Balibrea

This morning we were off to the Balibrea community about a 15 minute drive from the school and a bumpy one at that!

We had about 80 kids come to the school there for the VBS and we did the wordless bracelet with them and a leather fish necklace and explained the meaning of the coloured beads and being a fisher of men. They were very quiet kids compared to our last weeks VBS, but started warming up to us around lunch time. We served them eggs and ham, tortillas, refried beans, cheese and pop for lunch.

This community is in a remote area compared to where we are in Siguatepeque. Some families live in very nice homes, while others next door live in mud houses with mud floors, open windows, and roofs with little tin. There is little to no technology, in this area and no running water in most of the homes. The girls by grade 6 are already thinking about marriage and starting a family as that's all they know and don't believe they have a future. The kids that do attend the school are 196 in total. Each class has at least 34 students and one of the largest classes is 58 students. They attend school, Monday-Friday in the mornings only, then probably go home and work, collect fire wood for their fires to make what little food they have and water. All this to say and they still have the biggest smiles on their faces!!! I was doing the craft for VBS and asked the kids if they had an art class, they said no, but they would like one. I asked them if they had a music class, they said yes, but no instruments, it's all theory. My mind began to run with the endless possibilities of how we could maybe help this community and school with simple supplies.

I met one boy in our craft room, his name is IVIS. He was the only one who asked me my name, everyone else was very shy and just giggled when we talked in English. So I had a Spanish conversation with IVIS, Mel B. and Jenna K. I asked him if the boy sitting next to him was his brother, he said it was his cousin. He asked us if the three of us were sisters, I said no, but explained that Jenna and Mel had sisters, but I didn't have any siblings. I asked him how many siblings he had, he said 7 and then he said he knows a lady in the community who has 12 children. WOW I said! The pastor in the community, Noel, is praying for IVIS that he will become a strong spiritual leader in Balibrea. From IVIS' openness to talk to us at about age 9, compared to the other kids, I can see why Noel sees leadership abilities in this young boy.

Tonight most of the kids are watching a movie and just relaxing and some of us are going to maybe check out a talent show at a church just up a few blocks from the school, if we have time after dinner.

Here are some pictures of our day today.

New stove for cooking

Serving lunch