On Turning 52

Beautiful girl.......................... Children........................ Abu and his ball

The "Icecream Man" .........Dashena..the diaperless boy........ Abu bathing

Well here I am at 52. As with most birthdays we end up reflecting on what our age means, maybe what our parents looked like at that age, how many years we have left and the big one for women "do I really look that old?". I, of course, have more reason to reflect this year as I am in a strange country and getting older looking by the day.

I was asked awhile back to do the children's story during the morning worship service. What I thought was to be once or twice is now every Sunday. So I is got nearer to my birthday, I thought about some of my roles. Let's face it, I am the "Story Lady"...ugh. I am also something of a grandma at school and in the neighborhood. I am not necessarily happy about not being a real grandma, but it is nice to say, "I am not a grandma!" But now I am a grandma to about 100 kids. I am not the fun, games and music lady. I am the old, soft lady on whom it is nice to fall asleep. I even had a couple of small boys rubbing the wrinkled skin on my elbows and telling me how soft it was. I can not dye my hair here, so the whole world knows I really have gray hair. And I don't wear makeup as it would wear off before I got to school because of the sweat (and the kids). So, I am not the mischeivious, somewhat troublesome, youth I once was. I am not the young mom, or even the mom of teenagers. I am now the "old, gray haired, wrinkled story lady, that has soft elbows and is a comfortable place to fall asleep". I guess that is OK, because I like being that woman. That may be the scariest part of all this. I love nothing better than to hold a child, no matter how dirty, snotty nosed or 'wet' they are. I even have one baby who never has a diaper on. He is the sweetest baby and I take the risk because he is so tempting.

The children at our school are the lucky children. Many are fairly wealty by Yendi standards. I still cannot explain, in words, the poverty here. Our children, whom I call wealthy, still have rice only occassionaly and chicken almost never. When they are not wearing their uniforms their clothing is old and dirty. But the children in the neighborhood break my heart. Some do not go to school at all. Most are very dirty and their clothes are just better than rags (if not rags). I gave one boy, Abu, a soccer ball for my son Charlie's birthday. Abu was stunned and confused at first. I don't think he had ever received a gift. He has that ball everyday now. It is his most prized possesion (maybe his only). The center where I live is starting a kids club this week. The kids can come and watch a movie or play games. They may receive some bread and margarine. I am guessing that we will have over 100 kids the first week and it will keep increasing, especially if we serve food. One day, I took Abu just across the street with me when I was going to buy Coke from a small stand. I guess because I had Abu, the children thought they could all go. They came from out of nowhere and by the time I got to the store, I had 15 children with me. I bought 20 pieces of penny candy (or nickel candy now) and was going to distribute it. The kids went crazy and women and teenage girls appeared from out of the woodwork...from across the street, those walking down the street, next door...I don't even know how they got there. But there was soon a huge crowd fighting for the candy. Grown women were pushing the kids out of the way for the candy. The lady who owned the store took the bag from me and started distributing it to the kids and hitting the women! I was horrified, and learned not to openly give anything!

But I love the children. So, my picutres this week will be the children in the neighborhood. And I ask that you pray with me as the center takes on this new club. I pray that we can reach the children with Jesus message of love and that if they decide to serve food, that their resources will mulitply... we may be feeding 5,000 some day. And lastly, I pray that the center can find other ways of reaching out and helping the neighborhood children and their families.

.... and just an added note. I have a friend here who also had a blog and has some beautiful pictures of local life and some wonderful stories of what her and her husband do here. So visit them at http://yakubufamghana.blogspot.com/

Life in General

What is life like here in Ghana? Some may think I work hard. It is now over 100 degrees during the day. We ride a school bus with up to 90 kids (and 35 seats). The school has no air conditioning and they serve Banku and Okra stew on Mondays and Thursdays (yuck). We start work at 7:00 and end at 2:00 or 3:00, if we don't have a meeting after school. We ride the school bus back home in the over 100 degree weather. At home we have airconditiong and a shower, which I use as soon as I get home. We have a tiny kitchen but we now have runnning water and a sink, so we are estatic. We have someone do our laundry once a week, so we no longer have to do that.
Shopping is not like going to Walmart or Albertsons. We borrow a car, bum a ride, or ride the bus and go to Tamale, about 60 miles away. There we go to several small shops to get all the things we need. We can find some things, cereal for 6 cedi a box ($4), Pringles 4.50 ($2.75) or American cheese slices 6.00, but the choices are very limited. Vegetables and a few fruits are sold in stands in the market or on the street. Along the street are stands which sell everything from shoes, DVD players, used clothing, plastic wares, DVD's of movies and tv shows (a whole season for about $2)and designer sun glasses (also for $2). Yesterday when we went there was no power anywhere in town. So no stores had fans going and it was 106degrees (with a heat index of 115). But I did get a haircut for 1 cedi (75 cents). It didn't turn out too bad.

But I am constantly reminded that my life is easy. This is the scene that I witness every morning. Women and children line up to collect water. They may do this several times a day. Then they must cook over an open fire or charcoal. They wash the families laundry in tubs of water collected at the tank or a borehole. Then they iron their clothes with irons in which they place hot coals. Some people have electricity, but not many. But the children at our school arrive every morning in clean, ironed uniforms (and white shirts!). The dirt here is red clay, so you can imagine how hard that is to get things clean, and our boys are messy!
Yesterday, on the way home from Tamale, as I watched hunting parties return from a day of hunting, I was amazed at how hard these people work. Imagine working all day for a rabbit! One man, out of the 50 or more that we saw, had an antelope, most had nothing and several had a rabbit. So life is survival. I think of the times in America that I thought, all I do is go to work and come home, all so I can pay the bills. I won't think that anymore. These people literally work all day, in the heat, for a meal of rabbit and yams. Then they wake up and do it again tomorrow.



A couple of weeks ago I went to a small town near the border of Togo, to take part in a church planting. It is really something to see. They are currently holding services in a school room, which this day was very crowded. They are beginning a building, which we prayed over that day. The children, as is usual whenever a white lady comes to a new town, were fascinated with me. They watched every move I made. They tried to copy the way I clapped, stood up and looked at my notes when I wrote, and one sitting near me kept touching my toes. And they love the camera.

It is very exciting to see that God's word is reaching farther and farther and the people are so enthused about it. A group from our church went to Niger to a very poor area on a mission trip. They returned and told the church members what they had witnessed and how we in Yendi should be so grateful for all we have. The people they met had far less than the people here. I have a mental picture of God's people going out to people who in turn go out and it just keeps multiplying!


I walked into the principals office one day this week and caught two little boys walking away from the prize box, and one looking very guilty. I checked pockets and the guilty looking one had a matchbox car in his pocket, still in the package. They had to talk to the principal and we found out that there were several of them that had done this. The smallest one had 2 or 3 cars in his backpack. If you look at the boys (this was taken the next day and they did not realize why I was taking it), they are very cute and a couple are very innocent looking... and some look mischievious. So it was very hard to be mad at them, but I acted very upset. My favorite, Kayaba, the middle one, would not look at me the rest of the day. It is all very funny in some ways and has been quite a joke around here... the car theif gang. But honesty and integrity is a big problem is this area. It has been a disappointment, that even people who call themselves Christians have problems with honesty. As a sociologist at heart, I know that it may be a survival technique, or may have been for the past generations and now has become ingrained into society. We Americans have other ways of cheating and stealing I guess. So, it is another thing that we hope to address at the school.

Stay tuned next month as I discusss turning 52, and some new responsibilities here.
Prayer requests
that God will lead us in:
*selecting new teachers at the school, as current ones leave and for next year
*decisions that we both have to make (more on that next month too)
*how we teach God's love to these children
*how we teach integrity!
*in meeting the needs of those around us

Forth and Back..when two worlds collide

Here I am, back in Yendi, after a trip back to Oregon for Christmas. I saw almost everyone I wanted to see...but not all, answered alot of questions and got refueled for another 7 months here. I ran into snow in Portland, and the worst traffic jam in 10 years. I had Christmas with all my children and their "significant others", and had some great food. We barbecued steaks and watched the Oregon ducks in the Rose Bowl. I thought I would freeze the first couple of days back, but got used to it quickly. But it was all like I had had a strange dream and woke back to the real life. Now it feels like I am in the real life and the visit home was a dream. Very weird. It doesn't register in my brain that the two worlds exist at the same time.
Did I feel culture shock when I went back? Not as much as I thought I would. I was prepared for the commercialism because it was Christmas time. I had thought that it would bother me, but it really didn't. I did see a segment on the morning news about gifts we could buy our pets... like a $600 cat bed, and thought about how stupidly rich some people must be. But I enjoyed the dinners out and the gifts I received at Christmas. I understand our materialism because I have lived it. So, I have no lectures for all of you, but I do know in my heart that WE are a wealthy people, and we are all materialistic. But I include myself in that.
I was also amazed at the interest in the school, the mission and the children here. I received so many things that they would not all fit in two suitcases. Americans are still a giving people. I was overwhelmingly welcomed and surrounded with people who said they had been praying for me. This was such an encouragement because when I am here and communication is slow or non-existent it can get alittle lonely.
So, I know that Americans, at least the ones I know, are still compassionate and care about children a world away. I think that we all just lose sight of what we are here for. God has been speaking to me about this. Even here in Ghana, in a Christian school, where poverty and needs are right in front of our face, we lose our "train of thought" and start worrying about all the drama and problems associated with our lives. Some of these may even be big problems, but God tells us He can move mountains. In the book, "The Sacred Romance" the authors talk about our stories and dramas as compared to His story in which we are players. Satan wants to pull us away from thinking about God's story and get us to focus on our story (such as how to buy that $600 cat bed or that $300 Ipod, the neighbor's dog, or how someone treated us at church). Telecast sings, "... to be a part of Your story, the story of love, and our great need for You." Once I was listening to my itunes and the screen saver was running. These words came just as the pictures of some of the kids came on the screen. This is what keeps me going...knowing I am part of a story which includes these kids, His love and our great need.
Sometimes when I was home I did debate coming back. It was hard to know I was leaving family again for 7 months this time. But one of the kid's faces would come to my mind and I knew that I was not finished here. There is so much still to teach.

When I returned, I was very lonely for my family. I felt alittle sad and again, wondered if I could stay 7 months. My first day back at school however brought it all back. The children really are beautiful. They ran to welcome us, the youngest ones fighting to hug us. To pick up one of those little ones and hold them tight, or to hear 8 year old Ruhia say, "Sometimes I just sit and wonder who God is and where He came from", or listen to my class get excited about multiplication.... and I am back. So here's to you; Zulaha, Ruhia, Kayaba, Kofi, Wumna, Fasa, Wumpini and all the others.... your faces brought me back!

Endless needs and beautiful faces

Sometimes I feel as if I am on a roller coaster of emotions here. I will feel an sense of despair at the overwhelming needs and then I will watch the children and feel an overwhelming sense of love and hope. I thought I might share some of the needs, hope and beautiful faces with all of you. Maybe you can understand alittle of what I mean. But the phrase "a picture paints a thousand words" is not really true. I can not capture the beauty or the need in pictures or in words. This is North-Eastern Christian Academy. We are a Christian school with 100 students in the heart of the northern region of Ghana. It is only 10% Christian here. Most students at the school are Muslim. They have names like Mohamed, Wumpini, Nabhan and some I can't pronounce or spell. Yet the Word of God is taught every day. Because I am a public school teacher of 15 years, I catch myself asking, "Can I say that?" Then I remember that I am in a Christian school and that is my mission here. So there is hope, that the Word of God is being heard. But there are endless needs. It is not easy to run a school in an area of such poverty. The school has to charge tuition, but most families in the area cannot pay. Water is scarce and the one tank we have runs out weekly. Children are sick, as health is poor and malaria is rampant. We tend to forget the poverty because our kids come in clean uniforms. But they may be eating very little at home and dress in almost rags when they are not in school. There is so much to teach and so little time. I am reevaluating what I need to do, and feel very pressed to make changes in the school and to get serious about teaching God's word in the next 7 months.

Nabhan and Wumpini

Nabhan is a very kind soul...just look at that face. Wumpini is all boy. This picture really does capture both. We have been reading Bible stories, lately about Jesus' birth. Wumpini asked, "but how was the baby borned". I knew from the context of the conversation he was asking how the baby "got there" if Joseph was not the father. Nabhan said, "God went poof (with his hands) and the baby started growing." One other day we were reviewing the pastor's morning devotion and discussing what Jesus' sacrificial death meant. Very hard to explain to 8 and 9 years olds, with a language barrier, and Muslim backgrounds. But suddenly Nabhan said, "Madame, He died so my sins could be forgiven?!!!" And the others chimed in, "For me?" "For me?". Wow. So, there is hope. Please pray that after I leave here, the next teacher will continue to "tell", and that they will remember the message and not just the white lady.

Happy

This is Happy. She comes from a Traditionalist or maybe no religion family. Her "brother" Andrews comes to the church and is in my class at school. We went to visit Andrews and his family one evening and I met Happy, although it was dark and I could not see her. They live in a house which is a row of rooms, but no electricity and no water. Happy is actually living with her father's other wife. Andrews is living with his father's sister (one in the same person). Happy goes to the Islamic school because it is free. Andrews is on scholarship at our school. The evening I was there the Auntie/other wife was telling us that Happy was flogged that day because she forgot her veil. Flogging actually leaves marks. My heart broke for her even though I could not see her. Now that I have gotten to know her, my heart breaks even more because she is a very beautiful, sweet girl. (This pic does not do her justice). She will start the new term in January, without a scholarship. We are just going on faith that God will provide.

Ruhia and Sharon

Ruhia and Sharon are best friends. Sharon is very smart and says she is coming to live with me in America and go to college. She is Christian and goes to N.E.C.A. on a scholarship. Ruhia is Muslim. My fear is that Ruhia will grow up and have an arranged marriage. Yes, that still happens here. It is still a very poor area and marriage is for survival, not for love. Ruhia is beautiful as is her older sister and her mother. I have heard that her older sister does all the work around the house and that she too is being raised to make a good wife. I have asked "what about love?". The answer is, "In this area, it is somewhat taboo." There is the despair of making a difference. I am hoping and praying that our school, even when I am gone, will somehow change the culture and teach that girls can go to university, earn their own money, and choose their husband.

Football boys

All boys here love football, or soccer as we would call it. During field day they organized a football game. They played skins and shirts, not what they call it here but the same idea, and many played barefooted. I asked my students one day what they would want if I could bring anything back from the U.S. with me. They want footballs, shoes, socks and uniforms. They recently received a basketball hoop and a basketball from the U.S. and are very excited about getting that set up and using it. I am trying to get a sports camp going for spring break in April-May, or in July. We want to use the Upward Basketball and Soccer curriculum and possible teach a Bible school along with it in the evenings. As with everything else, there is the cost of airline tickets for the teacher/coaches, the food during the week, the VBS and Upward materials and the uniforms. Here, another need, but a hope that it will transform lives, and a prayer request.

This is Babamu (Bah bah moo). He speaks no English, just nods yes whenever you talk to him. So we say, "Are you a monkey?" and he says yes.

Friends

Tintoni - I took this because I liked her

name. She is beautiful though. I told

her I had a daughter named Toni, but

she did not understand. She just said,

"My name is Tintoni, I am 3 years old,

I go to North-Eastern... " her rehearsed

speech for the Christmas program.

Haddie, our little

gangsta in the nursery,

wearing his "Chuck Taylor" shoes.

Isaac, who's father is a pastor to the villages.

Tabitha, Issac's sister, Waldine Mustapha

a neighbor girl and Cindy Mustapha.

Elton was giving me a flower everyday on the bus.

Yesterday he gave it to Beentu.Ah well,

I've had my heart broken before.

Two beautiful faces

Sisters.

Hope you enjoyed the pics and hope you get a feel for what is going on here. World
Vision founder Dr. Bob Pierce once wrote on the flyleaf of his Bible, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” As I said at the beginning of this, my heart has been broken (by more than Elton's betrayal). When 2 year old Lettie had a 103 temperature for 2 days, when I met Happy, when I think about Ruhia in an arranged marriage, when I hear about children waiting to go to school, with Winifred (4) who is deaf and has no special education and knows no sign language, with children begging for coloring books, with Adamu who was a street child living with her mentally ill mother and still is not sure where her home is even though she has moved in with principal, and with kids who think that rice is a special treat and get chicken only on holidays. As I said, the needs are overwhelming. God is teaching me that I can not do it alone. I can not fix all these problems. But I can make a difference in a few kids lives and I can pray and leave the rest to God, who can do all things.

Visit to see Brenda

About 10 years ago I went to a Women of Faith conference in Billings, Montana. If you have been to one of these you know that they sponsor and support World Vision. So I decided to sponsor a child through World Vision and stopped by the table during a break. I said a short prayer asking God to direct me to the right child. As I browsed through the mounds of pictures, there was a mother staring out at me. She had children about the age of my children and she was looking directly at me. This was the one, a family, not just one child. On her lap was a little girl with small pigtails all over her head and standing beside her were three boys and another girl. I picked up the packet and wrote Akua when I returned home. Who would know that we would ever meet. But, if you know me, I seem to dream big, or believe in the "possible". So five years ago, my son Charlie and I went to Atebubu, Ghana is West Africa to meet the family. At that time, Charlie and Matthew were 16 and became friends even though they could not converse. And I knew that Akua and I were friends and sisters. Her eyes, the same eyes that looked out in the pictures, spoke a universal language of friendship. It was a wonderful visit. I fell in love with the girls especially, as girls always seem to open up and befriend faster. Adwoa was about 13 and Afua was a sweet little 4 or 5 year old, who cried when we left. I also fell in love with the Ghanaian people. Their friendliness, laughter and beauty captivated me. They want a better country. They believe and hope for a better world for themselves. And they believe in education. But they are very poor. So I decided that someday I would return to help them in some way. I had in mind a few weeks or even a month or two. God had in mind a year. So here I am.

Last weekend I made the trek back to see Akua. The vehicle broke down and I was stuck in a small town hotel with a 7 year old friend. World Vision came to the rescue and got myself, my principal and his 7 year old daughter safely to Atebubu. We traveled the "back roads" to the village and there they were. The village people gather for a celebration and all the leaders and ourselves were introduced. Then they asked me if I could pick out the family from the crowd. I walked directly to Akua, with little Brenda on her back. Akua had gotten remarried soon after we left and a couple of years ago had a baby girl and named her after me! When I approached Akua, she reached out and hugged me, which is very uncommon here in Ghana. So you see here the picture of that moment, that thankfully someone captured. Afua was also there, and two of the boys. Afua has grown up! She is no longer a little 5 year old, but a big 10 year old. Matthew was in Accra, and Adwoa was in Atebubu with her new baby girl, whom I met the next day. And of course, like a grandma, I thought Brenda was the cutest little girl I has ever seen. She was sick the days I visited, probably Malaria, and I am sure she did not understand who I was, but I hope to see her when she is more cheerful.

It hit me as I sat there that I am in the middle of Africa and God has permitted me to see my sister and friend again. The people were amazed that I came. No other sponsor has ever visited that village, and to visit twice was a great compliment to them. But I can only thank God that He provided the means. And again, I looked into Akua's eyes and knew she wanted so badly to communicate our friendship... but Akua, I understand without words.

The next day, I traveled down very rutty, muddy roads for 50 kilometers, which took over 3 hours, to visit another boy, who is sponsored by a friend of mine. Again we were entertained by dancing and singing by the school children and the community members. Kofi was overwhelmed. I am sure that most of these children have never seen a white person, much less had one visit them. He was very quiet, but towards the end of the visit was smiling at me, and just like Akua, trying to communicate gratitude. Here is these remote villages, it is subsistence farming only. They are hours away from any town and almost no means of transportation. They eat what they grow. They may sell just enough to purchase a little clothing and necessities. As I said we traveled across very rough, muddy roads in a 4 wheel drive vehicle to reach Kofi. The only contact most of them have with the outside word is when the market comes to town. But there are schools here. And as one of the World Vision staff said, "Anywhere Coke can go, the gospel can go." So World Vision is also here, spreading God's love and the gospel.
World Vision does wonders here and around the world. Many live miles away from families as they work in remote areas. The road we traveled is the only way in or out of the town where some of the staff work. They may or may not go home for the weekend to see their children. But they love the children they help. They know them by name and they work very hard to meet the needs in numerous ways. Here in Ghana, they build schools and clinics; they educate adults in health, business and agriculture; they immunizes children; help with small businesses and farming ventures; build boreholes and much more. I asked what would happen if this area experienced a drought since they are subsistence farmers and they said, "We feed them." So, rest assured, if you support World Vision, they are working wonders and they are an oasis of efficiency in this area.

Happiness

Pics: Village children, Kyaba, Israel

God has been speaking to me alot recently about happiness. I wonder why I am not unhappy here. I do miss home and family and friends. Once in awhile the loneliness hits. But for the most part I am very happy. This morning (Sunday), I read this quote: "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude" by Denis Waitley. Luci Swindoll says, "Decide to accept the path God has given you with courage, grace and humor". Even before I came to Africa I had people tell me they could not do what I do, that is work with students with special needs. I remember thinking then, "You haven't tried it!". I assumed everyone would love it if they just gave it a try. Today, as I sat in church and watched the people dancing I thought, "''Father, I wish they could be with me where I am so that they could see Your glory'" (John 17:24) Last Friday Kyaba fell asleep on my lap on the bus ride home. I wanted to capture the experience and share it with all of you. It was one of those moments of pure happiness. He is a very big, tough 4 year old, sleeping like an angel.

Other things here certainly are humorous. The student that asked me if white women flatulated. The same student, after we had read several stories or seen pictures of animals, at which I would say, "We used to have one of those" (due to the many pets we have had), saw a picture of a gorilla in a phonics book said, "Madam, do you have one?". Israel with the plastic lips or Israel trying to march to class like the other students. Sherifa, my 'special student' was trying to tell me that her behavior was due to her illness (a seizure disorder). I said that seizures do not cause bad behavior and explained that I have had many, many students with the same illness she has. She responded, "God will bless you, Madam". I'm not sure what she was thinking, but I wanted to respond, "I certainly hope so"(It was a rough day for us both). Almost daily there is humor, maybe even hourly!

As I look back at my life, the things that make me smile are not the big days. It is not when I purchased a car or a house. I remember funny things my kids said, them swimming in the backyard as kids or going out to Taco Treat when they were teenagers. I remember trips with my students on the transit or bowling with them. There are times when you are just living and your soul seems to say, "This is happiness remember it". I have felt that many times here.

I have also watched the people here. I won't say that they are always ecstatic, but they are as happy or happier than many of us Americans. The children I believe are happier than our children. Which really makes me think about what we do to pursue happiness and how we fight, struggle and work to get it. And I wonder sometimes if I have missed the happiness God has for me at the same time I am trying to earn or buy it somewhere else. I saw a sign once that said, "When my ship comes in I will probably be at the airport" I wonder if our blessings aren't right there waiting for us and we are "at the airport" trying to find it.

I told you about the school we saw in Tamale, which I am learning is about what an average school in this area looks like. Here are a couple of pictures of that school.

Our school, NECA (North-Eastern Christian Academy) is a dream of a home missionary here, Emmanuel Mustapha (Muss). He envisioned a school in which students receive an education equivalent to one in America. In the next few years we will expand to have a Senior High and a boarding school.

We had our first Open House last week. It was attended by most parents and we received some positive feedback. One man told me that we are putting Yendi on the map. It is the best school in the area. He said that he could see that children are involved and learning. He believes education is the key to bettering the whole area. He said that these children will not grow up and start tribal wars. They will not think, "I do not like you, I will kill you, or I will burn your house down". These children will use words to solve their problems. It was interesting because the pastor had given a short lesson at the beginning of the open house, which this man was not there for. He told the story of the good Samaritan and stressed that we are all neighbors and should all love each other, no matter the race, tribe or religion. As I have said before, most of our students are from Muslim families, so I pray that we are teaching peace also.

Muss' dream in becoming a reality and I am so thankful to be a part of it. Parents from 60 or 100 kilometers are waiting for the boarding school to open so that they can send their children because they want them to have a quality education. I can not wait to come back in a few years and see a much larger school and a boarding house. And the dream continues. Muss would like to build another school in Bimbilla, about 60 miles south of here. And Rebecca, my roommate, would like to start a mobile school that will go to several surrounding villages and teach children and adults, leaving assignments there for a head adult to oversee. You see, parents here know that education is the key to getting out of poverty and changing lives, but many do not have access to quality education. Many can not even afford public school because they can not purchase books or uniforms. And the public schools are very poor and over crowded. So NECA is changing the lives of almost 100 students.

This past month, I made cupcakes (from scratch) for a girl in my room. I believe it was the first birthday cake she had ever had. We had the cupcakes, sang Happy Birthday and played UNO. When we wrote in our journals that day, "If I could do anything I wanted on my birthday..." All they wanted was cake, and for their mothers to buy rice and bake a chicken. That would be their dream birthday. So this year, each of them will have a cake or cupcakes for their birthdays (I don't know about the chicken and rice).

Other signs that kids are excited. We can hardly keep them out of the library. They want to look at books! My students often spend their recess time in the room practicing reading. Today I was alittle late in writing the daily schedule on the board, so one of the students wrote it for me, but wrote in an extra reading time. I have started an after school program for 6 students and have to turn kids away that want to come in.