Holy Week Begins

Today is the official start of Holy Week.  There are many schools that don't have school today, and those that do (like Buen Pastor) will have small attendance because most of the time kids take extra days before and after vacations to expand their break.  I'm going to make Easter baskets with my elementary school kids in the morning and dye Easter eggs with my jr. high and high school kids in the afternoon, and my adult class is having a party in the house of one of my students instead of class today.  The adults are making habichuelas con dulce, a sweet almost hot cocoa like mixture of sugar, milk, beans, and other ingredients.  It is very strange, but really yummy, and it is the specialty Dominican food for the Easter season.

Weaving Easter Baskets with my jr high English class

On Sunday, I am going to participate in the San Esteban Palm Sunday processional.  We'll start on the malecon and parade together as a large group to the church for the Palm Sunday service.  I'm very excited to get to see it.  Next week, I am probably going to church Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and maybe more depending on the schedules of the two churches.  I'll know more about this when they announce the schedules on Sunday.  It also seems like, similarly to at home, many extra people will be at the services.  A few friends I know from outside of church have been asking me the church schedule for this week because they'll be going, even though I've never seen them in church before.

This week, my high school kids wrote short poems about someone important in their family.  I thought I'd share them because they are really sweet.

SHE IS

by Celestino

She is very important to me

She is very beautiful

She is a good person

because she helps me

because she loves me

She is my grandmother

WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT MY FAMILY

by Crysnery

The important thing about my cousin is she has a baby

named Leondro Leach Soriano Castro

The important things about my family is

our fine nose

THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT MY MOTHER

by Yaneidy

My mother loves me

She is very important to me

Because she is everything for me

She helps me study for school and

She helps me everywhere

MY FATHER

by Madephenis 

My father is good and

He loves me and I love him

He gives me pretty things and

Is very good with me

SISTER GABRIEL

by Juan Francisco

Sister Gabriel is my savior

and a good person

she helps me in the school and 

helps me now.

As always, let me know if you have questions!

Dios les bendiga,

Tina