First Day of FIRST Grade

When they are young, show them compassion. 

 As they grow, teach them to be compassionate. 

Teach them to love creatures and people, 

 and they'll go on to teach others the same.

Well, I'm officially a mama of a FIRST grader...and I can hardly believe it!  Today, she walked up through the DE school doors and straight into Mrs. Ferguson's first grade classroom!

Vika with her first grade teacher Mrs. Ferguson

At six and a half years old, this lil' spit fire is excited to make new friends and show her teacher just how smart she is.  She continues to want to be a veterinarian when she grows up...although, the animals have changed.  She no longer wants to help the sick cats and dogs.  She now wants to work on all the zoo animals:  elephants, giraffes, leopards, monkeys, etc. :)

Click on the link: Vika reading :) to have a short book read by Vika, on the first day of first grade!  I can't wait to see how much she learns and how much she improves throughout the year.

VOH Guatemala

We made it to Guatemala!!!!!!!!

Check out the top of that bus!

man walking down the middle of the street selling things

Homes along the drive to VOH

Tin huts along the road, on the drive to VOH

She reminded me so much of the ladies in Zambia

fire house

local "shops" along the road

Well, we finally arrived to VOH yesterday afternoon, and I must say I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it here.

My first impression has been everything I had hoped it would be and so much more.  I love the Block's, and what that family has done here.  They truly understand children and the importance of a family, and EVERYTHING they do is surrounded around doing what is absolutely in the best interest, of the children.  Everything about VOH is so incredibly different from an institution or orphanage...and it is so much healthier, for the children.  They understand pain and the need for healing.  They focus a lot on attachment and building healthy relationships between the house parents and the children here.  Here's a lil' sneak peek of the children's rooms.

the boys' room

the girls' room

another girls' room

the house parents' room

the kitchen

the playground

This morning, we attended their worship service.

Kelly and I ready for church

The children who recently accepted Christ, performed a skit for us.  It was extremely touching and powerful as they demonstrated Christ's love for His children, as He pulls us away from dark places to His light.

The girls also performed a few dance routines which were also amazing to watch, as the children's faces lit up the entire room.

We also were led in worship both by some of the Block children and members of our team.

Also, one of the team leaders shared his testimony, and how God transformed his life.

Later in the afternoon, we did a bible lesson about how God sees us, as His sons and daughters, followed by a craft, where we gave each child a mirror to decorate and serve as a reminder who how God sees them, and who they are in Christ.

We also handprinted the children's hands, to make quilts back in the states...so stay tuned...it may become a fundraiser or raffle to benefit VOH, in the future.

After arts and crafts were over, we quickly cleaned up and rushed outside to play with the children on the playground before dinner.

VOH received some goats as an Easter present...and they finally arrived on Friday!  So, our team had the privilege of feeding...and MILKING the mama...that was quite the experience to watch!!

At the end of the day, we did our bible study as a group.  This week, we are focusing on Colossians 3:12-14, as a group.  Tonight, we focused on humility and how it was tied to the parable in Luke 18:9-14.