Schooling in the Tropics

I have learned that laying around the house in PJ's doesn't work here....there is always someone stopping by early in the morning...early to me for someone to stop by is 7:30-8am.  here where the sun rises SO early (around 5am) people are up and out and doing stuff.   So sure enough while eating b'fast and enjoying our coffee we hear kiddos outside asking our kids to play.  Today though, John Mark told his friends he had school work...which must have been pretty odd to them, but they left.  

About 30 min later he has to tell another friend that stopped by.  He didn't go though and just hung around outside,  I just told John Mark he'd have to finish his schoolwork before joining him.  

Well just as the kids were finishing up washing the b'fast dishes and about to sit down to do our Bible reading.....we all of a sudden realize Daniel is sitting on the steps up into our living room...in our house...ha ha ha!!  

he spends most of his days here and generally eats lunch and a snack with us.  Yesterday when he was literally here ALL day long I asked Alfonso last night at dinner if his parents ever wondered where he was.  Alfonso told me that he had 12 brothers and sisters that his Mom didn't have time to wonder where he is.  Whew...don't figure I would have time to either!!

He was with us most days last summer too...funny in the states I'd probably worry about my kid hanging out with him.  he's a sweet sweet boy, but pretty wild.  Like two days ago he (in jest) pushed John MArk into the pool....problem is the pool was drained and only had a little water (less than a ft).  As John Mark cried Daniel ran in fear.  We mended john Mark's ankle and the next morning there was Daniel waiting to play. Thad sat down and chatted with him about how real friends behave toward their friends, etc.  he's been tons more calm and kind the last few days and has even helped pick up the house, etc.  

So this morning we, as always, invited him in (all the way - instead of just sitting in the window sill on our stairway).  And he just sat down beside John Mark.  John Mark rushed and got a Spanish/English Bible for our Bible reading time and Daniel actually helped John Mark follow along as I called out the verse #'s in Spanish as we went along to help him know where we were.

Yesterday found John Mark and Daniel curled up over a Spanish/English dictionary comparing words and trying to learn each other's language!!  

but they don't need it for the universal language of "PLAY"  they have created some games and built forts, will pick me mangoes or lemons when I ask, etc! They play for HOURS without being effected by the lack of knowing each other's language!  But boy listening to John Mark play with him he really is picking up a lot of words...now if I can just get him to use them other places too....he gets SUPER shy about it in front of adults!

The learning that goes on doesn't always have to be in a workbook, or a school book I'm amazed at what my kids learn minute to minute here!  

Life is good, tranquil and calm. We truly, thus far, are very little affected by the political unrest going on around us.  Other than a lack of supplies in the stores, we hardly would know anything was amiss in Honduras!