Tuesday - Morning message and visiting the school

This morning we arrived to a smaller group of people for our opening ceremony.  The president of the board of the village welcomed us again and explained that many of the people in the village needed to be out in the fields today to harvest the coffee beans because a substantial rain was coming on March 18th that could wash out their harvest if they don't get that done.

So this morning's ceremony was a bit smaller than yesterday's.

Aron Martino gave a message asking the question of "what does it take for us to be happy?"  He cited a study that was done in the United States on this exact subject across many years which came to the conclusion that it was the quality of a person's relationships that determine their level of happiness.

He then described how that same idea is actually introduced in the Bible when people ask Jesus what the  greatest commandment is, as told in several of the Gospels.  Aron went on to describe what "loving your neighbor" looks like by describing the "11th Commandment" or the many "one anothers" that are laid out in the New Testament. 

To further illustrate the "loving your neighbor" concept, all of the students put on a skit of the Good Samaritan" which is a parable that Jesus told that answers the question "who is my neighbor?"

Kyra Carlson played the Jewish man who was traveling along the road, and Leah Martino was the "robber" in the parable.  Leah who wore a mask and took off her leg in the skit to "beat and rob" the Jewish man.  The La Bendicion villagers found this part of the skit rather hilarious!!

Kai Carlson played the priest, and threw in a British accent for more laughs!

Ryann Martino was the Levite in the story, with a pirate sound and look.

Brooke Dean was the Samaritan who came out looking rather angelic!

Kyra Martino was our narrator, and also became the donkey in the story that transports the Jewish man on her back with the Samaritan.  This is where the crowd really roared with great laughter!

When the story was over, everyone came out for a bow.

The kids and adults liked the skit so much, they sat there waiting for more!!

After cleaning up from the morning ceremony and the skit, we visited the school classrooms in session.  This is the room for 3rd & 4th grade.  The teachers described how they teach with about 24 students in this room.  Students are separated based on their abilities.  Students who understand the concept being taught are given more independence to work on their own, and the teacher spends more time with students who are struggling and need more help on the topic.

The teacher also told us how much the students love music.  He is hoping to begin a music program by trying to get his hands on some musical instruments like a guitar, and introducing more singing into the school day.

There is great pride in La Bendicion in their school, and the teachers are putting a great deal of energy into giving their students a good education.  Last year there were about 30 students in school, and this year there are 77 students in pre-school through 6th grade.

The 5th & 6th grades are taught in a very small building close by the main school house.  The teacher there told us that once kids reach 6th grade, very few move into secondary education.  Most of the students have to go and help their parents in the fields Monday-Friday, and they can only go to secondary school on Saturdays.  However the secondary school requires walking a great distance (about a 90 minute walk one-way) so only about 6 kids are currently doing that.  Some adults are trying to go back to school as well.  I wonder if we realize what a blessing and privilege a good education system is back in the United States?