A picture is worth a thousand words

Many times when I sit down to write a blog, I have a topic or a theme that I would like to write about.  Some deep thoughts that I'd like to share with my faithful blog readers and supporters.  Tonight I would like to share a few different pictures and some short stories that go along with them, just to change it up.  Kind of like a snapshot of what's been going on around here and in my life the past month or so.

 This sweet first grade girl has been coming to the Centro since the beginning of this school year, and I really am encouraged by her enthusiasm for learning to read.  It does not come naturally for her, and she has missed quite a bit of school in the past.  There have been times during our "recess" breaks that she wants to read instead of going out to play with the other kids.  I love that she knows that she can come to the Tutoring Center and receive the extra attention that she really needs, as well as be in a place that is full of love and acceptance.

 The Tutoring Center is located near a pretty significant hill, and when you climb up that hill like we did in this picture, you are able to look out over the entire community and see the homes and schools and churches and corner stores that the children and their families frequent.  It has been a really powerful thing for us, as a group of full time staff and short term team members, to pray over the community of Los Guido, the Tutoring Center, and the families that we work with.

 UNO!  It would be safe to safe that Uno is played daily at the Tutoring Center.  Homework and studying for tests is our first priority, but after we have finished their tasks and done some reading from books in our library, the Uno cards come out.  I like to think that they are learning number sense, sportsmanship, reasoning skills, among other things.  And it is a great way to incorporate our English speaking short term team members. 

There are so many special students that I have known over the three + years that I've been working at the Centro.  These two girls are in 5th and 6th grade, and have been an important part of our upper grades group and my girls' group on Friday.  When I hear them talk about things of faith, their (mostly good) decisions regarding friendships and relating with peers, and see their desire to study and be a part of our program, it reminds me that what we do here is worth it.  It matters to these students, and they matter to us. 




Please keep us in your prayers as we are in the middle of a busy summer season of short term teams coming and going every two weeks.  "Bringing students and the poor together cross-culturally to encounter God, share the Good News, disciple and serve others in occupational ministries."  That's the mission of Students International, and why we are working at the Tutoring Center day after day.  Thanks for all your support of our ministry!!