November: A Time of Graduations, Transitions, and New Beginnings

November proved a slightly crazy, but also retrospectively grace filled month at the finca. We began the month with the graduations of five of our kids, David and Danny from sixth grade and Nolvia, Nelly, and Carlos from ninth grade from our elementary and middle schools on the farm. All glowed with pride for our amazing kids, we even had several former vols fly in from the states to be there with them on their special day. The following week the finca said good luck to myself, Nils, Carlos, Nelly, and Nolvia, as we all moved to the big city of La Ceiba where Fase II (teens in high school) of the finca calls home. This was not easy for anyone, but in the end excitement seemed to win out and all seem at least excited to see what would come with our big move. The day after we moved in Dalila graduated from high school, and the next day received a full scholarship to a university right in downtown La Ceiba. Only 11 days had passed so far in the month! The next third of the month was calmer in terms of events, but slightly crazier in the sense that Nils and I were attempting to learn the ins and outs of our jobs, while simultaneously getting to know the city and attempting to care for teenagers on our own. Luckily we had a ton a visitors from the farm pass through on business trips, which made us feel very supported.

At the end of the month, we had survived; all the teens were alive, and working or volunteering in the city. Nils and I knew more or less what was expected of us, and were also more or less meeting those goals. By providence two vols, our old Guatemalan housemate and good friend Deirdre my fellow ND peace studies major David got stranded with us in Ceiba on thanksgiving, and were therefore around to help us pull off one of the most beautiful thanksgivings I have experienced. We had all the essentials: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, we even had pumpkin pie. We invited kids who had graduated from the farm, the Satterlee family that helps us out here in Ceiba, Sor Keidy even invited a friend. We then opened the dinner by saying a prayer where all had to say one thing they were grateful for, the result was one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard. We then enjoyed food until we could not eat any more.

In true teenage fashion we saw the premier of the Twilight movie the next day at 7 PM with Betsy (fellow vol), her visiting family, Deirdre and Amanda (fellow vols), Nils, myself, all the teenage girls (Dalila, Marina, Nolvia, and Nelly), Carlos (Arturo was tired), and Sor Keidy. All 13 of us waited in line and filled an entire row to see the epic film. All were thoroughly satisfied, and rested well that night. I personally viewed it as a mini personal celebration of making it through the grace filled, but crazy month of November!