Monday!

The team woke up ready and excited for our first day of five to see the students and take their photos.  Degeance was our first stop.  When we turned off the main road in the cattle truck to head to the school we were faced with a beautiful backdrop of green landscape of banana trees, mountains and blue sky feathered with clouds.  Truly everything is greener since the rains of the hurricane.  We were dropped off at the building site of the new Degeance School and from there set out on foot to the school.  It is a pleasant 20 minute hike involving a couple substantial hills and a river running along  side us.  This hike gave us the opportunity to greet the people from the near villages as they led their burros carrying their goods to the market.  The children were playing on the hill side as we approached Degeance.  Some students stared and some ran to greet us.  There laughter and giggles helped us up that last long steep hill. Connie and Kimberlie found the best lighting for photos.  David found the spot for class photos, Tom and Laurie settled at the table to record those photographed, Silas and Tavia busted out the bubbles, Jean checked in and said "Hi" to the teachers who were her students this summer and then joined Connie, and Aaron seemed to show up wherever there was a need and to have fun with the kids.   It was great doing the task and having fun with the kids.  Our afternoon was at MPCA, our biggest school, where we tried our best to get a head start on Friday by photographing the 7th and 8th grade classes.  The challenge and fun was to join in with the teenage students to try and get their friends to break into a smile for their photos.  At both schools we were able to do some assessment on the health of the students and for one particular student immediate medical care was provided and backed up support from our medical team in the states.  Thank you for your prayers family and friends.  :)