I wanted to write a quick post to update everyone on our projects and to let everyone know they can check out the pictures on the side link.

The computer lab is now up and running. The ministry of education ended up matching our donation of 10 computers and adding an additional 6 more! We now have 26 computers in the lab. We have hired a computer teacher so classes are sustainable after we leave. Each child pays $1 a month and this money pays the salary of the computer teacher. We are hoping the ministry will eventually hire a teacher for this position so the children don’t have to pay but for now, this is the best option. The children are enjoying the computer classes and especially sitting in air conditioning for an hour! A special thanks to McCutcheon High School’s International Club for making this computer lab possible. We appreciate all of your hard work on this project and we look forward to sharing more with you when we return home.

The library is also up and running now. This project is particularly special to me. I have worked with multiple organizations to make this library and I am happy to finally see all our hard work come to fruition. This project has been a roller coaster for me and there were times when I didn’t think it would happen. I put plenty of sweat and tears into this library and it all payed off the day I opened the doors. As of now we have over 600 books in the library. The pictures haven’t been updated but all of the shelves are now full on the original bookshelf and we have since added another bookshelf. There are another 200+ books on the way. I started the library with open library hours, allowing children to read before, after and between classes. I was worried the teacher’s weren’t going to utilize the library so I held a workshop to offer ideas on how to use the library as a learning tool. I realized the problem was that the teacher’s themselves were uncomfortable in a library. After familiarizing them on the workings of the library and implementing a special teacher resource section, they are now fighting over library time with their students. My favorite moment was when three 9th graders discovered a Shakespeare book and started screaming. I ran over to them thinking someone was hurt and discovered they were ecstatic to be holding a book by Shakespeare. They asked me if they could take it to their teacher to ask permission to study it in class. They ended up studying it and doing dramas from it as well. It is so refreshing to witness the student’s passion for reading and learning. They are starving for knowledge and it is heartbreaking that they have had to wait this long for the opportunity. A special thanks to the International Club again for their donation of books and library supplies. Thanks to the Faith Presbyterian Church for their donation to the Pensacola Rotary, which has been matched by 50%. Thanks to my friends and family for donating to the rotary as well. Also, Thanks to Cathy Tanner for all of her hard work searching for used Spanish books at library sales. All of you have given these children and the future children of the village an invaluable opportunity. I wish you all could have the opportunity to witness their gratitude first hand.

We also just finished our dental hygiene workshop in the village. Thanks to Dr. Ruter and his office and Klondike Dental for their donation of dental supplies to the village. Over 100 people were supplied with new toothbrushes and toothpaste and a better knowledge of proper dental health care.

Thanks to everyone that donated to the Women and Youth Development Scholarship Foundation. I was able to supply 3 high school scholarships in my village. Your donations also benefited other high school girls throughout the country of El Salvador.

So this is what we have been up to in the last few months. We have also been teaching geography and cultural lessons and Ross is busy with his older youth, kids club. We are currently working hard to solicit for water and electricity for the people in the village who are currently with out. There are still 96 families still without electricity and 79 families without water. I am confident we will be successful, I just hope it happens before we leave. We are also working with another NGO to start a health committee which will basically do everything we have been doing, after we leave.

As you can see, we have been VERY busy! We are running out of time and wishing we would have started these projects earlier. We only have about 6 weeks left to wrap up our work and hopefully, make everything sustainable. We are very emotional about leaving but I will save that for a later post.

Please feel free to check out the pictures on the side link.

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