Happy Mother's Day!

So every 2 weeks we send out an email to the parents, here is a fun one I recently wrote about our efforts as vols to help raise our 36 amazing kids here at the farm.

Dear Parents,

There is an old adage that states “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Here at the finca, we live this adage on a daily basis. With the exception of Ted, Keenan, Nils, and Phil, who play a fatherly role, the rest of us are called to belike mothers in some form to our kids. So in the spirit of Mother’s Day, here is an update on how we are faring in our attempt to raise 36 kids here at the finca.

Alisha continues down the crazy and mysterious road that is raising a teenage boy as the encargada (person in charge of) of Arturo in Ceiba.
Amanda finds humor and joy while teaching the wonderfully awkward and entertaining fifth and sixth graders.
Betsy proves a true renaissance woman as she teaches health and computers to first through ninth grade, tackling whatever growing pains arise in her many classes.
Erin is taking a brief vacation back in the states while her teenage “daughters” Marina and Dalila continue to grow and become more and more independent in Ceiba.
Deirdre is also taking vacation, but will soon be back to take care of all our kids medical needs, delivering bandaids and meds with a smile, and if your lucky a sticker too!
Francesca finds joy in caring as social worker for our littlest girls and boys, always managing to make sure they find their constantly lost sandals and have plenty of coloring pages to color!
Georleny cares for our kids many psychological needs with a giant heart and a busy schedule.
Jacob and Rachel recently celebrated the 4th and 6th birthday of their kids Isaac and Jonah, while also finding time to take fun walks around the campo with their adorable 18 month old Ruben.
Kate, as 3rd and 4th grade teacher, is learning that multiplication tables are a fun conversation piece at any hour of the day.
Keenan faces the challenge of explaining algebra and life in general to his never dull middle school students.
Kristina continues to think up new and exciting ways of helping to develop the kids’ spirituality as the director of spiritual life.
Lily never faces a dull moment as she serves the girls of house 2 and the teenage girls of house 6 as social worker.
Mary Kate is discovering that the more she attempts to teach special ed, the more her students teach her.
Nely, as the teacher of the adorable and ever energetic first and second graders, is finding the hidden joys that accompany learning about insects and number lines.
Nils, works hard to make sure all our kids sleep safe at night as encargado of security, while also teaching our teens in the middle school the basics of science.
Phil, is enjoying a hard earned vacation after making sure every little mouth was fed for the past 7 months as the man in charge of purchasing and distributing all of our food.
Scarleth continues to meet our kids psychological needs with hard work and a compassionate heart.
Sheena, the social worker of our boys ages 10 and up, is enjoying teaching her boys the great foreign sport of basketball with our newly constructed basketball hoop.
Tami, after a brief vacation is back in action as the sub director of our school, providing our school discipline and direction guided by a kind and gentle heart.
Ted, as our maintenance man, works hard daily to make sure our kids facilities and fields are ready for whatever they need.

In summary, we are all learning the different challenges and joys that accompany the raising of children of all different ages. In turn, we would like to say thank you to you all, especially our mothers on your special day. You all have successfully raised us through each one of these phases with loving care. Thank you for your patience, support, and most of all you loving commitment to our well being. May you have a blessed Mother’s Day and find peace in the knowledge that all your children are safe and well here at the finca.

Best,
Mary Kate and the rest of the finca vols