Now...the run of the mill family type news.Kendra finished first grade and went on to second. Thomas moved from pre-school to Kindergarten. They learned about people like the Romans and Vikings. They did fun things like chariot races, eating dormice, and rowing ships. (Mary Gruell from Lutheran Bible Translators helped us for a few months.) The students are hoping that Aunt Mary will come once again next year to teach for a month. During school Peter goes to one of the neighbors and watches TV while Kendra and Thomas are with Teacher Mom in the mornings.
Kendra (7) enjoys playing with her friends Andrea and Michelle. As soon as schoolwork is over she is off to their apartments. She enjoys her schoolwork, too. Especially reading! It has been really nice to be able to ask her to read to her younger brothers when we don’t have time. She also enjoys pretending to be a princess or a ballerina. One night when she was dressed in a princess costume her little brother Peter kept calling "come here princess" to her. It was pretty funny. Her father thinks of Kendra as the gift giver.
Thomas (6) considers a half-hour of computer game time and one hour of TV time a day aren’t quite enough. He loves going down to the landlady’s apartment to watch cartoons and (of course) would rather do that than schoolwork. He does read very well though and likes math problems and science class. We studied about dinosaurs this year and also about how the body works, which he thought, was a lot of fun. His father thinks of Thomas as imaginative and he uses it to construct things.
Peter sure likes to ride his tricycle. Every morning almost the first thing he asks is if he can take it out to ride. Actually, he rides it for a couple of minutes and then goes to the landlady’s house to see if she will let him in to watch TV. He has already learned quite a bit of Spanish since we moved here much to the surprise of some of the older girls at church who were teasing him one night. They were quite surprised when after taking something away from him he told them in Spanish that it was his! His father thinks that Peter is mostly compliant and well mannered. Known to say, "No thank you" when asked to do something.
As usual, Sheri took the challenge of making the new place into our home. She has done well on less space than the previous house. She does miss having room to put her pool.
Allen, after a year of not having one bought a bike. He figured if he bought a used one and would save money. One of the previous owners of the bike saw the bike and claimed it had been stolen. He produced a paper with the serial number of it and took the bike back.
The ministry with Lutheran Bible Translators and the Garífuna language project, in which we are involved, have seen some challenges while experiencing some improvements. Better material for the literacy class has been produced and a better presentation of Bible stories has been developed, but the lack of people involved has increased. At times, there are few to help share the Good News of Jesus even though there are resources. That is the story in Puerto Barrios and in the Lutheran church where we have been. Thus, we look at places outside of Puerto Barrios to train others. And the LORD has provided opportunities to teach and enable others beyond Puerto Barrios to get out the message of Christ Jesus.
And what is that Good News message of Jesus Christ? He provides salvation and freedom from sin. We are His.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to for the benefit of all people . . .the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people . . . Titus 2:11-14
The Larsens at the Frog Pond
Allen & Sheri
Kendra, Thomas & Peter