany went to dinner and then took some food back to Regan and Blanca. They were back before 8:30pm so prayerfully we will all get a full night of sleep tonight!
Thank you again for reading the updates and for keeping us close in prayer.
In Christ,
Katy, updating for the team
