Isai, Ice Cream, Purses, and Paradise

This morning we had another graduation ceremony. All went well...though we were a bit sad to complete our last day at the school.

Yesterday I mentioned that Jackson and another boy had talked in English. His name is Isai (pronounced E-sa-E). Today I asked him if he would like to take a picture with Jackson. He was SO happy!! They took some pictures together, then talked a little more. I may have shed a tear or two....but then again, it is hot here....could have been sweat!

As we were wrapping up the clean up at the school, we found this little guy sitting on the porch. Yes...he is holding a machete in his lap! Yes...I had someone with better Spanish skills than my own ask if I could take his photo...for fear he might chop off my head! However, he is very gentle with his machete and was happy to have his picture taken. His name is Polito. He is adorable...even with half his teeth missing and holding a machete...The big joke of this trip has been Will's purse. A little background...when we were having the garage sale to raise money for this trip, Will and Jackson sold sodas. One of the girls helping us brought out a little black purse for them to put the money inside...they chose to use a ziploc bag! It really stuck as a joke with Will...people asking him where his purse was and him saying "I don't HAVE a purse"...so Becca and Jody, a Makarios staff member, presented Will a pink purse (made only minutes earlier from yarn and cardstock)!

Our next stop of the day was the Mac house...short for the Makarios guest house. They are building a home that will support larger groups as well as housing for the host couple (they are what makes the Mac house run smoothly). It is amazing...a true missionary paradise! In the first photo we are standing on the roof. Makarios currently rents a house for the interns, visiting trips, and the host family. The Mac house will be a great relief when it is completed.After the visit to the Mac house, we went to the malecon (the boardwalk). It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean...and the port where Christopher Columbus thought he had found the West Indies. We had a good time just walking and relaxing there...and then...out for ice cream! The real treat here...it was the first time our skin has felt air conditioning since leaving the plane! After only a few minutes, Jackson was cold!!