AFE Graduating Seniors 2011

First Graduating Class from AFE, 2011

Rene, AFE's first student

Pastor Jeony and Principal Jesy

Miracles happen.  Last week, Ryan and I got to be witnesses to one of the greatest miracles in AFE’s history: the FIRST ever graduating seniors walked across the stage to accept their high school diplomas.  This was an emotional night for everyone, both present and in spirit. 

Marlyn

Gabi

Mariella

Lewis' and Diaz'

Ryan and I had the pleasure of getting to know these seniors these past few months and they are truly amazing.  I have heard them say at different times that they are so excited to be examples to all the remaining and future students of AFE.  They all will tell you that this miracle never would have happened without Dios, God. 

Erika and the graduates

AFE's Honduran Teachers

These students will go to the university here in Honduras next year to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, and professionals.  This is so different from what I hear they said they wanted to be when they were asked this same question when they first started attending AFE 11 years ago: the driver of the garbage truck.  These students are an inspiration to all of us, and it was such a blessing to have been able to attend this beautiful ceremony.  There was a party in heaven this same evening, too, I just know it! 

Please keep these 9 students in your prayers as they start to make life changing steps in the next few months to start attending a university.  And also keep the rest of AFE in your prayers as we begin “summer break” here in Honduras. 

Read more about these events in AFE’s blog: www.afehonduras.blogspot.com

Kindergarten & 6th Grade Promotion

Congratulations 6th Grade!

The start of a week of celebration began on December 8, 2011 with the promotion of kindergarten.  There were 5 “graduates” that will begin 1^st grade next school year.  This was an adorable ceremony where they even did a dance for all of us! 

Congrats Paula!

Just a quick note: Paula, who just was promoted to 1st grade and is shown above, is probably thee biggest tomboy I have ever met for a little girl.  She is also someone that isn't fast to give her trust...Ryan relates her to the personality of a cat - you have to work for any affection.  After almost 3 months, she finally is giving us the time of day, and we have fallen in love with her.  She also doesn't like girly things and has somewhat of a "tough-girl" attitude...BUT when we saw her in her beautiful dress this night, she couldn't stop smiling.  She was so proud of herself, and we were all proud of her.   

In addition to the promotion of kindergarten, 6^th grade also gets promoted.  In Honduras, this is a big deal because the majority of students who attend primaria or primary school, don’t even finish all the way to 6^th grade, and if they do complete 6^th grade, they don’t continue to colegio or high school.  At AFE, completing 6^th grade is a big deal, too, and there are incentives to continuing to colegio.  Starting in 7^th grade, students receive a uniform – which here in Honduras is a special deal – and they also have multiple teachers as opposed to staying with one teacher for the entire day.  

Congratulations, Leily!

This was a day full of many miracles because there were 16 graduates from 6^th grade including 3 adults from the afternoon school!  This was the FIRST graduation with adults!  Praise God!  

Lindsay, Nancy, Me, Hollie

Elise, Me, and Becky

Thanksgiving 2011 - Island Style

 

 We were blessed to spend a week in the beautiful island of Roatan with my parents during the week of Thanksgiving.  It was a week filled with great food (thanks Mom! and the Bananarama and Blue Parrot Bar and Grill) and great fun! 

Ryan and my dad golfed, yep you guessed it, every single morning!  While they were out golfing, Mom and I had a great time catching up on the latest happenings in Honduras and back home.  I think if I didn’t already know it, there’s nothing better than having your mom with you.  She is my best friend and I didn’t realize how much I missed spending time with her. 

 When Ryan and Dad came back from golfing each day, we did a work out – Mom and Dad ran the hill, and Ryan and I did Insanity out on the patio…I tell you what, the hot humid air made it extremely insane. 

We kayaked out to the reef, went diving one day, worked on my tan, and I read almost 3 books during that one week.

The evenings were so much fun catching up with my dad and just hanging out.  I forgot how much my dad can make the simplest dinner fun.