Wednesday allowed us to sleep in a little bit. This morning we headed to the school to speak to the 7th and 8th grade students. Franchesca, Tood for the Hungry's staff doctor and medical trainer is with us today again. She has arranged for us to speak to the young people at the school particularly about issues of sex. We had a conversation together with all the kids and then they wrote questions down to be answered. Then we split up the boys and the girls. Franchesca and Taina took the girls into another room and we spoke with the boys. They had questions about when should have sex, and when to get married as well as a number of questions about std's and some questions about marriage.
During the introduction Franchesca challenged them to change the future of their country. She said that they have one of the higher young pregnancy rates and a high infant mortality rate. The young pregnancy rate keeps the country in a cycle of poverty and the number of young parents have an influence on the infant mortality rate because young people are unprepared to be parents. We pray that this time and Food for the Hungry's continueing efforts have an impact on these challenges.
We all enjoyed being in the school and are still amazed at how different it is than when we had arrived.
Leaving the school, we went out to where the men of the community were continueing to trench for the water project. We are so encouraged to see that they are making huge progress. It will be incredible to see the impact this will have. Hours each day will be relaimed for each household and I believe that things will be much cleaner and there will be time for other things in each household. And on a selfish note, we'll have real showers and regualr flush toilets when we return.
After lunch Franchesca and Bob led a health and nutrition clinic for mother's with young children. It was well attended, and of course the mothers brought their kids along, ranging in ages from 25 days to 2 years. They shared a lot of great in formation and encouraged thim in many ways.
In a little bit of down time Dan and Bob wondered over to the home of Vasilia, a frined from our first days here, and got pictures of here making cany and sweets. The coconut mixture came together over the open fire under a tree and mixed with a stick. it ended up beaten flat on a table with the same stick. In the end, she was gracious to bring us over a jar of the mixture and even those of us who don't enjoy coconut found it to be delicious.
The afternoon concluded with VBS on the sight of the other church. As it is under constuction for expansion and upgrade, we met in what will be a very nice building once completed. Dan is in his element speaking to the kids and they enjoyed some singing and the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. We wrapped up with come coloring and really enjoyed time with them.
We are all a little worn down at this point and are thankful for a cooler night. We look forward to a vollyball game at the school tomorrow, church leader training and the farewill ceremony.
It was really something to look around the school room today and to see so many kids taht we have known for years, Jairon, Michael, Edwin, Juan Martires, Angelo, and more. Many we know through sponsorships, and others from our time in the community.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
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