Friday 1st October

Hi everyone, busy, busy, busy and shattered, but happy - here's taste of the last 48 hours:

On thursday, Emma and Encarni went to look for some kalico fabric to make the stage screen for the little children of Corason, so the mums can see and keep and eye on their kids whilst working in the kitchen.  The expirience was quite gruesome, as we had to revisit the roughest area of town, and go into San Pedro market, were they have a section dedicated to "raw/life" meat, Emma was telling me tonight that as we walk through she saw a woman skinning live frogs whilst holding the legs in between her teeth,and pulling the skin off, I was glad I did not see it, so I was not very impressed  when she told me today, the smell was really bad and the meat was not very fresh loooking, we managed to get out in one piece, and went on with our shopping, really looking forward to make the screens for the kiddies, their faces light up when all the materials come out and I can't wait to see it all finished.

Today Friday I helped Jean Stoakley. in the kitchen and had a bit of a melancolic time were we both had tears in our eyes, thinking about our families, and circumstances, but realy glad I could confied in Jean and vice-versa, overall it was a good day.

On the sewing front, the older girls are making good progress with the soft toys, and the enthusiasm still as strong as the first day, Lynne is a wonderful teacher and her ability to keep her cool when she is surrounded by them is amazing.

Jean Shearn and Becky spent the morning at the home for abandoned children, most of whom have special needs. Even knowing that their lives are hard they were very affectionate. Our time was spent interacting with them. After lunch on corason, Jean and Jean helped with the sewing team.

Dionne worked at the cafe in the morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. Jackie was going to visit Sammy's school but because of the local elections the state schools were closed so she spent the whole day working with the children at Corason ranging from 3 to 14.They adored the dressing up clothes she brought out and we have some great photos of them. There are some adorable children and she is  already having withdrawal symptoms at the thought of saying good bye to them at the end of next week.  Great fun was had with the okey cokey and yet again Jackie was puffed out. She must remember her age !!!! At the end the children had ice bombs which they had to break outside and inside was their Bible verse. They loved it. It was Dionne's first time with the children and she had a good time as well.

Roger, Geoff, Chris & Roland (dubbed the "splinter group") continued with the carpentry work. The kitchen cupboard doors are progressing slowly. Geoff completed a step to make access from main hall to the kitchen easier. Roger, Roland and Alex worked on a  fence across the stage front, to provide a safe play area for pre-toddlers. They are working with good but basic tools and one fixed speed electric drill between them.

Hi Jenny J here. Yesterday went well with the painting. Went out with Jenny B in the morning to buy paints and brushes and made a start on the mural just before lunch. Had lots of willing helpers from the team and then from Vanessa when she arrived. In fact had 2 Vanessas painting in the end, one is 13 and the other about 11. It was fun communicating! I had them painting a mottled pathway with sponges and they learnt the word dab! Kept on saying dabdabdab amidst fits of giggles! Am really pleased though as I wondered how long the mural was going to take as it's a pretty big wall split with a door in the middle. By the end of the day I reckon we'd done a good quarter so I think we're on target to finish in time which is great eh?...Over and out!!!