Fall: A Time of Change

Here is an email I wrote that was sent out to our parents recently about life on the farm, enjoy:

Hello Parents!

Sorry for the delay in the email, I know you have all been receiving news about the increased security situation in Honduras, and not receiving a lot of news from your kids due to lots of rain and busy schedules. Please know we are all safe, healthy, and eating well. We even had cinnamon rolls for breakfast today (Thank you Francesca!).

Here in Honduras rainy season has officially begun and is in full swing. This coincides with the beginning of fall back in the states. Fall signifies a time of change in preparation for the grand events of winter. Here at the farm, we do lack colorful falling leaves, but we do face a great time of change as well. As our beloved oldies Sheena, Francesca, Kristina, Nely, Erin, Alisha, Georleny, and Scarleth prepare to depart in December; our now experienced middies Nils, Mary Kate, Jacob, Rachel, Lily, Tami, Deirdre, Betsy, and Amanda all face changing roles here at the farm; while our energetic newbies Erin Lucia, Erin Marina, Allison, Sara, Ashley, Kevin, and David continue to adjust to the life here at the finca. Here is a brief update on what everyone is up to:

Sheena is covering house 5 one last time before passes over her teenage boy social worker reigns to David,
Francesca is enjoying making yummy breads from her beloved bread book to celebrate the passing on of her little girls and boys houses to their new social workers Lily and Erin Marina
Kristina is enjoying the joys of the alphabet and crayons as she trains Allison to be the new kindergarten teacher.
Nely is spending time with her beloved first graders and members of the women´s group to squeeze out every last moment she has with them before she leaves.
Erin is busy planning a big graduation party for Dalila in la Ceiba in excitement for her big graduation date that will arrive so very soon.
Alisha is enjoying her last few weeks with Arturo in la Ceiba, while also helping Erin to train to the new Ceibenos.
Georleny and Scarleth are busy training the newly arrived Haydee in the psychology department, and enjoying visits to the teens in la Ceiba.

Nils and Mary Kate are working hard to close out the middle school school year, and getting ready to move with Nelly, Nolvia, and Carlos to la Ceiba to be their new caretakers for the year to come.
Jacob and Rachel are both working hard as parents and adjusting to new titles, Jacob adding that of maintenance man and Rachel changing from accountant to controller.
Lily is getting to know house 3 better as their new social worker, continuing to work with house 6, and learning new things as the new head of social work.
Tami is working very hard to help the school year end smoothly, and excited to start as the new person in charge of the work program for our kids on the farm.
Deirdre is excited to have another nurse around in Ashley, and continues to be a rock star at late night emergency runs and stitches.
Betsy is working hard to close out the school year and excited to start being trained as the new 5 and 6th grade teacher for next year.
Amanda is also working hard to finish out the school year, and excited in her new job as community watchee.

Erin Lucia is learning the intricacies of the life of a finca accountant, while also discovering the many beautiful mysteries of special education at our school.
Erin Marina is full of love and girl power as she becomes the new social worker for our younger girls.
Allison is learning the politics of crayons and monkey bars as she trains to be the new kindergarten teacher.
Sara is learning how to teach balancing equations and hormones as she trains to be the new middle school math teacher.
Ashley is learning how to simultaneously co-run a clinic and heal parasite ridden stomachs.
Kevin is familiarizing himself with the periodic table and our community members as her trains to be the new middle school math teacher and community watchee.
David is learning what it means to be cool in Honduras as he trains to be the social worker for our middle and teenage boys.

Wishing you all the best and sending you lots of love!
Mary Kate and the rest of the volunteer missionaries here at the farm