Dec 12

Written by: reh
12/12/2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

8:00AM Fernando and I drove out to look at the progress of the first school kitchen. Fernando prefers to finish this one before resuming work on the second. I think I mentioned that this kitchen is under budget so decided , with Fernando, to have the kitchen painted the same color as the school. The First coat on the front is complete. The structure looks so much better and so much more like it belongs now that it is the same color as the school, rather than the drab gray of concrete blocks. A couple hundred dollars well spent.

Another day to mark time. Sixth grade graduation is 5:00PM this evening. Jessica will come to Nacaomi this afternoon so I will have a translator.
5:00PM Graduation. For me, because of my involvement from before L4L till present, there are so many subthemes, sidebars, asides woven through this evening that I am sure no one will read through the whole discussion. And that is probably as it should be; these are my notes woven with my recollections, kind of personal and won’t have the same depth to others. But, there is one story you must read. I will tell that story first:

We all know the desperate conditions of the neighborhood that Anabel comes from; that Anabel has someplace between 9 and 11 siblings, some older some younger. While visiting El Amatillo, a few of you may have noticed an older sister of Anabel; possibly not, I became aware of her early on. When around, she was always in the background; always with that teenage look that says “This doesn’t make any sense at all”. The girl was burdened by maturing early in a harsh environment; she knew how to package it. Anabel’s sister was 13 going on 22. She had long since quit school after the 3rd grade to help her mother wash clothes, take on day jobs, or do whatever a girl that is way too beautiful for her age might do. Clearly, she would be someplace between pregnant and dead in three years.

Upon entering the school grounds at 5:00PM, I noticed that Anabel’s mother was there. A little stunned and knowing the answer, I asked Roxana “Is that Anabel’s mother?”
Roxana: “Yes”
Me: “What’s she doing here? Anabel doesn’t even go to school very much anymore?”
Roxana: “Oh, she’s here for Anabel’s older sister. Anabel’s sister is graduating tonight.”
It seems that when the lunch program started, the older sister understood that she could attend school all day and still be fed a nutritious lunch, something she could not rely on working with her mother.
In the background, with no encouragement, no attention, no guidance, Anabel’s sister went through the 4th grade. Out of sight, Anabel’s sister went through 5th grade. Still unnoticed, Anabel’s sister went through 6th grade and is one of the 13 graduates.
While my attention was focused on Anabel, it was Anabel’s sister that took advantage of the opportunity (a much lesser opportunity than Anabel had) and got the job done. Anabel’s sister also just turned 16 years old this month.
Anabel’s sister wants to continue on the 7th grade. Because of the cost, It won’t happen; we still have a lot to do.

Andrea Ganzalez Elementary School consists of two cinderblock buildings; two rooms per building. The six grades are split to fit in the four rooms. There is a smaller block building for kindergarten. Each room has a huge painless window and door facing to the inside area. There is one 18’ fluorescent light attached to the roof rafters and two 60 what bulbs under the eaves to light the outside area. 5:00 means to start showing up at 5:00. Graduating class was 10 girls and 3 boys. Each was accompanied by at least a parent; several by both. Roxana, the Sixth Grade teacher and two other women really went all out for this little celebration. There was a table in the front for me, Roxana, the sixth grade teacher, Fernando and two others. The graduates sat on a row of white plastic chairs in the front row. All others sat on anything available behind the graduates.

The girl with the highest overall grades and another girl gave a little speech. I think the girls may have picked the topics but the speech was too precise and structured; am sure the sixth grade teacher helped them; she strikes me as a very precise and structured person. Each one made a point of recognizing L4L and commenting on the positive effect. The one girl even mentioned the Lutheran church and how fortunate they are for the generosity of the Lutheran Church. Much of this seems contrived and I am sure a lot of it is, but the kids know. They understand much better than we, why they were able to stay in school.

Speeches by Roxana, the sixth grade teacher me and another woman (I know that it ain’t over till Don Ron says something so I had given it a little thought and wasn’t caught off guard).
A man, I didn’t get the connection, had previously taken digital pictures of each student and the entire class. He had set the individual picture and the class picture in an ornate backing and framed each one. These were presented to the children with their diploma and their yearly grade summary by me.

After the ceremony, a dinner of fried chicken, refried beans, salad that had been prepared by several of the mothers was served. Fernando brought a cake for the occasion. I was asked to cut it so I gathered all of the graduates around and had each put a hand on the knife and they all made the first cut. Finally, all of the graduates wanted a group picture with Don Ron.

An odd thing happened next; there is always the bitter sweet element to everything Honduras. All 6 of last year’s graduating class (all girls) had come for the ceremony since their class was too poor and small to have such an event. They wanted their group picture taken with me. They had clearly dressed for the occasion. The twins of the mother who speaks on our video speaks of were there. I recognized the others, though I certainly don’t know them as well as they seem to think I should. The bitter part; 2 of last year’s 6 graduates are in 7th grade.

While leaving, Jessica said a mother and daughter would like to talk with me. Of course, where are they? Remember, it’s dark and we have two 60 what bulbs in the distance so I couldn’t see her very well; but I didn’t have to. The little girl, with her mother close by for support, explained that she always made good grades and wanted to go to 7th grade but she had to sell candy on the sidewalk and she couldn’t earn enough money. Is there any way L4L could help her? I had to explain that L4L doesn’t have a program for 7th grade. If that changes I will let her know. The mother was very appreciative of the audience with me, but she knows. Sometimes I wish you could be here when it fills your heart and sometimes I want you here when it breaks your heart.

Tags: