It's been a great week because the St.Luke's youth volunteers have brightened the school with their energy and exuberance. They have willingly taken on any task given them and somehow managed to turn even menial jobs like scrubbing mildew off of walls into something fun. I would invite you to their blog -- stlukesinbelize.blogspot.com - for details of their pilgrimage and some great pictures. I will send them off on the water taxi tomorrow morning.
Yesterday was my last chapel day. Thursday has become my favorite day because with the 3 chapel services, I get to see every child at Holy Cross on Thursday. Yesterday Joe, the priest and St. Luke's youth team leader, talked and reflected with the children on the goodness of God's creation and what we who have been charge over it can do to better care for it. With the oldest group, we even talked a little about the Gulf oil spill. The youth sang with the children some old favorites that everyone knew, and then taught the St. Luke's favorite "Pharoah, Pharoah". A huge hit even with the kitchen ladies! As the children were filing out going back to class, a little boy I haven't ever seen before hugged me and said, "I'm really going to miss you." Yep, it's going to be hard to go.
Francis has been back for the last few days with lists of things that must be done in order for school to function next year. That in addition to graduation preparations has made for some frantic times. It appears all is ready for Sunday's big event when 35 students will graduate.
One of the highlights of their week for the youth group has been the time they have spent with the children. They have been in the classrooms reading, playing games and singing. They especially fell in love with the Infant division. Today they went with me to all 5 of the Infant classes to distribute books to the children. A retired children's author, Jane Moncure, who now lives in Burlington, NC, donated a huge stack of her books. She specifically asked that they be given to children to take home and keep, rather than being put on a shelf in a classroom. The children were thrilled to have their very own book to keep forever! The teenagers read the books with the children and encouraged the little ones to read their book over and over again during summer vacation. The pictures will speak for themselves.
Today we learned that on the national PSE exam, in the Belize district of the country which includes all the big, well-established Anglican schools in Belize City and surrounding areas, the Holy Cross Standard VI children had the second highest combined scores of all the Anglican schools!!! This is really fabulous for a school that is only 4 years old and has only had a Standard VI class for the last 3. We rejoice and celebrate!!This has been a great week. I am excited about graduation and the bright future of these children. I ask your continued prayers and support for them.
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