Day Two

After breakfast yesterday morning we held our second tap practice.  We had recruited two more students, so that makes four in our group.  We were pretty impressed with how well they remembered the routine after just one practice, and Mikenson did a nice job teaching Doggy-Dog and Ti Tomas what they had missed the day before. 

 

They love the tap shoes, and it is so neat to hear them work together to "make music with their feet"!

Tap practice quickly turned into acrobatic practice as the boys made beats with their feet. 

We had a great time, and now every time they see me they want to practice.

First Tap Practice

This afternoon Wilson and I held our first ever tap class for a couple of our younger boys.   The dance room is still looking good, and all the mirrors are still in tact.  I am so impressed with how well they are taking care of it. 

The boys really enjoyed the lesson, and were so quick to pick tapping up!  We did some shuffles... shuffle ball changes... buffalos... and will be working on more as practices progress.  We will hopefully have a little routine done by the time I leave so I can post a video of it on my blog.

I was only able to bring down five pairs of tap shoes, but thanks to the generous donations and eager help of a couple of my friends- more of our kids will be getting tap shoes soon!

Update

Father Marc, Linda, Amanda, and myself picked Bonhomme up at La Madonne today after we stopped by the Arts Festival.  Bonhomme was so much happier, and even more happy to hear that he would be going back to Castel Pere.  We took him out to lunch at a local sandwich spot, and being the good brother he is, he saved half of his sandwich for his little bro. 

The two were so happy to see each other, and already Bonhomme has acquired a lot of autographs on his cast. 

Petit Mwen

My child, Fery, who was in many a blog post while I lived down here is no longer a child- but a teenager.  We laughed today about how he now reaches my nose, whereas just two years ago he was barely at my chin. 

Mom, he asked me to take this picture and send it to you.  

"When are you coming back? I miss you!" he says.

Family Support

This afternoon Bonhomme fell off of the horse.  By the size of his wrist and the screams from him mouth, he had obviously broken it.  While Father Marc called for a car to the hospital, and Linda iced and wrapped, I went out to shoo the other children away from The Gate.  

Much to my surprise, I found yet another child crying his eyes out.  "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" "That's my brother!" Bossco could barely make out the words through his sobs.  In spite of myself, I smiled.  I hugged him and brought him into the Quad.  

Here is Linda- not hugging the broken child, but the brother of the broken child.  Now that is what I call brotherly love.

* Side note- It is 9:30 at night as I post this entry.  The car left for the hospital around 5, and it is just now getting back.  I asked Johnny our driver how our Bonhomme is doing and his response was, "There was no doctor in the hospital- it was too late.  We had to leave him, and he has to wait until tomorrow."  There is something wrong with this picture. *

  

The Gate

Anyone who has stayed in the Quad knows what this picture is, and what it represents... and they are probably smiling right now.

To me, "the gate" has been a barrier to give me some space, a meeting place to hold small conferences with friends, and more than anything else... the perfect feeling of what it would be like to be an animal in a zoo.  

I lived here for over a year, and never once took a picture of the kids at "the gate"... thought I'd do that now. 

Back Home

Here are a few of the beautiful faces that welcomed me back to Espwa.  

I have been gone for four months, but it feels like only a couple days- telling me that Espwa truly is a second home for me.  

I jumped right back into the swing of things, receiving hugs from the kids and Amanda, food from Linda, and "I have a job for you" from Father Marc. I couldn't have asked for a better welcome. 

I will be here for 20 days (but who's counting), and have a lot planned.  I will do my best to break my bad habit, and update my blog OFTEN.  I have learned to not make promises, and will not say "daily", but it will be often.  So be ready!